Think about it, the number one reason travelers visiting Africa is to embark on a wildlife safari, Gorilla trekking, climb mount Kilimanjaro or get a glimpse of the big 5 mammals . While Africa certainly has some of the most extensive wildlife viewing opportunities and one of the seven summits, there are many other reasons to travel to Africa.
The African continent teems with unique landscapes, ancient history, geographical wonders and active adventures. check out the other reasons why you should visit Africa that will make this incredible continent jump to the number one spot on your adventure list
Map of Africa
reasons that will make you visit Africa
1. Tropical beaches
Africa certainly has a lot of beaches, making it impossible to choose the absolute best. However, a top pick would be the beaches on the small island of Zanzibar, just off the coast of the Tanzanian capital of Dar es Salaam.
White sand beaches are typically composed of quartz-rich sediments. Due to its hardness and chemical structure, quartz is a very durable mineral that is difficult to weather and erode. Therefore, quartz is often the most prevalent mineral found in beach sediments.
This small island boasts clear azure waters, white coral sand and plenty of diving and snorkeling opportunities, making it the perfect place to relax after a safari or trek up Africa’s highest peaks, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.
African continent ‘s tropical paradise boasts sunshine all year long, incredibly warm waters and perfect white sand beaches fringed with palm trees.
Picture yourself for one second relaxing at a mesmerizing white sand beach surrounded by crystal clear waters, lush green hills, and impressive glacis boulders on a sunny day. It might sound too good to be true, but this is the everyday reality for those traveling to Africa
2. The climate
Africa is the most tropical of all continents. Climate and vegetation range from equatorial rainforests, tropical deserts and savanna grassland to Mediterranean. The Sahara Desert, the largest of its kind anywhere in the world, is over 10.4 million km2 n North to south is approx. 1800 kms and east-west is 5600km.
There are 4 types of climate in Africa based on the combination of temperature, precipitation and evapotranspiration, Africa can be divided into four main climatic zones; (1) arid and semi-arid,(2) tropical, (3) equatorial, and (4) temperate.
3. Lively cities
“Africa is a melting pot of ancient and cosmopolitan cities“.
Explore Morocco’s Marrakesh, a densely packed, medieval city that dates back to the Berber empire. The maze of alleys and thriving markets evokes images of Disney’s Aladdin, and you’ll be hard-pressed to shake the image of a magic carpet from your mind as you browse hundreds of intricately hand-woven rugs from the eclectic souks.
In contrast, South Africa’s Cape Town is a modern cosmopolitan city that boasts a spectacular coastline and rich cultural heritage and history. The city is undeniably beautiful both for its setting against one of the new seven wonders of nature, Table Mountain, and its regeneration of industrial districts, Dutch, Malay and British influenced architecture, and historic buildings.
In central Africa you will find this magnificent city Kampala Uganda’s national and commercial capital bordering Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake. Hills covered with red-tile villas and trees surround an urban center of contemporary skyscrapers. In this downtown area, the Uganda Museum explores the country’s tribal heritage through an extensive collection of artefacts. On nearby Mengo Hill is Lubiri Palace, the former seat of the Buganda Kingdom
4. Scenic wonders
“With a wonderful variety of wildlife, culture and adventure, the African continent will deliver truly unforgettable experiences”.
Visit the world’s highest sand dunes in the Namib desert, witness the world’s largest and most powerful waterfall, Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe, and explore the lush water world of the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Trek the gentle giants the mountain gorillas of Uganda, Rwanda.
Discover Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the world’s largest unbroken, un-flooded volcanic caldera, or even stopover at Fish River Canyon, the second largest river canyon in the world (after the Grand Canyon).
Sand dune-Namibia and Victoria falls-Zimbabwe
Okavango delta and mountain Gorillas
5. Safari accommodation
Safari accommodation in Africa is an invigorating experience; it offers a close connection to the land, nature, local communities and wildlife, a better way to experience Africa?
