Africa is a hugely diverse continent and you could spend a lifetime exploring just a small corner of the vast continent. These are destinations that World Vegan Travel knows and loves and are places we are (or are thinking about coming) with travelers. In this first part, we covered 10 top destinations starting from A to J. In this part, we are going to cover another top 10 destinations starting from K to Z.
Kigali, Rwanda
Inhabited since the 11th-century, what is now Kigali has been the home of Twas, Tutsis and Hutus. The city sits on a series of verdant ridges and lush valleys and has a Muslim Quarter and a bustling market. Rwanda’s capital is the site of battles that left over a million, mostly Tutsi and moderate Hutus, dead. Kigali Memorial Centre is a permanent memorial to 1994’s Genocide, built on a mass grave where 250,000 are buried. Kigali City Tour Bus offers an excellent introduction to this now safe, friendly city.
One of the main attraction points is Akagera national park which is in Eastern Rwanda on the border with Tanzania. African parks are currently managing this park and have done a great job with the conservation. In the past, there was a lot of conflict between people and the park, but this was solved by fencing off part of the park and the introduction of community tours where visitors are encouraged to visit the communities and benefit accordingly. Akagera national park is the only Savannah park in Rwanda and is home to several mammal species including Lions, Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, Kobs, Zebras, Bushbucks, Waterbucks, and most recently Black Rhinos have been introduced from South Africa, making Akagera national park officially a big 5 park like it was many years ago. It is also home to numerous bird species in several habitats which include woodland, swamps, lakes, and Savannah.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant Afia Organics
A place to stay Five to Five Hotel
Lesotho, South Africa
The Drakensberg Grand Traverse is a long-distance and high-altitude trek across South Africa and Lesotho’s Drakensberg Mountain Range. There is no fixed route or marked path, but there are several checkpoints (or obstacles) that must be visited along the way to enable trekkers to say that they have completed the full traverse. These include summiting six peaks in South Africa and Lesotho. In this sense, the Drakensberg Grand Traverse has a distinct sense of competition and adventure attached to it, encouraging trekkers to meet specific targets.
The Drakensberg Escarpment is a dramatic area of cliffs and columns, and on this trek, you will be ascending several of its peaks, some above 3000 meters. The traverse will take you to the highest points in South and Southern Africa, Mafadi (in South Africa) and Thabana Ntanyana (in Lesotho). The area is the source of many South African rivers, and you may also see the local Basotho herdsmen of Lesotho, with their animals. You are unlikely to encounter any other trekkers, though.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant No. 7 Restaurant
A place to stay Maliba Mountain Lodge
Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary, Knysna, South Africa
Monkeyland opened its doors to the public on the 6th of April 1998. The award-winning primate sanctuary is unique because it is the first multi-specie primate sanctuary in the world. Monkeyland has captured the hearts of visitors for sunny and sound reasons – the primates are happy, healthy and they are not caged, instead, they free-roam the indigenous Monkeyland forest.
At Monkeyland, the emphasis is on searching for the primates, and the reward is to see the various species as they are meant to be free and in a natural habitat. The transfer of information about these fascinating creatures enhances your visit to the sanctuary during a safari. The safaris are conducted by multi-lingual game rangers and are fun, exciting, and educational. On the guided safaris, you can expect to see a variety of primates, ranging from the Gibbons of Asia to the Lemurs of Madagascar. More than 700 primates live at the sanctuary. During the guided tours, knowledgeable rangers will tell you all about the fascinating primates as you encounter them.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant East Head Cafe
A place to stay Orange Inn Knysna
Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda
One of the oldest rainforests in Africa, Nyungwe is rich in biodiversity and spectacularly beautiful. The mountainous region is teaming with wildlife, including a small population of chimpanzees as well as 12 other species of primate, including the LHoests monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift. With 15 trails, some of which are detailed here, along with various other activities, visitors can choose to sample the delights of the forest or indulge themselves for a week or more in one of the most stunning forests.
