Africa is the
world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent. Located predominantly in the southern
hemisphere of the world, cutting the equator and home to 47 countries
including the disputed territory of Western Sahara. However,
the islands off the coast are also usually listed as African, bringing the
total to 53. These island nations include Cape Verde, São Tomé and PrÃncipe,
Madagascar, the Comoros, the Seychelles, and Mauritius. Each is an independent
nation.
I have always hoped to visit
Africa due to the incredible culture and atmosphere that this stunning
continent has to offer. African culture is spectacularly interesting because it
is so diverse. Every African country is a mix of tribes each with their own
unique language and culture. Countries as small as Uganda have more than 30
tribes. African
culture
encompasses and includes all cultures within the continent of Africa. There is a
political or racial split between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, which
is in turn divided into a great number of ethnic cultures. These cultures are
diverse and varied and not static, and like most of the world have been
impacted upon by both internal and external forces.
Much
of Africa's cultural activity centers on the family and the ethnic group. Art,
music, and oral literature serve to reinforce existing religious and social
patterns. The Westernized minority, influenced by European culture and
Christianity, first rejected African traditional culture, but with the rise of
African nationalism, a cultural revival occurred. The governments of most
African nations foster national dance and music groups, museums, and to a
lesser degree, artists and writers. African culture encompasses many features of
society today, including clothing, jewelry, dance, music, cooking and arts and
crafts.
African clothing is the traditional clothing, often vibrantly coloured, worn by the people of Africa. In some instances these traditional garments have been replaced by western clothing introduced by European colonists. Like wise, vibrantly coloured jewellery is often paired with the clothing of Africans. However, this adornment of jewellery is just ornamental but also plays a major part in rituals and religions. Each piece is represented and worn for a particular reason, ranging from aesthetics to identifying marks of a society or group.
The climate plays a large part in determining the materials used to make this jewellery, which emphasises the strength of these items to last in harsh conditions. When touristing into Africa, be sure to ask a member of a tribe to make you a piece of jewellery- it'll last you forever and is a beautiful souvenir to take home to remember your travels.
Cuisine:
African cuisine is a generalised term collectively reffering to all the delicious and various foods of Africa. The continent of Africa is the second largest landmass on Earth, and is home to hundreds of different cultural and ethnic groups. This diversity is reflected in the many local culinary traditions in terms of choice of ingredients, style of preparations and cooking techniques!
(Fufu (right) is a staple food of Central
Africa, pictured with some peanut soup.)
Traditionally,
the various cuisines of Africa use a combination of locally available fruits, cereal grains and vegetables, as well as milk and meat products. In some parts of the continent, the traditional diet features a preponderance of milk, curd and whey products. In much of Tropical Africa, however, cow's milk is rare and cannot be produced locally (owing to various diseases that affect livestock). Depending on the region, there are also sometimes quite significant differences in the eating and drinking habits and proclivities throughout the continent's many populations: Central Africa, East Africa, the Horn of Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa each have their own distinctive dishes! So depending on the part of Africa that you decide to visit, or multiple parts of Africa, you will experience many different and diverse foods of the stunning continent!
African
dance
refers mainly to the dance of Sub-Saharian Africa, and
more appropriately African dances because of the many cultural differences in
musical and movement styles. These dances must be viewed in close connection
with Sub-Saharian African music traditions and Bantu cultivation of rhythm. African dance utilises the concept of polyrhythm as well as
total body articulation yet many African languages have no word to define
music.
Dances teach social patterns and values and help people work, mature,
praise or criticise members of the community while celebrating festivals and
funerals, competing, reciting history, proverbs and poetry; and to encounter
gods. African dances are largely
participatory, with spectators being part of the performance. With the
exception of some spiritual, religious or initiation dances, there are
traditionally no barriers between dancers and onlookers. Even ritual dances
often have a time when spectators participate.
Top places to visit in Africa!
