1. Seychelles islands- Located in the northeast of Madagascar, Seychelles comprises of 115 islands. Seychelles is an ideal place for water enthusiasts and offers a number of watersport activities like sailing, scuba-diving, windsurfing, snorkeling and fishing.
2. Mnemba island, Tanzania- It’s a private island in the Indian ocean. This island is ideal for honeymooners and couples.
   One can enjoy various water activities such as scuba diving, swimming, wind-surfing.
3. Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique- Quirimbas Archipelago in northern Mozambique is a chain of 32 coral islands. These islands are paradise for diving enthusiasts. The best time to go is between May and September.
   
4. Bom Bom Islet, Principe- Bom Bom Islet is one of the best beaches in Principe and a wonderful place to relax. You can enjoy deep sea fishing, watch turtles, whales and other aquatic animals.
5. Lamu Archipelago, Kenya- Located in the Indian Ocean near the northern coast of Kenya, Lamu Archipelago comprises of 6 islands. The clear blue water of the beaches on the main island offer great opportunity for swimming, snorkeling and other water sport.
6. Trou aux Biches, Mauritius- Mauritius is a beautiful island located in the Indian ocean and is perfect destination for those who like to dive and snorkel. The best beach is Trou aux Biches  which offers multiple sports such as deep-sea fishing, diving, scuba-diving, kayaking etc.You can also explore some other beaches such as Blue Bay and the Flic en flac.
7. Port St Johns, South Africa- Port St Johns is a village in the Wild coast of eastern Cape and provides exciting opportunity to both beach lovers and adventurers.
8. Sainte Marie Island, Madagascar- Sainte Marie is an island off the east coast of Madagascar. This island is covered with green vegetation throughout the year because of the presence of rainforests. The best time to visit this island is from July to September when you get an opportunity to see humpback whales during their mating season.
9. Zanzibar beaches- Zanzibar has more than 30 beaches and provides best scuba-diving opportunity to adventure lovers. Other watersports that you can enjoy are- waterskiing, kayaking, deep-sea fishing and windsurfing.

Likoma Island, Lake Malawi- Likoma Island lies in the northern region of Lake Malawi close to Mozambique. Various activities are available that will keep the tourists busy such as Scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and sailing. One can visit this island throughout the year but May is the perfect time to explore this beautiful island.

Pyramids of Giza-

The Pyramids of Giza were built as tombs for the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt-Khufu,
Khafre & Menkaure and smaller pyramids were designed for the wives of the pharaohs.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu was built for the pharaoh Khufu, second king of the Fourth
Dynasty. It was constructed by nearly 20,000 workers.
At 481 feet high, this pyramid had remained the tallest structure in the world for nearly 4300 years. Now it has lost around 30 feet height due to erosion.

The second pyramid was built for Khafre, Khufu’s son and fourth king of the Fourth Dynasty. Near Khafre’s pyramid, is the Great Sphinx which is believed to be a portrait of Khafre.

The smallest pyramid is that of Menkaure, fifth king of the Fourth Dynasty.

The Great Sphinx-

Located on the Giza plateau, this enigmatic creature of stone was carved for pharaoh Khafre and faces the rising sun. It has lion’s body and human face and is the largest structure carved out of a huge stone. The body is 200 feet in length and 65 feet tall. The face is 13 feet wide.

The body of the Sphinx had remained buried in the sands for thousands of year and that is the reason it has survived for so long.

The statue has suffered great damage over the years due to air pollution, groundwater and eroding wind and attempts for its repair are going on.

Tourist attraction-

Pyramids of Giza and The Great Sphinx offer fantastic sightseeing to tourists in Egypt. The best time to see these pyramids is just after sunrise. The pyramids offer great scope to understand the ancient Egyptian culture and are popular destination for researchers.

Besides The Great Pyramids, you can also see the Solar Barque Museum, Sphinx light show, Dahshur pyramids. These monuments are a must see for every tourist in Egypt.

Major attractions in Mauritius-

Beaches in Mauritius- The beaches in Mauritius provide excellent relaxing opportunities and some of the finest beaches of the island are- Grand bay, Pereybere, Belle Mare and Le Morne & Tamarin. Travelers can experience some famous watersports such as water-skiing, deep-sea fishing, parasailing and kite-surfing.

