Africa holidays line up scenic safari trips, historic city breaks and some of the world’s best beaches.

Safaris and sea life

Africa and safaris go hand in hand, so you can see plenty of wildlife during a holiday to this part of the world. In Kenya, you can roam the Maasai Mara’s 500-square-mile plains in search of the Big Five – buffaloes, rhinos, elephants, lions and leopards. Hwange National Park, in Zimbabwe, is a good place to spot them, too. Plus, you can pair your trip here with a visit to Victoria Falls – the world’s largest waterfall. If you’d prefer to head out on the open water in search of humpback whales and great white sharks, South Africa’s west coast is the place to be.

No shortage of sand

Sun-seekers are spoilt for choice when it comes to a holiday in Africa, too. Mauritius – the continent’s take on the Maldives – dishes up over 330 kilometres of talc-fine beaches. Add this to the island’s cyan-tinted lagoons and rainbow-coloured coral reefs and you’ve got all the ingredients for a chilled-out break. Off Africa’s west coast, meanwhile, Cape Verde’s also suited for a sand-centred holiday. The island of Boa Vista in particular deserves a shout out. It serves up 55 kilometres of Instagram-worthy shoreline for you to kick back on. Then there’s Zanzibar, where chalk-white beaches meet bubblegum-blue water on one side and thick, green forest on the other.

Souks, citadels and souvenirs

If a bustling city’s more your scene, African holidays have plenty of contenders in that arena, as well. Just look at Morocco. Its headliner – Marrakech – is packed with sights to see. There are over 800 years of history on display, from the intricate tilework at Bahia Palace to the ice-white marble interiors of the Saadian Tombs – the final resting place of a 16th-century sultan. Plus, you’ve got hundreds of store-filled alleyways to explore in the souk near Jemaa el Fna Square – the city’s biggest marketplace. Here, you can shop for everything from scented oil sets and ceramic tiles to leather bags and copper lanterns.