Africa

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The rush of the Nile River. The majesty of the Sahara and the Serengeti. The thrill of the safari. Africa captures the imagination of travelers from all over the world. Wherever the adventurous spirit takes you, you are sure to come away from your African journey truly inspired.

• History
• Fast Facts
• Holidays and Festivals
• Books
• Videos
• Weather
• Average Temperatures
• Tips
• Down Under Slang

History

Africa is renowned for being the oldest inhabited territory on earth. In fact, most Asian, European (and, for that matter, American) family trees can find their ancient roots on this continent. Africa’s written history begins with the Egyptians in 3300 B.C. Other prominent civilizations developed throughout the continent in the centuries that followed.

European domination of Africa began in the fifteenth century with the Portuguese exploration of the continent during their search for a lucrative trade route to India. Trading stations were established by Portugal and other European maritime powers along Africa’s west coast. In the centuries that followed, the slave trade rapidly expanded.

In the early nineteenth century, as contemporary powers moved away from slavery, powerful European nations staged a massive “scramble for Africa” to secure its wealth of natural resources. The entire continent—save Liberia and Ethiopia—was colonized. This occupation continued until the conclusion of WWII, when the colonial states gradually gained independence. Today, Africa is home to 50 independent countries and is heading down a path of continued social and economic growth.

Fast Facts

Egypt Fast Facts
Capital: Cairo
Population: 77.5 million
Language: Arabic
Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP)
Time Zone: EST plus 7 hours
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz

Kenya Fast Facts
Capital: Nairobi
Population: 33.8 million
Language: Swahili, English, tribal languages
Currency: Kenyan shilling (KES)
Time Zone: EST plus 8 hours
Electricity: 240V, 50Hz

South Africa Fast Facts
Capital: Pretoria
Population: 44 million
Language: English, Afrikaans, tribal languages
Currency: Rand (ZAR)
Time Zone: EST plus 7 hours
Electricity: 220/230V (250V in Pretoria), 50Hz

Tanzania Fast Facts
Capital: Dar es Salaam
Population: 37 million
Language: Swahili, English
Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
Time Zone: EST plus 8 hours
Electricity: 220V

Holidays & Festivals

Books

• Africa: A Biography of the Continent, by John Reader
• Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton
• Green Hills of Africa, by Ernest Hemingway
• Out of Africa, by Isak Dinesen
• The Seventy Great Mysteries of Ancient Egypt, by Bill Manley

Videos

• Casablanca (1942)
• The African Queen (1951)
• Cleopatra (1963)
• Gandhi (1982)
• Out of Africa (1985)
• The English Patient (1996)

Weather

You’ll find plenty of sunshine on the world’s second largest continent. Its name is even associated with the Latin word aprica, which means “sunny.” Egypt and the Sahara desert region are hot and dry most of the year. Kenya and Tanzania are tropical along the coast and more arid and temperate farther inland. South Africa enjoys dry, temperate weather year-round, with more rain near the coast. Bring lightweight clothing with a few warm layers for the cooler evenings.

Average Temperatures

Tips for Tipping

In restaurants, tip 5 to 10 percent in Kenya and Tanzania and 10 to 15 percent in South Africa. A 12 percent service charge is already included in Egypt, but you may want to leave an additional 5 to 10 percent. Tipping is often expected from tourists traveling throughout Africa, so it’s a good idea to keep the equivalent of an American dollar handy for porters, hotel staff and other helpful locals.

Safari Photography Tips

• When taking close-up pictures, focus on the animal’s eyes. This will ensure that most of the animal’s face will be in focus.
• Don’t center all your shots. Leave room in your composition for the subject to move into. This creates a more “living” depiction of the wildlife you’re capturing.
• Range your subject. For instance, when taking photos of an elephant, take a full body portrait shot, another one with the elephant in context with its habitat and a third with close-up detail, such as its tusks and face.
• Bring more film than you could possibly imagine using. It is not uncommon to use two to three roles of film during one day on a safari. Extra batteries are also a must, as finding them in Africa can be a costly venture.
• Finally, do not let your camera blind you. An African safari is an experience for all of your senses. If you are glued behind the lens of your camera, you may limit your experience to what you see through the viewfinder, and you may miss out on some of the most memorable sights, sounds and emotions of your trip.

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