OUT OF AFRICA

Thinking of booking a break a bit further afield but not sure where to start? Here travel experts give Express readers an exclusive off the beaten, inside track to make the right choice this summer

- Emily Wright

FROM the winding streets of Morocco's iconic blue city to hikes up Table Mountain in Cape Town and tracing the paths taken by ancient Egyptians at the Pyramids of Giza, more and more travellers are flocking to Africa's tourist hotspots.

Even in the Serengeti, you might have to fight through the crowds just to catch a glimpse of the really wildlife.

So it comes as no surprise that travel experts are urging more adventurous travellers to broaden their horizons and explore some lesser-known corners of the vast continent.

Here, the Express reveals the little known delights that are in Africa and out of this world when it comes to a trip to remember bustling cities, picturesque beaches, intimate cruises and unspoiled nature reserves.

VIBRANT CITY BREAK:MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

A port city on the Indian Ocean, Maputo boasts a "vivid tapestry" of modern life mixed with history and culture, and is "easily one of East Africa's most attractive capitals" according to Lonely Planet.

Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO of Global Travel Moments, says some of its must-see sites include the Maputo Central Railway Station, ranked as one of the world's most beautiful, and the Fortress of Maputo, which offers visitors a taste of Mozambique's colonial past.

Meanwhile, the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora da Conceição is impressive with a gleaming white spire, and visitors can also enjoy the many bustling cafes and cultural scene.

Although Maputo has few of its own beaches, Greenfield-Turk added that a two-hour trip to Ponta do Ouro reveals an unspoilt stretch of golden sand ideal for dolphin spotting and diving.

How to get there: Fly from Heathrow to Maputo International Airport (MPM) with one stop at Addis Ababa (ADD) with Ethiopian Airlines from £1,077 return.