Black River Gorges National Park- Those who love nature will not be disappointed in Mauritius. The Black River Gorges National Park is home to around 311 native and endemic flowering plants and also few species of birds that are only found in Africa.

Flora and Fauna- Mauritius has 700 species of indigenous plants and is world’s second largest supplier of flowers. There are around 60 different species of orchids found here.

There are very few animals in Mauritius and a few native species include- Pink Pigeon, Echo Parakeet, Mauritius Kestrel, Telfair Skink and Mauritian Fody. Mauritius was also the only known habitat of the extinct Dodo bird.

Port Louis- Situated on the north-west coast, Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius. The places that you can visit in Mauritius are- Government House, Theatre of Port Louis, Fort Adelaide and Aapravasi Ghat which is UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also visit the Caudan Waterfront, which is considered as one of the best shopping and dining destinations in Mauritius.

Adventure sports- Mauritius has a lot to offer to adventure lovers. They can enjoy sky-diving, sea excursions, trekking in Black River Gorges national Park, Bel Ombre and Valriche, deep sea fishing.

Honeymoon destination- Mauritius is among the top honeymoon destinations in the world. The stunning scenic beauty of this island will make your honeymoon memorable.

The world’s second largest continent is blessed with accessible attractions.

National parks and Game reserves- Africa is home to numerous national parks and game reserves. Out of these the most famous and oldest National Park is Krugar Park in South Africa. It is home to many species and one gets an opportunity to photograph some rare and deadliest animals including the ‘Big five’. Another popular spot is the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya.
It’s a relatively small reserve and the best time to visit is during the wildebeest migration which is one of the spectacular natural events.

Historic sites- The iconic pyramids of Egypt have been a hot tourist destination since many years. The splendid architectural structure and ancient civilization of the pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx hold huge historical importance. Also, there are two temples at Abu Simbel. It’s famous for its breathtaking sight and its historic relocation, it’s now surrounded by an artificial mountain.

Mountains- Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa with its highest point Uhuru peak at 19340 feet. This peak is accessible to the tourists who can enjoy the beautiful glacier scenery at top of the mountain. In southern Africa we have the Drakensberg mountain ranges which consist of a variety of plant life and bird species.

Flora and fauna- The diversified distribution of plants and animals add to the natural beauty of Africa. Some rare species of plants and animals can be found in the dense forests of Africa. The administration takes the necessary steps in the conservation of these nature’s unique species so as to prevent their extinction. If you are done with clicking on land, then wait a minute you have even more diversity underwater. South Africa provides an exciting aquatic life for underwater photography lovers.

Victoria Falls- The largest curtain of falling water is found near the Zambia-Zimbabwe border. It is a must see site for all the tourists. The magic of Victoria Falls on people is amazing and splendid. They are surrounded by national parks and offer safari opportunity and some adrenaline filled sports for adventurous people.

Stellenbosch Wineland is one of the finest wine areas in South Africa and accounts for around 14% of the country’s annual wine production. This district is one of the major tourist attractions in Western Cape and has more than 200 estates for wine tasting.

Paarl Wineland– Wine has been produced in this region for many centuries. There are over 25 wine cellar’s which includes-, Simonsvlei Wines, KWV Wine Emporium, Laborie, Avondale, Nelsons Creek, Backsberg Estate and Nederburg Wines.
It now focuses mainly on the red wine. In addition to this, there are various other places that you can visit like- Jonkershoek National Reserve, Limietberg National Reserve, Wijnland Auto Museum, Afrikaanse Taal Museum.

Franschhoek valley was founded by French Huguenots in 1688. Some major cellars include- Blueberry hill, Cabriere, Graham Beck Wines, La bourgogne, Maison estate, Vrede en Lust.

Constantia- The climatic conditions of this region are ideal for producing wine. The Constantia wine is a famous South African Dessert wine. Major wine estates are Buitenverwachting, Steenberg, Groot and Klein Constantia and the Constantia Uitsig.

Worcester wineland is situated in the Breede River Valley. It produces brandy and wine. It also offers other outdoor activities such as water sports for sports enthusiasts in Quaggaskloof and Brandvlei dams, gliding, mountain climbing, golf.

Durbanville wine valley is a 20 minutes drive from Cape Town and is known for its famous white wine, Sauvignon Blanc. The main estates are- Durbancille Hills, Nitida, Altydgedacht, Havana Hills, Meerendal.

