Usually, the number one reason for travellers to visit Africa is to embark on a safari,climb Kilimanjaro or to go on wildlife viewing opportunities, there are so many more reasons why people should visit Africa.
Africa is sometimes nicknamed the “Mother Continent” due to it being the oldest inhabited continent on Earth. Humans and human ancestors have lived in Africa for more than 5 million years. Africa is the second-largest continent in the world in both area and population. It is an almost entirely isolated landmass with only a small land bridge in the northeast, connecting the African Mainland with Western Asia.
Africa consists of 48 countries that share the area of mainland Africa, plus six island nations that are considered to be part of the continent. All in all, there are 54 sovereign African countries and two disputed areas, namely Somaliland (autonomous region of Somalia) and Western Sahara (occupied by Morocco and claimed by the Polisario).
The continent is cut almost equally in two by the Equator, so that most of Africa lies within the tropical region, bounded on the north by the Tropic of Cancer and on the south by the Tropic of Capricorn. Because of the bulge formed by western Africa, the greater part of Africa’s territory lies north of the Equator. Africa is crossed from north to south by the prime meridian (0° longitude), which passes a short distance to the east of Accra, Ghana.
Africa covers six percent of the world’s total surface area, roughly 30,244,000 km² (11,700,000 mi²). Including its adjacent islands, the continent occupies about 20 percent of Earth’s total land area. Africa’s largest country is Algeria, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa) and Sudan.
North Africa or Northern Africa refers to the portion of Africa along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (except for Sudan). In the northwest, the Atlas Mountains dominate the area. South of the Mediterranean coastal strip stretches the Sahara from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea in the east. There are six countries in Northern Africa and one disputed territory, Western Sahara, with approximately 250 million people living in Northern Africa.
West Africa or Western Africa mostly refers to the countries north of the Gulf of Guinea in the north-western part of the continent. West Africa is located in the southern part of the so called hump of Africa, it is bounded in the north by the Sahara Desert and the Sahel zone. There are sixteen countries in West Africa and one British Overseas Territory, Saint Helena, an estimated 412 million people live in the West Africa.
Central Africa or Middle Africa (as used by the United Nations) refers to the tropical central portion of the African continent. There are nine countries in Central Africa, including the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe. Approximately 185 million people live in Central part of Africa.
East Africa, or Eastern Africa, is the eastern portion of the African continent; it includes Madagascar and other smaller islands. In a narrower sense, the term East Africa may refer to the former British colonial areas of present-day Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Roughly 457 million people live in the Eastern part of Africa.
We also have six different African Tribes with Traditional African Cultures:
The Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania
The red-clad Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania is synonymous with the Great Plains and savannahs of Africa. They are renowned warriors and pastoralists who for hundreds of years roamed the wild of East Africa. Savannahs, lions, safari vehicles, and a red-robed Maasai, standing elegant and slender against the infinite horizon.
The Himba of northwest Namibia
The desolate Kunene region of northwest Namibia is home to a resilient people called the Himba. Hunter-gatherers and pastoralists, the Himba descend from the southward migrating Herero of Angola. Life for the Himba revolves around the holy fire called Okuruwo. Okuruwo, via the smoke, symbolizes a connection with their ancestors, who are in direct communication with their God Mukuru.
The Zulu of South Africa
The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group in South Africa. They are descended from East African origins and over centuries, migrated south during what is called the great Bantu migration. The Zulu rose into a formidable empire under the leadership of Shaka in the early 19th century. Under his leadership, the Zulu kingdom expanded and played an important role in the history of South Africa.
The Bushman, San or Khoisan, of Southern Africa
Known as the first people of South Africa, the Khoisan are renowned for their close connection to nature, their nomadic lifestyle, and their language that comprises of clicking sounds. The Bushmen were the great artists of southern Africa and their charming rock art dating back thousands of years can be found in caves and rock overhangs all over the country. The San used pigments made from mineral deposits, ochres, blood, and egg to fashion delightful imagery of humans and animals.
When we talk about languages, there is about 1000 and 2000 languages in Africa, Africa is home to approximately one-third of the world’s languages. The diversity of Africa’s languages is evidenced by their populations. In total, there are at least 75 languages in Africa which have more than one million speakers. The rest are spoken by populations ranging from a few hundred to several hundred thousand speakers. The most widely spoken languages of Africa, Swahili , Yoruba , Igbo , and Fula all belong to the Niger-Congo family.
Africa may not always register on the average traveller’s radar, but those who visit have the chance to experience the perfect blend of ancient and modern, of wild and urban, of East and West. Some Places to visit are.
Like Zanzibar offering something for everyone, whether you’re in search of beautiful beaches or an unforgettable adventure. After trekking to this Indian Ocean destination off of the eastern coast of Africa, you’ll instantly feel at ease as you lounge on quiet beaches like Matemwe and Pongwe. Once you’ve gotten your fill of the archipelago’s beaches, visit Zanzibar City’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Stone Town, where you’ll find the ruins of a 15th-century palace and a graveyard with ties to Zanzibar’s former Arab royals. No trip would be complete without taking a spice tour in the countryside and exploring Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park.
In Zimbabwe we have a place called The Victoria Falls, Straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is roughly twice as deep and wide as Niagara Falls, making it one of the world’s most impressive waterfalls. To see the natural wonder at its prime, plan a visit there in April when the region’s rainy season has concluded. Popular vantage points include the Knife-Edge Bridge, Livingstone Island and Devil’s Pool. When you’re not enjoying the view from above, go swimming or Whitewater rafting in the Zambezi River to admire the falls from a different angle.
Most tourists who’d head to Tanzania to go on safari, but you’d be remiss if you didn’t save time for seeing the country’s other treasures. In addition to its animal-filled plains, Tanzania boasts otherworldly natural wonders, including red-hued Lake Natron, Ngorongoro Conservation Area’s expansive crater and Mount Kilimanjaro the tallest mountain in Africa. For the ultimate adrenaline rush, book a climbing excursion up the continent’s famous mountain through a local tour operator.
If you’re enamoured with the prospect of coming face to face with elephants, giraffes, zebras and wildebeests, then a safari through Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is the adventure for you. The price will be steep, but a journey here affords an unforgettable experience. To save some coin, book one of the park’s campgrounds instead of staying at a high-end safari lodge or luxury tented camp. Plan on arriving in January, February or between June and September for the best game-viewing conditions.
Cairo can be overwhelming, as there’s so much to see and do everywhere you turn. From Islamic Cairo’s bustling Khan El-Khalili bazaar to the ancient Pyramids of Giza to the picturesque Nile River, you’ll be immersed in this Egyptian city’s history and culture before long. Though winter offers the most pleasant weather of the year (with daytime temperatures in the 60s and 70s), it’s also the busiest season, so consider visiting in spring or fall when room rates are lower, temps are bearable and attraction crowds thin out.
Cape town has a numerous hiking trails, miles of dramatic scenery and stunning beaches (including one with wild penguins), Cape Town caters to both adventurous types and laid-back travellers. Getting here won’t be cheap, but it is possible to find convenient, budget-friendly lodging. Make sure you take the aerial cableway up Table Mountain, visit Nelson Mandela’s jail cell on Robben Island, explore the world-renowned Constantia Valley wine region and trek through the Cape of Good Hope the south westernmost point of Africa.
Africa is in short, is a critical site of the human drama, the original homeland, as modern archaeology and genetics tell us, of humanity and it continues to be the continent that hundreds of millions of people in all their marvellous and sometimes bewildering complexities, colours, and cultures still call home.