We've done 3 safari sites (Botwana, Zimbabwe), rafted the Zambezi,visited South Africa's cape/wine country, and biked in Morocco. We would love to visit Africa again and are active, independent travelers. Enjoy culture, animals and outdoors, beaches (for both relaxation and snorkeling), food and wine -- so where would you go next and what would you do? Not all items need to be included in one trip and we don't mind visiting more than one country.

Go to Egypt. Take a boat trip from Luxor to Aswan then fly to Abu Simbel and take a boat down Lake Nasser back to Aswan. Then book into the Old Cataract Hotel and spend time on the terrace bar which must be one of the most exotic locales anywhere. Take a felucca for a day. Walk around the local markets. I'd go back to Egypt in a minute. We're heading to Tanzania next but Egypt is sure tempting. ( We've been to Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and my favourite place, other than Petra, might just be the terrace bar at the Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan )

There has been an ongoing thread re best place to visit in the world. Egypt sure is mentioned a lot. We intend to go. Everyone I have asked has enjoyed very much. The following is the link:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1288899

Rocco also has a similar thread recently:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34492849

Based on what I have actually done, I would recommend either hiking to see, and feel, the lava on the Big Island of Hawaii or raft down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

Good traveling,

Kevin from California

Aside from most of the major safari destinations, I have also visited Egypt (several times), Tunisia, Madagascar and some countries in West Africa, all of which hit some of your interests. Of those, I liked Tunisia the best, but that's maybe because I visited recently (December 2005). Tunisia has great culture, no animals, excellent beaches (but no snorkeling) and great food (I only had imported wine, but there are local vintners). Madagscar is a much more difficult, rustic destination. I posted trip reports to both places on this forum.

Is this based on what we've done (I've done very little) or what we'd like to do?

Thit cho's photos of Tunisia are remarkable and certainly piqued my interest. I'd also visit Ethiopia in a heartbeat. And good friends have loved Ghana, Senegal and Burkina Faso. And needless to say I have quite a few safari destinations on my radar, most particularly Uganda for gorllas--you could raft the Nile too if you like.

By the way, I'm fairly thin and can fold up into a suitcase.

My experience is limited but I would do a 5-6 day camel safari in northern Kenya, do a couple of days R&R at Il Ngwesi or Sabuk in Laikipia, and then either climb as far up Mount Kenya as I felt comfortable with or go hiking with an armed guard in the higher regions of Aberdare National Park. After that I'd make a beeline for Lamu.

Unfortunately my wife would not speak to me for a year if I booked us a trip like that, so we are talking "if I were you..." ;-)

For active, outdoor holidays, Reunion Island is awesome. The small but vertical island has superb trekking (one day to a week!), ultralight flying, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and so on.

Wow! - what a question. I am overwhelmed. totally gobsmacked. Can't believe it.

There are 50 countries (or maybe 51) to choose from. Whoopee!!

What do you want? Soft or challenging?
How do you like to travel - air, limo, private driver, or bus/train/public transport?
Tour or busk it?
Where do you like to stay? Must it be 5 star?

Kenya or Tanzania or Egypt are the mainstream options. But you could try Uganda, Ethiopia or Malawi or (heaven forbid) west africa - Mali and Ghana are fantastic destinations.

Food and wine may be missing in some places - but hey - you can get that at home.

All the best.

In making my post, we like to be adventurous and active but I (the female half) also like some creature comforts. Not necessarily the best hotels, but something that is comfortable and clean. I do enjoy some camping...but more a night or two at a time and we would prefer something without a formalized tour, especially buses.

Hello kacollier,
Don't know if this would fit your criteria but after safari -ing in Tanzania we went on a cabin charter around the Seychelles. Good snorkeling, fun in the sun and nice way to tool around extremely beautiful islands.
Enjoy your next adventure!
Sherry

It is time for East Africa
# Human cultures:
since u mantioned camping - Turkana Bus style trips - tribes like Turkana, Rendille, Gabbra, Samburu + beautiful scenary

Tabzania's Hadzabe hunter-gatherers

North Kenya's Pokot people still having coloured permanent mud caps, leather skirts & dik-dik phalanges (toe bone) belts

# mountains: from Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya to walks in Cherangani (KE), & Eastern Arc Mountains (TZ) Semien & Bala (Ethiopia)

# Seychelles islands

# Namib desert & sand dunes scenary & much more

# river cruising with locals Niger, Congo etc'

# The unique Madagascar

# ...

aby