Africa without animals

A holiday to Africa isn't just about sitting in a Land Rover taking fuzzy photos of kudu bottoms. Safaris are only one way to enjoy a continent that still suffers from the outdated notion that the only thing to do there is shoot the Big Five.

"Most first-time visitors go for the game-viewing," explains Nigel Vere Nicoll of the African Travel and Tourism Association, "but then they discover many other things to enjoy - great beaches, luxury lodges, excellent wines and, above all, super people."

With the weak rand making destinations such as South Africa and Namibia a bargain - a bottle of fine wine in a restaurant currently costs around £6 - Africa now provides many more holiday opportunities.

Meet the locals

Operators now offer the chance to live in an African village. Exodus (020 8675 5550) has introduced homestay holidays to Ghana - five nights' accommodation with a local fa mily - as part of a 16-day tour from £1,300, departing 21 September. Explore Worldwide (01252 760000) has a new 12-day trek with the Basotho people of Lesotho, walking through tribal villages and staying in traditional huts. From £1,115, departing 14 August. In K enya, Eco-resorts offers a 17-day Village Immersion Safari, living with the coastal Giriama tribe, then moving on to the Rift Valley and Masai Mara. From £1,642 (01372 469818), plus flights to Malindi from £564 with Kenya Airways (01784 888222).

Feel the history

There are only 50,000 Bushmen remaining in Botswana - get a taste of their resourceful lifestyle on a rare Bushman Safari, including lessons in primitive hunting skills and a healing trance dance. From £2,846 for seven nights with Uncharted Africa (00 27 11 884 1346), plus flights to Maun from £715 through Tana Travel (01789 414200). In South Africa, the sites of the Zulu and Boer Wars are the focus for a historical self-drive tour. Six nights, including flights to Johannesburg, car hire and full-board lodge accommodation near Isandhlwana, Rorke's Drift and Ladysmith, from £1,396 with Cazenove and Loyd (020 7384 2332).

Join the festivities

Few tourists make it to Niger - w hich is surely why it appeals to TV explorer Benedict Allen. On 7 September he leads a two-week trip to this central African state that coincides with the rainhonouring summer festivals of its nomadic Wodaabe and Tuareg peoples - the former arefamous for their male beauty contests. From £3,175 through Steppes Africa (01285 650011). Tribes (01728 685971) has seven tickets left for the two-day Royal Reed Dance in Zululand, featuring 10,000 dancing maidens,from £1,275 for an eightday package, departing 1 September, plus flights to Johannesburg from £500 through Tribes.

Follow the flowers

In the southern spring the African landscape bursts into colour. One of the best places to see wildflowers is the mountainous plateau of South Africa's Namaqualand, w here more than 4,000 different floral species bloom. Kudu Travel (01722 349009) has a 14-day tour departing 27 August that includes expert-led botanical walks and visits to national parks, wildflow er reserves and San rock art sites. From £2,250, plus flights to Cape Town from £554 with KLM through www.expedia.co.uk.

Stretch yourself

Want to get fit? Work out on a Kenyan beach with Wild Fitness (020 7368 1632) on a twow eek course for groups of six to 10. Activities such as dug-out canoe races and forest runs are mixed with nutrition lectures,yoga and massage. From £1,880, including meals, accommodation and tuition, plus flights to Malindi from £564 with Kenya Airways. For the ultimate African challenge, climb its highest mountain. A seven-day guided trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, including transfers from Nairobi, costs from £835 with Guerba (0845 130 1770), plus flights - from £610 in July. Go cycling in the Rift Valley from £715 for six nights with Cheli and Peacock (00 254 2 604053), plus flights to Nairobi from £469 with Kenya Airways. Explore Worldwide (as before) has a 13-day Tanzania volcano trek as part of a 17-day tour ascending the Ngorongoro Highlands, Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro. From £1,445pp, including tented and hotel accommodation, meals and flights, departing 13 September (£1,595 on 5 July).

Enjoy the good life

Africa isn't only about mozzie bites and massed binoculars. Steppes Africa (as before) has a new South Africa package combining safaris with spas,from £2,285 for nine nights, including three at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge (butler, private plunge pool). Arblaster and Clarke (01730 893344) has a nine-day wine tour visiting the Cape's finest estates,from £2,599, departing 29 December. Hop aboard the luxury Rovos Rail - a nine-day package including a two-night rail trip from Pretoria to Cape Town costs from £1,768 with Okavango Tours and Safaris (020 8343 3283).

Catch a total eclipse

Yes, there's another one - this time on 4 December with a totality path that runs down the Botswana-Zimbabw e border to hit the northern tip of the Kruger National Park. Find out more at www.eclipse.za.net. Sunvil Africa (020 8232 9777) has a choice of eight packages, starting at £2,494 for a 12-day trip to South Africa departing 26 November.

Prices are per person based on two sharing,including flights from London unless otherwise stated. For more ways to holiday in Africa see www.atta.co.uk.

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