What are the best countries to visit in Africa? This is a tough question. Africa is an amazing place with many beautiful and adventurous places to visit.
There are mountains to climb, dunes to explore, and markets to invade. The cuisine is spicy and exquisite and the people are of a friendly disposition and hospitable.
Whatever you need in Africa, you will find especially when you are looking for new experiences and beautiful memories.
What often determines the best places to visit is the safety of the location, the comfort of their lodges, hotels, and Airbnb houses. Also of importance is the ease with which you can enter and exit the country.
In every African destination, there is the promise of thrill and awe from the landscapes and wildlife. Some spaces promise rest and relaxation while some will give you a non-stop adrenaline rush. All of it is beautiful and you should see it.
Below are our top ten best countries to visit in Africa in no particular order.
-
South Africa
South Africa is the closest you will visit that resembles the US or UK. Yet it houses amazing colors of nature. Nothing will match the awe that will rise up in you when you first catch a glimpse of the Table Mountain. The wildlife in Kruger National Park is unparalleled. Cities like Sandton, Gauteng, Johannesburg, and Pretoria will make you hunger to buy a house with its cosmopolitan setting. The cities are as urban as the towns are rural. You will enjoy sightseeing in SA.
-
Egypt
One of the best countries to visit in Africa is Egypt. Not just because of its popularity and the fact that it has existed for many centuries. Egypt is a center point for the Middle East and the Mediterranean. It is a prehistoric kingdom with a rich history and the iconic pyramids that are part of the spots termed UNESCO World Heritage sites are breathtaking.
Egypt is one of the best places to dive in Africa owing to its spectacular coastline that faces the Red Sea. Visa on arrival is one of the ways that Egypt makes it easy to visit their country.
-
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is rich in culture and in history. You can enjoy tranquility and adventure as you go traipsing through the woods in Ethiopia.
You can explore some of their active volcanoes, one of the few in the whole world. How fascinating it will be to view boiling lava spurt from a crater in front of you. It will be an unforgettable experience. The monolithic church, ancient obelisks, and Lake Tana will give you an amazing view into the history and the beauty of reliving true stories.
-
Tanzania
One of the best places to see if you are in Tanzania is the destination Zanzibar, a breathtaking beach that can serve as a vacation or honeymoon spot for the discerning couple. The Serengeti National Park is a great spot to view wildlife and take as many pictures as you want. You can witness the massive wildebeest migration from this park and surrounding parks if you visit at a specific time in the year.
The wildest experience you will partake in is the climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. The climb takes months of preparation and planning and if it is on your bucket list, it will be a worthwhile experience.
-
Madagascar
From the famous cartoon ‘Madagascar’, you can grab the general idea of this space. It is among the most peaceful countries in Africa and is surrounded by coral reefs as it is very close to the Indian Ocean.
It has the best infrastructure anywhere in Africa for diving facilities and rivals the best luxurious resorts you can find anywhere in the world. If you step off the tourist part, you will see antiquated fishing towns and baobab trees and quietly watch lemurs eat fruits and other materials in National Parks.
-
Malawi
This landlocked country was made popular by the beach and diving destinations. Its most popular spot is Lake Malawi. It has many different freshwater aquatic lives. You can go diving, hiking, and fishing in this space. There is hardly any watersport that you cannot partake in while vacationing in Malawi.
The great source of wildlife that is made of leopards and antelopes makes for great hiking experiences. They are hospitable and friendly and you will enjoy your trip all the more for their presence.
-
Uganda
Uganda is popular for its mountain gorillas. They are been endangered species for the last few decades and the Ugandan forest is the best habitat for them. Nile Uganda has a lot of water that is important for the existence of the gorillas along with other mammals and birds that make up the ‘circle of life.’
This beautiful country has many activities to entertain you such as traditional art festivals, hikes to see volcanoes, kayaking, and rafting.
-
Botswana
This is a country with a reputation as the most stable economy in Africa. This implies that it is the safest country in Africa. A large expanse of land was dedicated to the care of wildlife. This place is called the Kalahari region.
This spot, along with the Makgadikgadi Pans, is filled with antelopes and other predators who are used to the arid region.
Surprisingly, the northern part of the country has a subtropical climate and lots of water sources in Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta. The huge variety of wildlife and vegetation is one of the side attractions of the country.
-
Zambia
This is the home to the world acclaimed Victoria Falls which is a part of the Seven Wonders of the World. This is because of the mass of beautiful and unusual free-falling water. Zambia is more peaceful than Zimbabwe and so you can imagine the tourists have shifted en masse to Zambia.
You can find accommodation in Livingstone, a town that is close by. Apart from Victoria Falls, the reason the tourists flock is the safari parks and opportunities that abound to observe nature and hike through some of the thickest forests in search of wildlife populations in the southern part of Africa.
-
Morocco
Morocco is a unique blend of Arabic and Mediterranean cultures. It has this special vibe and it is huddled between the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Sahara Desert in the east. Side attractions include forays into the desert, the ocean, or the cities of Morocco.
From Marrakesh to Casablanca, its cities are a frenzy of colors and energy. The smaller cities like Fez and Chefchaouen pull you in with the promise of striking craft and astounding architecture.
If you want to be in awe of your entire visit to Africa and the sounds and sights of ‘mama Africa‘, you should pick Morocco.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde is a small archipelago in Northwest Africa. Thanks to Portuguese influence, vibrant beach towns, and volcanic landscapes, Cape Verde is considered the Brazil of Africa. The prominent ecotourism scene provides visitors with lots of hiking and water sports.
-
Cape Verde
This exotic country is known for its popular carnival that holds in the nation’s capital Sao Vicente. It is as perfect as the Rio festival that holds in Brazil and February is the best time of the year to visit Cape Verde because it is cooler. This is why you can see it and believe it is one of the best countries to visit in Africa.
Another memorable thing about Cape Verde is its food. You cannot find better food anywhere else.
-
Ghana
This is a country that rose up like a phoenix from its ashes to become great. It was known as the Gold Coast under British Rule and destroyed by its many years under military rule.
Today it has gained economic power in West Africa using its gold resource. Its colonial architecture is a feature that the nation’s citizens are most proud of. The extensive ruins of the Ashanti Kingdom have sandy beaches, lakes, mountains, and rainforests surrounding them.
Your tourist visa is valid for 90 days.
-
Namibia
Namibia is massive in size. The untamed wildness and rich wildlife can also be intimidating. This beautiful country, with its unique attractions of large dunes and iconic saltpans such as the Sossusvlei and Etosha, is mind-blowing.
Smaller cities like Windhoek and Swakopmund have as its attraction its rich German colonial architecture. If you are from the US or the UK, you can visit Namibia without a VISA. All you need is your passport. It is one of the best countries to visit in Africa because of its dunes.
Concluding on this beauty that is Africa
Africa is more than these few countries; there are so many spots that remain untapped, untouched, and waiting to be discovered. Which of these zones would you choose to visit?
The 2019 Peace Index highlights Mauritius, Botswana, and Malawi as the most peaceful spots. The best time to visit Africa is June to September for when you are more interested in wildlife.
You can visit Africa all year round because there is no snow in many parts of Africa, and the drier season is more widespread than the rainy season. So the weather is relatively favorable all year round.
Also read 7 Amazing Places to Visit in Namibia
