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• So far, I've traveled through Africa to Zimbabwe, South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt.
• Seeing Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe was unreal, and I was impressed by Egypt's many landmarks.
• South Africa's Cape Town has great shops and restaurants and I loved the liveliness of Morocco.

The African continent is teeming with unique travel experiences.

There's something for just about any traveler, whether you want to go on an African safari, savor first-class food and wine, see diverse landscapes, laze on stunning beaches, or marvel at ancient civilizations.

My African bucket list is extensive, but I've already ticked off Zimbabwe, South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt. All four countries were vastly different but charming in their own way.

Here's what I enjoyed most about each.

Zimbabwe has a lot of natural beauty.

If you're looking for safaris, game lodges, exotic foods, and breathtaking natural beauty, Zimbabwe is the place.

The highlight of our trip was seeing Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It is one of the most spectacular waterfalls on the planet and is said to be the world's largest sheet of falling water.

There are few places more Insta-worthy, particularly if you catch a rainbow — we saw a double one over the falls.

I also really loved Imire: Rhino and Wildlife Conservation, located about two hours from the capital of Harare. There, we went on a game drive and encountered plenty of African wildlife. Then, we had a delicious lunch in the game park overlooking an animal-studded waterhole.

It felt like pure magic.

We found a lot to do in South Africa.

Cape Town, one of South Africa's capitals, didn't disappoint with its spectacular coastal views, a top-notch foodie scene, and great shopping options.

A highlight of our trip was riding on the cableway up to Table Mountain — our gondola had a offers 360-degree panorama of the city.

We spent a whole day walking around the V&A Waterfront and spent a lot of money at its wonderful shops and restaurants.

From there, you can also catch a ferry to Robben Island, which was once a prison for political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela during apartheid, but is now a museum.

The road trip from Cape Town to Knysna — which included a section of the Garden Route, a breathtaking stretch along the coast — was also absolutely stunning. We were lucky enough to stay with family in Knysna who had a beautiful, secluded property on the side of a hill, complete with access to a private beach.

Morocco was like nowhere else I've ever been.

I felt like I was in a movie the moment I arrived in Marrakesh

Donkey-drawn carriages cruised up and down laneways while snake charmers, folk dancers, and trinket vendors vied for my attention.

I enjoyed the delightful chaos and quickly fell in love with the vibrant colors, mouthwatering food, and rugged landscape of this North African country.

The standout for me was our three-day tour from Marrakesh to the Sahara Desert. We journeyed across the Atlas Mountains and explored ancient kasbahs along the way, then eventually rode camels into the desert.

On our final night, we ate chicken tagine (a traditional Moroccan dish with a spiced sauce) under the stars, then slept in a Berber desert camp.

There's incredible history in Egypt.

In the land of the pharaohs, I marveled at millennia-old colossal monuments like the Pyramid of Giza, the Great Sphinx of Giza, and the Abu Simbel temples.

The outstanding engineering capabilities of the Egyptians have to be seen to be believed.

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is also a must-see if you're in Cairo. It houses the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the mask of Tutankhamun and his sarcophagus.

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• Beth Graham and her brothers cared for their mother for four years after she had a stroke.
• After their mom died, the siblings decided to spend the $75,000 inheritance on a trip to South Africa.
• Spending quality time with her brothers helped her deal with the loss.

I grew up in one of those weirdly close families where we all genuinely enjoyed spending time together.

My dad died young, at 56, leaving my adventurous, spirited mother a widow. I'm the youngest of three kids, with two older brothers, and we all share a love of travel.

Five years ago, during a visit back home to Florida to see my mom, she came into my room early in the morning complaining about "the worst headache of her life." It was confirmed later, at the hospital, that she had a stroke.

For the next four years, we were her caregivers. Thankfully, her long-term insurance covered most of the expenses, but my brothers and I chipped in to cover things like round-the-clock caretakers and a new stereo so she could listen to soothing music.

