Unique Landscapes
The African continent is filled with immeasurable beauty and ancient landscapes, the results of millions of years of morphing landscapes, tectonic plates shifting, volcanoes erupting and the birth of incredibly biodiverse places. In the south, the Namib is one of the world’s most ancient deserts, a sea of dunes that overlap in waves of ochre and red. In the east, the Great Rift Valley, born from the tectonic movements that separated the Somali and Nubian plates, has given way to geological wonders, stretching down across the East African coast, cutting across Ethiopian Highlands, branching into Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan before rejoining southern Tanzania, Malawi and Northern Mozambique. To the west, the Albertine Rift traverses Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC, bordering some of the highest mountains in Africa: the Mountains of the Moon and the Virunga Mountains. Incredible plateaux, volcanoes and deep lakes are born from the endless fractures and faults, a reminder the Earth is very much alive. And then, as we traverse equatorial forests and explore the mysteries of the Congo Basin; we can only be awed by these wondrous ecosystems that let us glimpse their beauty. Home to unique and rare species of both fauna and flora, these unbelievably diverse ecosystems dance to the deafening rhythm of birdsong, insect vibrations and monkey cries.
A few Uniques Landscapes of Africa...
Cape Town
Colourful, Vibrant and Exhilarating
The colourful and vibrant city of Cape Town, located in Africa’s southernmost tip, harbours modern day tribes and cultures of every kind, making it one of the more culturally rich and diverse places in South Africa – something that you will be able to taste as you eat your way through this city, famous for its culinary artists. From surfers to hikers, filmmakers to wine lovers, international models to local artisans, Cape Town is an eclectic and buzzing city which has something for everyone. Beautiful beaches offer incredible surfing options, whale watching and snorkelling. The stunning mountains – Table Mountain and the Twelves Apostles, Lion’s Head being the most famous – are perfect for hiking and horse riding, and the fertile Stellenbosch offers wine tasting from some of the most renowned vineyards on the planet. Historic tours bring this city’s fascinating past to life as experienced local guides interpret everything from the days of the very first explorer, Bartolomeu Dias landing on Cape Town’s shores, to the slave trade, to wars fought over city’s strategic location, to apartheid and the present day. And for the keen night animals amongst you, the local nightlife will keep you dancing until the day breaks. Spending time in Cape Town will take you on a truly intellectual, exhilarating, culinary and fascinating journey, that will hopefully have you falling in love with this incredible city.
Simien Mountains
The Mystical Mountains of Ethiopia
Few mountain ranges on the planet are as more noteworthy than the Simien Mountains. Noteworthy, yet largely unknown to the world. A place where high peaks of 4550m fall hundreds of meters down into a single drop towards the lower lands to the north. A place where the mind is free to wander limitlessly, into the horizon. Scenically, few places rival the marvel that are the Simien mountains. Groves of Saint John’s wort lend the highlands their fairytale appearance, and upon the mountain peaks, rocks, and often snow, create an otherworldly experience. Not to mention the endemic wildlife that inhabits this mystical place. Troops of hundreds of gelada baboons frequent the cliffs, forests and grasslands of the mountains. At ease with the presence of humans, the geladas make for fascinating encounter: you can easily mingle with the family, observing them as they examine you. And upon the higher peaks dwell the magnificent yet highly endangered Walia ibex, that have also become habituated to humans, though reaching them is a trickier, adrenaline-filled task.
Ngorongoro crater
Explore the Most Beautiful and Wildlife-Rich Crater on Earth
The Ngorongoro crater is an ancient place, with a story like no other. A caldera formed from a collapsed volcano that erupted some 2.5 million years ago, the crater is a geological marvel. Like an ancient song, the story of this old place is written across the strata of rocks, from rim to crater. A place where dark dramatic clouds creep over the mysterious crater rim, fraternising with it lush and colourful crater floor, teeming with hundreds of stories just waiting to be heard. You will find yourself travelling back to past geological eras as you search for old elephant bulls and black rhinos in fields of marigold and wild sage. Scanning black volcanic rocks for the lions of the crater, you will find them ready to hunt the plains for their next meal, the eternal circle of life dramatically at play. Ngorongoro is utterly enchanting, abundant in life and in alluring landscapes that rival the world’s greatest natural spaces.
Bale Mountains
Home to the Ethiopian Wolf
Another of Ethiopia’s mystical mountain ranges. Uniquely beautiful and exhibiting the usual levels of endemism Ethiopia is known for, the Bale Mountains are a must see for photographers, travellers and nature seekers alike. Their beautiful landscapes could be described as a paradise of flowery highlands and mythical forests, in the likes of the beautiful jungle-esque Harenna Forest. However, one of its claims to fame lies with the presence of the only ‘African wolf’ on the continent, the Ethiopian wolf that call the Bale Mountains home. For any lover of wildlife and rare things, these mountains are worth the effort. A few days are usually needed to find this intriguing animal, but what a delight it is when you do meet the wolves! Some groups or individuals even allow you to step out of your vehicle and follow them at a reasonable distance. A chance to really get to know or photograph this truly unique species!
Incredible Gabon
Where Mystical Forests Meet Pristine Beaches
Gabon is a unique destination that takes the mind and senses on a wonderful adventure across its incredibly diverse landscapes (and perhaps the body too, as you trek for habituated Lowland Gorilla, Mandrills and Chimpanzees). Jungles of all kinds, rivers, waterfalls, forest wildlife and a cultural heritage that retraces the origins of mankind will leave you enthralled – but so too will Gabon’s beaches. In the dry season (June – November), outstanding sightings of humpback whales and dolphins migrating towards warmer waters can be observed. And from November to April, sea turtles come to lay eggs on the beaches of Pongara, with hatching occurring a few months later. But what makes Gabon truly unique is the chances to find forest buffalo and elephants grazing the Atlantic beaches, and hippos enjoying the ocean’s cool and strong surf. Gabon will never cease to enchant you, bringing something a little different everywhere you look.
