I would like to travel somewhere through Africa during Jan and Feb to escape the Norther winter. Where would you recommend?

Answer:

West Africa could be what you are looking for. Lots of different cultures that are easy to access and most of it devoid from mass tourism (from my limited experiences of East African- it is much more touristy) and easy to get around by public transport. There will be plenty of sun. ATMs are on the way in though, though it is usually harder to find a working one than you would expect.

In two months you could do any number of different routes but maybe something like fly into Dakar, explore Senegal (maybe Gambia) head over to Mali for some music and traditional cultures, then down through Burkina for some colourful markets, then down through Ghana in the tropical jungles, beaches and history. The people are all friendly and welcoming so it is easy to meet people and get a little taste of life.

If you do travel to this region make sure you have decent travel insurance for medical conditons as healthcare in Africa can be expensive.

Working closely with Chobe Safari Lodge, Bushtracks Africa can now add an entire Chobe leg to your Victoria Falls experience, giving you the opportunity to visit two widely differing countries, whilst also experiencing some of the best game viewing in Southern Africa.

Bushtracks can take care of all your internal travel arrangements to ensure that this part of your holiday runs smoothly. Our transfer vehicles, booking agents and river cruising boats enhance the whole experience. The transfer from Livingstone to Chobe is under 2 hours.

There are several routes ranging from the popular Marangu, otherwise known as the Coca Cola route which offers accommodations in mountain huts and the more challenging Machame route which is a camping route

Aim 4 Africa, based in the UK but with strong links in Tanzania, also organise treks using less busy routes such as Londorossi and Rongai. Treks are tailored and include a full, local mountain crew, ensuring extremely high success rates and enjoyable experience. Treks average between 6-7 days depending on the route taken.

Kili can be climbed at any time of the year, but the rainy seasons (April-June; November-December) make the forest more slippery and the summit might be blocked by snow. Be prepared for climatic extremes, from rain in the forest, intense sun in the alpine desert and freezing temperatures at the summit. It’s essential to have warm clothes and a good sleeping bag.

Shark diving is becoming a very strong component of the tourist industry in South Africa and perhaps, this may finally shed some light on the danger these wonderful creatures are in.

Diving with the sharks is undoubtedly one of the most dramatic experiences. The myths, the scary stories and even scarier films have turned sharks into the most fearful creatures that rule the sea. The reality is exactly the opposite. The sharks should be scared of us, humans. Many die in the shark nets, many are caught for their fins and jaws.

Because of the irresistible aura of danger and threat that surrounds the Great Whites divers are drawn to South African waters, where the sharks are plentiful. The diving here may become very tricky. Water may be very cold, visibility poor; currents are often wild and unpredictable. On the other hand, a good day will reveal a dark blue paradise with abundance of wildlife and overwhelming diversity of colors. Jesser Point is one of the best sites to start at. There are many nearby reefs which feature beautiful corals, hoards of colorful fish, and quite a few kinds of sharks on a good day.

Protea Banks is one of the sites which should be taken very seriously. Only advanced divers are encouraged to come here. Protea Banks is a rocky reef some 5 miles off the coast at Shelley Beach. The underwater scenery is truly overpowering, especially when sharks are frequent visitors here. Many come to watch The Sardine Run here – a major attraction during June and July. Even surface-viewings are available for non-divers.

If you are going to South Africa for any type of holiday then you should take out good travel insurance for seniors as any mishaps can be very expensive.

Cage diving with Great Whites is clearly the top of the list for all adrenaline junkies. In Gansbaai, near Cape Town, there are several diving companies which will take the keen divers on their greatest adventure. While the industry has been developing somewhat wildly, there are tendencies now among locals to become more responsible and aim to protect the endangered Great Whites. The system is still being developed, though hopefully, a combination of effective presentations and careful, controlled diving will have a positive effect and will generate necessary funds to protect these amazing creatures.

