Sub-Sahara Africa Travel

Posted by Karen Lotter

This publication was compiled by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), in conjunction with Backpacking South Africa.

Lebo's in Soweto - Experience Township Life

Lebo's in Soweto, one of the few black-owned backpackers establishments in a black community, is becoming one of the more popular places for people wanting to experience "township" life, listen to great African jazz and visit historic Sowetan places.

Value of Backpacking and Youth Travel

Backpacking and youth travel is recognized as a valuable nice market in South Africa and to date there hasn’t been a database of information available.

This Backpacking and Youth Travel Trends publication is aimed at creating awareness about backpacking and youth travel, particularly amongst existing tourism businesses.

The travel industry in South Africa has just caught on that backpacking and youth travel is big business and that it makes a significant contribution to the global tourism economy. According to the World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation, young travelers aged 16 to 24 are the travel industry's fastest growing segment. They represent over 20 percent of all international visitors and generate over 100 billion US dollars each year.

Backpacking and Youth Travel - the South African Market

South Africa's market is estimated at about 90 000 backpacking and youth travelers each year. Despite their average daily spend being less than that of many other tourists, their total trip spend is on a par and sometimes more, because of their longer length of stay. International backpackers and youth travelers to South Africa stay an average of 42 days. Their interest in rural areas and authentic experiences directly benefits certain of the country's poorer regions and communities.

One of the favorite areas of the backpacking and youth travel community is the Wild Coast where the backpacking industry has already made a significant contribution to local economic development.

Posted by Karen Lotter

According to Reuters, travelers to Libya were recently caught unaware by a requirement that all travelers entering or leaving the country must have an Arabic transcript/translation of their passport details.

Apparently Libya dropped this requirement to have an Arabic transcript in their travel documents in 2005 in a move to boost tourist numbers, but for some reason it was recently reintroduced without anyone being informed.

Libya has many pristine and spectacular tourist attractions, from ancient Roman sites to breathtaking beaches. Its museums are being developed as its tourist trade grows

Libya requires Arabic translation/ transcript of passport details

According to a British Embassy website, the Arabic transcript /translation measure was reintroduced to all people entering and leaving Libya on 11 November 2007.

British Airways says on their website: “Effective immediately, all passengers traveling to Libya are required to have an Arabic translation of their passport details. This must be attached to their passport.”

They explain that they were informed that passengers who don’t have an Arabic translation of their passport details will be refused entry into Libya and deported.

Details are given of how it should be presented: The translation must be presented on a blank page, attached to the passport and must contain the translation of all the details on the passport photo page (i.e. the name, date of birth, issue date, expiry date, place of issue of the passport, etc)

Other Libya Visa details

Visas are required by everyone entering Libya, except nationals of Arab countries and Malta. Holders of Israeli passports or passports containing Israeli stamps (even old ones) will not be admitted.

Also read:

Tripoli, Libya - Old and New

Traveling in Libya, North Africa

Algiers, Capital City of Algeria

Morocco Family Holidays

Posted by Karen Lotter

So have you made up your mind yet where you’re going to spend the Festive Season?

If you haven’t I’m sure you’ll be able to manage to find reservations at one of Africa’s resorts or game reserves.

Let me give you a quick run down of cool places in Africa to go for the Festive Season.

Tropical Island Christmas

If you want a beach vacation with a difference, spend your Christmas and New Year in the Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar or Zanzibar. White sandy beaches, sunshine, water sports scuba and snorkeling.

Many of the resorts have special packages for Christmas vacations for couples and families.

Christmas and New Year Cruises around the islands are also popular.

North African Christmas and New Year

Maybe the hot desert and Mediterranean regions of a North African Christmas are more to your liking? Well, enjoy the Festive Season in Egypt or Morocco.

Casablanca is a great place to start a journey in Morocco. You can do it own your own on join up with one of the package tours. As one of the Festive Season tour operators says: Whilst we can't promise you a white Christmas we can promise you a Festive Season to remember.

And in Egypt you can enjoy a cruise down the Nile over Christmas and New Year or spend the Festive Season at the Red Sea and do a trip into the Sahara desert.

Southern African Christmas

The Southern African Christmas is the one I know best because I live in South Africa. There are plenty of resorts, beach cottages, game reserves, hotels and getaways in South Africa and in our neighboring countries of Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi to spend a truly memorable Festive Season.

Posted by Karen Lotter

Their website says that “Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is the largest luxury hotel company in North America, with a distinctive collection and a worldwide reputation for excellence.” Well I’ll take their word for it, because when I travel, this kind of accommodation is way out of my league.

They also say that: “Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is the world's most storied hotel brand. For more than a century, our grand collection of fabled castles, secluded lodges, storied meeting places and modern retreats, have hosted the rich and famous, kings and queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers and stars of the stage and screen.”

