Togo is probably one of the nicest places in Western Africa. Roads are pretty good, distances small, beaches sandy and white, people friendly, hills and mountains waiting to be explored.

What else do you need? The capital city, Lomé is an excellent place to start your trip. Lots of daytrips can be made to Togoville on the borders of Lake Togo or Aneho. When you go north Kpalime and its beautiful hilly surroundings deserve a visit; trekking and hiking in the area is wonderful.

Continue further north if you are into hiking. Kara is the place to go. Nearby is Tamberma Valley which has intriguing castle like structures known as Tatas. The national parks of Fazao and Keran offer good opportunities to view wildlife.

A good place to stay in Lomé is Chez Alice in Avepozo, a few miles east of the city along the main coastal road to Benin. You can rent affordable rooms or pitch up your tent in the yard. Good places to eat can be found nearby on the roadside.

In the local dialect the word Namib means vastness. But the openness which confronts you here makes the word ‘vast’ seem small and insignificant.

Endless miles seem to stretch on and on covered with the orange sand dunes prevalent here. The perception that people get from this place ranges from that of plain disbelief at the emptiness to the stillness and quietness. The Namib Desert seems to convey a sense of solitude and timelessness which cannot be expressed in words.

This desert is one of the largest and surely the oldest desert in the world and is very well protected by the Namib-Naukluft Park which is an area market by beautiful sand dunes and shifting sands. The Namib Desert is presumed to be 50,000 square kilometer vast and is over 80 million years old. The desert is located back to back with the Atlantic Ocean and the hot desert winds move all the way up to the ocean front where the water cools it down and evaporates them.

This leads to the formation of a thick fog at the coast line which is an invitation for several ship wrecks. This notorious identity attached with the coast line of the Namib Desert had given it the name of the ‘Skeleton coast’.

While roaming around through the desert it is indeed a very strange experience to see how different species of plants and animals have made these inhospitable conditions of the desert into conducive habitats for themselves. The foliage found here may not be exotic or rare but yes their adaptations to the dry environment are surely worth noticing.

Tourist Locations

The best way to view the entire landscape of the Namib Desert is either by a hot air balloon or by means of a light aircraft. A real view will give you the best picture of the kind of vastness that the Namib Desert is all about.

These aircraft rides can be hired from the town of Swakopmund which is a very surreal and unique town in itself with its own cultural and historical treasures. A mixture of people stays here in the town which includes hippies, miners, rangers, fishermen and bohemian dresses clad women. Just outside the limits of the town are situated some sand dunes which are meant specifically for adventure games.

The tourists can indulge in skiing, sand boarding, off road driving, camel rides and other desert sports. If adventure sports is not something which interests you enough then just the simple exercise of walking barefoot on the sands with the sand particles slithering between your toes is enough to provide a rare sense of calmness and tranquility.

The sand dunes present here in the Namib Desert have been reported to be the highest in the world with some of them going as high as 300 meters. The bright ochre colored sand dunes present at Sossusvlei too are regarded very special amongst the tourists. But to reach this destination tests the endurance level of the tourists as it is a good 300 kilometers off road. But once there the entire effort seems worth it.

Since the town is situated close to the coast therefore one can even get the chance to go on excursions on boats and get the chance to view seals, dolphins and other fishes. One can even take the opportunity to try their hands at diving, surfing or even shore based angling.

When opting for a desert vacation the thoughts of luxury seem irrelevant because a trip to the wilderness showcases that face of nature which makes mankind seem small and humble. Beauty in simplicity is what the Namib is all about.

There are many things to do in Cape Town and the nearby areas to keep vacationers entertained throughout a South Africa vacation, from the local attractions to the mountain summits.

Travelers of all ages will find plenty to keep them busy, and there are numerous Cape Town activities for kids, including visits to the aquarium, exploratorium, and the maritime museum, which has interactive displays and artifacts about early explorers at the Cape of Good Hope.

Victoria and Alfred Waterfront

One of the most fun things to do in Cape Town is visiting the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The area is the place to go for shopping, designer boutiques, craft vendors, restaurants, pubs, sunset cruises, and tours to Robben Island. With more than 250 venues for entertainment, there is something for everyone. The waterfront is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.

