Africa Travel Blog

Category: Attractions

  • 10 Attractions To See in Cape Town

    Cape Town is one of the most scenic place in Africa.  Known as the quintessential melting pot: Cape Town is a city alive with creativity, colour, sounds and tastes. Many travelers who have visited South Africa have fallen in love with the city’s natural beauty, creative freedom and incredible spirit. When visiting this second most populous city in South Africa, be prepared for the unexpected; a surprising experience that you will never forget.

    Here are the top 10 attractions you can’t miss when visiting Cape Town;

    1. Table Mountain

    Table Mountain is arguably the most iconic image of Cape Town. Standing at the top should top everyone’s list of ‘things to do before you die’. Take the leisurely route in the slowly revolving cable car, or alternately hike to the top. Either way you won’t regret it when you get to enjoy the sight of Cape Town and surrounds from the Table top!

    2. V & A Waterfront

    Situated at the Cape Town Harbour basin, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is the most popular venue in Cape Town. With a wide variety of shops, numerous restaurants and cafes, wine bars, sites of historical and cultural interest and local craft workshops, you’ll never have a dull moment here, day or night.

    3. Wine Farms

    From the farms of Constantia in the southern suburbs to the expansive estates of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franshoek, the Cape boasts some of the most beautiful wine farms in the world. And it’s a well known fact that they produce some of the finest wines in the world too! A visit to Cape Town is incomplete without at least one day spent on the wine route, sampling fine wines, learning about the history and methodology of winemaking from the experts, enjoying a sumptuous lunch along the way and coming back laden with some great purchases for the cellar back home.

    4. Robben Island

    Site of former president Nelson Mandela’s prison cell where he was confined for many years prior to his historical release, Robben Island has a very special atmosphere. Take a ferry from the Waterfront and learn from the guided tours about the other men who shared the Island with Madiba, and about the incredible man himself.

    5. Cape Point

    Who wouldn’t want to say they have stood at the tip of the great African continent? Once inside the reserve you can make your way to the main parking area and stroll up the wide paths to the top lookout point. From here the view is breathtaking – sheer cliffs drop to the crashing waves far below while azure waters spread out as far as the eye can see to a hazy horizon. On a clear day, you really can see forever! Enjoy lunch at the excellent restaurant or drive to one of the sheltered beaches for a picnic.

    6. Boulder’s Beach Penguin Colony

    Home of a colony of so-called ‘Jackass’ Penguins (so named for the donkey-like braying sound they make) Boulder’s Beach is situated just past Simon’s Town. Apart from great penguin viewing, the beach is picturesque and great for families with its sheltered bay.

    7. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

    These beautiful gardens at the foot of Table Mountain were established in 1913. The gardens only grow indigenous South African plants, and cover an area of 528 hectares. Picnic on the green lawns next to bubbling streams, or take advantage of a guided tour.

    8. Top Stones Gemstone Factory and Scratch Patch

    Visit one of the Top Stone Gemstone Factories at Glen Cairn or the Waterfront, for a sparkling and enchanting experience. At the Glen Cairn factory you can view the stones being washed polished and crafted into curios or jewelry. Trawl through the walk-in Scratch Patch ‘caves’ and select your own treasures to take home.

    9. Two Oceans Aquarium

    Located at the V&A Waterfront, this is South Africa’s largest aquarium. It has great exhibitions and a strong educational component. The shark feeding times are always popular with visitors who love to get a close up view of these awesome creatures without getting wet!

    10. District Six Museum

    Back in the 1960’s the apartheid government demolished the District Six neighborhoods, displacing the residents. Of all the museums to see in Cape Town, this memorial to the glory days and tragic history of District Six is one of the most interesting and colourful.

  • Madagascar Currency

    The Madagascar currency is called the Malagasy ariary. The country’s currency used to be the Malagasy franc, but it was officially replaced by the ariary in 2005. Madagascar is the only country that uses the ariary for its currency.

