The Best 10 Destinations in Continent of Africa

The continent of Africa offers extraordinary memories to the holidaymaker and tourist. From amazing wildlife in Kenya to the "Seven Wonders of the World" in Egypt, the African continent has clearly gained its reputation as the ideal destination for adventure. if you dare to explore this continent and hope from one destination to the other, I cannot image a better way then flying. Driving the continent may take you forever. In my travels, I did meet some long-term travelers who dared crossing all Africa with a vehicle. If you do chose to fly you can compare airfares online.
So here are the best 10 destinations in Africa.

1. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
If you want to view the Big Five - The Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, Lion and Rhino - then look no further than the Masai Mara. You can also see the amazing yearly antelope migration. Masai Mara boasts extensive lands characterized by a variety of flora and fauna. The national reserve is a popular destination for tourists longing to have the true feel of the African continent.

2. The Pyramids, Egypt
Definitely one of the most identifiable "Seven Wonders of the World", the Pyramids in Egypt have fascinated many since time immemorial. Plus, the constant fascination in the ostentatious artwork and shaman customs of the age-old society delights millions of tourists each year.

The Pyramids of  Egypt

 3. Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is another popular destination for international travellers looking for a memorable holiday. There is plenty to do once you land in Cape Town. The extraordinary landscapes and mountain panorama offer extraordinary experience while the culture will help spruce up the experience for singles, couples, and families.

4. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Often called the white peak of the African continent, Mount Kilimanjaro boasts unique volcanoes, offering a true challenge to any trekking lover and it can take you several days to discover the peak of the mountain.

5. Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakech, Morocco is one of the first destinations travelers consider for their travel plans. It offers an amazing blend of prehistoric attractions and contemporary experiences. You can discover many incredible buildings in Fez as well as the legendary Roman Relics in Volubilis, to mention but a few.

6. Okavango Delta, Botswana
Okavango, Botswana is the biggest transnational delta in the world, which, in contrast to other comparable configurations, drains totally around a basin.

7. Djenne, Mali
This is one of the oldest Malian cities and an exciting place with mud houses adorned with amazing colors. Djenne's Grand Marche is a magnificent market, where traders converge to sell their wares.

8. Unguja, Zanzibar
Zanzibar was once a popular trading place for ancient merchants, thanks to its proximity to the sea. Tourism is boosted by the presence of shimmering beaches and ancient homes around the island.

9. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
The Victoria Falls offer another brightly fascinating scenario. Nature enthusiasts will by fascinated by the stunning Zambezi Bridge , which joins the country to Zambia.

Victoria Falls

 10. Port Louis, Mauritius
Port Louis is one of the continent's richest destinations. It boasts an invigorated harbor and a dynamic seashore market. Another well-recognized place among holidaymakers is Mont Choisy, which offers excellent skydiving opportunities.


Africa itself is really variegated, so it is important to determine what you really need to explore during your journey to the continent. While you can start by planning on a budget travel to keep the costs low, knowing your preferred destination will ensure you don't miss on anything important. Note that the degree of the visitor's safety is extremely high in all these places.


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Where Will You Go in 2013?

 Ahh, holidays. What better way to spend an evening than flicking through the holiday brochures, folding over your favorite pages and reading up about the latest sun-drenched resort to hit the holiday market, or the newest range of hotels and their fabulous range of spas and sports. Choosing a holiday can be a pretty tough decision, and with each passing year those destinations get ever more exotic and more appealing - which makes the process that little bit more difficult!

But let's face it, there are worse things you could be doing than deciding which holiday destination you like best. And with that in mind, let's take a look at some of the hottest holiday destinations you could visit in 2013.

Greece is a fail-safe location and one that's awash with choice. Families will love the bubbly resorts found in Corfu, clubbers can get their kicks in Kardamena in Kos or Faliraki in Rhodes, couples will fall head over heels in love with beautiful Kefalonia, and luxury seekers will find a five-star welcome in Crete's gorgeous town of Elounda.

