Landscapes in Africa

The road trip from Marrakech over the Atlas mountains along N9 is one pretty journey. At first it's all flat farmland and monotone villages, but with snowcapped mountains in the horizon. Eventually, you wind your way through hairpin bends up the Atlas mountains with new panoramic views at almost every turn. The road is in excellent condition and stand in sharp contrast to the mostly scruffy villages you pass on the way. There will be plenty of crystal sellers showing their goods along the way. The road trip literally peaks at Morocco's highest road pass, Tizi N'Tichka at 2260 m. From that point it's just down hill through more spectacular sceneries before it smooth out in the stony desert. The road will eventually lead to great sights as Ait Benhaddou and further afield Todra Gorge, Zizi Gorges, and the sand dunes at Zagora (small ones), Merzouga (bigger ones), or M'Hamid (biggest ones).

Todra Gorge is a spectacular narrow gorge in orange limestone. Some sections are so narrow that it looks like the tall gorge walls close in above your head. The gorge is popular with both rock climbers and hikers, but the road trip through (and return) is equally rewarding. A sealed road follows the river bed at the bottom all the way through the gorge and beyond. At about 35 km from Tinghir the gorge ends and the arid landscape opens up and becomes mountainous with snow-covered peaks (in winter). Villages from this point are Berber and mostly made up by adobe houses. This part of the Todra Gorge road trip isn't any less spectacular than the first part through the gorge, just very different with elevated mountain roads and wide views. Along with Dades Gorge, Todra Gorge is one of the best road trips (for 2WD) in whole Morocco - and that tells you something.

The Ziz Gorge is another spectacular gorge in Morocco. Ziz river flows at the bottom, while palm oasis and villages dot the riverbank.
Ziz Gorge is traversed by the smooth and wide N13, which unfortunately will take you through the beautiful gorge too fast. There aren't too many official viewpoints along the road, but there are spaces to park a car/motorcycle here and there.

Imagine a tropical island paradise, and chances are pretty good that what you have in mind is something akin to Mozambique's Bazaruto Archipelago. These six islands were formed by sand deposited by the Save River, and the archipelago boasts an array of incredibly pristine beaches, azure water, coral reefs, tropical fish, giant turtles and, in the right season, whales. It is also home to the very rare dugong (a marine mammal similar to the manatee) although you would have to be extremely lucky to see one. Add lots of lush, tropical fruit and seafood galore to the mix, and the result is pretty incredible. If lounging on the beach is not your thing there are plenty of other things to do here. The snorkelling and diving is excellent, dhow trips are a wonderful way to spend an afternoon or three, surfing is possible, whale watching trips can be arranged from the mainland. It is also much less busy than some of the more accessible mainland beaches farther south, although popular snorkelling spots can fill up with visitors from Vilanculos.

The road to Epupa is long and dusty, and it is difficult to imagine anything but more dust and rock at the end of it. So when the green riverine valley that contains Epupa appears beyond the crest of a hill, its lushness makes it seem almost surreal. Epupa itself is a ramshack town, with a few camps and some tin houses. The Cunene River is the lifeblood of the region, and rafting trips are one of the most popular activities for visitors. The river also forms the border to Angola - it is possible to visit an island in the middle of the river, which a sign proclaims to be part of Angola. A few hundred metres downstream from the village are the Epupa Falls, a breathtaking series of waterfalls best viewed from the hilltop just west of Epupa. This also provides the best view of Epupa village. Guided tours will be offered to visitors, but are unnecessary - it is an easy walk to do on your own. Epupa is inhabited primarily by the Himba, who most likely attract more tourists than the falls do. This part of Namibia is a true wilderness, and the rewards of making this journey are well worth the effort.

In a country famous for its striking scenery, Fish River Canyon still stands out. The second largest canyon in the world by most accounts, watching the sun rise or set over its main valley must be considered a highlight of any Namibian journey. For those with more than a few days to spend, mule trails follow the Fish River and make for an unforgettable experience. Wildlife, such as kudu and springbok, has recently been released in the reserve and can now be spotted with relative ease. The area beyond the canyon is coloured red by the iron content of the sandstone and dolorite, which - when contrasted against the normally bright blue sky - makes for a memorable sight. But the canyon itself is doubtlessly the highlight of a visit to this part of the country, and even a short stop at the main viewpoint is well worth the journey.

The most famous section of the Namib Desert, and one of the few places where the public has access to the famous red dunes, Sossusvlei and Deadvlei ("vlei" simply means "pan") are two of Namibia's biggest tourist attractions. A number of the dunes can be climbed, providing views across the red sea of sand. But equally striking, and sublimely surreal, are the stark contrasts provided by the dead trees, light ground, red dunes and blue sky at Deadvlei itself. It is a hostile and stark environment, but closer observation of the sand reveals the tracks of many small desert dwellers, and grass hugs the slopes of many of the dunes. The desert is best visited in the early morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler (but make sure to bring plenty of water anyway). Note that although rare, this park occasionally floods. That - and strong winds - can result in the roads becoming impassable and conditions generally unpleasant. Equally unpleasant to some might be the huge crowds of people that flock to see these dunes, particularly during winter. The only way to avoid this is to stay inside the park, as this allows for earlier access to the dunes. Ostrich and oryx, able to survive in this extreme environment, can be seen on the 60 km drive from the park gate to the parking area. This section of the Namib Desert is without a doubt a must-see for all visitors to Namibia.

The dramatic rock formations at Spitzkoppe rise up to 700 meters above the surrounding flat plains. As you venture closer to the granite outcrops, you see rock pools, rock arches and giant boulders balancing on top of each other. Spitzkoppe means "pointed dome'' in German, but the rock surface is surprisingly non-slippery, so it's highly recommended to scale one of the less steep summits for amazing views, particularly at sunset or sunrise.

The road north of Pointe-Noire runs partly along the coast, where there are several nice natural beaches. Some have places to park among the bushes and a bit of shade under the trees, others are totally unspoiled and left to nature (unfortunately ocean trash get here too).

At the village of Diosso the earth breaks off into steep red mud cliffs. The gorge is actually caused by erosion and has left the landscape kind of Mars-ish. At some viewpoints in the village the locals charge a fee, while there are free of charge viewpoints further up the road.