Fairmont Mara Safari Club

Well, my interest in this hotel group that seems to be represented in more than ten countries, is that the Fairmont Group has moved into Kenya in a big way, recently opening the exclusive, luxury tented Fairmont Mara Safari Club, right on the edge of the world renowned Masai Mara Reserve.

Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club

Soon this resort will be joined by the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, at the base of Mount Kenya. The Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club features 120 rooms in cottages, villas and suites on 100 acres of grounds, as well as a nine-hole golf course and other facilities. This is a perfect base for safaris.

Fairmont Norfolk in Nairobi

The third Fairmont property in Kenya will be the legendary Fairmont Norfolk in Nairobi Originally opened in 1904, Fairmont Norfolk stands as one of Africa’s most talked about gathering places. Today, the 165-room property serves as a hub of Nairobi business and ideal safari departure point, with four restaurants, an outdoor pool, an elegant ballroom and four function rooms.

Also read:

Relax in Kenya's Mombassa

Kenya Safari - over 40 Game parks

Selected African Vacation Packages

Top Ten African Destinations

Posted by Karen Lotter

Holidays in North Africa are maybe not everybody’s copy of tea – the culture is very “foreign” for most westerners.

But that’s what makes it so exciting – all the differences. And North Africa has a wonderful mix of cultures because of its strategic location on the Mediterranean as history unfolded over the centuries

You will find everything in North Africa; from the spectacular Greek ruins in Cyrene in Libya to the Roman Ruins at Leptis Magna which was the second largest town of the Roman Empire, after Rome.

Why not visit the beautiful city of Oran in Algeria where Albert Camus was born. He used the Oran as the setting for the, The Plague and The Stranger. French fashion guru Yves Saint Laurent was also born in Oran.

One thing all these countries in North Africa have in common is the Sahara Desert.

Many people still come to see The World War Two battle sites and cemeteries like at Tobruk which is the first major Libyan city after crossing from Egypt into Libya.

Morocco is one of the most popular destinations; with Casablanca and Marrakesh the most visited cities in Morocco. I think it is the markets and the shopping and the antiquities as well as the desert that draws visitors. But one of my favorite things to do is a visit to a Hammam, and Morocco has great Hammams.

Egypt has always been a popular tourist destination. After all it has a sphinx, pyramids, the Nile and fascinating Cairo. There is always the Sahara Desert, and then the Red Sea which is one of the best scuba diving and snorkeling destinations in the world with top resorts like Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada only a few hours by plane from most European destinations.

Posted by Karen Lotter

Are you making plans already for your Christmas vacation? Why not get away from the cold and spend the time with your family in Africa.

OK, so it won’t be a white Christmas, but how about palm trees and sunshine?

African has great beaches - from the North African beaches in Morocco, Libya and Egypt which are only two or three hours by plane from most of Europe’s’ major centers - to the East African beaches of Kenya and Tanzania or the -island paradise of Zanzibar.

Spending your Christmas vacation with the family on Zanzibar would surely make everyone happy. So book early and get a good deal on your Xmas getaway.

As a South African I’m used to sweltering Christmas Vacations, which often turn into days spent on the beach or around the pool or on cool mountain slopes. Camping and caravaning are big and this is when you’ll see the outdoor nature of South Africans as they spend a lot of time having picnics and barbeques – called “braais”.

Many South Africans have an open air Christmas lunch or a “braai” while others cook the more traditional European or American feasts of Turkey, chicken, glazed hams and a variety of roast meats and vegetables.

Xmas in South Africa is right in the middle of the long summer holidays. All the schools are closed and many people are on leave from their jobs.

Southern Africa has a host of perfect destinations for Christmas Vacation packages and excursions like Malawi, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Mozambique and you’ll be guaranteed to return home with a great tan.

Also read:

Tropical Island Christmas:Holidays in the Sun

Celebrate in Morocco and Egypt

African Beach Holiday Destinations

Selected African Vacation Packages

Top 10 African Destinations

Posted by Karen Lotter

Governments want to alleviate poverty and they know that in Africa, tourism is a great job creator – so the answer for the future seems to lie in all inclusive resort developments.

Dubai – the ultimate consumer resort development

Just look at Dubai, the ultimate consumer resort development. It rose out of the desert and within a few years has become one of the most sought after destinations.

Earlier this Month in Libya, Gaddafi’s son, Saif al Islam announced that a 2000 square mile area of land between Benghazi and Tobruk in the north has been allocated for a $3 billion “Green Mountain Sustainable Development Area”. – national park, eco-friendly hotels and even organic farms.

All inclusive resort packages for Kenya and Morocco

Kenya has worked hard in the past years to re-shape its tourism image. Eco-lodges are thriving and all 40 game parks and beach resorts along the coast are doing well. In fact, they are expecting one million visitors to fly in for the first time this year.