    The Malagasy ariary’s ISO code is MGA. Its abbreviation is Ar.

    Each airary consists of five iraimbilanja, which are the equivalent of cents in many western currencies.

    There are a number of airary notes and coins in circulation. Notes come in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10,000. Coins come in denominations of 1 and 2 iraimbilanja, and 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20, and 50 ariary.

    When you are visiting Madagascar, you can get currency at ATMs or foreign exchange desks in the Antananarivo airport and other places in the country. Make sure to have cash on you at all times, as many places in Madagascar do not accept credit cards. Small change is good to carry, as often people will not have change for large bills.

  • Trips from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains

    Many visitors to Morocco take trips from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains.

    Given the proximity of the mountains to the city, it is an easy trip and makes for a great escape from the bustle of the souks and the medina.

    There are several ways to take trips from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains. These include hiring a car in Marrakech and driving to the Atlas Mountains, taking an organized tour to the mountains, or going on a small group excursion.

    Whatever method you choose to get to the mountains, it is best to stay overnight for at least one night.

    The distance from the city center is far enough that doing a day trip from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains is very ambitious, but doing an overnight or several night trip is well worth it.

  • Top 10 Things to Do in Tunis

    Often overlooked by visitors on their way to Tunisia’s other top places to visit, Tunis is worth a few days to explore.

    Here is a list of the top 10 things to do in Tunis:

    10. Admire the monumental Bab el Bahr, or Porte de France, the arch that separates French Tunis from the medina

    8. Go to the beaches north of Tunis for a day in the sun

    7. Peek inside the stunning Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul and visit the Zitouna Mosque, the largest mosque in Tunisia

    6. Visit the beautifully renovated National Theater in Tunis

    9. Wander through the streets of the old French city and then visit the winding heart of the medina to see the contrast in styles

    5. Have tea at one of the many cafes that line Avenue Habib Bourguiba

    4. Take a day trip to Sidi Bou Said, a beautiful blue and white coastal tow

    3. Meander through the souks in the heart of Tunis to pick up some souvenirs

    2. Take the TGM train to Carthage and spend a day visiting the ruins of the once-great city

    1. Visit the excellent Bardo Museum to see some of the most well preserved Roman mosaics in the world

  • Top 5 Things to Do in Dakar

    There is no shortage of things to keep people busy in Dakar when they are visiting Senegal. Here are is my list of the top 5 things to do in Dakar:

    1. Take a ferry to the Ile de Goree. The beautiful architecture and rich history of the island make it one of the top places to visit when you are in Dakar. The ferry ride is another highlight, as it offers passengers great views of both the city and the Ile de Goree.

    2. Go to the westernmost point in Africa. La Pointe des Almadies is as far west as you can get on the continent. There is a great beach there from which you can watch the sunset, and the sand is lined with plenty of restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops. Going to the Pointe des Almadies is not only one of the top 5 things to do in Dakar, but one of the top things to do in all of Africa.

    3. Take a day trip to Lac Rose. Not far from Dakar is the famous pink lake, which is so named because in a certain light the water looks rose colored. Visitors can go there for lunch, participate in adventure sports, or go shopping at the craft stalls by the water’s edge.

    4. Experience the nightlife in Dakar. The city has some of the best nightlife in West Africa, and no trip is complete without a visit to a bar or club. Dakar also has a vibrant music scene, and going to a live show is a great way to experience the Senegalese culture.

    5. Take a day trip to the Village des Tortues. The turtle conservation center is a great place to see large and small turtles alike. It is located near Lac Rose, and can easily be combined with the lake on a day trip. Visiting the two destinations is definitely one of the top 5 things to do in Dakar.

  • Visiting Tunisia Star Wars Filming Locations in Tunisia

    Carthage Museum Baths

    Avid Star Wars fans know that there are many Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia. Many of the scenes from the six films were shot in the desert regions in the country. When you are visiting Tunisia, you can go to a lot of the places where the movies were filmed and see things like the Dune Sea first-hand.

