The wonderful thing about a trip to Africa is the combination of relaxation and adventure visitors to Africa experience. Whether you want to spend your African vacation relaxing on a beach or trekking through the wilderness, Africa has it all.

For the highly adventurous type, below are Africa’s top 10 adventure safari tours:

1. Walking with the lions: On this activity, you will visit with lion cubs at an ongoing research project, which is a captive breeding program to safeguard the genetic diversity of Africa’s greatest carnivore. On this activity you will join a professional guide in the national park, while he walks with his cubs. A truly exciting and rewarding experience to take part in!

2. Shark Diving: Shark diving in Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa is the perfect solution to satisfy your deep-rooted hunger for adrenaline. In Gansbaai there are a variety of shark dive safari providers and excursions to choose from—some including cages, photography opportunities, manta rays, hammerheads, tiger sharks, great whites, bull sharks, and more.

Depending on the type of shark safari you choose, you can observe a large variety of sharks as you float safely behind the iron bars of a shark cage, view shark feedings from the comfort of a boat, or scuba dive with one of the ocean’s largest and most gentle creatures, the whale shark. Or, scuba dive through a handful of wrecks and reefs to photograph enormous manta rays, moray eels, dolphins, colorful reef fish, turtles, seals and wreck sharks.

3. Hot air balloon: View the world from a birds-eye-view and take flight above the mountains, over the treetops, and through the light winds of Africa on a hot air balloon safari. If you’re looking for some exceptional photography opportunities, this is the safari for you.

One of our favorite hot air balloon rides is in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Here, as the hot air balloon rises at dawn, you’ll be able to see the perfect curves of the earth and the glistening hues of the sun reflect on the Park’s lush wilderness. During your smooth flight, expect to see rolling hills, quaint countryside, orchards, mountain tops, thick forests, and the famous Blyde River Canyon.

If you’re looking for a completely exclusive experience, most lodges offer extremely detailed hot air balloon itineraries that cater to your every wish. Whether you want to enjoy a bottle of champagne above the treetops with your loved one, or have a professional photographer accompany you and your family in the sky, your requests will be fulfilled.

4. Horseback safari: Feel the exhilaration as you encounter a lion stalking its prey, or trot next to a baby elephant and its mother. From the very beginning of a horseback safari to the very end, you’ll come face-to-face with some of the world’s most photographed creatures and experience what it’s like to run with the herd.

A horseback safari allows you to immerse yourself in the mountainous terrain of some of Africa’s most amazing countryside. Depending on which horseback safari you choose and which lodge you stay at, you can travel through cascading waterfalls, old mining towns, sunken valleys, bushveld, rolling terrain, sprawling countryside, and mountainous regions, while viewing nature from horseback.

5. Elephant back safari: Several lodges throughout southern Africa offer elephant back riding—one of the most exciting and unique experiences to be had in Africa. As you sit behind an experienced guide, you’ll feel the sheer power of the elephant as it walks slowly across the earth.

On elephant back, you’ll pass through the bush and encounter some exciting game viewing opportunities from a unique perspective. Frequently spotted animals on an elephant back safari include lion, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and other elephants. Once your journey is at its end, you’ll be able to feed the elephants and learn about their behavior, eating habits, and physical characteristics.

One of the best places to experience an elephant back safari is Kruger National Park.

Stay tuned for Friday’s post, Adrenaline Rush: Top 10 Adventure Safari Tours Part II.

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Tags: Safaris, syndicated

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Safaris. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed or trackback from your own site.