Africa is a vast and spectacular continent. Not only is it culturally fascinating; it’s also stunning in a visual sense. Every country on this continent is unique, of course, but they each offer breathtaking natural beauty, and that’s a wonderful thing to have in common. It’s what bonds the nations of this continent. So, if you’re planning on exploring Africa, then these are the destinations you need to visit for manmade and natural beauty.
Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakech, or Marrakesh, is one of the most impressive cities in Morocco. As a nation, Morocco is culturally and naturally beautiful. There’s no denying that. Still, if you could only visit one place in the entire country, then it should be Marrakech. Firstly, it’s set in a beautiful location at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. This range of snow-capped mountains serves as a stunning backdrop for this atmospheric city. These mountains set the scene. They’re idyllic and surreal. Of course, they’re not just aesthetically-pleasing; they’re fun to climb, too. So, if you’re looking for an adventure, then you should consider hiking up these magnificent natural monuments and admiring the world from a great vantage point.
In terms of manmade beauty, you’ll find plenty of that in the heart of the city. It oozes historical significance. The El Badi Palace, in particular, is well worth visiting. This city is full of palaces and intriguing historical buildings, but the El Badi Palace is certainly one of the most intriguing. Architecturally, it’s gorgeous. You’ll find luxurious archways, peaceful openings which bounce light off the walls in a transcendent manner, and wonderful views of the city as a whole. Make sure you visit the Marrakech Museum, too. This vibrant and colourful museum reveals the intriguing culture of this fantastic country. Never have history lessons seemed so vivid and eye-opening. You’ll truly fall in love with Morocco and Africa as a whole, after visiting Marrakech. This city is a bustling, bold, and beautiful place to visit. It should definitely be one of the first destinations you should explore on your African excursion.
Cape Town, South Africa
South Africa is another spectacular country which draws tourists from all over the world. It’s easy to see why this is the case, when you see the country for yourself. You should start by visiting Cape Town. The capital of South Africa is an energetic coastal city with so much to offer to travellers. From glitzy modern skylines to crisp white beaches, Cape Town fits the definition of manmade and natural beauty in many different forms. Make sure you visit Clifton Beach, which has four beautiful coves. You also need to visit Boulders Beach (the name aptly sums it up) near Simon’s Town. This beach is home to a colony of African penguins, and that makes it a big attraction for plenty of tourists. Where else in the world can you see such incredible and unique wildlife on a public beach? That’s what makes South Africa so incredible. Of course, Cape Town, in particular, is the place to be, with so much to do, so check out some of the tours when you are here.
However, South Africa is not just Cape Town. There’s much more to explore in this large country. You could check out the best South Africa tour in the area. This could take you on the Grand Southern Safari Tour. You’d go from Cape Town in South Africa to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe (an iconic destination). Taking a tour such as this would help to introduce you to some of the other wonderful spots in South Africa, such as Swakopmund, Etosha NP, and Ghanzi. Africa is a sprawling continent, and each country has so much to offer to explorers.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
As mentioned in the previous point, the Grand Southern Safari Tour will take you from South Africa to Zimbabwe. Given that it ends at Victoria Falls, you should take the opportunity to fully explore and appreciate one of the most iconic natural landmarks in Africa, never mind Zimbabwe. This stunning waterfall on the Zambezi River serves as a border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. If you want a truly memorable experience, you should try what is known as the ‘Armchair’. Essentially, you sit within a rock barrier near the edge of the waterfall, but it’s absolutely essential that you only do that with a professional during the September-to-December period. Still, if you’re feeling adventurous, this could be a unique and beautiful way to experience Victoria Falls.
Cairo, Egypt
Cairo is one of the world’s most impressive cities. and one of the main attractions for many people who decide to explore Egypt. If you’re going to take a trip to this truly impressive city, then you should definitely start by visiting The Egyptian Museum. Much like the city of Cairo itself, this museum isn’t content with providing the most breathtaking collection of exhibits in Egypt or even in Africa. People from all over the world come to this museum to see incredible ancient artefacts. The Tutankhamun Galleries, obviously, offer some of the most intriguing treasures on display in the museum. These artefacts are all genuine relics from the tomb of Tutankhamun. You should also check out the Royal Mummies. These fantastic exhibits are unlike anything you can find anywhere else in the world.
Of course, a trip to Cairo would be incomplete without visiting Giza. It’s only a few miles southwest of Cairo, and this ancient city is home to some of the most significant landmarks in Egypt. You’ll find the Great Sphinx of Giza and the Great Pyramids of Giza here. You might think you’ve already seen them countless times, but you’ve not truly appreciated them until you’ve seen them in person. It’s an entirely different experience. These are some of the oldest manmade structures on the planet. That’s a beautiful thing in itself, but the Sphinx, the Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure are all architecturally-astounding to this day. Khufu is the only one of the Seven Wonders to remain mostly intact. That’s a testament to the prowess of the ancient engineers responsible for these Egyptian monuments, whoever they were.
Masa Mara, Kenya
This is another wonderful destination that you should put on your must-see list if you’re planning on taking a trip to Africa. Kenya is a majestic country with so much to offer to visitors. In terms of natural beauty, you’ll want to visit Masa Mara. This is where you can go to see the Great Migration. It involves two million wild zebra, gazelle, and wildebeest migrating from the Masa Mara in Kenya to the Serengeti in Tanzania. You can even follow them back to the Masa Mara, afterwards. If you’re weighing up the tour opportunities in the area, then that’s definitely the one you should do. After all, it’s most people’s reason for visiting Masa Mara in the first place. But it’s also an opportunity to see Tanzania, so that’s why those two countries are often coupled together. Of course, even when those fantastic animals aren’t migrating, you’ll find plenty of wildlife in the Masa Mara, throughout the year. You might see huge herds of elephants, lions, rhinos, and even Cape buffalos. It’s a travel experience like no other. Plus, if your migration tour takes you to Tanzania, you could see the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro, as well. You could even consider climbing Kilimanjaro if you’re feeling adventurous.
Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda
Uganda is a stunning country in Eastern Africa. The scenery is so diverse in this vast region, and the culture is incredibly diverse, too. If you’re looking for tranquil and ethereal beauty, then you should definitely visit the Rwenzori Mountains. This spectacular mountain range is located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It might be one of the most beautiful borders in the world. Not many countries can boast about stunning mountains forming their borders, after all. These monumental natural formations support glaciers and function as one of many sources for the Nile river. So, the Rwenzori Mountains aren’t just visually-transfixing; they also serve an important purpose in Uganda.
These mountains have a beautiful human history attached to them, as well. They are often linked to the Mountains of the Moon, which were historically cited as the source of the River Nile. Whilst you might simply want to admire these snow-capped mountains from the warmth and safety of their bases, many explorers do traverse them. It can be an arduous ascent, but it’s a rewarding one, too. If you want an experience like no other in Africa (or the world, for that matter), then the Rwenzori Mountains might be calling to you.
Let me know, would you like to visit Africa?
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Africa is such a beautiful continent. I'd love to see the animals on safari in Kenya.
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