South Africa's Western Cape: Savoring the bounty

— One night as my sister and I walked across the rugged yet strangely delicate terrain of a place called Farm 215, the path to our...

Around the world in 23 days

Phileas Fogg went around the world in 80 days. I did it in 23. And I bet I visited more amazing sites than he — India's Taj Mahal,...

Namibia: Desert, ghost town and the Skeleton Coast

Reporting from Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Your Scene: Flamingos in Mozambique

When I think flamingos, I normally think plastic and lawn. This photo from Times reader "tesmoscow" reminds me that you can...

South Africa: On the ball between matches

Maybe it was impetuous of me to hand that money over to the young woman in Soweto. Possibly it was imprudent to slip on the harness and ride...

In South Africa, ask for biltong

I was warned that meals during my March trip to South Africa would revolve around red meat. But I didn't know it would appear in a shriveled...

Fun and philanthropy in Kenya

Patrick Nyaleta was a cow herder by the time he was 6. Like many rural Kenyans, his father measured his wealth in cattle and needed his...

In Kenya, reason for hope

South Africa: a whirlwind tour

Big game, yes. But penguins, vineyards and gambling -- this is Africa? A week in the former European colony reveals a dynamic and diverse...

In the footsteps of Pharaohs in Egypt

Egyptomaniacs in the making meet gods, kings and friendly mortals face-to-face during a walking tour of the country's glorious past.

A fragile oasis uneasily welcomes tourist dollars

As the putt-putt of motorbikes eclipses the clip-clop of donkey hooves, tourist guide Sayid Abu-Seif has decided that development in Siwa,...