August is a great time to visit Zanzibar, Tanzania. Photo: Shutterstock
nation
Tanzania
Why you should go: August, the dry season, is the best time to visit national parks in southern and western Tanzania, as wildlife is easier to spot and animals congregate around watering holes. You should also visit Mount Kilimanjaro (tanzaniaparks.go.tz), take time to relax on the coastline strung with beaches and explore Zanzibar, the fabled spice trading island (zanzibartourism.net).
do not miss it: The Ngorongoro Crater (ngorongorocrater.org) is both a protected area and a World Heritage Site. The world’s largest dormant crater has open grasslands, salt lakes and small springs that provide food for the Maasai people and wildlife. Rhinos, hippos, zebras, gazelles, cheetahs, lions and leopards are all animals that can be spotted on safari, and thousands of flamingos inhabit the lakes. See Tanzania travel.go.tz
See also: Africa’s newest safari frontier
Netherlands
Old windmill in Kinderdijk – a famous Dutch landmark. Photo: Shutterstock
Why you should go: The cold and rainy country has ushered in summer, and August is the best time to enjoy summer. The Dutch are also out and about, enjoying café terraces, beer gardens and festivals. In Amsterdam, the Grachtenfestival (grachtenfestival.nl) hosted 150 classical concerts, while in Scheveningen a week-long international fireworks festival (vuurwerkfestivalscheveningen.com) lit up the evening sky.
do not miss it: For a quick escape from Amsterdam, head to Edam (vvv-edam.nl). Divided in two by a canal, this pretty town once thrived on maritime trade and is famous for its red rind cheese. Yachting speeds along the water, the sun dips through the clouds, and the fresh sea breeze blows away the melancholy of hikers on the embankment crest path. See holland.com
See also: Six of the best: unusual Dutch museums
Peru
Machu Picchu. Photo: Shutterstock
Why you should go: It’s winter in Peru, the driest time of year, and the perfect time to visit Cusco and Machu Picchu. However, Peru does have many other wonderful attractions, including Lake Titicaca and the Colca Canyon, nicknamed the “Valley of Wonders” for its steep canyons, green valleys, snow-capped volcanoes and desert landscapes.
do not miss it: The Inca Trail in South America requires four days of high-altitude trekking, from subtropical jungles through cloud forests and into the dazzling Andes scenery, some areas as high as 4,200 meters above sea level. Part of the route follows paths paved by the Incas half a thousand years ago, and you’ll pass several Inca ruins, but most importantly, reach the fabled Machu Picchu. See peru.travel
SEE ALSO: A Peruvian city that’s like one of the best in Europe
Mongolia
Ulan Butong Grassland in summer. Photo: Shutterstock
Why you should go: Although it rains in August, temperatures are warm, grasslands are in bloom and rivers are at their best. Mongolia is one of the world’s greatest wilderness regions, with stunning mountain and steppe scenery, but is sparsely populated and (for now) hardly visited by tourists. The best way to experience the local culture is to stay in a yurt, participate in yak herding and meet a falconer.
do not miss it: The Gobi Desert, with its wonderful dune vistas, camel rides, the chance to camp in yurts and the occasional Buddhist temple beneath the cliffs. Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs are great places to hike. The Gobi also has some excellent dinosaur fossil sites. See mongolia.travel
See also: Mongolia: Nomads roam the rolling plains
Poland
Why you should go: Poland is known for lively, historic cities such as Warsaw, Wroclaw and Krakow, which have undergone considerable renaissance in terms of dining and fashion. But when midsummer brings warmth and greenery to this part of Northern Europe, you can also easily explore the countryside with its gentle coastline, the Tatra Mountains (Zakopane is an ideal base for hiking) and scenic Matsu Scattered lakes in the Lake District.
