Africa's best wildlife parks

Africa’s multitude of national parks, reserves and conservation areas are some of the most beautiful places on the planet, and home to a bewildering variety of wild animals – watch lions stalk their prey, see wildebeest and zebras migrating, or track gorillas through rain forest. Wherever you go, a wildlife safari (from the Swahili meaning ‘long journey’) will undoubtedly be a major highlight of your trip. Vast distances (some parks are bigger than small nations) and the unpredictable nature of large animals usually mean you need a vehicle to visit the national parks, often a 4WD, plus a knowledgeable guide. Going solo is possible but expensive so many visitors opt to join an organized safari. There are itineraries to suit all budgets, starting from around US$100 per day for a basic all-inclusive experience.

Serengeti National Park

Masai Mara National Reserve

Kruger National Park

Africa's top ancient sites and early civilizations

Africans were developing commercial empires and complex urban societies while Europeans were still running after wildlife with clubs. Arguably the greatest of the African empires was the first: ancient Egypt. Formed through an amalgamation of already organised states in the Nile Delta around 3100 BC, Egypt achieved an amazing degree of cultural and social sophistication. Aksum, which controlled much of Sudan and southern Arabia at the height of its powers between AD 100 and 940, was the first truly African indigenous state. Before the Romans took control of North Africa there was the city state of Carthage (in modern day Tunisia), while on the West African coast the area centred on present-day Mali was home to a hugely wealthy series of empires that flourished over the course of more than 800 years. Southern Africa had the medieval city of Great Zimbabwe, construction of which began in the 11th century.

Africa's World Heritage Sites

Since Île de Gorée in Senegal was inscribed as Africa’s first World Heritage site in 1978, Unesco has recognized a further 128 sites spread across the continent. Sites range from the iconic structures such as Giza’s pyramids to the beautiful and unique flowers of the Cape Floral Region. Ethiopia is blessed with nine World Heritage locations – the most for a single country. These include the remains of the powerful early kingdom of Aksum and Simien National Park as well as the amazing rock hewn churches of Lalibela. Other nations with seven or more sites include Tanzania, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco and Tunisia. A handful of sites straddle borders, such as Victoria Falls which can be accessed from either Zambia (base yourself in Livingstone) or Zimbabwe (stay in Victoria Falls).

Africa's Music Hot Spots

Africa’s musical legacy stretches back further than that of any other continent, a history as vast and varied as its range of rhythms, melodies and overlapping sources and influences. Here, music traditional and contemporary – is as vital to communication and storytelling as the written word. It is the lifeblood of communities, the solace of the nomad, the entertainment of choice. It also can be a political tool  perceived as a threat or a campaign winner; music played a significant role in the fight against apartheid in South Africa, for example. African leaders are forever trying to cash in on popular musicians, many of whom have their own record labels and charitable foundations. In Africa music is more than a way of life. It is a force. Get ready to feel it at rhythmic destinations from Cairo to Cape Town and all of Africa.

Zanzibar Music

Cote d'Ivoire's Music

Modest Mali

Djenne (Mali), founded in 800 AD, is one of sub-Saharan Africa's oldest cities. Situated on an island in the Niger River delta, Djenne was a natural hub for traders who shuttled their goods between the Sahara desert and the forests of Guinea. Through the years Djenne also became a center of Islamic learning and its market square is still dominated by the beautiful Grand Mosque. Djenne is located a few hundred miles downstream from Timbuktu.

The market in Djenne, held every Monday, is one of the most interesting and lively markets in Africa, and well worth planning your trip around.

The best time to go is at the end of the rainy season (August/September) when Djenne turns into an island.

ZEAL Zimbabwe

After experiencing awesome Victoria Falls and its plentiful adventure activities, visitors to Zimbabwe have a wealth of safari opportunities. Take a short flight to diverse Hwange National Park, and discover its at herds of elephant and large population of endangered African wild dog. Or visit Mana Pools, the country’s second World Heritage Site, to walk and canoe in a game rich region filled with elephant, buffalo, hippo and crocodile. Head southeast to the secluded Malilangwe Reserve, a breeding sanctuary for the sable antelope and black rhino, and explore more than 100 of the ancient Bushman’s rock art sites.

Unbelievable Uganda

Once hailed by Winston Churchill as the “Pearl of Africa” for its prolific wildlife and lush beauty, Uganda has been steadily attracting travelers to view its shy mountain gorillas as an alternative to Rwanda since the early 2000’s. Trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to observe the gorillas, which are carefully habituated to humans – the gorillas are even known to come into your camp. Uganda’s other pearls include the centrally located Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls and Kibale Forest National Park, where you’ll find the most primates ever recorded in an African forest.

Mesmerizing Mozambique

Mozambique, whose coastline extends from South Africa to Tanzania, is known for its pristine, less-traveled beach destinations along the Indian Ocean. Accessible mainly by flying, there are several small beach resorts  offering fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving, and small safari camps with simple accommodations.

Marvelous Mauritius

Mauritius is a remote island in the Indian Ocean some 1700km off the east coast of Africa and 3000km from both Johannesburg and Nairobi, with which it has its main flight connections. 

The island is around 50km in diameter, a mix of dramatic forested peaks and rich agriculture, fringed by classic tropical beaches.

 Despite its remoteness Mauritius is one of the most heavily touristic islands in the world, with literally hundreds of hotels lining its beaches, at least fifty of which are enormous resorts with hundreds of rooms. This is not a place for the intrepid traveler; it is somewhere to come to enjoy a tropical climate in lavish comfort, with some golf and tennis mixed in. 

Among the best golf resorts are Constance Belle Mare Plage, Beachcomber Dinarobin Hotel, Beachcomber Paradis Hotel, Heritage Awali, Heritage Le Telfair, Four Seasons at Anahita and Le Touessrok.

