Africa is the second most populated continent, with more than 1.1 billion people living here: a huge number of peoples, languages and cultures. Among the conflict and poor countries, there are also quite peaceful, safe and interesting for tourists. Many travelers are familiar with countries such as South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. And about where you can have a good time south of the Sahara, we will tell in this article.
1. Sierra Leone
Perhaps the most unexpected state on this list is Sierra Leone, which not so long ago was torn apart by a civil war for ten years. However, since 2002, Sierra Leone has undergone major changes and today it is already among the peace-loving countries according to the Global Security Index (GPI). Sierra Leone is considered one of the most religiously tolerant countries in the world, and the life expectancy of the local population is 57 years, which is not bad by African standards.
Sierra Leone has many beautiful natural reserves, such as the Gala rainforest or the Outamba-Kilimi National Park, clean beaches on the Atlantic coast, and its capital, Freetown, is the oldest city in West Africa.
2. Botswana
Leader in security on the African continent. Whether this is due to the fact that peace and tranquility is one of the main features of both the Tswana people and the Bushmen, or the fact that the Botswana people understand the economic contribution of tourists, but anyway there is a very low crime rate.
True, no one promises that baboons will not attack you, so during the safari it is recommended not to feed these warlike monkeys and not even smile at them. In general, there are a lot of animals in Botswana; for example, the largest population of elephants in the world lives here.
One of the popular tourist attractions, along with a safari to the Kalahari Desert and visiting national parks, since the 30s of the last century, is the search for ancient treasures hidden from the colonialists in the caves of Gchvikhaba. No one has found the treasure yet, but the caves themselves with amazing stalactites up to 10 meters long are worth going to the north of the country for them.
3. Ghana
In 2008, Ghana was ranked as the safest country in Africa by the Global Safety Index and has been at the top of the ranking ever since. The country rarely has internal conflicts and has peaceful relations with its neighbors. Tourists are treated very friendly here and they speak English with them – this is the official language of Ghana.
Here you can visit numerous nature reserves with elephants, antelopes, monkeys and other exotic animals, visit the ruins of castles and fortresses of Cape Post and Elmina, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and spend time on clean, sparsely populated beaches.
4. Namibia
This country in Southwest Africa is an oasis of stability and security on a troubled black continent. It was discovered quite late (in 1878) by Europeans, quickly got out of all internal and external conflicts and is now one of the richest African countries.
Here is the oldest desert on earth – the Namib, the legendary Skeleton Coast, many national parks, the site of the fall of the largest Hob meteorite, the second largest after the Colorado Canyon and much more.
Namibia has good highways, and The Desert Express tourist train runs between the capital Windhoek and the resort town of Swakopmund, making stops at especially noteworthy places along the way.
5. Uganda
Uganda is considered safe for foreigners by both the GPI and public tourism opinion. Perhaps this is due to the fact that it is not customary here for merchants and barkers to pester people, perhaps due to the fact that the proportion of the urban population in the country is only 13%, and the main attractions are not in the villages.
Tourists in Uganda need to have time to see a lot: one of the oldest Queen Elizabeth National Parks in Africa, the Entebbe Botanical Garden, where the first film about Tarzan was filmed, the Rwenzori mountain range – most likely, it was them that the ancient Egyptians called the Moon Mountains. Here they practice sailing on Lake Victoria and rafting on the Nile, which originates in Uganda.
If the locals here do not cause much trouble to tourists, then you need to be careful with animals, especially if you see an elephant with a baby elephant. By the way, Uganda is located on the main migration route of northern birds: eagles, cuckoos, swallows, kites and many birds familiar to us winter here.
6. Cape Verde
Cape Verde or the Cape Verde Islands is an archipelago off the west coast of Africa. Tranquility, tranquility, relative cleanliness and an acceptable level of service (European companies invest in local tourism) await tourists here, in the homeland of the famous singer Cesaria Evora.
There are enough picturesque landscapes on the islands: extinct volcanoes, mountain ranges where you can go trekking, flowering meadows where you just need to take a walk. But the main feature of Cape Verde is, of course, the ocean – it is used at full capacity: from beaches with black volcanic sand, continuing to dive to shipwrecks and ending with windsurfing, which schools are on every island, but the island of Sal is especially famous for them.
7. Kenya
Kenya, the country of the Maasai tribe and the hallmark of true African nature, is very beautiful, friendly and tourist developed. Mount Kenya is the second highest on the continent after Kilimanjaro. Flocks of migrating birds can be observed across the country, and the view of Africa’s highest mountain (Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania) from Kenya’s Ambosseli Park is perhaps even better than the view from the mountain itself.
8. Tanzania
The inhabitants of Tanzania are friendly and smiling, but, as elsewhere, travelers should not lose their vigilance – there are enough robbers here. But there are still many tourists in Tanzania who come here without fear. Here, in the homeland of Freddie Mercury, there is something to see.
Firstly, Mount Kilimanjaro, to the top of which numerous hiking trails lead. Secondly, the island of Zanzibar is a resort place where the beautiful Stone Town founded by the Arabs in the 9th century is located. From here they go on tours for spices, during which you can chop cinnamon and try unfamiliar spices. Thirdly, the famous Serengeti National Park, which occupies a huge area and is home to more than three million large wild animals.
Fourthly, the Ngorongoro Biosphere Reserve, located in a colossal (21 km in diameter) crater of an extinct volcano. It is home to about 25,000 different animals and has the highest concentration of predators in all of Africa.
9. Madagascar
Madagascar is a separate continent in miniature: it is so unlike Africa or any other place on earth. Here are amazing landscapes, and 80% of the living animals and plants are found nowhere else.
The island has many natural parks and protected areas. The largest reserve of Tsingy de Bemaraha, which, like many others, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The country is rich in beautiful beaches; It is traditionally believed that swimming on the west coast is safer – there are fewer sharks.
10. Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa: it is here, on the border with Zambia, that the famous Victoria Falls is located. In Zambia, by the way, there are fewer tourists, so those who prefer a more secluded environment are advised to admire the miracle of nature there.
In Zimbabwe, the conservation structure works very well and there are unusually many animals here even for Africa, so hunting is allowed in some places (it is already prohibited almost everywhere on the continent).
In addition to countless national parks, there is also a unique historical site – the stone ruins of Great Zimbabwe: a pagan temple complex built over a thousand years ago.
Tourists who are going on a trip to Africa must definitely do all the vaccinations, their list is usually on the website of the embassies. Even in those countries for which vaccination is not required, it is necessary to take antimalarial pills, and start taking them even before the trip. It is strictly forbidden to use raw water even for brushing your teeth.