Top Ten of Africa

              On my journey across Africa I’ve been to fifteen countries and stayed in fifty different places.  The continent has every type of environment, activity, and cost you could imagine.  It has the most expensive hotels in the world, backpacker haunts with activities, and transient places to gets you a place to sleep for the night before moving on to the next spot.  I thought I would share my favorite places along this continent.   There are no expensive hotels on the list; rather these are backpacker spots that are no more expensive than $45 per night.  Without further ado, here are my ten best places to stay in Africa:

10.       Gecko Lounge - Cape Maclear, Malawi

               This is the definition of a lounge.  It sits on the sandy shores of southern Lake Malawi with the goal of providing clients with a place to lie around and relax.  The views are great and there’s a good backpacker vibe in Cape Maclear.

The lounging possibilities here are endless.  Gecko's at Cape Maclear.

9.  Mozambique Island, Mozambique

          OK, it’s a major pain to get here.  But once you’re here, you’ll want to stay.  Rooftop bars and restaurants line the stone town section of the island.  The cool breeze will help you with the hot and humid temperatures.  Plus you can rent bikes to ride around the island, and tour the oldest European built building in the southern hemisphere. 

You can find a nice sunset here almost any night.  Mozambique Island.

The bike rides around the island will make you privy to some interesting sites.  Mozambique Island.

8.  Lamu, Kenya

               It’s considered the bastard stepchild of Zanzibar’s Stone Town, but it is a place unto itself.  Donkey rides are abundant, the beach is great, and you can spend hours winding around the alleyways.  You’ll find friendly people and places with crazy staircases leading you to better views of this beautiful small town. 

More alleways than you have time to explore.  Lamu.

7.  Byoona Amagara – Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda

           There’s nothing much going on here, and that’s the point.  One of the most relaxing places you’ll ever stay.  There are canoes to rent, a rope swing, and a simple lounge that overlooks one of the most beautiful places in the world.  Of course, the geodomes are an attraction in themselves. 

The geodomes and balconies make for days spent staring at the lake.  Lake Bunyonyi.

6.  Coffee Shack - Coffee Bay, South Africa

             It’s a bit out of the way from the main tourist road, but the extra drive is well worth it.  The hostel is very simple; there are very few areas that are covered from the elements.  However, why would you want to be inside when you have some of the best coastline in the world and amazing surfing in a gorgeous bay?  A free drink is included at orientation. 

The coastline is unrivaled, and the surfing is too.  Coffee Bay.

5.  Adrift Explorers – Jinja, Uganda

             The rooms are nice and Jinja is cool, but that isn’t the reason you come here.  The star attraction of this place is the bar that sits on a cliff overlooking the Nile River.  It has a great relaxing vibe, and you can watch people bungee jump from the comfort of your seat while drinking.  A free night is included if you whitewater raft with Adrift. 

You can see people jump from the comfort of your bar stool.  Jinja.

4.  Swakopmund, Namibia

             The places are simple.  You don’t come to Swakopmund to lounge at the hostel; you come to play in the desert.   Four wheel biking and sand surfing highlight this highlight of the desert.  Its vast sand dunes are allowed for playing in and on, which makes it one of the most unique places in the world.  

Endless sand dunes, and with it a chance to explore.  Swakopmund.

3.  Flat Dogs Camp – South Luanga National Park, Zambia

              Beautiful national park?  Check.  Great staff and service?  Check.  Elephants waking you up in the morning at your tent?  Check plus.  This place is wonderful, with amazing views and animals that roam through the camp and require an escort when going to and from the restaurant.  Just watch out for the monkeys stealing your breakfast.

 

The camp sits on the Luanga River, which gives it a better than average chance of seeing animals from your tent.  South Luanga National Park.

Or sometimes, the animals just walk through where you are eating.  South Luanga National Park.



2.  Penguin Camp – Dahab, Egypt

            If you are a diver, then this is your Mecca.  Oh, and you can see Saudi Arabia from the lounge.  It’s cheap and friendly, plus you can smoke hookah all day every day here.  The diving is at your doorstep, with a great boardwalk that has an endless amount of restaurants and shops.  You can also explore the Sinai with four wheel drives and camel rides in the desert plus the much coveted hike of Mount Sinai.

A sunrise view of the Red Sea, with the Saudi Arabian hills as a perfect backdrop.  Dahab.

The coastline of Dahab, which is full of hotels, restaurants, and hookah.   Dahab.

1.  Amphitheatre Hostel – Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa

            Once in a while you go to a place that transcends the experience.  Forget the hot tub at the bar, the great nightly communal dinners, and the brilliant rooms.  This place has spectacular views of the Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa’s answer to the beauty of the Grand Canyon.  The hostel has fishing, biking, riding, and amazing trips to Lesotho and the Drakensberg range.  You won’t be disappointed.

One of the many views during the hike of the Drakensbergs.  Drakensberg Mountains.

The Amphitheatre section is a sight to behold.  Drakensberg Mountains.