The Afcon has finished, but for those of us with itchy feet, the virtual visits to host nation Equatorial Guinea have got us daydreaming about taking some real travel. If you’re hankering to explore more of Africa outside our borders, here are some reasons to visit the countries South Africans enjoy exploring most on the continent.<\/p>\n
Namibia<\/strong> Mozambique<\/strong> Zanzibar<\/strong> Morocco<\/strong> Don\u2019t forget to pack\u2026<\/strong> 2. If you\u2019re planning a road trip with young children, you might want to invest in a car entertainment system<\/a> and let Barney and Disney take some of the pressure off Mom and Dad.<\/p>\n 3. When you\u2019re travelling abroad, you\u2019ll be grateful you packed a plug adaptor<\/a> to help you keep your various devices charged.<\/p>\n 4. All the countries listed offer superb options for anyone who enjoys fishing, so why not save time and money by shopping for the perfect fishing rod<\/a> before you leave home?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Afcon has finished, but for those of us with itchy feet, the virtual visits to host nation Equatorial Guinea have got us daydreaming about taking some real travel. If you’re hankering to explore more of Africa outside our borders, here are some reasons to visit the countries South Africans enjoy exploring most on the<\/p>\n
\nWhy you should go:<\/strong> Namibia\u2019s world-famous Etosha National Park<\/strong> is one of the last places in the world where you can see the endangered species of black rhino. And the 30-minute drive between Walvis Bay<\/strong> and Swakopmund<\/strong> is something you\u2019ll remember forever: sweeping desert to one side as far as the eye can see, rolling ocean on the other.
\nDrive Time:<\/strong> Cape Town to Windhoek = 19 hours. Johannesburg to Windhoek = 18 hours.
\nFlight Time:<\/strong> Cape Town to Windhoek = 2 hours. Johannesburg to Windhoek = 2 hours.<\/p>\n
\nWhy you should go:<\/strong> Clear, warm water off some of the most beautiful beaches<\/strong> in the world, the chance to swim with whale sharks<\/strong> (the largest fish in the world)\u2026 Mozambique has thrills for everyone, whether you\u2019re a beach-lover or you want to shake off your stresses with some late-night dancing. Throw in the region\u2019s culinary delights<\/strong> (Mozambican prawns are famous for a reason!) as well as the fact the country is right on our doorstep<\/strong>, and it\u2019s a proposition worth planning.
\nDrive Time:<\/strong> Cape Town to Maputo = 22 hours. Johannesburg to Maputo = 7 hours.
\nFlight Time:<\/strong> Cape Town to Maputo = 4,5 hours. Johannesburg to Maputo = 1 hour.<\/p>\n
\nWhy you should go: If you want a quiet beach holiday<\/strong> with lazy days interrupted only by occasional dips in the warm sea or decisions about which book to read next, this is the destination for you. You can also swim with dolphins<\/strong> in the open ocean, visit the historic Stone Town<\/strong> (where Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen, was born) or take a spice tour<\/strong> to learn about the various spices Zanzibar produces, and the fascinating history of the country\u2019s spice trade.
\nFlight Time:<\/strong> Cape Town to Zanzibar = 9 hours. Johannesburg to Zanzibar = 4 hours.<\/p>\n
\nWhy you should go:<\/strong> Based on 2013 figures, South Africa was not<\/em> the No 1 tourist destination in Africa \u2013 Morocco beat us with 10 million international visitors to our 9,5 million! And there are many compelling reasons to check out the country on the top of our continent. If the idea of sleeping in luxury tents in the Sahara Desert doesn\u2019t grab you, perhaps surfing Morocco\u2019s famous Atlantic breakers will. Or maybe snake charmers and delicious, spicy food in one of the country\u2019s giant souks<\/em> (open-air markets) are more your thing.
\nFlight Time:<\/strong> Cape Town to Marrakesh = 18 hours. Johannesburg to Marrakesh = 15 hours.<\/p>\n
\n1. Whether you\u2019re scanning for giraffes in the distance or watching dolphins frolicking in the waves, a pair of binoculars<\/a> are a must.<\/p>\n