by Emma Gass, 18 June 2010

Africa is a continent of many treasures; wide open spaces densely populated with animals unique to Africa, as well as miles and miles of tropical coastline sprinkled with off-shore islands. No wonder most people looking to visit Africa want to combine a safari with a beach holiday!

Often deciding where to go on safari and which bit of coast to choose is the hardest part. Taking into consideration geographical proximity, airline connections and the different experiences offered by each area, here are our top safari and beach combinations with suggested itineraries to inspire you to dig out the suncream - you'll need it for the game drives and the snorkelling.

Kruger & Mozambique

South Africa's flagship safari destination, the Kruger National Park, shares a border with a country boasting one of the longest coastlines on the African continent, Mozambique. Combining a Kruger safari with a Mozambique beach holiday is very convenient, involves minimal travelling time and combines truly African wildlife with truly African beaches.

The Safari: Iconic Kruger Park and its smaller private reserves are known worldwide for their incredibly chic and comfortable safari lodges as much as for their excellent Big 5 game viewing. The food is gourmet and always imaginative. The service is polished and slick but still very friendly and sincere. The décor is contemporary yet obviously African. The guiding is knowledgeable and professional but the surroundings and the wildlife always steal the show.

The game viewing in Kruger is spectacular with regular sightings of the Big 5, including many sightings of the elusive leopard. Explore dry river beds, hippo filled pools and tricky forests for iconic African wildlife like elephants, giraffe and lion and the tiny creatures that form a fascinating and intricate part of the ecosystem.

The Beach: Mozambique, forgotten for decades, offers a virtually un-spoilt, tropical, palm tree populated coastline embellished with clusters of perfect tropical islands floating just offshore.

Leave the continent behind as you wing your way over the azure Indian Ocean to the archipelagoes of Bazaruto or the remote Quirimbas off Mozambique's north coast.

Explore the tiny islands on a traditional dhow cruise, go deep sea fishing on fully equipped fishing boats, chat to the few local islanders who inhabit the islands, explore the colourful reefs while scuba diving or just soak up the African sun in between dips in the almost luke warm water.

Then wash it all down with decadent seafood freshly caught off the island that day, it doesn't get more laidback African beach holiday than this.

South Africa & Mauritius

Kruger isn't the only safari destination in South Africa, this large country also offers great wildlife sightings in tropical northern KwaZulu Natal, as well as the malaria-free areas of Pilansberg, Madikwe and the Eastern Cape. And all of them are a four hour flight away from the active beach holiday island of Mauritius.

The Safari: South Africa's diverse, and largely malaria-free safari areas, from the elephants of the Eastern Cape reserves and Madikwe close to Sun City, to the lush coastal reserves of KwaZulu Natal offer authentic big game safaris complimented by a range of elegant safari lodges.

Being in malaria-free areas, many safari lodges specialize in creating fun family safaris, with nature activities for all ages.

The Beach: Mauritius, floating in the middle of the Indian Ocean, is an active beach holiday goers dream. The many resorts offer a spectacular assortment of watersports from kayaking, windsurfing and snorkeling to water-skiing and scuba diving making it very difficult to sit still.

Although you can sit still; under a thatched beach umbrella, metres from the calm ocean with a good book and a cocktail.

Most Mauritius resorts are family friendly, offering kids clubs and sometimes teen clubs to keep the kids occupied, happy and begging for another Mauritius holiday before the first one is over.

Botswana & Mozambique

Botswana has to be one of Southern Africa's most exciting safari destinations, and although it's landlocked, all you need is a connecting flight in Johannesburg to get you to one of the best beach destinations in Africa, Mozambique.

The Safari: Spot big game as you slip silently through the waterways of the Okavango Delta in a traditional wooden mokoro, or watch family herds of elephant come down to the Chobe River to drink and mud bath.

From the dry Kalahari, to the wetlands of the Okavango Delta and the enormous elephant populations in the Chobe area, a luxury safari in Botswana exceeds most expectations.

The Beach: Explore the African market in Pemba on the Mozambique mainland, stroll among the colonial ruins on the almost forgotten island of Ibo or just relax on a barely inhabited Mozambiquan tropical island.

The islands off Mozambique are particularly well known for their excellent scuba diving, with the chance to spot turtles, dolphins and sting rays, as well as the superb big game fishing for black marlin, sail fish and yellowfin tuna.

Tanzania & Zanzibar

Combine the classic safari in your mind's eye with island beaches steeped in culture and history.

The Safari: Tanzania is where you will find the wide open spaces of the Serengeti, where your eye travels uninterrupted for miles and miles, and the vast valley of the ancient Ngorongoro Crater literally teeming with wildlife.

The classic luxury safari is truly possible in Tanzania; sleep under canvas but with all your creature comforts like real beds, en suite bathrooms and really delicious meals.

The Beach: Lying off the coast of Tanzania is the aromatic spice island of Zanzibar, where the tribal culture of Africa meets the Arabic influence of the ancient trading routes.

Explore the cultural treasure trove of the world heritage site, Stone Town, discover the spice plantations on a Spice Tour and spend lazy days soaking up the sun on the island's beautiful beaches.

For a more remote experience, visit one of the other Zanzibar islands with fanciful names like Mafia Island, Pemba Island and top diving destination, Mnemba Island.

Kenya & Lamu

Meet the Masaai and follow the migration before hitting the fun beach holiday vibe of Kenya's beaches or the atmospheric Lamu islands.

The Safari: Each year the spectacle of the great migration passes through the Masai Mara enroute to the Serengeti in Tanzania. Witness the unforgettable sight of thousands of African animals on the move while staying at authentic safari camps and luxury safari lodges.

Choose to visit some of the other well established reserves in the country from the Samburu National Park and the flamingos at Lake Nakuru to the view of Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli National Park.

The Beach: There are many fun beaches up and down the coast from bustling Mombasa, but for a more bohemian and culturally interesting beach holiday head for Lamu and its surrounding islands. These small islands have a long and fascinating history with African, Arabic and Chinese influences, but today they are remote, almost forgotten bits of African beach paradise.

Article © Copyright 2010 Go2Africa.

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