10 - Mana Pools Zimbabwe: These days Mana Pools is a little bit of a forgotten backwater on the African eco-travel map. The recent history of Zimbabwe has tended to isolate it from the mainstream which has done very little to help the conservation effort.

Mana is unique because it is different. The park is situated on 2500 square kilometers on the south bank of the Zambezi River. The area is a mix of riverine habitat rich in crocodile and hippo, floodplains supporting large herds of herbivores and a back-country of low lying Mopane woodland interspersed with thousands of mature baobabs.

The diversity of wildlife and scenic interest is just one of the reasons why Mana Pools should be a tick on your map of southern African eco destinations.

9 – Gorongosa Mozambique: This park, situated in north central Mozambique, is one of the region’s oldest and most troubled conservancies. Once the jewel of the colonial Portuguese conservation effort, and denuded almost to extinction during Mozambique’s series of civil wars, it is now one of the most visitable parks in the region.

Also of mixed habitat, the vortex of the park is a wet depression that supports a rich variety of vegetation that in turn provides succor and habitat to a huge diversity of wildlife. To the west lies Mount Gorongosa with its large number of endemics and unusual forest habitat. To the east wooded Miombo hill country offers shaded sanctuary to the more elusive of the African plains species.

Slowly being restocked, Gorongosa is still a work in progress, but is the focus of much international money and interest, and for the moment seems to have an assured future.

8 - South Luangwa Zambia: One of the principal watersheds of this large southern African nation is the Luangwa River which runs north to south along the east of the country, flowing ultimately into the great Zambezi. A significant section of the river frontage is reserved under the protection of two national parks. The North and South Luangwa National Parks are allied but different, and of the two it is South Luangwa that is the more popular.

Covering an area of 4636 square kilometers of the river’s east bank, South Luangwa offers a mix of riverine and floodplain habitat with high cliffs and forested hilltops. The park supports excellent wildlife diversity and offers the option of walking safaris.

This park is fairly new to the circuit, but is easily accessible, well maintained and protected, and served with excellent lodge and camp hospitality options.

7-Kruger National Park South Africa: This is one of Africa’s flagship wildlife destinations and one that sets the bar extremely high in the matter of wildlife conservation, breeding, research and study. As a consequence it can seem a little overdeveloped although the up-side is that all you ever hoped to see of African wildlife and more will be found here.

Kruger is an authentic bushveld destination with wooded savanna and acacia thornveld being the predominant habitats. This is also quintessential big game country where you can be justly disappointed if you do not regularly bump into the Big Five.

Easily accessible, well funded and managed, and exceptionally well and efficiently served with all the necessary amenities. This is a great option for beginners. It is civilized bundu-bashing in a developed-world atmosphere.

6 - Khalaghadi TransFrontier Conservation Area South Africa: This is another of South Africa’s superbly run national parks. Linked under international treaty (the Peace Parks Foundation) with Botswana, the combination of two enormous wilderness preserves in the Central Kalahari has opened up a vast an uninhibited safari area for those equipped for rough travel.

The better traveled region of the park is easily accessible and in a desert and semi-desert environment some of the signature scenery of Africa can be enjoyed from the deck of a luxury camp or lodge. Penetrate deeper into the wilderness and you can park your Landrover under a baobab and neither see or hear another human being for weeks.

A great option for enthusiasts, second timers and expedition junkies. Expect to see the Big Five with many other more localized or endemic species.

5 - Masai Mara Kenya: This is the sister park to the iconic Serengeti National Park and is a continuation of the same broad eco-zone. The annual migration of antelope species in astonishing numbers that define the region usually begins and ends in the Masai Mara. This is one of Kenya’s signature wildlife destinations so it is both heavily visited and carefully controlled.

However the inevitable jostle at certain times of the years is compensated for by one of Africa’s most Eden-like landscapes replete with natural splendor. Masai Mara is large – some 25 000 square kilometers - and is composed mostly of open grasslands and plains. The justly famous East African hospitality industry reaches its zenith in places like the Masai Mara so expect some of the highest standards of luxury on the planet.

