Royally ripped off in a Moroccan desert
Morocco's Merzouga Desert can be something of a travel highlight. But Alexander and Laura find their experience spoiled by their thoroughly unaccommodating desert camp.
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Africa
358 posts
Lions on the move enliven a first Safari experience
Kenya's Maasai Mara proves a dramatic introduction to the Safari experience for Saeed Hadipoorsalestani - and he gets to meet plenty of lions.
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Reckless taxis and poor rental bikes add a frisson of danger to Morocco’s deserts
For Peter Barker finding the oasis town of Tafraoute proves something of a challenge - especially as his 'new' rental bike proves itself anything but.
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Beer in the Time of Cholera: Brewing Pombe in the Tanzanian Bush
In a rural part of Africa the ancient art of brewing strong, inexpensive alcohol is an important skill. Robert Dickinson shares a boozy experience on a journey upriver.
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Enchanting Chefchaouen, Morocco’s “Blue Pearl”
Sangkar Chatterjee finds it's well worth driving 200 miles from Fez to find a more relaxed, village location in Africa's far North.
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Lost by my bus on the road to Lalibela
On the way across Ethiopia's northern highlands, Donal Conlon either loses his bus - or it loses him. Either way he finds himself relieved of his luggage and any obvious options for onward transport.
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Medinas, minarets and mountains in the Moroccan heartland
Elizabeth von Pier explores Morocco's heartland, staying in a Marakesh, exploring the High Atlas and continuing on to Ouarzazate and Casablanca.
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5 Reasons why your next safari adventure should be Namibia
With majestic natural landscapes, incredible wildlife and a rich culture, Namibia, affectionately referred to as ‘The Soul of Africa’, is fast becoming the most popular safari destination on the entire…
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How many days in Kenya is enough?
Wondering how much time to spend in Kenya? Paul Woollacombe is your guide to Africa's favourite safari destination.
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A surreal drive across Madagascar’s highlands
Jetlagged and confused, John Gimlette finds himself slipping in and out of reality on a - very slightly dangerous - drive across Madagascar's highlands, now a deforested, landslipping plain.
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Top South African holiday resorts
It's a long time since Sun City was the only option for South Africans who want a gambling holiday. These days South Africa has some pretty compelling casinos: Paul Woollacombe looks through the options.
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A bad day in Fez for one slightly skinny chicken
On a cooking course in the Medina of Fez, Morocco, Michael Edwards has to face mortality, culture, and the soul of North Africa.
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It used to be ‘Mzungu!’ Now ‘Corona’ is a Nairobi greeting
On a visit to Kenya, Lee Ruddin finds that the children of Kibera, one of Nairobi's most infamous slums, have a new reason to respect visitors from a now toxic West.
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A journey through Angola, with contrasts and surprises
Lesley Pritt takes a tribal safari through Angola, a country with little experience of tourists. Her interest in tribal traditions is met by a lofty indifference as to what makes her tick, as long as she makes the 'traditional' donation.
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On safari in the Central African Republic
Lesley Pritt takes an unusual safari though the Central African Republic and finds elephant, bongo and forest hog.
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Horned zebu cattle and potholes: motorbike Madagascar
Donal Conlon finds obstacles and attractions aplenty on the road to Madagascar's northern tip.
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Fishing with Daz off Madagascar’s coast
Donal Conlon finds himself paddling a leaky outrigger pirogue into the Indian Ocean in the hope of catching lunch.
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A motorbike ride through rural Madagascar
Donal Conlon finds a motorcycle is ideal for passing through the rural regions of Madagascar
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Smiles and flirts on Maputo’s best beach
Donal Conlon relaxes on Mozambique's best beach - and finds there's plenty going on.
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An unreliable train links Madagascar’s highlands to the coast
Donal Conlon takes the train that still - usually - links Fianarasoa to the east-coast town of Manakara. It takes a while.
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Taking a taxi-brousse across Madagascar
There's nothing routine about overland travel in Madagascar. Donal Conlon has to wade rivers and rent canoes to complete a one-day journey to Diego Suarez that takes him three.
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Pissed on a plane on the flight to Beira
Donal Conlon finds he has some very drunk company on his night flight across a sleeping Mozambique.
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Fishing for prawns off the Mozambique coast
For most visitors to Maputo prawns are a treat that you find on your plate. Donal Colon joins the fishermen to experience the thrill of catching them in the wild.
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On roads that echo: bicycling too far. Part 1: Asia
Charlie Walker cycles far too far - though not fast - as he pedals across India on his way to Africa. Here there's a river in the way.
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Lost – and then found – on the way to Lalibela
Donal Conlon loses his bus in a small truckstop on the way to Ethiopia's buried churches. With no Amharic he has little alternative but to (try to) hitch.
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Turning blue in Morocco’s Western Sahara
Blaine Bonham meets the 'Blue Men', the ancient Berber tribe that inhabits the Sahara Desert. He meets them amongst the dunes of Morocco's Erg Chebbi region.
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Morocco’s Red City’s hidden green heritage
Lee Ruddin finds oases of calm in Morocco's most visited city. Along with the locals he takes refuge in the many public gardens that are part-hidden in Marrackesh.
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A thoughtful stay in the not-so-Democratic Republic of Congo
The DRC is a strikingly mis-named country, finds Ben Cooke. It's undemocratic, for a start, and a republic only in name. He starts in Lubumbashi, heads into the hinterlands of small-town Kipushi and then braves the capital, Kinshasa. He finds the Congo's reputation for being dangerous has been superseded by its capacity to relentlessly hassle any visitor - especially if carrying a camera - and he finds the unremitting focus on a lone white traveller forces his mind into solitary reflection.
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The boredom is broken defending Algeria’s colonial border
In the Seventies while the Foreign Legion tries to suppress the resistance to French colonial rule, Colin Wallace finds a way to help at least one Algerian.
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Joining the Foreign Legion soon leads to violence
Perhaps it's bad luck that when Colin Wallace joins the Foreign Legion they happen to be fighting the Algerian War. He starts to realise he's on the wrong side.
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Five convincing reasons to sponsor a Zambian child
Karen Beattie introduces Project Luangwa, a ground-breaking charity working in one of Zambia's most beautiful parks. This is a way to sponsor a child through school - and know there's an actual child at the end of it. Click through and remember it's Christmas.
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The moment a drugs mule realises he’s bust
This is the moment Colin Wallace discovered his car had been stuffed with hash to smuggle from Morocco into Europe.
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Warning signs missed in a North African bar
On a bar-crawl through Tangiers in the seventies, Colin Wallace misses some big warning signs that he's out of his depth and being soft-soaped by drug smugglers.
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Thanks for the memories: a night in Morocco
Travelling with friends, Bonnie Lynn finds a moment of tranquility in Morocco's desert spaces.
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The ultimate packing list for a Tanzania safari
If you're heading off on an African safari, it's worth putting some thought into what you need to pack. Lucy Barker has a handy guide.
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Vic Falls comes to London’s ‘Destinations’ show
In a shrewd marketing move for the selfie generation Zambia's recreated the Victoria Falls in central London. Paul Woollacombe reports.
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A new National Park comes to Benin, West Africa
Some American foreign adventures are actually useful. Jack Barker reports on a new initiative to preserve West Africa's critically endangered wildlife.
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In the bush in Zimbabwe: Safari so good
David Markus finds a visit to Africa defied the norm, exceeded expectations, and opened the door to a whole new world of travel and discovery.
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