Struck by wanderlust? Here’s 7 of the best African alternative holidays
Swim with seals in Cape Town —
Seal snorkeling is just one of the tours you can take with passionate ocean lover and scientist, Steve Benjamin through his Cape Town-based business, Animal Ocean. Daredevils can descend beneath the waves in safe and eco-friendly alternative to cage diving with Great Whites. Benjamin says: "Most people want to experience the ocean but are not SCUBA qualified, and the seals offer the perfect safe and predictable experience that visitors to Cape Town love."
Images by Steve Benjamin/Animal Ocean Diving
Walk on the wild side in Virunga National Park —
Eager for the adventure of a lifetime? Then how about peering into the belly of a volcano? Visitors to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo can trek through the beautiful lower forests before headed up the side of Nyiragongo to peer into the world's largest lava lake. During the four-six hour trek (depending on the group's average fitness), expect to see some of the inhabitants of the forest including chimps, monkeys and bushbuck antelopes.
Courtesy Cai Tjeenk Willink/Virunga National Park
Take to the hills in the Namib Desert —
Ever wanted to indulge your inner Mad Max? In the wild north-west of Namibia, visitors to the remote Serra Cafema Camp can hop on a quadbike and traverse the Namib Desert. The tours, operated by Wilderness Safaris, negotiate the area's imperious dunes whilst offering the chance to meet the Himba community, a semi-nomadic group local to the Hartmann Valley.
Wilderness Safaris/Dana Allen
Steam down the Zambezi in Zimbabwe —
Combining old world charm and stunning scenery, the Moonlight Dinner Run is a steam train that starts in Victoria Falls and continues on into the Zambezi National Park.
Courtesy Victoria Falls Steam Train Company
Paddle for your supper in Malawi —
Head to Lake Malawi and you can stay on the secluded Mumbo Island, a haven within the national park. But you're going to have to earn your place there. Boabab Travel run adventure tours to the island, but proprietors Kayak Africa organize transfers, and offer the option to paddle across the lake to reach your destination. Hopefully a cold drink and hearty meal awaits.
Kayak Africa
Unforgettable journeys with the safari king in Uganda —
In Uganda, once described as "the pearl of Africa," one of the more popular operators is Great Lakes Safaris, run by Amos Wekesa, pictured. You can join a scheduled safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park and get up close and personal with the gorillas of Bwindi -- or request something more tailor-made for your trip.
CNN
Cycle through the jungle in Ghana —
Get out of the capital and explore rural Aburi, just 45 minutes from Accra. Ghana Bike & Hire Tours offer seven day rides covering 460km and taking you well off the beaten track. Along the way you'll encounter waterfalls, bat caves and townships, camping in the lush forest each night and mingling with locals.
