Grand Africa - Circumnavigating the African Contin

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is said to have been founded by the Phoenicians, and was once the rival of the powerful states of Venice and Genoa for control of the Mediterranean trade. Today, it is Spain's second largest city and has long rivaled, even surpassed Madrid in industry and commerce. The medieval atmosphere of the Gothic Quarter and the elegant boulevards combine to make the city one of Europe's most beautiful. Barcelona's active cultural life and heritage brought forth such greats as the architect Antonio Gaudi, the painter Joan Miro, and Pablo Picasso, who spent his formative years here. Other famous native Catalan artists include cellist Pau Casals, surrealist Salvador Dali, and opera singers Montserrat Caballe and Josep Carreras. Barcelona accomplished a long-cherished goal with the opportunity to host the Olympics in 1992. This big event prompted a massive building program and created a focal point of the world's attention.

Mallorca, the largest of Spain's Balearic Islands, is a Mediterranean gem that entices travellers with its diverse beauty.

La Goulette, known in Arabic as Halq al-Wadi, is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. The Kasbah fortress was built in 1535 by Charles I of Spain but was captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1574

Sousse or Soussa is a city in Tunisia, capital of the Sousse Governorate. Located 140 km south of the capital Tunis, the city has 271,428 inhabitants. Sousse is in the central-east of the country, on the Gulf of Hammamet, which is a part of the Mediterranean Sea.

Valletta, the capital city of Malta, is a stunning jewel of the Mediterranean, renowned for its rich history, architectural elegance and vibrant culture.

Crete, a Mediterranean jewel, stands as Greece's largest and most diverse island, where history, mythology and natural beauty converge in a harmonious tapestry.

Surrounded on three sides by snow-capped mountains, Antalya is situated on a vast fertile plain that was known in antiquity as Pamphylia. Here the Toros Mountains, blanketed by green forests, sweep down the rocky headlands to isolated coves of clear turquoise water. The stunning scenery and mild climate have made Antalya a principal resort on the "Turquoise Coast" of Turkey sometimes referred to as the "Turkish Riviera." Full of ancient sites, the area was once part of empires controlled by the Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Seljuks, Cypriots and Ottomans. Many of the Mediterranean world's best-preserved ancient ruins are east of Antalya, the most spectacular of which are Perge and Aspendos. The city itself has much to offer the visitor who wishes not to venture far afield. The Kaleici, the historic quarter, protected from modern development and closed to cars, is a perfect place to discover the city's historic past. The old Roman Harbor is now a yacht marina and the winding streets of the picturesque Old Quarter leads you past quaint wooden houses, cafes, shops and the ruins and monuments of bygone eras.

Limassol, nestled on the southern coast of Cyprus, is a vibrant Mediterranean city where ancient history meets modern allure.

Nestled along the Mediterranean coastline of Egypt, Alexandria, often referred to as "The Pearl of the Mediterranean," is a city steeped in history, culture and timeless allure.

Nestled on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula along the Red Sea, Sharm el Sheikh is a breathtaking coastal paradise in Egypt.

Luxor, often referred to as the "world's greatest open-air museum," is an Egyptian treasure trove of ancient wonders and rich history.

Salalah, Oman's ancient incense capital is an oasis with lush vegetation resulting from seasonal monsoons. The city's roads wind through groves of coconut, papaya and banana trees, and roadside stands sell fresh fruit and coconut water. The tropical atmosphere is a striking contrast to the otherwise arid landscapes of the Arabian Peninsula. Even the Queen of Sheba fell under the spell of the area's treasure far greater than gold, and sent gifts of frankincense to impress Solomon. Today, the beautiful sand beaches, cultural history, archaeology and natural diversity draw visitors to this ancient paradise.

One of the world’s smallest capitals, Victoria on the Seychelles island of Mahé is bursting with life, culture and heritage.

Known for its glorious tropical beaches and fantastic marine life, Praslin is unique because of its Vallee de Mai World Heritage Site, where the coco de mer grows wild. At seven miles long and nowhere more than 3 1/2 miles wide, it is still the second largest island in the Seychelles.