As a wealth manager, my middle brother managed her larger assets and took care of things like selling her home, paying off her mortgage, and settling her estate. After she died and all of her outstanding expenses were covered, we were left with about $75,000 of inheritance.

Our initial thought was to split that among her three grandchildren to help jump-start their young adult lives. But one of my brothers doesn't have children, so it didn't seem fair. We began talking about how best to honor her with those remaining funds.

While it may sound selfish to some, we determined that she would have wanted to treat us with something — she was the kind of mom who always put our needs ahead of her own.

Caregiving is hard, and we all experienced burnout at different times, both emotionally and physically, so we wanted to find a way to unwind from the past few years.

Including grandkids was too complicated

As my brothers and I all enjoy traveling I suggested we take a trip in her memory. Getting everyone to agree to that was actually the easy part. Deciding where to go proved more difficult.

The original plan was to include everyone on the trip: my husband, my sister-in-law, and the three grandkids. I suggested we rent a chateau in the south of France or a villa in Italy since my mom was such a foodie. But because of our range of interests — some like museums, others like organized tours, and others crave adventure — we concluded that a relaxing vacation in a home wouldn't work.

We settled on a trip to South Africa that would include a one-week safari and another week in Stellenbosch wine country — paying tribute to my mom's love for great wine.

We soon realized that including our kids, some still in college and others just starting new careers, would not work. They wouldn't be able to take two weeks off. So, as disappointing as it was, we decided to leave them behind. We were also very aware that this would give us the extra money to plan a more luxurious trip.

A trip to honor our mom

We flew business class from New York to Cape Town and spent two days exploring the region with a local guide. Then we traveled to Kruger National Park to our luxury resort in the private Sabi Sands Game Reserve and spent five days tracking the Big 5. We saw all five almost every day.

I ordered three small memorial key chains. Each sibling was to bring along some of my mother's ashes so that she could join us on the trip. One evening, we gathered at the resort's bar, poured a glass of wine for her, surrounded by our keychains, and toasted her for our amazing lives and sibling relationships.

After a memorable — and emotional — week, we journeyed on to our luxury Airbnb in Stellenbosch to toast her some more as we sampled the wines of the region. The end of our trip was bittersweet because we knew our time together honoring her with this trip was coming to an end.

We spent all of that money and then some, but none of us had any doubt that she was looking down on us and smiling. As an adult, it's rare that I get time to properly catch up with my own siblings. That quality time together was special and, hopefully, exactly what our mom would have wanted.

Got a personal essay about reconnecting with family that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: [email protected].

President Biden's administration is pressuring the government of Sierra Leone to adopt more permissive abortion policies in exchange for foreign assistance, according to a Monday report. 

The African nation currently bans abortion in most circumstances, but legislation before the country's parliament would decriminalize the practice. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government-run funding allocator, is reportedly threatening to withhold hundreds of millions in foreign assistance funding if the abortion law does not pass, a former senior U.S. government official who has worked in the region told the Daily Signal.

The MCC CEO Alice Albright signed an agreement with Sierra Leon's finance minister, Sheku Bangura, in late September. The agreement would see the country receive $480 million in foreign assistance so long as the country meets the MCC's "rigorous standards for good governance, fighting corruption and respecting democratic rights." The organization evaluates Sierra Leone's compliance with the standards on an ongoing basis.

The organization denied any effort to influence Sierra Leone's abortion policies in a statement to Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

"The Millennium Challenge Corporation is unaware of any Sierra Leonean abortion legislation and has never made any requests to the Government of Sierra Leone regarding abortion policies. Any such legislation would be an internal matter for Sierra Leone with no U.S. government developments fund made contingent on its passage," the organization said in a statement.

BIDEN POLITICAL APPOINTEES TO HIV COUNCIL HAVE 'WOKE' PASTS TIED TO DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR, PLANNED PARENTHOOD

The office of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who chairs the MCC's board of directors, did not respond to a request for comment.