Robben Island

One of the historic Cape Town attractions is Robben Island, the site of the jail where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. The prison was the holding area for political activists and freedom fighters, and it is now a World Heritage Site with daily tours showing what prison life was like during the apartheid era. Access to the island is by ferry from the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, and allow three to four hours for the tour. Visiting Robben Island is one of the best things to do in Cape Town for visitors who are interested in the country’s complex history.

Two Oceans Aquarium

The Atlantic and Indian oceans converge at the tip of Africa, and one of the interesting activities in Cape Town is making a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium, which focuses on the marine life of these two bodies of water. One of the top Cape Town attractions for tourists, the aquarium features a variety of more than 3,000 sea creatures that include turtles, penguins, sharks, and an array of different fish.

World of Birds

Another of the interesting Cape Town activities, especially for bird and wildlife enthusiasts, is the World of Birds sanctuary. The natural habitats and aviaries house more than 3,000 birds and animals including monkeys, owls, cranes, meerkats, and eagles. Visitors walk through the area, which allows up-close observation and makes this another of the fun things to do in Cape Town with kids. The sanctuary is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily.

Castle of Good Hope

The Castle of Good Hope is one of the Cape Town attractions that vacationers interested in history won’t want to miss. The castle was constructed in the 1600s and the oldest building in South Africa. Guided tours will take you through the dungeons and provide a historical overview of the culture and military history of that period, and visitors can also observe the Key Ceremony at 10 am and the Changing of the Guards at noon.

Rhodes Memorial

Additional things to do in Cape Town include visiting the Rhodes Memorial and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Built from granite removed from Table Mountain, the memorial has 49 steps, a bronze statue of a horse and rider, and eight bronze lions. The forest area provides plenty of trails for hiking and picnicking, and it offers spectacular views of the city.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

One of the favorite Cape Town activities for flower enthusiasts are a visit to the gardens, which are filled with lush lawns, and plants and flowers native to South Africa set amidst streams and ponds. They provide an ideal location for leisurely strolls along the pathways, picnics, and bird watching. The gardens are located close to the Rhodes Memorial, making it easy to combine these two attractions into one excursion.

Boulder Beach

One of the most popular things to do in Cape Town during a South Africa vacation is visiting Boulder Beach, part of Table Mountain National Park and home to an African penguin colony. South Africa is known for its lovely beaches, and this one is no exception; in addition, the penguins make it an interesting stop for any travelers interested in the native wildlife.

Other sights in town include the Musee Ethnographique which retraces the history of Porto Novo and has a good collection of Yoruba masks, the Palais Royal of King Toffa now a museum which gives you a good impression of how African royalty lived before Colonial times.

Just outside of town is the Grand Marche d’Adjara which is held every fourth day. There is also an interesting Brazilian-style church here which is now in use as a mosque. Another good option for a day trip is to hire a priogue and to make a trip to one of the villages on the lagoon.

Taking its name from the Maasai phrase, “Enkare Nyirobi”, which means “the place of cool waters”, Nairobi is Kenya’s largest city, and it is also its capital. Nairobi Kenya is simply one of the most attractive African cities you’ll find. It is the largest city in all of East Africa, and there isn’t a larger metropolis between Egypt’s Cairo and South Africa’s Johannesburg.

Visitors to Nairobi will certainly not want for things to do, as this city is ideally situated for fun Kenya tours and excursions of many different kinds. Also, should they be up for exploring the city’s culinary scene, those on a Nairobi vacation will enjoy some of the best restaurants in all of Kenya .

If you’re really up for a unique dining experience in Nairobi, you might drop in on an eatery that serves up roast crocodile, ostrich, and/or zebra. Understandably so, dishes based around these meats might not be for everyone. Nairobi is certainly able to deliver a unique travel experience, even if you are a seasoned traveler, and on clear days, the views of Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro inspire the urge to take in as much of this part of the world as you can.