This is an all-comers national park with something for everyone. The Big Five are dominated here by lion and cheetah but you can hardly fail to run into the rest too. Altogether an accessible, well managed and protected national park with some of the best photographic potential in Africa.

4 - Etosha Pan Namibia: Namibia is one of the most celebrated safari destinations in Africa. With a sparse population and all the wide open spaces a body can absorb, this is wild Africa with a very civilized underbelly. Etosha Pan is in a dry and unforgiving corner of the continent but despite that it is one of the most rewarding of the regional eco-destinations to visit.

Well managed, isolated and well protected this expanse of bushveld surrounding a seldom flooded pan enjoys unique ecological perspectives as well as all the best of African game safaris. The Namibians are excellent at long range 4×4 adventure, so for a little outlay an authentic African safari adventure is there for the taking.

Very wild and very real, this park is nonetheless easy to get to, easy to see and comfortable in the grand colonial tradition. Practical for all budgets. You can get the best and the most basic here.

3 - W National Park Niger: This park scores the highest points in Africa for interest. Very few eco-travelers ambulating the continent with binoculars in hand ever give much thought to West Africa. This is thanks mainly to the popular perception of teeming populations and very limited surviving natural heritage. Across most of the region this is true, but at the thee corners of Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso a unique configuration of river and land has been preserved as the W-National Park, a responsibility nominally shared between these three countries.

This regional conservancy covers some 10 000 square kilometers of largely uninhabited territory dominated by the delta of the Mekrou River with the Niger River. It is broken by rocky hills and expanses of bushveld. Equally unexpected wildlife encounters are frequent here with one of the last surviving populations of West African elephant and rare West African giraffe. Also expect to see cheetah, Lion and leopard with possible sighting of African painted wild-dog. Besides this there are many antelope species. W-National Park is a sought after birding destination.

So all in all an unusual eco-travel option with a frontier feel since facilities are scarce and access tricky. It is worth the effort though as Africa’s number 3 option.

2 - Okavango Delta Botswana: This is the Eden of the south. One of very few international inland deltas, the Okavango is a product of the Okavango River finding no outlet to the sea but instead spilling into the Kalahari desert and creating a vast and spectacular oasis that is home to some of Africa’s most unusual and prolific wildlife destinations.

The Delta is not wholly protected and is technically an area of mixed usage. Human habitation is present but limited, and on the whole the region is given over to wildlife. The main area of national park is Moremi Game Reserve which links in the north with Chobe National Park. Both are among the most important eco-destinations in the region.

Both parks have a riverine/riparian aspect with access by dugout and other river-craft. With generally superb standards of game management throughout Botswana you can expect to see the best of the Big Five and much more besides.

1 - Northern Circuit Tanzania: This is not one destination but several. The Tanzanian Northern Circuit revolves around the iconic Serengeti National Park, but it also includes the equally iconic Ngorongoro Crater Reserve and a handful of smaller destinations including Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Lake Eyasi, Arusha National Park and of course who could forget Kilimanjaro National Park.

The usual way to get the best of the Northern Circuit is a climb/safari packages that taxes your physical endurance and then soothes it with a relaxing safari among some of the greatest natural treasures in the world, and among some of the most esteemed representatives of the global hospitality industry.

In every respect the eco-travel potential in this region is superb. Although budget travel is not really encouraged, it is possible, but it is only when you dig deep in your pocket and spoil yourself with luxury that you will get the best that this region has to offer.

Features include the annual migration that takes place between the Masai Mara and the Serengeti every year. If you are lucky enough to catch this you will have witnessed one of the world’s greatest natural phenomenon

10 – Walking with Lions

Situated a few miles south of the small central Zimbabwean town of Gweru is the local conservation facility Antelope Park. Geared primarily towards lion protection, conservation and research this is the home of African Lion Environmental Research Trust (ALERT) and the world’s first Lion Rehabilitation and release into the pild programme.

