November 1st, 2023

Transfer trips: where to stop between the US and Africa

A layover gives fliers a chance to stretch, stroll and have a brief taste of another culture – so here are five cities your clients can experience en route to Africa

Whether your clients are planning to do business in Botswana, sip wine with contacts in vineyards around Cape Town or meet traders in Marrakech medina’s winding lanes, your clients may need or wish to stop over in another destination along the way. So why not help them make the most of their time there?

Paris, France

Elderly men playing pétanque on boulevards, baguettes wobbling in baskets as cyclists pedal through leafy parks – this is real Paris, away from the Eiffel Tower and Louvre. If your clients are flying from Los Angeles to Marrakech in Morocco, they may have the opportunity to stop in the French capital, where they can soak up the ambiance of the city while strolling along the River Seine or sipping a cappuccino at an alfresco cafe.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The ping of bells and the rattle of rickety bicycles crossing cobbles is the soundtrack to a layover in Amsterdam, which your clients may experience when flying from New York to Cape Town in South Africa. First time visitors will be drawn to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House, while regular flyers may prefer experiencing typical Dutch life. That means a stroll along canals at dusk as boats cruise beneath illuminated bridges, or sampling staples such as bitterballen deep-fried meatballs, chewy stroopwafel waffles and poffertjes pancakes.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Malls, mosques and beaches as soft as ground ginger are what your clients may imagine when they discover they can visit the United Arab Emirates while travelling between Chicago and Botswana’s Gaborone. But if they peek behind Dubai’s skyscrapers they’ll find another side to the city, even on a brief stopover. After exploring souks laden with gold, spices and pashminas they can hop aboard an abra or get lost in a tangle of alleyways in Al Fahidi, a historical neighborhood home to Dubai Museum, Coffee Museum and a sandy-hued windtower.

Doha, Qatar

Glitzy skyscrapers and yachts bobbing in marinas typify Qatar’s capital, a popular stopover between Seattle and Nairobi in Kenya. With the international airport walking distance from downtown and attractions such as National Museum of Qatar, Souq Waqif and Museum of Islamic Art near one another, your clients can experience the city’s highlights even on a brief visit. If they’d prefer something more understated, they can join locals on a sunset stroll along the Corniche, a palm-lined promenade that runs past a dhow harbour.

Cairo, Egypt

The pungent aroma of oud swirls around glittering lanterns and teapots in Cairo’s souks, a network of cobblestoned streets and ancient arches. As Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan’s call to prayer pierces the air, your clients will surely feel that home is a world away when they stop in the Egyptian capital from Austin to Tanzania’s Dodoma. Once they’ve ambled among the city’s back streets and sipped Egyptian coffee, they can attend a performance at Cairo Opera House on the River Nile or visit the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Ask our travel specialists for more inspiration about where to stop over en route to Africa.