Footage circulating on social media shows raucous pro-life protesters demonstrating inside Sierra Leone's parliament as lawmakers debated the legislation Tuesday.

Pro-life activists in the country claim that President Julius Maada Bio fired his attorney general last week because the official refused to push for the abortion law in parliament. Bio appointed Alpha Sesay as the new AG this week. Sesay is a recent former employee of USAID and has advocated for the new abortion law on social media.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., condemned reports of the pressure campaign in a Monday statement.

"It is deeply disturbing, but not terribly surprising, that we are hearing reports that the Biden administration is threatening to withhold foreign assistance to Sierra Leone unless legislators there pass the deceptively named ‘Safe Motherhood Act’ legislation that would legalize abortion in Sierra Leone, a country that currently protects unborn life," he told the Signal.

Smith has previously accused the Biden administration of "hijacking" a Bush-era program delivering AIDS relief to Africa to promote its abortion agenda.

HIV INFECTIONS HAVE DROPPED IN RECENT YEARS, CDC SAYS, BUT AGENCY CALLS FOR GREATER EQUITY

PEPFAR, the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, was launched in 2003 under President George W. Bush and has invested over $100 billion fighting AIDS across the world while saving 25 million lives and preventing millions of infections, the State Department says. PEPFAR was up for re-authorization in Congress last year.

"President Biden has hijacked PEPFAR, the $6 billion a year foreign aid program designed to mitigate HIV/AIDS in many targeted — mostly African — countries in order to promote abortion on demand," Smith told colleagues in a 2023 statement.

Smith said two groups, Population Services International (PSI) and Village Reach, have received $96.5 million and $10.1 million, respectively, over the last few years from PEPFAR under Biden, and both groups have a track record of pushing abortion.

"PSI proudly proclaims it provides abortion and lobbies to eliminate pro-life laws," Smith said. "PSI provides comprehensive abortion and post-abortion care services in nearly 20 countries throughout the world."

Fox News' Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report

Tyme Group, a South African fintech, has secured $250 million in a Series D round, pushing its valuation to $1.5 billion. The funding was led by Nu Holdings, which owns Latin America’s most valuable fintech NuBank, investing $150 million for a 10% stake. M&G Catalyst Fund invested $50 million, while existing shareholders provided the remaining […]

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Hundreds – if not thousands – are feared dead in Indian Ocean territory

Chido hit Mayotte at the weekend with winds of more than 200kmph, damaging housing, government buildings and a hospital

Two recent studies suggest that the gene flow (as the young people call it these days) between Neanderthals and our species happened during a short period sometime between 50,000 and 43,500 years ago. The studies, which share several co-authors, suggest that our torrid history with Neanderthals may have been shorter than we thought.

Pinpointing exactly when Neanderthals met H. sapiens  

Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology scientist Leonardo Iasi and his colleagues examined the genomes of 59 people who lived in Europe between 45,000 and 2,200 years ago, plus those of 275 modern people whose ancestors hailed from all over the world. The researchers cataloged the segments of Neanderthal DNA in each person’s genome, then compared them to see where those segments appeared and how that changed over time and distance. This revealed how Neanderthal ancestry got passed around as people spread around the world and provided an estimate of when it all started.

“We tried to compare where in the genomes these [Neanderthal segments] occur and if the positions are shared among individuals or if there are many unique segments that you find [in people from different places],” said University of California Berkeley geneticist Priya Moorjani in a recent press conference. “We find the majority of the segments are shared, and that would be consistent with the fact that there was a single gene flow event.”

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Ex-president John Dramani Mahama returns on promise to lead country out of economic woes

The influential accelerator Y Combinator made a splash in Africa in 2020 when it shined its light on the market and began to accept startups from the region into its cohorts. The move was huge: in this nascent market, startups especially rely on programs like these to find their feet and connect with investors, and […]

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• After visiting over 50 countries, I've learned which spots are great for escaping the cold winter.
• The Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, is a great sunny spot for outdoor activities.
• I loved getting to experience the rich history and great beaches in Cape Town, South Africa.