Among the best of the larger resorts are Constance Le Prince Maurice, Lux Le Morne, Maratim Hotel Mauritius, Sugar Beach Resort, The Oberoi Mauritius and The Residence Mauritius.

Among the best smaller hotels are 20 Degrees Sud, Baystone Hotel and the inland Lakaz Chamarel.

Spectacular Seychelles

The Seychelles are surely the world's most alluring tropical islands. 

Ranged across 1200km of the Indian Ocean, these incredibly remote granite and coral islands do that white sand and palm tree thing with a real panache. 

Given its reputation for luxury beach lodges, it may come as quite a surprise to discover that the Seychelles is actually a very real place, full of local color, with a good range of lower cost guesthouses and superb live aboard options ... in short a place that lends itself to exploratory travel as much as the more conventional resort stay. 

The best place to start researching is on the Inner Islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.

Sensational South Africa

South Africa is a large and extremely diverse country, a magnificent mixture of landscapes, climates and cultures.

Whilst top-end travelers can choose to fly everywhere, many of our guests tend to include at least some self-drive elements. 

The most popular region is the Western Cape, centered around Cape Town and with beautiful winelands, mountain ranges and beaches to explore. The adjacent Eastern Cape contains some decent non-malarial game reserves. 

The Northeast contains the country's prime safari location in Kruger, with some further non-malarial safari options in Madikwe to the North.

To the southeast lies KwaZulu Natal, with a much more subtropical feel and excellent coastal and wildlife reserves.The other regions of Central, Lesotho, Northwest and Swaziland are all much lesser visited, but certainly have their attractions.

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Nurturing Namibia

Namibia is one of the world's most lightly populated countries, with vast swathes of the most remarkable desert scenery ... a truly special place. 

There is game here, but not in the densities of other safari countries, making it not necessarily an ideal location for a first timers to Africa. 

The most popular way to get around is by road, with an inner network of decent roads being safe to self-drive and connecting the popular attractions such as Sossusvlei and Etosha.

 The very best locations are those truly wild areas which lie out of range of self-drivers, such as Skeleton Coast North, Kaokaland West, Damaraland North and Namibrand, which are more often accessed by light aircraft.

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Zesty Zambia

Zambia remains to this day wonderful and relatively noncommercial location for safari, with small outfitters continuing to operate intimate little camps in remote and beautiful reserves. 

Safari here is unusually outdoorsy and involving, often including a high quotient of walking and night drives. Real safari for real safari people. 

The best known safari area lies to the east, where the wonderful South Luangwa national park provides the iconic Zambian bush experience, along with the more remote North Luangwa with its specialist walking camps. 

To the south Lower Zambezi is another fantastic reserve, this time also offering motorboat and canoe trips to complement the usual vehicle and walking safaris. 

To the west Kafue is a huge and remote wilderness with a handful of superb camps. Last but by no means is least the sensational Victoria Falls at Livingstone, an area full of interest and activity which features for 2 or 3 nights in most trips.

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Beloved Botswana

Safari in Botswana is amongst the finest in Africa, taking advantage of a relatively unpopulated country, dominated by the Kalahari Desert, its seasonal water sources and its vast salt pans. 

The most famous safari area is Okavango, a huge wetland area which thumps with game year round. 

Coming in a close second is Linyanti, a waterfront area where dry game viewing is prodigious May thru November. 

Makgadikgadi is also worth visiting year round for its spectacular salt pans, Bushmen and meercats. 

Other desert areas such as Central Kalahari and Nxai Pan tend to be at their best in the green season November thru May, when the migratory herds pass through. 

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Kindhearted Kenya

Modern day Kenya is a complex place, one about which it seems easy to eulogize one minute and despair the next. 

There is no doubt that the country contains some of the best known safari locations ... the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Naivasha, Samburu ... plus a naturally beautiful tropical Coast.

But in comparison with countries such as Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana, the general quality of safari in Kenya is really rather poor. This is the home of the packaged safari, with most of the main parks being dominated by large mainstream lodges and fleets of minibuses. 

For a quality safari one has to plan carefully to combine smart raids into these busy areas with relaxed sojourns in more remote and pristine locations. 

For most visitors the starting point should be the Maasai Mara, which can still deliver a high quality safari experience for those who plan very carefully. 

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Tremendous Tanganika & Zealous Zanzibar (Tanzania)

Tanzania is one of our favorite countries.

The northern parks area, centered on Serengeti and Ngorongoro, is without doubt the best location for proper overland safari, providing the most awesome combination of scenery, wildlife and culture. Nearby Mount Kilimanjaro is arguably the world's greatest outdoor challenge. Both of these are within a short hopper flight of wonderful tropical beaches on the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia.

Whilst to the south and west are the superb fly-in reserves of Ruaha, Selous, Katavi and Mahale, the latter being perhaps the best location for primate interaction in Africa. Despite this, Tanzania remains relatively untouristic in the core areas and truly wild beyond.

We often say that first safaris should come with the health warning ... "what you are about to experience may become addictive". This is probably truer in Tanzania than anywhere else; this country will most likely cause you to fall in love with Africa.

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Welcome to ABC Visa and Passport Services

Welcome to ABC Visa and Passport Services

Beginning July 1st 2009, ABC Visa and Passport Services

has become the exclusive contact for all Algerian visa requests for U.S. Residents.

Effective August 1st 2010 Algeria Visa Center will be moving to a new office located at:

2144 California Street, N.W

Washington D.C 20008

Our professional staff can provide you with efficient visa and passport services within your required time frame.

ABC Visa and Passport Services make your needs our top priority. We can fulfill your travel documentation requirements fast because our staff personally oversees every step of the process required to get your visa and passport from application to delivery in your hands.