Ready to explore the Dark Continent? Make sure these don’t-miss experiences are on your itinerary.

Africa does a nice line in jaw-dropping attractions. From lions roaming the savannah to timeless temples surrounded by sandy deserts, from thundering waterfalls to rare encounters with endangered mountain gorillas, few continents are as packed with bucket-list experiences. With so many amazing adventures to choose from across this vast continent, where do you start? Perhaps with this selection of incredible experiences. From luxury rail journeys to intimate wildlife encounters, there is something to suit every traveller. Or consider a private jet journey that lets you link these adventures together for the ultimate African exploration.

GO GORILLA TREKKING IN RWANDA

Africa is known for its spectacular wildlife, but few experiences can compare with the chance to observe wild gorillas from just metres away. Fewer than 900 mountain gorillas are left in the wild, half of which can be found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Every day, expert guides take small groups of visitors deep into the forest to encounter these magnificent animals. Depending on where the gorillas are roaming that day, you may have to do some serious hiking; however, for the opportunity to stand metres from a mighty silverback, or watching young gorillas gambolling in the tall grass, it is well worth it.

DINE BENEATH THE PYRAMIDS

You have to hand it to the ancient Egyptians: as master builders, they were hard to beat. Three thousand years after they were first built, their temples and tombs remain simply awe-inspiring. A trip through Egypt brings plenty of opportunities to encounter their most remarkable constructions, including the sprawling temple of Karnak, but it is the pyramids at Giza that evoke a true sense of wonder. If you want to make the most of the experience, opt for a dinner in a desert tent overlooking these mighty buildings.

TAKE TO THE WATER

We all have an image in our heads of what a game drive looks like: a jeep cruising through grasslands, animals meandering past on all sides. However, there is a different way to do safari: by boat.

In Botswana’s celebrated Chobe National Park, which sits on the Okavango Delta, the wet season inundation gives visitors the opportunity to go game spotting on skimmer boats that offer a very different perspective on the country’s wildlife. For maximum wildlife exposure - including up-close encounters with hippos, buffalo, and one of the world’s largest herd of elephants – stay in a luxury camp, such as Bisate Lodge, within the national park.

VISIT THE ROCK HEWN CHURCHES OF LALILBELA

Ethiopia remains one of Africa’s most underrated countries. Its rich harvest of cultural treasures includes some of the world’s most ancient temples, the remains of some of humanity’s oldest ancestors, and the astounding rock-hewn churches at Lalibela. Carved out of cliffs more than 700 years ago by a workforce using only hand tools, there are a dozen different churches, each one more startling than the next. We know very little about the mysterious King Lalibela who commissioned this ambitious building program but according to local legend, he had friends in high places. The story goes that hordes of angels descended to help with the construction.

HOVER OVER THE MIGHTY VICTORIA FALLS

You hear the falls long before you see them. The roar made by one thousand tons of water plummeting to the ground every second is simply extraordinary. So is the spray that is thrown back up into the air, forming a permanent cloud that hovers over the cascades. Victoria Falls is one of the world’s natural wonders, so it pays to explore it from different angles. Get close up with a walk along the cliffside path, then rise above it with an epic helicopter flight.

FOLLOW THE WORLD’S GREATEST MIGRATION

Here is the first thing to know about the wildebeest migration: it is misnamed. While more than a million wildebeest take part in this epic trek through eastern Africa’s grasslands, they are far from alone in their pilgrimage.

Around 500,000 gazelles and 200,000 zebra also make the journey, followed in turn by hungry predators including the Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. Whether you follow the crowds in a safari vehicle or admire the view from above in a hot air balloon, this is an awe-inspiring experience.

RIDE THE RAILS IN STYLE

The dark continent has plenty of surprises up its sleeve, but perhaps the most startling is an Edwardian-style train journey. With its black and cream carriages, its opulent suites and its gourmet dinners, the exclusive Rovos Rail is the most stylish way to explore Africa’s remarkable landscapes. A journey through South Africa is a great opportunity to enjoy some old-school elegance while you watch the countryside unfurl through the window, from the harsh beauty of the Karoo to the grasslands of the high veldt.

Captain’s Choice, creators of the world’s most enriching journeys, has been setting the agenda in luxury travel for Australian and international guests since 1994. Pioneers of private jet travel, this Australian owned company celebrated its 100th journey by private jet this month. Join The Ultimate African Safari by Private Jet departing 30 January, 29 September & 13 October 2019. For more details, visit captainschoice.com.au