Diane is in Harare and thoroughly enjoying the annual International Festival of the Arts. It’s a very well organized festival that has been getting rave reviews since it started in 1999. The festival was founded by Manuel Bagarro, who by day is actually a concert pianist living and working in New York city. It’s a wonderful six day celebration of visual arts, song, dance, street performance and spoken word. Diane’s been busy attending daytime programs as well as the CABS Opera Gala a few nights ago. Salif Keita will be performing on Sunday, and other acts include: Xalam (from Senegal), José González (international singer-songwriter), Emeline Michel (international star from Haiti), the London Festival Opera, and many more.

The Harare International Festival of the Arts is just one of many world class cultural festivals held in cities across Africa. They attract talent from all over the world as well as showcasing local artists. In many cases it’s the only time local artists and musicians get a chance to perform in front of a large audience and have access to decent equipment. In the case of Harare, and other cities that have struggled, it’s a very positive and unifying occasion, something to celebrate and be proud of.

Upcoming Festivals in Africa
Some of the bigger festivals are worth planning a trip around, but often you can just get lucky and stumble upon a true gem by chance. Here’s a quick list of what is coming up in the next few months in several African countries where we offer trips to. It’s worth spending an extra day or two to check out some performances.

Morocco

• Fes Festival of Sacred Music, 4 – 12 June

• Essaouria Gnaoua World Music Festival, 25 – 28 June
• Marrakech Popular Arts Festival, 16 – 24 July

South Africa

• National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, 20 June – 4 July
• Stellenbosch Wine Festival, 1 – 5 July
• Durban International Film Festival, 22 July – 1 August

Tanzania

• Interregional Music Festival, Dar es Salaam, 15 – 18 July
• Zanzibar International Film & Arts Festival, 10 – 18 July

We’ve found over the years that we’ve become quite adept as geography teachers since Zambia, Zambezi and Zimbabwe do all sound similar, if you’re hearing them for the first time. So we thought it would be fun to use our blog today to explain a little about the “4 corners” in southern Africa. The “4 corners” is a popular term used to refer to the area where the great Zambezi and the Chobe rivers join Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, and Botswana together. This is actually the only place in Africa where 4 countries meet.

We love this area because it is not only a beautiful introduction to Southern Africa, but by virtue of the three airports in close proximity (Livingstone Airport on the Zambian side, Kasane Airport in Botswana and Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe) it functions as a physical gateway to the whole region and allows for fairly seamless travel between major national parks in all four countries.

Let’s Take A Tour …

The Zambezi River first forms the divide between Angola and the Northern border of the Caprivi strip (the thin long “panhandle” of Namibia that reaches out 250 miles east of the country), then rushes over the the Victoria Falls and courses through the spectacular Batoka Gorge about 50 miles east of the “4 corners” and continues to mark the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, flowing through Lake Kariba, then Mozambique and ultimately out to the Indian Ocean.

Along the southern border of the same Caprivi strip, the Chobe River separates Namibia from Botswana before it’s confluence with the Zambezi. One of Botswana’s best known game parks, the Chobe Game Reserve, teeming with elephant, stretches along it’s the southern bank for roughly 90 miles. (Zoom in and out on the map below to follow us here).

View Larger Map

Chobe is easily accessed from Kasane Airport (the nearest park gate is about 15 minutes away), which is also frequently the point of departure for guests flying on to the famous Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta, Linyanti or Selinda areas. About 15 minutes along a road due east of Kasane, one crosses the border from Botswana to Zimbabwe, to pass through the Matetsi Safari Area, for another 45-minute drive to Victoria Falls Town.

Known as the adventure capital of Africa (not least for a 350 feet bungee jump off the bridge that connects Zimbabwe with Zambia), it also offers the broadest view of the falls, about two thirds of the width of the Zambezi river, and the airport serves guests connecting to safari destinations like Hwange National Park, Kariba, or the beautiful Mana Pools area – again flanking the mighty Zambezi further east.

Another border crossing from Victoria Falls Town (Zimbabwe) into Livingstone (Zambia), affords access to the eastern cataract, as well as (seasonally) the precipitous Livingstone Island and the famous Devils Pool at the lip of the thundering abyss. Along the Zambezi River’s northern bank, several famous lodges (Islands of Ziankaba, Sussi & Chuma, Toka Leya, Tongabezi, River Club) serve as a base for exploration, or a stepping stone en route to Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park to the East (across the Zambezi from the Mana Pools) or South Luangwa National Park further north east (usually requiring a connection in Lusaka). Driving about 90 minutes westward from Livingstone back towards Namibia however, leads one to the Kazangulu border post where crossing from Zambia back into Botswana is possible only by boat or ferry, and yes – the exact spot in the water where the four countries meet.

We truly believe that visiting more than one African country really adds to your overall safari experience. The “four corners” makes this possible with minimal travel time. It brings to light the fact that Africa is made up of more than 50 distinct countries, each with their own unique culture, languages, history and landscapes.

It comes as a surprise to many of our clients that mornings are chilly in Africa. The early morning game drive is standard practice on every good safari. That’s when the animals are at their most active. And if you’ve been on an early morning game drive, you’re probably convinced (as we are) that the animals are active in order to stay warm. It’s not uncommon for temperatures to be in the 40′s when you start your drive.

