Places for active stuff in Africa

Named by the Maasai people due to its geothermal and seismic activity, this national park distinguishes itself by being accessible by bicycle or on foot. Exploring the park in this fashion is safe due to the absent of large predators, but it's easy to get close to giraffes, zebras, warthogs and buffaloes – lucky visitors might even spot hyenas. Bikes can be rented at the gate and once you tier of biking, the park offers gorgeous hikes through its a narrow sandstone gorge full small hot springs. For pools big enough for swimming it is necessary to move a little further into the park. Unfortunately, have these pools been commercialized, though a dip is still possible for a fee. Disney fanatics will be happy to know that Hell’s Gate was the inspiration for the setting of the Lion King. Hiking in the gorge will thus bring you to the site that saw Mufasa’s final moments, and Fischer's Tower is the original inspiration for Pride Rock.

Mount Kenya (5,199 m), second only to Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) in Africa, actually consists of several peaks, the third highest (Point Lenana, 4,985 m) of which can be scaled without ropes. The park is stunning, with a wide variety of habitats. There are a number of approaches, with the slightly longer Chogoria being the most beautiful. Sirimon is a good alternative, and the two can be combined for a 5/6-day walk. The walking begins around 3,000 m, and if you are coming from Nairobi (1,500 m), be sure to take the high altitude into account. The summit is best experienced at sunrise; the peak of Mt Kilimanjaro can be seen on clear mornings. The hike is tough, and many visitors have to turn back before they reach the top. Hiring porters and a guide will increase your chances of success, and decrease the risk of getting lost. Also beware of the weather – the top of Mt Kenya has a permanent glacier, and temperatures on the mountains fall well below freezing on most nights. Too much rain or snow can make the experience unpleasant and dangerous. On a clear day, however, there are few places that can claim to be more beautiful.

There are many ways to take in the mountain scenery of Lesotho, but perhaps none more fitting than by Basotho pony. These horses are scrawny and - unless the stable is in sight - not particularly fast, but they do carry your bags for you, and on the steep slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains that is no little thing. Although a short ride is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, a multi-day excursion is really the way to experience mountain life. Not only does this allow you to explore parts of the country inaccessible by car; it usually means spending your nights in local mountain-side villages, providing for plenty of opportunities to get to know your Basotho guide and hosts. You may end up with sore legs and knees, but this is one of those experiences that is definitely worth the pain.

Forget Morocco and Egypt. If you really want to follow in the footsteps of the ancient caravans, Mauritania is the place to do it. Camels were essentially pack-animals, and the caravan traders would not ride, but walk alongside their camels. So strap your bags to a few camels and follow your nomad guide into the desert. These treks are easy to arrange in both Atar and Chinguetti, but most will set out from the latter. From short sunset walks and overnight stays in the sand to multi-day treks – Ouadane and Terjit each take five to seven days from Chinguetti and are the most popular destinations. For the beyond hardcore, Tichit is a mere three weeks walk away. Should all the walking worry you, it is possible to bring an extra camel to carry anyone who tires. If you prefer your camel with leather seats and A/C is it also possible to arrange 4x4 trips around the region in Atar. These tend to be shorter and more expensive, but cover more ground – and the desert here offers everything from oases over cave drawings to meteorite crash sites.

Sir Seewoosagaur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden is considered the second best botanical gardens in the world after London's Kew Gardens. But while London needs greenhouses to keep the plants, the Pamplemousses is open air. There are more than 600 species of trees and 80 species of palms, including the largest specimen in the world (a 40 m tall Queen Palm). The garden was founded in 1735 by the French and expanded by the British. There are some quirky corners, like the lane with trees planted by country and world leaders like Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, Indira Gandhi… and Robert Mugabe. It is a good idea to hire a guide, though it can feel like the guide has a story about every single plant.

Lovely situated below the walls of the Kasbah, Rabat Beach, is a favoured location for locals who want to relax and enjoy themselves. The water is probably too dirty for most visitors to find a swim comfortable. The beach is instead an excellent place for novice surfers to get to know how to control the board and the waves. Non-surfers can enjoy the sun, either on the beach itself or the moles surrounding the beach. It is also one of Rabat's prime spots for people-watching. Kids playing in the sand, teenage couples secretly holding hands or families picnicking are all plentiful. A few makeshift cafés offer mint tea and good views over the beach just below the kasbah.

Only an hour's drive outside Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains are located. The mountain range extends over 2500 km of North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria) and is over 4000 m at its highest point. There is ample opportunity for a day trek, but there may be very uneven terrain, so it is a good idea to bring real hiking boots. There are lots of little tacky souvenir stalls and "coffee shops" at the beginning of the trek, but when you get past them, there are several beautiful waterfalls in the mountains and a beautiful view of both small Berber villages and snowy peaks.

The Namib Desert is a place not just of magnificent vistas, but also of plenty of fun in the sand. Two of the most popular activities are quad biking and dune boarding. The latter provides the greater adrenaline rush and consists of throwing oneself off the top of tall desert dunes on a flimsy piece of wood or plastic at speeds up to 80km/h. Particularly friendly guides may offer a lift back up the dune - otherwise it is a long, hard walk. Quad bikes follow set circuits, and neither activity is permitted outside of specifically denoted areas, so the effect on the environment is minimal. For those wishing something a bit different, why not give sand skiing a go?

The reason to come to Cilaos is of course the soaring mountains. There are a several great hikes to do in the vicinity of Cilaos, either multi days from valley to valley or just day hikes. A popular day hike is the return trip up to the pass, Col du Taibit, which separates the Cirque de Cilaos from the Cirque de Mafate. 830 m of altitude gain within 2.5 hours. It startes 5 km outside Cilaos towards Ilet a Cordes. Both the GR 1 and GR2 pass through.

You are spoiled for choices regarding hikes in the central highlands, but most are fairly long. One good short hike is the one from the botanical garden (Jardim Botânico do Bom Sucesso) to Amelia Lake (Lagoa Amélia) and back, about four hours return. Guides can be hired at the botanical garden, but the trail is well trodden and is easy to follow, except at the beginning among the gardens. Don't expect a real alpine lake, Amelia Lake is more like a swamp. The trail also leads to Pico de São Tomé (2,024 m), the highest peak in Sao Tome and Principe, but that is a much longer hike.