When traveling abroad it is especially important to remember to pack your sunscreen, especially if you are visiting somewhere hot and sunny such as South Africa.

But sometimes knowing which sunscreen to take can be a bit of a minefield. Over the years there has been quite a lot of media coverage regarding the effectiveness of different sunscreen products raising doubts in the public’s minds as to whether the sunscreen is actually the strength that it states on the bottle. There have been an alarming amount of products that are actually a lot weaker than they state meaning that your skin could not be protected from the harmful UV rays of the sun.

There is also the problem that most sunscreen needs to be re-applied every couple of hours, which if your on an adventure holiday such as a safari could be difficult to remember and is another thing to carry around with you all day.

The best advice is to buy a reputable brand of sunscreen, (do your research online) and if you think you may forget to re-apply spend a bit more and buy the once-a-day sunscreen which is strong enough to negate the need for re-application.

You may have heard (or even read) that Namibia spans thousands and thousands of square Kilometers with unsurpassed sand dunes of the Namib desert featuring prominently on the country’s landscape. What you may not know is that there’s more to this Sothern African country nestled between the Kalahari and the Atlantic Ocean than the sand dunes. Here’s why you need to embark on a Namibia Safari for an African experience like no other.

The Damaraland Safari

Damaraland may be arid, but this vast, uninhabited area has much more up its sleeve. The mountainous backdrop is indisputably breathtaking, and the night sky is a carpet of stars. The northern section of Damaraland is not only less arid but is bursting with magnificent flat-topped mountains, meandering rivers and acacia woodland as well as rolling grasslands. (more…)

Then fly on down to South Africa, where you can tick of many of life’s “to-dos” from riding an ostrich, to diving with great white sharks. Experiencing caving and watching wales in the ocean to lounging in the vineyards the experiences are endless!

Hermanus is the place to be for whale watching between July and November – whilst you’re there you may as well check out the penguins just down the road in Bettys Bay and Stony Point.

Oudshoorn has the ostriches – visit the Safari Ostrich Park to find herds of them.

Klein Karoo or Cango Caves are less than 30km from Oudtshoorn, so after you’ve ridden an ostrich you can have a go at caving where you’ll see the dripstone caverns and towering formations which are thousands of years old.

Visit the national parks for sights of a life-time from birds to elephants and lions, you will be amazed, try Kruger, Addo Elephant and Tsitsikamma National Parks!

Shark alley is the place to find your great white sharks – just off from Cape Town and Gansbaai.

Family safaris in Kenya offer some of the best family experiences in Africa. Combine your safari with a relaxing vacation at the beach by the Indian Ocean and you have a perfect family holiday. The following points are some of the most frequently asked questions from people planning family Kenya safaris:

How early should I plan my safari?

Although safari holidays can be arranged at short notice, it’s better to begin planning as soon as possible. There are lots of options to consider and choices to make. You also might need to put plans in place for vaccinations.

What kind of animals will we see?

This very much depends on where you decide to visit. The Masai Mara, for example, is home to lots of the traditional safari animals such as the Big 5, hyena, cheetah, giraffe, wildebeest and zebra. In other areas there may be certain animals that you won’t find or there may be species that live there in huge numbers. An expert in African safaris will be able to easily help you decide where to go according to what you’re interested in as a family.

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If you enjoy wine and walking and you want to go to Africa, we suggest you head down to Cape Town and the surrounding areas.

Less than an hour from Cape Town are the Cape Wine routes. You could make it just a day excursion or explore the area more by spending a few nights there. Paarl and Stellenbosh are nestled amongst the gorgeous Western Cape mountain ranges, offering you stunning views and vineyards – a romantic getaway perhaps?

You can arrange tours of some of the area’s best-known vineyards take in the South African grapes! To savour this paradise there are some beautiful towns – Franschhoek and Stellebosch are must go places and with gourmet restaurants dotted around, who could say no?

The climate is a bit like the Mediterranean only reversed. If you’re wanting a cooler holiday, you’re best to go between April and August. You will usually find that the rain comes at night here and even though we say its cooler, it’s still considerably warmer than your normal British winter! Therefore, for those after heat and rays, we would suggest visiting between September and February – perfect beach weather!

China is a marvellous country and a forest stay in Sichuan can offer holidaymakers to opportunity to explore the historic monuments such as the Leshan Giant Buddha, while you can stay in log cabins and visit the Giant Panda sanctuaries.

There are many nature reserves around this area, especially in the picturesque parks in the in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains. These areas are also home to red panda, snow leopard and clouded leopard.

A forest stay in China can be one of the most beautiful holidays and you’re bound to see some spectacular sites. Nature reserves in other parts of the world really do not compare to China and the fact that it’s home to many endangered animals means it could be one of the last opportunities for many people to see some fabulous wildlife.

Australia is a really popular place for many explorers, and whether you’re on a gap year, or just a two week holiday, there’s plenty to see and do in Western Australia, and the weather stays nice and warm all year round. The hottest months are December, January and February, and with this being the winter period in the UK it could be an ideal time to enjoy some excellent weather.

Perth is the main city in Western Australia, and it can be quite spectacular to cruise past the rivers with skyscrapers in the distance. The beach in Perth is where you’ll find a diverse range of people and it’s very common for locals to head out on an early morning swim or a dip in the sea after work. Trekking, hiking and visiting one of the many national parks in Australia is really common and that’s what Western Australia is all about.

You can visit the Bungle Bungle range, or head deep into the heart of Kimberley while there are plenty of resorts to stay at, where you can enjoy luxury accommodation, friendly customer service and delicious local foods.

South Africa is one of the finest destinations in the world marine watching holidays. Whether watching from land or from boats you can expect to see sights such as the amazing southern right and humpback whales and vast pods of dolphins all year round.

If its particular whale watching that you wanted to do whilst on holiday in Africa, you will not be disappointed. Every year, in June, southern right whales migrate from the icy feeding grounds off Antarctica to the much warmer climates that South Africa has to offer.

The best time for watching the southern right whale in South African seas is from the months of June through to November, and the best location is along the Cape south coast, although some may already be as far north as KwaZulu-Natal. The Peak calving season for the Whales is July and August, but whales can be seen through September and October as well.

Durban is a popular city in South Africa, and it is actually the largest province KwaZulu-Natal, but what makes it so special is the superb beach front. You can expect a beautiful skyline mornings and evenings, while the front really extends so there are plenty of restaurants shops, and Miami-like buildings.

It’s often quite strange spending a day in Durban, especially if you have never experienced beach and city life together, but that’s why it has become an extremely popular destination, plus you’re guaranteed great weather especially in the peak summer months.

The country also has an Indian culture, so you will be able to take advantage of the spices and Indian dishes on offer, and you certainly won’t have to walk far to find a tasty curry. Durban does have a busy front, and it may not be the ideal holiday if you’re looking for a peaceful beach life stay, but any individual who loves shopping, hot weather and city tours should definitely consider it as a holiday destination.

You’ve probably all heard of people riding horses, camels and perhaps even dolphins, and only in South Africa is it possible to ride an ostrich. It’s actually a well-known activity there, especially in Oudtshoorn, while many beginners are more than welcome to try their luck on their holidays and tours.

Ostrich races are popular and it can be brilliant to watch experienced riders take excellent control of this non-flying bird, while there are many farms in the desert area of Oudtshoorn that offer this activity at a very reasonable price.

It must be said that ostrich riding takes a lot of skill, and it’s always an advantage if you know how the bird thinks and moves, so a little bit of research and reading can be beneficial before you hop on the back of an Ostrich on your South African adventure.