The sad fact is that Africa is generally a 'specialist' tourist destination. This is mainly due to its distance from the rest of the world, the cost of travel to and within it, the lack of infrastructure or reliable transport in many areas and oddly, the costs of actually holidaying here.
That isn't to say that Africa is inaccessible. The more 'popular' destinations such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Egypt etc - will all be fairly cost effective and 'trouble-free' holidays. Venture any deeper into the continent and the visitor may be confronted with cancelled flights, lack of transport, unsuitable accommodation and prices for drinks and 'luxuries' that are possibly as expensive as at home.
To give an example - coming to South Africa for a visit to Cape Town for a few days, then going to the Kruger Park and on to Johannesburg before flying home can all be achieved to schedule, with out any hiccups or unseen costs. Try the same type of itinerary elsewhere and you may not get that connecting flight, or the customs official won't let you through till a bribe is paid or you arrive at the lodge and the chef is missing. That sort of thing. This is not to say that this is the norm - but come on - this is Africa - and this is how it is here. The 'chaos' is part of the fun.
The fact that no-one stresses about these things is testament to 'Africa time'. We don't need psychiatrists here - we worry about nothing! Coming to Africa is an adventure and most people fall in love with the place - chaotic or not. After all - this is where modern humans come from - we're all African at heart.
Save up and book that holiday!
That isn't to say that Africa is inaccessible. The more 'popular' destinations such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Egypt etc - will all be fairly cost effective and 'trouble-free' holidays. Venture any deeper into the continent and the visitor may be confronted with cancelled flights, lack of transport, unsuitable accommodation and prices for drinks and 'luxuries' that are possibly as expensive as at home.
To give an example - coming to South Africa for a visit to Cape Town for a few days, then going to the Kruger Park and on to Johannesburg before flying home can all be achieved to schedule, with out any hiccups or unseen costs. Try the same type of itinerary elsewhere and you may not get that connecting flight, or the customs official won't let you through till a bribe is paid or you arrive at the lodge and the chef is missing. That sort of thing. This is not to say that this is the norm - but come on - this is Africa - and this is how it is here. The 'chaos' is part of the fun.
The fact that no-one stresses about these things is testament to 'Africa time'. We don't need psychiatrists here - we worry about nothing! Coming to Africa is an adventure and most people fall in love with the place - chaotic or not. After all - this is where modern humans come from - we're all African at heart.
Save up and book that holiday!
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