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Ker & Downey Recommends: The 5 most unique African experiences.

By Katy Heerssen

Anyone who’s been there can tell you that Africa by itself is an adventure. You expect the unexpected, the exotic, and your journey delivers generously. For fearless explorers who want to push boundaries of the usual on the continent, the following five, matchless experiences are sure to blow your mind.

Tanzania

The Experience

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a popular bucket-list item for all levels of adventurers, but for those who prefer to do things with a touch more panache and exclusivity, climbing Kilimanjaro via the Machame route is what really needs to be the goal. The Kili climb is a multi-day trek, and it’s usually a mad dash of swollen packs of climbers jockeying for position on the mountain’s designated camp sites. The trek is no secret; but when it comes to encountering throngs of hiking groups, the Machame route is definitely the road less traveled. Aside from being less crowded, it’s also much more scenic than alternative routes, passing through areas of Afromontane forest, glacial valleys and alpine desert. The ascent is made via Stella Point, and you descend on a separate trail—instead of simply about-facing on the same path you just traversed. You’ll have a day pack as you are led along the trail, but your tent and other belongings will be completely cared for by porters who scout ahead and stake their claim for the choice views at campsites.

Best Time to Go

Weather conditions tend to be more ideal during the months of January, February and July through October. Travel during these months to experience the very best views.

The Stay

Acclimate to the area in Arusha, often the first pit stop for Kili climbers, and retreat to the Legendary Lodge just west of town. Colonial elegance shrouded behind the tropical gardens of a working coffee plantation, this haven is an ideal bookend to your once-in-a-lifetime trek.

Wow Factor

The service. Arrive after a day of hiking and sightseeing to a private tent that’s already set up and a dinner that has already been prepared for you in a separate dining tent—it’s an exclusivity that is hard to find on the average mountain climb. The trained guides take care of your personal well-being, too, paying close attention for key aspects of altitude sickness, so you can safely play the part of mountain climber.

South Africa

The Experience

The Kalahari is where the real wild and rare reigns. Some 80 species of game are found here including all of the Big Five and a treasure trove of plains game and predators. Those in search of the unique and unusual are not disappointed at Tswalu Kalahari, the largest private game reserve in South Africa. Here it’s possible to spot game drive rarities like the aardvark and the honey badger—yes, the same one you saw on YouTube. One of the most coveted checks to tick off your animal spotting list is the pangolin, a shy and mostly nocturnal mammal that’s one part anteater and one part battle tank. This toothless ground dweller relies on its advanced sense of smell and powerful claws to locate and expose tasty larvae and insects inside termite and ant mounds. Its incredibly long and sticky tongue is supported by muscles that run the length of its entire frame; and, at full extension, it can sometimes surpass the three-foot span of its scaly body. The armor the pangolin carries is made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails, offering it superior protection and a uniform Mad Max would appreciate. Since its front legs are adapted for digging and rooting through dirt (as opposed to movement), the pangolin ambles along on its hind legs, leaving an extremely unique set of tracks that help safari-goers locate one who’s on the move. Legends abound regarding the pangolin: a sighting
is a sign of prosperity and good fortune, while it is said actively pursuing or capturing these creatures can lead to extreme bad luck. The pangolin appears only when he wishes, and he seems to favor visitors at Tswalu.

Best Time to Go

From June through August, the winter climate impacts the availability of food just enough to draw the pangolin (and other usually nocturnal species) out during the day in search of sustenance, mean- ing getting a glimpse of one of these rare denizens is all the more likely.

The Stay

Luxury lodges at The Motse at Tswalu Kalahari, pioneered by Nicky and Strilli Oppenheimer of De Beers diamond fame, are a slice of unbelievable exclusivity in the heart of a wild location. Indulgence can be found in the full-service spa, on the menu of gourmet creations and in the contemporary suites fused with inspiring African artworks.

Wow Factor

The conservation. Tswalu means “a new begin- ning” and the aim of the Oppenheimers is just that for the Kalahari. Beyond the exclusivity you’ll find when staying as a guest on over 380 square miles of private lands, you will have a front-row seat to the important work being done by expert researchers.

Madagascar

The Experience

Isolated, rugged and challenging (even for the most hardcore adrenaline junkies), Madagascar is over 226,000 square miles of diverse terrain begging to be explored. The island biomes jump from beach to jungle to desert in a flash, with almost all of the island’s wildlife found nowhere else in the world. One of the well-known symbols of Madagascar is the lemur, an early primate design that continued to thrive on the island. The primary rainforests of the Mantadia National Park are home to 14 different species including one of the largest of all lemurs, the endangered indri. These cuddly primates are absent the typical long lemur tail, grow to over two feet long and are covered in a coat of black and white fluff. Odds are you’ll hear the indri before you see one. This tree dweller with a teddy bear face emits some of the most powerful and haunting calls, gracing any jungle trek with their soundtrack of wails. Of the 13 other species of lemur found in Mantadia, though you may not get to see them all in one pass, your guide will keep a sharp eye out for the tiny gray bamboo lemur, the red-eyed common brown lemur, and the orange-limbed diademed sifaka. At night, the reserve stays alive as nocturnal species come out to play and fill the forest with a rowdy cacophony of chirps and bellows.