However, apart from great camp and general wildlife facilities, Antelope Park offers a unique opportunity to get out and walk in the surrounding bushveld with a small group of adolescent lions. This might sound tame, but for a layman strolling across the savanna with even a young member of earth’s primary predator family is a thrilling if somewhat unnerving experience. These animals are big enough to know you over and old enough to scare the c**p out of you with a playful charge…

9 – Table Mountain Abseil

One of the defining physical features of southern Africa is Cape Town’s Table Mountain. At a mere 3563 ft it is hardly a behemoth as mountains go, but rising almost from sea level it is an impressive mass with sheer sides falling away from its signature flat top summit.

There are a variety of venture sports associated with Table Mountain but the commercial abseils – the highest commercial options in the world – offered by a variety of outfitters in Cape Town arguably mark the pinnacle of global adventure mountain sport.

To add to this the scenic backdrop of plunging off the sheer walls of Table Mountain are unparalleled anywhere in the world. Cape Town is one of the world’s premier cities and this is surely one of the most unique ways to see it.

8 – Motor Cycle Tours South Africa

Like the US South Africa is premier motorcycle country. With a combination of a superb blacktop road network and huge back-country potential there is nowhere better to hit the open road on two wheels.

There are a variety of commercial motorcycle tour companies based in South Africa that offer a handful of local tour and route options, including self-designed options, with routes that spill over into Botswana and Namibia. Both of these countries are characterized by big skies, plenty of sunshine and vast networks of well maintain roads.

For the motorcycle enthusiast this is the last word. For the general travel and venture junkie there is no better way to challenge your limits than a week or so of overland motorcycle exploration on the last frontier of venture travel.

7 – Festival in the Desert

Fast becoming a major fixture on the global World Music circuit, the Malian Festival in the Desert - or Festival au Désert - is more than an offbeat celebration of local music. It is a cultural event that showcases the extraordinarily diverse musical culture of Mali as well as the World Music phenomenon generally. It also marks a moment in history when the nomadic and sedentary groups of Mali opted for peace.

Held usually in January, the Festival in the Desert is one of the most important dates on the African music calendar.

6 – Serengeti

There is one location in Africa that accurately defines the popular image of the open plains and the thundering hooves. The Serengeti National Park of Tanzania is an iconic name in conservation circles and is without doubt one of the most accessible, best preserved and most beautiful of all African wildlife parks. This expansive area of grass plains and acacia woodland hosts one of the most diverse populations of African wildlife on the continent. Activities include the usual fare of game drives and wildlife spotting, but also hot air balloon safaris, and in certain places out-of-vehicle walking trails.

If there is one African eco-travel destination that you visit in your lifetime then make it the Serengeti

5 – Diving

Africa offers some of the best diving venues in the world. From the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheik to the temperate waters off Cape Town the options are almost unlimited.

The two opposing ends of the continent offer the best options. Egypt and South Africa are the two most developed African countries, and so their service and safety standards are good. In between Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique all offer varying standards of facilities and reef preservation. Along the tropical east coast Kenya offers the most variety, but Tanzania the best reef sites. Mozambican reefs have been damaged in the past by irresponsible exploitation and are sometimes disappointing.

Excellent freshwater diving options are available in Malawi.

4 – Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro is a great introduction to big mountains. At 19300ft it is a monster by any standards, but situated just south of the equator, and with a generally forgiving gradient, if you have it in you to climb one of the world’s biggest then this is a good one to start with.

Kili is one of Africa’s principal destinations. It is well served by climb outfitters both local and international. Guiding and safety standards are generally high although some care need sto be taken in selecting your outfitter. A variety of routes of varying difficulty are available along with a mass of data and advice from past climbers.

Check out the BootsnAll Kililogue site

3 – Zambezi White Water

There is a lot of rivalry out there for the title of world’s wildest white water rivers. The competition is impressive. From the Nile River in Uganda to the Colorado River in the USA the claims are many and varied, but anyone who knows anything will agree that on a wild day it comes no wilder than the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls straddling Zimbabwe and Zambia in Southern Africa.

