Travel Africa

The only international magazine dedicated to exploring Africa's diverse attractions, national parks, wildlife, culture and history. Travel Africa draws on some of the world's top photographers, writers and experts to create an inspiring and practical resource for anyone interested in the world's most exciting continent.

Karibu

Travel Africa

Peace and quiet

BUSH TALKER • How to polish your safari nerd terminology, by Mark Eveleigh

GREAT ESCAPE • Do you always have to visit one of the major parks for a great wildlife experience? Sophie Baker headed to South Africa’s northern Waterberg region to find out

LETTER FROM ACCRA, GHANA • West Africa appeals to many travellers for its rich cultural experience. But what is it really like? We asked Accra resident Kofi Dotse to show you the Ghana he loves

GHANA HIGHLIGHTS • We asked guidebook writer Ian Packham for his recommendations

BEYOND THE BUSH • Why you haven’t truly seen Africa until you’ve walked its streets. By Sharon Machira

What happens after dark?

The descent into velvet • DUSK: DAY TURNS TO NIGHT

The evening spark • Ben Forbes celebrates the simple joy of the campfire

Driving tests • How to make the most of your night drive? Private guide Lloyd Camp offers some expert tips

light matters

Great nights out • Evenings in the bush needn’t be just about campfires and early to bed. We asked the team at specialist tour operator Mahlatini to suggest some examples of extraordinary activities you can enjoy on your next safari

Starstruck • Anyone who has spent a night in the African wilderness will know how the experience seeps into your soul.

Sleeping with the stars • Break down the fourth by taking the opportunity urges Emma Gregg

What happens while you are sleeping? • When we hit the sack, who comes out to play? William Gray explores the nightlife we don’t often get to see

Creatures of the night • William Gray selects eight remarkable nocturnal sightings. How many have you spotted?

Guardians of the night • Why bats need the dark to thrive… and why we need bats. By Dr Rachael Cooper-Bohannon of Bats Without Borders

How a bat works

Birding on the dark side • And what about our feathered friends? Which species are most active, what tricks help their nocturnal hunting and what happens to diurnal birds at night? This is a fascinating time to be birding, says Mike Unwin

Star walks • Take a safari around the night sky, and see if you can spot this celestial “big five”

The planets • Because of their movements and that of the Earth, the arrangement of planets in the night sky differs from week to week, so there is no easy way to determine which ones are visible at a particular time or the year, or time of the night. Fortunately, it is not too difficult to determine which is which:

Astronomical travel • The night sky may appear universal, but what we see depends directly on our geographic coordinates, especially our latitude. So, how does our view change depending on where we are on the continent? Dr Mohammed Sabil, astrophysicist and university professor in Marrakech, explains

The dark side • Dark Sky Places are the new kids on the nocturnal tourism block, and Africa’s arid regions offer exceptional opportunities to develop more of these no-light zones. Jacques Marais learns more

What is a Dark Sky Place?

Studying the night sky • The clarity of South Africa’s dark, star-studded skies have placed it at the centre of global astronomical research. But who are the key players furthering our understanding of the universe — and helping to ensure future generations will continue to gaze up at the night sky in awe? Jacques Marais...