5 Reasons Why Africa is One of my top Travel Destinations
Community-written: Blaine, Singapore
Travelling to Africa has always been a big bucket list for me, and it has been one of the best travel decisions I’ve made. As a first-time visitor, it is safe to say that the trip has been extremely memorable and filled with diverse landscapes, rich cultures and unforgettable encounters.
Here are 5 reasons why Africa is one of my top travel destinations
1. It’s the best place for an incredible safari experience
While the continent boasts a lot of safari destinations, I’ve had my first safari experience in Botswana. As a beginner to safari, Botswana is a great place to start where you will never be lacked of wildlife, whether you choose to travel by land or by river.
Top experiences:
Experience game drive in Chobe National Park, where you get up-close encounter with the wildlife, including lions, buffalos, elephants and more.
Enjoy a sunset cruise along the Chobe River and share the same water with aquatic wildlife – crocodiles, hippos and more.
Take a scenic helicopter ride over Okavango Delta and uncover the vastness of the delta and spot herds of elephants or pods of hippos sleeping their day away.
2. It’s filled with rich diverse cultures
Africa is home to diverse cultures, language and traditions, and you will find the beauty of these fascinating cultures along the trip. You get to learn about these cultures from friendly locals who are passionate to share!
Top experiences:
Cultural dinner and drum show at The Boma Zimbabwe; enjoy your dinner featuring local delicacies, traditional dance performances and interactive drum show.
Learning a local song from the Tswana people and that became our way of connecting with each other despite the language barrier
Understanding different cultural backgrounds and languages from students in Kids Haven, where we spent time conducting Life Coaching Workshops
3. Experience majestic landscapes and stunning scenery
Travelling through the continent allows you to witness the splendour of nature firsthand. From picturesque river to towering mountains, you will find that the beauty that is offered is truly unparalleled.
Top experiences:
Enjoy a walking tour in one of the world’s largest waterfall, Victoria Falls, and end off with a Sunset cruise along Zambezi River.
Witnessing the raw beauty of the world’s biggest inland delta, Okavango Delta through 2 ways - Soar above the delta through a helicopter ride and zig-zag through the delta in the mokoro (dug-out canoe).
Quad biking through the Makgadikgadi salt pans, discovering the vast and endless plains.
4. Vibrant cities, and everything in between
Travelling to Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa in my trip was more than enough to understand Africa on an introductory level. In this trip, I got to experience the best of both worlds, immersing in the raw beauty of nature and exploring the hustle and bustle of the city.
Top experiences:
Enjoy a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, witnessing the breathtaking view of the spectacular African sunset.
Experiencing game drive in Chobe National Park in Botswana, where you see National Geographic come alive before you.
Take a walk in the city center of Johannesburg and explore the modernity of the city.
5. Unexpected relationships made through the trip
Signing myself up for this trip, I had prepared myself for a solo experience. However, through this trip, one of the biggest rewards was the people. Every day was filled with laughter and joy, and there was never a dull moment with the group.
Top experiences:
Staying under the same lodge with everyone in our first accommodation and understanding/accommodating to each other’s living habits.
Having dinner gatherings with the group and hearty conversations filled with laughter.
Final thoughts: Do first, think later!
I’ve had a lot of people asking me about my experience travelling in Africa. While many people have interest in travelling to Africa, the main concern would always be the unknown of the continent. My advice – take a leap of faith and book your next trip to Africa, you’ll never know what it’s like until you’ve experienced it yourself. It has been an unforgettable lifetime experience for me, and it could be the same for you!
