Cape Verde - a ten of absolutely distinct islands

The tiny island republic of Cape Verde has some controversies according to its name. Though ‘verde’ means ‘green’ in Portuguese, the territory of the country is not completely overtaken with vegetation, as suggested. The islands are of the volcanic origin, and three of the ten of them are sandy and dry, while the remaining ones tend to be rockier and have a lush flora. The name of the country was inherited from the closest to it African Cap Vert, which in turn means ‘green’ in French. The state of Cape Verde is a world-renowned country, which displays a great rate of economic growth and nearly the highest democracy level in Africa. Its history started with slave trade, which was determined by its expedient location for such a purpose. The wealthy coast attracted pirates, who ransacked the capital, which was then Ribeira Grande, twice. Now the Republic of Cape Verde is an attractive place to visit due to its year-round warm climate and cultural extravagance, and a variety of Cape Verde villas, which makes it much more pleasant to stay there.

Some things need to be sorted out before you can start an enjoyable vacation in Cape Verde, so read several insights on the most interesting particularities of that country.

Each of the nine populated islands holds its individual culture, and every single Cape Verdean identifies himself with a culture of his distinct island. The nation in whole is quite poor, while the small amount of middle class can be found emerging in cities and towns. Despite the overwhelming poverty, the people remain very affable, generous and hospitable. No matter how humble the family lives, they take their pride and enjoyment in presenting a guest with a meal. Both men and women tend to show their affection and goodwill when meeting each other, even if the same persons meet more than once during the same day. That often includes extensive warm greetings and inquiring about health and family. You can be absolutely sure that you will always feel welcomed among Cape Verdeans.

As any tropical island country, Cape Verde is almost a one whole coastline. The stunning variety of beaches and activities will take all your time, so make sure you will arrange it in a way to leave some for inland exploration. The best beaches are located on the Sal and Boa Vista islands. Actually, Sal is the main tourist destination of Cape Verde, as it accepts nearly over 50% of all the visitors. All the modern tourism commodities and facilities are available on this island, since it is the most developed among the others. You can simply relax and enjoy clear water and white sand beach, or, in case you are a water sports enthusiast or even a professional, you can take on the exploration of the magnificent underwater world, surf the high waves or let the wind guide your kite. There are also some dry land attractions. The most renown of them are the salt mine, natural swimming pool Buracona and Murderia, where a lot of brilliant accommodations can be found.

Whichever island will you choose for your Cape Verde holiday, you can have no doubt that it will be outstanding and memorable. There are a lot of opportunities to arrange your stay, be it Maio island vacation rentals or any other of them, so you can devote all your time to having fun and experiencing the unique culture of this colorful island community.

Egypt - the most remarkable historical heritage in the world

One of the most tremendous civilization histories in the world belongs to the banks of the river Nile. Even now there are plenty of the remnants of the different eras of Egypt. It attracts more and more vacationers, history enthusiasts and professional archaeologists with each year. Huge crowds of tourists come to see the Pyramids and the Sphinx, and even larger crowds occupy marvelous beaches of the Red and Mediterranean seas. The options of accommodations vary from extreme luxury to absolutely affordable budget, but whatever lodging is preferable to you, Egypt apartments are among the best, and you will feel like a pharaoh residing in the finest houses of the hospitable Egyptians.

You may have heard a lot about this country, but we are sure there is still much to learn for everyone. Read some Egypt-specific travel information before making a final decision on departure.

Egypt has plenty of unique places to see, whether they are contemporary or ancient. This country is located on African continent, which along with the closeness of the desert determines its tropical dry climate. Major tourist's destinations of the recreational tourism are Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Safaga, Ras Sudr, Marsa Alam and the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Besides trivial sunbathing and sea-swimming you can enjoy boat trips, snorkeling, scuba-diving, exotic shows and many more. Egyptian beaches are considered to be truly splendid and affordable. Somewhat apart from the main coasts stands the Sinai Peninsula, which is a remote desert mountain range. But nevertheless it is an attractive destination for divers, who come here despite the extremely hot weather. Tiran and Ras Mohammed belonging there are known as two of the best diving spots in the world.

The historical legacy of Egypt is acknowledged as nearly the most rich and ancient one. A lot of artifacts representing the earliest kingdoms can be observed in the famous museums and prominent universities of the world. There is a great amount of the pyramids, monuments, temples, steles and ancient scriptures in modern Egypt that are unquestionably worth your attention. The most popular of them are the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza, the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the ruins of Thebes, the great temples of Karnak and many others. For many decades they have been challenging the best archaeologists and Egyptologists to uncover the remaining obscurity which surrounds the times of the pharaohs. Still there is no unanimous opinion on how had the Pyramids been built. That is just one of the reasons to see them with your own eyes.

Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is the biggest city in Africa and one of the most densely populated cities in the world. At first it makes an impression of utter chaos, but you get used to the rhythm of things in the city soon enough. A mixture of epochs and cultures is present on its territory. The Old Cairo draws you back to the remains of the cities which were its predecessors, while Islamic Cairo presents the mosques and monuments of the medieval period. And the fabled Giza takes you almost 4000 years back in time with the Pyramids. But above all this you have to practice exceptional cautiousness, since there are only nine traffic lights in the whole city of about 7.8 million people! The best alternative would be to find an accommodation among Cairo vacation rentals and ask local people to be of some help to you, which they will gladly accomplish.

Such an outstanding country as Egypt has all kinds of attractions a tourist can wish for. When it is dull and rainy outside, think of beautiful beaches and start packing for the Red Sea!

Mozambique - there is still much to discover

One of the authentic African countries with rich history of struggle for independence and rising economy is Mozambique. A constant opposition of the Arabs and the Portuguese in the medieval ages led to the emerging of a multinational and multicultural environment. The rebellious spirit of the people came out with years of guerilla war, but now it is safe, and you can experience all the tourists’ spots by yourself. There is much to see and do both in the continental Mozambique and offshore islands. The tourism industry has one of the fastest growth rates in the world, mostly because of its developing infrastructure and large natural preserves. It has become even easier to visit the island because there is Mozambique accommodation now.

Certainly, it is quite intriguing to see modern Mozambique with all its colonial heritage and more than 2500 km of the coastline. But it is better to read our tips on travelling to the country to be completely confident.

The nature and wildlife of the country is very diverse. You will find fulfillment for your every preference, whether it is sunbathing, snorkeling, trekking, cultural and eco-tourism and many more. Generally, if you need comfort and serenity, head on to Southern Mozambique. The road network and transport availability is good there, and the variety of nice and cozy accommodations is at your disposal. And if adventure is what you crave, consider Northern Mozambique. It takes some more time to get there, but a challenge is guaranteed. Moreover, you get astonishing coastal panoramas, vast beaches and untouched culture as a reward.

One of the most popular destinations is Ilha de Moçambique – an island connected with the mainland through a causeway. It is a former capital of the Portuguese colony, and the architecture there is a must-see. The island was granted an UNESCO World Heritage status in 1991. The two botanical gardens complement the two towns – colonial one and traditional one. Most of the flora is imported from Madagascar. And of course, the beaches are just wonderful.

A historic town of Inhambane is one of the oldest in Mozambique. It was destroyed in the nineteenth century by the Zulu, but was rebuilt in the second half of the century as a Portuguese colonial town. The remnants of the great architecture make it famous among tourists. You can browse Inhambane vacation rentals on our website – maybe there are some of those colonial houses available!

Mozambique is on its way to become a popular tourist destination, and even now there is something for every guest to enjoy, no matter how demanding he is.

Senegal - a country outstanding even for Africa

Another wonderful African destination is Senegal. The thing that makes it unique among other states of the continent is that it is a home to a black nation that is 90% Muslim. Senegal doesn’t hold any strategic value, but still it has played a great part in African politics since becoming independent. It has been a cultural and diplomatic bridge between the Muslim and the black African population for many years. Senegal is maintaining close economical, social and political relations with France despite being its colony for many years, and it happens to be more fascinating because this kind of a course is unlikely for former French colonies. But a demonstration of hospitality is usual for African people, as there are Senegal vacation rentals available for you to experience such a controversial place.

Before you start your trip it is important to learn some tips and information which will help you avoid confusion and diversify your stay.

The north of the country is partly a desert, and the southern part of Senegal is abundant in tropical forests and natural preserves. And one of the most remarkable parts of the country is its vast beaches. You can choose for yourself either significant and well-built resort zones, where comfort is a usual thing and nightlife is vibrant, or small relaxed native fishing villages with a coastline filled with lively wooden pirogues. In any case you will enjoy excellent swimming and sunbathing.

The National Park and Reserve System of Senegal is developing confidently. The wildlife of the dunes and mangrove swamps which surround the mouth of the Senegal River is kept in Langue de Barbarie National Park and Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary. A great diversity of the wild animals can be observed in the Niokolo-Koba National Park, which is also a World Heritage Site. That area is remote and mainly undeveloped, but still provides possibilities for specialty tours. The southwest of the country is a particular place for tropical forest expeditions and ecotourism.

