(This is the first of a two-part series. Read part two)
1.) Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls Zambia/Zimbabwe
Located on the Zambezi River at the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Victoria Falls are a must-see site in Africa.
At 1,708 meters wide and 108 meters high, Victoria Falls – also known as “Mosi-o-Tunya,” (the Smoke that Thunders) are the world’s largest curtain of falling waters.
A spectacular feature of the falls is First Gorge – the whole depth of the gap that the water falls.
Its depth varies from 80 meters on its western end to 108 meters in its center. Read more on Victoria Falls.
2.) Kilimanjaro
Located in northern Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is an extinct volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park and the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 meters above sea level.
The mountain has three peaks: Shira at 3,962 meters, Mawezi at 5,149 meters and Kibo (also known as Uhuru) at 5,895 meters. Kilimanjaro is also the world’s tallest free-standing mountain.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Thanks to its accessibility to anyone of modest fitness level, Kilimanjaro is extremely popular with both experienced and inexperienced climbers.
3.) The Great Wildebeest Migration
The plains of Masai Mara Game Reserve (Kenya) and Serengeti National Park (Tanzania) are renowned for the Great Wildebeest Migration – an annual wildlife show that sees over 2.5 million wildebeest and zebras moving to greener pastures as the seasons change.
Although the event is unpredictable, visitors who tour the Masai Mara between July and September are likely to catch the migration. Read more on the migration.
4.) Fish River Canyon
Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Located in the south of Namibia, the Fish River Canyon is the world’s second largest canyon after the famous Grand Canyon in Colorado.
The spectacular canyon features a mammoth ravine (160km) which is up to 27 km wide and 550 meters deep in some sections.
In the belly of the ravine flows the Fish River, Namibia’s longest interior river. The river flows periodically, flooding in summer and becoming a chain of long narrow pools for the better part of the year.
The Canyon is home to a thriving population of wild animals including kudu, mountain zebra, wild horses as well as a prolific bird life with more than 60 bird species.
5.) Congo Basin
Congo Basin, central Africa
Lying astride the Equator in central Africa, the Congo basin is home to the second largest rain-forest in the world after that of the Amazon.
Covering more than one million square kilometers in six countries, it represents about a fifth of the earth’s remaining closed canopy tropical forest.
Congo basin is one of the most popular eco tourism destinations in Africa. The rich flora and fauna and the diverse landscapes make the basin an ideal destination for an African holiday.
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