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Egypt

This year marks two major milestones in Egyptian history: the 200th anniversary of the Rosetta Stone decipherment and a century since Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered. You can pay your respects to the first one at the British Museum, but an appreciation of the boy king requires a journey into North Africa’s archaeological centrepiece. Artefacts excavated from the tomb will finally be displayed at the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum next to the Giza pyramids. Due to open in November, it’s the cultural kickstart to a classic tour along the Nile, sailing along the temple-lined riverbanks from Aswan to Luxor. Avoid a hieroglyphic headache by balancing history with relaxation on a four-night cruise with the Sanctuary Nile Adventurer, accompanied by an Egyptologist to share stories of the pharaohs and figures depicted in millennia-old carvings.

A seven-night escorted tour costs from £2,995pp based on a January 2023 departure. Take as a private trip from £3,699pp (03330 603303; coxandkings. co.uk)

Malawi

A coastline isn’t essential for beach bathing and splashing in the sun. Despite being landlocked, Lake Malawi provides this often-overlooked southern African country with a vast body of water, suitable for sailing, cruising and freshwater snorkelling with cichlid fish in astonishingly clear visibility (especially in November and December). Some of the best underwater scenes can be found around tropical getaway Mumbo Island, staying in rustic chalets with bucket showers and hammocks strung across verandas. Stick with a watery theme at Mvuu Camp in Liwonde National Park, set along a riverbank teeming with hippos. Once denuded of predators, a few years ago lions were successfully reintroduced to the park. Infrastructure within Malawi is more limited than its neighbours, but that serves as its charm. Drive or cycle along roads as red as cayenne pepper, passing through simple villages and mountain-fringed landscapes decorated with swollen baobabs. Find cooler climates in several higher altitude traditional tea plantation estates.

An 11-night trip costs from £4,705pp, including flights (01768 603715; farandwild.travel)

Mozambique

There aren’t many places where it’s possible to watch humpbacks breach on the ocean horizon while elephants graze beyond dunes on shore. Overlooking sands stretching into a hazy infinity, White Pearl Resort sits at the edge of the recently formed Maputo Special Reserve, a unique coastal and terrestrial habitat. Swim with pods of

dolphins, enjoy picnics on empty beaches and drive into the park to find the area’s darker-skinned coastal elephants. Combine with a stay in capital city Maputo, a two-hour drive away, where Maputo A Pe leads excellent walking tours of time-frozen surrealist buildings by Pancho Guedes, a grandiose, British-built train station, and murals depicting struggles for independence from the Portuguese. A new e-visa system, due soon, promises to make access to this largely undiscovered country far more straightforward. A six-night trip (two nights at Hotel Cardoso B&B and four nights’ full board at White Pearl Resort) costs from £2,575pp including flights and transfers (01608 638777; exceptional-travel.com)

South Africa

As pleasing as a pinotage blend, South Africa provides the perfect holiday mix of superb beaches, exciting safari

encounters and fine wine. Despite the 10-hour flight, the one- to two-hour time difference is negligible, and access is about to get even easier: on Nov 5, Virgin will relaunch direct flights to Cape Town and BA has announced it will increase capacity on its services. As our pound continues to tank against the dollar, it’s also one of the few places in the world still offering good value for money. Women-led group Last Word join the country’s top dots with their Ultimate South Africa itinerary. Swim and surf below the shadow of mountains at Long Beach in Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula, sample the many wines and independent art galleries at their Franschhoek sanctuary, and witness wildlife streaming from the Kruger National Park into Private Game Reserve Kitara where fences have been dropped.