The Zambezi has a well earned reputation. During the low water season the runs are a potboiler of crazy action that leave some first timers wondering how a ride like this could be legal. Fatalities occur but are mutely publicized and a number of international and local brand names offer the river as an absolute must-do on any African overland fixture.

Both Victoria Falls and Livingstone are firmly fixed on the African tourist map. You have not been to Africa if you have not rafted the Zambezi.

2 – Gorillas

A handful of conservancies and parks circling the Virunga Highlands of Central Africa protect and showcase the last dwindling communities of the African Mountain Gorilla. Less than 700 of these creatures survive in the wild. Of these most remain threatened by war, human predation and habitat loss.

The best sites to visit and interact with the gorillas are found in Rwanda and Uganda. Uganda has the widest variety, the best standards of conservation and the easiest access. Rwanda on the other hand has a more authentic backdrop and is a truly African experience.

1 – Shark Diving

Anyone travelling south of the equator with a drop red blood in their veins at one time or another wind up in Gansbaai. This unassuming eastern Cape hamlet hosts South Africa’s, and Africa’s premier adrenalin activity.

The Dyer Island group situated a few miles south of Gansbaai is home to a colony of some 50 000 cape fur seals and a similar number of African penguins. This is a veritable shark delicatessen which predictably attracts a solid concentration of great whites into an easily accessible zone. Add a bit of South African madness and some carefully designed cages and you have the recipe for Africa’s top adventure activity.

Gansbaai has cultivated a well deserved reputation as the top world shark diving destination. A variety of local and Cape Town based outfitters offer cage diving trips into the famed Shark Alley. Don’t miss it!

Obviously, the first place to start planning your trip is to decide on the places you want to visit. It is best to pick out major countries to visit and then space out your time between each country accordingly. This will allow you plenty of time to travel other nearby countries as well.

Once you have your basic itinerary setup it is time to start looking for round the world airfare. Because you will be flying so much and need such a specialized type of ticket, you will really want to shop around to find the cheapest tickets. After all, this ticket will take up a large portion of your budget. There are a number of travel providers that specialize in setting up round the world airline tickets. These guys can really help you plan your trip to fit your needs and budgets.

One thing that shouldn’t be over looked when planning a round the world trip is travel insurance. This can be a huge blessing should something bad happen to you physically. Aside from serious injury, travel insurance can also help you if you have your gear and personal property stolen. When buying travel insurance, just make sure you know what it covers and what it doesn’t as far as personal items are concerned. Some place wont cover things like computers or expensive cameras unless you pay extra for them.

To help Rolf celebrate his new book, BootsnAll is hosting a stop on his virtual book tour this Wednesday, September 17th - and because we’re such big fans of our long-time friend, we’re also giving away 10 copies of the book as part of the deal. All you need to do to be eligible to win a copy of the book is head over to this BootBlog post and ask Rolf a question - he’ll pick 10 questions to answer on our book tour stop, and those 10 people will win a copy of Marco Polo Didn’t Go There!

It’s going to be fun to hear about what Rolf’s been up to between books, learn more about his travels, and find out what you all want to ask him. But time’s running out - so get over to the BootBlog post and leave your question for Rolf in the comments on that post today!

>> UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who participated, the virtual book tour stop was a great success. Rolf answered 12 reader questions, and you can read the whole interview here.

That’s right, BootsnAll has another New Year’s summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro lined up, and it’s going to be a good one. This year the trek is being led by BootsnAll’s very own Africa expert, Peter Baxter. Peter’s an author and a professional regional mountain guide, not to mention a mountaineering consultant in East Africa - so the man knows his stuff. He’d like nothing better than to help you discover Africa’s highest mountain and witness the dawn of a new year from its peak.

