Natural Wonders
There's no doubting it's a strong global line-up: Mount Everest, the Grand Canyon, Angel Falls… all the big names are there. But if we're spouting statistics, Africa can easily hold its own when it comes to natural wonders. Not only does the continent boast the world's largest desert (the Sahara is about the size of the USA) and the longest river (the 6671km Nile), but it also has some impressive landmarks, such as Victoria Falls and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Size isn't everything, though. True, you could probably fit Namibia's Fish River Canyon snugly inside its Arizona ‘big brother' several times over. But that's missing the point. Fish River Canyon is all about wilderness and solitude - being able to soak up the spectacle without the distraction of a busload of tourists or a procession of sightseeing helicopters.

It is this wildness and raw drama that sets apart Africa's natural wonders from many others around the world. Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Okavango, Kalahari, Tassili, Ruwenzori, Drakensberg, Ndoki, Zambezi, Namib… these are names that loom large in our minds, not because they are the world's highest or biggest, but because they conjure images of untamed places - of a land where nature, not man, often holds sway.

Africa's Top Five Natural Wonders
1. The Great Rift Valley
Stretching over 6000km from the Lebanon to Mozambique, the Great Rift has forged some of Africa's most dramatic scenery - from mountains and escarpments to wildlife-rich grasslands and soda lakes flushed with flamingos. This vast scar is lined by some 30 active and semi-active volcanoes, including Kilimanjaro, Nyiragongo and Ol Doinyo Lengai. Another, called Ngorongoro, blew its top to form a vast caldera.
Be there >> There's so much to do in this region, from camel trekking to hot-air ballooning. One of the best places to contemplate the sheer scale of the Great Rift, however, is from the edge of Kenya's eastern escarpment. Join a safari in Nairobi.

2. The Nile
African artery, a lifeblood of ancient civilizations.
Be there >> Choose from numerous luxury river cruisers or charter a traditional sailing felucca.

3. Mount Kilimanjaro
African icon, bringing ice to the equator.
Be there >> You'll need six days to complete the epic trek from subtropical foothills to icy summit.

4. Sahara Desert
The arid heart of Africa, forbidding, yet irresistible.
Be there >> To fully appreciate the vast scale of the Sahara, nothing compares to an overland expedition.

5. Victoria Falls
Legendary cataracts gashing the Zambezi River.
Be there >> Southern Africa's adventure capital offers everything from bungee jumping to rafting.

Natural Wonders - Off the beaten track.
Le Main de Fatama, Mali
This extraordinary monolith rising above rugged terrain near Homboli village provides Africa's finest rock-climbing challenge. Most routes to the top are vertical, so this is one strictly for skilled climbers.

Dahlak Archipelago, Eritrea
Spectacular coral reefs abound in this cluster of Red Sea islands. A Mecca for divers, the best time to visit is December to February. You'll need to arrange a dive permit from Massawa on the mainland.

Congo River, DRC
A leisurely two-week riverboat journey on Le Grand Poseur between Kinshasa and Kisangani is the classic way to appreciate the scale and life of this mighty river - the world's second largest by volume.

Blue Nile Falls, Ethiopia
Some 30km after it flows from Lake Tana, the Blue Nile plunges 45m to form Tis Abay (‘Smoke of the Nile'), an impressive waterfall that is easily visited by bus from Bahir Dar.

Ankarana Plateau, Madagascar
This remote limestone massif has eroded to form a strange landscape of pinnacles, canyons and caves which can be reached by hiking through forests inhabited by several species of lemur.

Mount Cameroon, Cameroon
At 4100m, this is the highest peak in West and Central Africa - a spectacular volcano that offers challenging trekking possibilities. The best season is between December and April. Plan your trek in nearby Douala.


Wildlife
Let's not beat around the bush. When it comes to wildlife, Africa is head, shoulders, horns, tusks and beaks ahead of the rest of the world. But what about polar bears, I hear you cry? Or orang-utans? Or tigers? Or penguins? Well, Africa does actually have penguins (there is a wonderful colony at Boulders Bay just an hour's drive from Cape Town), but when it comes to sheer spectacle - nature red in tooth and claw, the magnificence of a vast wilderness teeming with wildlife, the spine-tingling prospect of a close encounter - few places compare with Africa.

And then there is the overwhelming diversity. Consider the aardvark and zebra, two extremes in an alphabetical cast of African species: bushbaby, caracal, dik-dik, elephant, fish eagle, gorilla, hippo, impala, jacana, kudu, lion, mandrill, nyala, okapi, pangolin... Africa has everything from pygmy elephant shrews to humpback whales - each species adapted to its particular niche in a patchwork of biomes ranging from Mediterranean scrub to tropical rainforest.

Africa is the home of the wildlife safari. Whether you venture into the wilds on foot or elephant-back, by canoe, hot-air balloon or with a scuba tank strapped to your back, you'll return home feeling both enlightened and humbled.

