National treasure Sir David Attenborough has been back on our screens in the breathtaking documentary series Africa. (Featured image by James Byrum)
One of the best and most revealing nature programmes since Blue Planet, Africa looked at the challenges faced by animals trying to survive in some of the most unforgiving environments on Earth.
The series has come to an end sadly, with Sir David asking what the future holds for the continent.
We’ve had more drama over the course of this epic series than in an episode of EastEnders; more romance than a Hollywood rom-com and more tragedy than a Shakespeare play.
But that is the unforgiving nature of the natural world, and Africa didn’t try to sugar coat the harsh realities faced by inhabitants of this huge and diverse continent.
Some of the real stars of the show included flirtatious butterflies, persevering baby green turtles and one very brave lizard. But the real star was Africa itself, with its breathtaking scenery and rugged landscapes.
This gorgeous continent is shown in such a good light in the documentary series that one holiday company has seen a surge in interest from holidaymakers.
Since the programme was first broadcast earlier this year, sunshine.co.uk has seen African holiday searches rise by a whopping 310 per cent.
Bookings for African holidays increased by 37 per cent since the first episode of Africa was aired, with Cape Town, Morocco and Tunisia among the most popular destinations on the continent.
Chris Clarkson, co-founder of sunshine.co.uk, said: “Whilst destinations such as Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt and resorts in Tunisia have been family favourites for some time now, we think Sir David’s Africa has certainly sparked an interest among holidaymakers for holidays more in the heart of Africa.”
Searches for African safari holidays have also shot up, as holidaymakers look to catch a glimpse of some of the stars of Africa in their natural habitat.
“The scenery on the programme is breathtaking and it’s not hard to see why so many people are looking into experiences such as safaris now, given the wildlife theme of the show,” added Mr Clarkson.
Other popular destination and holiday searches included “West Africa”, namely “Gambia” and the island nation of “Cape Verde”, off the coast of West Africa.
Kenya, a popular tourist hotspot known for its breathtaking scenery and excellent safaris, also saw a surge in interest as a result of Africa.
If you have had your appetite for an adventurous African holiday whetted by Africa, remember to do your research before booking anything.
“Whenever travelling to somewhere off the beaten track, we always advise referring to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for travel safety information,” added Mr Clarkson
“It’s great to get out there and see the world, but do it safely!”
