Top Tips and Handy Hints for Touring Africa

South African tours offer something for every traveller – from vibrant city life and iconic sights in Cape Town, beautiful scenery along the Garden Route, and lush vineyards and wineries in the Western Cape to the chance to see the Big Five in Kruger National Park.

Top Stops: Cape Town, Kruger National Park, and The Garden Route

Why Visit South Africa on a Tour:
Touring South Africa is your gateway to natural sights and thrilling experiences. Cape Town perfectly combines seafood platters on Victoria & Albert Waterfront, cable car rides up Table Mountain, and apartheid history at Robben Island; with access to Boulders Beach's penguins, Cape Point, and Cape of Good Hope. A safari in Kruger National Park is the ideal way to live life in the wild and hopefully catch sight of the Big Five in their natural habitat. Wine lovers can make a beeline for Stellenbosch and Franschhoek to sample a glass or two of South African wine. Travel along the Garden Route and take in Knysna’s Lagoon and Heads, Plettenberg’s Monkeyland and Birds of Eden, and Tsitsikamma’s Storms River Suspension Bridge. 

Tours of Kenya are ideal for thrill seekers, nature lovers, and beach fans alike with a mix of adventures, amazing wildlife, and awe-inspiring scenery in Masai Mara National Reserve and Amboseli National Park, and relaxation and water-based fun along the coast in Mombasa.

Top Stops: Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, and Mombasa.

Why Visit Kenya on a Tour:
Tours of Kenya are a thrill for the senses and introduce you to a new experiences and sights around every corner. Masai Mara National Reserve offers prime wildlife viewing - whether it’s witnessing the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras or a safari to tick the Big Five animals of lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo off your bucket-list. In Amboseli National Park, not only can you see Africa’s tallest mountain Mount Kilimanjaro in all its glory, but you can get up close to the plethora of resident elephants and other diverse species on a safari adventure. The perfect place to wind down after a safari is to head to Kenya’s beautiful coastal towns like Mombasa and Diani Beach – bask on white beaches, swim in the turquoise water, and enjoy colourful marine life.

Tours of Egypt let you take in the ancient culture, iconic sights, and archaeological treasures in Cairo, Luxor, and Alexandria, scenic cruises along the banks of the River Nile, and the golden beaches and turquoise waters in the vibrant Red Sea resort of Hurghada.

Top Stops: Cairo, Luxor, and the River Nile

Why Visit Egypt on a Tour:
Egypt is a captivating destination to explore on a tour whether it’s by luxury coach or aboard a cruise ship, dahabiya, or felucca. Cairo is home to the famous Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum; Luxor leads to the Valley of the Kings and the Karnak and Luxor Temples; and Alexandria reveals Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Fort Qaitbey. Take a cruise along the Nile and watch Egyptian daily life unfold on the riverbank – see the famous temples in Kom Ombo, Abu Simbel, and Edfu, and experience Nubian life and visit the High Dam and Philae Temple of Isis in Aswan. The Red Sea coastal resort of Hurghada is the perfect sideline to some tours with a chance to go snorkelling amongst diverse marine life like clownfish, manta rays, and turtles on a boat trip to the idyllic Giftun Island.

Few sights can match up to one of the world's largest waterfalls - the Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Witness the Zambezi River teeming over a cliff into the Boiling Pot, the Devil's Pool natural infinity pool on the edge of a sheer drop, and the 1905 Victoria Falls Bridge.

Top Tips: Visit the Zimbabwean side to capture 80% of the falls and awe-inspiring views.

Insider Tip: There'll be more mist and spray during the wet season - November to April - so bring a Pac a Mac, while March to June is prime time to witness the falls at peak flow.

Relish a visit to see the one remaining Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - the Great Pyramid – alongside the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure – all of which were built during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt – and admire the iconic Great Sphinx. 

Top Tips: Dress modestly to respect local customs and wear comfortable shoes to cope with the uneven, sandy ground. 

Insider Info: Visit early in the morning to avoid the crowds, enjoy the best light for photos, and wander around in cooler temperatures.

Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest peak and the world’s highest free-standing mountain above sea level at 5,895 metres. Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro via the Marangu or Machame Routes typically takes eight days with the reward the awe-inspiring views when you reach the summit.

Top Tips: Choose the right route to match your experience level, and train rigorously to build up endurance and strength. 

Insider Info: Trek Kilimanjaro during the dry seasons - January to early March and June to October – for pleasant weather, clear skies, and low rainfall.