Africa's Top Five - Wildlife
1. Mountain Gorillas
The eyes have it. Make brief eye contact with a mountain gorilla and you are connecting with another mind. It's a sobering moment, and well worth the hours spent slogging through a humid, muddy rainforest to experience. You'll also notice behaviour or see expressions in a gorilla's face that are instantly familiar. It is this flash of recognition that makes an encounter so charged with emotion.
Be there >> Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC are the hotspots for gorilla trekking. December to early March is one of the best times to go. Organise your trip through a reputable operator and plan well in advance to obtain your gorilla-tracking permit.

2. Wildebeest Migration
Undeniably epic, this is the African wildlife event.
Be there >> Organise a safari to either the Serengeti or Masai Mara. Timing is of the essence.

3. Elephants
Big in stature, big on intelligence, big on personality.
Be there >> Prime pachyderm places include Botswana's Chobe River or Kenya's Amboseli reserve.

4. Flamingos
Millions of large pink birds. An avian spectacle.
Be there >> Head to the Rift Valley lakes of Nakuru and Bogoria on a safari from Nairobi.

5. Big Cats
Lion, leopard, cheetah - Africa is the land of big cats.
Be there >> You'll see lion on most safaris. The Masai Mara is classic Big Cat country.

Wildlife - Off the beaten track
Humpback Whales, Madagascar
Humpbacks return to Nosy Boraha every year to give birth and mate. Boat tours from Andampanangoy can also be rewarded with sightings of sperm whales and several species of dolphin.

Primates, Gabon
Still covered in large tracts of pristine rainforest, Gabon is home to lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills and various monkeys - all of which can be glimpsed on forest hikes.

Benguela Bounty, South Africa & Namibia
Testament to the fruitful influence of the Benguela Current, Africa's south west coast supports huge colonies of gannets, fur seals and penguins. Base yourself in Cape Town or Swakopmund for coastal forays.

Waterbirds, Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania
Millions of birds, including spoonbills, herons, flamingos, pelicans, terns and numerous migrant waders feed and breed on these coastal mudflats. The only access to this world heritage site is from Nouakchott.

Zebras, Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
Following good rains, the largest annual zebra migration in southern Africa occurs here over the first few months of the year when herds move from the dry Boteti River. Arrange a fly-in safari from Maun.

Marine Life, Mozambique Channel
Diving or snorkelling off Mozambique can be rewarded with amazing encounters with whale sharks, manta rays and humpback whales. Coral reefs in the region are also stunning. Visit September to November.


Culture
Africa is the cradle of humankind. It's where we started as a species sometime around four million years ago. The earliest stone tools (2.5 million years-old) were found in Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge; the oldest rock art (charcoal drawings dated to about 23-25,500 years old) have been found in Namibia, while Egypt spawned one of the world's earliest civilizations.

Africa's rich cultural heritage of traditions, languages, structures and ideas can be seen the length and breadth of the continent. Ancient Roman ruins can be found in North Africa; the remains of Great Zimbabwe represent the greatest and most complete mediaeval city in sub-Saharan Africa, while Mali's vast adobe Djenne Mosque today forms a surreal backdrop to a marketplace. These, and many more historical sites, form the bedrock for today's vibrant African cultures. From the enigmatic Taureg with their multitude of different clans (each with different dialects, customs and dress) to the proud cattle-herding Maasai; from the evocative call to prayer from a minaret in Cairo to the curious clicks and hand signals exchanged by a pair of hunting Kalahari Bushmen; Africa's culture is as deep-rooted and diverse as any on earth.


1. Valley of the Kings and Giza Pyramids
Around the walls and ceilings of the 60 or so tombs of the pharaohs are thousands of colourful symbolic scenes with hieroglyphic texts, all telling of ancient Egypt's ritualistic splendour during the New Kingdom (1570-1070 bc) in a way that is both astonishing and magical. Earlier pharaohs were buried in much more visible tombs, such as the famous pyramids at Giza.
Be there >> The Valley of the Kings, near Thebes on the west bank of the Nile, is often included on the itineraries of Nile cruises. Day trips to the pyramids at Giza can be taken from Cairo.

2. Maasai
East Africa's legendary pastoralists.
Be there >> Walk with the Maasai, gaining an insight into their cattle-herding culture.

3. West African Festivals
Some of Africa's most lively and fascinating events.
Be there >> Ghana's Adae Kese festival, Nigeria's Kano Durbar or Mali's Crossing of the Cattle.

4. Tuareg
The ‘veiled men' of the Sahara.
Be there >> Travel across Niger's Ténéré Desert learning about the Tuareg's history and culture.

5. Stone Town, Zanzibar
Alleyways, bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses. Be there >> Travel by air or sea from Dar es Salaam. Visit in June for the Festival of the Dhow Countries.


Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa
Discover a treasure house of stone tools and human fossils on a guided tour of this extraordinary cave complex where a skull found in 1936 proved our ancestors lived in South Africa three million years ago.

