Introduction
Africa is the world’s second largest continent with 54 countries and a population of 1.2 billion people. With so many countries and sights to see such as ancient cities, safaris, and gorgeous beaches, it can be tough to decide which countries to visit first in Africa. The below list is Bucket List Traveler’s Top 10 countries to visit in Africa.
10) Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has eight main national parks, with the largest being, Hwange National Park. The most visited tourist destination is The Victoria Falls National Park, which is the world’s largest sheet of falling water measured by height and width.
Zimbabwe has large number of medieval era city ruins built using dry stone style which is unique in Africa. The Great Zimbabwe ruins in Masvingo is the most well known example of these ruins.
9) Namibia
Located in southern Africa, Namibia is the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa known for its many lodges and reserves that accommodate eco-tourism. Top places to visit include Etosha Pan, Caprivi Strip, Sossusvlei, Skeleton Coast Park, and the capital city of Windhoek.
8) Rwanda
Located in central Africa, Rwanda has rainforests, volcanoes, and waterfalls with plenty of wildlife to visit including mountain gorillas. Top destinations include Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park, and Lake Kivu.
7) Uganda
Tourist attractions in Uganda include national parks, game reserves, and natural tropical forests. However, the main reason to visit Uganda is for the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is cheaper than in Rwanda and safer than in Congo. Other top destinations in Uganda include Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Kibaale National Park.
6) Botswana
Botswana is famous for the Okavango Delta, which is a swampy inland delta, UNESCO world heritage site, and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. Safari lodging options range from luxury lodges and safari camps, to budget camping grounds . Top destinations include Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
5) South Africa
South Africa has a wide variety of sights to tour including game reserves, diverse cultural heritage, picturesque landscapes, and highly regards wine regions. Wildlife is in abundance including the “big five” along with even opportunities to visit penguins in their natural habitat.
Popular destinations include Kruger National Park, Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Cradle of Humankind, the wine routes of the Western Cape, and much more.
4) Egypt
Egypt has thousands of years of history with many ancient wonders to visit. Top site to visit include the Great Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simbel Temples, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, and much much more.
3) Tanzania
Located in East Africa, Tanzania has 16 National Parks, 29 Game Reserves, and 40 conservation areas with about 38% of the country set aside for conservation purposes. A wide variety of wildlife and geological features can be found including Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at 19,341 feet above sea level.
Aside from visiting the plethora safari destinations, Tanzania also has beautiful beach resort destinations located on the historically significant Zanzibar. Popular tourist destinations include Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Selous Game Reserve, and Lake Manyara National Park.
2) Morocco
Morocco is a country with many ancient cities and historical sites with landscapes that vary drastically from one region to the next. Vast deserts contrast with the forested Atlas mountains and Mediterranean coastlines. Morocco has a long history of being under various empires, colonies, or protectorates such as the Phoenicians, Romans, French, Spanish and even some ports being controlled by the Portuguese.
The mixing of cultures over the centuries make for some delicious food with influences from the Middle East and Europe. A trip to Morocco is not complete until the you’ve tried the tagine and gone on a camel ride in the desert with an over night stay at a berber camp.
1) Kenya
One of the more affordable Safari destinations, Kenya has some of the best national parks and reserves for seeing a variety of wildlife including the “Big Five”. Top areas for going on Safari are the Masai Mara, Samburu, Amboseli, Tsavo East, and Lake Nakuru National Parks.
The landscapes throughout the country vary greatly between grassland savannas, deserts, mountains, rain forest, and tropical beaches. One of the best travel experiences in the world is taking a hot air balloon ride over the great wildebeest migration at Masai Mara National Reserve.
Honorable Mention:
- Seychelles
- Madagascar
- Ethiopia
If you like my photos, follow me on Instagram: @BLTraveler
Related Posts:
- Destination Report: Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
- Destination Report: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
- Destination Report: Moroccan Desert
- Destination Report: Marrakech, Morocco
- What’s it like to go Gorilla Trekking?
- My Top Travel Experiences of 2018
- Top 10 Countries to Visit in Europe
- Top 10 Countries to Visit
- Hotel Review: Park Hyatt Zanzibar
- Hotel Review: Hilton Cape Town City Centre
- Hotel Review: Hilton Windhoek, Namibia
- Flight Review: Ethiopian Airlines Business Class 787
- Flight Review: South African Airways Business Class A340
Definitely it is worth undertaking aKenya, Uganda and Tanzania safari>
Its good experience for me to visit Kidepo national park.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda is still my number one. we are doing it again this year with these guys Gorilla Uganda
This list literally covers 50% percent of major places to visit in Africa
. we are select adventure safaris we pretty much do trips to the major destinations across east africa
Great post. Thank you sharing.
Great to see Kenya and Tanzania which are my favorite safari destinations be top on the list. Undoubtedly the best wildlife viewing in Africa can be only in Kenya & Tanzania.
Am a safari adviser and for any information regarding Kenya Tanzania Safari you can reach out. Will be glad to help and advise.
I enjoyed Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda last year and it was so amazing !!! I booked thru Rwanda Safari Tours.
Amazing list! Hoping to visit Masai Mara reserve in Kenya. I really want to explore Africa visiting amazing places using https://www.timbu.com
Tanzania & Kenya. are famous wildlife safari and guided photography tours.
African Safari is on everyone’s bucket list. Its famous destination for photography tours.
Bramble Berry Tour offers an opportunity to discover Northern & Southern Serengeti. https://www.brambleberrytours.com/
Tanzania & Kenya. are famous wildlife safari and guided photography tours.
African Safari is on everyone’s bucket list. Its famous destination for photography tours.
some of them i have already covered https://www.safaris-uganda.com/
wow some of the i have already covered
I’m surprised you didn’t mention Zambia, with its stable political environment and location on the Zambezi it looks like a perfect option. South Luangwa Is reasily accessible from Zambia so it really makes the decision easy.
Amazing list. Many of these are on my radar.
Spent a good time in https://www.murchisonfallsparkuganda.com . Amazing!!
Emma actually my trip combines that, gorillas and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Please check it out and advise: https://www.ugandagorillatrekkingfromkigali.com/21-days-expedition-in-uganda/
This company has promised us 2 free gorilla permits. The offer sounds unrealistic. If i may ask, which agency did you use?
well bwindi in Uganda offers a very interesting experience for gorilla trekking .https://www.bwindinationalparkuganda.com/
Well I used Achieve Global Safaris. Its a very Genuine Company .
Check out Maasai mara National Reserve one of the Top Kenya Safari Destination
So no West African country deserves to get into the top 13?
I haven’t had the chance to make it out to West Africa yet. Where should I go first?
Gorilla trekking is an awesome experience. I just booked my trip with: https://www.africangorilla.com/. They charged my $1250 per person for a three day experience. I will be going in July!