North Africa:
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya:
Maybe your local zoo has lions, leopards, zebras or elephants. Maybe they even have wilderbeest. But we bet they don't have 1.3 million wildebeest- never mind 1.3 million wildebeest in migration, with predators in hot pursuit. It's one of the most awesome sights in nature, and you can see it at Masai Mara in southwestern Kenya.
Kruger National Park, South Africa:
The largest game reserve in South Africa, Kruger National Park is basically a synonym for the word "safari". Home to over 500 bird species, 100 reptiles and nearly 150 mammals, multiple archaeological sites, and a stunning diversity of trees and flowers- Kruger is the country's flagship national park Adventurers can either explore the park in a 4x4, take a bush walk or fly above in a hot air balloon! A perfect way to have a relaxing day exploring some of South Africa's natural beauty, and take advantage of the picture-perfect surroundings for a nice picnic lunch.
Fes, Morocco:
The oldest university in the world isn't Oxford of Sorbonne- It's the University of Al-Karouine, and you'll find it in Fesers el Bali. This walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will transport you back to medieval times. Visit the ancient maze-like quarters of the Medina to Fes el Bali and the four imposing Gates of Fes, with their distinctive Moroccan tile work. You can walk, or, if you're brave, take a taxi- the daredevil drivers will have you hanging on for dear life!
Mauritius, Africa:
Mauritius is arguably Africa's wealthiest destination, a tropical paradise with tons to do. Port Louis, the modern capital of the 38-mile by 29-mile island, is a bustling port with a revitalised waterfront and a busy market. But most visitors gravitate toward resort areas such as Mont Choisy, quiet Trou-auz-Biches and the more bustling Flic en Flac, popular with scuba drivers. Riviere Noire is ideal for those looking for great deep-sea fishing.
Zanzibar, Zanzibar Archipelago:
The Zanzibar Archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean 15 miles off the coast of Tanzania, is a breathtaking spot to escape from the world. You'll enjoy a clean turquoise-blue water; shallow sandbars perfect for wading; and many small, nearly deserted islands virtually unvisited by tourists. Explore the World Heritage Site of Stone Town, Zanzibar City's old quarter. Or just go beach to beach between tiny fishing villages- each one's better than the next.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe:
Rainbows are cool. But what trumps rainbows? Moonbows! If you visit Victoria Falls during a full moon, the light of the moon through the waterfall spray produces a lunar rainbow, or "moonbow". If that doesn't interest you because you're more of a daredevil, try whats been called the world's best white-water rafting.
South Africa:
Sun City:
Sun City is internationally renowned as Africa's premier holiday resort, offering a myriad of different entertainment and relaxation opportunities as well as enough attractions and activities to keep everyone busy
The fabulous SunCity resort complex captivities visitors with its combination of golf, game-viewing and gambling as well as world-class hotels. Formerly the gambling mecca of South Africa, SunCity still attracts those who wish to gamble but also those who want to relax. Sun City in South Africa offers everything and more and it has become a haven for holiday makers to South Africa.
Sun City: The palace of the Lost City:
All around Southern Africa they are to be found: the scattered sandstone remnants of ancientAfrican cities, once the heats of the great trading empires built on gold and ivory. Inspired by these lost empires, The Palace of the Lost City at Sun City has been created in a hidden valley in the mysterious Pilanesberg Mountains. Here, life moves with the rhythms of the ancient continent, while new African nobility take their ease amid sumptuous luxury. At the Palace, you will encounter the Africa of today, and here the echoes of an Africa long past.
The Palace lavishes its guests with 5 star service, and is luxurious in every detail. All four suites are breathtakingly opulent. From the distinctive grandeur of the African Suit to the unforgettable King Suite, resplendent in its maple paneling, delicately frescoed ceilings and stunning panoramas over the Lost City. Each exquisite suite revels in the magic of this remarkable place. Here and there, artistic flourishes burst with life. Each room and suite offers royal hospitality with wonderful views over water or jungle. All benefit from a personal touch. The Palace has 338 rooms inclusive of four delux suits, all reasonably priced, and equally beautiful.