Petite Côte is the place that combines all possible interests of Senegal in itself. A small stripe of seashore contains attractive beaches and tiny villages, as well as rich wildlife and mangroves. But apart from all this the region presents an important historical value. Diorom Boumag, an ancient shell mound close to Siné-Saloum, witnessed the earliest African civilizations. The traces of the ancient and medieval empires are not so easy to find, but local villagers can pamper your ears with great stories, so you will completely forget about searching. Consider all this when seeing La Petite Cote vacation rentals on our website.

Senegal has an exclusive atmosphere of a country which is varied in people and places. Do not miss your opportunity to see one of the earliest inhabited territories of the Black Continent!

Uganda - experience the friendly Africa

Uganda – home to an overwhelmingly beautiful nature and carefully preserved wildlife, abundant in species greatly. There is no place like Ugandan forests to go for a safari, to watch a prowling lion or to meet a mountain gorilla face to face.

Landlocked by five African countries, Uganda still provides a lakeside attraction, as there are several wonderful lakes, including Lake Victoria, which is the largest in Africa and belongs to the African Great Lakes. The location of the country and the reservoirs affect the climate significantly. While Victoria provides cloudy weather and rainfalls in the south of Uganda, the eastern part of the country suffers from droughts sometimes due to dryness of its climate. But all those weather surprises will not affect your journey if you choose to browse our website for Uganda vacation rentals, which proved to be a hospitable shelter from hot sun and pouring rain. Remember, it is Africa and everything can happen!

Uganda is one of the friendliest countries on the African continent. But still there are some important things to be remembered while staying there.

While English is the official language, there are more than 40 other languages currently used in the country. Yet the people will be eager to help and guide you no matter what is your mother tongue. The years of the struggle for power in Uganda made common people caring and attentive towards each other and towards any other person that isn’t native.

Unlike in many other countries of Africa, monogamy is highly popular in Uganda. Both man and woman are regarded incomplete and even are not respected before he or she is married. That is an unusual way in Africa, where a man is expected to have up to five wives provided he is able to cater for them. But the monogamic approach is a main reason for Uganda to be highly successful in striving for the health of the nation.

Kampala, the capital of the state, is a modern and vivid city. It was the city of seven hills intentionally, and the number grew over time. One of only seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship in the world is situated in Kampala. It is also known as the Mother Temple of Africa. And the nightlife in the city is outstanding. The variety of Kampala vacation rentals is presented on our website, and it is a great possibility to experience one of the best parts of the Black Continent!

Seychelles - the tropical Garden of Eden

Seychelles, the Earth’s oldest mid-oceanic granite islands and low-lying coral atolls, still holds the tranquil beauty untouched by man. The diverse nature of the place that varies from vast forests to white-sand ocean beaches will inevitably produce an indelible impression on you.

UNESCO defined two places in Seychelles as World Heritage Sites. Those are Vallée de Mai on Praslin Island, where Coco-de-mer nut grows high on the aged palms, and Aldabra, which is the world’s largest coral atoll. By the way, there are Praslin Island vacation rentals available on our website, so you can see all those exclusive locations by yourself.

Of course, it is impossible to see all the 115 island in one visit, but that will be the reason to come back. And in the meantime let us give you some useful information for your Seychelles vacation.

As there are two groups of islands – Inner and Outer – it is up to you to decide what kind of vacation is better for you. Inner islands are the centre of tourism industry, and hold almost all the facilities for a comfortable stay. However, if sailing, diving and fishing is what you seek, then Outer islands are for you. They have some luxurious accommodations, and you can do what you like in quite solitary and picturesque places.

The climate of the region is very warm. The range of temperatures varies from 24 to 32 Celsius. The October-March period provides a calm sea and humid weather, January and February are remarkable by the rains which nourish rivers and streams, and May-September brings drier weather and livelier seas.

As in any small ocean republic, the population of Seychelles is highly diverse and multinational, providing an outstanding selection of culture peculiarities and traditions. Most of the people are the descendants of the French, African, Indian and Chinese. The official languages are English, French and Seychellois Creole, which is based upon French. So it will not be a difficulty to make new acquaintances and ask for anything you need, since the community is very friendly towards tourists.

All things considered, Seychelles is one of the best places in the world to spend your holiday. The legend says that the Garden of Eden originated there, so why resist the temptation? Visit our section of Seychelles villas and arrange a beautiful and calm place to stay for you and your family!