Simon Reeve's audio transcript

• A little background
• Where to go and what to see
• How should you get about?
• When should you go?
• Final Notes

Welcome to this mini-guide to Africa. I'm Simon Reeve and as part of my job, I've been lucky enough to have travelled all over the world making several T.V series. The last series I presented was called Equator, which involved me travelling around. the equator. I've also travelled fairly extensively in central Asia and visited quite a few countries that aren't officially countries and I've spent a considerable amount of time in Africa, which is just one of the reasons I've joined forces with the Malaria Awareness Campaign to bring you this travellers guide to one of the most amazing continents in the world.

Let's start with a little background on the continent.

Africa is the second largest and the second most populous continent. It's also the continent where most anthropologists think our species began, and it's home to some of the great civilisations of human history.
In north Africa we can all still wonder at the marvels of Ancient Egypt, and smaller empires have also left their mark in modern countries such as Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.
But Africa has suffered in the past, and continues to suffer terribly now. Much of it can be blamed on European exploitation. As the slave trade developed into a commercial trade, European imperial powers scrambled to control vast swathes of the continent.
The colonial powers sent armies across Africa. Britain and France built the biggest empires, followed by Germany, Italy, Belgium and Spain. The European powers eventually occupied almost the entire continent.
Colonial rule was often incredibly brutal. Up to 10m people died in the Congo when it was under the control of the Belgians.
Today, Africa contains more than 50 independent countries, most of which still have borders drawn-up during colonial times.
The ongoing effects of colonial rule, along with modern government corruption and tribalism, all helps to keep Africa down and makes it by far the poorest part of the world. We shouldn't ever forget this is a continent of ongoing, almost biblical suffering - around 4m people have died in the Congo alone since 1998.

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Where to go and what to see:

But despite the suffering and inevitable poverty, Africa still has an enormous amount to offer visitors.
It's only possible to mention a few highlights in this guide, but if we start in the north of Africa, Morocco has a lively culture and a great mix of African, Arabic and European influences. Sleek nightclubs are opening in Marrakech, and glossy tourist resorts are developing along the Mediterranean coast.

To the south, across the empty desert, Mali has incredible music and amazing musicians - (actually, some people think Mali could become 'the new Cuba' because just like Cuba - the music is so intoxicating). The Dogon region of Mali, including the area around the legendary but rather disappointing town of Timbuktu, boasts stunning desert scenery interrupted by some of the most beautiful mud architecture in the world.

To the east, Ethiopia, for too long bedeviled by images of famine and suffering, also boasts fantastic culture and sights. Addis Ababa, the dusty capital, is home to both Lucy, a famous three million-year-old female skeleton, and the largest and most colorful market in Africa. You could travel on from the capital to the ancient kingdom of Axum, where legend states the Ark of the Covenant is guarded in the Church of St Mary of Zion. From there you should go to Lalibela, where 11 magnificent churches were hewn out of solid rock in the 12th century. The churches look as if massive cubes have been quarried from the rock, and the churches then put down in their place - it's truly stunning.
And in the remote south-west of Ethiopia, scores of tribes have kept their traditional beliefs, but happily welcome strange foreign visitors.

To the south, Tanzania is home to the 'Roof of Africa': Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain. It's a challenging trek, but possible with plenty of acclimatisation. After sleeping in mountain huts for several days the final climb to the summit starts in darkness; those making the trip are rewarded by spectacular views as the sun rises, before a collar of cloud shrouds the mountain.
Kenya is one of the most visitor-friendly parts of Africa, and it really does have some of the finest wildlife anywhere on the planet. Going on an African safari in a country like Kenya still ranks as one of the great experiences of any lifetime.

If you want more wildlife, what about neighbouring Uganda. Half the world's population of mountain gorillas still live in Bwindi National Park, and with the help of a group of trackers you might just get within a few metres of a silverback gorilla.

