Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Africa
There’s something for everyone in this hospitable and fascinating continent. Here are The 10 best places to visit in Africa.
1. Cape Town
Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city on a peninsula beneath imposing Table Mountain. Visitors can scale the peak by cable car and hike its summit to see sweeping views. The city also has a historic center with street markets and art galleries. Its architecture reflects its Dutch, German, and French colonial past.
A cruise along the Nile, ideally on a romantic felucca rather than a crowded tourist boat, reveals relics of one of the world’s most ancient civilizations. The Valley of the Kings and Kom Ombo Temple are two highlights.
Malawi’s small wildlife parks, such as Liwonde and Majete, satisfy safari fantasies. The country’s pristine Blyde River Canyon has an otherworldly appeal. And mountain gorillas roam in Rwanda’s forests. The iconic species once numbered just 80. But now their numbers have rebounded after a decade-long effort to protect them.
2. Nairobi
Africa is home to many different cultures and this is particularly true in Kenya. Nairobi is the hub of East Africa and has a cosmopolitan, city life alongside its rural, wildlife-filled nature.
Nairobi National Park is on the outskirts of the city, and there’s the Giraffe Centre where you can feed these elegant creatures with specially formulated pellets. Other attractions include the Oloolua Nature Trail and the Karen Blixen Museum, the house that inspired the book Out of Africa.
Other places to visit in Kenya include the Masai Mara National Reserve toward the southern region where you can meet the local people and learn more about their culture, cuisine, rituals and attire. You can also go on a camel safari in the nearby sand dunes and discover how these nomadic desert dwellers live. This is an experience you will never forget.
3. Masai Mara
Known for the rip-roaring scenes of the Great Migration that graced the screen in Out of Africa, the Masai Mara is the crown jewel of Kenya's wildlife havens. Time your visit for July to witness the epic River Crossings. Stay at a camp inside the conservancy to avoid hordes of vehicles and to benefit from extra activities like walking safaris.
March to May is another stellar season, when the plains are green and baby animals are jumping around. You can also take to the skies for a birds-eye view during an enchanting hot air balloon ride. Add in a cultural immersion with visits to Maasai villages and gain a deeper understanding of this welcoming tribe's way of life.
4. Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi, which covers about a quarter of the country’s southern region, is an amazing inland sea with white-sand beaches and an array of water sports. Snorkeling around the lake’s crystal-clear waters reveals mouth-breeding cichlids that live nowhere else on the planet.
You can also kick back in a hammock or on the balcony of a wooden hut and admire how the water’s color changes with the sky. The Malawian people are some of the friendliest and warmest on the continent, despite the country’s economic struggles.
Blantyre is the gateway to Malawi’s attractions, with its spirited streets and markets selling locally sourced goods. Sample freshly brewed tea and coffee in the coffee shops or buy locally woven chitenge clothing at the Mataifa Market. If time permits, make a short trip to the Chongoni Rock Art Area, featuring 127 sites of some of Africa’s best rock art.
5. Senegal
At the westernmost edge of Africa, Senegal occupies a crossroads of great air and sea routes. It also straddles an ecological boundary, where semiarid grassland and tropical forest converge. Its diverse environment has endowed the country with a variety of plant and animal species, including lions and baobab trees.
Ethiopia is the land of ancient ruins and epic adventure. From the busy capital of Addis Ababa to the rock-cut monolithic churches of Lalibela, it offers visitors a wealth of cultural and natural riches.
Tarangire National Park is famous for its elephant population and profusion of bulbous baobab trees, but it's also home to a wide range of game. And the mighty Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya ("The Cloud That Thunders"), are not to be missed. It's one of the world's most stunning water spectacles and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
6. Rwanda
Africa is a huge continent with 54 countries, but there are plenty of safe and interesting destinations to choose from. Some of the best places to visit in Africa include Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Morocco.
The Masai Mara is a top safari destination, where you can take in sweeping views and observe big game wildlife including rhinoceros and lions. You can also explore the culture and traditions of local Masai people at a nearby hamlet.
In the north of the country, the famed Mount Kilimanjaro stands tall in the skies. Those who are very fit can trek all the way to its peak, but even those less active can explore its craggy slopes. Also in the region is the impressive Victoria Falls, which offer majestic water spectacles.
7. Ethiopia
The capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, is a busy city of markets and mummies. But the country offers a wealth of ancient ruins and stunning churches, including the rock-cut monolithic Lalibela.
Rwanda’s densely forested Bwindi National Park is one of Africa’s best places to see mountain gorillas in their misty forest homes. Staring into the liquid brown eyes of a silverback is a magical experience.
Namibia is another wild place, with vast sand dunes and the spectacular Fish River Canyon. But it is also a great place for bird watching and for exploring the cultural highlights of Lagos. The city’s music and dance scene is world-renowned. It is also a great place to shop, with the souks (markets) selling carpets, leather goods and silverware. Visit for a day, or stay to enjoy the local cuisine and party atmosphere.
8. Tunisia
From the bustling markets of Marrakech to pillaged Carthage and several Muslim kasbahs, Tunisia offers an exotic, ancient glimpse into North African culture. It also has an active volcano, a mountain, and a seaside resort town that was the set for Game of Thrones.
The mighty Victoria Falls (also called Mosi-oa-Tunya or “The Cloud That Thunders”) are one of the most amazing natural wonders on the planet. They are also the most visited waterfalls in Africa.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, is a must for many visitors. It takes climbers through lush rainforests and alpine meadows before they reach the twin summits. On the border with Uganda, visitors can see mountain gorillas and Tongo chimpanzees at Virunga National Park. They can also hike to the top of Nyiragongo Volcano and witness the world’s largest incandescent lava lake.
9. Zanzibar
Although many countries in Africa require more experience and knowledge of travel than others, it is possible to visit a safe part of the continent. Avoiding areas like Somalia, Nigeria and West Africa is definitely advisable but there are still plenty of other places to enjoy in Africa.
Zanzibar is a tropical paradise with miles of white beaches smothered by coconut palms. Spend some time exploring Stone Town, the historical epicentre of the island, which is full of intriguing buildings and pathways. Then head to a rooftop restaurant for some magical sunset views and a taste of authentic Swahili cuisine. Freddy Mercury, lead singer of Queen, was born here in 1946 – you can see his family’s former home in the center of the city.
10. Kenya
Africa is a vast continent with dozens - make that hundreds – of national parks and game reserves, each boasting charismatic large mammals and the chance to see rare wildlife. But many of these iconic destinations are overcrowded with jeeps full of camo-clad tourists and can feel like a safari theme park.
A better option is to head further north, to the Samburu National Reserve, home to the wild and remote Samburu tribe. You can also explore the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, named after its crater and home to a range of wildlife.
Or head to Virunga, near the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern border and established by Belgian King Albert in 1925 as Africa’s first national park. It is now known for its mountain gorillas, but you can also see Tongo chimpanzees and hike to the top of Nyiragongo volcano to watch the world’s largest incandescent lava lake glow.
