Britain founded the protectorate, which became independent sultanate in the year 1963 and republic after uprising in the month of January 1964. Zanzibar City is the capital of Zanzibar situated on Unguja Island and the historic centre called Stone Town is World Heritage Site. The major industries of Zanzibar include tourism, spices and raffia. In particular, the islands turn out cloves, pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon. For these reasons, the islands are at times called Spice Islands. It is the ultimate Indian Ocean experience with magnificent beaches and fascinating historical Stone Town. Its Indian Ocean provides world class watersports such as scuba diving, sailing on conventional local dhows, snorkelling, waterskiing, deep sea fishing, windsurfing and kayaking.

The islands became a part of historical record of broader world when Persian dealers founded them and used them as base of passages between Middle East, Africa and India. Throughout the age of Exploration, a Portuguese Empire was the 1st European power for gaining control of Zanzibar and retained it for almost 2 centuries. In the year 1968, Zanzibar fell under control of Sultanate of Oman, which urbanized economy of cash crops and trade with ruling Arab elite. It has a government of national unity with existing president of Zanzibar being Ali Mohamed Shein, since November 2010. As Tanzania’s semi-autonomous part, it has its own administration called Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar. It is made up of Revolutionary Council and House of Representatives.

Unguja consists of three administrative regions such as Zanzibar West/Urban, Zanzibar South/Central and Zanzibar North, while Pemba comprises of two, the Pemba South and Pemba North. The major political parties of Zanzibar include Chama Cha Mapinduzi and Civic United. Widespread mammals with continental relatives include Zanzibar red colobus, Africa’s one of rarest primates and Zanzibar red colobus, which might be only about 1500. Isolated on Zanzibar for at least 10 centuries is the Zanzibar red colobus, which is known as unique distinct species, with different calls, food habits and coat patterns as compared to related colobus species on mainland.

Rare native animals on Zanzibar include Zanzibar leopard, which is possibly extinct and critically endangered; the recently known Zanzibar servaline genet. You won’t find large wild animals on this island, and forest areas like Jozani are occupied by bush-pigs, monkeys, civets and small antelopes along with elusive Zanzibar leopard. However, you will find different species of mongoose along with wide array of birdlife, and large number of butterflies. Pemba island is detached from Unguja island and African continent by deep channels and has respectively limited fauna, reflecting comparative isolation from the mainland. Its quite famous endemic is Pemba Flying Fox.

The local residents of Zanzibar are from mixture of ethnic backgrounds indicative of colorful history. They speak Swahili, a language spoken widely in East Africa. Many people believe that purest form is spoken in Zanzibar, because it is the origin of the language. One of the most famous sports of Zanzibar is Football overseen by Zanzibar Football Association. It is the associate member of Confederation of African Football, which means that Zanzibar National Football Team will not be eligible for entering national Confederation of African Football competitions, including African Nations Cup. However, it gets representation at CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

Hotels near Zanzibar include Emerson and Green Hotel, Serena Inn, Tembo House Hotel, Dhow Palace Hotel, Shangani Hotel, Mazsons Hotel, Sultan Palace, Breezes Beach Club, Karafuu Hotel, Fisherman’s Resort, Matemwe Beach Village, Blue Oyster Hotel, Tamarind Hotel, Mbweni Ruins Hotel, Ras Nungwi Hotel and Pongwe Hotel. So, travel to Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania and experience its amazing beaches, fascinating history and wonderful spices.

I love Morocco’s temperate Mediterranean climate gifted by its unique location atop the northwest crook of Africa with two oceans contiguous to it. I was also enchanted by its exquisite natural splendor and enthralled by its superior quality handicrafts. I enjoyed the skiing prospects offered by the Rif and High Atlas Mountains in the North and Central regions of Morocco. Touring the deserts of the Western Sahara in Southern Morocco on horseback, on camels and 4X4 was equally delightful. These holiday breaks of skiing and desert trips are relatively recent discoveries of the entertainment ravenous tourists.

Morocco’s ideal location gives travelers sunny lands, mountains and hot desert sands to explore. At the same time Morocco’s medieval conurbations captivate you with their ageless mood and feel. I felt myself immersed in an interesting alien world in the cities of Fez and Marrakech that are sated with souks and squares. The magician snake charmers were awe inspiring. The tanner yards’ reek is ubiquitous and the Muezzins’ call from the old minarets drifts in the air.

