Think of Africa and think wildlife. David Attenborough and others have brought so much of it to our living rooms, but really there's no substitute for the real thing. Smell an elephant, listen to lions roar, and go eye to eye with a Mountain Gorilla.

Wildlife lovers love Africa. And often it's the small details that last in your memory and draw you back. The brilliant plumage of a bee-eater, extraordinary trees like the mighty Baobab, the weird and wonderful stories of the termite or the dung beetle.

Your options are virtually endless. Africa's National Parks are as thrilling as they are diverse: try classic game viewing in Tanzania, Kenya or South Africa; explore the crater of Ngorongoro where only the wildlife matches the mind-blowing landscapes; or go active and hike in South Luangwa or canoe the Lower Zambezi.

There's more, far more, to Africa than her wildlife. Walkers and trekkers can explore any number of jungles, deserts and above all mountains on foot. From the Atlas in the north to the Drakensberg in the south, with plenty in between: Ethiopia's Simien massif, Uganda's Mountains of the Moon, and of course Kilimanjaro - all 5,895 metres of her.

Walking in Africa is different. Sure, it gets you off the beaten track, but it also gets you closer to the land and closer to the people. The real Africa is outside and on foot: amble through the backstreets of Stonetown in Zanzibar, walk amongst Mali's Dogon villages, or trek Morocco's Mgoun Massif.

The people of Africa couldn't be more engaging, colourful and welcoming.

And diverse they certainly are: from the Berbers of Morocco in the north to South Africa's multicultural 'rainbow nation'. The continent may be beset with problems - political, economic and medical - but Africans tend to be optimistic and resiliently cheerful.

Whenever you get the chance to meet and interact - in markets, on the bus, at a local restaurant - don't miss out. You often pick up insights more valuable and more lasting than anything from a guidebook, and it's usually great fun too!

We're proud to support several excellent charities working in Africa, and we provide hands-on help to a number of local initiatives. For more information see our charities page.

We love Africa. So much so that we now have a choice of more than 80 tours in 30 countries. And what a choice! You can go on safari, explore ancient ruins (Ethiopia, Sudan), go trekking or even cycling (Morocco, South Africa), camel trekking (Tunisia, Mauritania); or, for wilderness lovers, how about off-roading through Algeria or Libya. And when you've had enough activity you can chill out and relax on some of the best beaches in the world - in Zanzibar, Lamu, Seychelles…

Whether you're into the wildlife, the people, the landscapes (or a bit of everything?) Africa almost always matches or surpasses expectations - a continent full of surprises and superlatives. Have a browse through the Africa options and call us if you want to talk things through.