The seven, Spanish owned Canary Islands are located around 100 miles off the coast of West Africa. Close to the Tropic of Cancer and on a similar line of latitude to the Bahamas and parts of Florida and Mexico. Creating a clement year round climate that has earned the archipelago the epithet of the European Caribbean.

As the continents only genuine winter holiday destination the Canaries have become very popular with sun starved Northern Europeans, who flock here in their millions. But despite the package tourism and weight of arrivals some of the islands – such as Lanzarote – remain largely unspoiled. Boasting great natural beaches without a hotel in sight and a strong agrarian identity.

Volcanic Lanzarote

This is all thanks to the work of a local artist, César Manrique. Who campaigned against the worst excesses of mass market tourist development during the 1970´s. Successfully securing an island wide ban on high rise construction and ad billboards. A fairly radical move in Franco´s Spain.

However Manrique had lived and worked in the US for many years – where the hippy movement helped to foster a greater awareness of environmental issues.

Lanzarote had been subjected to a violent series of volcanic eruptions during the 18th and 19th centuries. Which covered about a third of the island in a sea of black lava. Creating a raw and other worldly terrain which Manrique was determined to preserve. So as well as fighting against untrammelled development he also sought to unite this unique scenery with his own creativity in order to create alternative attractions to the golf courses and theme parks being built for tourists elsewhere in Spain.

The best known expressions of this philosophy are the Jameos del Agua – a huge, 6km long volcanic tube, formed by the eruption of nearby Monte Coroña. Which Manrique transformed into a breathtaking underground grotto and concert space with the help of fellow architect Jesus Soto. Along with the Cesar Manrique Foundation – where the artist constructed a house and studio out of five underground bubbles in the lava flow.

beach at papagayo

Manrique´s creations won plaudits in the worlds of design and architecture – bringing Lanzarote to the attention of film stars and VIP´s such as Rita Heyworth, Peter Sellers and Omar Sharif. Who all visited Lanzarote in the early 1970´s in order to explore this fashionable new holiday destination.

Today all of Manrique´s creations are still open to the public and are the most popular tourist attractions on the island. Whilst thanks to his efforts Lanzarote was declared a UNESCO protected biosphere in 1994 – the first island in the world to enjoy this status.
photo credit: doug88888

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This post originally came from Kathika Travel Blog. Stop by and read our most popular travel blog posts.

Holidays On The Island of Fire

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The eastern African nation of Kenya is the holiday destination for some one million tourists every year, most of them looking for a good combination of time on a warm beach and trips into the countryside on safari, hoping to see some of Africa’s incredible wildlife.

But right now, things are looking shaky for tourism to Kenya. With violence and unrest breaking out after the disputed presidential election recently, the current situation in Kenya, especially the capital city of Nairobi, has led to many travelers cutting short their vacations and heading for home. On top of that, the US government has issued a warning against non-essential travel to the whole country, with the British government issuing similar advice.

Some industry experts are already predicting that Kenyan tourism will suffer something of a collapse; it’s certainly true that once strong warnings have been put in place, it takes tourists quite a while to return to a destination – that’s what the Indonesian island of Bali went through after the Bali bombings a few years ago.

That might mean that other African destinations pick up the slack, and we’re tipping the south-western nation of Namibia. It’s already been put in hot trend lists for 2008 and it offers great animal watching opportunities, without the political unrest.

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Kenya Travel Warnings Come Thick and Fast

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While many Europeans know the northern African country of Tunisia as a great place for beach holidays, the wealth of culture and history to be explored here is less well known. Tunisia is a safe nation to visit; it’s small and easy to get around; and it’s full of an incredible variety of places to see. It’s truly a something for everybody destination. Highlights include:

• Bardo Museum: In the capital, Tunis, this impressive museum houses many ancient artifacts and particularly a large collection of mosaics from Roman times.
• El Jem Amphitheater: Resembling the Colosseum in Rome, this amazing structure at El Jem in central Tunisia can almost make you feel a gladiator fight is about to take place.
• Sahara Festival: Held at the end of every year in Douz, south-east Tunisia, on the edge of the Sahara Desert. They hold camel races and cultural festivities. Douz is a great destination even without the festival as a base for treks into the desert.
• Sidi Bou Said: With the classic white and blue paint reminiscent of the Greek islands, Sidi Bou Said is located a short train ride north of the capital, Tunis. It has all the spirit and atmosphere of a classic seaside resort but without the overdevelopment.

