john mce

Active holiday's blend the tranquillity of nature with extreme adrenalin rush of action packed activities such as rafting, mountain biking and sailing set against some of the most beautiful backdrops of holiday resorts across the world.

Active holidays are for anybody who wants a challenge or wants to learn something new in a professional relaxed atmosphere.

Going on a true safari adventure can be a holiday of a lifetime, an opportunity to experience nature like never before, witness breathtaking scenery and unspoilt panoramas. See wildlife that can truly be called wild. However bear in mind Africa is the poorest continent and can be an overwhelming culture shock, with distressing levels of poverty and crime.

Botswana is a truly fascinating country, a land-locked country dominated in geographical terms by the Kalahari Desert. The country is deceptively large, at approximately 581,730 square kilometres it is roughly the size of France. With a troubled past, yet rich heritage and amazing culture, there is always something that will entice and amaze you whilst visiting Botswana.

Everyone seems to be feeling the pinch of the credit crunch, frantically trying to save every penny here and there. It seems we are all cutting back and trying to minimise expenditure, however the savvy saver should be thinking long term. Since everybody is doing the same thing, in this case not spending, corporations have been forced to drastically slash prices, to entice the public into loosening the purse strings a little.

Selecting a holiday is one of the biggest decisions a family, couple or individual is likely to make during the average year; you want to make the most of those precious few days away from the office, but with so many holidays on offer it can be a daunting decision given that a wrong choice can mean wasting an awful lot of money and those all too precious holiday days!

More and more of us are opting for exotic destinations and adventure type holidays; perhaps Bangkok and its bustling night markets, maybe a week or two exploring off-piste areas with a guide in the magnificent Alps, or how about three weeks exploring the ancient cities and temples of China? They all sound wonderful don't they, until you imagine the price! However, a new spree of independent travel clubs has sprung up over the last few years, revolutionising not only the way we take holidays but, perhaps more importantly, the price! And with the imposing credit crunch, prices are dropping yet further as agents try to encourage us to part with our hard earned cash.

When many people think of a holiday, the usual crowded beach, sight seeing or winter holidays spring to mind. Since the explosion of the package holiday in the late sixties, it feels like our holiday imagination has been somewhat numbed by bland samey holidays. A cheap package holiday usually consists of staying in a characterless hotel inhabited solely by Brits, never seeing more than the crowded local beach and only eating English food.

So you're an adrenaline junkie, with a thirst for a holiday in the active/adventure holiday category? Here are a few tips that are worth considering before you book your holiday.

Sort out the correct documents

Before you settle on a holiday destination - regardless of whether you're travelling independently or with a company - check Visa and inoculation requirements with the Foreign Office (www.

As well as the typical beach holidays and romantic getaways Africa and many other destinations have to offer, there are also several truly unique holiday experiences that Africa has to offer.

A hugely popular destination when visiting Africa is Egypt. Egypt is the home to the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, the breath taking Pyramids, which are so huge they take 40 minutes to walk around once! Children and adults both will marvel at the awesomeness of the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, and can even take a tour inside, witnessing the ancient mumies and artefacts.

Approximately 1.5 million tourists visit Cape Town every year, bringing in billions in revenue. A friendly, bustling, cosmopolitan city with some amazing sights of natural beauty, Cape Town is the perfect location for a holiday.

As the second highest populated city in South Africa, Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa, housing many divisions of the South African Government and Parliament.

Mauritius, and Reunion and Rodrigues form the Mascarene Islands. The climate is tropical, with a warm, dry winter from May to November and a hot, wet and humid summer from November to May.

Since being made independent in 1968, Mauritius has experienced significant growth. It has changed from a low-income, agriculturally based economy, to a middle-income, diverse economy with growing financial and tourist sectors.