12 Great Places You Must Visit in Africa Before You Die - Pictures

As old as Time itself, and acknowledged as the very Cradle of Humankind, the great Continent of Africa has untold treasures to reveal to those who take the time to come on a journey of discovery.  From the ancient temples, pyramids and tombs of Egypt, to the stunning natural wonders and wildlife in Uganda, Kenya, Botswana and Namibia, we have some great suggestions for 12 astonishing “must see” places in Africa to include in your itinerary.

1. Abu Simbel - Egypt

The two temples at Abu Simbel are best known for their dazzling magnificence and their historic relocation from their original setting on a sandstone cliff near the Nile River.  The temples were originally carved out of sandstone over three millenniums ago, during the reign of the great Pharaoh Ramesses II and were dedicated to him and the Egyptian gods.

When the Egyptian government were constructing the Aswan High Dam in the 60’s, the temples faced submergence under the waters of the resulting Lake Nassar, and the government sought the assistance of UNESCO and the international community to help them avoid this potential disaster.  It was decided to relocate the temples to a new site, where they would be safe – a monumental undertaking, given the scale of these temples!  The relocation included dismantling the two temples, moving them to their new location and then reassembling them in exactly the same form and relationship to each other and to the sun.  In their new home they are surrounded by an artificial mountain to try and recreate their original setting.  A photo exhibition of this historic relocation can be seen at the dome at Abu Simbel.

2. Mount Kilimanjaro

Rising to 19,340 ft above the plains of Africa, Kili (as Mount Kilimanjaro is popularly known) is the highest mountain in Africa.  Unusually for such a lofty peak, the highest point, Uhuru peak is accessible to anyone who is moderately fit, and many make the pilgrimage to climb Kili every year,  and it will be one of the highlights of a trip to Tanzania.

The experience of being on the roof of Africa is, to say the least, exhilarating!  The scenery at the peak is breathtaking, with the huge glaciers forming a heavenly white landscape.  To make this an even more desirable destination, the region around the base of Mount Kilimanjaro is home to some of Africa’s premier wildlife parks and reserves, so it is easy to see why a visit to Kili is indeed an African “must-do”.

Are you keen to find out more about Mount Kilimanjaro? Check out these resources:

• Our Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park profile has lots of interesting details and pictures
• Short UNESCO video on Mount Kilimanjaro National Park on YouTube

3. Victoria Falls on the Zambia - Zimbabwe & Zambia Border

The grandiose Victoria Falls are located on the mighty Zambezi River, at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.  These waterfalls are the largest moving body of water on Earth, and photos cannot do them justice – you have to be there to see them for yourself!  The locals call them “Mosi-oa-Tunya”, which means the “smoke that thunders” – a most apt description for the columns of spray that can be seen (and heard!) from miles away.

The Victoria Falls are a definite “must-see” in Africa because of their unusual form and their sheer size!  As a bonus, there is a great diversity of wildlife and many adventure activities to be enjoyed near-by.  On the Zambian side of the Falls it is possible to swim in relative safety in the natural pools at the top of the falls, but you will need nerves of steel!

  

4. The Great Pyramids at Giza - Egypt

The Great Pyramids at Giza need no introduction!  They are the most recognizable icon of Egypt, together with the Sphinx.  Most of the pyramids (there are over 100 pyramids in Egypt) were built as tombs to preserve the mummified bodies of the dead pharaohs, and keep them safe and undisturbed in their after-life.  In these massive resting places their mortal remains would continue to receive food offerings long after they had been interred.  Their most treasured possessions were buried with them for comfort in the after-life, and in some cases animals and slaves accompanied them for company on their journey.

The greatest of these pyramids is the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu (also known as Pharaoh Cheops), found at Giza, a few kilometres south of Cairo, at the same location as the great Sphinx, a half-human, half-lion statue considered to be one of the world’s largest and oldest statues. 