Located in central south Kenya, Nairobi hasn’t long been the thriving city that it now is today. In fact, little more than 100 years ago, the area where Nairobi is found was little more than swampland that the Maasai tribes used primarily as a watering hole.

It wasn’t until 1899 that Nairobi began its path towards becoming the country’s capital, the title of which was previously held by the coastal city of Mombasa. It was the Uganda Railway that led to Nairobi’s birth, if you will, as a major depot for the historic railway was constructed here.

In a short period, Nairobi would become the headquarters for the Uganda Railway, although in the early 1900″s, an outbreak of the plague led to the burning of the original town. After being rebuilt, Nairobi accepted the role of capital of the then British-ruled protectorate, which occurred in 1905.

Nairobi tourism was a hit right off the bat, as big game hunters took initial interest in the area. Before long, British colonialists began arriving, and splendid Nairobi hotels were quickly erected to serve the growing Nairobi tourism demands. The Maasai, as well as the native Kikuyu people, began to take issue with the “British invasion”, mostly due to infringement on their lands.

Between 1952 and 1960, Kenyan rebels led an insurgency against the ruling British faction that is referred to as the Mau Mau Uprising. Also known as the Kenya Emergency, among other appellations, the Mau Mau Uprising eventually helped lead to Kenya’s independence, which occurred in 1963.

Nairobi would grow rapidly after that, and there’s plenty to explore in town here. Nairobi is also arguably the best place in all of Africa from which to book safaris, which is almost a must for those enjoying Nairobi travel.

Wildlife safaris, sport safaris, and scenic safaris are just a few of the possible Kenya safaris that can be enjoyed by those engaging in Nairobi travel, and immediately outside of the city limits is the wonderful Nairobi National Park. It’s interesting to consider that just 20 minutes from downtown Nairobi, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and other exceptional creatures roam wild in Nairobi National Park.

You’re definitely not in Kansas anymore once you touch down in Kenya’s capital! Visitors enjoying a Nairobi vacation might consider a day trip to the “Fourteen Falls” waterfalls, which are found further from the city, and adventurous souls can always arrange a white water rafting trip at the Tana River, which is about an hour’s drive from Nairobi Kenya.

Before or after you’ve experienced Nairobi National Park and other fun outdoor pursuits during your Nairobi vacation, you might take interest in some of the urban attractions found here.

One of the great things about Nairobi Kenya is the amount of green space found within the city. There are numerous parks where one can relax and perhaps people watch, the most renowned of which is known as Uhuru (Freedom) Park. You’ll likely be amazed at the vast amount of trees spread throughout Nairobi, and since it rests at over 5,000 feet above sea level, the weather can be refreshingly cool here, especially at night.

Should you be up for touring Nairobi, you might start at the City Square, which is the center of town. Here, you’ll find the Kenya Parliament buildings, Nairobi City Hall, and the Holy Family Cathedral, among other important edifices. Outside of the city center, the Kenya National Museum certainly warrants a visit. You can learn all about Kenya’s history, culture, and geology here. The Railway Museum, which is back towards the center of town, is also very much worth a visit for those interested in history and culture.

Literary and movie buffs won’t want to pass on the chance to visit the Karen Blixen Museum, which is found in the district of Karen, Nairobi. Blixen is famous for the memoir, Out of Africa, which inspired the eponymous 1985 film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.

Oh, how the list of things to do in Nairobi could go on, but you’ll just have to book your own trip to really get a feel for just how amazing a Nairobi vacation can be. For those concerned about the stability of Nairobi Kenya, it might be best to book a Kenya vacation package that takes care of all, or most of the arrangements. As long as you have trustworthy guides and avoid large demonstrations and such, you should be just fine though.

Getting around Nairobi by taxi or Matatus (public minibuses) is a good way to go, and the safest parts of the city are ideal for setting out on foot. Should you be looking to head out of Nairobi after a few days or so to further explore Kenya, the city is the hub for the country’s far-reaching bus network, and you can always hop on a flight to other major destinations.

It might be hard to leave, however, as Nairobi travel can be quite intoxicating. Of course, you might compliment your Nairobi vacation with a few days or more at one of the Kenya beaches to the east. That would make for quite a Kenya vacation alright.

