Africa Scores BIG on Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel Lists
Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel lists are viewed as the travel industry bible when making predictions about holiday hotspots and Africa scored BIG in its most recent line up – eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) one of the top five countries to visit this year!
How the lists are compiled: Everyone from writers to editors and social media influencers come together to create the lists, and amid fierce debate, the front runners are whittled down by Lonely Planet’s panel of travel experts to just 10 countries, 10 regions, 10 cities and 10 best value destinations. Each is chosen for its topicality, unique experiences and ‘wow’ factor.
Like us, the guidebook publisher also takes sustainable travel seriously – helping you to have a positive impact wherever you choose to go.
Best Countries To Visit : eSwatini (Swaziland)
If you’re looking to safari without the crowds then make your way to eSwatini (number 5 on Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel list of countries to visit in 2020) and add the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary to your itinerary.
Not only will you be flying the flag for under-the-radar tourism you will also be contributing to sustainable tourism, the park being a conservation success story.
Safari by mountain bike or on horseback (novices welcome), Mlilwane’s 4,560 hectares home to hippo, crocodile, zebra, kudu and blue wildebeest – eSwatini’s oldest protected area owned and managed by a non-profit trust.
You won’t have to share the sights with the masses, for now, an added bonus that makes the sunset and sunrise game drives all the more sublime.
Go there on the seven-day Kruger, Swazi & Beach Adventure Camping Tour.
Or the twenty-day Kruger to Cape Town Adventure Accommodated Tour.
Best Value Destinations : Cape Winelands, South Africa
South Africa has much more to offer than its wildlife, and the Cape Winelands ticks all the right boxes for travellers looking to sample some of the world’s best wines and most spectacular scenery for less.
Here’s what Lonely Planet had to say:
“A short journey from the fabulous food city of Cape Town is the country’s wine region, centred on the historic towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. The real action here is at the wineries and fabulous restaurants dotting the beautiful upland scenery. You won’t find elephants snuffling round the vineyards, but you will find inexpensive tasting tours followed by lazy lunches serving world-class food alongside delicious local wines.”
Nat Geo once describing this stretch of the country’s south-eastern coast as “the road trip that will break your Instagram”
All the more reason to wind your way along the Garden Route through to Cape Town on our four-day Garden Route Express Adventure Camping Tour.
Best Value Destinations : Zanzibar, Tanzania
Zanzibar, Tanzania also made the guide book publisher’s Best Value list.
Lonely Planet said…
“Such is the evocative nature of the word ‘Zanzibar’ that there’s the anticipation of adventure before you’ve even landed. And if arriving on the ferry from mainland Tanzania, you’ll get an unusual internal passport stamp: bonus! Two passport stamps for the price of one. In Stone Town, stroll the ancient alleyways and enjoy magical sunsets before taking advantage of the cheap eats at the evening food market or its multicultural cafes. You’ll delight in how much freshly grilled fare you can eat for so little…”
Feel the sand between your toes and enjoy a beach break on a budget on our 11-day highlights of Tanzania Adventure Camping Tour.