5. Valley of the Kings - Egypt

This is where the mighty Kings of Egypt and their attending elite were laid to rest for over 500 years, between the 16th and 11th centuries BC.  Situated near Luxor, on the west bank of the Nile River, this part of the desert valley is known to contain at least 63 tombs, many of which contained priceless Egyptian antiquities.  Unfortunately, the tombs were repeatedly plundered over a period of time and most of these gems have been stolen.  The Valley of the Kings rose to fame after the 1922 discovery of the intact tomb of Tutankhamun, and today is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world.  It is quite possible that many more tombs may be unearthed in the future. 

 6. Fish River Canyon - Namibia

Widely regarded as the second largest river canyon in the world, (after the Grand Canyon in Arizona), the spectacular Fish River Canyon is a stunning natural wonder which has been carved out of the Namibian Desert.   The astounding Canyon is over 160kms long from North to South, 27kms wide and over 550mt deep in places.  In the floor of the Canyon flows the Fish River, alternating between a trickle in the dry season and a ranging torrent that continues the erosion process, after good rains.  The wildlife that are sustained by the permanent water in the canyon floor includes wild horses, mountain Zebra, Kudu and Klipspringer, as well as abundant birdlife.  Hiking the Canyon is a Highlight of any visit to Namibia.

7. Sossusvlei Namib Desert National Park - Namibia

Situated in the Namib Naukluft Park, the Sossusvlei is a huge clay pan, guarded by a crescent of giant red sand dunes, an enduring symbol of Namibia.  The highest of these dunes is called Big Daddy (sometimes Big Moma!) and is over 300mts high. Climbing to the top is one of the most exhilarating activities to add to your Namibia itinerary.  On the rare occasions that it rains in the area, the Sossusvlei fills with water and the resultant turquoise lake is an amazing sight to behold in the middle of the desert!

The Naukluft Park is one of the largest conservation areas in Africa and the fourth largest in the world and is home to a wide diversity of wildlife and flora that have adapted to the arid conditions. 

You can find more information on the amazing Namib Desert in our destination profile!

  

8. Wildebeest Migration, Maasai Mara and Serengeti National Parks - Kenya & Tanzania

Could this mass migration be the most spectacular Natural event in the world?  Many people who have witnessed it believe that it is!  The annual migration of over 2 million Wildebeest, Zebra and antelope takes place within the plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania and has often been called the greatest wildlife show on earth. The animals start their migration from the south of the Serengeti, following the rain and fresh pastures to the northern border with Kenya, the Mara River, which represents the greatest hurdle of the migration.  They are followed by many predators, and also have to face the threat of the Crocodiles that lie in wait in the Mara River.

The Wildebeest migration is a spontaneous and rather unpredictable event, governed by climate and rainfall, and the exact date varies from year to year.  The best time to catch the migration at Masai Mara is from July to September when the animals congregate to cross the river into Kenya. 

Would you like a bit more background information on the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti? Have a look at Africa Point's detailed profiles:

• Read all about the marvellous Maasai Mara National Reserve and learn about the best highlights to be experienced
• Get the inside scoop on the Serengeti National Park and get a taste for the incredible wildlife that is awaiting you

9. Karnak Temple Complex - Egypt

The Karnak Temple Complex, the largest and most impressive temple site in Egypt, is probably the largest religious complex anywhere in the world.  It is located near Luxor, a region which is also home to many other impressive sites including the Sphinx and the Pyramid of Giza.  The complex is a conglomeration of three main temples and several smaller ruined temples, and to give you an idea of the scale, the main temple alone covers an area of 65 acres!  This main temple, the Temple of Amun is the largest and most impressive, and is also the only temple that is currently accessible to tourists as this is still an active archaeological site. 

  

10. Okavango Delta - Botswana

The magnificent Okavango Delta (sometimes incorrectly called the “Okavango Swamp”) is the world’s largest inland delta, covering an area of over 17,000kms.

This unique natural wonder was formed after an ancient inland sea, Lake Makgadikgadi dried up thousands of years ago.  The Okavango delta is fed by the highland waters of Uganda, which flow for over a 1,000kms to reach the plains of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, where they fan out to create an incredible labyrinth of inland lagoons, islands, channels and lakes, which are the lifeblood of the animals of the region.  The absence of industry or agriculture in this desert region is responsible for the purity of the water which supports a huge diversity of wildlife.   Safaris in the Okavango Delta offer an exceptional wildlife experience not to be missed.