Danakil depression
‘The Lowest Point in Africa’
It is hard to believe that one can so quickly descend from some of Africa’s highest and most beautiful mountain ranges down to one of the world’s lowest places: the hauntingly beautiful Danakil depression. A vast and flat expanse of salt desert, stretching across hundreds of kilometres, born from the shifting of tectonic plates that separated a place once connected to the ocean. It took millennia for the water to evaporate, leaving in its wake one of the world’s largest salt flats…but there is more. Unique geological formations have resulted from this process, and one can visit the famous sulphur lakes that rebel against the white salt flats and sulphur lakes in tones of brilliant blue, turquoise and golden yellow. The Danakil depression is also home to one of the most active volcanoes in the world: Erta Ale, which sits in a continuous dance of red and orange lava and fire. As one explores these unique and picturesque landscapes, one will often bump into the nomad camel caravans that quest the flats to mine the salt for trading with the rest of Africa. Stretching for up to hundreds of metres long, these lines of fascinating people can emerge from the mirage-like desert ghosts. Drive the vast expanse or hike to the volcano, Erta Ale, and you’ll be in for an adventure like no other.
Namibian deserts
All Different, All Seemingly Inhospitable, All Full of Life
In the southern parts of the Namib desert – rumoured to be the world’s most ancient desert – a curious formation of salt and clay, surrounded by orange and red dunes, contrasts with the never-ending blue sky spanning the horizon. Sossusvlei means ‘the dead-end marsh’, a mix of Afrikaans and Nama language to designate the area where the ephemeral Tsauchab River has formed an endorheic drainage basin – in other words, a closed basin with no connection to other bodies of water. The vibrant pink, orange and red dunes of the Sossusvlei area tell their story… and their age. The redder and darker, the older the dune, some of which are the highest in the world. But dunes are far from being the ‘only’ wonder of Nature you can pay your tribute to – the Sesriem Canyon, the Deadlvlei and Hiddenvlei, as well as the Petrified Dunes are just as deserving. We might add that the Sossusvlei area is an absolute dream for any creative, from writers to painters to photographers and sculptors alike. Watch out for the many springbok and oryx that will roam around the ancient sands, dwarfed by true giants. But Namibia is home to other deserts, like the rocky desert in the north of the country. The Kunene Region captivates with its fascinating and rough landscapes of red dust and rocks that turn ablaze in the golden hour light. Home to the Damara people, this part of Namibia receives very little rainfall, if any in the dry season. It is the perfect location to track desert-dwelling mammals, which have physically adapted to arid conditions. Elephants with long, graceful elongated legs, can travel long distances across rocky expanses, lions have learnt to hunt such atypical terrain. And last but not least, the Kalahari. Derived from the Tswana word of kgala meaning ‘the great thirst’ or kgalagadi meaning ‘a waterless place’, it could be mistaken as a place one should avoid in their travels. Yet, in this mythical and gigantic place lies a solace of peace and quiet that only a desert or semi arid savannah can provide. A place where the wind can blow dust for hundreds of kilometres before it settles. Where life springs from the sand in every direction. Elephants, cheetahs, brown hyenas and the famed Kalahari black maned lions are amongst the creatures that will surprise you around each thicket or behind each dune. The Kalahari is also a stronghold for populations of meerkats, aardwolfs, pangolins and aardvarks, making it the premier destination in Africa to witness these rare and wonderful creatures.
Virunga Mountains
‘The Mountains of Fire’
Mufumbiro. Translated to ‘The Mountains that Cook’, they are a string of East African volcanoes tracing what is today known as the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. Formed as part of the Albertine (or Western) Rift, eight volcanoes rise from above the misty jungles of the Virunga Massif, two of which are very much active – Mt Nyiragongo and Mt Nyamuragira, both located in the DRC. This massif is exceptionally biodiverse, and home to the critically endangered mountain gorilla population. Considered to be the second lungs of the world after the Amazon, the Virunga forest is an enchanting, lush, green and somewhat mysterious place to go exploring for gorillas and chimpanzees. At night, it is sometimes possible to observe the red orange smoke puffing out from Mt Nyiragongo crater – though why look at it from a distance when you can see the entrance to Hades yourself? Hike Mt Nyiragongo, a scenic and intense hike that promises the most jaw-dropping of rewards as its summit is reached. Red hot and bubbling, the volcano’s lava lake will enrapture your senses and hypnotise you with its sensual dance, oozing red and orange in the depths of its pit. This volcano is one of the most active in Africa, continuously undergoing micro-explosions (or sometimes less micro). And should you look away from the crater, the immensity of the Virunga massif and Lake Kivu around you will satisfy your desires for grand vistas.
Victoria Falls
‘The Smoke that Thunders’
Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight, wrote Dr. Livingstone as he described the mighty Victoria Falls. Referred to by some locals as the Mosi-Oa-Tunya, the Smoke that Thunders, or in Chongwe, The Place of the Rainbow, the Falls are amongst one of the seven natural wonders of the world. A natural border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Falls are considered as some of the world’s largest waterfalls, pumping up to 3000m3 of water per second in the wet season. Gigantic sheets of water plummet into the depths of a 1078m wide chasm, crossed by a bridge from which it is possible to bungee jump for an adrenaline pumping thrill. A myriad of other activities are also on offer, for those wanting something a little more relaxed. The Victoria Falls town is deliciously vibrant and full of local artisans and creatives, making it a great place to unwind after a safari!
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