Africa

From Moroccan medinas and Egyptian temples to East African safari, Namibian dunes, Cape winelands, and Indian Ocean beaches — the continent finally getting some of its range here.

North Africa

Morocco

Medinas, desert, mountains, and coast — sensory and varied.

Peak months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
Off-season $–$$$ Warm
North Africa

Egypt

The pyramids and Luxor — unmatched ancient sites.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Off-season $–$$$ Warm
Sub-Saharan Africa

Kenya

The original safari, plus an Indian Ocean coast to land on afterward.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$–$$$$ Warm
Sub-Saharan Africa

South Africa

Cape Town, safari, and wine country in one self-drive trip.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Good now $$–$$$ Mild
Sub-Saharan Africa

Tanzania

Serengeti, a volcanic crater full of animals, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar — in one country.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Peak now $$–$$$$ Warm
Sub-Saharan Africa

Victoria Falls

The largest sheet of falling water on Earth, with a town on either side.

Peak months: Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun
Good now $$–$$$$ Warm
Indian Ocean

Zanzibar

The classic wind-down after a Tanzanian safari — beaches, spice, and a Swahili trading city.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$–$$$ Warm
Sub-Saharan Africa

Botswana

The most exclusive safari in Africa, built around a flooded desert.

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$$–$$$$ Warm
Indian Ocean

Mauritius

A resort island that actually has an interior worth leaving the beach for.

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$$–$$$$ Warm
Sub-Saharan Africa

Namibia

A self-drive epic through some of the emptiest country on Earth.

Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Peak now $$–$$$ Warm
Sub-Saharan Africa

Rwanda

One hour, face-to-face with a gorilla family, in the easiest and safest place to do it.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Dec
Peak now $$$–$$$$ Mild
Indian Ocean

Seychelles

Granite-boulder beaches that look engineered, on islands built for slowing down.

Peak months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
Good now $$$$ Warm
Sub-Saharan Africa

Madagascar

A big-distance island epic where nine-tenths of the wildlife lives nowhere else.

Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$–$$$ Warm
North Africa

Tunisia

Rome-grade ruins, real Sahara, and blue-and-white coast — a cheap hop from Europe.

Peak months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Good now $–$$ Warm
Sub-Saharan Africa

Ghana

West Africa’s friendliest first trip — deep history, big culture, and beaches, in fluent English.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec
Good now $–$$ Warm
Indian Ocean

Réunion

The Indian Ocean’s answer to Hawaii — an active volcano, roadless canyons, and world-class hiking, on French soil.

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Peak now $$$ Warm
Sub-Saharan Africa

Uganda

The place to look a mountain gorilla in the eye — plus the classic savanna safari, on far quieter ground.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Dec
Peak now $$–$$$ Mild