There is a lot more to explore in Okavango Delta, have a look at these resources: 

• Learn all about the Okavango Delta, Africa's Garden of Eden, in our destination profile
• Watch footage from the Okavango Delta on the National Geographic website
  
  

  

11. The Virunga Mountains - DRC/Rwanda/Uganda Borders

The Virunga Mountains are a chain of volcanic mountains found along the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo).  Apart from their spectacular beauty, the forests of these mountains form the last remaining home of the highly endangered Mountain Gorilla, and visiting them is a real draw card for visitors to the Virunga National Park.  There are also many other interesting species of wildlife here including Chimpanzees, the Okapi and Forest Elephant.

The mountain range includes eight major peaks, the highest of which is Mt. Karisimbii, while two of them, Mt. Nyirangongo and Mt. Nyiragira are still active volcanoes.

 12. Ngorongoro Crater - Tanzania

The stunning Ngorongoro Crater is a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site!  This is the world’s largest unbroken, unflooded volcanic caldera, formed when a giant volcano exploded here and collapsed on itself, about three million years ago.  The resulting depression is huge...about 19kms across, with a total floor area of 260 square kilometres and a depth of 600mts from floor to rim.  The crater is considered a “natural” enclosure for wildlife and forms the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to many animal species including the Big Five and an especially high concentration of Lions.

Getting to Know Africa: 50 Interesting Facts…

·         There are 54 countries and one “non-self governing territory”, the Western Sahara, in Africa.

·         All of Africa was colonized by foreign powers during the “scramble for Africa”, except Ethiopia and Liberia.  Before colonial rule Africa comprised up to 10,000 different states and autonomous groups with distinct languages and customs.

·         The Pharaonic civilization of ancient Egypt is one of the world’s oldest and longest-lasting civilizations.

·         African continent is the world’s oldest populated area.  Arabic is spoken by 170 million people on the continent, followed in popularity by English (130 million), Swahili (100), French (115), Berber (50), Hausa (50), Portuguese (20) and Spanish (10).   Over 25% all languages are spoken only in Africa with over 2,000 recognized languages spoken on the continent.

·         Africa is the second most populous continent with about 1.1 billion people or 16% of the world’s population. Over 50% of Africans are under the age of 25.

·         The continent’s population will more than double to 2.3 billion people by 2050.

·         Africa is the world’s poorest and most underdeveloped continent with a continental GDP that accounts for just 2.4% of global GDP.

·          Almost 40% of adults in Africa are illiterate – two-thirds are women. Adult literacy rates are below 50% in Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.

·         Over 25 million people are HIV-positive on the continent and over 17 million have died of the disease already.

·         The Second Congo War claimed over 5.4 million lives and is the deadliest worldwide conflict since World War II.

·         There are fewer people with internet connections in Africa than there are in just New York City.

·         Approximately 90% of all cases of malaria worldwide occur in Africa, accounting for 24% of all child deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Africa is the world’s second largest continent covering about over 30 million square kilometers

·         The Sahara is the largest desert in the world and is bigger than the continental USA.

·         Africa is the world’s hottest continent with deserts and dry lands covering 60% of land surface area (e.g. Kalahari, Sahara and Namib).

·         Africa is the world’s second driest continent (after Australia).

·         Africa has approximately 30% of the earth’s remaining mineral resources.

·         Nigeria is fourth largest oil exporter in the world, and Africa’s biggest oil producer with about 2.2 million barrels produced every day. Top 10 oil producers in order of total exports: Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Gabon, South Africa.

·         The continent has the largest reserves of precious metals with over 40% of the gold reserves, over 60% of the cobalt, and 90% of the platinum reserves.

·         China is Africa’s top trade partner with Sino-African trade volumes now nearing $200 billion per year.

·         China’s direct investment in Africa exceeds $50 billion. Just look at the “Forum on China Africa Cooperation”.

·         Neocolonialism is a real threat with over 1 million Chinese citizens on the African continent. Angola alone has a population of over 350,000 Chinese. Over 55% of Africa’s labor force working in food production with vast areas of arable and pastoral lands supporting agricultural economies.

