Welcome to Africa, the worlds second largest continent. Home to almost a fifth of all the people on earth, this beautiful, unique and wild continent is often overlooked by visitors. For those savvy visitors that do make the trip, they’ll be rewarded with some of the most impressive and distinctive landscapes in the world. They’ll discover lush rainforest, beautiful beaches, vast deserts, open grasslands and mighty rivers. It truly is a nature lovers paradise. Add to the mix a friendly and welcoming people with unique traditions and cuisines, alongside some incredible history and you’re onto a winner.
Africa is the second largest continent in the world. It’s geography and landscape is dominated by several significant geographical features. In the north the Sahara Desert dominates the land of North Africa. In East Africa the land is dominated by savannah grassland, while the centre and parts of the west are dominated by thick rainforests. The south of Africa is more diverse, although the Namib and Kalahari Deserts are the major features of the landscape.
Africa’s size means that it experiences a wide range of climates. The continent is intersected by the equator, meaning there are different seasons between the north and south. There are also different wet seasons between the west and the east coasts.
Starting with North Africa and as a general rule of thumb, the northern Saharan area is best visited from October to April when temperatures are more moderate. Temperatures in the summer months can regularly exceed 100°F making it uncomfortably hot.
Southern Africa can be visited year round but the months of May to September are typically cooler and good for seeing wildlife. South Africa and the garden route is best visited during the summer months of November to March on account of it’s milder climate.
East Africa’s proximity to the equator ensures a warm year round climate. The best months to visit, particularly for safari’s are during the winter dry season, which runs from June to October. The wildlife tends to congregate around waterholes making animal spotting much easier.
West Africa is best visited during it’s dry season, which typically runs from October to March. The proximity of the area to the equator mean that temperatures are pretty consistent throughout the year.
Mention Africa as a travel destination and images of safari’s, savannah and wildlife flood your mind. However, Africa is definitely not just about safari’s and wildlife. While this undoubtedly is one of the major attractions, there is so much more to discover. We’ve broken down the best places to visit for historical sites, natural wonders, safari’s and cities below.
Often under appreciated is the sheer amount of history in Africa. Egypt undoubtedly leads the way with the treasures of ancient Egypt. From the Pyramids of Giza to Karnak and Luxor Temples, there’s countless sites. However there’s a vast amount to be seen across the countries of North and West Africa as well as Sudan and Ethiopia.
Our top 5 historical sights in Africa are:
Africa’s natural wonders are unrivalled. From thundering waterfalls to towering sand dunes, there’s no shortage of natural wonders.
Our top 5 natural wonders in Africa are:
Africa’s wealth of wildlife means there are many safari’s you can take across a whole host of different countries and regions. While most safari’s are focused on seeing the ‘big 5’, there are also some other incredible safari experiences. These include trekking with mountain gorillas in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda or canoe safari’s in the Okavango Delta in Botswana.
Our top 5 safari’s in Africa are:
While Africa’s wilderness and nature rightly take most of the plaudits, Africa also has a number of towns and cities that are excellent places to visit.
Our top 5 best cities in Africa are:
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