Cape Town, Western Cape: Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa:
Cape town is the second most populated city in South Africa after Johannesburg, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape town enjoys an ocean Mediterranean climate with mind, moderately wet winters and warm, dry summers- which lasts from the beginning of june to the end of August.
Cape Town is not only the most popular international tourist destination in South Africa, but Adrica as a whole. This is due to its good climate, natural setting, and well-developed infrastructure. The city has several well-known natural features that attract tourists, most notable Table Mountain, which forms a large part of the Table Mountain National Park and is the back end of the City Bowl.
The City has several notable cultural attractions. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront built on top of part of the docks of the Port of Cape town, is the city's most visited tourist attraction.
It is also one of the city's most popular shopping venues, with several hundred shops and the Two Oceans Aquarium.
The luxurious Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa lies where earth, sea and sky meet, poised about Atlantic rollers and flanked by the majestic Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range in glorious Cape Town, South Africa. This intimate five star hotel fully lives up to its stunning location, with exceptional standards of service and relaxed Cape hospitality providing the perfect counterpoint to it's dramatic backdrop.
Deluxe guest rooms and spacious suites, two breathtaking heated pools magically perched above the ocean, the glorious Azure Restaurant accompanying exquisite cuisine, wonderful friendly service with endlessly seductive sea views, all barely ten minutes from the bustling heart of Cape Town, with nearby attractions including prime diving spots, nature trails, and seals, dolphins, whales and penguins.
The resort was awarded the prestigious honour of being names Southern Africa's only "Leading Spa 2005" by the Leading Hotels of the World for providing guests with a truly luxurious and exceptional spa experience. The 55 deluxe guest rooms and 15 luxurious suits at the Twelve Apostles are set in four secluded and individual wings linked to the public areas via airy walkways, all decorated with understated elegance and feature as standard a wide range of amenities, including 24 hour room service, individual air-conditioning, entertainment centres with DVD, and plush bathrobes and slippers. Rooms are either mountain of sea-facing, and additionally, business ready rooms are designed to help you tear yourself away from the view with a carefully thought out range of extra features that make working a pleasure. These include generous desk space, internet access and special lighting.
Okavango Delta, Botswana: Orient Express Safari Camps:
Botswana is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. It has land borders with Zimbabwe in the northeast, South Africa in the south and southeast and with Namibia to the west.
The country is a broad tableland with a mean altitude of 3,300 ft. A vast plateau of about 4,000 ft. in height, extending from near Kanye north to the Zimbabwean border, divides the country into two distinct topographical regions.
The eastern region is hilly bush country and grassland (veld). To the west lie the Okavango Swamps and the Kalahari Desert. The only sources of permanent surface water are the Chobe River in the North, the Limpopo in the east, and the Okavango in the northwest. In seasons of heavy rainfall, floodwaters flow into the Makarikari Salt Pans and Lake Ngami.
Orient-Express offers the best luxury safaris in Botswana. Stay in authentic African surroundings, as local experts lead you to wildlife experiences other travellers rarely access: this is Africa at it's most revealing, enjoyable and rewarding.
Each of the three safari camps has its own distinct character, giving you a new experience at every turn. Choose from one of their Journeys in Africa and they will do the rest in organising a luxury safari in Africa! There's no better way to discover Botswana! Choose from three of the sophisticated, authentic African camps, Khwai River Lodge, Eagle Island Camp and Savute Elephant Camp to experience the most of your trip!
No matter where you stay in this gorgeous continent, it's 100% going to be an experience that you will never experience again! It is up to you to choose the best activities, authentic resorts and wild safari's to make the most of your time in a continent that is full of culture that lives on from past and present generations.
No matter what you make of Africa, you will experience something so life changing, the people, the food, the locations- and I hope that this blog post helped you understand some of the great things to experience in Africa, and the many things that you can do! If you ever decide to travel to Africa, make the most of each moment!
~ ♡ Marika
♡ ~
