AFRICA
On this epic journey, explore some of the finest national parks in East Africa, from Kenya’s Masai Mara to the incomparable Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. Keep your binoculars at hand on a trip to Lake Nakuru, a birder’s paradise; and seek out lions, leopards, and rhino in the wilds of the Serengeti. In between safaris, learn about local customs on a visit to a Maasai community and share a meal with a family in the vibrant Mto wa Mbu village.
South Africa
The southernmost country on the African continent, renowned for its varied topography, great natural beauty, and cultural diversity, all of which have made the country a favoured destination for travelers since the legal ending of apartheid (Afrikaans: “apartness,” or racial separation) in 1994.
South Africa has three cities that serve as capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). Johannesburg, the largest urban area in the country and a centre of commerce, lies at the heart of the populous Gauteng province Almost the entire country lies within the temperate zone, and extremes of heat and cold are rare. Its location next to a subtropical high-pressure belt of descending air produces stable atmospheric conditions over most of its surface area, and the climate generally is dry.
Dubai
Is a stirring alchemy of profound traditions and ambitious futuristic vision wrapped into starkly evocative desert splendour.
It’s hard not to admire Dubai for its indefatigable verve, ambition and ability to dream up and realise projects that elsewhere would never get off the drawing board. This is a superlative-craving society that has birthed audaciously high buildings and palm-shaped islands. Sci-fi concepts such as flying taxis, a lightning- fast Hyperloop train and an army of robocops are all reflections of a mindset that fearlessly embraces the future.
The first Middle Eastern city to make the Unesco list of creative cities of design, Dubai is a bustling microcosm peacefully shared by cultures from all corners of the world. This diversity expresses itself in the culinary landscape, fashion, music and performance. Although rooted in Islamic tradition, this is an open society where it’s easy for newcomers and visitors to connect with myriad experiences, be it eating like a Bedouin, dancing on the beach, shopping for local art or riding a camel in the
desert. Dubai is a fertile environment conducive to breaking down cultural barriers and preconceptions.
India
With its sumptuous mix of traditions, spiritual beliefs, festivals, architecture and landscapes, your memories of India will blaze bright long after you’ve left its shores.
India’s landscapes are as fantastically varied as its cultural traditions. From the snow-dusted peaks of the Himalaya to the sun-splashed beaches of the tropical south, the country has a bounty of outdoor attractions. You can scout for big jungle cats on scenic wildlife safaris, paddle in the shimmering waters of coastal retreats, take blood-pumping treks high in the mountains, or simply inhale pine-scented air on meditative forest walks.
Spirituality is the ubiquitous thread in India’s richly diverse tapestry, weaving all the way from the snowy mountains of the far north to the tropical shores of the
deep south. Hinduism and Islam have the most followers, while Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism are also widely practised. The array of sacred sites and rituals pay testament to the country’s long and colourful religious history. And then there are its festivals! India has an abundance of devotional celebrations – from formidable city parades heralding auspicious religious events, to simple village harvest fairs that pay homage to a locally worshipped deity.
Maldives
The Maldives is a collection of 1,192 coral islands located in the Indian Ocean close to the Indian subcontinent. The Maldivian archipelago comprises of 26 natural coral atolls – a chain of islands formed from coral reefs, that grew around a submerged volcanic mountain. The country is home to 300,000 people who live on 192 islands. Most of the remaining islands are left untouched for the ecosystem to flourish. Close to 100 islands have been transformed into tourism hubs that form the backbone of the Maldivian
economy. Until the 1970s, the Maldives was relatively unknown to the world. With the tourism boom on island resorts, the Maldives has become the tropical paradise for holidaymakers.
The amalgamation of different religions and cultures has left a lasting impression on the archipelago, which is also quite evident in the cuisines as well as the art and crafts of the Maldives. The music scene of the Maldives is a unique experience that is dominated by the local Bodu-Beru (big drums) that are a variation of the African drums.