Travel Guides

The oldest official trekking trail in South Africa — the Otter Trail is the best trek in the country. Located entirely inside the Tsitsikamma National Park, the trail is right in the middle of the famous Garden Route, another one of South Africa’s most famous attractions.The diversity of the route is what makes it so unique. The Otter trekking trail winds along breathtaking coastal cliffs, in addition to dense and untouched forests, offering trekkers the best of both worlds. Admire the striking rock outcrops, explore the caves, or go for a dip in one of the naturally formed rock pools while trekking here on your trip to South Africa. Piled high with fauna and flora and graced with impressive waterfalls, and many rivers and streams, this is a place of pure, uninhibited beauty. Over the course of the trek, visitors can enjoy bird watching, wildlife spotting, and tidal pool paddling. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for the Cape Clawed Otter, for which the trail was named!

Stalk the stalker, watch it pounce upon its prey, see millions of animals crossing a river, track gorillas, live in the wild and discover unusual species while you’re at it. A wildlife safari is one of the biggest charms of any African adventure and Tanzania is perhaps the best country for a journey into the wild. Tanzania’s national parks are designed to suit all kinds of interests, preferences and comfort levels, and you can be rest assured that there is a safari which is perfect for you.But before you embark on your safari adventure, you need to make one of the biggest decisions – which park to visit and which park to leave out. Serengeti or Ngorongoro feel like the most obvious places to be, but it is equally possible that you have a much better time in one of the lesser-known parks. Bookmundi recommends you to ask yourself the following questions as they should help you zero in on the best national park in Tanzania. When do you plan to take a Tanzania trip? Which animals attract you the most? Do you prefer crowds or wish to explore the park without having to come across other tour groups? Game drives, hot air balloons, fly camping, walking expeditions into the wild – which of these attract you the most? Would you like to watch a few predators or thousands of game animals? What kind of accommodation are you looking for? Are you a budget traveler or are you searching for luxury? Below we are listing highlights, lowlights, and facts about some of the top national parks in Tanzania:

Cape Town isn’t only a vibrant metropolis that is used as a base for a South Africa trip. It is also an outdoors lover’s paradise. This city has a rich outdoor culture that begins with parks and gardens, and extends to nearby hills and mountains. Hiking trails in Cape Town are gateways to unique sceneries and views over the city’s fantastic beaches, streets, the harbor, and more. Whether you’re a complete novice or an experienced hiker, when you tour Cape Town, you'll encounter hiking trails that are suitable for everyone. We give you a snapshot overview of six best hiking trails (in no particular order) in Cape Town; strategically categorized based on difficulty level – Easy, Moderate, and Difficult.

Despite a tragedy-filled past, South Africa is constantly and successfully headed towards a triumphant future. It's ace card to success is undoubtedly its abundant natural diversity and rich wildlife. Tourists from all over the world flock to this country to be one with nature; and many mostly find it in the many South African national parks. South Africa houses 21 national parks, together covering 4,000,000 hectares or over 3% of the country’s total area.The South African national parks offer easy encounters with the big five: the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and rhinoceros during incredible wildlife safaris, while allowing the convenience of glamping (fancy camping that is) and luxury hotels in the midst of the wilderness. Here is our list of the best national parks for your trip to South Africa (in no particular order), each distinct in its own right.

With around 3000 miles of coastline it should come as little surprise that Chile boasts some excellent beaches. Golden sand is a staple in this notably thin country and it’s perfect for nestling down with a good book and catching some rays. What’s better is that these beautiful Chilean beaches are usually rested in equally charming towns, that add character as well as comfort to them. You don't want to miss them on your next Chile trip! Here are what we think are the best beaches in Chile (in no particular order), along with the respective beach towns.

There’s a 300-kilometer stretch of coastal road on the south west tip of South Africa regarded as the most beautiful region in the country. Known as The Garden Route, the road trip gets its name from the Garden Route National Park that it covers, and the diverse vegetation and wildlife, and abundance of lagoons, lakes, mountains, forests, and beaches along its winding roads. Home to almost a dozen nature and marine reserves, a road trip on the Garden Route offers plenty of opportunities for activities along the way, from hiking to eco and whale watching tours, to exploring caves and deserted sandy beaches. The route meanders between the Indian Ocean and the Tsitsikamma and Outeniqua mountain ranges, creating contrasting, yet equally stunning views on either side. The lush greenery of the indigenous forests meets the jagged cliffs and the sprawling coastal vistas, producing the type of panoramic views only found in magazines.