Primate tracking tops most visitors’ lists, but it is worth lingering a little longer for those with time to relax and take in the primal atmosphere. Botanists will marvel at the 1,068 plant species and 140 orchids. The birdwatching is among the best in Africa with 322 birds species including Red-collared Babbler and 29 other Albertine Rift Endemic species. Butterflies are also a common sight, with at least 120 species.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant & Place to stay One & Only Nyungwe House
Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Okavango Delta is a unique pulsing wetland. More correctly an alluvial fan, the delta covers between 6 and 15 000 square kilometers of the Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana and owes its existence to the Okavango (Kavango) River which flows from the Angolan highlands, across Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, and into the harsh Kalahari Desert. The Okavango Delta is affected by seasonal flooding with floodwater from Angola reaching the Delta between March and June, peaking in July. This peak coincides with Botswana’s dry season resulting in great migrations of plains game from the dry hinterland.
Generally flat, with a height variation of fewer than two meters across its area, dry land in the Okavango Delta is predominantly comprised of numerous small islands, formed when vegetation takes root on termite mounds, however, larger islands exist with Chief Island, the largest, having been formed on a tectonic fault line. Very much at the center of Botswana’s safari industry, the Okavango Delta features some of African premier camps and lodges including Mombo Camp, operated by Wilderness Safaris, and Kanana, operated by Ker & Downey Botswana.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant Caravela Portuguese Restaurant
Places to stay Botswana Tourism recommended places
Port Elisabeth Seaview Predator park, South Africa
Seaview Predator Park is a self-drive game park with a varied amount of free-roaming as well as captive animals, including some of the largest predators in the world. With a magnificent Sea View as a backdrop, you can enjoy a slow meander through the Seaview Predator Park. We are home to free-roaming animals such as Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest, and many species of Antelopes. We hope you will enjoy reading the quick facts on the many boards along the route giving details about them.
As you arrive at the parking area for the Lions and Tigers enclosures, you will note that this is where we have lions and tigers visible for all to see as well as offering picnic and braai facilities. Take a walk to see our White and Tawny (Brown) Lions, which are the largest cats in Africa! You will also see the endangered Siberian Tigers, which are the largest cat species in the world! Followed by their close relatives, the Bengal Tigers in their own enclosure.
A short drive up to the car park for the hilltop, licensed, the restaurant you can relax before taking the boardwalk view over the Sanctuary area. It is in this area where you will see many more predators including leopards, puma, caracals, servals, meerkats, bush pigs, and farm animals such as goats, pigs, and a miniature pony.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant Two Olives
A place to stay No. 5 by Mantis
Rabat, Morocco
Morocco’s coastal capital since 1912, Rabat has just over a million people. Modern and even reserved by Moroccan standards, the city also has many fascinating historic sites, including the picturesque Kasbah of the Udayas, built in the mid-12th century. The unique Hassan Tower, begun at the end of the 12th century, was meant to have the world’s largest minaret but was never completed. Just opposite the tower lies the 20th-century Mausoleum of Mohammed V, another of the city’s main attractions.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant Ty Potes
Place to stay L’ALCAZAR Luxury Ryad
Queenstown, Karoo Heartland, South Africa
The commercial center of a rather prosperous farming community, the attractive town of Queenstown, known for its roses, climate, and amicable townsfolk, lies on the Komani River close enough to the Wild Coast and Karoo Heartland to make it a favored stopover.
Queenstown itself lies at the foot of the Hangklip Mountain, whilst other towns in the district include Dordrecht, Molteno, and Sterkstroom. The area not only provides incredible scenery, but it is a hive of activity for the outdoor enthusiast: there are trails, rivers, rocks, mountains, hiking, climbing, fishing, mountain biking, canoeing, and anything really, as long as it involves relishing all that is al fresco.