Africa has numerous illness and diseases in various countries, so just make sure you consult your physician and get the recommended vaccinations for a healthy trip. Some African countries have entry requirements and do not allow tourists unless they have vaccinated against the specified disease.

A brief description of some of the serious diseases that the visitors may encounter in their African tour:

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Malaria in Africa-

• Some of the risk areas include- northern part of Botswana, Namibia: Ovamboland and Caprivi, rural areas of South Africa, Natal coastal areas, Swaziland: lowland areas, Zimbabwe.
• Travelers need to take proper precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. You should use mosquito net at night and effective mosquito repellent while going outside in the evening.
• Some of the recommended vaccinations include- mefloquine, malarone, dexycycline.

Yellow fever-

• Yellow fever is a viral infection common in Africa. Few countries in Africa like Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland require vaccination and a certificate for entry of visitors.
• Yellow fever is spread through infected mosquitoes and the ways to prevent it is mosquito repellents and taking appropriate measures to avoid mosquito bites.

Cholera in Africa-

• It is another common disease in Africa and is more prominent in South African countries.
• If you are in an area with poor sanitation and hygiene ensure that you drink boiled water and eat thoroughly cooked food.

Hepatitis A-

• Hepatitis A is a viral disease caused due to poor personal hygiene and poor sanitation. It  causes inflammation of the liver and is common in the rural areas of Africa.
• Again the preventive measures include drinking boiled water and avoiding raw vegetables and salad.
• The vaccination of hepatitis A is available and is strongly recommended for individuals traveling to areas where this disease is endemic.

Bilharzia(Schistomiasis)-

• It is caused by parasitic worms and the risk areas are South African countries of Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Nile river valley of Egypt.
• The Schistomiasis parasites are found in lakes, rivers and they penetrate the skin of the people who are bathing, wading or washing in contaminated water.
• Effective treatment of Schistomiasis is available in the form of Praziquantel and the travelers are advised to avoid swimming in infected water.

With the preventive measures and recommended vaccinations, one can enjoy a safe and healthy African tour.

Morabaraba- Morabaraba is a variation of the game the Nine Men’s Morris that played in Europe. It is usually played in South Africa and a version of this game, Shax is famous in Somalia. A morabaraba board has been found carved in the Great pyramid of Khufu so one can imagine how old these games are. It is recognized as a sport in south Africa and is played on competitive level.

Senet- Senet is one of the oldest games in the world and was played by all the sections of the society of ancient Egypt. The game is played on a board of thirty squares that are arranged in 3 rows of 10. The original rules of this game are not known but presently it is similar to modern backgammon. The reference of this game can be drawn from the painting of Egyptian Queen Nefertari that shows her playing Senet board game. The painting dates back to 1295BC.

Fanorona- Fanorona is a strategic game discovered in Madagascar hundreds of years ago. It is the national game of Madagascar. Depending on the board size three versions of the game exist- Fanoron-Telo (3×3 board), Fanoron-Dimy (5×5 board) and Fanoron-Tsivy (9×5 board). Amongst these Fanoron-tsivy is the most famous.

Seega- Originated in Egypt, Seega is played in most parts of North and West Africa. It is played on a 5×5 board and is very similar to modern day checkers where your goal is to capture your opponent’s pieces.

Dara- Dara is a two-player board game played in Nigeria. Other names of this game are Derrah and Doki. The board used in this game is a 5×6 square board and this game is traditionally played by the Dakarkari people.

These games were discovered many years ago but are still part of rich African culture.

Cape Town, South Africa-

Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa and regarded as Africa’s best city by many people. Good climate and well developed infrastructure makes it a popular international tourist destination. Well known for it’s beautiful scenery, some major tourist attractions of Cape Town are- Cape Town Beaches, Cape Town winelands, Boulders beach (home to African penguins), Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Robben Mountain and the Table Mountain.

Cairo, Egypt-

Situated on the river Nile, Cairo is the capital of Egypt and is the largest city in Africa. Egypt has been attracting tourists from all over the world for the famous Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. There are many other sites that are worth exploring in Cairo like- The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, Cairo tower, Qahira Fatimid mosque, Mosque of Al-Azhar, Coptic Church of St. George, Khan Al-Khalili and many other.

