From the sharks and penguins of South Africa to the gorillas and chimpanzees of Rwanda, here's an off beat take on Africa.
The month of May offered the India Outbound magazine and its team an enchanting and soul-lifting tour of Africa. From South Africa, a country quite well-known to Indian tourists and that is capturing the popular imagination for its wildlife and safaris, as well as luxury and modern urban life, we visited a nation that makes people crease their brows in confusion and ask, “Do you mean Uganda?” No, we mean Rwanda, and it is a beautiful country whose people exude cheerfulness, and the nature boasts of unparalleled grandeur. Also, it is one of the three places in the world to see the famed and endangered mountain gorillas.
More than just the Big 5
We start our journey by revisiting South Africa. Last year, we had visited various national parks, like the Kruger National Park, where we came face to face with the African Big Five (African Lion, Cape Buffalo, African Leopard, African Elephant and Black Rhinoceros). But 2017 packed more exhilarating adventures for us, where we left the land-based Big 5 and went underwater and swam with the sharks. We were in the port city of Hermanus, known as the capital of the great white shark but is also a great whale watching spot and a beautiful countryside region (read article, page 14). As a bonus, we also chanced upon some African penguins at Betty’s Bay.
Thousands of tourists from India visit South Africa during the summer break, as plenty of buses full of Indians in Cape Town bore testimony. As we decided to climb Table Mountain, we met a group of Indians from Ahmedabad – "This is my second time in South Africa, first time I was here for work and this summer, I decided to bring the entire family with me and we are really enjoying it," says Amit, a 47-year-old businessman.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July/August 2017-Ausgabe von India Outbound.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July/August 2017-Ausgabe von India Outbound.
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La Mamounia is an oasis for travellers
In order to cement its foothold in the Indian market, Moroccan luxury resort La Mamounia, located in the picturesque town of Marrakech, recently organised a visit to Mumbai and Delhi, engaging with top-tier travel industry partners from India. General Manager Pierre Jochem tells India Outbound that the resort, which recently completed 100 years, is targetting the Indian visitors seeking to explore Morrocan art, culture and heritage, besides its captivating beauty.
Africa has come a long way as travel destination for Indians
The perception of Africa as a tourism destination has come a long way in India as travellers from India have gone beyond safaris to discover other elements that make travel to Africa attractive. The change is not just amongst Indian tourists, but destinations have also learnt more about their Indian clients and are taking steps to customise their offer to the Indian visitors, writes Alpa Jani, Founder, Ace Connect, a tourism marketing company.
ASCENIC RAIL TRIP ACROSS BALKANS
A rail journey through the Western Balkans, from Serbia's vibrant capital Belgrade to the culturally rich Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a more tranquil, scenic way to explore the region's breathtaking mountains, lakes and historical towns at a leisurely pace.
Shahnaz Husain's cool tips for skincare during travel
Celebrity beautician and hair care expert Shahnaz Husain tells India Outbound on her secrets for skin-care and hair-care while travelling.
Plovdiv: Timeless jewel in Bulgarian crown
With a history spanning over two millennia, Plovdiv is not only one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, but also a vibrant conduit linking Bulgaria's past and its present.
Navigating Natural Wonders of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
For us city dwellers, even the sound of a cuckoo might seem exotic. So now imagine discovering a vastness filled with shifting dunes and interlaced emerald lagoons.
Explore the Jewel of Southern Spain, Seville
Home to one of the largest historic centres of Europe and three world heritage sites, the stunning city of Seville, located by the picturesque Guadalquivir River in southern Spain, offers tourists an experience rich in history, culture, art, gastronomy and much more.
UPI IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A GAME CHANGER FOR INDIAN TRAVELLERS
Having revolutionised digital transactions in India, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is now expanding globally. After tepid beginnings in the immediate neighbourhood, UPI is gaining acceptance in many countries making a win-win for Indian tourists and businesses overseas that are increasingly eager to tap the burgeoning Indian outbound travel market.
Debuting at COP29, can tourism lead march towards curbing carbon emissions?
Tourism will make its debut in global climate change negotiations in the next round of discussions, COP29, that opens in Baku later this month. So far, the discussions have spectacularly failed to produce any notable outcome, besides platitudes and numerous missed commitments. The global tourism industry has a golden opportunity to lead the way and show the world the true path to curbing carbon emissions. But the sector's own record in this aspect is hardly blemishless.
Bintan Island: SEESE
A haven of nature, with thriving flora and fauna, the Indonesian island of Bintan, that is barely an hour away from Singapore by ferry and comes with easy visa regimes, is an ideal extension for any Indian visitor to Singapore, looking to add a touch of wilderness to the experience.
