In This Issue:
Amazing Africa

Africa - The many sides of this amazing Continent

The second largest continent on Earth, Africa contains more countries than any other. With a history of human habitation that begins with the oldest known ancestors of man, this incredible continent's cultural wealth easily matches its spectacular natural attractions and offers some of the most varied and abundant treasures to be found anywhere on earth.

Its diverse geography ranges from mountains, deserts and rainforests to grasslands and seashores. Over 1000 languages are spoken in Africa, and hundreds of different ethnic groups live there. The spirit of the people and their history engulfs many visitors with a desire to return again and again. The fact is, no other continent comes close to it for variety and pure, raw impact. This historical land is not always the easiest place to travel, sometimes frustrating and challenging, but when one those special travel moments arise, that can only be found in Africa, we guarantee you'll dream about coming back for the rest of your life.

South Africa is a country blessed with magnificent scenery and a rich cultural heritage. There is so much to see and do from Johannesburg or Cape Town, Table Mountain and Cape Point, famous Kruger National Park's and the beautiful and dramatic Garden Route drive. The outstanding landscapes range from awesome mountains, savannah type grasslands, tropical vegetation, arid deserts and beautiful beaches all within driving distance. Famous for its extreme diversity, South Africa is known as the 'world in one country' and recently hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Whether you're in South Africa on safari or to enjoy the beaches, breathtaking drives, or unspoiled wilderness, there is something available for every type of traveller.

Dramatic Botswana, a nation of remarkable natural beauty, encompasses deserts and fertile flood plains rich with wildlife-watching opportunities, making this one of southern Africa's top safari destinations. Botswana's jewel is the Okavango Delta - the largest inland delta in the world, and with a year-round water supply, nearly all southern African mammal species are present in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve and Chobe National Park.

With a large proportion of the country set aside as national parks, reserves and private concessions and Botswana's policy of favouring low-impact luxury tourism, even the most famous game-viewing areas rarely feel crowded.

Namibia is a unique land on the edge of Africa with endless deserts, vast rocky canyons and a coastline of half-submerged shipwrecks. Namibia's wildlife is also unique, from the wild horses of Namib to the rare desert elephants roaming the northern plains. Namibia means 'land of open spaces', and it has a raw beauty like nowhere else on earth. With Sossusvlei's petrified trees, the Fish River Canyon, the desolation of the Namib, and the giant red sand dunes, Namibia is a photographer's dream where landscapes collide and adventures begin.

Zimbabwe and Zambia share access to one of the most popular attractions on the African Continent - Victoria Falls. Either country will afford you the opportunity to explore this natural wonder and both also offer stunning beauty and amazing experiences away from the Falls. The Zambezi River has become one of the world's best water adventure travel destinations, offering outstanding white water rafting, canoeing and kayaking. There are also superb game parks, stunning mountains and attractive cities in Zimbabwe with excellent facilities and infrastructure making it an easy and inexpensive country to visit. Zambia remains to this day a beautiful uncommercial backwater, where family-owned safari companies continue to operate small, intimate camps in remote and beautiful reserves. Safari here is unusually outdoorsy and involving, often including a high quotient of walking. It is described as 'real safari for real safari people.'

Kenya is one of the world's great tourism destinations, known for its remarkable diversity of landscapes, wildlife and cultures. From sweeping savannahs to tropical beaches and coral reef, dense equatorial forests to mighty snow capped mountains and more, Kenya is best known for the city of Nairobi, Lake Victoria, Mt Kenya, the Masai warriors and the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Kenya is Africa's original safari destination, attracting explorers, adventurers and travellers for centuries.

Tanzania captures the very essence of the African continent and distills it into one country. This country has inspired Hemingway and Livingstone and has proudly given the word 'safari' to global travel! Home to the Serengeti plains, Mt Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the island of Zanzibar - you will be surprised by how much more there is to discover here.

Uganda is where the East African savannah meets the West African jungle and is the only safari destination whose range of forest primates is as impressive as its selection of animals of the plains. Best known for its famous mountain gorillas, Uganda also boasts Lake Victoria, the Nile River, the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori and the Virunga Volcanoes. Whether you're a first time safari-goer or a seasoned African traveller, Uganda - with its unique blend of savannah and forest creatures, its rare wealth of mountain and lake habitats - is simply dazzling.

Madagascar Separated from the main continent by hundreds of kilometers of sea and 160 million years of evolution, is one of the most interesting places on earth. It boasts some of the strangest and rarest animal species not found anywhere else including the famed Lemurs and the elephant bird, the largest bird that ever lived. The coastline is rimmed by golden sand beaches while the island's interior is rich in botanical treasures.

The people here are just as interesting having arrived over 2000 years ago along the Indian Ocean trade routes. They seem to have more in common with Southeast Asia than with the African continent and have culminated into a fascinating cultural blend.

Located at the crossroads of Africa, Asia and Europe, Egypt is built around the Nile Valley and the Mediterranean and Red Sea. Egypt is still synonymous with the legends of the Pharaohs, the Great Pyramids, treasure laden tombs and ciphered hieroglyphs. The grand scale of these early triumphs has never ceased to hold onlookers spellbound. However, from tradition to modernity, Egypt is a country which has succeeded in creating a present that is as fascinating as its past.

Morocco is steeped in history and tradition, yet remains progressive with its mix of cultures, religions, languages and influences of Romans, Arabs and Europeans. Morocco is a sensory overload from the cosmopolitan and famous Casablanca, whitewashed fishing port gems of Asalih and Essaouira to the great imperial cities of Marrakesh and Fez. For the more adventurous, nature is never far away in Morocco; desert, mountains, valleys and sea attract visitors in droves as they have done for centuries.

Ethiopia is a country of cultural diversity, natural beauty and a rich history that rivals Egypt's past with no fewer than eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. Discover the walled Muslim city of Harar, the ancient city of Axum, the buzzing markets of Addis Ababa and the medieval castles of Gondar. From its landscape to its culturally rich people, Ethiopia truly is an ancient and fascinating destination.

With so much to see and do on this magnificent continent, let Flight Centre help make sense of it all. Your consultant can help you arrange everything from airfares and Accommodation to tours and travel insurance. Don't miss out on this amazing adventure. Give us a call at 1 866 317 4794 today!

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