The Gapsummer Adventures
Gap summer top 5 adventures in Association with Madventurer
Why not use your gap summer or time-out to travel the adventurous way?
1. Travel to Timbuktu
The route takes you from the game reserves of Ghana to the slave-trade forts of the coast and north to the ancient city of Timbuktu on the fringes of the great Sahara dessert. Trek through the spectacular Dogon Country where you can experience the unique culture of the Mali people, take a ferry across the Niger, go clubbing in Ouagadougou, barter for silver outside a giant mud mosque, drink hot green tea in 40 degree heat, bush camp under the stars, and relax on some of Ghana's stunning beaches.
"This last climbing morning is a relentlessly steep and painfully slow upward trudge, giving new meaning to the expert Guides' words: "Pole Pole, Rafiki" ('take it easy - slowly - slowly, My Friend') Friends they are - for life if you make it, and even if you don't - to the highest point in Africa, mythical and isolated, Kilimanjaro summit at 5896m, gasping for oxygen in the rarified atmosphere. The blinding white of the glaciers turn an amazing blue when the sun's rays strike them."
Go overland and get close to some of the amazing wildlife that East Africa has to offer. The adventure encompasses a variety of activities ranging from white water rafting in Uganda to a more relaxed experience on Kenya's beaches (or the option of windsurfing for those of you that are after more of a challenge!). You can even choose to extend your trip to include a PADI diving course on the beautiful reefs of Zanzibar.
The ideal trip for those with an endless passion for the ancient cultures of the Andes but with limited time. This moderate to strenuous hike is a once in a lifetime experience and anyone with a reasonable level of fitness can master it. Many believe that Machu Picchu itself cannot be understood without following the steps of the Incas on the Inca Trail. Make sure you get there at sunrise, take your photo, soak it up, and scurry back into the jungle before the coach loads of real tourists arrive.
The reefs that surround Trinidad & Tobago are known as the 'disneyland' of scuba diving because of their incomparable array of fantastic colours and species. Once you've spent your day spotting rainbow and elephant fish stroll back-up the beach and 'lime' (have a sundowner or two) with the locals.
