Africa's Top Destinations for 2009

With the world economy weakening by the minute, an expensive African vacation may not be on everyone's list of things to do in 2009. However, there are plenty of destinations that aren't too expensive and will still offer you a trip of a lifetime. These top 5 destinations are on my 2009 wish list. I've already booked the trip to Tunisia:

Tunisia
The sun, sea, bazaars, Roman ruins and the great Sahara Desert all beckon in Tunisia. It's a quick flight for those living in Europe and under a $1000 for those traveling from the US. Accommodations can easily be booked independently, there are lots of guest houses as well as luxury hotels to choose from. And to top it all off, you can stay in Luke Skywalker's home.

Marrakech
Very cheap flights from Europe and direct flights from the US makes Marrakech a real possibility for a long exotic weekend getaway. Stay at one of the lovely Riads in the heart of the old medina, enjoy truly fantastic food and plenty of shopping in the old bazaars.

Cape Town
It's a long flight to get there, but Cape Town is so fun and relaxing, it really is worth it, even for a week. Enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Winelands, the rugged coastline, great beaches and delicious food and wine. There's plenty of culture here as well and of course no trip would be complete without a visit to Robben island.

Masai Mara, Kenya
A safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve offers you plenty of choice of accommodation style and can suit all budgets, even a little budget. What you get is the world's finest wildlife park, with the highest density of animals anywhere in Africa, especially as the Great Migration passes through.

Mozambique Coast
You can get some very reasonably priced packages out of Johannesburg for a truly fantastic vacation in Mozambique. The country is slowly being discovered by vacationers beyond the South Africans who discovered its beaches quite some time ago. The diving is incredible, there are plenty of backpacker accommodations around and the Portuguese left a fine legacy of delicious seafood dishes.

_{Image of Cape Town - © South Africa Tourism}