The vast expanse of the African landscape is quiet and far from any city. Unless you are joining an expedition, most of the getaways on the continent are trips of just a few days, so you have your pick of game reserves, beaches, and resorts. You really have the entire continent at your fingers.
- Red Sea, Egypt For a little R&R and five star luxuries, gorgeous beaches and fine services, try the Red Sea. It’s desolate enough to be quiet, but lively enough that you won’t grow board.
- Cape Region, South Africa The rolling hills and sea breezes that dominate South Africa’s wine lands are famous for grapes from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to Pinotage. Spend a long weekend driving from vineyard to vineyard and enjoying the fresh air and small inns.
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates While Dubai is a city that some have attempted to escape from, people are flocking here from all across the world like never before. They are coming on short trips to indulge in the posh resorts, to stay at vacation villas, lay on the beach, gamble, ski, or have a spa treatment.
- Dizin, Iran Only an hour and a half from Tehran, this resort gets more than 23 feet of snow each year and is one of the most popular ski resorts in the Middle East.
- Maasai Mara, Kenya Three nights in a tent camp in this huge game reserve, part of the larger Serengeti system in Tanzania, will get you views of wild elephants, stampeding wildebeests, and ferocious lions.
- Zanzibar, Tanzania Twenty five or so pristine Indian Ocean beaches with crystalline water, a few even more unspoiled atolls nearby, and a diverse mix of culture make this one of Africa’s favorite retreat. The original spice island.
- Barra, Mozambique Affordable accommodations and cheap diving make this little known beach town a favorite amongst backpackers, locals, and Mozambique’s elite escaping the bustling cities.
- Camps Bay, South Africa The rich and famous spend their weekends here at Camps Bay. Back dropped by the Twelve Apostles, a series of mountain peaks, and only ten minutes from Cape Town.
- Mediterranean Coast, Tunisia Just a two hour flight from Paris takes you to one of the best coastlines on the Mediterranean, not to mention Roman ruins and breathtaking Islamic-Arabic architecture. A weekend escape geared towards Europeans more so than North Africans.
- Asilah, Morocco Morocco’s north Atlantic coastline is home to Asilah, perhaps the most unhurried and most relaxed place in all of Northern Africa. Easy access from the major cities of Casablanca, Tangier, or Marrakech.