Backpacking is a chosen form of holiday for those that seek a little more from their breaks. It allows you to take in more activities, culture, and experience than the conventional tourist route and allows you more flexibility during your break. Many guides will give you information about geography and local information. Once all the preparation is sorted out, you may need to spend some time researching about where to go and where to stay.
Africa is an extremely large continent and there are plenty of opportunities to travel to different places. As well as it being an escape to a hot climate and bright sunshine, there is an added bonus of expanding your cultural knowledge. From North to South, East to West; the culture, language, food, people; everything is different and no two places will be the same.
Despite some areas being fraught with political and civil struggles, tourism has been growing including in places like, South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya. The World Cup 2010 even encouraged more travel options to South Africa. There is much to see and Africa is known for its nature and untouched lands. There are mountains, deserts, rural and urban.
Travel guides invite guests to take part in the adventure activities that are in various parts of the whole continent. You can see the sharks in Cape Town. Go bungee jumping at Victoria Falls, Scuba diving in Zanzibar, white river rafting in the Nile or even climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Because of the nature of backpacking trips being “off the beaten track,” it is advised that visitors take care and plan their trip very well before travelling. Medical precautions should also be taken very seriously and injections done before leaving are greatly advised. You may also need to take tablets for malaria. In some rural areas, drinking the water is not advised for visitors who are not used to it. Carrying bottled water may be your best option.
Volunteering trips are common to African destinations. It not only allows for a change of scenery and gap year experience but gives you that added satisfaction that you are giving something back to the World.