Planning for a vacation can be quite tasking, especially if you have no idea of places you ought to visit. There is so much to be done, ranging from making a budget and traveling arrangements to picking a suitable place. More often than not, we even decide to go back to that unsatisfying resort we went the previous year. It’s 2018, and you can do much better than that. How about a list of the top destinations which are worth checking out this year?

Botum Sakor National Park – Cambodia

Stretching across Cambodia’s southwestern corner, Botum Sakor is ranked as the largest national park in the country. It has a varied ecosystem, which ranges from coastal plains to a dense evergreen rainforest and grasslands. Tourists enjoy the southwest elephant corridor, which covers over 700 square miles. It boasts quite a big population of elephants, waterfalls, saltwater crocodiles, rare birds and tiny villages.

The high tourist numbers have seen a rise in eco-oriented tented camps, offering affordable accommodation. If you enjoy camping during your vacation, you will definitely love the rainforest sanctuary. Designed with a vintage African theme, the sanctuary offers over fifteen stilted tents for tourists, a bar, and restaurant as well as a spa for an all-out holiday experience.

The Turquoise Coast – Turkey

If your idea of an exciting holiday involves a coastline and getting sunbathed, then this will be such a treat for you. The Turquoise coast is characterized by a glittering blue seaboard, giving you over a three hundred mile loop of a beautiful coastline. You will get to visit tiny fishing villages and sleep in a chic resort of your choice.

Despite the tourist numbers dropping in recent years due to political unrest in the country, 2017 saw a 28% increase. Turkey is slowly reclaiming its lost glory as a top tourist destination, with the numbers set to keep rising this year.

Cape Verde Islands

If you’re all for music, pristine beaches, and rich culture, these islands are just the place for you. Located off the African west coast, the Cape Verde islands provide incredible scenery and the perfect weather for an exotic vacation.

Tourists love the volcanic peaks, which give a dramatic effect to the beaches and bays. You can shop at the waterfront towns or enjoy hiking through the islands ancient dragon trees and across lava fields.

Valletta – Malta

Having been named Europe’s culture capital of 2018, Valetta is bound to see more tourists this year. Malta is located between Italy and Tunisia, which makes this destination a must visit if you want to experience two different cultures at the same time – you feel like you’ve traveled from ancient Greece to the middle east and back.

There are more cruise ships sailing to Valetta than ever before, and you should try out this destination out before it gets crowded. The most notable stretch is the azure window on the Gozo island. Despite its collapse in 2017, seeing the blue-green water on the amazing beach should be every tourist’s dream.

Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, is located in the western part of the Indian Ocean, off the East Africa Coast. It was previously referred to as the Malagasy Republic.  Madagascar may rank as one of the poorest countries in the world with 70% of the people living below the poverty line, but is still among the safest countries owing to the Malagasy culture. It has a wide expanse of white sandy beaches and vast forests.

Due to its rich biodiversity, it is considered a biodiversity hotspot with 90% of its wildlife being endemic species and unique only to the country. For example, the lemur and the see-through chameleon. Listed below are the top 6 must-see destinations in Madagascar.

Antananarivo

The capital and the largest city in Madagascar is one of the most vibrant cities in Africa. Crazy and chaotic is perhaps another description you might choose to give Antananarivo and its Malagasy inhabitants. It combines intricate architecture with multi-colored houses winding down the hills, fascinating cultural background of the Malagasy people, and an affluent historical background. It is a few kilometers from the airport and therefore receives a number of tourists.

Andasibe National Park

Andasibe is the most visited area among all the protected areas. The lemur species call Andasibe National Park home. Eleven lemur species including the largest one are found in this park near Antananarivo, its capital. It is also a habitat for several species of reptiles, birds, insects, and batrachians. The area stands on a 100-mile expanse of land and has been further split into two. A tour guide of both areas could take about one to six hours.

Ranomafana National Park

Like the name suggests, Ranomafana National Park is located near the village, Ranomafana. The popular park has amazing scenic views of densely forested hills with springs and beautiful wildlife. One interesting species found in the park is the golden bamboo lemur. It feeds on bamboo shoots which contains doses of the harmful cyanide. Surprisingly, what could be lethal to other animals has been harmless to this lemur. The discovery of this species in 1986 is what led to the creation of the park in 1991. If you dare to venture into the deeper forested areas, you will experience the pleasure of a real wildlife expedition.

Avenue of the Baobabs

This location has made its way to the top visited locations in the country because of its striking and gorgeous view. The dirt road between Morondava and Belon’I hosts the Avenue of Baobabs which consist of about 25 trees standing towering above others and lined up in groups. The trees believed to be about 800 years old, previously existed in a dense tropical forest. Due to human encroachment and agriculture, the forests were cleared leaving the baobabs alone. It has been a focus of local conservation efforts with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Forests, granting it protected status. Plans are underway to make it the first national monument in Madagascar.