Lalibela, Ethiopia
Africa's very own Petra. Rock-hewn churches dating from the 12th or 13th centuries rank amongst the finest early Christian architecture anywhere in the world. Allow at least three days for a tour from Addis Ababa.

Slave Castles of Ghana
Up to the early 19th centuries, over five million slaves passed through Ghanese forts. Many have been restored, including the 1482 Elmina Castle - the oldest surviving sub-Saharan colonial building.

Islamic Cairo
Wake early to hear the call to prayer before climbing to the top of a minaret to absorb the sights, sounds and smells of this mediaeval quarter. Then visit Khan el Khalili, one of the world's largest bazaars.

Khayelitsha township, South Africa
One of several communities on the Cape Flats that can be visited as part of a tour from Cape Town, Khayelitsha provides a glimpse of township life, plus a dose of Cape Town's thriving contemporary culture!

Bushmen, Kalahari
Walk in the company of Bushmen and tap into the age-old culture of a uniquely-adapted people whose hunter-gathering skills are legendary. Learn how to make hand signals, find water in the desert and track wildlife.


Adventure
The spirit of adventure pulses through Africa. In this continent of vast deserts, mighty rivers and impenetrable forests the thrill of the unknown is as powerful a lure as it was centuries ago when the first explorers began arriving. Even well-known and easily-visited landmarks, like Table Mountain, still manage to capture the pioneering essence of those days when, to outsiders, Africa was viewed largely as terra incognita.

It is little wonder that Africa's famous explorers, like Dr David Livingstone, are now household names. You only have to follow in their footsteps and peer into the abyss of Victoria Falls, venture across the Sahara or travel up the Congo River to understand how Africa's natural wonders, wildlife and culture can conspire to form the ultimate adventure cocktail.

Africa has also caught the adrenaline wave and boasts several world-class adventure hotspots where you can do everything from bungee jumping and paragliding to whitewater rafting and jet-boating. Prime examples include Victoria Falls, Cape Town and Swakopmund.

And for those who feel reluctant to give up their creature comforts, Africa is the undisputed world leader in taking luxury travel into areas of remote wilderness teeming with wildlife.

Africa's Top Five - Adventure
1. Climbing Kilimanjaro
It's a long hard slog to the ‘Roof of Africa', but the trek takes you through a captivating procession of habitats, from cloud forest to moorland and alpine desert. There are several well-marked and non-technical trails, the most popular being the 64km Marangu Route which takes six days. The views are stupendous, particularly from Mawenzi, one of Kili's two lesser peaks, across to the 5896m summit of Kibo.
Be there >> Indepedent trekking is not permitted. Be sure to book through a reputable operator (there are plenty to choose from in Arusha, Moshi and Marangu) who appreciates the potential risks of altitude sickness.

2. Rafting below Victoria Falls
The world's best one-day grade 5 whitewater rafting.
Be there >> Numerous operators in the towns of Livingstone and Victoria Falls. Full safety briefing.

3. Exploring Namibia's Skeleton Coast
Spectacular wild frontier full of intrigue and drama.
Be there >> Take a flying safari. You have to get airborne to fully appreciate the Skeleton Coast.

4. Tracking Wildlife on Foot
Walk in Africa like a hominid from the distant past.
Be there >> Lots of places to choose from, but one of the best is Zambia's South Luangwa National Park.
5. Diving the Coral Reefs of the Red Sea
Some of the world's most spectacular reefs. Be there >> Choose from land-based diving or a liveaboard cruise to reach more remote sites.

Adventure - Off the beaten track
Trek to Jebel Toubkal, Morocco
The so-called ‘Wonder Walk' to 4167m Jebel Toubkal is one of the more challenging treks in the Atlas Mountains. Allow a fortnight to complete the 140km route from Tichka. Best time is May to October.

Cross River National Park, Nigeria
Located in the heart of the Sonkwala Range, Obudu Cattle Ranch is an excellent base for trekking or horse-riding in the surrounding rainforest which is home to forest elephants and numerous primates, including gorillas.

Camel trekking in the Ténéré Desert, Niger
The coolest months for exploring this challenging region are between November and January. Most camel treks start at Agadez and travel from one oasis to another, threading between towering sand dunes.

Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon
The spectacular forests of this West African reserve are some of the best preserved in Africa. The main entrance is near Lomié from where you can organise guided trips to visit a settlement of Baka pygmies.

Quadbiking across Makgadikgadi, Botswana
For a complete sense of isolation and some of the most vivid night skies in Africa, the salt pans of Makgadikgadi (the world's largest) are hard to beat. Quadbikes are the way to go. Best time is May to August.

Kayaking the Garden Route, South Africa
An alternative to the popular self-drive option, the Garden Route by sea kayak provides a unique perspective of this 200km scenic coastline, with opportunities for close encounters with whales, dolphins and seals.