Africa

Elephant in South Africa

Africa is one of the least visited continents on the planet. Visitors tend to have many preconceptions about it and very limited actual knowledge. Africa as a continent has a tremendous amount of diversity. There are vast deserts in the north, grasslands in the central part of the continent, and lots of wild animals. There are numerous indigenous African tribes, which most visitors would expect.

However, Africa is so much more than stereotypes and generalizations. There are amazing beaches on the northern and eastern coasts. There is skiing in the high Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Many people forget that Egypt and the great Egyptian dynasties were African (the Nile connects the Mediterranean with the indigenous tribes of the interior). The cradle of civilization started in the eastern part of the continent. One of the world’s greatest wine producing regions is located in the south. And then there are the people, with their infectious smiles. Africa is richly complex and deeply rewarding travel destination. Here are some of our favorite African experiences.

The Path to Humanity sign at the Maropeng Visitors Center in the Cradle of Humankind

Defining Humanity at the Cradle of Humankind

The blackness swallowed us as we descended down into the earth. We carried lights, but the darkness encroached on us from all sides. The gentle scuffling of feet on the gravel, an occasional soft trickle of water in the abyss and our own breathing were the only sounds. These are the Sterkfontein Caves inside the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The view from Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africaons.

Exploring the Top Cape Town Attractions

Cape Town is a modern, worldly city with an appeal that keeps visitors coming back again and again. While there are many Cape Town attractions to fill your days, it’s also a great city for just living in the moment. There are so many great things to do in Cape Town that you could easily spend a week and only begin to scratch the surface!

An unusual double rainbow over Walker Bay as viewed from the Grootbos Garden Lodge

Finding Sanctuary During a Storm at the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve

South Africa’s southern coast is a wind battered land. Low, scrubby bushes (fynboos) with small leaves dot the coastal land of the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. Hearty milkwood trees, some growing for over 1,000 years, provide isolated cover. From a distance, this is a barren land. But up close, the hillsides are exploding with plant and animal life. We rode out a violent storm from Antarctica here in complete luxury at the Grootbos Garden Lodge.