Fairy tale castles of Sintra, idyllic villages like Obidos, the scenic Algarve coast and a city with vibrant vibes: Lisbon: Portugal is synonymous to happiness.

In May, when spring is at it’s peak, Portugal enchants. From medieval Porto: with traditional buildings, one of the prettiest railway stations and a Harry Potter themed book shop to the colourful Lisbon: with trams criss-crossing the city, street musicians bringing the city centres to life and endless helpings of the local dessert: Pasteis Del Nata to keep you going!

Soak in the city of Porto from the Dom Luis bridge and take a train ride up to the Pena palace in Sintra.

May is when Sintra hosts the Festival De Sintra, celebrating classical music and opera.

Shop till you drop: be it wine souvenirs or the famed Ginja (cherry liquor) of Obidos, curios of cork made products, the Azulejos tiles and rooster souvenirs. Listen to local Fado performances, gorge on sardines, wander through streets with patterned sidewalks and visit the western most point of Europe.

For history enthusiasts, there are lesser known monasteries like the Alcobaca Monastery and the church of Fatima.

Mystical Morocco is a charmer: with it’s dreamy desert life, it’s bubbling markets, it's blue city of Chefchaouen and it's hidden valleys and villages in the Atlas foothills.

May is when the temperatures are just about perfect to camp in the Sahara desert, roses are blooming, foliage is green after the rains and it is the right time to hit the beach.

Explore the intricate minarets and gilded ceilings of the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca and wander off in the Roman and Islamic ruins at Rabat.

Head to the enchanting Chefchaouen with it’s magical blue streets and hike to the Waterfalls of Akchour. Discover the Grand mosque and the Spanish mosque and visit the Plaza Outa El Hammam known for it’s public baths and lose track of time in the Red City of Marrakech, with it’s souks and architecture.

Visit the bustling cities, but also go off the beaten track to the Atlas and Rif mountains, witness the harvest in the Valley of Roses with local dances and traditional food, explore the Imperial city of Fes, but while driving through smaller gems like Meknes and Volubilis.

May also hosts the Honey festival at Argana, which is home to the largest and oldest beehive in the world.

For wildlife junkies, May is the season to head to the Eastern National parks of South Africa. This is the ideal time for a crowd free beach holiday on the Indian Ocean coastline and Game viewing in Kruger National park improves as the animals migrate to water sources following the end of rains.

Begin your Cape to Kruger vacation with a Table Mountain tour and a tour of the culturally rich city Cape Town: with it’s buildings, museums and squares.

Head to the heart of Cape Winelands on a luxurious day tour through it’s vineyards, homesteads and mountains, where you can indulge in wine tasting sessions and gourmet meals!

Visit fishing villages and Seal islands along the Atlantic Seaboard on a Cape Point and Peninsula tour. Take the gorgeous coastal drive of Chapman’s Peak and visit the heritage village Simon’s town with a penguin colony at the Boulders beach.

Travel to the Land of the Rising Sun (Mpumalanga) via a spectacular drive on the Panorama route and then nestle in wilderness at the Manyeleti Reserve. End your vacation with close encounters with the Big Five during memorable safaris at Manyeleti and Kruger while enjoying the African hospitality in a traditional Jungle Stay.