Africa, the second largest continent, has the most countries with 54, and a surface area of 30,244,050 sq km (11,677,293 mi²). Its highest point is Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro, the World's highest free-standing mountain, which rises to 5,895 m (19,340 feet) above sea level. Africa's lowest point is Djibouti's Lake Assal, whose surface is 157 m (515 feet) below sea level. Africa has extensive mineral resources, including gold, diamonds, and copper. Its longest river, the Nile, is also the World's longest, and runs 6,650 km (4,132 miles) from Burundi to Egypt. Its largest lake is the 69,485 sq km (26,828 square mile) Lake Victoria, which is surrounded by Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. Africa is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, by the Red Sea to the northeast, and by the Indian Ocean to the southeast.

Contents 1 Regions 2 Other territories 3 Get in 3.1 By plane 4 Get around 4.1 By plane 4.2 By car 4.3 By thumb 4.4 Overland trucks 5 See 6 Stay safe 7 Stay healthy

[edit] Regions

[edit] Other territories

• Canary Islands
• Ceuta
• Madeira Islands
• Mayotte
• Melilla
• Reunion
• Saint Helena

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Air fares to Africa can be very expensive, but there are ways to save. Don't, for example, fly from London to a former French colony, or conversely from Paris to a former British colony. That could easily cost thousands more. Instead, get a cheap ticket from London to Paris (or vice versa) and fly to Africa from there. Always book the Africa portion of travel first, be sure to allow lots of connection time, and note that London and Paris both have multiple international airports.

From the USA, there are a few non-stop flights to Africa from JFK New York City, Dulles near Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. Outside the peak travel times to Europe (e.g. summer) you might be able to get a good deal to London or Paris and book a fare from there to Africa on a European travel website. But don't book the USA to Europe portion until you get confirmed on the Europe to Africa portion first. Thru fares to Africa from the USA can be quite expensive, so avoiding peak travel times to Europe can sometimes save a lot. However, since new non-stop flights to Africa have recently been added, and Europe is much more expensive than it used to be, try getting a direct quote first, then see if you can do better.

Airline consolidators can also be used for discounted air fares. If you have additional travel time, check to see how your total fare quote to Africa compares with a round-the-world fare. Don't forget to add in the extra costs of additional visas, departure taxes, ground transportation, etc. for all those places outside of Africa.

See the individual articles (links above) for more country-specific information.Search and compare prices on love quotes and life quotes,get last minute cheap flights, business class flights deals from all major airlines

[edit] Get around

TO GET AROUND CALABAR AND OTHER PARTS OF AFRICA, CONTACT BEN USANG FOR TOUR GUIDES ON 2348053443045 or 2347029722727 or by email: benusang@yahoo.com

[edit] By plane

There are a number of reliable airlines that ply the African Continent. Chief among them are certainly:

• South African Airways (SAA) (Johannesburg, South Africa), [1], is by far Africa's premiere airline and has daily flights to most major African political and economic capitals. If you're flying from the Northern Hemisphere to somewhere north of South Africa, don't forget to check how much backtracking you'll have to do, and if it's worth it. The flight from New York does stop in Senegal, but if you get off there, SAA has no connections to anywhere else.
• Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), [2], offers a direct service from many European cities & Washington Dulles Airport in USA to its hub Addis Ababa. From there it has a very good coverage to many cities in Africa. Its milleage can be used on Lufthansa services & Lufthansa miles can also be used on Ethiopian.
• Kenya Airways (Nairobi, Kenya), [3], partly owned by Royal Dutch KLM, offers good service and frequent flights to all East African countries and many other major African destinations.
• Many other African carriers offer flights to more remote locations.
• Airlines in your home country may offer some flights to Africa with less backtracking. For example, there are flights to Ghana on Delta from New York, and several European airlines fly there also.

Note: Choose wisely when flying in Africa. Although the airlines mentioned above all meet FAA safety standards, the same isn't true for all airlines, especially smaller domestic carriers in countries where political stability may be lacking, tenuous or only recently reintroduced.

[edit] By car

If you want to drive your own car around Africa see also Carnet de Passage

For sightseeing trips, it may be less expensive to hire a taxi than to rent a car, but be sure to negotiate taxi fares beforehand. Travel on rural roads can be slow and difficult in the dry season and disrupted by floods in the rainy season. If you plan on traveling in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, avoid the rainy months of May through October above the equator and the rainy months of November through April below the equator. Some roads may be flooded or washed out during these months.

Travel by car outside of large towns can also be dangerous. Major roads are generally well maintained but there are few divided highways in Africa. In addition, rural auto accidents are fairly common because of high speed limits and the presence of wildlife in these areas. Night driving, especially in rural areas, is not recommended, and visitors are encouraged to hire reputable tour operators for safaris or other game viewing expeditions.

