Of the five continents, Africa is the second largest, covering over eleven million square miles so it is a fabulous choice for your golden gap year. It is a diverse land, with over 1,000 languages being spoken, and the cultural difference between South Africa at the foot of the continent and more northern countries such as Nigeria and Kenya is striking. Although Africa often gets a bad press for being a dangerous continent to visit on a gap year, this really is an exaggeration on the part of the western media. Whilst certain parts of Africa can undoubtedly be dangerous for gap year travellers, the same can be said of every other country on the planet, so don’t allow yourself to be put off by sweeping generalisations that are based on fear and ignorance. As long as you arrange your gap year travel and accommodation with a respected organisation and stay in popular destinations (as opposed to back-packing by yourself without knowing the places to avoid) you should be as safe and comfortable as in any other continent.
African destinations of particular interest to Golden Gap Year planners include:
· Kenya, in East Africa, is an extremely popular country with backpackers which attracts a huge number of people looking to the natural beauty that we all associate with the continent. There is nothing else that comes close to going on safari here, and when we say safari, we don’t mean the “one size fits all” safari that is so often represented in the movies. In reality there are many different kinds of safari which focus on different types of terrain. For example, you could go on a lake safari and watch hippos and flamingos, you could go on a mountain safari and watch birds soar majestically around you, or you could take a more stereotypical desert safari and see elephants enjoying their natural habitat. Actually, there is no reason why you could not take all of these safaris during your Golden Gap Year, and gain a truly balanced view of Kenyan wildlife. On top of this, there are plenty of tourist attractions to choose from such as shopping for souvenirs in one of the many open air markets that are scattered around the country.
· Victoria Falls is Africa’s answer to the Niagara Falls on the USA/Canadian border. It is a huge spectacle situated on the river Zambezi (on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, The river is some 5,580 feet wide and drops an incredible 400 feet, creating an awesome feast for the eyes which is particularly beautiful at sunrise and sunset. Staying in this region on your gap year enables you to take a number of safaris and there are some very luxurious lodges if your golden gap year budget allows you to enjoy them. And for adrenaline junkies, you can even go bungee jumping or white water rafting. All in all, Victoria Falls provides a wide variety of memorable activities for the grown up gapper to choose from.
· South Africa. Although many people still associate South Africa with the political troubles which took place several decades ago, the country is now a very popular destination among those taking Golden Gap Years because it is actually quite safe and offers some amazing experiences. You can go on a number of gap year safaris that allow you to explore regions such as the Kruger National Park, which covers no less than two million hectares. There are also a variety of cultural festivals to enjoy, including the National Arts Festival in June and the Awesome Africa Music Festival in September. Experience a night at a jazz club, explore museums and art galleries, go climbing or surfing or even visit one of the wonderful vineyards that are dotted around the country. South Africa has something for every grown up gap year traveller.
Africa is a glorious country which can thrill, inspire and touch the heart of anyone who visits during their Golden Gap Year. Go to our Africa Golden Gap Year section for more information, or check out these sources for additional information:
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