Edition 46: Spring 2009

Author, adventurer and TV presenter Simon Reeve is no stranger to Africa, visiting it for three separate TV series: Places That Don’t Exist, Equator and Tropic of Capricorn. Here are his five most cherished places on the continent.

1 Mozambique
More specifically, Limpopo National Park. Just over the border from South Africa’s flagship national park, it seems to be in another world of wilderness, making parts of Kruger seem like Disneyland in comparison. Wildlife was annihilated during the civil war but now that it is in the process of becoming part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which includes Kruger and Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park, fences have started to come down and thousands of animals have since crossed the border to make it their home, including hundreds of elephants.
I went ‘extreme tracking’ – searching on foot for lions – it was an experience I will treasure forever.

2 Madagascar
Separated from the rest of the planet for tens of thousands of years, the plants and wildlife on Madagascar have evolved in unique and special ways, while locals have developed their own extraordinary traditions and superstitions. It’s like the Galapagos, but on
a much bigger scale.

3 Sahara
I’m off across the Sahara in a few weeks, following the Tropic of Cancer around the world. It’s so close to Europe, but so utterly alien. We’ll be travelling through Western Sahara, Mauritania, southern Algeria and into Libya. I can’t wait!

4 Somaliland
My favourite country in the world, not just Africa. Somalilanders have picked themselves up after a devastating conflict and are rebuilding with little help from the outside world. Despite being stable and democratic, no other nation recognises it as an ‘official’ country, a huge scandal. Go for its inspirational people and for the oldest rock paintings on the continent.

5 Botswana
A country that defies the African stereotypes of corruption and war, Botswana is a joy to visit. Go to the Okavango Delta, the most extraordinary oasis in the world, drawing wildlife from across southern Africa, or to the vast Kalahari, which I crossed in an old Land Rover in search of the remaining San Bushmen. It was one of the most epic and memorable journeys of my life.