Travel Africa

Travel Africa TRAVEL AFRICA magazine seeks to inspire and inform all travellers wishing to explore the world's most exciting continent.

To order a copy visit www.travelafricamag.com

When you’re on safari, have you ever wondered what happens while you’re sleeping?If you ever have the chance, spend one ...
09/10/2025

When you’re on safari, have you ever wondered what happens while you’re sleeping?

If you ever have the chance, spend one full night awake in the bush. Not chasing sightings, but just watching, listening, feeling. No torch, no camera, no checklist. Just you and the darkness. You might not see a kill or a rare cat, but you’ll tune into a frequency that most safaris miss entirely.

It is not quiet. It is not still. And it is certainly not asleep.

If that makes you curious, maybe next time you’ll set your alarm for midnight instead of dawn, and pull up a chair — not for breakfast, but for a front-row seat to Africa’s night-time theatre, its nocturnal species and the sounds of the bush after dark.

For the full article by William Gray, pick up a copy of our latest issue, available here: https://travelafricamag.com/

Picture credit: Ondrej Prosicky, Shutterstock

Have you ever wondered if you’d be able to sleep out under the stars on a safari in Africa?Aren’t star beds scary? Will ...
19/09/2025

Have you ever wondered if you’d be able to sleep out under the stars on a safari in Africa?
Aren’t star beds scary?
Will I be safe?
Will the bed be comfortable?
What about electricity and running water?
Temperature and humidity?
What about bugs?
And what if I have second thoughts and want to return to the camp or lodge?

For the answers to all these questions, and a full run-down on star beds and sleeping with the stars, pick up a copy of our latest issue here https://travelafricamag.com/

Image credit Ultimate Safaris Namibia

Flat out in the Big Nothing“You can walk in any direction here — north, south, straight into the flat east or west — and...
16/09/2025

Flat out in the Big Nothing
“You can walk in any direction here — north, south, straight into the flat east or west — and see nothing. Not a tree. Not a bush. Not even a termite mound.

This is Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, and it’s one of the most surreal places on Earth. There are no landmarks. No sound but the wind. You could be on the moon or at the bottom of a drained sea (which you are). The only interruption is us — a small group setting up camp — and it feels like we have the whole planet to ourselves.

There are no fences. No walls. Not even the whisper of a canvas tent flap. Just a bedroll unfurled on the open skin of the earth. Soft sheets and a thick blanket weigh on my body, keeping me cocooned from the Kalahari cold. But there is the glorious solace of a hot water bottle curled at my feet like a sleepy pet, and a beanie tugged down over my ears. That’s it. My entire shelter.

I stare up.

The sky is enormous. The stars are impossibly bright. A vault of glittering infinity that presses down and lifts you up all at once. I almost want to step straight into the sky. Planets pulse.“

So says Melanie Van Zyl in our latest issue, available here: https://travelafricamag.com/

Picture credit Desert & Delta Safaris

Top 7 Great Nights Out (in the African bush)1. Track glow-in-the-dark scorpions in Damaraland, Namibia2. Hide out overni...
05/09/2025

Top 7 Great Nights Out (in the African bush)
1. Track glow-in-the-dark scorpions in Damaraland, Namibia
2. Hide out overnight at Shompole Wilderness, Kenya
3. Experience Hehe tribal traditions at Jabali Ridge, Tanzania
4. Stargaze from a private observatory at Molori, South Africa
5. Sleep beneath the stars in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
6. Chase fireflies in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa
7. Stargaze with experts at Olakira Migration Camp, Tanzania (pictured)

Prepared by specialist tour operator Mahlatini Luxury Travel and published in our latest issue. To find out more, get your copy of the mag here: https://travelafricamag.com/

Image credit Asilia Africa

What the eyes tell youThe sudden glow of eyes in the spotlight always makes you jump with excitement. What could it be? ...
03/09/2025

What the eyes tell you
The sudden glow of eyes in the spotlight always makes you jump with excitement. What could it be? It’s not a perfect method, but their colour, shape and position can help:
* Predators like lions, leopards and hyenas typically reflect a steady deep amber or orange glow.
* Herbivores (antelopes, buffaloes) often show greenish or pale white reflections.
* Bush babies are easy: watch for a pair of bright red dots bouncing in the trees.
* Birds such as owls and nightjars may reflect a bright white or yellow light.
* The spacing and height of the eyes might give away size and species: close-set, low eyes might belong to a genet; widely-spaced high eyes may mean an elephant.

