HappyLifestyleJournal
Bestowed with all of nature’s gifts there is a definite splendor and earthiness about Africa. Exotic and magnificent, there is much to do and so much to see in the continent that people often don’t know where to start. Let us give you a place to start – below are some of the most incredible ways to experience exotic Africa.
1. Cage Dive With White Sharks
Definitely on the list for the truly adventurous, tour operators in South Africa can put you in a cage, drop you into white shark infested waters to get your cage nudged and mulled by the top predators of the sea. Not something for the faint or even average of heart, as the excursion surely requires guts of steel. Cage diving is part of a local effort to raise awareness (and heart-rates) about the plight of endangered great white sharks.
2. Swim With Seals In Cape Town
For those who want any reason at all to dip into the pristine waters surrounding Africa but don’t want to become shark bait, tours in Cape Town now offer snorkeling with seals. Local tour operator, Animal Ocean, offers seal snorkeling tours on Duiker Island, Hout Bay. The area is home to around 10,000 friendly seals and there are NO known great white shark sightings in the area. The trips are heavily dependent on the weather, so it is best to go during the summer seasons where there are less chances of cancellation due to bad weather.
3. Go On A 3-Day Bike Tour Through Ghana
Being on an air-conditioned tour bus sure is comfy but it doesn’t offer the same kind of experience a bike tour does. Ghana Bike & Hire Tours will take you to the beaten track on the back roads and farm trails of Aburi in Ghana, a town famous for the Aburi Botanical Gardens. There are hour tours, day tours and 3-day tours for serious cyclists who have the endurance to ride the distance. If you are an interested biking amateur, there is no need to worry because the tour guides allow you to take your time.
4. Go On A Micato Safari
There is a reason why Micato Safaris has been awarded as World’s Best Tour Operator & Safari Outfitter by Travel + Leisure Magazine repeatedly since 2003. They have also received awards from Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic and Travel Age West. Micato Safaris, run by the Pinto family, has unrivalled experience and dedication to both Africa and its thousands of visitors each year. The tours can cost a small fortune but nobody rivals Micato Safaris and their tours are truly one of the best ways to experience Africa in style.
5. Go Trekking In The Namib Desert
The itinerary from Epictomato.com includes Damaraland, Ugab River, Goboboseb mountains, Skeleton Coast and Sossusvlei Sand Dunes and a helluva lot of physical endurance. The trek takes 7 days to complete and is likely a trip for the books. The first 72 hours before the trek will be spent training and acclimatizing you for the difficult trip. Once on the trek, you will spend days walking the desert encountering fairy circles, desert elephants and endless breathtaking landscape. A jaunt for the truly intrepid explorer, there is no more authentic way to experience the majesty of Africa.
6. Go Volcano Climbing
Is mountain climbing too mainstream for you? How about a walk on the wild side and go volcano climbing? Get a chance to stare into a pit of flaming hot lava on a trip to Virunga National Park. Visitors of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo can go on a 6-7 hours scenic trek through the lower forests of the park before heading up towards the world’s largest lava lake at the top of Mount Nyiragongo. On the way up, expect to see some of the park’s local wildlife.
7. Kayak Through Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi in Tanzania is the ninth largest lake in the world and is the third largest lake in Africa. Home to more species of fish than any other lake including 1,000 species of cichlids, it is one of the world’s most biodiverse bodies of water. Tour operators like Kayak Africa offer transfers or kayak rides across the islands in the reserve. The islands to see are Mumbo Island and Domwe Island. Mumbo is one of the best camps in Southern Africa and is a member of the Wilderness Safaris portfolio, cementing its reputation as one of Africa’s best.
8. Go To Dinner On A Steam Train
What better way to see and appreciate all that Africa has to offer than on a fully equipped authentic first-class steam train? Aside from the fantastic views, get ready to be spoilt with first-class cuisine and world-class service. The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and will take you through either Victoria Falls or Livingstone, Zambia. Unfortunately, as of this writing the Sunset Bridge Run for Victoria Falls is not available.
9. Get Up Close And Personal With The Gorillas Of Bwindi
Admittedly, gorillas are some of the most awe and fear inspiring animals in the wild. So closely related to us but so physically superior, these animals fascinate humans to no-end. Join a scheduled safari by Great Lakes Safaris to Queen Elizabeth National Park where the gorillas of Bwindi can be found. The tours are run by Amos Wekesa, smuggler turned Safari King; coming from humble beginnings he use to smuggle in goods from Kenya but has managed to build one of the best tour companies in all of Uganda and even in Africa.
10. See Turtles Lay Eggs In St. Lucia
St. Lucia remains to be one of the best places to witness leatherback and loggerhead turtles lay their eggs. Most tours will begin in the evening and last ‘til the wee hours of the morning which is when turtle eggs usually hatch. Seeing baby turtles make it to the water is just the highlight of the trip as the tour on the way to the site takes you right through the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a trip all in itself, so save a spot in your itinerary for it when you are in the area.
