Giraffe roams through Serengeti National Park, Tanzania grasslands.
Africa, a continent brimming with natural beauty and cultural richness, offers a plethora of active travel itineraries that cater to every adventurer's heart. From the towering peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro to the pristine waters of Lake Malawi, there's an adventure waiting for you in every corner of Africa.
Algeria's largely untouched tourism sector invites explorers to delve into the white-washed capital of Algiers, the ancient Casbah, and the fanciful Ottoman architecture. A 9-day "Algeria Colours" tour, priced at $3,032, is provided by Wild Frontiers, offering an expedition into the World Heritage site of Djemila, oases, and the sculpted sandscapes of the Sahara.
In Sudan, a land of ancient kingdoms, Mountain Travel Sobek offers a 12-day trip to explore this ancient kingdom, starting from $4,995. The journey takes you through temples, painted tombs, and more pyramids than Egypt.
South Luangwa National Park in Zambia is one of Africa's great wildlife sanctuaries, and Robin Pope Safaris provides an 8-day mobile walking safari for $4,345. This immersive experience offers the opportunity to walk among the big game and witness the untouched beauty of the African wilderness.
Tanzania's Serengeti National Park allows veteran outfitter Mark Thornton Safaris to lead walking safaris in its interior, offering a multiday trek through backcountry known for its savanna and big cat sightings. Accommodations are walk-in tents furnished with comfy cots, and the cost is $9,990 for 11 days.
South Africa offers numerous outdoor adventures, including hikes in the Drakensberg Mountains, kayaking to a penguin colony, and a safari in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. REI Adventures offers an 11-day "South Africa Ultimate Adventure & Safari" for $7,199 for members.
The Quirimbas Archipelago in Mozambique can be explored aboard a dhow, featuring snorkeling pristine reefs, lounging on white-sand beaches, and visiting mobile eco-camps on uninhabited islands. CW Safaris offers an 8-day Ibo Island Dhow Safari for $3,498.
For coffee connoisseurs, Micato Safaris offers a coffee-themed tour in Kenya and Tanzania, costing $19,550 for 11 days. The trip focuses on fair-trade roasts, meetings with coffee estate crews, and game drives in nearby parks to spot leopards and lions.
Malawi offers a 9-day service and safari trip, costing $2,500, where participants help build, farm, and teach in the village of Njobvu, stay in thatch-roofed huts, and dine on traditional food. A visit to Liwonde National Park is also included.
These active travel itineraries are just a taste of what Africa has to offer. For more information about these tours, you can visit companies like Intrepid Travel, Jacada Travel, Global Journeys, and H&I Adventures. These companies offer a variety of active travel itineraries tailored to different interests and preferences.
Margaret Loftus, a contributing editor who has reported and written "Tours of a Lifetime" for the past nine years, notes that these adventures offer a unique opportunity to connect with the continent's diverse cultures, wildlife, and landscapes. So, pack your bags and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime!
- Algeria's largely untouched tourism sector invites explorers to delve into the World Heritage site of Djemila, oases, and the sculpted sandscapes of the Sahara through a 9-day expedition provided by Wild Frontiers.
- In Sudan, Mountain Travel Sobek offers a 12-day trip to explore ancient temples, painted tombs, and pyramids, starting from $4,995.
- South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, one of Africa's great wildlife sanctuaries, offers an immersive 8-day mobile walking safari for $4,345, allowing adventurers to walk among the big game and witness the untouched beauty of the African wilderness.
- Tanzania's Serengeti National Park offers a multiday trek through backcountry known for its savanna and big cat sightings, led by veteran outfitter Mark Thornton Safaris for $9,990 over 11 days.
- For coffee connoisseurs, a coffee-themed tour in Kenya and Tanzania is available for $19,550 for 11 days, featuring fair-trade roasts and game drives in nearby parks to spot leopards and lions, offered by Micato Safaris.