[edit] By thumb

Many locals hitchhike in countries throughout Africa, often paying a small fee to the driver. It is best to check the political and social climate of each region before traveling.

In the whole of Africa it is possible to flag down cars and pay them a required fee and get a lift in return. That is just the way public transport works in that part of the world - he who has a means of transportation, that is a car or minibus, is automatically expected to give lifts to others and of course charge them a small amount of money for the favour. The idea of it has nothing to do with our Western idea of hitchhiking.

If you are of European descent it may sometimes work that by waiting alongside a road where bush taxis also go that you can stop a NGO driver, tourists or someone rich in their mercedes and thereby go quicker and free of charge, but there are so few of these around that this is not something you can usually bank on.

[edit] Overland trucks

Some people with limited amounts of time or who would prefer not to make their own arrangements opt for the "overlander" experience. Many operators run tours in large trucks that are comfortable and equipped with facilities for around 8-30 persons. They're generally run on a pretty tight schedule and cover a lot of distance, such as "Nairobi to Jo'burg in six weeks". These tours are run throughout the whole continent but East and Southern Africa are the most popular destinations. Accommodation is mostly camping. Most meals are arranged, and free time (like everything else) is scheduled. However, there is plenty of time to do the adventure activities certain areas of Africa are famous for. Victoria Falls, Swakopmund, Zanzibar, Serengeti National Park. Some people really enjoy these tours, especially when they do not have enough time to organise all travel arrangements themselves. Others loathe the very thought of travelling in a group and think that they keep you way out of touch with the "real" Africa and liken them to MTV's Road Rules. Whatever the case, they're a very different way to travel through Africa. Note that people that go on these tours tend to be young at heart and slightly adventurous, these tours are not luxury trips.

[edit] See

Many visitors are attracted by the African flora and fauna and several countries benefit from Safari tourism to African National Parks.

• Amboseli National Park is located in Kenya and famous for the biggest tuskers in the world

• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is located in South Africa and Botswana. Big game and many raptors

• Masai Mara National Park is located in Kenya and is famous for the mass migration of wildebeest from the Serengeti

• Tsavo East National Park is located in Kenya and is best known for its giraffe population

• Serengeti National Park is located in Tanzania and has amazing opportunities for seeing lions

• Etosha National Park is located in Namibia

• Kruger National Park in South Africa is the biggest national park in Africa and has many different habitats

6 days Mara - Ambo Safari[4]

One of the best itineraries offered by UgandaLastMinute.com[5] covering the best of Masai mara and Amboseli National Parks.

Day 1 - Nairobi - Masai Mara National Park Met on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by our representative and drive through the Mau Escarpments into the floor of the Rift Valley to the Masai Mara National Reserve[6]. On arrival, drive to the Keekorok Lodge for check in and lunch. You will have some rest and at 1600hrs, you will have an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight will be at Keekorok Lodge.

Day 2 - Masai Mara National Reserve Full day in the reserve with both morning and afternoon game drives at 0630hrs and 1600hrs respectively. The Mara is the northern extension of the Serengeti and its rolling plains are home to hundreds of plains game together with predators that feed on them. All meals and overnight at Keekorok Lodge.

Day 3 - Masai Mara - Lake Nakuru National Park The day starts with breakfast before you depart to Lake Nakuru National Park[7]. This is one of the many beautiful Rift Valley Lakes, and home to thousands of flamingoes and other bird and animal life. Lunch at the L. Nakuru Lodge Afternoon game viewing, dinner at your lodge.

Day 4 - L. Nakuru - Amboseli National Park After breakfast you will depart via Nairobi driving South through the Masai land to Amboseli National Park You will arrive in time for lunch at The Amboseli Serena or Similar. You will then have some rest in readiness for the Afternoon game drive that starts at 1600hrs. Later return back to the camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 - Amboseli National Park Full days spent at the Amboseli National Park with morning and evening game drives. Located at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the park has many animals and the fact that it is a plain makes sighting of animals much easier. On a clear day, you will be able to see the tallest mountain in Africa, The Mt.Kilimanjaro. All meals will be at the Amboseli Serena Lodge or Similar.

Day 6 - Nairobi Depart from the lodge after breakfast and head back to Nairobi arriving in the early afternoon to have lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant before being transferred to the airport for your flight back home.

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Stay healthy

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of HIV and AIDS infection on Earth. A 2005 UN Report says over 25 million infected, over 7% of adults, for the continent as a whole. Be extremely cautious about any sexual activity in Africa. Especially note that the rates of HIV infection among sex workers is phenomenally high.

See also Tropical diseases and Tips for travel in developing countries.