9.Zimbabwe

Local draft: $2, accompanied by the scent of wildlife

What you'll save on: Bragging rights. Who the hell else do you know who's been here?

Why here? Africa's adrenaline capital, the Victoria Falls region, is once again open for business. Rafting on Class V rapids, giving a full-grown lion a massage, and beholding the epic Victoria Falls is only a taste. When the Zambezi river tumbles over the Victoria Falls shelf into an infinite gorge, it creates a steamy spray that can be seen from space.

Getting healthy here is easy and cheap. The locals are gracious and dapper, quick to share a smile. One theory as to why: Statistically poor locals raised in non-electrified villages have eaten only organic foods throughout their lives. When visiting places with bad raps, you have to keep your guard up but not close yourself off. The once-thriving economy is now struggling, but the chance of someone hassling you in Zimbabwe is about as likely as a New Orleans cop busting you for drinking a beer on the street.

Affordable adventure: You can also heat up your adrenaline. Built in 1905, the Victoria Falls Bridge crosses the 1,200-mile-long Zambezi just below the Falls and connects Zimbabwe and Zambia by both road and rail. This bridge over Africa's fourth-longest river is a platform for many adventures, including an entertaining attempt at "suicide practice." The world's third-highest bungee jump (New Zealand and South Africa rank first and second) enjoys a 365ft free fall.

If you need a hedonistic binge: Victoria Falls-area safaris cost maybe $1,000 a night, still only half of what you'd pay for similar products (luxury or otherwise) in South Africa. Even if you don't go full-bore, five-star accommodations in this corner of Zimbabwe carry only two-star price tags and are friendly to the expat and backpacker sets.

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