Isalo National Park

It is sometimes referred to as the Jurassic Park. Isalo national park has a breath-taking view of landscapes and terrains. The park is located in Madagascar’s central southern region and boasts of steep canyons, sandstone formations, and grassland that is to die for. Guided tours are available in this park and they range from a couple of hours to several days. The Bara tribe consider Isalo a sacred place where burial sites are marked by stacks of tiny stones in the crevices.

Ile Sainte Marie

This beautiful island has a rich history dating back to the 17^th and 18^th centuries. It was a pirate hub with pirate shipwrecks still visible, even today, in the shallow water. It’s a famous attraction site especially for snorkeling lovers due to the crystal clear still water. During summer and early fall, humpback whales can be seen in the island waters as they migrate.

It goes without saying that Africa has a lot of prodigious destinations to offer. Every year, millions of tourist flock different African destinations to view and experience amazing sceneries, wonders of the world in Africa, wildlife, beaches and the ultimate African culture.

Choosing a destination in Africa can be a brainteaser due to the number of attractions available. The key to selecting a destination in Africa is looking for what sites offer a variety of experiences that would be found nowhere but Africa.

Below are the must-visit destinations in Africa.

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Egypt enjoys a rich history right from the oldest religious books in the world. Egypt is re-known for the Pyramids which have been recorded in the history books as the wonders of the World. The pyramids date back to 2650BC and were built with 2.5 million blocks of Limestone.

Millions of tourists visit Egypt just to take a glimpse of these magnificent work of art, take photos, and create long-lasting memories and experience. Apart from the pyramids, Egypt has a lot more to offer including historical sites, beautiful hotels, Alexandria sculptures, beaches, temples, and many more tourist attraction features.

Safari’s, Kenya

Kenya is located in the East Africa region and is listed among the top wildlife destination in the world. Kenya has Safari adventures for tourists where you can go for game drive safaris and hot air balloons. It also hosts the Big Five and is home to the last and the only white Rhino in the world. Flamingos located in Lake Nakuru and Bogoria are other unique sites to be experienced in Kenya.

Mombasa in Kenya offers white sandy beaches along the Indian Ocean where you can find Diani beach, Lamu Island, Watamu, and Malindi. Apart from the beach, Kenya is known for the Wildbeast migration which happens once a year.

Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls is host to the largest leaf of falling water in the entire world. The water emanates from the Zambezi river at high volumes leaving a sight of sheer beauty. The local name given to the Fall by the locals is Mosi-oa Tunya “The Smoke that Thunders.” This is due to the misty smoke that emanates from the impact. Get close to the ‘smoke, ’ and you will be left entirely wet.

Victoria falls alone makes this two countries a must visit. However, this is just but one of the reasons to visit, as they also offer wildlife experience and bird sighting.

Spitzkoppe, Namibia

Located in the Namib Desert Spitzkoppe includes a number of Granite peaks with the highest peak reaching up to 1800 meters.

Table Mountain, South Africa

A combination of long beaches and a background view of the Table Mountains located in Cape Town makes it one of the world’s beautiful scenery. The sunset, as well as the sunrise, offers a fantastic view and a perfect background for taking photos with your loved ones.

There are also tones of activities including surfing, cable car to give you a bird’s eye view as you ride to the top of the mesa.

Here are some other ideas for travel in Africa.

Flights are long and uncomfortable but that doesn’t mean you should look sloppy. Comfortable leisure wear can still look as good Most people spend so much time obsessing over what to pack for travel and pay little to no attention on the travel attire. Here are some tips of what dos and don’ts when it comes to airport dress codes.

DO’S

Bring a cardigan

Airports can get pretty cold so a cardigan is a great way to maintain style and keep warm at the same time.

Wear a maxi dress or skirt

This is very comfortable for moving around the airport and sitting through your designated travel time.

Wear socks

These are great for warmth in the plane and to keep your toes germ free when you remove your shoes at the airport. You will protect your feet from becoming bacteria magnets

Wear compression socks or legwear

These help prevent blood clots and come highly recommended to pregnant women or people with pre-existing medical conditions. You might have to consult with your doctor first.

Carry a big purse

A big purse will come in handy for materials that you will need easy access to. It can even double up a carry-on bag. It can also act as an accessory to your simple outfit.

DON’TS

Don’t wear a belt

You don’t want to the hassle of unbuckling it and putting it through the scanner with a whole line behind you. Opt for well-fitting pants and no baggy sweats or pajamas, please!

Do not over accessorize

A little sparkly of jewelry has the ability to transform a simple outfit into something classy. You might have to save them for occasions that don’t involve security metal detectors. However, if you need them with your particular outfit, save them in your carry on and wear them once you land.

Do not wear ‘fancy shoes’

Comfortable slip ons will do just fine. Avoid gladiator sandals and boots with zippers and laces. You are aiming for comfortability so avoid wearing your heels because who knows if you might have to run to.

Do not wear underwire bras

These wires can trigger sensitive metal detectors leading to a pat down. To avoid all these go for a sports bra or a padded bra.

Do not wear a lot of makeup