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Hike up (then sleep beside) the world’s largest lava lake
Visitors to Nyiragongo’s edge, standing proudly in the Virunga Mountains on the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, find a lava lake a few hundred feet beneath them. “It seems to cannibalize itself, as pockets of fire engulf new areas,” writes National Geographic journalist Nina Strochlic. “A thick fog rolls over the […]
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Exploring Mount Mulanje: Malawi’s Island in the Sky
She spoke of challenging mountain trails and endless views and declared her three-day experience as the best one she’d had in Malawi. With just enough time in my trip and a hankering for something different, I too set off for Mount Mulanje.  My trip had started in Lilongwe, where I caught a 10-hour bus ride […]
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Sudan has twice as many pyramids as Egypt – this is their little-told story
The ‘Black Pharaohs’ and the rise of the Nubian Empire For a period of 200 years, around 3000 BCE, Egyptian pharaohs sent their army south along the Nile in search of gold, granite for statues, ostrich feathers and slaves. They built forts, and later temples, to demonstrate their dominance over the Nubians. The Nubians were […]
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Explained: The A – Z of going on an African safari
A is for Angola Angola was once famed for its giant elephants (a 12-ton male was spotted here in 1974), but poaching during the country’s 27-year-long civil war took a big toll on both human and animal population. Angola has been at peace for two decades and their wildlife reserves are on the road to […]
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So, what exactly is the story of Great Zimbabwe?
At its peak, an estimated 18,000 people lived in the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. Although only 200 to 300 members of the elite classes are thought to have actually stayed inside its massive stone buildings, watched over at night by guards standing on the walls, while the majority lived some distance away. Great […]
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Top 10 things to know when planning your first African safari
There are some questions to consider right off the bat: are you looking for a romantic getaway? Perhaps a family-friendly holiday? Do you want a rugged adventure or are you strictly interested in getting pampered at a luxury lodge? Those are the kind of top-level questions you’ll need to start considering. Africa can be expensive […]
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Have you heard of the lunar rainbow at Victoria Falls?
What is a lunar rainbow? Also called a moonbow, lunar rainbows have been mentioned since Aristotle’s Meteorology (circa 350 BCE). Just like its day-time equivalent, the lunar rainbow is created as light is refracted through water particles in the air, but instead of the light source being the sun, it’s the moon. To the human […]
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The 17 best wildlife-focused experiences in Africa
1. Gorilla trekking in Central Africa Nothing quite prepares you for the moment you come upon a gorilla family in the wild. The first glimpse of black as a juvenile jumps off a nearby branch, a toddler clings to its mother’s back and a giant silverback rises to size you up. For many people, it’s […]
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The 7 most famous baobabs in Africa
The more you learn about baobabs, the more fascinating they become. Their fruit can stay ripe for 10 years and the trees can produce fruit for a thousand, yet the flowers bloom for just one day. They’re the world’s largest succulent and can hold up to 4 500 litres. The baobab’s array of uses (more […]
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The movie-star qualities of AĂŻt Benhaddou
History of AĂŻt Benhaddou The AĂŻt Benhaddou ksar, a collection of buildings made from the ground they sit upon and surrounded by high walls, is located in the foothills on the southern slopes of the High Atlas Mountains. The ancient village, sometimes called “the door of the desert”, dates back to the 11th century […]