Trekking the Wilds of Africa

When most people think about traveling to Africa, the first thing that comes to mind is going on a safari, and while that classic journey is still abundantly popular, many travelers are now opting to explore the continent on foot, trekking across it’s numerous and diverse landscapes.

About.com has put together an excellent list of the best treks in Africa, highlighting the many options that are available to the more adventurous traveler looking to dust off their boots and hit the trail. The list contains great suggestions from all around the continent, offering up the Atlas Mountains in Morocco in the north, to the famous Drakensberg in South Africa. In between you’ll find the Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon in Uganda, and the Simien Range in Ethiopia.

Those treks offer great opportunities to visit remote wilderness locations, but there are more iconic hikes in Africa. For instance, Mt. Kilimanjaro is now one of the most popular trekking destinations in the world, giving backpackers the opportunity to ascend to the highest point on the continent. Mt. Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa, has become an attractive alternative as well, as it is generally less crowded, while still offering a similar experience.

Each of the treks on this list come with some handy links to provide more information on the treks, and to companies that organize the expeditions. Those links provide more details on what you can expect the level of difficulty on the trails to be, and what conditions will be like on the hike.

And should any of these inspire an adventure of your own, don’t forget that Ethiopian Airlines is offering a great deal on airline tickets to Africa through the end of March.

[via Best Hike Blog]