MANY travellers want to tick Africa off their bucket list, so we asked Travellers Choice member Trinity Hastwell from Hastwell Travel & Cruise to share her tips on selling the Dark Continent.
Is there much interest among Australians for travel to Africa?
Absolutely, from the ever popular Southern and East Africa and the resurgence of Egypt and Morocco, the African continent continuously proves to be a popular destination for Australian travellers.
Which areas are most popular?
South Africa is a perennial favourite, especially for first time travellers to Africa. It has the option for amazing game viewing and to tick off the Big 5, but it has so much more to offer; the beautiful Garden Route, great beaches, the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town and my favourite, the winelands of Stellenbosch.
What are the must-see highlights for first time travellers?
For most people, when they think of Africa it conjures images of elephants and lions. A safari is a must for any first-time traveller. The mighty Victoria falls is another must-see.
What sort of travellers are visiting Africa?
Africa has something to offer every type of traveller. From luxury, all-inclusive lodges for the high-end traveller to camping tours for the more adventurous. Africa is a great family destination and we are seeing a lot of repeat travellers.
Is there any particular times of year that is best or most popular to travel to Africa?
Africa is a year-round destination but there’s definitely better times of year for each area. Morocco and Egypt in the north can be particularly hot in summer months so travelling between October and February is great to avoid the heat but you will get bigger crowds so my recommendation is to travel in the shoulder seasons of September and March. The dry season in Southern Africa’s springtime so is my recommendation for excellent game viewing in places like Kruger National Park.
What do you love about Africa?
Everything! It is such a diverse continent. I love the history of Egypt, the colourful cities of Morocco and of course the animals of Southern and East Africa, but my favourite experience would have to be trekking to see the gorillas in Uganda.
What are the biggest challenges in selling Africa?
The perception that Africa has to be an expensive holiday. For me, you can’t go past the value and diversity of South Africa which can be done on almost any budget.