Too often folks on safari get goosebumps because they’re freezing, not just because they’ve spotted their very first elephant. You also want to avoid ruining the video of your very first elephant sighting by shivering uncontrollably. Our advice is simple: pack a thick fleece or medium jacket and some gloves. If you’re enjoying a safari during the dry winter months (May – August in southern Africa) you won’t regret packing a hat and scarf as well. You want to be chill, not chilly, on safari.

Of course by the end of the drive, as you head back to camp to enjoy a huge breakfast, you’ll be quietly baking in the mid-morning sun. It’s impolite to rush your fellow amateur photographers as they try to capture a cheetah stalking some impala, just because it’s now 11 am and you’ve become a ball of sweat. Our advice remains simple: wear the fleece or jacket you’ve packed and then layer, layer, layer. The sun is strong in these parts and temperatures can easily rise 30 degrees within a few hours.

More Safari Dress Tips

• Wear comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dusty
• Avoid bright colors (Tsetse flies love bright colors and the animals you want to see don’t)
• Avoid camouflage clothing resembling army uniforms
• Bring a good sunhat with a chin strap to avoid losing it (you’ll likely be in open vehicles)
• Bring clothes for just three days (laundering is always available and things dry fast in the sun)
• Bring a swimsuit, many lodges and camps have swimming pools
• Pack light in soft, small-medium bags (small aircraft cannot accommodate suitcases)
• Don’t invest in expensive new luggage, it will get dusty and bumped about

More Practical Safari Tips …

The recent discovery of a new hominid species, Australopithecus sediba, in South Africa has really excited us at African Portfolio. We apparently all share a fascination with paleoanthropology, who knew?! The new hominid fossil was found in an area called the “The Cradle of Mankind“. Previous fossil discoveries here have included Australopithecus africanus and Australopithecus robustus.

The Cradle of Mankind is located in Gauteng province, it covers a huge tract of privately owned land that is dotted with dolomitic limestone caves, a fossil haven. But it’s not exactly on the beaten track. Luckily there is an excellent museum in Johannesburg called the Origins Centre that is well worth a visit. The multi-media exhibit there traces the history of mankind from its very beginnings through to the present.

And while we’re on the subject of early man, there are several important and fascinating sites to visit in East Africa. If you’re planning a safari in Northern Tanzania, stop by the small museum in Oldupai Gorge (also known as Olduvai). The famous Leakey family spent time here in the 1930′s and discovered the remains of Australopithecus boisei and many other important fossils. Just 30 miles away in Laetoli, the discovery of bipedal footprints proved that mankind walked upright as early as 3.5 million years ago. These early hominid fossils (some are casts) are on display at the museum as well as a large array of early hominid artifacts and animal fossils.

Further north, the Leakey family and other paleoanthropologists are still busy in Koobi Fora and other sites around Lake Turkana. This is a unique area of Kenya, but hot and very much off the beaten track. Their blog is a little outdated but provides a fascinating insight into the life of a paleoanthropologist. The National Museum of Nairobi has many of the most important findings in its vaults. This is where the original Homo erectus and Homo habilis fossils reside. Since Nairobi is the main entry point for visitors to Kenya, it’s certainly worth an extra half day to see the origins of man with your own eyes.

Egypt has been attracting visitors for thousands of years, and with good reason since its ancient attractions rarely disappoint. But Egypt is quite an overwhelming place to visit and it’s not just the hustle and bustle of the place, but also the sheer heat. The tombs and temples of Luxor are truly fascinating, but facts about King Tut and Queen Hatshepsut will go in one ear and out the other, if your sneakers are literally melting off your feet. So in order to make the most of a trip to Egypt’s temples and tombs, we’ve got a few tips for you…

Surviving Egypt’s Tombs

• Visit in October through May so you won’t feel thoroughly cooked in less than 20 minutes.
• Bring lots of water and make sure the bottle has a new seal.
• Wear sunglasses since the glare is significant when you come out of a tomb.
• Slather on the sunscreen
• Wear a hat, floppy is better than a baseball cap to cover your ears
• Bring a flashlight since not all tombs are very well lit and you may need some extra light to see details.
• Pace yourself to three tombs or so per a day especially if you are not very fit. There’s quite a lot of walking and climbing of steps involved when you’re visiting these ancient sites.
• Beware if you are claustrophobic, it is hot and narrow in many of the tombs.
• Be prepared to pay extra to go into some of the more important tombs and also to take photos/video.
• Read up on what you’ll be seeing before you go

Cooling Off
We’ve also discovered the importance of a good hotel with a pool, close to the main attraction. In Luxor, our favorite place to stay is the Al Moudira. It’s a wonderful boutique hotel situated on Luxor’s West Bank (where the Valleys of the Kings and Queens are located). The hotel is decorated with Egyptian artifacts from souks, antique shops, bazaars, galleries and handicrafts by local artisans. The 54 rooms are spacious and grouped into units of four that open onto private courtyards, fountains and shaded lounging areas. The secluded swimming pool is just the perfect place to cool off and relax.

Interested in booking a trip to Egypt with us?
We can customize any trip, or you can try our Essential Egypt tour. If you’d like to cruise the Nile as part of your vacation, check out our Nile Valley Adventure.