Best Time to Go

The rains from January through March can be quite intense and can make navigating the remote regions of the island impossible. April, October and November are the best months for the balance of temperate climes and ac- tive animals.

The Stay

After your jungle explorations in Mantadia, head to the northern coast of the country to take in some beach adventure at Anjajavy. This low- impact retreat faces the Mozambique Channel and allows you to mix in snorkeling around tsingy coral formations with simply lazing in the sun and sand.

Wow Factor

The wildlife. Millions of years of isolation and independent evolution have blessed the island with unbelievably unique diversity. Of all of the world’s species, one in 20 are found only on Madagascar; and excellent guides like Marie, the preferred guide of Conservation International’s Russ Mittermeier, keep you engaged with the wild island life.

Republic of the Congo

The Experience

If you want to get to the real wild heart of Africa, you want to head to the Republic of
the Congo before the rest of the world finds one of Africa’s best-kept wild secrets. Dense, virtually uninhabited rainforests dominate the north of the country, creating a haven for a myriad of primate species and a true untamed experience for the very adventurous. Odzala- Kokoua National Park is the heart of the activity, and it is a pathless wilderness that each new visitor must navigate, creating their own trail between acres of marshy high grasses and lush marantaceae. The only trails you’ll find have been forged by the animals, like a muddy “elephant highway,” so deteriorated when compared to the forest around it that it’s surely been a main lane for potentially hundreds of years’ worth of pachyderms. Sixteen species of primates have claimed this area as theirs including chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus, mangabeys and the incredible western lowland gorilla. These giants differ greatly in personality from their habituated silverback cousins on the trails of Rwanda and Uganda, and they behave much more cautiously, thanks to generations of isolation. Hiking through this uncharted territory is tough, but it’s worth navigating the intense growth of the jungle to stumble upon a clearing called a bai. These salt-rich deposits scattered throughout the jungle grow irresistible, mineral-rich foliage that are often a shadowbox of activity with primates, birds and other herbivores all having emerged from their dense cover to mingle for light bites.

Best Time to Go

With an equatorial, tropical climate giving little variation to the weather and a constant population of wildlife making their home in its jungles, any time of year is a good time to explore the Congo.

The Stay

Just six suites comprise Ngaga Camp, all connected by elevated, decked paths, hovering over the thick marantaceae and giving you a great view into the canopy and its activity. The B’Aka Pygmy groups have inspired the architecture of the spaces, each round in design with one wall left open to act as your window into the wild.

Wow Factor

The guides. With a sixth sense fixed on the wildlife of the area, guides and re- searchers know this jungle as a second home, in-tune with the flora, fauna and the subtle signs that yes, there will be activity ahead.

Ethiopia

The Experience

It comes as a surprise to most that the world’s second oldest Christian country is found on the Horn of Africa. The cultural significance and religious history contained within the borders of Ethiopia is becoming a draw for history-minded travelers, and the unforgiving landscape of the region nets visitors some unforgettable eye candy from the air. In a private charter, you can buzz over the active volcanoes of the Danakil Depression, part of the Great Rift Valley system. This amazing natural wonder is one of the most remote spots in the world and remains in constant flux. Geologically, the Dallol Depression is not unlike the geyser basins of stateside Yellowstone, except here, the activity happens at over 150 feet below sea level to form the lowest exposed volcanic vents in the world. Aside from the rush you get soaring above the dangerous and unstable geological area, you’ll get to take in an unbelievable landscape characterized by a rainbow of colors. Over Dallol, the salt deposits stand like pristine snowdrifts next to the vibrant, green pools of briny and acidic hot springs and soil that has been tinted fiery orange. From the air, you might spot the camel caravans that still traverse the inhospitable area to transport salt to the northern regions of Ethiopia.

Best Time to Go

Visit from October through March to beat the heat, but try to plan your trip for January 6–7 during Ganna, the Orthodox Christmas celebration. Local residents don crisp, white cotton robes and descend upon the ancient buried churches at Lalibela in an annual pilgrimage, bringing added vibrancy to an already amazing atmosphere.

The Stay

The aerial adventure begins in Lalibela and ends in Addis Ababa, and retreating to the hilltop confines of the Sheraton Addis, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is the ideal way to close a day of soaring over the region. Dip below the waters of the swimming pools to hear relaxing underwater music before soothing your senses with a massage in the acclaimed Aqva Club.

Wow Factor

The view. The active basaltic shield volcano Erta Ale is also part of your flight plan, and you’ll soar over one of only four volcanoes on the planet that has an almost constant lava lake. Locals refer to the bubbling lake as the gateway to Hell—thankfully, your visit keeps you safely above the churning pits and extreme temperatures that rise more than 2,000 feet from below sea level.

For more information about adding one of these destinations to your itinerary, contact your Travel Professional. To read the current issue of QUEST magazine online, click here, and be sure to stay up to date on all of QUEST’s online content by following the QUEST Facebook page.

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