Sound good? Well, there are only 12 places available on this trip, so you’d better book your spot now. You can call BootsnAll at 1-866-549-7614 to find out more about the trip, or visit the BootsnAll World Adventures site that describes this New Year’s summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in more detail. Either way, don’t delay! And to get you in the mood, here’s the video from a previous BootsnAll summit of Kili.

A good zip line or canopy tour should include round trip transportation to and from your hotel. The staff should be very bilingual, friendly, and very positive. Operators should always start the trip by gearing you up and then following it with an explanation of the safety procedures and how the equipment works.

Whats the Difference Between Canopy Tours and Zip Lines?
Because both terms are used very loosely all around the world, sometime it can be hard to distinguish the two. Generally speaking though, the can be defined in the following way:

• Zip Lines - These tours usually involves a number of cables that very in length an height. You are usually connected to the cable via a harness and pulley system.
• Canopy Tours - These are usually much less adrenaline oriented. They tend to be a series of rope bridges or walkways high in the tree tops. Sometimes these types of tours also include a tram system.

Are They Safe?
In more developed countries these types of tours are extremely safe because they have to pass a number safety inspections and regulations. In many less developed countries, there may not be any sort of regulations. This is another reason its a good idea to talk to other travelers about their experience with a particular operator. All and all, many of these tours have a good track record, as the opposite would b bad for business.

Check out some of these canopy tours in Costa Rica.

Hostels here are often advertised as budget resorts and because of this you can expect to pay for it. It is not uncommon to pay 20+ a night for a simple dorm room. The upside to these high hostel prices is that you access to the “resorts” amenities and facilities.

Top 3 Adventures in Tahiti

• Dive with Manta Rays - Go scuba diving with some of the largest manta rays around.
• Helicopter Tour of the Islands - This is one of the best ways to really appreciate the beauty of the islands.
• Jeep Safari Adventure - Discover the island of Bora Bora and drive around its jungle mountains, see historic remains, and the remnants of US GI’s from during the war.

Getting to Tahiti

Start planning for your trip by checking out BootsnAlls cheap flights to Tahiti. You can also lookup hotels in Tahiti by visiting our hotel page which is full of reviews by other travelers.

“Like luxury, adventure can be defined many ways. To our guests it means spontaneity, having the flexibility and the resources to do and see amazing things, both above and beneath the surface. Even on the world’s least trodden beach, or surrounded by the mist of a giant waterfall, you can still get a massage right there – because we set up spa services right there. You might be kayaking up a jungle river, but our support boat makes sure chilled beverages and snacks are waiting for you upstream.”

There is no shortage of genuine adventure travel on these cruises. The ships are loaded with high quality sea kayaks, mountain bikes, scuba gear, snorkeling gear, and much more. The tips include a number of hike dives, snorkeling spots, native village encounters, kayaking trips through the jungle, and so much more.

This perfect balance of luxury and adventure wont come cheap though. If you are looking for a great honeymoon package or just a once in a lifetime luxury vacation, the Tui Tai adventure cruises are what you’re looking for. Rates for these cruises start at around $3,500 per person and go up to over $5,000.

For more information about the Tui Tai Adventure Cruises, check out their website.

From the Website:

” Ninety intrepid adventurers, passengers and crew enjoyed the first nude flight on a commercial airliner May 3 from Miami to Cancun, Mexico. A chartered Boeing 737 carried the first ever NAKED AIR flight sponsored by Castaways Travel of Houston, Texas. The professionally dressed crew remained clothed throughout the flight, adhering to standard operating rules of the Federal Aviation Association (FAA). Only the passengers disrobed after “take off” and remained nude for level flight until the captain called for clothes and landing procedures upon approaching the Cancun International Airport. Length of the NAKED AIR flight from Miami to Cancun was one hour fifteen minutes. Most passengers were on their way to the El Dorado and Hidden Beach Resorts for NUDE WEEK, also sponsored by Castaways Travel”

A round trip ticket for a flight from Miami to Cancun, Mexico on Naked Air starts at about $499. If you are interested in learning more about the history of Naked Air and Nude Week, check out the companies blog about the first Naked Air Flight, here.