All sorts of overblown descriptors are ascribed to an African safari: it's the journey of a lifetime, one for the bucket list, a must-do for wildlife lovers. While none of those labels is wrong, it can sometimes seem as though covering this vast and diverse continent is confined to the back of a bumpy jeep. Not at all. In the latest issue of get lost, ­we've uncovered 10 amazing safaris spanning nine countries across Africa. For everyone who's already done the 4WD thing or perhaps prefers the road less travelled, this one's for you.            

Imagine sitting astride a horse while giraffes nibble leaves from the tops of trees just metres away, or traipsing through jungle to observe a family of chimpanzees. If even those trips sound a bit been-there-done-that, there's a 4WD trek along Namibia's stunning Skeleton Coast, as well as a helicopter journey across Ethiopia, often described as the origin of the human race, yet one of the most harsh environments on Earth.

“Going on safari is one of those dream holidays no one ever forgets,” says get lost publisher Justin Jamieson. “But many people think it's all about heading out on jeeps for three game drives a day, end of story. There's so much more on offer, and getting away from 4WDs lets you experience the landscape in much more vivid detail. Paddling canoes brings you almost within touching distance of elephants and hippos, and pulling on hiking boots lets you experience even the tiniest insects and flowers that are just as important to this environment as the lions and elephants.”

Elsewhere in the latest issue, we explore Ecuador and find big adventures in a small country, and board a former Russian spy ship to sail through the Northwest Passage from Greenland to Canada. Things may be changing in Sri Lanka, but we find the one constant – the blue whales of Mirissa. Italy is a popular destination for travellers, but we've got the low down on a slow journey through Lunigiana in northern Tuscany. If exploring city life sounds more appealing, we've got the best places to visit on a night out in Wellington, an insider's guide to West Hollywood, sweet treats in Seoul, and a wild weekend at the New Orleans Jazz Festival.

You'll find all this and more in the new issue of get lost magazine. On sale now at newsagents and online from Apple Newsstand and Amazon.

For more information or to organise an interview, contact Justin Jamieson on
(03) 9486 0550 or justin.jamieson@grincreative.com.au.