Lying in the warm waters off the coast of Tanzania is the exotic island of Zanzibar. The mere mention of this spot conjures up images of intrigue and mystery. Zanzibar's history is whispered on the tropical breezes that cool the island. They tell of the slave trade which flourished here, and of a building called the ``House of Wonders.' They tell of a time when Christian missionaries lived and worked under difficult conditions.

Dar es Salaam, a major city and commercial port on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast, grew from a fishing village. The open-air Village Museum has re-created the traditional homes of local and other Tanzanian tribes and hosts tribal dancing. It’s part of the National Museum, which offers Tanzanian history exhibits, including the fossils of human ancestors found by anthropologist Louis Leakey.

Madagascar is a world apart. And Nosy Be, which means “large island”, is apart from that. The islands have unique wildlife and cultural traditions long separated from the African mainland. Some 90 percent of the plants and animals in Madagascar are endemic. Nosy Be’s port, Andoany, was formerly called Hell-ville, but is not really that bad. The major attractions for many visitors are the clear waters and prolific coral reefs surrounding the island. There are shops in the town selling the many essential oils, of ylang-ylang, vanilla, black pepper and other plants, that originally attracted the attention of the wider world. Outside town, near the village of Mahatsinjo, there is an immense banyan tree planted by a Malagasy queen in 1836. It is still sacred, and the current queen makes a pilgrimage to sacrifice at the tree annually. The Lokobe Natural Reserve is the place to see the endemic forest and the endearing lemurs that are the iconic wildlife species of Madagascar, along with crater lakes, waterfalls and other types of wildlife. At Lemurlandia, lemurs are captive, and the park also offers up-close access to vanilla orchids, ylang-ylang, cacao trees and other specialty plants. The island also has a distillery that flavors local rum with essential oils of all flavors.

The interests of the Portuguese in Africa were the earliest of any European power. And the independence of Africa’s Lusophone colonies was invariably the most bitterly disputed during the revolutions of the mid-20th century. As elsewhere, the departing colonials took much of the value and the skills with them when they fled. Maputo has been slowly rebuilding itself into a city worthy of its setting along the Indian Ocean coast, and you will be among only a few travelers to see the architectural treasures of its past and the spirit of its future.

Durban, South Africa’s sultry subtropical jewel, stretches along the sun-kissed beaches of the Indian Ocean.

East London was established in the Eastern Cape as a military base by the British in 1836. In the town itself, the East London Museum offers very rare displays including a reconstruction of the extinct dodo bird along with the only dodo egg known to exist, the exotic coelacanth fish thought to have been extinct for millennia, then discovered in the Indian Ocean, and a slab of sandstone discovered at nearby Nahoon Point containing the footprints of a prehistoric hominid child dating from over 200,000 years ago. Ranging further afield, visitors can visit the Xhosa homeland for a game drive on the Inkwenkwesi Game Reserve or the Mpongo Private Game Reserve.

Port Elizabeth is one of South Africa’s largest cities, (second in area and fifth in population), stretching 16 miles along the bay named “Algoa” by the Portuguese. The name indicated that it was from here their trading ships departed for the Goa coast of India on the favorable monsoon winds. Today it is renowned as a playground on the Indian Ocean coast, the breezes attracting surfers and yachtsmen to sport in the warm seas. The 2010 FIFA World Cup was held here, and spread even further its reputation as a world-class beach resort.

Mossel Bay, a coastal jewel nestled along South Africa’s renowned Garden Route, boasts a fusion of historical intrigue and modern seaside charm.

Cape Town, a jewel nestled at the foot of the awe-inspiring Table Mountain, pulses with an unmatchable rhythm of diversity.

In 1883, a German businessman, Adolf Luderitz, purchased a parcel of land enclosing a small bay for purposes of speculation. The so-called Skeleton Coast had limited potential in many ways, being largely made up of the shifting sands of the Namib Desert. Then, in 1906, a local railway worker noticed an oddly sparkly stone beside the tracks. It proved to be a diamond, and it became clear that there were many like it lying literally on the surface of the sands. By 1909 a diamond rush was in full sway, and a thriving, German-styled town called Kolmanskop sprouted out of the desert to house the gem-seekers. When the easy pickings ended, the townspeople simply walked away, and the desert climate preserved the town as it was slowly engulfed by the shifting sands. Today it makes an evocative and haunting place to visit. The bay still hosts a bounty of wildlife as well, including seals, whales and flamingos. Other endeavors have started, too, such as the culture of delicious oysters in the clean, cold ocean waters.