·         Over 90% of soils are unsuitable for agriculture and only 0.25% has moderate to low potential for sustainable farming.

·         Rainfall variability is very high - from 0 mm/year in the Sahara to 9,500 mm/year near Mount Cameroon.

·         Over 240 million Africans suffer from chronic undernourishment. Water scarcity impacts the lives of over 300 million Africans, of whom approximately 75% of Africans rely on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water. Global warming is aggravating the situation.

·         Limited groundwater represents only 15% of the continent’s total renewable water resources. New discoveries of groundwater reserves in large sedimentary basins in Libya, Algeria and Chad may slack Africa’s growing thirst for the next few decades…

·         Productivity of about 65% of the continent’s agricultural lands has declined significantly with vast tracts of land have been degraded by erosion, poor land management practices, mining and pollution over the last 50 years.

·         Some landscapes are estimated to lose over 50 metric tons of soil per hectare per year due to neglect and desertification.

·         Over 30% of Africa’s pastoral land and almost 20% of all forests and woodlands are classified as moderately- or heavily-degraded. Deforestation rates in Africa are twice the average for the rest of the world with more than four million hectares of primary forest disappearing every year. Countries like Kenya, Malawi and Zambia have 1-5% of the primary forests remaining. Forests used to cover over 20% of Africa’s 30 million square kilometers with almost all currently being destroyed and degraded by commercial and subsistence logging, as well as land conversion to plantations, agriculture, mines, roads and settlements.

·         Some 60% of the tropical forests in the Congo Basin are considered commercially exploitable.

·         Six of the top ten countries with the largest annual net loss of forested area are in Africa.

·         Primary forests shrink by on average 40,000 square kilometers (or 0.6% of total remaining forest cover) each year with most significant losses in heavily-forested countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon. Over 1,270 large dams have been built along the continent’s many rivers.

·         Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second-largest freshwater lake in the world.

·         Africa has the most extensive biomass burning in the world, yet only emits about 4% of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions.

·         Africa has eight of the 11 major bio-mes and the largest-remaining populations of lion, elephant, rhinoceros, cheetah, hyena, leopard and hundreds of other species. Mega fauna like giraffe, zebra, gorilla, hippopotamus, chimpanzee and wildebeest are unique to the continent and only found here.

·         Lake Malawi has more fish species than any other freshwater system on earth.

·         The Nile River is the longest river in the world with a total length of 6,650 kilometers.

·         Africa has over 85% of the world’s elephants and over 99% of the remaining lions are on the African continent.

·         Eight of Conservation International’s 34 biodiversity hot-spots are in Africa.

·         The Serengeti (Tanzania) hosts the world’s largest wildlife migration on Earth with over 750,000 zebra marching ahead of 1.2 million wildebeest as they cross this amazing landscape.

·         There are over 3,000 protected areas in Africa, including 198 Marine Protected Areas, 50 Biosphere Reserves, 129 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and 80 RAMSAR “Wetlands of International Importance”.

·         Africa is home to the world’s largest living land animal, the African elephant, which can weigh up to 7 tons.

·         Africa has over 25% of the world’s bird species.

St. Patrick, Who was He Really?

Why would a man be canonized {declared to be a saint} just because he supposedly got rid of all the snakes in Ireland? Well check this! 

Most of you probably never heard of the "Twa". The Twa are a pygmy {small race of people} tribe from Africa that has a history that pre-dates the story of Adam & Eve by almost 8500 years. The Twa journeyed to Northern Ireland very early in it's conception prior to the influence of the Roman Catholic Church & had a cultural, technological, & philosophical impact on a people there known as the Druids. One of the cultural influences the Druids got from the Twa was the fact that they wore a fez or head cover that depicted the African symbol known is a Uraeus, which is the same snake image you see worn by the Kings & Queens in ancient Kemet {Egypt}.