Further afield, Mexico holidays 2013,are flying off the shelves - and it's not hard to see why. With such first-class resorts as Cancun and Riviera Maya, which are ready to tempt you in with their contemporary hotels, authentic Mexican flavour and upbeat nightlife, Mexico is a fantastic holiday destination that's bound to tick all the right boxes. If you fancy another Caribbean gem, you could be soaking up the sun in cheerful Jamaica, or sinking your toes into powder-soft sands in the Dominican Republic. Or you could really push the boat out and enjoy an island-hopping Caribbean cruise.

Whatever you fancy, thanks to today's first-rate tour operators you'll find a fantastic range of package holidays on offer. Thomas Cook is one such example, and whether you're after a swish no-holds-barred luxury getaway or something cheap and cheerful with Thomas Cook holiday offers, this well established tour operator is happy to oblige.

So, where will 2013 take you?

Related Post:   The 10 Best Rivers Around the Globe

Header image courtesy of uglygirl

Canoe image  courtesy of greyerbaby
Cruise image  courtesy of Scarab

 

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Picture Of The Week: "Story of a Face"

There is so much I or anyone else can say about such a picture. I bet the picture has to say even more about us as the guy there seating and wondering about whatever is infront of him. I do wonder what he is looking at. The years are showing in his face and life experience is vivid. I bet there is an awesome story in his face. A story that can be told over and over...

The picture is courtesy of BBoomerinDenial

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Cheap Apartment Options in Barcelona

Barcelona is a famous city and is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid. It is also known to be the capital city of Catalonia. It is a city that is known to have a lot of tourist sites that attract millions of tourists to this city. The fact that this city receives tourists in large numbers means that there is need for accommodation for these tourists. With the tough economic times, more and more tourists are settling for cheap apartments in Barcelona. However, many tourists usually have a hard time locating such apartments probably due to the fact that they do not have the information they need. Apart from tourists, the other people normally in need of such cheap apartments are expats coming in from other countries.

In order to find vacation apartments in Barcelona, there are a few things that people getting into Barcelona will need to know. For starters, when looking for accommodation in Barcelona, you will most probably need the help of real estate agencies who will help you get an apartment ranging within the price margin you can afford. Such real estate agencies can be accessed online as most of them have developed websites specifically for this purpose. Researching well is another key to ensuring that you research extensively to ensure that you get the best deals.

When going for a cheap apartment it is also important to ensure that you go for an apartment that is of good quality and not one that has amenities that do not function as they are supposed to. Going for a cheap apartment does not mean that you should go for an apartment that is of substandard quality. you also need to decide whether you only want to visit Barcelona for a short while or you will be spending a long time here. This way you will be able to decide on the type of apartment rental to go for.

The apartments differ in many ways hence you need to go for an apartment that suits your needs. For instance, if you are traveling in a group you will need an apartment that is large with all the amenities that you may need in it. You may go for a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment. However, if you are alone then you can go for a smaller option. The location in which you want the apartment also matters a lot. The location in which the apartment is located will determine the amount you will have to pay for it. The further it is from the center of the city the cheaper the apartment.

A cheap apartment in Barcelona may cost you just below 15 Euros per person per night. By any standards this is an apartment that is comfortable and within a close distance to the city and its facilities and attractions. This is most probably a self-catering apartment hence you need to prepare yourself in terms of buying enough supplies. Whether you are on vacation or work trip to Barcelona, Spain, you can be sure to find an affordable apartment that will suit all your needs.

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Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Business Breaks in the Big Smoke: Heathrow Hotels

Taking the stress out of your business break is definitely vital. Although it may sound glamorous, traveling around the globe, or up and down the country certainly takes its toll, and unfortunately becomes one of the working world’s necessary evils.

When you have a lot of work on your plate, big board meetings to attend, and maybe even a client or two to convince into signing a contract, eliminating the avoidable strains of staying in the city is advisable.

HeathrowTerminal 5 hotels from Travelodge provide the perfect budget base for your business break. Complete with all the basic amenities you need to make your stay comfortable, Heathrow Terminal 5 hotels from Travelodge are ideally placed near to the airport, with fabulous connections to the underground and over ground systems right on hand.

Rather than paying for the privilege of added extras you probably won’t use, Travelodge helps you keep your business expenses right down, while providing the guarantee that you will have an peaceful night’s rest. All rooms have en-suite facilities, bedding, a kettle and other basic amenities.