Johannesburg, South Africa-

Johannesburg is the largest and the wealthiest city in South Africa. There are a couple of places that you can visit in Johannesburg like Apartheid Museum, Gold Reef City, Heia Safari Ranch, number of parks and national reserves like Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden and Emmarentia dam is popular among boating enthusiasts.

Nairobi, Kenya-

Blessed with the largest wildlife in the world, Nairobi is the largest city and the capital of Kenya. It is a popular safari destination among tourists. The most famous tourist attraction in Nairobi is the Nairobi National Park which contains various animals like giraffes, lions and black rhinos. Other tourist places include- National museum of Kenya, Giraffe centre, Uhuru monument, Snake park, Ngong hills and Bomas of kenya.

Port Louis, Mauritius-

Port Louis is the capital of the beautiful island of Mauritius. Port Louis is a famous destination for tourists coming to Mauritius. It has many interesting places to visit like governor’s house, Champs de Mars Port Louis, sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolan Botanic Garden, Cauden Waterfront complex, Port Louis Bazaar and the Mauritian Chinatown. For beach lovers, visiting Volunteer beach is a must. This beach provides shelter to150 breeding pairs of Penguins.

Timbuktu History

Timbaktu was founded by Tuareg nomads and by fourteenth century it became a major center for salt and gold trade as well as world center of Islamic learning.

In the 14th century, Mansa Musa ordered the construction of Djinguereber Mosque,
a famous mosque in Timbuktu. The Songhai Empire came next and further helped in the growth of Timbuktu and transformed it into an Islamic learning center.

Many European explorers tried to reach this city but failed and it was in 1828 that the first European reached Timbuktu.

Timbuktu was placed under French rule in 1894 and the city became part of Independent Mali in 1960.

Timbuktu today and Major tourist attractions in Timbuktu-

Timbuktu was included in the list of World heritage sites in 1988 and various programs are underway to protect the city and reclaim its old heritage.

Timbuktu is a fascinating place for tourists to explore mosques made of mud that have survived the hot climate of the Sahara desert. These include-

• Djinguereber Mosque- Built by the sultan Kankan Mouss in 1327
• Sankore Mosque – Built in fifteenth century and later restored by the Imam Al Aqib
• Sidi Yahya Mosque- It was built around 1400 by Sheikh El Moktar Hamalla.

Besides these mosques Timbuktu also has several libraries that have hundreds of manuscripts that were collected over the course of time. Some of them are- Maigala library, Mohamed Tahar Library, Mamma Haidara library, Ahmed Baba Institute and the Boularaf collections.

Souvenir specialties of various countries in Africa-

South Africa shopping- Some of the best art and craft shopping can be done alongside the road to the Kruger National Park. There are many other items that can be purchased from the local artisans such as beaded jewelry, ceramic bowls and plates, baskets, batlik fabrics etc.
You can also take back some of the best produced wine in the world from South Africa.

Kenya souvenirs -Women can shop for beaded bracelets and necklaces made by the Masai people. The City market in Nairobi is an excellent place to buy inexpensive souvenirs. Check out the Soapstone from Western Kenya and the wooden cravings of wild animals.

Uganda- Some of the finest handicrafts of Africa can be found here which includes colorful mats, baskets, musical instruments and the famous drums made from cow hide.

Tanzania souvenirs- The best craft shops are in Arusha and Zanzibar. Makonde woodcarvings of people and wildlife are world famous souvenirs made in Tanzania. Local items include beaded jewelry, pottery, and the Tanzanian Kanga, which is a skirt worn by women of Tanzania.

Mozambique- Local crafts can be purchased from the markets in the tourists areas. It includes- soapstone, African masks, paintings, ornaments made of wood, baskets and wooden drums.

Namibia- The wood carving market at Okahandja has the popular carved giraffe and other wire ornaments. Semi-precious stones can also be purchased in Namibia.

Malawi- A wide variety of attractive wooden items are made here like- chess boards and Malawi chairs. These items can be purchased from the Lilongwe craft market.

Tips for shopping in Africa-

1. Avoid buying illegal items such as souvenirs made from ivory, animal fur, tortoise shell and coral.
2. Make sure you don’t overload your luggage and stick to the luggage restrictions.
3. Bargain for the items- quote the price that you feel is the worth of the item.
4. You can also barter for souvenirs in sub-Saharan areas or in the flee market of Cape Town.

Souvenirs are available in every market of the continent; make sure you buy the best items at the best price for your lasting memories.