As you fly into to Cairo, Egypt one will be left speechless as they look out the window and see the contrast of the setting. Out one side of the plane, you can see the vast arid desert which seems to be never ending; out the other side of the plane you see a busy city which looks like a modern day Oasis.

Travelers from all over the world have been marveling at Egypt ‘s wondrous antiquities for thousands of years. Although these antiquities still exist today, a visit to Cairo , Egypt is more than an immersion into the past but also encompasses many modern day amenities which anyone will be sure to enjoy.

Just walking around downtown and in the older residential parts inside the wall of the city where craftsmen work on the sidewalks outside their homes is also a real pleasure. It is easy to meet real Cairenes that are eager to discuss anything with you. Some of them try to lure you into their carpetshop; others are really interested and interesting to talk with.

If you are hungry make sure to try the most popular Egyptian dish, Koshray. Koshray is a traditional Egyptian meal that consists of a delectable combination of macaroni, spaghetti, rice, black lentils, chick peas, garlic sauce and a spicy tomato chili sauce, all topped with fried onions.

A visit to the pyramids and the Sphinx is a must, since these Egyptian icons are living and existing marks for the fascinating history that Egypt carries and is proud of. Just be aware for the aggressive Egyptian friendliness overthere from camel drivers or policemen who try to earn a few Egyptian pounds from you (they call it bahshis,  a tip).

Just ask a friendly tourist to assist you in making a picture from you and you will not leave the pyramids with an irritated feeling about this Egyptian earning strategy. While in the city make sure you visit the museum

first before going to see pyramites. You will appreciate more to the culture of ancient Egypt. It is advice not to make the pyramite visits on Fridays due to mass at noon time 12-13. The pyramites are closed during the  time period.

Cairo,historical and unique city, combinds old city and modern city. I enjoyed a lot travering around this city. One of the most surprising things for me, a Japanese traveler, is the price which is not fixed from taxi to a bottel of water. So I had to ask the price first and start negociating for discount. To me who traveled many countries, people in Cairo is the hardest negociator for free travelar. I was very tired. But still, Cairo is worth to go, I think, because of its historical heritage.

Built on a sand area next to a picturesque lake and surrounded by palm trees with dates, Sabha is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Libya. Here you can visit castles as well as take part in a number of adventure activities such as camel riding.

Located in southwestern Libya in a Saharan oasis, Sabha was historically the capital of the Fezzan region and is now the capital of the Sabha municipality.

Attractions in Sabha

The city is famous for its Sabha castle which is featured on the reverse of the ten dinars banknote of Libya. This castle is the former Fortezza Margherita which was built during the Italian colonial period and it is currently a military institution.

Activities in Sabha

Traditional camel riding is one of the most popular activities that visitors cam enjoy while in Sabha. However, it is become equally popular to hire a jeep in order to explore the surrounding area.

Relaxing

Relax by absorbing the distinctive African atmosphere and head to local areas to find traditional restaurants where you can sample the local cuisine.

Getting Around

Get around by hired jeep or car. You can hire vehicles from most major cities as well as from the airports.

The only drawback for tourists is a lack of infrastructure; however this also ensures that crowds of foreigners are not overrunning the country.

Madagascar is made up of six provinces – Antsiranana , Mahajanga , Toamasina , Antananarivo , Fianarantsoa and Toliara – the capital city of each lending its name to the province.

Antananarivo , or Tana, as it is more commonly known, is the capital city of Madagascar and is situated in the central highland region of the island.

With an international airport and easy access to Toamasina on the east coast, and many locations in the south, Tana is where most tourists begin their visit to Madagascar.

An enjoyable journey is to follow national route number 7 from Tana to Tulear , which takes in the towns of Antsirabe , Ambositra , Fianarantsoa , Ambalavao , Ihosy and Toliara as well as providing access to scenic attractions such as Ranomafana National Park (lemur spotting and hot springs), Isalo National Park, the Fianarantsoa-Manakara Rail Journey , home made paper factories , spiny forests and world class diving at Ifaty .

