Africa gets into your blood and stamps your spirit with yearning. No matter how many times we arrange trips for you, we never tire of showing you the beauty of our continent – which is why we’ve created this list of 10 top reasons to visit Africa.
For 40 years, we have travelled the length and breadth of Southern Africa, visiting and curating all the accommodation gems that Portfolio has always been known for. We’ve slept in the beds, checked out the views and dined with the owners ourselves.
We make it our business to know Africa so that when we plan a tour for you, we can say without a doubt that it is an adventure we plan for ourselves.
Here are 10 top reasons why we love African travel and why we are always delighted for you to fall in love with it too.
1. Spirit Of Adventure
Travelling in Africa is an adventure. It is wild and free, a continent that still feels largely untamed. Even when you’re travelling in luxury, staying in 5-star lodges and hopping on charter flights, a trip to Africa has a slightly dangerous feel to it, as if you’re walking into the lion’s den, so to speak (don’t worry, you are most definitely not!).
It’s perfectly safe, but it feels like a throwback to the explorers of old. We’re here for it.
2. Glorious Wildlife
One of the main reasons visitors come to Africa is for a safari. We have an incredible collection of wild creatures, each with its own fascinating story.
Encountering these animals up close in their natural habitat is possibly one of the most moving experiences of your life. Our safari guides are top-notch and will provide the back stories, interesting facts and tracking excursions to ensure that you’ll have tales to tell for years to come.
3. Unmatched Diversity
When we hear the word “diversity,” the first thing we usually think of is culture. And it’s true that Africa has some of the most diverse cultures in the world, from many ethnicities and languages to customs and ways of living. But in Africa, that’s not all.
This continent offers an incredibly diverse range of landscapes, from snow-capped mountain peaks to endless golden plains to bustling cities.
And the experiences! You can head out on a walking safari through the bush, eat caviar and drink champagne in the world’s best restaurants, dive off a bridge at the world’s highest bungee jump and watch whales breaching from the waves from a clifftop.
When it comes to things to do and see, Africa is unmatched by anywhere else on earth.
4. Cosmopolitan Cultures
Africa has a rich and complex history which has produced a smorgasbord of people and cultures. When you visit Africa, you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a variety of these cultures, many of them vastly different to your own.
You’ll hear tales of legends and witness customs that have developed over many generations, contributing to the unique attributes of each group of people. This melting pot contributes to the glorious jumble that is Africa.
5. Breathtaking Beauty
It’s hard to put into words just now truly breathtaking the landscapes and scenery in Africa are. Pearly white sand beaches reflect painted sunset skies, blue mountains ring acres of green vineyards and lazy golden light streaks the hills and plains of the untamed bush.
No matter where you go, you will be blown away by the magnificence of it all.
6. Gourmet Feasts
Cape Town might be known as the gastronomic capital of Africa, but the rest of the continent is close on its heels. The spectrum of cuisines is as diverse as the people they come from.
From regional dishes with outlandish ingredients to Michlin star food that will stand up to any French restaurant, if you’re a foodie you are in for a treat.
Fun fact: three of the top 100 restaurants in the world in 2022 are in or near Cape Town. Salut!
7. Commitment To Conservation
When you travel to Africa, you are contributing first-hand to the conservation of our beautiful reserves and the animals who live there.
Revenue from ecotourism – which is a protocol that almost all game reserves in Southern and East Africa adhere to – is funnelled straight back into the protection of species and surrounding habitats.
Your eco-friendly activities help us to maintain the natural balance of the continent, ensuring that generations to come may have the same opportunity to see nature at its finest.
8. Astounding Experiences
There are countless things to do on a trip to Africa. From white water rafting and treetop ziplines to walking safaris and kids’ nature programmes, you can find a brand new adventure every time you come.
Travel to Africa never gets old because the sheer scale of opportunity is essentially limitless. The only question is, how brave will you be?
9. The Most Welcoming People In The World
One of the reasons we travel is to find connections. Connecting with locals and discovering new places makes you a better person – we all know it.
You become more open and tolerant to the differences between people, just as you realise how much more we have in common than you first imagined.
Wherever you go in Africa, you will be warmly welcomed. We believe it is the friendliest continent on the planet and we’re pretty sure you will too.
10. Picture Perfect Sunsets
They are simply indescribable. The sundowner ritual of an evening game drive is a rite of passage that every person should experience at least once in their lives. We can’t say it better than this…
“Africa – You can see a sunset and believe you have witnessed the Hand of God. You watch the slope lope of a lioness and forget to breathe. You marvel at the tripod of a giraffe bent to water. In Africa, there are iridescent blues on the wings of birds that you do not see anywhere else in nature. In Africa, in the midday heart, you can see blisters in the atmosphere. When you are in Africa, you feel primordial, rocked in the cradle of the world.” – Jodi Picoult, American author
In Conclusion
If this hasn’t convinced you…oh, who are we kidding, we know you are aching to come! We’ve been in this business for 40 years. We know all the hidden gems, best accommodations and off-the-beaten-track experiences that only locals are privy to.
Get in touch and let’s chat about your next trip to Africa. We’ll help you write your own African story and we promise it will change your life.