Botswana is one of the least densely populated territories on the planet—that is, of course, only if you’re counting human beings. The Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta are teeming with wildlife, with Botswana now boasting the continent’s highest population of elephants at more than 130,000. The swoon-worthy Lamu Archipelago is covered in ninth-century ruins and sandy beaches, with a heady cultural mixture that combines Swahili, Arab, Chinese, and Indian cultures—you might have guessed that it was frequently visited by traders and sailors over the centuries. And be sure not to pass through the thrumming capital city of Nairobi without stopping for a few days. These days, creatives of all stripes—including boutique hoteliers, jewelry designers, textile makers, and visual artists—are drawing on traditional motifs as they look toward the future, with Marrakech and Tangier emerging as hot spots for design lovers.
SOURCE: CN TRAVELER