There is more to the “dark continent” than endless safaris and white-water rafting. ANDY WITHERS explores some of the lesser known attractions of Africa.

ONCE you’ve seen the Pyramids, bartered with the Masai, climbed Kilimanjaro, relaxed by Lake Malawi, rafted the Zambesi, bungeed over Victoria Falls and seen more big game than you thought imaginable, the rest of Africa beckons. Here are a few ideas to help you make the most of some less-common destinations:Getting Around: Great Journeys:

One of Africa’s greatest adventures is take the steam boat up the Zaire River from Kinshasa to Kisangani — a distance of 1734km. The average journey takes 11 days to Kisangani and six days back, with ample Primus beer it’s a good occasion to make Zairois friends. As anywhere in the Third World, public buses, bush taxis and minivans are a highly exciting means of getting around town with the locals, chickens and millett.

Leisure Activities:

One of the first things to do upon arriving in Africa is to learn mankala (also known variously as woaley, ayu or wori). This is an intellectually challenging game not unlike backgammon and, even if games aren’t your normal cup of tea, it is a great way of meeting the locals, especially when communication is difficult. The game has been a major African pastime since it originated thousands of years ago and finding an opponent or two is rarely difficult. Football is also incredibly popular across the whlole continent and you’ll always be able to find an exciting game to watch or compete in.

Beaches:

There are many great beaches along Africa’s coastline, but those on the islands of São Tomé and Principe — off the coast of Guinea and Gabon — are something else. They’re totally devoid of commercial exploitation, if only because the islands are so difficult to reach. Guidebooks claim the efforts to reach the islands are rewarded by “Paradise on Earth”.

Tribal Peoples:

The Ashanti are a traditionally wealthy people from Ghana and make up one of Africa’s few matrilineal societies. The Fulani and Tuareg are both nomadic cattle raisers. While the Fulani are tall, elegant and thin people of possible Jewish origin, the Tuareg are descendents of North Africa’s Berbers and consider themselves Caucasian and superior to Black Africans.

Cultural Events:

The Argungu Fishing Festival is held 100km south-west of Sokoto in Nigeria. This spectacular three-day festival offers displays of barehanded fishing, duck hunting, swimming and diving competitions, canoe racing and all-night drinking and dancing.
La Cure Salé, or salt cure, is an annual celebration of Niger’s nomadic Fulani cattle herders and is one of the continent’s most famous celebrations. The event acts as a social gathering — a time for wooing women and meeting old friends — and takes place west of Agadez in September.
The Fulani people also complete the Cattle Crossing at Diafarabé, Mali, in November, when they cross the Niger River in search of greener pastures.

Religious Festivals:

Tabaski (Eid-al-Kabir), also known as the Great Feast, is a major Muslim holiday and is the most important celebration throughout West and northern Central Africa. It commemorates the moment when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son in obedience of God’s command and coincides with the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca (the hadj).
It is a two-day celebration — even in predominantly non-Muslim countries — and, if invited, you’ll be participating in the most important festive day of the year. Tabaski involves much eating and visiting friends after several hours at a mosque.
Christmas and New Year’s Days are celebrated all over Africa.

Flora and Fauna:

The gorillas in Zaire’s Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega, in a mountainous area 27km north of Bukavo, have long been one of Africa’s highlights. Similarly spectacular, although much smaller, is the migratory birdlife of West Africa. Niokolo-Koba Game Park in Senegal and the Gambia’s Abuko Nature Reserve have reported sightings 350 and 400 species respectively.