Extras such as toiletries and additional pillows are available from Travelodge’s efficient customer service teams located at reception.

Although you are likely to have a need to access the Internet during your stay, it is unnecessary to pay for Wi-Fi while you are out and about in the day. Travelodge offer high speed Internet access on a pay as you need service. Simply pay at reception for the amount time you intend to use the service, and top this up as and when needed.

Pay for just an hour if you hope to catch up with family, keep up to date with the office, or check your emails, while longer periods are available for those planning to work through to meet looming deadlines, or attend any web conferences while they are away.

Heading into the city for your big meeting is simple. Just a short walking distance away from Heathrow Terminal 5 hotels from Travelodge, the underground service connects to central London via the Piccadilly Line, which runs directly through many of the main city stations including Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus and South Kensington.

All Heathrow Terminal 5 hotels from Travelodge are connected to small eateries and bars. After a long day of talking business, don’t forget to take some time out to relax and unwind over a bite to eat and with a glass of something chilled.

We all know that being stuck in the city on your own isn’t the best way to spend an evening, so don’t be ashamed to indulge in some little luxuries – have you meals made and rejuvenate over your favourite beverage.

Cut the cost and the stress of business travel and book Heathrow Terminal 5 hotels from Travelodge. With everything you need at hand including convenient connections to central London, without the strains of the city life, why pay more for the basics of business travel? 

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Images courtesy of http://www.focus.de and http://www.gbstay.co.uk respectively

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Want to Visit Petra - Jordan? Here You Go!

 

Much has been said and written about Petra, but then nothing really prepares you for a trip to this rose red city. They say 'Seeing is believing', and this holds true for Petra, the archaeological wonder of Jordan. Characterized by the red mountains and memorials of a forgotten race, there is nothing here that is synonymous with modern civilization.
History: Petra has seen the Roman rule, as well as its decline. It had been the capital city of the Nabataeans, who established it round about 312 BC for controlling the caravan trade to Egypt, Syria, Aquaba and the Persian Gulf. The Romans arrived in 64 AD and made architectural modifications. They started diverting the trade route, eventually diminishing the rule of the Nabataeans. As Christianity started spreading across the Byzantine Empire, Petra became a seat of the bishopric. The Urn Tomb was converted into a church. The isolation of power began 661 AD onwards when the Umayyad Dynasty rose to power. The curtain fell upon this once prominent city with a series of devastating earthquakes soon after.
Architecture: The architecture of Petra is a merging of eastern traditions with Hellenistic highlights. This is where east meets west with rock-cut structures and monuments converted to Roman structures. The spectacular setting of the quaint town is within a narrow gorge. Entrance through the 'siq' introduces the traveler to carvings and inscriptions along the walls with a water chamber. The siq leads you to the treasury, which used to hold gold and other precious jewels.
The temples and tombs above the ground are exemplars of architectural splendor. How can one forget the red sandstone cliffs and the stark red residential complexes that have recently been excavated? Well known artifacts include decorative friezes, tuccowork, relief carvings of a sandstone eagle and a vase with panther-shaped handle.
Unique: What is unique about Petra is perhaps the camel ride that every tourist enjoys. Camels are ideal for riding on the ground, but for steeper heights including the Monastery or the High Place, you must choose the donkey. Another highlight is the bottles of decorative sand art that are sold by vendors all over the city. The specialty of these artifacts is that they are made out of the naturally colored sand that is scraped from the walls of the canyons. The most common design is the silhouette of a camel against desert surroundings. The Bedouins display samples of large Nabataean coins. In fact, they have tiny coins, which actually belong from that era.
Seasons: The best time to visit Petra is during autumn and spring when the cool weather permits extensive outdoor travel. You can look around the town comfortably and explore the lush landscape. Those traveling off season might experience rain, wind and heat waves.
Weather: The best month to visit Petra is during April when the flowers are in full bloom. The average temperature is 73 degrees F. you can also visit in March, May and between September and November. There's slight rainfall in March, although regions around the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba are comfortable. The summer temperatures can reach extremes, while winters are windy with an occasional snow.

Image courtesy of  www.placesmustseen.com

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