Walvis Bay, Namibia’s unique maritime and adventure oasis, is a sparkling city on the Atlantic, renowned for its natural lagoon and thriving birdlife.

Luanda looks to be booming. Development and construction is fueled by extractive industries such as petroleum and diamonds. However over half the city’s residents live in poverty. It has for several years dominated the chart of the most expensive cities in the world for expatriates, outstripping such notorious places as Hong Kong and London. Like the rest of Portugal’s African colonies, Angola won its independence under force of arms in the mid-1970s. But the country immediately descended into a disastrous civil war that lasted decades, severely stunting development. Sites of interest include the 16th century Fortess of Sao Miguel, which looms over the harbor. Any visitor will assuredly be directed to the towering monument at the mausoleum of Agostinho Neto, the hero of the revolution. The National Museum of Anthropology is a good place to learn about the folkloric traditions, including a collection of exemplary masks.

Ilhéu Bom Bom is an island in the Gulf of Guinea. The islet is located near the north coast of the island of Príncipe, one of the main islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and is almost completely forested. Its population is 15. There is a tourist resort near the island. There is a lighthouse on the island built in 1997.

Cotonou is a large port city on the south coast of Benin, in West Africa. At the eastern end of central Boulevard St. Michel is the huge Dantokpa Market, which features religious items and spices alongside everyday objects. To the southwest, the 19th-century Cotonou Cathedral has a striking red-and-white striped facade. Nearby, in the Haie Vive district, the Fondation Zinsou museum shows contemporary African art.

Like much of West Africa, Togo is a result of European colonial disruption of long-standing African kingdoms. Togo’s long, thin territory reflects its history as a trade franchise for Germany, which controlled the coastline and plundered the interior. The country’s citizenry is made up of 40 ethnic groups. Blessed with broad golden beaches and a sunny, warm climate, Togo is a favorite of European vacationers. The huge Grand Market distributes everything required for life in the city. The picturesque and fragrant Akodessewa fetish market dispenses all sorts of botanicals and mummified animal parts to the 51 percent of Togo’s population who are practitioners of Vodun or other native animist religions. It is the largest such market in Africa and draws devotees from all over the continent. The smaller Centre Artisanal offers handcrafts. The National Museum is a good place to learn more about the history and cultures of Togo, with displays of traditional jewelry, clothing, pottery, sculpture and musical instruments. Modernist monuments around town include the Independence Memorial and the Peace Dove Monument, while the tall steeples of the red-and-white Cathedral are a memorial of German colonial occupation. The city’s pace is slower and more relaxed than other West African capitals, and the golden sands of Lomé and Aneho beaches invite you to admire the rolling sapphire surf from the Gulf of Guinea.

Tema port is about 25 km from Ghana’s teeming capital. The cultures of West Africa share a traditional propensity to be busy. It’s exciting and can be dazzling to newcomers. Accra is a bustling, colorful city where everybody is rather joyfully struggling to get ahead. Enjoy it. The oldest section, Jamestown, is centered around the 17th century James Fort, where the British converted a traditional market for precious metals to a trade in slaves. Climb the red-and-white lighthouse for a view of the busy city. Visit the National Museum to get a glimpse of the elaborate and very ancient cultures of Ghana through exhibits of art and artifacts. Then survey Independence Square, and its memorial to the independent nation’s first leader Kwame Nkrumah. Once your pulse is up to speed, perhaps venture into the sea of humanity that is the Makola Market. The Artists Alliance gallery contains works in every medium imaginable from the fertile community of Ghanaian artists. The ANO Centre for Cultural Research is another place to discover the rich vein of creativity that runs from antiquity into today’s culture. A more vivid example can be experienced at Labadi Beach, where enterprising entertainers, venders and artists gather to ply their trades among the visitors from neighboring luxury hotels. Like the pulsing, jazzy Ghanaian popular music, the beat of Accra is fast-paced and insistent, but full of joy.