do not miss it: August is festival season, so choose. Pol’and’Rock in Kostrzyn (polandrockfestival.pl) is Europe’s largest open-air music festival, featuring well-known musical groups, especially from the Nordics. The OFF Festival (off-festival.pl) in Katowice presents around 100 alternative music groups. See poland.travel
See also: Why Poland is the next big thing in Europe
City
berlin, germany
People watch a Sunday karaoke performance in Berlin, Germany. Photo: Shutterstock
Why you should go: Berliners love the outdoors, and August is the perfect time to relax on deck chairs in parks, pub terraces, beer gardens and river banks. Street parties, open-air concerts and festivals keep the city alive, while the capital’s infamous nightlife never seems to stop.
do not miss it: The expansive Tiergarten is a vast green area of meadows, lakes, winding paths and large lawns. With over 20 kilometers of tree-lined walks, it’s a great place to relax before returning to city life. One corner is Zoo Berlin (zoo-berlin.de), famous for its giant pandas. There are also monuments scattered throughout the park. Climb the Victory Column and enjoy the view. see visitberlin.de
See also: Top 10 reasons why Berlin is the coolest city in Europe
Darwin, Australia
Darwin waterfront. Photo: Northern Territory Tourism
Why you should go: The best time of year in the Northern Territory brings dry, cool weather and the presence of the must-do Mindil Beach Sunset Market (mindil.com.au) on Thursday and Saturday nights. It’s also Darwin Festival time (darwinfestival.org.au), with theatre, music, art exhibitions and pop-up bars and dining. You can also attend the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (darwinaboriginalartfair.com.au).
do not miss it: The Darwin Waterfront (waterfront.nt.gov.au) is the city’s recreational area, with man-made beaches, playgrounds, swimming pools and restaurants. Walk around the pier to the RFDS tourist facility (rfdsdarwin.com.au) for an overview of the Royal Flying Doctors Service and the history of the bombing of Darwin in WWII. See northernterritory.com
See Also: Top Foods at the Top
TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Why you should go: Although hot and humid, August is a good month for festivals in Taipei, including the Fringe Festival (fringefestival.taipei), the music and culture-oriented Riverside Festival and Arts Festival (artsfestival.taipei). The National Palace Museum (npm.gov.tw) is the world’s largest repository of Chinese culture, and the city’s fabulous street markets and street food are worth a visit, too.
do not miss it: To keep cool on a hot summer day, try bing bing, a traditional snack made of shaved ice and various fruits, especially watermelon and mango. Elaborate versions are topped with wafers, sweetened peanuts, marshmallows, various syrups, condensed milk or cane juice, and have popular modern names like “Strawberry Blizzard” or “Mango Avalanche.” See travel.taipei
SEE ALSO: Twenty Reasons to Fall in Love with Taipei
Geneva, Switzerland
The Parc des Bastons in Geneva takes its name from the forts that formed part of the fortifications. Photo: Christof Schuerpf
Why you should go: In August, Geneva’s lakeside promenade is at its best, with psychedelic flower beds and sweeping views from Lake Geneva to the French Alps. The giant summer Ferris wheel set in the Jardin Anglais is a romantic way to appreciate the city’s surroundings, surrounded by chalet villages offering Swiss food and wine.
do not miss it: Geneva’s famous fountains rise 140 meters above the lake. Seven tons of water are aloft at all times to create a spectacle. The fountain is located by the lake and is surrounded by a promenade and nearby manicured park, making it an ideal destination for a walk. The nearby Parc Le Grange has a wonderful rose garden in summer. see geneve.com
See also: Chill out in Geneva’s trendiest suburbs
Edinburgh, Scotland
Why you should go: You can enjoy some of Scotland’s best weather, and the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival (edfringe.com) runs throughout the month, offering a smorgasbord of more than 3,300 acts in 300 venues, from theater and dance to circus and comedy. The equally famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo (edintattoo.co.uk), also held in July, will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
do not miss it: The National Museum of Scotland (nms.ac.uk) offers an eclectic collection of steam locomotives, dinosaurs and the original Dolly the cloned sheep, providing suitable filler for future generations and testifying to the continued creativity of Scottish scientists. The National Galleries (nationalgalleries.org) has a collection of works by the greats of Europe, but has a particularly interesting section on Scottish painters. See edinburgh.org
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