Africa has always been a classic destination to do overland- the terrain lends itself to travel by truck, and such transportation allows you to cover ground much more efficiently than local transport. Cape to Cairo remains a popular route that takes in a huge variety of cultures, climates and countries, but there are options to see smaller areas, or even tackle a 30+ week trip around the whole continent. Whilst the majority of travelers stick to East Africa, Dragoman offers extensive routes in West Africa, from short trips to a 15 week exploration.

Overland travel can work out to be surprisingly cheap, and becomes more cost-effective when you commit for a longer time – a 23 day trip with Oasis Overland from Victoria Falls to Cape Town costs around £650, and an 8 week trip (Nairobi to Cape Town) will set you back around £1300. Whilst spending money, visas and optional extras are going to add up, trip prices include all transport, accommodation (a mixture of camping and hostels/hotels) and, generally, two meals a day. In comparison to other tours in Africa, overlanding is astoundingly good value, and by traveling on a truck, you will be able to reach areas of Africa with ease, that can be difficult/expensive/dangerous to get to on your own.

The growing number of overland operators operating in Africa allows you to shop around. The 10 leading UK operators are: Dragoman, Oasis, African Trails, Acacia, Tucan, Kumuka, Intrepid, Absolute Africa, On the Go and GAP Adventures, most of which offer purpose-built trucks with (relatively) comfortable seating, bag storage, books, music and games on board. These companies charge differing rates, which tends to be more dependent on who their target traveler is rather than what they offer, and by researching into different operators (most are more than happy to chat to you on the phone) you will not only find the trip that suits you, but that offers you great value for money. Most trips have a range of nationalities and age groups on board, brought together by their common interest in adventure.

Additionally there are normally special offers for those who book ahead of time, or repeat customers, as well as a number of late deals across these companies – by waiting close to departure times you can save yourself anything from 10 to 50% on trip prices.For example, Absolute Africa is currently offering 20% off selected safari trips departing October to December 09, when booked by the end of August, and Acacia is running an ‘End of Year Clearance Sale’ with up to 50% off certain trips departing before Christmas.

Lucy Fulford

AfricanMecca is a natively owned travel company with tour planning and reservation partner offices in the United States, United Kingdom and ground operations team within Africa.

This award follows AfricanMecca gaining increasing recognition in the global travel market. This year saw them topping the National Geographic Adventure Magazine’s selection of Best Adventure Travel Companies On Earth with an exceptional customer satisfaction rate of 96.67%.

The company offer traditional safari trips and beach breaks, as well as diving and fishing  holidays, treks up Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro, along with flights and hotels across South East Africa.
For more information see http://www.africanmeccasafaris.com/

Whether you watch from the boat or climb into the cages and meet them face to face, Shark Aley offers some of the best Shark watching in the country.  It’s certainly one of  the most breath-taking experience you will ever live to remember.

Tours can be from from just one day to a full 10 day tour on boat, the average day tour costs around ZAR 1500.00 p/p.

Jump in the cage if you dare!

Situated on a dune with great views of the Indian Ocean, Island Vibe offers the most picturesque setting for any beach bum.  Surf spots everywhere right on your doorstep, you can literally just hear the waves crashing from your bed.  There are typical wooden balconies over looking the magnificant white beaches.

Surf lessions can be sort at the head office of “Jeffrey’s Bay Surf School”, beginner classes are readily available.  The atmosphere of Island Vibe is a unique blend of young backpackers, dedicated surfers and older travelers. Each one adds an ingredient that relaxers people into an easy, homely, exciting and enticing place to be.

The trip, ‘Come and See the Paradise’, departs from New York on May 18th, 2010, taking in some of the best game sites of Africa, such as the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the  Serengeti National Park.

This trip is priced at $4,699 p/p + tax of $295, inclusive of all transfers and accommodation, 36 meals and 17 safari game viewing drives. There is no single supplement.

GAY 2AFRIKA, INC. is the only African-gay-owned and operated Safari Specialist Company in the United States, founded by Kenneth R. Hieber.