Though many people take their big trips in the summer, the winter is a great time for a grand escape. I've always been someone who needs sunshine and warmth in my bones, so when winter rolls around each year, I plan a sun-soaked getaway to escape the cold.

I've traveled to more than 50 countries and have come across a few destinations offering a winning combination of stunning scenery, memorable experiences, and warm weather.

Here are four places I'd recommend checking out in the winter months.

The Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, is sunny practically all year round.

With beautiful beaches and plenty of theme parks, the Gold Coast in Australia's Queensland is filled with things to do.

The Gold Coast has a sub-tropical climate with about 300 days of sunshine a year, so you're likely to encounter optimal weather for outdoor activities.

My favorite activity here was walking the trail from Tallebudgera Creek to Burleigh Heads, which goes through Burleigh Head National Park. I witnessed plenty of scenic ocean views along the way and often stopped to watch the surfers catch a wave.

If you have any interest in monkeys, Ubud in Bali, Indonesia, is the place to go.

If chill island vibes, monkey spottings, and melodious insect cacophonies appeal to you, Ubud is the place to go.

One of the top attractions is the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, home to more than 1,200 monkeys. You can explore ancient temples and meet the local long-tailed macaques in their natural habitat.

Just make sure you follow the rules and don't take any food or water bottles with you. I learned that lesson the hard way when one enormous monkey leaped on my backpack, giving me the fright of my life.

Another highlight for me was sitting on our veranda at the Green Field Hotel while overlooking the rice fields at sunrise and listening to the cricket orchestra.

My 8-year-old son and I sat out there one morning for about two hours while everyone else was asleep, chatting and enjoying the sounds of nature around us.

For a nice, easy nature hike, check out Campuhan Ridge Walk. I loved the scenery and took my 4-year-old with me. At one point, we stopped for a rest on the trail, and I looked up to find the biggest spider I'd ever seen lurking right above us — so keep your eyes peeled.

Bonito, Brazil, is an incredible snorkeling destination.

Bonito, which means "beautiful" in Portuguese, lives up to its name. The town is in the southern region of the Brazilian Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland. We stopped here on our way from Rio de Janeiro to Bolivia and fell in love with this hidden paradise.

Surrounded by lush forests, Bonito has amazing crystal-clear rivers where you can spot an abundance of fish while snorkeling.

During our trip, a massive thunderstorm rolled in above us when we were snorkeling. Watching the fish dart around underwater as raindrops landed on my back was such an awe-inspiring experience.

I loved exploring wineries and beaches in Cape Town, South Africa.

When it comes to epic coastal scenery, warm people, delicious food, and historical sites, Cape Town delivers.

One of our favorite spots was Groot Constantia, the oldest wine estate in South Africa. We had a mouth-watering lunch and did a wine tasting before learning about the history of Cape farmers at the Manor House Museum and walking through the grounds.

Cape Town's sun-soaked beaches were also postcard-perfect. The water can be pretty chilly, however, even in the summer. I only dipped a toe in, but if you enjoy a little cold-water therapy, feel free to dive right in.

President Biden appeared to rest his eyes during a summit with African leaders in Lobito, Angola, in a moment that was caught on video. 

Seated in the middle of a table with various officials from African countries, the 82-year-old president can be seen closing his eyes and resting his head while Tazania's Vice President Philip Mpango spoke. 

Biden's eyes remained closed for more than a minute. Otherwise, he was alert and gave remarks before and after the brief period. 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

WHO ELSE MIGHT BIDEN PARDON AFTER HE SPARED HUNTER FROM SENTENCING?

Several observers on social media said it looked like the president fell asleep.

"Joe Biden fell asleep during a meeting with African leaders today," Outkick founder Clay Travis posted on X. "He’s sharp as a tack though! Honestly, this feels intentional. Who puts an 82 year old on a plane for a THREE DAY trip to Africa?! Three days! So dumb." 