Other popular destinations include the islands of Nosy be in the northwest and St. Marie off the coast of Toamasina in the east, Morondava for its avenue of baobab trees in the west, the magnificent harbour of Antsiranana (Diego Saurez) in the north, and Port Daulphin ( Taolagnaro ) in the south.

On February 20, 1575, carrying credentials from King D. Sebastião, Paulo Dias de Novais landed on the island of Luanda in command of a fleet of seven ships carrying a hundred families of colonists and 400 soldiers.

The following year, de Novais moved to the mainland opposite the island and established the settlement that was to become São Paulo de Loanda. What attracted de Novais to the area was the prospect of controlling the legendary silver mines of Cambambe. Loanda and the São Paulo settlement offered a sheltered port in an excellent spot very close to the river Kwanza, the route to the mines.

From 1950 onward, the city grew with astonishing rapidity. The population of the Luanda municipality soon reached 200,000, of whom 70 percent were black. Many new districts appeared and civil construction increased apace. One of Luanda’s most famous landmarks, the National Bank of Angola building, was built at this time. The large pink structure overlooking the Luanda bay is a beautiful example of colonial architecture.

Today, Luanda is home to some 4 million people. It is recovering from its years of strife. The first buildings built during the post-independence period are finally completed and are in use. Stores, restaurants, hotels and offices are multiplying and the city is returning to its former status as a major commercial hub. The Ilha, the peninsula in the bay of Luanda, is a good spot to catch some tan and eat (as everything but fuel very expensively).

Just a few minutes south of Cairo on the west bank of the Nile, the Pyramids of Giza rise out of the desert expanse—a tribute thousands of years old to an ancient culture. Built about 5,000 years ago, the three large Pyramids of Giza are the most recognizable Egypt attractions, as well as one of the most recognizable destinations on the planet. No visit to this ancient nation could be truly complete without standing in the presence of the Egyptian pyramids.

In 2,589 BC, the first pyramid of the Giza complex—the pyramid of King Khufu or Cheops—was started. This was not the first pyramid built in Egypt (and these three pyramids are not the only pyramids in Egypt), but it is the largest and most well known.

Soon after its construction, Khufu’s son and grandson built the other two pyramids, completing what visitors commonly recognize as the Pyramids of Giza. While the three largest structures are obviously the most attention grabbing, the Giza Plateau is a complex including many other ancient buildings, among them the Great Sphinx.

Obviously, the Egyptian Pyramids are huge, but standing face to face with them will astound anyone, no matter how many photos or TV shows you may have seen. The largest has stones averaging 2.5 tons each and covers 13 square acres of ground. You can spot the pyramids from tall places in Cairo, but the best way to see these structures is up close.

There are a few options for how to reach the pyramids from Cairo. Taxis are cheap in this area and are a good option. Buses also depart Cairo for the pyramids.

Once you arrive at the Giza Plateau, you can tour the site on foot or ride a horse or camel. Again, be aware of anyone trying to take advantage of you and your tourist money. Do not take a picture with a camel unless you want to pay for the privilege. Before you take a camel ride, bargain to get a lower price. Prices are not set in stone here and you will pay more if you don’t attempt to bargain the price down.

Though many may find it a suprise, visitors can actually go inside the great pyramid. The climb inside is steep and the passage is narrow, but unless you are claustrophobic, this is the experience of a lifetime. Standing in a space built by the hands of laborers nearly 5,000 years ago, dimly lit and far away from the modern world, is breathtaking. Those with bad backs or knees are advised not to go.

Similar to another site, the Temple of Karnak, a sound and light show centers around the Great Sphinx each night at dark. While perhaps not an experience that will take you back to ancient Egypt, the light and sound show is worth seeing and includes interesting facts about the Pyramids of Giza. Thought to have been built by Khafre, the builder of the second highest pyramid, the Great Sphinx spent much of its existence under sand. Only for this reason is it still standing, but has eroded due to its exposure to air and pollutants.

While in Cairo, the Egyptian pyramids and the Great Sphinx on the Giza plateau is an experience that should not be missed in your visit. Just a short ride outside of the city, these ancient Egypt attractions are massively breathtaking and fascinating.