Africa Summary
Africa is a vast continent filled with natural beauty, pockets of wealth and luxury, and regions of staggering poverty. Food and water shortages, the AIDS pandemic, and armed conflicts cast a dark shadow on this continent. But you will find joy and beauty here, as well, from the sprawling deserts to the booming cities.
The continent comprises broad, sandy deserts, lush savanna plains and tropical jungles, and a broad range of plants and animals spread among the three regions. Egypt and Morocco are among the most popular spots for visitors, with Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza ranking as probably the top tourist attraction on the continent. Nature lovers flock to Kenya and Tanzania for safaris, which range from true roughing-it expeditions to luxury tours that pamper you every step of the way. Adventure seekers also trek to Tanzania to attempt to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro. In southern Africa, South Africa’s Johannesburg and Capetown have become popular cities to visit.
Off the coast, Mauritius, the Seychelles, the Canary Islands, and the Cape Verde Islands are popular vacation spots, as well.
Related information for Africa
The Africa Guide - A complete and comprehensive guide to every country in Africa with essential travel information and 100's of tours and safaris, hotels and car hire throughout the continent.
Back in the Crosshairs - Hunting safaris are booming, and after decades of protection, the nearly extinct black rhino is once again fair game. Debra A. Klein reports from southern Africa, where hunters and even many conservationists believe that the best way to save endangered wildlife is to kill it.
The Nature of the Beast - The African elephant, once under threat, has recovered in greater numbers than some habitats can bear. Graham Boynton considers the future of these wondrously sentient creatures in Namibia, Botswana—and South Africa, which faces the tragic prospect of culling.
Africa Heats Up - As many of Africa's once troubled and overlooked countries welcome visitors, travelers are warming to their long-hidden allure. Seven correspondents shed light on the continent's emerging destinations.
Where Have All the Lions Gone? - What would Africa be without the king of beasts? There may be as few as 23,000 lions left on the entire continent—down from 200,000 in 1975 and 400,000 two decades before that. Susan Hack reports from Botswana and South Africa on the trophy hunting and habitat loss that threaten the most majestic animal on earth—a superlative made plain by the portraits of photographer Nick Brandt.
So, Twelve Women Walk Into the African Bush ... - It's no joke
Today, women—in particular, women over forty—are the single biggest demographic of adventure travelers in the world. Cynthia Kling spends fourteen days on an (almost) all-female safari in southern Africa and finds that traveling without men is an adventure in itself.
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