One wonders then why they are planning to build three massive resort-type cities like South Africa’s Sun City - one in Isiolo, a backwater town about 60 kms from Mt Kenya - near seven game parks; another in Mombassa and another one possibly in Malindi within the next 15 years. Do visitors really want an all inclusive resort package when they come on safari?

And Morocco, with vast stretches of undeveloped coastline present a prefect opportunity for the government to reach its target of 10 million holidaymakers by 2010. Enter Plan Azur – a blueprint for six coastal resorts announced by King Mohamed VI in Marrakesh in 2001 – five resorts on the Atlantic, one on the Mediterranean.

Also read:

Selected African Vacation Packages

Hammams in Morocco

Top Ten African Destinations

Posted by Karen Lotter

A few months ago two young friends of mine got married on an old sugar estate on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast about 30 minutes from Durban. The photos were awesome. Sunset, with the rolling hills and sugar fields; the exclusivity of private caterers and being able to tailor make your service and reception. It set me thinking what visitors from other countries would give to be able to experience a real African wedding.

Seems like quite a lot, because African wedding destinations or destination weddings are really popular. So much so that I turned the story I was writing into two parts – a Southern African Destination Weddings and an African Destination Weddings that mainly covers East Africa.

Game reserves and beaches are favorite wedding destinations

I spoke to a few people who have recently got married and some who are getting married. Even among South Africans the trend is to get married on Estates and in game parks or hotels or resorts that have wedding chapels. Beach weddings, especially in Mozambique or Zanzibar are very popular.

It seems that quite a few people complete the actual formalities in front of a magistrate (the registry office) before the time and then have someone to say a blessing while they exchange their vows on the big day at the special location.

Wedding ceremonies in South Africa

With our diverse cultures in South Africa we’re big time into weddings. Both the African and the Indian young people today often do a Western type wedding and then a traditional ceremony.

One thing you can be sure of, an African destination wedding will be as unforgettable as your first kiss.

Posted by Karen Lotter

When one thinks of Ethiopia, the words “tourist paradise” don’t exactly jump into your mind. You usually think of starving children, of food aid, of wars and violence; of kidnappings, Haile Selassie and maybe you think of coffee.

Ethiopia is Africa’s largest producer of Coffee. The trade of coffee is Ethiopia's largest export, which generates 60% of its total export earnings. Kafa (an Ethiopia name) may be where the word coffee came from. Coffee in Ethiopia has strong traditions that stem back to the 10th century. Believe it or not, one out of every four Ethiopians, work on coffee bean farms - about half the country's population. Annually, the average pay of an Ethiopian coffee farmer is about $900 dollars year - very low.

And wow, after a long drawn out dispute, it’s safe to go back into Starbucks. Starbucks settled with Ethiopia about the brand issue, but fair-trade campaigners argue that this has done little so far to reward Ethiopian farmers.

So ok, there are definitely no go areas in Ethiopia, but one of the best things there is that it isn’t crowded with tourists; it is a warm, sunny country, the oldest in Africa with the most unbelievable historic and architectural sites and home of some of the most exotic ancient civilizations in the world

There are plenty of tour companies and organized tours to take you o the ancient sites and the nature reserves and if you’re into first world luxury, stay at the Sheraton of the Hilton in Addis.

But don’t miss this country; visit Ethiopia before everyone discovers it.

Read more:

Go Back inTime in Sunny Ethiopia

Morocco Family Holidays

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Uganda, Pearl of Africa

Posted by Karen Lotter

In Kenya tourism is booming – in fact Kenya made $800 million from tourism in 2006 making the industry its best hard-currency earner ahead of horticulture and tea. This year, the tourist board expects revenues to top $1-billion for the first time.

Kenya Tourism took a dip in 1998 and 2002 after US travel warnings because of bombings that were blamed on al Qaeda but it has rebounded vigorously in the past three years, with the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) saying that March 2007 had been the most profitable month on record.

Across the globe Kenya tourism is being sold, especially the game parks like Nakuru and Maasai Mara.

Although tourism is expected to still grow from the traditional US and European markets, Kenya is looking to Russia, China and Japan as the new emerging tourism markets.

Virgin Atlantic’s daily London-Nairobi flights are hoping to carry 100 000 extra passengers to Kenya in the first year.

But the best news is that environmental issues are being taken seriously in Kenya and even the Rift’s stunning pink flamingo’s that were once threatened with extinction by erosion and pollution and “in the pink” thanks to conservation initiatives.

So if you have an interest in Kenya tourism, my advice to you is to book early

Read some African Travel articles

Relax in Kenya's Mombassa

Kenya Safari - Over 40 Game Parks

Nairobi, Kenya's Modern Capital

Serengeti and Ngorongoro

African Beach Holiday Destinations