(Photo via flickr cc)

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This post originally came from Kathika Travel Blog. Stop by and read our most popular travel blog posts.

Tunisia: An alternative African destination

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Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, is located along the southeast coast of Africa, along the Indian Ocean. This nation of over 19 million residents stretches from South Africa up to Tanzania in the north. The nation is home to a spectacular coastline, a World Heritage Site, and some of the best diving in the world.

Getting to Mozambique

Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, is accessible via Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM) from several points in Africa; via TAP from Lisbon; and via Kenya Airways from Nairobi. You can also reach Maputo from by flying to Johannesburg, South Africa and taking Pelican Air or South African Airways from there.

United States citizens visiting Mozambique are required to have a valid passport with at least six month validity after your scheduled return and a visa stamped in your passport by the Mozambique embassy or consulate. Requirements and forms change frequently. Current information may be obtained by calling the Embassy of Mozambique in Washington D.C at 202 293-7146 or the Consulate of Mozambique in New York city at 212 644-5965.

The best time to travel to Mozambique is during the cool season, from May through November.

Diving in Mozambique

Mozambique offers a number of excellent dive sites. Among these are:

• Ponto do Ouro – The “Point of Gold” is located at the far southern tip of the country. The rolling sand dunes and sparkling waters are home to five dive sites. Adventuresome divers can dive with giant whale sharks, barracuda, and kingfish. Others can enjoy the waters closer to shore and the dolphins and sea turtles that inhabit that area.
• Pemba – Pemba, in northern Mozambique, is home to the country’s best dive center. The gentle waters and brilliant coral formations there are home to dolphins, whales, and other docile creatures.
• Bazaruto Archipelego National Park- Located just off shore in central Mozambique, Bazaruto is a complex of several islands and reefs, home to giant manta rays, turtles, and a host of other sea animals.

A Couple of Warnings
Mozambique is an extremely poor country, with over 70 percent of the population living under the poverty level and a life expectancy of just 40 years (source: CIA online data base). The country also has a history of drought and political unrest, although the climate is mostly stable at this writing. Visitors are well-advised not to venture inland, away from the cities, as there are still several mine fields there.

For More Information

Additional information on traveling to Mozambique and diving opportunities there can be found at:

• Lonely Planet Mozambique Travel Page
• Go2Africa Dive Operators

(photo credit flickr cc)

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This post originally came from Kathika Travel Blog. Stop by and read our most popular travel blog posts.

Scuba Dive in Mozambique

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While the Tugela Falls may not be a household name, they should be. At a total height of 3,110 feet (947 meters), these waterfalls in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa are the second highest falls in the world, after the Angel Falls in Venezuela. They are found in the Drakensberg (Dragon’s Mountains) in the Royal Natal National Park , near the eastern coast of South Africa. Because the falls are made up of five different tiers or layers, views from above or below are particularly impressive.

The most popular (and satisfying) way to check out the Tugela Falls is to walk one of three popular trails that lead to various parts of the waterfalls. If you want to start in Witsieshoek, you can park your car in the Sentinal car park and then follow a five-hour (return) trail to the summit. There are then two steel chain ladders that you can climb to reach the very top; you can walk half an hour further to be on the edge of the amphitheater, looking down into the gorge below. Alternatively, you can take a longer walk (7 km) from the Royal Natal National Park which takes you through forests to the foot of the falls and a spectacular view. Finally, there is also a popular walk along the river to a natural tunnel which then leads to a great view of the Tugela Falls, but although this walk is relatively easy, it is 23 kilometers in length.

If you’re more comfortable on a tour, there are also several options available. Generally, organized tours will cover a number of sights of the Drakensberg mountain area, and could also include activities like hiking, mountain biking, fishing, abseiling, rock climbing and quad biking. It’s also possible to explore wildflower trails (at the right time of year) and to see genuine rock art created by bushmen over the centuries.

The best place to pick up a tour that includes the Tugela Falls is from the city of Durban. The Drakensberg Tourism website lists a number of reputable tour agencies, each of which offers different kinds of tours. These range from self-drive holidays that have an organized itinerary and accommodation schedule attached, through SUV-style tours and camping, to week-long luxury coach tours taking in a larger list of attractions in South Africa. You can even add a safari in the Kruger National Park if you’re keen to experience and photograph some of those great African animals.

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This post originally came from Kathika Travel Blog. Stop by and read our most popular travel blog posts.

Explore South Africa’s Tugela Falls

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