Africa is the world’s second-largest and second-most-populated continent, with much more to offer than safaris, beaches, and the pyramids. Its 54 mainland countries and island states each have their own own history, tradition, and culture, which contributes to the allure of travelling throughout Africa.
While its lengthy coastline is lined with stunning beaches and craggy cliffs, its enormous interior is home to everything from mountains and deserts to tropical rainforests and the Nile River. Amazing historical monuments, isolated towns, and massive metropolises are scattered throughout these various landscapes.
Africa, home to a diverse range of cultures and languages, provides an enticing blend of old and new, as many of its age-old traditions and practises continue to this day. Africa’s remarkable natural beauty makes it a delight to visit, and its captivating historical and cultural sites ensure that there is plenty for everyone to appreciate.
- South Africa
South Africa, located at the continent’s southernmost tip, is home to some of Africa’s greatest and most well-managed national parks and wildlife reserves. Kruger National Park is perhaps the most well-known and frequented of them, with Addo Elephant National Park being a big draw.
South Africa’s cities are intriguing to visit, since each has its own distinct appearance, feel, and character. The country is known as the “Rainbow Nation” because to its diversified population. While Johannesburg is bustling with activity, Cape Town is more laid-back in nature, overlooking the majestic Table Mountain and the excellent wines of Stellenbosch.
2. Egypt
Famous for its ancient buildings and archaeological sites that include the Giza Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, and the Valley of the Kings, Egypt is unlike any other country on Earth. History is on display everywhere you walk, with tombs and temples resting beside exquisitely carved sculptures and obelisks from one of the world’s greatest civilizations and cultures.
Egypt is located in the continent’s northeast quadrant, flanked by the Mediterranean and Red seas, with the Sahara Desert to the south and west. The Nile River, which runs through Egypt, is the country’s life supply.
Many visitors come to view the historical sites or to see everything that Cairo has to offer, but just as many come to enjoy the magnificent Red Sea beaches. With so much history and culture to explore, as well as breathtaking desert and coastline beauty, Egypt truly has something for everyone.
3. Kenya
For many people, Kenya is the birthplace of safari because it is one of the greatest places in the world to observe animals up up and personal. Its boundless savannah and parched deserts are teeming with life, with lions, elephants, and buffalo roaming alongside herds of antelope, flamingo groups, and the rare black rhino.
Its stunning landscapes also house some of the continent’s most well-known peoples and civilizations, including the Maasai, Kikuyu, and Swahili, each with their own distinct languages and customs. Kenya is home to one of the continent’s most exciting cities, its lively and teeming metropolis, Nairobi, which stands in sharp contrast to its age-old ways of living.
Freshwater lakes and woodlands line its broad plains, while the Great Rift Valley runs across it from north to south. When combined with the stunning Indian Ocean shoreline, Kenya is one of the greatest nations to visit not only in East Africa, but on the whole continent.
4. Morocco
Morocco is a lovely location to explore, with a stunning mix of historic towns, medinas, and souks. They are located in the country’s picturesque Atlantic and Mediterranean beaches, as well as among the Desert sands and High Atlas highlands.
The northwesternmost country on the continent has long drawn numerous peoples and civilizations to its coastlines, and its rich legacy today incorporates African, Arabic, Berber, and Western influences. Its incredible diversity is on display everywhere you go, with Essaouira, Fez, and Marrakech among its most popular tourist sites.
Apart from experiencing the vibrant Djemaa El Fna and the beautiful highland city of Chefchaouen, travellers may relax on one of the country’s beautiful beaches or venture into the Desert. With so many different sides to it, Morocco is definitely one of the most spectacular countries to visit in Africa.
5. Seychelles
Seychelles, located 1,500 kilometres east of mainland Africa, is the continent’s smallest and least populated country. The archipelago is made up of 115 islands, the great majority of which are deserted, and is surrounded by the glistening seas of the Indian Ocean.
While the paradise islands have beautiful beaches, their innards are rugged and covered with thick jungle. Because of their distant position, they are home to a variety of unusual animals and plants, and the most of them have been classified as nature reserves. Offshore, the vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life make Seychelles an amazing destination for scuba diving and snorkelling.
In Mahe, the largest of the islands, there are several luxury resorts, bars, and restaurants, as well as Victoria, the nation’s capital. You may easily take a boat ride from here to some of the more remote islands and beaches in the area.