The best thing about Safari accommodation in Africa is that there are many grades from self tent pitch camping (budget) to permanent tent camping( midrange and luxury) or treat your self to brick block thatched cottages, so it’s not all bush tents and bare essentials – though there is that too! Whether you’re keen on pitching a tent to experience the outdoors first-hand, want that little bit of luxury, like bush showers attached to your campsite and fully serviced camping, or high-end camping in luxurious dome tents with full bedding and an ensuite, Africa offers it all.
Self and permanent camping accommodation Africa
Brick block iron roof and brick block thatched cottages
Luxury accommodation
6. Water adventure
Though not commonly associated with the continent’s dry landscape, there are exciting water-based activities, including exploring the wildlife-rich Okavango Delta by mokoro, and canoeing down Manambolo River in Madagascar brimming with endemic birds. Enter the spectacular and little-visited Manambolo Gorge through a limestone plateau. It’s a great alternative to the usual game drive safari experience.
If your inner water-child calls for a trip with water activities, Africa has all you need and more.
7. The great wildebeest migration
The wildebeest migration is one of the most phenomenal natural spectacles in the world. It is an annual movement by millions of wildebeest, accompanied by large numbers of zebra, Grant’s gazelle, Thompson’s gazelle, elands and impalas across the greater Masai Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.
Each year, over two million wildebeest, zebra and other herbivores trek from the southern Serengeti to the lush green grasses of the Masai Mara. Known as one of the seven wonders of the world, the great migration is an iconic safari must-see. The peak season for Migration sightings in Kenya is considered to be between June and October and you are more likely to see river crossings during this time. However, the Migration is a year-round phenomenon and you are likely to see large herds of wildebeest at any time of year. The Great Wildebeest Migration is the largest animal migration in the world. Every year, more than 2 million animals (wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle) migrate in a clockwise direction across the ecosystems of the Serengeti (Tanzania) and the Masai Mara (Kenya).
8.Iteresting tribes and cultures
Africa is home to over 3000 tribes, each with incredibly different languages, cultures, and traditions. Some of the tribes are well known: the Zulu, which also happens to be Africa’s largest ethnic group of 11 million people; the Masai, who have deeply rooted traditions and culture and are known for living a nomadic lifestyle and herding cattle for a living; and the San and Batswana people of the Eastern Kalahari, with a cultural heritage that is over 20,000 years old. While thousands more exist, each has equally fascinating communities and traditions that forever captivate the modern world.
Omo mursi tribe Ethiopia and Himba tribe Namibia.
Karamajong tribe Uganda and Maasai tribe Kenya, Tanzania
San tribe Angola and Lozi tribe Zambia
9. The big Five
The term “Big Five” originally referred to the difficulty in hunting the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo. These five large African mammal species were known to be dangerous and it was considered a feat by trophy hunters to bring them home. Any contemporary personality psychologists believe that there are five basic dimensions of personality, often referred to as the “Big 5” personality traits. The Big 5 personality traits are extraversion (also often spelled extroversion), agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. The Five Factor Model breaks personality down into five components: Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Openness, and Stress Tolerance. Personality tests that are based on this model measure where an individual lies on the spectrum of each of the five traits. Below is the description of the big five animals
1. Buffalo
The buffalo, also called the domestic water buffalo is a large bovid that lives on the savannah and forests on the African continent.
2. Rhinoceros
A rhinoceros, commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of the extant species are native to Africa, and three to South and Southeast Asia.
3. Elephant
Elephant is the largest existing land animal. Three living species are currently recognized: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea.
4. Leopard
The leopard is one of the five extant species in the genus Panthera, a member of the cat family, Felidae. It occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa and in some parts of Western and Central Asia, Southern Russia, and on the Indian subcontinent to Southeast and East Asia.
5. Lion
The lion is a large cat of the genus Panthera native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions are larger than females and have a prominent mane.