Takoradi is a very important and busy West African seaport on Ghana’s Cape Coast, a main transport depot for container ships and oil tankers. Two of the main tourist sites near Takoradi are the village of Nzulemo and the old Portuguese slave depots called “castles.” The village of Nzulezo, on Lake Tadane, is a stilt community inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique architectural and cultural characteristics. At Akatekyi, crocodiles play part in the activities of a fetish priest. Elmina Castle is about an hour away, and one of the best preserved slave barracoons on the coast.

The skyscrapers that shape the skyline of Abidjan tell only part of the story of this boom-and-bust West African capital. Africa’s modern showplace has also suffered internal strife that decimated its aspirational economy. The large Musée des Civilisations de Cote d’Ivoire reveals the inherent creativity and aesthetic sophistication of its people, and the Banco National Park preserves a remnant of its lush interior forests within the city’s confines.

The Gambia takes its name from the river that runs through it. In fact the nation consists largely of the river and a narrow band of riparian land on either side of it. The smallest nation on the African mainland, it is only 30 miles wide at its broadest point, and surrounded on three sides by Senegal. The capital of Banjul, formerly known as Bathurst, slumbers on small St. Mary’s Island near the river’s mouth. The town’s life centers around the bustling Albert Market, where nearly everything is traded in any (or several) of the country’s five official languages, plus French and English. The National Museum is a good place to get a look at the historic and ethnographic makeup. South of the town is Abuko Nature Reserve, a 180-acre section of savannah forest preserved in 1968 through the efforts of the country’s first forest officer, Eddie Brewer. The reserve is a good place to see examples of the native fauna including several species of monkeys, hyenas, antelope, and reptiles including crocodiles and monitor lizards. It also attracts more than 270 species of birds.

One of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan African cities, the Senegalese capital bears many visual reminders of its past as a French colonial outpost. Despite the Parisian-style boulevards and buildings, however, there is a distinctly African feel to the city. Bankers and executives can be seen going about their businesses dressed in the flamboyant traditional Grand Boubou costume, and women wear the feminine version with an equally striking headpiece. The common language is French, although many citizens may also speak as many as five or six ethnic languages, since the whole coast of West Africa has been steeped in a heritage of mutual trade for centuries. Among the many sights and sounds greeting visitors, none is more evocative and sobering than a visit to Goree Island and its House of Slaves. This fortress, just offshore of the city waterfront, displays many reminders of the brutal trade in human beings, including an unimposing doorway, set just above the waterline in the seaside wall, identified simply as the “Door of No Return.”

Praia, the vibrant capital city of Cape Verde, is a captivating blend of cultural diversity, stunning coastal beauty and urban vibrancy.

The most important city on the Cape Verde island of São Vicente, Mindelo originally thrived as a coal depot for steamships plying the Atlantic. With the advent of diesel engines, its importance waned, although it is still an important port for the maritime trade. The island is volcanic, dry and mostly low. The town has replica of Lisbon’s Belem Tower, located near the fish market, in an interesting part of the city. The late Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora started her career singing in the taverns of Mindelo, and later brought the uniquely lilting Cape Verdean form of fado music to the world through her bestselling records and concert tours.

Known as The Great Island of the Dogs, the volcanic island of Gran Canaria has been named a Biosphere Reserve By UNESCO.

Lanzarote is an island destination that promises to leave you awed by the majesty of nature, thanks to its volcanic geology.

The sprawling, Moroccan city of Casablanca, sits on the north-west coast of Africa.

Nestled at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, Gibraltar stands as a captivating British Overseas Territory, where history, culture and nature collide in a unique blend.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is said to have been founded by the Phoenicians, and was once the rival of the powerful states of Venice and Genoa for control of the Mediterranean trade. Today, it is Spain's second largest city and has long rivaled, even surpassed Madrid in industry and commerce. The medieval atmosphere of the Gothic Quarter and the elegant boulevards combine to make the city one of Europe's most beautiful. Barcelona's active cultural life and heritage brought forth such greats as the architect Antonio Gaudi, the painter Joan Miro, and Pablo Picasso, who spent his formative years here. Other famous native Catalan artists include cellist Pau Casals, surrealist Salvador Dali, and opera singers Montserrat Caballe and Josep Carreras. Barcelona accomplished a long-cherished goal with the opportunity to host the Olympics in 1992. This big event prompted a massive building program and created a focal point of the world's attention.