Interested in Africa? It’s where humanity first appeared – with Lucy, Ardi and their contemporaries, ancestors to us all. (You can see them both in the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa). Then begin your exploration with these Africa travel stories.
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Western Sahara
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Latest Africa travel stories
Volunteering in Malawi
Abby has recently returned from volunteering in Malawi, an experience which has given her an incredible insight into life in rural Africa.
The Lesotho Incident
It's a hot January day and I'm in a minibus, flying across a Lesotho mountain road, wondering whether the holes in the windscreen are caused by bullets...
Furthermore, it is my opinion that Carthage must be destroyed (Day out Tunis)
Carthage was the work of a woman. Phoenician Queen Dido founded this African city, and it soon became a thriving, brilliant civilization.
Reading the past with the Rosetta Stone
The British Museum is one of my favourite museums in the world. Yet, like many museums in the western world, the British Museum should probably return some of the artefacts to their country of origin. One of these is the Rosetta Stone, a stele from 196 BCE. It belongs, if not in Rosetta, at least in Egypt. I think it [...]
Stories of flying
Recently, a friend of mine was on a plane hit by lightning. Seemed scary enough, but the pilot had quickly explained very calmly that it was nothing to worry about. A bit later the plane landed safely. Most of my stories of flying have been more funny than scary. And whenever I'm bored, I snap pictures from above. Northern Zealand, [...]
We found our way out of Egypt… for now – and a summary
Thursday 10 January 2008 And so we're leaving Egypt. We see Death on the Nile in the bus from Luxor to Hurghada. Those who aren’t sleeping, that is. We've had yet another early morning; up at 0545. Of course! Haven't seen this film in years. It seems an appropriate ending to our fantastic trip. We recognise tons of places we [...]
Luxor Temple, and a slight fever
Wednesday 9 January 2008 It's our last night in Egypt - and to come full circle, we'll see Luxor Temple. Remember the avenue of sphinxes at Karnak? Well, Karnak and this temple are at opposite ends of this gorgeous, fascinating avenue. At sunset, we stroll the short distance from our boat to the temple. It's in the middle of town. [...]
The Memnon colossi and the fabulous Winter Palace Hotel in Luxor
Still Wednesday 9 January 2008 The Memnon Colossi are two, well, colossal statues, about 20 metres high, made from crystalline quartzite, that originally were part of a huge mortuary temple. They likely depict Amenothep III, who had this temple built. 2 025 years ago, an earthquake caused a huge crack in one of the statues. Interestingly, as the temperature rose [...]
Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple at Deir el-Bahari
Wednesday 9 January 2008 - still morning We're at Deir el-Bahari, at the death temple of female pharaoh Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut’s temple is magnificent. The architect Senmut built it, perfectly harmonising with the surrounding nature. The temple has three terraces carved out of the cliff and connected by ramps. Not much else is left from Hatshepsut’s reign. Her stepson, it is [...]
Valley of the Kings (6am and 9am)
Wednesday 9 January 2008 Another morning up bright and early at 0500. Very much worth it, to see the Valley of the Kings in solitude. Except for the guards at each grave, we have the place to ourselves. Valley of the Kings at dawn Valley of the Kings in the early morning. The girls and I are all alone in [...]
Smoking sheesha in Edfu and waterborne shops at Esna
Tuesday 8 January 2008 At Aswan, we were joined by new passengers. They would naturally stop ad have a look at the Horus Temple at Edfu. But we've seen it, been there, done that. Instead, we're invited to a cafe in Edfu to smoke some sheesha. Well, some of us, anyway. Alex has a go. Apparently, watching is [...]
Boating the Nile – in the 1800s and today
It’s early January on the Nile. Early morning as well. The girls are still asleep. I’m alone on deck. Going down river (north) is windier. The pages of my note pad is blowing fiercly, at times lightly whipping my face. It’s bitterly cold.
