A Preview Of Africa
The idyllic tropical spice islands of Zanzibar and Lamu lie off the Swahili coastline, where Arab dhows still shuttle goods between Africa and the East. The slave trading days are over, but their legacy remains with the clove plantations of Zanzibar still supplying most of the world.
Western Africa
Most visitors to West Africa claim the people make this area special, with their traditional music, colourful cloths and unique art and architecture. In the desert, the Tuareg nomads are instantly recognizable, covered from head to toe with their indigo dyed outfits, with only their eyes poking out as they lead their camel trains across the desert. And the Dogon agriculturalists in Mali are famous for their cliff dwellings and traditional culture.
As well as the Afro-French cities on the coast with their old slave trading forts, the inland cities have their own history. Djenne is an historic town with bizarre mud mosques. And the legendary Timbuktu, although not as important today as a trading post, is an incredible sight surrounded on all sides by desert.
Central Africa
The least populated and least visited area of Africa, this heart of darkness is covered in 400,000 square miles of evergreen rainforest and is identified by the Congo River. With a rugged infrastructure and a relatively unstable political situation, Central Africa is only really for the hardened traveller.
But for those who make the effort, the mountain gorillas in Virunga national park and the traditional hunter/gatherer Pygmie tribes are a couple of the highlights.
Southern Africa
By far the most westernised area of Africa, this is also the easiest to travel around. But don't mistake this for an indication that Southern Africa lacks the charm of the rest of the continent.
A natural wonder of the world, Victoria Falls "http://www.zambezi.com/vicfall.html", is today not only one of the most spectacular pieces of falling water in the world, but also the adventure capital of Africa. Their one-day white water rafting trips are said to be the wildest in the world. Kayak trips above the falls will offer close encounters with hippos, elephants and possibly crocodiles. And if you still lack that adrenalin buzz, the Victoria Falls Bridge has a one hundred and eleven metre Bungy jump.
Many of the white sand beaches on the shores of Lake Malawi "http://www.africatravelnet.com/Malawi_La..." still remain untouched by the big hotel chains. Instead, you can relax in a basic beach hut, hire a dugout canoe to visit offshore
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