Victoria Falls
On the Zambezi River and the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls was named by the explorer David Livingstone for Queen Victoria. But its native African name is much more expressive, Mosi-oa-Tunya, the ‘Smoke that Thunders’, is a reference to the immense spray and rumbling that the Falls generate. With a width of 1,700 meters and a depth of 108 meters, the Falls are twice the height of Niagara Falls. And they’re surrounded by the savannah, which is full of rhinos, hippos and lions.
Victoria Falls, Zambia +263 77 343 0221
Pyramids of Giza
We sometimes overlook how extraordinary the Pyramids of Giza are because the image of them is commonplace today. The work of thousands and thousands of laborers, the Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and they were known to the ancients as a Wonder of the World. The Giza Complex just outside Cairo on the fringes of the Libyan Desert is sublime and mysterious, built to house the dead pharaohs and all the items they would need to rule the afterlife.
Table Mountain
Table Mountain looms over Cape Town at the southern tip of the continent at the Cape of Good Hope. Along with the peaks of Signal Hill, Devil’s Peak, and Lion’s Head, it forms a huge natural amphitheater in which the Dutch settlers of the 17th century first established what would become Cape Town. With its flat top well over a thousand meters above sea level at its highest point at Maclear’s Beacon, Table Mountain is often obscured by clouds from ground level. But you can take the famous cable car up to the top.
Lake Malawi
The furthest south of the African Great Lakes straddles Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. With its clear waters, unspoiled beaches and the backdrop of mountain on all sides, it forms a spectacular natural site. When David Livingstone came here he coined the name ‘Lake of Stars’ due to the lamps of the fishermen he saw out on the lake in the darkness. The Lake is also home to many rare fish types of exceptional scientific value, along with the crocodiles and hippos that skulk along the shores.
Zanzibar Archipelago
The Zanzibar Archipelago is a tropical paradise off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. Golden beaches, cerulean waters, and swaying palm trees make for an amazingly beautiful place. There are four main islands, Unguja, Pemba, Mafia and the uninhabited Latham Islands, along with many smaller islands that surround them. You’ll find Zanzibar City, famous for its historic Stone Town area and its connection to the spice and slave trades in the 19th century, on Unguja Island.
Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said is the gloriously pretty village in Tunisia on the Mediterranean coast that has drawn great painters and writers for over a century. Once it was a local religious site looking out onto the azure waters of the ocean, before the French artist Baron Rodolphe D’Erlanger instigated a color scheme of whitewash and light blue that now covers the whole village. The buildings are famous too for their great studded doors, with crescent patterns on many. Matisse, Klee, and Auguste Macke all came here to paint, and Andre Gide and Simone de Beauvoir came to write.
Rwenzori Mountains
The Rwenzori Mountains are found in western Uganda and part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Often overlooked, they boast a climate that combines the Alpine with the tropical. You’ll find heather along with rare plants like lobelias and spectacular mountain peaks topped with snow, and glaciers, waterfalls and lakes. Africa’s third highest mountain, Mount Stanley, is in the Rwenzori range, as is the highest and most permanent source of the Nile. The first European to set eyes on the mountains was Henry Morton Stanley in 1889.
Sahara Dunes
The Sahara stretches from Egypt in the east, all the way across North Africa to Morocco in the west. It’s at its most spectacular and romantic in Morocco, close to the border with Algeria, where you’ll find the Erg Chebbi, a sand sea made up of undulating dunes formed by the blowing of the winds, which has been much photographed and filmed. The ideal base to explore the sands is at the village of Merzouga from which groups head out on the backs of camels to see the unspoiled desert sands.
Gondar
Gondar, often known as the ‘Camelot of Ethiopia’, is known for its massive historical remains. The Emperor Fasilides and his successors built the picturesque royal enclosure known as the Fasil Ghebbi in the 17th century. It’s a place full of palaces, libraries, banqueting halls and castles for the Ethiopian aristocracy, built under the influence of the European Baroque brought here by Portuguese missionaries.
Serengeti National Park
Last but most definitely not least, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is where you’ll find lions, leopards, giraffe, buffalo, rhinos, and gazelle across plains, woodlands and savanna. And it’s where every year the Serengeti Migration takes place, with millions of antelope, zebra and wildebeest heading for green pasture lands in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. It’s one of the most remarkable sites in the natural world. There are plenty of companies available to help you find the best time and location to witness the migration.
Lamu, Kenya
Lamu is a very relaxing and laid-back coastal town in Kenya. The only thing that could occasionally disturb the peace is a braying donkey. It is, in fact, one of Africa’s best-preserved Swahili settlements and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travelers can spend hours strolling around the beautiful, narrow alleys in the old town. They can also relax at the nearby Shela Beach. Lamu is a place that adopts a slow-paced, coastal way of life.
Essaouira, Morocco
With an ancient medina and lustrous fortifications that date back to the 18th century, miles of stunning beaches, and a charming harbour and fish market to stroll around, Essaouira is one the most beautiful towns to visit on the continent. It guarantees moments of peace and tranquility far away from the mayhem of bigger cities and the charmless all-inclusive resorts of Morocco. As the wind and currents are quite strong, it is the perfect spot to windsurf and kitesurf. In addition to being a picturesque coastal town, Essaouira is a watersport lovers paradise.
Musanze in Rwanda
Home to the country’s famous endangered mountain gorillas, Rwanda’s Musanze district is full of lush bamboo forests, luxury lodges, and volcanic views. Visitors to the region sign up for gorilla trekking months in advance, as permits are expensive and often hard to come by, but it is so worth it for the chance to watch gorillas in their natural habitat. Book a stay at the ultra-exclusive and eco friendly Bisate Lodge, enjoying their romantic villas and panoramic views. For a more budget-friendly destination, check out Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda for gorilla trekking.
Lake Bunyoni in Uganda
Located in Uganda, right near the border of Rwanda, Lake Bunyoni is best characterized by its layered hills, misty mornings, and colorful sunsets. Several islands on the lake have campsites and lodges, where you can spend your time on dug-out canoe trips, hikes, and casual Scrabble games on the porch. Spend some time exploring the area, perhaps visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park for a safari, or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for some gorilla trekking.
Idanre Hills
The hills are known to be one of the most beautiful sightseeing places in Nigeria. Besides the hills of Idanre, there are other important cultural sites - Old Court, Omi Apaara, Owa's Palace, Agbooogun footprint, Shrines and the Iraye Tree. It is also quite high above the sea level - 3000 ft! It is not only a beautiful place but also home to a unique ecosystem. Worth visiting, if you ask us! Located in Idanre Town, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Ogbunike Caves
Located in Ogbunike, Anambra State. Besides being a tourist attraction in Nigeria, the caves have a spiritual significance for the local people. The immediate environment of the caves is huge - about 200 meters radius. Interesting fact - people can’t enter the caves with their shoes on, as per tradition. Women on their period can’t go in either.
