Places for active stuff in Africa
Riverside fishing hamlets, traditional villages, isolated islands, dense rainforests, endless rice fields and savanna full of palm trees - all separated by the mangrove forests and bolongs of the Casamance River. The Casamance region's small side and natural, as well as human, diversity, makes it perfect for all sorts of explorations. From multi-day hikes, bike tours or canoe trips the region has something to offer for almost everyone. Two addresses are paramount to know for anyone setting out to explore this tour de force of natural beauty. First stop is the Office de Tourisme de Casamance in Ziguinchor, where there is a broad range of maps, brochures and cultural information. The staff here can help suggest or tailor unique itineraries in the region and often know about local festivals and ceremonies. The second is Casamance VTT in Oussouye that offers guided tours and rents out quality bikes and canoes to those preferring to explore the region on their own.
The main holiday zone on Praslin is the pretty bay Anse Volbert. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants and even a few bars. It's easy to understand why the long beach is so popular for it's wide, of the finest sand, and lined with coconut palms. But it's also more touristic than elsewhere. Beach boys with dreadlocks sell day trips to the neighbouring islands, while less fit locals sit in the shade and drink beers. The Seychelles have many secluded beaches where you can feel like Robinson Crusoe - however, Anse Volbert is not one of them.
A short drive over the mountains from Victoria lies Mahé's main tourist zone Beau Vallon. An endless row of hotels and luxury resorts that face an equally long white sand beach. Sunbeds are scattered under the shady Takamaka trees, while kids are drawn by the inflatable playgrounds in the waters. So if you like sharing the beach with others, this will be the right place for you.
The only place in the world where you can walk in a Coco de Mer palm forest is the UNESCO World Heritage enlisted Vallée De Mai. Coco de Mer palm is endemic to the Seychelles islands of Praslin and Curieuse and produces the world's largest and heaviest nut, the fruit (green one) can weigh up to 40 kg and the seed (brown one) up to 18 kg. The outside world actually knew about the Coco de Mer before the Seychelles were discovered, as nuts had been carried by the ocean currents to distant shores on the Maldives, India and Indonesia. Seamen thought they were from an underwater forest, therefore the name "coconut of the sea". The double nut is the national symbol of the Seychelles and even the passport stamp is shaped like a Coco de Mer nut. Every single Coco de Mer palm is owned by the government, even if it grows on private land, and heavy fines and prison terms apply for stealing one. However, it's possible to buy a nut (with export permit) at the souvenir shop on site.
Three of the eight Virunga volcanoes can be trekked from Mgahinga National Park, and of those, Mt Sabinyo is easily the most interesting. Reaching its highest peak (3669m) takes a while - count on an 8-10 hour round trip - and you have to scale two lesser peaks on your way there ('Sabinyo' means 'old man's teeth' in reference to its many peaks). The hike begins through buffalo and elephant country in the lower areas of the park (bringing an armed ranger is mandatory), rises steeply through the bamboo zone before finally opening up to reveal a surreal montane world of alpine vegetation. Depending on the season, much of the mountain can be completely engulfed in low clouds, and it can get very, very cold and wet. Reaching the top entails climbing up several long, slippery ladders and stairways. The rewards - especially if it clears - are well worth the effort though. Not only are the views breathtaking - volcanoes, valleys, forests and lakes as far as the eye can see - but the peak of Mt Sabinyo also marks the border of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo, so this is your chance to enter those countries without a visa!
According to some accounts, the Luangwa Valley was the birthplace of the walking safari – at least the kind that involves just looking at wildlife and not shooting at it. Since it was pioneered here in the 1960s by Norman Carr, South and North Luangwa national parks have both retained a reputation of being perhaps Africa’s best walking safari destinations. In addition to the standard morning or afternoon walks available in so many parks and reserves, there are several safari operators that offer extended walks, stretching over several days and sleeping either in tents or in seasonal bush camps. This is very different from the shorter walks, and sleeping under the stars to the roar of lions after a day of tracking animals on foot is quite the experience. One of the highlights of longer walking safaris is actually the not walking bits – simply taking the time to sit under a tree or on the banks of the Luangwa River just to see and hear everything that goes on around you.