In Africa there are suprisingly a great many different forms of transport available to the holiday maker. Some are a once in a lifetime experience whilst others are just a fun way of getting around the country and seeing the scenery from a different angle. Depending on your budget, your interests and sometimes your stamina you can travel by boat, aeroplane, helicopter, train, balloon, kayak, horse, bike or even camel!
At Real Africa we have several different exciting travel options that are available in different countries. In the Masai Mara in Kenya one of the most exciting ways to get about and see the wildlife from above is the balloon safari. Setting off at dawn, gently floating above the African savannah, the balloon safari is an unforgettable experience. Also in Kenya the traveller has the option of a luxury private aircraft fly-in safari. This is where you get to have a true Out of Africa experience and travel between wonderfully romantic tented safari camps in your very own private light aircraft (complete with pilot of course!).
In South Africa one of the most glamorous travel options you can take are the luxury train journeys. Rovos Rail is one of the most luxurious train companies in the world using historic train carriages to carry you across South Africa from Cape Town to Pretoria or vice versa. They also offer other routes including their pan-African epic “Cairo to Cape Town” which takes you from one end of Africa to another in just under a month. The other wonderfully luxurious and romantic train option in South Africa is the world famous Blue Train. This offers shorter weekend options travelling in pure old world luxury from Pretoria to Durban and back. Both these trains offer unsurpassed old fashioned luxury and romance very much like the better known Orient Express.
In Botswana you can travel down the mighty Chobe river on the 5 star cruiser the Zambezi Queen. This looks much like a Nile cruise boat and operates much the same way offering cabins with great windows and balconies, fine dining and a wonderful view of the African wildlife. You sail for a couple of days along the Chobe which divide Namibia and Botswana and whose banks are teeming with wildlife.
In Mozambique many of the islands on the archipelago are only accessible by light aircraft or helicopter or boat or sometimes even all three! These tiny islands are dotted about the warm, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and offer fantastic beaches and diving opportunities. There is no more magical way to arrive at your paradise island destination that zooming across the turquoise water in a tiny speedboat. Other places where you can arrive by boat include lodges and hotels on Lake Malawi. Back in East Africa on the coasts of Kenya, Tanzania and on the island of Zanzibar another favourite mode of transport is the traditional dhow or sailing boat. This tends to be used more for excursions rather than serious travel – at least for the tourist.
Horseback riding is widely available in South Africa and in particular the Drakensburg Mountains are a wonderful place to make the most of the rugged and beautiful landscape. Mountain biking is also a popular sport in the mountains although it can be pretty challenging in places!
Kayaking and canoeing are again an extremely good way to explore the stunning rivers and coastal scenery of Africa. These options range from taking a traditional mokoro or dug out canoe through the backwaters of the Okavango Delta to white water kayaking or rafting in South Africa. You can also canoe along the Zambezi getting a truly close up view of a hippo or you can frolic with the dolphins on the garden route when sea kayaking in the surf.
In Africa the mere act of getting from A to B can be the start of a wonderful adventure!