Morocco’s tumultuous past that has been propelled by its situation has cropped a prodigious number of historical monuments and imperial edifices. However the country also comprises of contrasting ultra modern societies and cities.

You must be quite fascinated by the above description of Morocco. Plan a trip to this wonderful African nation during your next holidays.

The locals are affable and the place has been revamped to make it eco friendly- hence Uganda has been conferred the title of ‘Africa’s friendliest country’. As part of the eco- friendly campaign eco tourism projects have also been launched. All these attributes prompted me to visit the country.

I was enthralled by Uganda’s mottled diverse panoramas. While the Rift Valley is sated with forest enveloped cavern lakes other portions of Uganda feature the characteristic East African Savannah or tropical rain forests. The country offers first rate hiking and trekking prospects at its extinct volcanoes, at the Rwenzori Mountains flanking its western border, or at the frosty tips of the ‘Mountains of the Moon’ which are the highest in Africa.

Not being the adventurous type I settled for some quiet and enjoyable bird watching at the archipelagos around the Lake Bunyonyi and the prodigious Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria happens to be the resource of the Nile, the World’s longest river and venue for white water rafting.

I enjoyed watching primates like chimpanzees and the huge mountain gorilla on a safari expedition in Uganda.

Uganda’s efforts to combat infectious diseases have been very effective. After the adversity caused by Idi Amin’s misrule, the inhabitants of this East African nation are encouraging progressive policies and bettering their tourist industry.

The museum showcases artworks belonging to the 15th century till the present times. Here, you will come across Dutch paintings belonging to the 17th century and specimens of European and British art of the 1700s and 1800s. Besides all these, the place also houses several remarkable South African artworks from the 19th century. Other than this wide array of medieval artifacts, the Johannesburg Art Gallery is also home to a huge collection of contemporary art i.e. artworks accomplished by artists of the 20th century. Here, you will get the opportunity to view works of both international and local artists.

The first collection of this museum was arranged by Sir Hugh Lane; this collection was exhibited at a London event in the year 1910. Soon after the event, the collection was purchased by a group of art collectors from South Africa and made the first showcased items of the Johannesburg Art Gallery.

If you visit the museum today, you will get to see works of great international artists like Dante Rossetti, Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Henry Moore and Edgar Degas. The museum is also home to works of some of the greatest native artists of South Africa, Alexis Preller, Sydney Kumalo, Maud Sumner, Walter Battiss , Gerard Sekoto, Pierneef and Ezrom Legae to name a few.

During your stay in the city of Johannesburg, you must make sure that you visit the museum at least once; more so if you are a lover of art and culture.

Flora and Fauna:

Burundi is a country that has plains and mountains as well as inland water masses. Due to this topography, the climatic conditions of Burundi vary from one region to the other, which supports different varieties of vegetation. Some of the most notable fauna of this country include antelopes, buffaloes, crocodiles and hippos.

National Parks and Forests:

Burundi is home to several forests and 3 national parks. Kibira, Ruvubu and Rusizi are the three national parks of this country. Kibira houses ten primate species including chimpanzees. It is located in the north-western part of Burundi and covers a petite area of the montane rainforest. Ruvubu is situated in the country’s north-eastern region and is often referred to as Ruvuvu by the locals. Here, you will get to see over 400 avian species, antelope, buffalo, crocodile, hippo and red colobos monkey. Visitors can also come to the Ruvubu National Park for camping; the park authority has recently arranged camping facilities for the tourists coming to this place. Rusizi is situated around 15.5 miles or 25 kilometers away from Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi. This park registers the maximum number of tourist footfalls every year among the 3 national parks of Burundi. During your visit to Rusizi, you’ll come across crocodiles, aquatic antelopes or sitatungas, hippos and hundreds of bird species.

The most famous forests of this African country include names of natural forests like Vyanda, Kigwena and forests like Mwishanga and Nyakazu.

Dakar, Senegal’s capital is the place hosting the maximum annual tourist population in the country. People, who have a limited budget for their vacations, find this place extremely alluring. The largest share of the population of Dakar lives around the city’s edge; this makes the city an ideal place for exploring on foot; you will rarely need to spend money for bus and cab fares to roam around the city of Dakar. Besides that, the accommodation cost is also not high; Dakar houses numerous cheap hotels offering high quality services.

