* A F R I C A *

Mysterious, mystifying, Africa is the cradle of mankind – the birthplace of the human species. Endowed with great natural wealth it is truly a paradise – the "Garden of Eden." An abundance of exotic, beautiful and unique animals make Africa their home in its savanna grasslands, its impressive forests, its verdant swamps and its expansive deserts. This huge continent covering over 20% of the world’s land surface is the second largest continent on earth. It is larger than the United States, Europe and China combined. The largest desert on Earth, the Sahara, is found in Africa, as well as the longest river in the world, the Nile. The entire Nile River Delta itself is estimated to drain an area over 1.3 million square miles. The area is so vast that is has its own number of different climate zones. The continent is also home to the world’s largest waterfalls by volume – Victoria Falls. Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact caldera whilst the Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain peak which is not a part of a range. In terms of population as well, Africa is second only to Asia with more than 900 million people inhabiting the continent which is approximately 14% of the world's total population. The continent is bound by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Suez Canal and Red Sea in the northeast, which separate it from the neighboring continent of Asia. The Indian Ocean bounds the continent of Africa in the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. There are 46 countries on mainland and the number climbs up to 53 if you include all the island groups as well. There are well over a thousand languages spoken on the continent. Much of the continent, dominated by vast areas of plains with uniform vegetation and landscape, harbours over 1,570 species of mammals and over a thousand species of bird life. Many of these are unique to the continent. No wonder it has so much to offer !

With such diverse topographical features, cultural diversity and natural beauty, the continent has such a tremendous variety of attractions that anyone with curiosity and a sense of adventure can surely find more than just something fascinating to do and see. It is one continent with many worlds !

Synonymous with wildlife and game reserves, Africa is a land of Safaris – short or long, rugged or deluxe. Climb up the sides of the volcanoes in Rwanda to look for the Mountain Gorillas... Discover Kenya, Tanzania or Botswana in expedition vehicles or on foot and view more wild animals than you can ever dream of. At night from your deluxe tents and deluxe lodges listen to the not-so-distant sounds of the wild. By day, see at close range the animals of each region – hundreds of them... sometimes thousands of them.... and on special occasions, hundreds of thousands ! The Chobe river in Botswana is home to almost 30,000 elephants... While you camp in such surroundings, at dawn the sun seems to explode into being, streaking the land with vivid gold... birds will break your dawn with their chatter – followed by the grunts of the hippos and the elephants ! An unforgettable wake up call !

Africa is a land of diverse ethnicities, languages and geographic features that caters to myriad tastes and varied interests. There are peoples and cultures ranging from the desert nomads to pygmies of the rain forests, from the tribesmen of the central plains to the Bedouins in the deserts... Stay at camps or lodges with the Masai people in Kenya and Tanzania. Visit the villages of pygmies in Rwanda or the bushmen in Botswana... or share a kraal with the Owambo in Namibia.

In the Saharas, a different kind of safari awaits you: either by 4WD vehicles or by Camel Caravan explore the undulating dunes, surreal volcanic landscapes and oasis towns. In Liberia, cycle from one tribal village to another. In Mali rough it out by Dugout Canoes and on foot. Walk through the ancient town of Timbuktu. In Morocco and Tunisia, travel by vehicles and Mule Caravan to study the Culture of the Berber tribes. In the Kenyan highlands take a horseback safari...

For the hikers and trekkers, Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro are the most sought-after. In North Africa, the highest trails include those along High Atlas Mountains, whereas your mountain trekking in Southern Africa can be along the Drakensberg Mountains and Africa being Africa, you can even do a Walking Safari at the Luangwa Valley in Zambia....For divers, you have the coral gardens of the Red Sea... for rafters the tempestuous Zambezi River below the Victoria Falls... or float down the Rufiji River with its grinning crocodiles and startled hippos. For the tame, sail on the Nile on a Fellucca (boat) in Egypt to see the oldest and the most impressive ancient civilization on earth...

Then there are the markets: Different markets in Africa are famous for different crafts and products. In Morocco, the souks of Fez and Marrakech can attract travellers with their ambiance, if not with the indigenous products sold there. Descriptions on the narrow alleys, the odor or spices, ethnic costume worn by the sellers and peddlers. These crowded streets have found a place in many a travelogue. Other prominent markets of Africa which maintain regional characters are the Islamic Cairo market in Egypt, the Kejetia market in Kumasi, Ghana and Merkato market in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – to name only a few.

Many exotic islands and their excellent beaches are part of the continent too. These islands include Madagascar, Seychelles, Socotra, Comoros, Mauritius, Réunion, Tristan da Cunha, Ascension, St. Helena, the Madeira, Canary islands and the Azores in addition to a few others. Many of these islands have world famous beach resorts and form a fitting end to a Cultural or a Wildlife Safari.

Birthplace of modern humans, it is not surprising that Africa is home to the oldest and most impressive civilizations on earth. As such at its deepest roots it communicates with all of us and our past. You will return not only with exciting stories, experiences and adventures to share with your friends and families, but with a feeling of accomplishment, increased self-confidence and broader horizons from having ventured where few tend to go. An experience about which many dream but that few get to live.

Travel Interlink invites each and every one of you to come to Africa... to return home !