Is it safe to travel to Africa? Should you even contemplate a trip there? Watch the news headlines and you might think the answer is a firm no. Perhaps it’s just not worth the risk? But as someone who has travelled right across the continent on trips totalling almost two… Continue reading
Rwanda marks the transition between the vast rainforests of central Africa and the plains of typical safari country in the east. So while one of Africa’s smallest nations, there’s a veritable Noah’s Ark of species to look out for in the best national parks in Rwanda. No introduction to the… Continue reading
So good the Sultan of Oman swapped his homeland for it, Zanzibar is perhaps the original Indian Ocean escape. Long before the Seychelles or Mauritius had even been visited by outsiders, Zanzibar was shaping the world with its trade in spices. Today this archipelago off the coast of Tanzania has… Continue reading
Located between Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Chad and the Central African Republic, it would be easy to ask, is Cameroon safe? After all, none of these west and central African states have particularly good track records. Here I separate fact from fiction, having travelled across Cameroon from north to south and… Continue reading
South Africa is one of the top countries for first time visits to mainland Africa. Even I find it hard to resist the continued allure of the country. Its range of attractions is massive. There are city sights of Cape Town and Gqeberha, the legacy of Nelson Mandela to explore,… Continue reading
If you’re a long-time follower of mine, you may well know that I won’t be taking a job with the Djibouti tourist board any time soon. However, even I can’t deny the extraordinary – almost otherworldly – beauty of the country. While it may not be the easiest of destinations,… Continue reading
Ghost towns are always beguiling places. They seem to call to our sense of what it means to be human. There are some very well-known ghost towns round the world, not least Chernobyl in modern-day Ukraine and Oradour-sur-Glane in France. Given its size, it’s hardly surprising Africa has its fair… Continue reading
Hidden off the Atlantic coast of Gabon in west Africa, Sao Tome e Principe is a country consisting of several tiny islands. Together they form a unique mix of mainland African and Portuguese cultures. If you want to say you’ve explored Africa’s second-smallest nation state, check out my guide to… Continue reading
It’s fitting that mainland Africa’s smallest nation is named after its river. Because the River Gambia plays a central role in the life of the country. It occupies much of the country as well. Its borders with Senegal wobble to and fro echoing the river’s passage towards the sea. But… Continue reading
Tunisia can be thought of as a north Africa in miniature. Its Mediterranean coastline offers some excellent all-inclusive beach resorts. But the country also lays claim to desert dunes and an intriguing array of cultures. Its long human history envelopes some of the region’s most important periods too. However, its… Continue reading