Chile has captivated travellers for decades, offering its visitors everything from beaches and deserts to snowy mountains and glaciers. A lesser ventured natural attraction in Chile but equally striking is perhaps its multitude of volcanoes that pepper the landscape.Chile houses several volcanoes, of all shapes and sizes, and all equally wonderful to gaze at. However, if you want to see some of the most stunning vistas this side of the equator and don’t mind a bit of a challenge then you should seriously consider scaling one of them. Of the many outdoors activities Chile offers, only a few will be as thrilling as climbing one of the volcanoes. The difficulty level ranges from easy to punishing, but the end result is rewarding. So, let's take a look at ten popular volcanoes in Chile (in no particular order) that are conquerable. We leave it up to you to decide which one is right for you.

Chile is a country that is blessed with natural beauty. Encounters with natural wonders is a common occurrence during a tour in Chile. Just 200km south of Santiago, Chile’s capital, is one such natural phenomenon – Siete Tazas, or The Seven Teacups. Picture clear, gushing water flowing between seven natural rock pools in a series of waterfalls, before converging into the Rio (River) Claro. Nestled in the Radal Siete Tazas National Park, it has long been a favourite with Chileans, and it’s time for you to discover it.

In the dead of winter, when everything appears as a seamless blanket of white, cathedrals of blue crystal are formed deep within the heart of Iceland’s glaciers. Ice caves in Iceland are forever changing caverns of ice blue light. Created every winter, before they begin to drip in the spring sunlight, you can never step into the same ice cave twice. With such a short window of time in which to appreciate the breathtaking beauty of these crystal structures, ice cave tours in Iceland can fill up quickly. So make sure you book well in advance to avoid disappointment. Ice caves are sure to create lasting memories of a frozen world tinged in cool blue light. As the massive bulk of the glacier compresses the ice and it travels further away from the sunlight, air is pushed out and ice crystals become shockingly clear blue in colour. We recommend some of the best places to go see ice caves in Iceland.

Home to picturesque mountain tops, crystal-clear lakes, glaciers and scenic valleys, Torres del Paine National Park is famous for the 3 Torres del Paine Treks - the W trek, the O trek and the Q Trek. A popular destination for avid trekkers, hikers, and for those who just want to experience the spectacular vista of the Chilean Patagonia, the park also features some remarkable options for lodging and comforts. Whether you’re looking to stay at a luxurious resort or a camping site, there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from. Below we give you a brief introduction to the popular lodgings and hotels available in Torres del Paine National Park (in no particular order):

Cajon del Maipo in Chile, sits just outside of Santiago, the country’s striking capital. It has long been a popular haunt for city-dwellers in need of a breath of fresh air and a ramble through the great outdoors – and it’s not hard to see why this place is so popular. Snow-capped peaks that run down into rugged cliffs form the dramatic backdrop of Cajon del Maipo, with a glimmering aquamarine lake in the middle as the pièce de resistance.

Torres del Paine National Park is one of Chile's biggest claim to fame and a must-not-miss when on a tour in Chile. Located in Chilean Patagonia, travelers come here from near and far to discover some of the most spectacular natural wonders in South America. And so it is that the trekking inside the park has made quite a name for itself as well. While the W trek is probably the most well-known, it would be a big mistake to overlook the more intensive option, the Torres del Paine O Circuit. Also known as the "Full Circuit" and the “O trek”, this trail leads trekkers on the most comprehensive and rewarding trail in the park. It's the best choice for those who want to see more remote and untouched areas. You’ll see the iconic Las Torres (the three rock towers), as well as Glacier Grey. But you’ll also embark on very trying but oh-so-rewarding journeys, like the John Gardner Pass, which aren’t available to those who opt to take the W Circuit. Read on to find out if you're up for the O Circuit Challenge!

A trip to Chile is as popular with people who want to relish the good things in life, as it is with the adventure enthusiasts. Good wine draws as many crowd to this country as does its Andes mountain range. If you enjoy the finer things in life; walking in green fields, hearing stories, sipping on fine wine, and eating some delectable food, then a visit to the top Chilean wine regions should be on your list of things to do in Chile.Let us walk you through the five primary wine regions (in no particular order) in Chile:

Chile is home to some of the most staggering landscapes in the world. With the Atacama Desert in the North, the mountains of Patagonia in the South, and so much in between, this long, thin nation is not short of natural beauty. And while there are many adventure activities to undertake in Chile, perhaps one that stands out amongst them is whitewater kayaking. In fact, kayakers have been making pilgrimage to Chile for years now just to get a piece of the action. But, what makes kayaking in Chile so great? Aside from the chance to kayak between icy glaciers, the main reasons why a tour to Chile is so appealing are its accessibility, mild climates and excellent infrastructure.To find out more about some of the best rivers in Chile for kayaking, read through the list (in no particular order) below:

Of all the alternatives treks to the famous Inca Trail, the remote Ausangate Trek is the highest and probably the toughest one. In terms of natural beauty, it is possibly the most rewarding. Following a loop around the sacred Ausangate mountain and taking in some spectacular Andean scenery where far fewer tourists pass, this trek is ideal for more adventurous travelers who hope to escape the crowds and discover a less frequented corner of Peru.