6. Tanzania
With so much to see and do in Tanzania, it’s difficult to know where to begin. The magnificent Ngorongoro Crater and the world-famous Serengeti, both of which are must-sees if you want to go on safari and see the Big Five, are only found in the country’s north. The snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak, may also be found here.
Certainly, this beautiful region of East Africa is endowed with a plethora of various scenery, each more captivating than the previous. The Indian Ocean coastline, for example, is dotted with beautiful beaches and Dar Es Salaam, the country’s largest and most dynamic metropolis. Just offshore, you can also find the awe-inspiring Zanzibar archipelago, which boasts many glorious beaches and is a popular tourist destination in its own right.
One of the most linguistically and culturally diverse countries in Africa, Tanzania is also home to some very important and impressive archaeological sites that date back millennia. With three of Africa’s Great Lakes found partly within its confines, Tanzania certainly has something for everyone, whether you’re into history and nature or culture and wildlife.
7. Mauritius
While Mauritius takes some getting used to, visitors are always surprised by the spectacular beaches, mountains, and waterfalls on display. Its distant location, nearly 1,000 kilometres east of Madagascar, means it is home to some of the world’s rarest flora and animals.
As a result, travelling into its hilly core is a great pleasure, with groups of vividly coloured birds swirling above the tropical rainforest canopy. You’ll find steep ravines, tumbling canyons, and glittering waterfalls hidden among the lush greenery. Overall, the volcanic landscapes provide some of the most picturesque panoramas conceivable.
There are exquisite white sand beaches for you to relax on along the enticing waves of the Indian Ocean, and there is plenty of superb scuba diving and snorkelling offshore. Mauritius is also known for its exquisite and diversified food, owing to its diverse population and rich cultural background. At any of the peaceful, laid-back fishing communities that dot its coasts, you may sample some of its excellent French, Chinese, or East African influenced meals.
8. Uganda
Uganda is not only home to the continent’s tallest mountain range and the source of the Nile, but it also borders Africa’s biggest lake. While its tourism sector and infrastructure are underdeveloped in compared to neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania, this just adds to the allure of its stunning vistas.
Uganda, long disregarded by tourists visiting the continent due to its turbulent and sad past, is gradually recovering its reputation of “Pearl of Africa.” This is due in great part to the fact that it is one of only three nations in the world where mountain gorillas may be seen in the wild. Viewing the gorgeous creatures up close in the cloud rainforests of the Rwenzori Mountains is an unforgettable experience that must not be missed.
In addition to walking through the dense vegetation, you may go white-water rafting down the Nile or go on safari to see the Big Five. With such beautiful landscape and animals to see, it is well worth visiting Uganda now before it gets even more popular.
9. Tunisia
Tunisia has long been a famous tourist destination on North Africa’s Mediterranean coast, nestled between Algeria and Libya. Many Europeans travel here to relax on its golden sands and swim in the sea because of its fantastic mild weather, enticing beaches, and well-developed tourism business.
Tunisia is much more than sun, sea, and sand: the nation is dotted with amazing ancient ruins dating back millennia. This is because it has been governed by everyone from the Carthaginians, Romans, and Ottomans to the Arabs and, subsequently, the French. The beautiful Roman amphitheatre at El Jem and the relics and ruins of Carthage are unquestionably the centrepieces of its numerous historical sites.
It also boasts the Atlas Mountains to visit, as well as the colourful seaside cities of Sfax, Sousse, and Tunis – its dynamic capital. If all of this isn’t enough, the limitless sands of the Sahara call with its enticing dunes, troglodyte houses, and hidden desert oasis.
10.Namibia
Namibia is one of Africa’s most sparsely populated countries, located in the continent’s southwest. This is due to the fact that much of it is made up of dry, lonely landscapes and the harsh Namib Desert. Originally a German colony, Namibia just obtained independence from South Africa in 1990, therefore some colonial-era architecture may still be found in Windhoek.
The majority of visitors, however, come to see its magnificent national parks, which are home to stunningly gorgeous scenery and fantastic animals. At Etosha National Park, for example, you may see lions, elephants, and black rhinos wandering the Kalahari.
Another famous tourist attraction is the Skeleton Coast, which has many eerie yet oddly beautiful shipwrecks sprinkled along its perilous Atlantic Ocean shoreline.
Namibia and its beautiful national parks are often disregarded in favour of Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa, but they are hidden jewels just waiting to be discovered.