The primary attractions in this capital city of Senegal are the two markets, March Kermel and March Sandage. March Kermel is known for being the chief tourist market an March Sandage stores items of daily needs, fruits and vegetables. However, even at March Sandage, there are a few shops selling souvenirs and garments.

One of the most visited tourist spots in the city of Dakar is IFAN museum. The exhibits of this museum include numerous artifacts belonging to different African regions; for instance: tribal masks, potteries etc. The nightlife of Dakar is also worth mentioning. Here, you will get the opportunity of having maximum fun in the nightclubs and bars of the city. However, these places are a bit costlier compared to the nightclubs and bars located in the other parts of Senegal. However, the array of entertainment options that the capital city will offer is incomparable to other Senegalese cities.

The other most prominent city of Senegal is St-Louis. This city is known for being culturally rich and historically significant. This city used to be the capital city of the country before Senegal and Mauritania split. One of the major attractions in St-Louis is Governor’s Palace. In the 1700s, this palace was used as fort. You must also visit the famous St-Louis Cathedral. The St-Louis Cathedral is the most ancient church of the country i.e. surviving even today.

What are the things you can do while at the Masai Mara National Reserve? If offers plenty of options to the tourists as far as recreation is concerned. The four most pleasurable options are:

The game drives:

If you have come to this wildlife reserve on air, then this option will surely be included in the safari package you have purchased. It will take you for a number of game drives during your tour. If you are going on your own car or rented a vehicle for personal use, then you should have a map with your while going for these drives. However, the best option would be taking an askari or guard along with you.

The walking safaris:

This option will attract people with an adventurous intent. As you take part in these safaris, you will be joined by a guide.

Cultural tours:

These tours will help you get familiar with the local culture of Maasai. You’ll be taken to a traditional village of the region where you will be able to witness the lifestyle of the natives of Maasai.

Air ballooning:

This option is a bit expensive one. However, the fun one can extract from air ballooning gives back every bit of the money paid. Generally the flights start during the dawn and lasts for around 1 hour.

Abu Simbel:

The 2 temples in the Egyptian territory of Abu Simbel are among the most visited places of Egypt. The two reasons behind the popularity of these temples among the tourists are: the fact that they were relocated from their actual cliff and their stunning features. Both these colossal temples were first carved more than 3 millenniums ago from a huge sandstone cliff located in the adjacent area of River Nile. The entire construction work of the original temples took place during reign of Ramesses II, the great Egyptian Pharaoh. These temples were dedicated to Egyptian Gods and the Pharaoh.

However, there were all the facts of the past. In the last century, during the 1960s while the construction work for Aswan High dam was going on, these temples were at risk of getting submerged in Lake Nasser. To stop any such happening, the Government of Egypt in association with UNESCO relocated the temples in an artificially constructed mountain. The process of relocation involved dismantling both the temples and again reassembling them into the same form.

Great Pyramids in Giza, Egypt:

Giza is the biggest city of Egypt. The city is only a few miles away from the Egyptian capital of Cairo. This city houses one of the most nicely built Egyptian Pyramids. It is the Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu, who was also often called Pharaoh Cheops. Another special attraction of Giza is the Sphinx. Sphinx is a statue that has a half-lion, half-human body. This statue ranks quite high in the list of largest and oldest statues of the world.

On your this lake trip, you will find many calling the Lake Malawi as the ‘Calendar Lake’. Well, this is due to the fact that it is 52 (weeks) miles wide and 360 miles long. Nyasa is the term given by the people of the bordering Mozambique and Tanzania. The water of this lake is really not only pristine, but is also serene giving you a relaxed environment despite of the possible thrilling activities. Further, to add to its tranquil atmosphere, no ugly resort exists. All the forms of fun such as sailing, riding horses, and water skiing are quite affordable including the excitement of free natural scenes such as the spectacular sunsets.

For the tourists, the southern and northern shores of Lake Malawi are the hot spots. The former is the venue of campsites, hotels, settlement, and historical sites; while the latter is yet to be explored with sheer embankments making the Rift Valley’s walls majestic.

At the southern shore, the major attractions are the Senga Bay with beaches and sometimes rough lake water, the Mangochi zone holding many bigger lodges, ideal beaches, and calm waters of the lake, Cape Maclear as the best hangout for the backpackers for diving and snorkeling off the Mumbo Island and at Otters Point, Monkey Bay with a good beach, and Nkudzi Bay as well as Namaso Bay for renting a house.