Taken from a story by Lloyd Camp on ‘How to make the most of your night drive’ in our latest issue of the mag, available here: https://travelafricamag.com/

Picture credit Wim Hoek, Shutterstock

"I still think about that scene. I watched, almost in disbelief, as Yo-Yo Ma — one of the greatest classical musicians a...
02/09/2025

"I still think about that scene. I watched, almost in disbelief, as Yo-Yo Ma — one of the greatest classical musicians alive — set up to busk in the middle of Nairobi's Kenyatta Market, one of the city’s busiest open-air markets, where you can get your hair braided and enjoy some of the most delicious grilled meat. There was no announcement, no stage. Just him, a cello and a city going about its day. Most people had no idea who he was. But that was the beauty of it. The music didn’t need context. It carried beautifully across the stalls, drawing curious ears and slowing busy footsteps."
An excerpt from a story by Sharon Machira in our latest issue of the mag, available here: https://travelafricamag.com/

-YoMa

What happens after dark?Our new issue explores things like what wildlife gets up to while we are sleeping, how we can ge...
20/08/2025

What happens after dark?
Our new issue explores things like what wildlife gets up to while we are sleeping, how we can get more out of our nights in the bush, and what about those glorious starlit skies? Over 34 pages we explore all aspects of one of the most understated, but most memorable, times on safari.

In this issue we also take a deeper look at Etosha NP, the Eastern Cape and Samburuland, and visit some pretty special less-visited places like Nsumbu and Arusha NPs and St Helena. There’s plenty more, too — some fresh insights and ideas to ponder as you plan your next adventure!

Order your copy today by clicking on this link: https://travelafricamag.com/

Can this be a turning point for the Serengeti? - https://mailchi.mp/travelafricamag.com/caring-deeplyA disturbing scene ...
24/07/2025

Can this be a turning point for the Serengeti? - https://mailchi.mp/travelafricamag.com/caring-deeply
A disturbing scene in the Serengeti (different to the idyllic scene pictured below!) has sparked global debate. Here's what it means for us all — and what we can do

Botswana - Boundless contrastsThinly-inhabited Botswana is truly great safari destination, where the watery wonders of t...
24/07/2025

Botswana - Boundless contrasts
Thinly-inhabited Botswana is truly great safari destination, where the watery wonders of the Okavango Delta and riverine delights of Chobe National Park contrast with the semi-arid expanse of the Kalahari.

EXPERT TIP: Combine the Victoria Falls with the Selinda Reserve and the pans of Makgadikgadi. These three different biomes give you a complete overview of the diversity Botswana has to offer, while the falls are not to be missed. Spending time in one of the exclusive concessions such as Zarafa affords privileged access to some of the best wildlife in Africa.
Will Bolsover, Natural World Safaris

If you'd like to read more, with the hope of narrowing down places that most intrigue you, why not sign up to our email newsletter on this link https://travelafricamag.com/your-extraordinary-safari and receive a FREE digital issue packed full of info!



Making a splash:
A female red lechwe in the Selinda
Image credit Great Plains Conservation

There's a whole other side to Africa... after dark.In our next issue (published in August), we shine a light on what hap...
18/07/2025

There's a whole other side to Africa... after dark.

In our next issue (published in August), we shine a light on what happens in the bush when the sun goes down — from night-time game drives and stargazing to the intriguing behaviour of wildlife after dark. Beyond this, our travels are far and wide: from the iconic Etosha to the cultural heart of Samburuland, the peaceful stillness of St Helena, and plenty in between. With engaging travel stories, expert tips and plenty of inspiration, it’s one you won’t want to miss.
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Image credit Villiers Steyn, Shutterstock


MOZAMBIQUE - Rugged bush and marine megafaunaBoasting Africa’s longest stretch of tropical Indian Ocean frontage, Mozamb...
25/06/2025

MOZAMBIQUE - Rugged bush and marine megafauna
Boasting Africa’s longest stretch of tropical Indian Ocean frontage, Mozambique is renowned for its gorgeous beaches and diverse marine fauna, but it also offers some intriguing off-the-beaten-track safari opportunities.

EXPERT TIP: Seasons are of huge relevance. The whale season runs from July to October, but this is also the windy season – so visibility for diving is not so good. The best time for diving is from April to June. If you are a keen diver, I would also pick a location where you can dive from the beach, such as Nuarro.
Mike Varndell, Crafted Africa

Want to explore more and get inspired for your next adventure? Sign up for our email newsletter at this link https://travelafricamag.com/your-extraordinary-safari and we’ll send you a FREE digital issue of Travel Africa, packed with ideas and insights to help you plan your extraordinary safari.



Sea to be believed. Manta rays, whale sharks, whales and turtles are among the marine megafauna commonly spotted along Mozambique’s coastline

Green Namibia - a rare and stunning transformation - https://mailchi.mp/travelafricamag.com/green-namibiaAfter months of...
20/06/2025

Green Namibia - a rare and stunning transformation - https://mailchi.mp/travelafricamag.com/green-namibia

After months of exceptional rainfall, Namibia has been reborn — its arid landscapes now bursting with unexpected life and colour. Travel writer Helge Bendl journeyed across the country to capture this fleeting, greener side of the desert. Come see Namibia as you may not have seen it before

Image credit Helge Bendl

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Travel Africa magazine

We launched Travel Africa magazine in September 1997 as a magazine for everyone with a love of the African continent and to help inspire and inform African travellers.