Africa’s urban escapes are not only cool, they have a personality all their own.
Pretoria has all the street cred of Joburg and the laid back vibe of a university town. It hits the sweet spot for those who want to explore their creative side in a more chilled atmosphere. Our tip, go when the Jacarandas bloom in October – Pretoria known as the Jacaranda City.
Durban is currently making a name for itself (BA launching direct flights here from the UK late last year) as Cape Town’s younger and hipper sibling. Known as Surf City and nicknamed South Africa’s seaside playground, there’s plenty of adventure on offer, the city’s creative side also influencing its culinary masterpieces.
For all the fabulous food you can eat and on point wines, Cape Town never fails to impress (why else have a second Acacia office in the Mother City!) Eating out is also guilt-free because the adventure never ends, whether you’re cage-diving for Great White sharks or abseiling off the iconic Table Mountain!
Nairobi, is the World’s Wildlife Capital, Nairobi National Park a black rhino sanctuary and the only protected area on the planet with such a huge variety of animals and birds so close to a capital city. It’s also worth packing in a visit to the David Sheldrick Trust and the Giraffe Centre. Even easier to reach, Kenya Airways first direct flight between Nairobi and New York launched in late 2018.
Windhoek is more than a mere transport hub so don’t overlook the Namibian capital. Get a head start on your haggling skills at the Namibia Crafts Centre and support local artists and artisans, go deeper and track the end of apartheid at the Independence Memorial Museum and get a healthy dose of wellness, courtesy of Mother Nature, at the National Botanic Garden of Namibia.
Mention travel to Uganda and most people will likely reply, Mountain Gorillas , but Kampala also has its merits, the capital city bordering Lake Victoria. From fascinating palaces and pre-colonial history to galleries where you can learn about serious local artists, there’s more to see than gorillas in the mist.
Connect with us on Twitter@AcaciaAfrica as we’d love to hear about your favourite African cities…