Now, the Roman Catholic Church seeing the practices of the Druids wanted to convert them, and if they couldn't, the would remove them & their beliefs as well along with the Twa who were still present in Northern Ireland at that time. This guy now known as ST PATRICK was given an order to set up Roman Catholic Churches all over Northern Ireland, and in the process, convert or remove the Druid & Twa influence. Guess which one Mr. Patrick carried out??????? He killed countless numbers of Druids & the Twa in the name of Father, the Son, & the Holy spirit.

So when you hear people tell you that he was made a saint because he removed the snakes from Northern Ireland, it's really referring to the Uraeus head garment worn by the Druids & the Twa. And the leprechaun myth comes from the short Black men that were murdered all in the name of religion.

THE CONQUEROR WILL NEVER TELL THE TRUE STORY! ONLY HIS/HER SIDE WILL BE TOLD! IT'S UP TO YOU TO FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF! 

—via William P. McGuinn

Have you ever used sex to get something you want?

“What is the difference between a person who actively sells sex and a person who expects drinks or dinner if they are to eventually give someone sex at some point?” This question was posed on a twitter chat held during International Sex Worker Month (International Sex Worker Rights Day being March 3). The social media conversation had people from all over Africa giving their views on sex work and of course some real gems were released, with many citing religion, tradition and the need to uphold family values as reasons for disallowing the legalization of sex work. One twitter user went as far as saying that if prostitution was legalized everyone would revert to it and there would be “no more marriages and babies”. According to this man everyone wants to be a sex worker and everyone wants to be with a sex worker, it is just the pesky legal system holding us all back.

But amid the storm of statements one did stand out that had people questioning the automatic stigma attached to sex work: What makes sex work different from a woman or man who insists on material gain from someone who is sexually interested in them to monopolize their time? What is the difference between a woman/man who has a man/woman pay his or her bills or buy him or her gifts in return for an unspoken promise of sex and someone who just asks for the cash up-front? One could argue that the second group merely show more shrewd business sense, one being more of a long-term investment plan while the other is a quick turnaround profit.

The idea took me back to the days when clubbing was something I actually did and would often expect anyone trying to “court” me to buy me a drink. In hindsight I am not proud of it but at the time it was what it was, that was just the social contract put in place. To talk to the nice lady by the bar, buy her a drink. I also recalled a time when I would use the phrase “gosh slick you could at least take me out to dinner first” when someone said anything even remotely sexual. Granted that phrase was said in jest but at the end of the day it had a great deal of social connotation to it (I learnt it from the 90s movie Baby Geniuses, so go figure).

The fact is people accept things all the time due to the fact that the other person offers it in thehope that they will see them in nude at some point. This is just a fact of life. And tacit or explicit acceptance of whatever it is they are offering does mean that you have exchanged goods for sex. It truly is as simple as that. Of course there are other dimensions such as love, a long, lasting relationship and other such virtuous ideas sometimes attached to this but at the end of the day that is what has happened and is not that far outside the realms of what happens “out there”.

This should cause one to question the stigma attached to sex work.

There are various arguments made against sex work that include the vulnerability of sex workers, the exploitative nature as well as the fact that they add to the moral decay of society and I for one agreed with many if not all of them. But this month pushed me out of my comfort zone and into the realm of interacting with sex workers and I have learned a few things.

The first is that there is an empowered element to sex work — often they set the boundaries for their interactions and can negotiate their own terms. Some sex workers actually enjoy their work. This all needs to be taken on a case-by-case basis. Not all sex workers want to be saved, not all despise their job and existence.

Sex work is also one of the world’s oldest professions, and chances are you will know someone (if not multiple people) in your life who have been with a sex worker. Prostitution has been around for thousands of years and the world is still spinning, people still have families and the sun still rises. And the honest truth is whoever uses a sex worker is going to find miscellaneous sex anyway even if all sex workers disappeared.

So at the risk of inciting mass pitchfork gatherings and torches I challenge you to think about your situation and ask yourself, have you used sex to get something you want from your spouse, lover or some other person you have an amorous relationship with? Have you in some way demanded compensation for your time by using your sexuality, gotten a drink or possibly a gift of some sort or even a meal? Did you obtain this because of your shining personality? It might be time to have a look at these instances and check the prejudices you have.

Transactional sex is far more widespread than we would as a society care to admit.