African Summer Travel Destinations: Zambia, Gabon and Egypt

What do Zambia, Gabon and Egypt have in common? They have been chosen as three of the many destinations that will be featured in Face2Face Africa’s Summer 2011 top travel destinations!

Located in southern, central and northern Africa respectively, these stellar travel destinations are sure to satisfy every traveler — no matter what part of the continent you find yourself in. So here we go:

Loango National Park, Gabon
Known for its mythical surfing hippos, this visually stunning national park is located in Gabon. To put things into perspective, try to picture a place once referred to as “the Last Eden.” Think lush green leaves and diverse wild life: Imagine rich savanna lands and unspoiled landscapes. These images provide merely a glimpse into Loango’s beauty. It is a place of vast beauty, with whales, dolphins, gorillas, leopards, elephants and buffalo living wild and untamed in their natural habitat, yet venturing to the white sand beaches of the area.

Arguably the one of the most beautiful spots on the western region of the African continent, Loango could have you deep sea diving in the morning, trailing through the wetlands by mid-day, fly fishing in the lagoon in the afternoon, and gazing at some massive herds as they graze by sundown. Unique in its composition and diverse in its beauty, Loango National Park is a one-of-a-kind wonder!

Victoria Falls, Zambia
River Zambezi travels a long way through Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique before emptying out into the Indian Ocean. Thankfully, before the long journey through the length of the Zambezi, is a 360-foot drop that is arguably the most amazing feature on the southern river. It is no surprise that this is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
This world wonder should not be traversed by the faint of heart, as its local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya, translates into “the Smoke that Thunders.” There is more than one way to experience this awesome natural formation up close: The adventurous can live on the edge quite literally by taking a dip in Devil’s Pool,  while the more cautious, can grab their zoom lenses from a safe distance of 500 meters to take breathtaking snapshots of this hydroelectric masterpiece. Either way, you’re sure to have an electrifying experience.

Giza, Egypt
Giza, Egypt is most famous for its vast plateaus. I know, it’s not the most obvious thing you think about when you hear the name, but it all becomes clear when you realize that the plateau is home to the Sphinx and the Pyramids. Now that’s more like it, isn’t it? Giza is home to the fameous Pyramid of Giza, a world wonder and a mystery in itself that has fascinated the human population for centuries: so much so, that it has been referenced repeatedly in books, magazines and movies for years.
More than just a city of historical aesthetic and mystery, Giza is currently Egypt’s third largest city, and has flourished to a point of economic sustainability. This beautiful sunny city on the periphery of the capital, Cairo, is definitely holding its own in terms of tourism, business and luxury.

In all its grandeur, the beautiful city of Giza almost seems as if it yells out a warning to Cairo: “Watch out! We are right behind you, and the world is in awe of our beauty!” And the world should be. Go ahead, experience the charms of Giza and don’t forget to discover a mummy or two!
 

Photos: KeyAfrica.com, TravelFunda.blogspot.com & ArabianMedia-Online.com