The Lawrence de Lange Nature Reserve, set on the slopes of the Madeira Mountain just outside Queenstown, has several trails worth exploring, spectacular examples of flowering plants, and an array of different antelope that include blesbok, springbok, and zebra. The reserve also has incredible views from the mountain summit. The Pongola Dam that supplies the town with its water is set in the hills surrounding Queenstown and is a great day out for picnics and water sports.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant Muse Restaurant
A place to stay Treetops Guesthouse
Savute Safari Lodge, Botswana
Savuti Safari Lodge aims to provide guests with a private and relaxing environment while enjoying their African Safari. The lodge accommodates only 24 guests at one time. Savute Safari Lodge overlooks the Savute Channel. The channel feeds the Savute Marsh from the Linyanti River. The surroundings are perfect for travelers who want to be very close to nature. The rooms are on raised platforms, all with private decks. They are furnished in neutral tones and decorated with elements inspired by the contrasts in nature. Guests can relax here and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. All the rooms have en-suite facilities.
Guests love game drives in the Savuti region. Guests may also be able to visit a San rock art site. The lodge offers a fully inclusive package of accommodation and activities. The convenience of the fully inclusive package allows you to relax and enjoy the wildlife that makes Savuti so interesting. You can choose your activities and get the full wilderness experience.
The Savuti region has the largest pride of lions that has mastered the art of big game hunting. Over the years the lions have learned to hunt game like elephants. A visit to the Savuti feels like a mix between Chobe and Moremi. The somewhat drier Savuti is filled with mopane forests, browsing animals, and sandy roads. The Savuti region is home to predators like lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs,s and wild dogs.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant and place to stay Savute Safari lodge
Tsala Treetop Lodge, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
The five-star Tsala Treetop lodge provides a perfect position from which to explore best the many attractions the Garden Path offers. The Lodge is in an old grove of trees. The Tsala Treetop Lodge is within Plettenberg and Knysna area. Readily available from Plettenberg Bay at 11 km and Knysna at 23 km along the N2 highway, the retreats signboards from the road are visible at the entrance to the access road, which leads guests to the security entrance to the Estate.
Nearby Attractions & Activities are Birds of Eden, Monkeyland, Knysna Elephant Park, Tenikwa Wild Cat Sanctuary, Whales, dolphins, and seals watching boat tours, Sailing, surfing, kayaking, Bungy jumping, and skydiving, Swimming with seals, and Hiking and mountain biking.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant & place to stay Tsala Treetop Lodge
Uganda, Bwindi Forest
A Gorilla Trek is a highlight of all visits done in Uganda and Rwanda and certainly mountain gorillas are the major reason as to why very many people visit these 2 destinations. Although tracking mountain gorillas can be conducted all year round in these two countries (Uganda & Rwanda) due to the somewhat damp seasons experienced by the national parks in which these gorillas stay, most tourists prefer visiting from June to September as well as from December up to February. You can visit Bwindi at any time of the year, the low season calls for cheaper gorilla permit prices.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant & place to stay Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range, home of the endangered mountain gorilla and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp, and heath. Volcanoes National Park is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif, Karisimbi, the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke with its verdant crater lake, Sabinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura. Tracking endangered mountain gorillas through the mysterious intimacy of the rain forest, alive with the calls of 200 species of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, is only one of the truly unique experiences in the area.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant Soleluna
A place to stay La Palme hotel
Zanzibar Island, Tanzania
The Zanzibar Archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean 15 miles off the coast of Tanzania, is a breathtaking spot to escape from the world. You will enjoy clear, turquoise blue water; shallow sandbars perfect for wading; and many small, nearly deserted islands virtually unvisited by tourists. Explore the World Heritage Site of Stone Town, Zanzibar City old quarter. Or just go beach to beach between tiny fishing villages, each one is better than the next.
Recommended Vegan Restaurant Taarab Restaurant
A place to stay Palumboreef Beach resort
What do you think about our selected African travel destinations? Let us know in the comment section.
