15 places in africa
Indice
Not many people know how to locate the former French colony located in West Africa, wedged between Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and to the north by Burkina Faso and Niger – whose homonymous river acts as a boundary.
In Porto Novo the most interesting points are the da Silva museums of history, the museum of ethnography, the large garden square place Jean Bayol, the great mosque, the temple of Python, the palace of King Toffa and of course the bay that conveys that air so peculiar to the ports of Africa.
The coastal city is a curious place, reminiscent of Benin’s communist past, and with a colorful market, the Dantokpa, fantastic to feel the African heartbeat. Here it is worth mentioning the fetishes, made from animal skulls. Inland is Lake Nokoué, with curious populations such as Calaví, a port overlooking the lake. In the lagoon live in floating stilt houses since the eighteenth century the Tofi ethnic group, whose ancestors came here fleeing from slave catches. Also on Lake Nokoué, the fishing village of Ganvié is another essential stop to witness life in its canals, in what is known as the African Venice.
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Africa cannot be lost on the world map. The colonial era has left clear traces on the fibrous borders, but the fascinating cultures are well preserved and nature is on the verge of vanishing. If you’re looking for magnificent cultural and natural experiences, Africa is the place to go.
Egypt cannot avoid its great attraction; the pyramids and Giza. The ancient history remains fascinating. Like frenetic Cairo, camel rides in the sandy desert, boat rides on the Nile and diving in the Red Sea at Sharm el-Sheik. The ancient city of Luxor with the Valley of the Kings is a good starting point.
North Africa is ideal for travel if you want to clear the sky and don’t want to spend too much time on transportation. Here you can soak up the sun, stimulate the senses and explore a different and impressive culture, and while there can be intense places and chaotic cities, there are always quieter alternatives too.
Ghana is the most obvious and popular country to visit. The country attracts many volunteers and rightly so. It is easy and safe to travel, English is spoken and it is possible to immerse yourself in Danish colonial history, for example at Christiansborg Fort, go on jungle safari and surf the waves off the coast.
Vacation spots in Africa
Safari in the Masai Mara (Kenya) The most famous safari in Kenya is the one that takes place in the Masai Mara National Park, the great savannah of grassy plains, home of the Maasai and the lions. It is estimated that between the Masai Mara and the adjacent Serengeti National Park (which is actually the same geographical unit, but separated by the Tanzanian border) live about 3,600 lions. This safari in Kenya is undoubtedly one of the best in the world to see the king of the jungle. The landscape is made up of endless grassy plains, where every now and then an acacia tree or a granite island appears. Masai Mara is the landscape of Memories of Africa.
Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe) The largest protected area in Zimbabwe is Hwange National Park, which is only a 2.5 hour drive from Victoria Falls. Although it is not as densely populated with animals as Serengeti or Chobe, it has a large population of elephants, antelopes and hyenas and is the best place for a safari in Zimbabwe. It is also possible to see lions and other large predators. One of its attractions is that there is hardly any tourism and the feeling of solitude and authenticity is much greater than in other more mediatic parks in Kenya or Tanzania. Another point in its favor: the proximity of Victoria Falls and the mythical and unknown stone city of Great Zimbabwe. This 7-day safari from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg goes through the national parks of Hwange and Matobo.
Tourist sites in Africa
While France controlled the slave port of Dakar and all of what is now Senegal, England bought the rights to “trade” across the river from Portugal. This is why Senegalese and Gambians speak the same native languages and share traditions but use French and English respectively as their lingua franca.
The germ of The Gambia as a beach destination for the months of the cooler season, from November to May, is found along the Senegambia Highway, the avenue of the city of Serekunda that connects all the hotels and restaurants and entertainment venues that have been born in the shadow of the resorts built on the beach.
Another experience as real as it is fun is offered by the entrepreneur Ida Cham Njai, an expert in hospitality trained in London who has transferred her experience and knowledge to her own home in Brufut, where she offers courses in traditional Gambian cuisine. The experience with Ida begins in her closet, where visitors find the perfect clothes to become a Gambian. In that guise, Ida’s diners camouflage themselves in the bustling market of Tanji, a fishing village a few kilometers further south, where Ida buys the ingredients needed to prepare a benachin, a stew of rice, vegetables, chicken or fish and many spices that is prepared on special occasions.