BIDEN PLEDGES $1B IN AID TO AFRICA AS NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE AFTER HELENE

Jake Schneider, who was the rapid response director for President-elect Trump's campaign, quipped, "Biden literally falls asleep during his own meeting in Africa. Who's running the country?"

And Denver-based radio host Ross Kaminsky, among others, called the episode "embarrassing" for the United States.

BIDEN TRAVELS TO AFRICA WHERE POLICIES WERE ‘OVER-PROMISED AND UNDER-DELIVERED,' AMID MASSIVE CHINA EXPANSION

"It's incredible that our enemies haven't challenged us more while we're basically without a president," Kamisnky shared on X.

Earlier on Tuesday, Biden announced $1 billion in humanitarian aid to support Africans displaced by historic droughts and food insecurity.

"The United States continues to be the world's largest provider of humanitarian aid and development assistance. That's going to increase, you know, that's the right thing for the wealthiest nation in the world to do," Biden said while speaking in Angola. "Today I'm announcing over $1 billion in new humanitarian support for Africans displaced from homes by historic droughts and food insecurity. We know African leaders and citizens are seeking more than just aid. You seek investment.

Biden’s visit to Angola this week marks the first time the president has stepped foot on African soil during his presidency, and it comes as people in North Carolina continue to face challenges after Hurricane Helene caused destruction and devastation in late September.

Last month, the White House requested $98 billion in additional disaster relief funding to help efforts in Helene-ravished areas.

Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

Opposition party boycotted election result alleging malpractices after polling delayed

President Biden pledged $1 billion in humanitarian support to Africans displaced by historic droughts and food insecurity on Tuesday, as North Carolina residents continue to rebuild after the devastation left by Hurricane Helene.

"The United States continues to be the world's largest provider of humanitarian aid and development assistance. That's going to increase, you know, that's the right thing for the wealthiest nation in the world to do," Biden said while speaking in Angola. "Today I'm announcing over $1 billion in new humanitarian support for Africans displaced from homes by historic droughts and food insecurity. We know African leaders and citizens are seeking more than just aid. You seek investment.

"So, the United States is expanding our relationship all across Africa from assistance to aid, investment to trade, moving from patrons to partners to help bridge the infrastructure gap," he added.

Biden’s visit to Angola this week marks the first time the president has stepped foot on African soil during his presidency, and it comes as people in North Carolina continue to face challenges after Hurricane Helene caused destruction and devastation in late September.

BIDEN TRAVELS TO AFRICA WHERE POLICIES WERE ‘OVER-PROMISED AND UNDER-DELIVERED,' AMID MASSIVE CHINA EXPANSION

Last month, the White House requested $98 billion in additional disaster relief funding to help efforts in Helene-ravished areas.

Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle have pledged to act swiftly once they get a formal request from the Biden administration.

On top of that, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told reporters last month that her agency "will need additional funding of approximately $40 billion beyond its 2025 budget request to support the ongoing recovery efforts to these storms and meet our overall mission requirements through the end of the fiscal year." 

HOUSE REPUBLICANS EYE FEMA FUND OVERHAUL AHEAD OF HIGH-STAKES HEARING ON HELENE RECOVERY

Still, until these funds are in place, some continue to slam Biden’s legacy of putting foreign countries before his own, which was seen Tuesday as a video of Biden making the $1 billion announcement in Africa made the rounds on social media.

"BREAKING: Joe Biden just announced a $1B aid package for AFRICAN nations that are rebuilding from natural disasters. What about North Carolina? This is DISGUSTING," one user on X wrote.

"This is by far the WORST President of all time," another said on X.

JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS 'DISHONEST'

Still, one more user asked, "Can anyone please explain why Joe Biden hates America so much?"

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter.

Helene ravaged part of the U.S. Southeast in late September, killing more than 100 people in North Carolina alone.

It’s estimated to have caused billions of dollars worth of damage as well.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., previously told Fox News Digital that he believed it could be one of the most expensive storms in U.S. history. 

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.