Could travel into space be the future of our adventures? The cost of such adventures are set to fall thanks to entrepreneurs like Sir Richard Branson and his company Virgin Galactic who intend to bring to a wider selection of the public a environmentally friendly trip into space at a fraction of the cost paid by Mr. Tito, the experience will last somewhere between 2 and 3 hours and as you enter the out atmosphere you will become an “astronaut”.

Aeroplanes are being designed now; that will travel higher than ever before, not necessarily out of the atmosphere but high enough to make a difference to the length of a long haul journey which in turn will improve the well being of the passengers and their susceptibility to “jet lag”. These aircraft will burn new environmentally friendly fuels and probably be able to carry a larger number of passengers. These journeys will not be in space like Virgin Galactic will take you, but our journeys for the conventional long haul traveller providing an efficient and quicker way to travel, they will be as near as most of us will get to travelling in space.

Do we need to go to space to find adventure? Although the highest mountains have been conquered and the poles of the earth regularly reached there are still many challenges left on this planet to keep most of us occupied for a lifetime so is space travel really necessary for most of us? If you have the money and desire to leave the world then great, but most of us will have to get our kicks from the adventures that this world has to offer us.

Take for example travelling on a safari holiday, much excitement can be had by getting up early, as dawn breaks on a new African morning and travelling through the bushvelt in an open land rover searching for predators, such as a lion or leopard returning home after a nights hunting and eventually coming across them feeding on a recently caught impala or experiencing a large herd of elephants crossing a river while crocodiles watch carefully from the bank. If you want to learn about space and the stars, go to a lodge where there is a resident astrologer, the remoteness of the lodges in Africa means that light pollution in the safari areas is nonexistent so on a clear night the stars come to life, almost as if you can touch them and with the guidance of a local astronomer and perhaps a telescope you too can travel to space! South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Kenya all offer wonderful opportunities to experience the stars and animals.

You may prefer to explore the depths of the world under the sea or just enjoy being in the sea. What has this got to do with space? In simple terms the relative distances of the earth and the positions of the moon and sun to each other all have an effect on the tidal patterns around the world. So if you go diving or snorkelling what you will see and your safety could be affected by the tidal patterns which are fixed by the positions of the moon and the sun in relation to the earth. Diving is a great adventure holiday and although this is not something you can undertake without instruction, it is something that most people can do and you don’t have to travel too far from the UK to experience the warm waters such as to Malta, Egypt and Turkey.

Those prepared to brave the colder waters can of course stay in the UK, but by travelling to places like Egypt you are likely to see a lot more. It is also possible to get great value cheap holidays to places like Turkey and Malta.

Flying into Jo’Burg is a good idea as it lands you right near the Kruger National Park area. A good idea is to take a few days out and get to know South Africa for a little while before you go on the actual Safari. There are plenty of nice lodges in and around the Kruger area that you can stay in with some top-quality service and luxurious accommodation. From this base you can explore the surrounding country-side and visit such local treasures as Pilgrims Rest, Bourk Lucks Pot Holes, Gods Window and the Three Rondovals. All of which can be guided visits or self travel.

Once you have acclimatised to the South African way of life you can then travel up to the Kruger National Park by light aircraft and arrive at your lodge greeted by your own personal guide. I would recommend about four or five days in the park to ensure you get the most out of your holiday as possible. You could either stay in one lodge for three or four nights or you could stay in two lodges in different areas of the Park for a couple of nights each to ensure that you see the full diversity of animals and scenery that this beautiful area has to offer.

Once you have finished in the Kruger National Park you can fly back to Jo’Burg and get a connecting flight to Zambia to visit the Victoria Falls, one of the most stunning wonders of the natural world. Spending a few days here is strongly advised as you will be able to soak up the atmosphere of this awesome spectacle and maybe even dare an exhilarating trip across the falls in a helicopter or microlite!!

In the Victoria Falls area you could also go on a boat journey along the magical Chobe River which provides yet more great opportunities for viewing wildlife such as hippos, crocs and various land animals. There are some great villages around this beautiful area to visit and you can spend some time relaxing at your hotel by the Victoria Falls.

From Zambia you can either return home or you could embark on another exciting leg of what is already an amazing journey. From here you could fly north to Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania. On the stunning island of Zanzibar you can soak up the sun in beautiful tropical surroundings whilst lazing on the beautiful white sandy beaches. This unique island with its myriad of little villages and bazaars provides you with some amazing cultural experiences ranging from amazing food to traditional dancing.

The other option from Zambia is to fly via Jo’Burg due East to Mauritius where you can spend some time relaxing in absolute comfort soaking up all that this vibrant island has to offer. Mauritius is a much larger island than Zanzibar so has a larger range of activities to keep you and your nearest and dearest occupied when on holiday.

A holiday in the south of Africa and the surrounding islands provides a perfect mix of safari and beach holiday that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. This a unique area with a hugely diverse and interesting eco system that you really have to experience to understand just how magical it really is.