adventure holidays

Ever since I was at primary school, the thought of walking around the Egyptian pyramids was an extremely exciting one. At the age of nine, history lessons - alongside British Bulldogs and football stickers - were one of the few highlights of the week, especially when the subject being studied was Ancient Egypt.

If anyone else is like me, they will know at least one couple that spends endless amounts of time uploading reams and reams of their holiday snaps on to Facebook.While some may find it nice to see said duo lovingly share a cocktail on the beach or riding a tandem bicycle through the mountains, for those who have not met their perfect match yet - or worse still, have recently broken up with their partner - such photos are probably the last thing you want to see.

Walking down a UK high street can be a totally mundane experience, with the same shops and brands displaying their garish signs wherever you go. I could stroll along any town centre retail zone and not have the blindest clue of whether I am in Romford, Reading or Redcar. It all looks and feels the same. Perhaps this is why I find Havana so appealing. The Cuban capital still maintains its rustic Hispanic charm and the country's leaders have long resisted the urge to build a McDonalds or Primark on every corner.

I've always relished being part of a crowd, which proved to be a handy trait in the thriving markets of Marrakech. In the midst of all the action - where traditional snake charmers stand side-by-side with people selling leather purses and other authentic wares - it really is a case of blink and you will miss something. While the sight of locals and tourists bartering over a terracotta vase may be a bit of a cliche, there is something unbelievably exciting about being part of the Moroccan capital's racing heartbeat.

We've all experienced it haven't we?

We jump off the plane full of excitement, spend two minutes throwing our cases into the hotel room and then... the other half heads straight to the hotel pool to lounge around sipping exotic cocktails all day, while reading some obscure romantic novel.
For many, this may seem like the perfect break, but not me.  Don't get me wrong, there's nothing peculiar about recuperating from the daily rigours of life in murky old Britain with a mojito in one hand and a bottle of factor 30 sun cream in the other.

What is your dream destination for a walking holiday? Kathmandu? The Great Wall of China? Mount Kilimanjaro?

“The Great Wildebeest Migration, is one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World”.

No where in the world is there a movement of animals as immense as the wildebeest migration. Over 2 million animals migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the greener pastures of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya during July through to October.

The migration is fraught with danger. They have to cross the Mara River in the Maasai Mara where crocodiles will prey on them. This is one of the highlights as the animals try and cross the Mara River alive.

I have just returned from a whirlwind trip through South Africa's little-visited KwaZulu-Natal and all I can say is Wow!

Hi guys,

I've attached a few photos from last week below - I don't know if this is the right place but it seems as good as any. I've tried to leave out all the moving pictures of the floor.

It was good to walk with you all - a really good week. Shall maybe see a few of you again some time.

All the best.

James

We are still spellbound by this country. Despite erratic weather, the trip was amazing, awe-inspiring and deeply soul-cleansing. Adventurous but well paced with plenty of time to do your own thing. On a practical note, good outerwear (skiing kit) is a must, as are decent walking shoes. Thoroughly recommended, so much so that we plan to go back for more.