africa
It’s hard for many to realize that there is so much more to Africa than just UNICEF, poverty, droughts and unsanitary living conditions, because that’s what the media bombards us with time and time again, but there’s so much more to it than the widespread images on the Internet. There’s so much beauty, heritage and diversity that are yet to be discovered, especially for Egyptians, who already live in the continent and get to experience it in all of its glory firsthand anyway.

 

North Africa

1- Sahara Dunes, Morocco

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Although mostly impassible, Zagora, a little town in Morocco, provides an access point to the beautiful sands of the Sahara desert where travelers can camp, ride camels across the infamous sand dunes, go sand boarding and enjoy the local festivities with drumming and singing performances.

2- Valley of the Kings, Egypt

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An archaeologist’s heaven, the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt is where the intact tomb of Tutankhamen was discovered in 1922. The site is composed of 63 tombs as old as 500 years.

3- Suakin Island, Sudan

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Home to an abandoned harbour bay, Suakin was once bustling with business due to its lagoon location, which gave Arab ships easier access. The island itself is also interesting for those who appreciate archaeology, but being so close to Port Sudan and the Red Sea, travelers can go scuba diving and see the magnificent coral reefs.

West Africa

4- Obundu Ranch, Nigeria

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The Obundu Mountain Resort is a ranch and resort on the Obundu Plateau, Nigeria. The site itself is breathtakingly beautiful, but the mountainous climate and the chance to be at one with nature certainly is alluring.

Central Africa

5- Ilha do Mussolo Beach, Luanda, Angola

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It’s summer season, and what better to do than enjoy your vacation on the beach. In the coastal city, Luanda, the Ilha do Mussolo beach is known to relieve its visitors of their daily stresses and provide a very relaxed setting.

6- Loango National Park, Gabon

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This national park in the South of Gabon protects diverse coastal habitats. After South Africa, the world’s largest concentration and variety of whales and dolphins can be found right off the coast. Here rainforests, savannas, wetlands, lagoons and the ocean all come together. Tourism in Loango and conservation go hand in hand, being one of the few spots in Africa where tourism pays for the conservation rather than hinders it.

7- Virunga Mountains – National Park in DRC and Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

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The Virunga Mountains range from Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, housing two must-visit national parks that share borders with one another. The national park in DRC is unrivalled in its diversity of landscapes and ecosystems, containing more bird, mammal and reptile species than any protected area in the continent. By visiting the Volcanoes National Park, you can go gorilla trekking (and track the endangered mountain gorillas), hiking, or even better yet, join the many non-profit organizations working on conservation projects in this magnificent area.

East Africa

8- Victoria Falls, Zambia – Zimbabwe Borders

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One of the more famous destinations on the list, Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Being the most powerful waterfall in the world, its beauty is unparalleled really.

9- Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

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Tanzania probably hosts some of the most amazing tourist destinations in the continent, and Mount Kilimanjaro is its golden child. Rising 5,895 meters above sea level, the mountain is Africa’s highest peak. Travelers can combine the thrill of mountain climbing with experiencing some of Africa’s best wildlife reserves around the base of the mountain. We definitely recommend checking out Adventure Quarters, a new travel agency in Egypt that has travel offers for this heavenly site and many others. And here’s their event: Adventure Kilimanjaro: The Roof of Africa.

10- The Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

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The Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania are both wildlife habitats with exciting safari trips. Those who have visited say it’s just like stepping into The Lion King movie. The Ngorongoro crater is the world’s largest volcanic crater created when a volcano exploded 3 million years ago. As for Serengeti National Park, it is not just a wildlife habitat, but travelers can witness the Wildebeest Migration on the Tanzanian side as well. By visiting those two, you’ll guarantee seeing Africa’s big 5 (elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards and rhinoceros’) and much more.

11- Wildebeest Migration and Masai Mara, Kenya

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Visiting Masai Mara won’t just grant you access to the tribe’s culture and diversity, but it’s also a stage to the greatest wildlife show on Earth. We all know animals move according to the seasons, but seeing it happen live is a whole other story. The migration starts at Serengeti in Tanzania and the animals follow the rain towards Kenya and occurs all year round. However, during the months of July and August, the wildebeest have to cross crocodile-filled rivers and fight for their survival.

12- Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

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The Simien Mountains National Park in Northern Ethiopia is an exotic setting with unique wildlife and breath-taking views on a landscape shaped by nature and traditional agriculture. Its main attraction is its biosphere: the steep cliffs and the cool climate at the altitude make for very harsh environments in which some rare animals such as the Gelada baboon, the Simien fox and the Walia ibex live. Unlike the other Safari trips recommended above, the animals on the Simien Mountain National Park are unlike any you’ve seen before. 

South Africa

13- Okavango Delta, Botswana

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The magnificent Okavango Delta is the world’s largest inland delta, covering an area of over 17,000km. It is definitely one of the top places to visit in Africa. The water is pure due to the absence of industrial and agricultural activity, supporting a spectacular range of wildlife. Naturally, visitors of the Delta can go on many water-based safaris, and visit the camps across the delta for a different experience every time.

Just writing this article makes me want to pack and head straight to the airport (or take a road trip across the continent).