    Most of the Star Wars filming sites are concentrated around Tozeur in the western part of the country. There is an airport there, so it is easy to get to Tunis. It is a good place to base yourself on your Star Wars tour of Tunisia.

    Tozeur is famous for sites including Lars’ Homestead in Chott El-Jerid, and La Grande Dune, which is where the Dune Sea has filmed in Star Wars Episode IV.

    To the north of Tozeur you can see Star Wars filming locations like Chott el Gharsa. There you can find places like Camel Head Rock, which overlooks the area where the pod race scenes were filmed in Episode I.

    Also in the area are the Yardangs, sandstone rocks that jut out of the water. This site was used as the location for the filming of the light saber battle between between Darth Maul and Qui-Gonn in Episode I.

    Not far from there is the Mos Espa set, where things like Anakin’s Slave house, the pod racing track, and Jira’s Nook were filmed.

    Other Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia include various spots on the island of Djerba in the Gulf of Gabes. This location also has an airport, so it is easy to get to when you are visiting Tunisia. Sites on Djerba include Obi-Wan Kenobi’s hut near Ajim and the location where Obi-Wan and Luke Skywalker enter Mos Eisley in Sidi Jemour.

  • Best Day Trips from Tunis

    Sidi Bou Said Hotel

    There are some great day trips from Tunis if you have time to explore the surrounding area while visiting Tunisia.

    One of the best day trips is to visit the ancient ruins of Carthage. Located just a short train or taxi ride away from the Tunis city center, Carthage is full of great archaeological sites and historical treasures. The ruins are spread over a vast area and deserve a full day to be explored.

    To get around to the various sites in Carthage, you can take the train or a taxi. If you are in the area at lunchtime, don’t miss the chance to try the excellent cuisine on the balcony of the Philipe Strack Villa Didon, which has great views over the sea below.

    Another great day trip from Tunis is Sidi Bou Said. The town is picture pretty with its iconic blue and white buildings. You can get there by train or taxi from Tunis, and climb the hill up to the town. From there you will be rewarded with beautiful views of the Mediterranean.

    While visiting Sidi Bou Said, make sure to visit the shops to look at the handicrafts and pick up souvenirs for family and friends back home. There are also great cafes and restaurants in Sidi Bou Said where you can enjoy a lunch or coffee break while on your day trip from Tunis.

  • Masai Mara, Kenya

    Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve (also called Maasai Mara Game Reserve) is one of the world’s most popular African safari destinations. The Masai Mara is known for its vast land and numerous animal populations, including lions, cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, zebras, deer, wildebeests, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, and others.

  • Crime in Nairobi

    Nairobi, Kenya’s crime rate has been rising steadily over the past two decades. Visitors to Nairobi should be careful to avoid dangerous areas and should be alert to avoid muggings and robbery. Protect yourself from credit card fraud by making sure you get receipts for all transactions. Only use licensed taxis and car hires and agrees to the price upfront. Avoid buses whenever possible. Car hijacking in Nairobi is becoming increasingly common, so be alert and do not try to resist armed car hijackers, as they usually leave victims unharmed.

  • South Downs Way Trail from Winchester

    Finding the South Downs Way trail from Winchester city center can be a bit confusing. The trail is not well-marked, so if you don’t know where you’re headed, it can be difficult to find.
    To get to the South Downs Way trail from Winchester, find the High Street in Winchester. Facing east, walk along the Winchester High Street until it becomes Broadway and then cross the bridge over the river. Turn right on Chesil Street and walk for about 200 meters. Turn left on East Hill, then veer right on Petersfield Road. When Petersfield Road ends, follow the path of the South Downs Way trail from Winchester and turn right when it splits. You will then cross a bridge over a motorway. Take a left when you are across, then a right when you come to the fence. At this point, you will be on the South Downs Way