The Best of Africa Issue

The Best of Africa: Beyond Cape Town’s Charm

Cape Town was recently voted as the world’s best city for the eighth year running, by over 30,000 readers, in the 2023 Telegraph Travel Awards. While it’s undeniably an incredible destination, there’s more to Africa than what the Telegraph described as “the supermodel at the foot of Table Mountain”. At Leopard, we’re passionate about helping you explore the highpoints of this strikingly beautiful continent and crafting tailored itineraries to create unforgettable experiences.

Since our launch in 2019, we have expanded our footprint to cover 15 of Africa’s most sought-after destination countries. Our commitment to extreme care and attention to detail remains unchanged as we cater to each client’s unique needs and travel desires. Whether you’re a returning traveller seeking new adventures or embarking on your very first African experience, we’re here to guide and inspire you.

Below is a taste of some of the exceptional wonders Africa holds:

Pristine beaches and exquisite islands
Dreaming of a tropical paradise? Pockets of Africa’s coastline and islands boast pristine palm-lined beaches, brilliantly white sands, and warm translucent waters. Explore the Seychelles, Mauritius, or Nosy Be, the largest island in an archipelago off the coast of Madagascar. Dive among coral reefs teeming with vibrant marine life in cerulean waters and venture into Madagascar’s lush rainforests to encounter curious lemurs and brightly-coloured chameleons.

Zanzibar, known for its exotic spices and intricately carved doorways, is another tropical Indian Ocean escape. Mozambique’s islands also offer excellent scuba diving and snorkelling – with opportunities for swimming with gentle whale sharks, curious turtles or even a rare dugong.

The natural wonder of Victoria Falls
Zambia and Zimbabwe are divided by the gushing waters of Victoria Falls, one of the World’s Natural Wonders, which plunge into the Batoka Gorge. Stand beneath the falls in awe, as mistlike spray ascends in voluminous plumes and enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, where hippos, elephants, and crocodiles revel in the languid waters before they cascade over the gorge’s lip.

Intimate Encounters with nature’s gentle giants
Embark on an extraordinary trek through Rwanda’s, or Uganda’s, mist-shrouded mountains in search of endangered families of mountain gorillas. Alternatively, venture to Congo to look for eastern lowland gorillas. A close encounter with these gentle giants is a profoundly moving experience which will linger in your memory indefinitely.

The stark beauty of the desert
The landscape of Namibia’s Sossusvlei boasts towering sand dunes in fiery hues, which you can climb to watch the sunrise, or drift over in a hot air balloon. Its Skeleton Coast reveals shipwrecks and seals basking on barren shores and the Etosha National Park provides one of many excellent safari destinations.

A plethora of safari destinations
Tanzania is home to Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as the famous Serengeti National Park where vast herds of wildebeest and zebras traverse the plains in search of the best pasture. Kenya’s Maasai Mara is also home to an abundance of wildlife and both countries offer rich east African safari experiences.

A fly-in safari to Botswana’s Okavango Delta is not only mesmerising from the air but also captivating from below, as you glide through the labyrinth of waterways in a traditional mokoro canoe and encounter elephants, zebras, and an abundance of birdlife.

South Africa is not only an incredible safari destination but was also crowned “The Greatest Country on Earth” in the prestigious Telegraph Travel Awards. Its natural beauty, world-renowned wine and astonishing wildlife are showcased against the backdrop of landscapes like Table Mountain, the Drakensberg and the Kruger National Park. Explore Cape Town’s Boulders Beach, home to adorable African penguins, discover the laid back, picturesque Garden Route and visit its vibrant cities.

Africa offers an abundance of unforgettable experiences, from exhilarating safaris – where you could view a shaggy-maned lion metres from your open game drive vehicle – to tantalising cuisine, pristine beaches and awe-inspiring encounters with gorillas.

Happy Travelling,
The Leopard Team

P.S. Here is a list of the countries we cover: 1. South Africa 2. Namibia 3. Zimbabwe 4. Zambia 5. Seychelles 6. Mauritius 7.Botswana 8. Mozambique 9. Kenya 10. Rwanda 11. Uganda 12. Madagascar 13. Congo 14. Tanzania 15. Zanzibar (a Tanzanian island)