The northern shore of the Lake Malawi is comparatively not much developed and is also less inhabited. However, it is an ideal spot during the summer and chillier during the rains. This is where you can explore the culture and history in the Livingstonia and Karonga towns. For stay, choose from Nkhotakota, Dwangwa, Nkhata Bay (Chikale Beach), Chintheche, and Kande Beach.

While you are around the Lake Malawi, take an opportunity to be at the Likoma Island in the Mozambique waters, which offers many highlights. Reaching here is just fun via the boat or the MV Ilala cruise. Check out for the big cathedral, many pretty beaches, and eco-friendly resorts on this peaceful destination. Walk or kayak; the option is yours to explore the island.

Besides scuba diving at the Domwe as well as Mumbo islands and snorkeling on Lake Malawi, do also take up kayaking, cruising on the MV Ilala, sailing Safaris on the Mufasa yacht, and a boat trip (dhow) from Likoma to Chizimula. For a diving certification, this lake is the most economical destination on the planet mostly because of the clear water and absence of currents.

• Seasons:
  April to November that is the dry season
• Wildlife:
  450 tropical fish and great amount of bird species such as kingfisher, jacana, fish eagle, heron, white-breasted cormorant, and egret.

Note:

Marijuana is prohibited here although it is served. Also, malaria is widespread here and so carry insect repellent and full sleeved clothes.

To reach the falls, you need to hike on one of the two hiking trails ending at the cascade. Among the two, the first one is called the Tugela Gorge Trail leading one up to the base of the falls. This hiking trail is reachable by going down the Tendele Camp up to the Tugela River from where route starts. Many say that this is one of the most famous and scenic walk that must be taken up for a full day trip for obtaining the most of it. The total time with the round trip is 6.5 hours making you hike a distance of 22.5 km (up and down trips including). This trail is certainly a superb experience of ascending the mountains from the Tugela car park. Despite it being the flat trail, it just does not miss to give you splendid scenery. The trail’s initial 4 km is just good as no instructions or special directions are required; in fact, the path just meanders by the side of and over the Tugela River. If you are passing this way in spring and summer, the scenery is just mind blowing as the valley comes to life with its blooming indigenous flora. Talking about the further distance of the trail, it just moves in and out of green jungles plunging down the hills until the below watercourse. Do not forget to spot the sights of the Amphitheatre wall that becomes more gorgeous as you reach near and near the Gorge. Soaring at 1800 m from the floor of the valley, the wall is just spectacular to visit. In fact, viewing the Tugela Falls from above the Amphitheatre is the main attraction of an excursion to these Dragon Mountains.

As you approach the last km of this trail, you will come across the river’s three boulder crossings that are only tough to approach during floods. Unless you encounter floods, just don’t look back and make some efforts so that you are rewarded with the most scenic landscape in the park, which is seen only after reaching at the far end while you sip a welcome tea served by the guide of The Cavern. Once you reach the Gorge, a tunnel appears via which the river meets an impenetrable rock formation that you can avoid via a rushing up a right chain ladder. Utilize this one to evade the tunnel and directly enter the Amphitheatre and the boulder trip above the falls where each footstep of yours beholds your eyes with a different view ending at the top of the Tugela Falls. However, beware of the thunderstorms that in no time loom over the wall of Amphitheatre, while you enjoy at this exceptional site. On your down trip, you will reach the car park site quicker, so it’s better to enjoy the views while on up trip.

There is one more route to reach the falls, which leads one up to the spot from where the waterfalls begins its plunge below the escarpment. A majority of the tourists consider this trail to be the most spectacular one for mountain hiking that makes you reach at the summit of the Mount-Aux-Sources. Beginning from the Witsieshoek’s Sentinel car park, the route passes through Phuthadjhaba from where one needs take up a short ascend at the apex of the Amphitheatre with the help of the dual chain ladders. The entire trail takes your 5 to 8 hours including a return trip, which is actually dependent on your fitness. If you want to be atop the Drakensberg escarpment, then take up this hiking trail.

Accommodations

• Montusi Mountain Lodge:
  Opulent resort offering 360 degree vistas of the Amphitheatre near the falls
• Caterpillar and Catfish Cookhouse:
  Bed and Breakfast near the falls
• Tendele Camp:
  Bungalow requiring self catering in the national park