ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS IN AFRICA

Does the thought of shredding down a snow covered slope, dropping-in on a 15 foot wave, tearing down a mud covered mountain bike trail, or slicing through the ocean at 30 knots of wind interest you? Africa, the planet's second largest continent, is the ultimate destination for adventure sports enthusiasts. From the vast deserts of the Sahara and Kalahari, to the cloud forests and volcanoes of the Great Rift Valley, it is very much nature's continent. The landscapes of the Nile Valley, the Atlas Mountains and some of the world's most spectacular deserts all combine to offer unrivalled opportunities and make Africa one of the richest, most spectacular and diverse regions in the world. Made up of fifty-four individual countries, Africa is home to the Nile River, the world's longest river, and the massive Sahara Desert, the world's largest desert plain. Its highest point is Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, which stands at 5895m. Highlights for adventure sports enthusiasts include the Namib Desert on the west coast which is the oldest and most picturesque desert on Earth.

ADVENTURE SPORTS IN AFRICA

As well as boasting the highest sand dunes in the world at over 1250 feet, the Namib is spectacularly diverse, with scenery ranging from the mountains of Damaraland in the north, through to the skeleton coast in the west and the giant red dunes of Sossusvlei in the south. Not to be outdone, at the south-western most tip of the continent, spectacular coastal cliffs overlook the concurrence of the great Indian and Atlantic oceans at the Cape of Good Hope. This breath-taking coastline is dominated by Table Mountain, which has enchanted climbers for centuries. The summit of Jebel Toubkal, which at 4167m is the highest mountain in North Africa, is not a technical climb but a steep scramble over rugged terrain in places. It culminates in dramatic views of the High Atlas - to the north the plains of Marrakech, and to the south the Anti-Atlas Mountains.

If water sports are more your thing, you’ll find that Sharm El Sheikh and Red Sea diving compare with the best in the world, with popular sites including the Ras Mohammed Marine Park, Ras um Sid, the mysterious Thistlegorm wreck and Tiran island, with its sharks. Kite-surfing, paragliding, skydiving, hang gliding, surfing, windsurfing, snowboarding, rock climbing, kayaking, white water rafting, mountain biking and scuba diving can all be practiced in Africa. Top adventure destinations include South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and the Cape Verde Islands.