Many travellers are now having a go at safaris in rainforests - but you need to remember that if you're in a rainforest an elephant could be just a stones throw away and you'd never see it. You also need to know that bumping into elephants in a rainforest can be really dangerous. There are advantages to going on a safari on the open savannah!
But what about a safari on an elephant? - few experiences compare to sitting on the back of a huge elephant as it strolls through the African bush among lions, zebras and wildebeest. But this type of safari, which is operated in Botswana, doesn't come cheap.

If you're looking for unspoiled beauty in Africa it's difficult to beat Mozambique. Infamous for war, landmines and flooding, the country also has some of the finest beaches in the entire world. A visit could start with a trip to the archipelago of Bazaruto, where pristine white beaches are backed by dark-green bush. There's plenty of wildlife to see, including shoals of parrotfish, turtles and the extraordinary dugong, or manatee, like a cross between a sea-cow and a hippo. It's thought to be the only mammal to display no violent tendencies. Perfect for a country recovering from endless conflict.

Heading a bit further south will take you to one of South Africa's poorest regions, where it's now possible to go on adventure trips into the north-east bit of the Eastern Cape Province. It's a pristine coastal wilderness with gorgeous sandy beaches littered with shipwrecks, and inland hiking and canoeing with local guides and accommodation in local villages.

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So how should you get about?

Travel options in many parts of Africa can be quite limited, and if you're thinking of taking a long journey, for example from one country to another, you really need to plan ahead. Internal flights are relatively cheap, but safety standards on some airlines aren't great. Trains are a fantastic way of seeing a country, and are certainly better for the planet than flying. The excellent website seat61.com has info on trains in Africa, and will even tell you how to get to the continent by train.

When you're on the ground in a country there's rarely a shortage of taxis available, but be careful about just getting into the back of any old car. Make sure it has seat-belts and wear it even if the driver scoffs at you.
If you want to avoid travel hassles then booking with tour guides, either in the UK or when you're in Africa, will obviously save you some time. Guides can also take you to 'must see' sights, and if they're particularly friendly, can tell you more than a book ever could about their country. They can really enhance a trip.

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So when should you go?

It's difficult to suggest a best time of the year to visit Africa, because the seasons in the continent aren't as well-defined as they are in Europe. In general it's pretty warm all year round, but different parts of the continent have their rainy season at different times of the year. You need to check the weather in the specific part of the continent you want to visit.

In terms of language, English and French are spoken across the continent, but in terms of money don't think your credit card or travellers cheques will work everywhere. If you're travelling off the beaten track cash is king. Dollars will work in many places, although they need to be clean notes, not dirty or torn, but local currency is usually best.

My advice for anyone visiting Africa is to enjoy your trip, but remember to plan your adventure carefully and take medical advice before travelling. Talk to your GP, practice nurse or travel clinic ideally eight weeks beforehand and make sure you have the right jabs and antimalarial medications. Your life can depend on it.

Africa is a wild continent and the issues with diseases such as HIV and malaria are well-documented, so you need to be careful. I've suffered from malaria whilst travelling in Africa and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Malaria is a horrible disease, but it's also preventable. Your doctor, practice nurse or travel clinic will give advice on how to avoid getting bitten in the first place by using insect repellents and mosquito netting. They may also advise you to take antimalarial medication, and will help find the one that's right for you and your destination. Remember those pesky mozzies can kill - it only takes one bite.

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Final notes

There's plenty of websites out there with more information, including www.malariahotspots.co.uk, which has some useful links to other sites including 'Know Before You Go' - the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's travel site.

Ok sadly we're coming to the end of this mini-guide to Africa.
Just a couple more bits of advice: some people say that when you're travelling abroad eating the local yoghurt can help put friendly local bugs in your system, and personally I think it does help. But, more importantly, remember to wear a seat-belt - wherever you are - and make sure you reduce the environmental impact of your travels. Enjoying Africa shouldn't cost the Earth.

That's it from me, Simon Reeve. Look out for the other travel guides in this series and for more information on practical travel health, look at Jane Chiodini's podcast on malariahotspots.co.uk. This series and the malaria hotspots website have been sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health.

I hope you've enjoyed this podcast. Many thanks for listening.