We haven’t seen enough of Africa. Out of all the continents on the globe Africa is the one that excites me the most but yet I have only visited two countries (Karen has seen more but without me!!!) from this vast land. From The Pyramids in the north to Table Mountain in the south, Africa is full of world class tourist destinations. Which got me thinking. If you have never been to Africa which would be the best country in Africa to visit? I asked some of the world’s top travel bloggers that very question and their answers are below. There are some surprising answers but they all sound amazing, which means our Africa bucket list has just got larger!
The Best Country In Africa according to Top Travel Bloggers:
Table of Contents
Zimbabwe
I’d be kidding if I said that Zimbabwe is my favourite African country only because it enables me to say I’ve travelled the world from A to Z!
The country has a special place in my heart because of the people I’ve met. At the risk of propagating a stereotype, Zimbabweans tend to be warm-hearted folk who have a deep love for their nation. Zimbabwe has undergone severe economic challenges in recent years and, since the change of leadership in November 2017, an upbeat, positive vibe is evident. Zimbabweans really do believe that their country is now open for business.
As a lover of nature and wildlife I have experienced some outstanding game drives in Zimbabwe. Hwange National Park is a great place to view birdlife and elephants. It’s home to all of southern Africa’s Big Five.
While walking with guides from Black Rhino Safaris in Matobo National Park I came within less than 20 metres of a group of white rhinos. That was a thrilling moment.
And Zimbabwe is the only place on earth that I’ve yet eaten grilled crocodile and warthog. The latter is the tenderest meat I’ve ever tasted: truly delicious!
Stuart Forster from Go Eat Do
MOZAMBIQUE
People raised their eyebrows when we told them we were starting our African travels in Mozambique. We’re currently overlanding through Africa in a Land Rover Defender with our two boys (aged 2 and 4). Many warned us of the corrupt police pulling over tourists in the hope of bribes and the terrible pot-holed roads. Yes, the latter is VERY true, especially as you venture further north, but thankfully the police seemed disinterested in us.
The driving distances between destinations in Mozambique are huge. Hours upon hours of very little. Just vast open landscapes, dotted with the odd dusty, nondescript towns with kids that run out of huts to wave at the rare passerby. However, our long travel days were rewarded with untouched pristine beaches that we had to ourselves, quaint old-colonial architecture that hark back to the bygone days of the Portuguese, and a gripping sense of adventure that can be difficult to find on today’s well-trodden planet.
Mozambique stole our hearts. Those vast landscapes were mentally freeing. The crashing waves rolling in from the Indian ocean were invigorating. But it’s the people that we will remember so fondly. Especially the group of 15 local kids who rushed to our aid when we got stuck in deep sand.
Uganda
Uganda is without doubt my favourite place in Africa for so many reasons but ultimately for the wildlife experiences you can have there. Uganda is most famous for its gorilla trekking experiences which will forever be one of my favorite travel memories. Words can not describe the feeling of coming face to face with these majestic animals and I can say I have never felt a connection with an animal like I did when I met the silverback mountain gorillas for the first time. But Uganda has even more than just gorillas. You can go chimp trekking in different locations which is a polar opposite experience to the tranquility and peaceful experience of meeting gorillas. You can also do bird watching swamp walks, sailing safaris which offer a unique safari perspective and see the unique tree climbing lions of Ishasha
I also love Uganda because you can have all of these experiences while retreating in the evening to some outstanding luxury lodges.
If you are looking for wildlife and luxury, then Uganda is definitely where you need to be going.
Leona from WandermustFamily
South Africa
South Africa tops my list for favorite African countries to visit because there is something for everyone. From outdoor hikes, excellent food and wine, amazing scenery, and ease of wildlife viewing, it is simply impossible to run out of things to do in South Africa.
Sudan
There are not many people in the world who would consider traveling to Sudan – and most people called me crazy when I decided to visit this country. However, I got rewarded with an incredible time and Sudan quickly became one of my favourite countries in the world. While it’s true that the south and the west of Sudan is dangerous and should be avoided, the northern and eastern part is completely safe, and in fact, I actually felt much safer than in most other countries I’ve travelled to. Since there’s literally no tourism industry in the country, all the people I met were so friendly. helpful and welcoming. No one would ever scam you or do any harm to you, but there wasn’t a single day when I didn’t get invited for tea or food by welcoming Sudanese on the streets. It’s actually the people who make visiting Sudan such a beautiful and unique experience.
When it comes to sights, Sudan has many pyramids (actually more than Egypt!) which you can – since there aren’t any other tourists, I had most of these places actually completely to myself! Visiting Sudan is also extremely cheap! Expect to pay around 2$ for a private room in a guesthouse, and less than 1$ for a meal in a restaurant.
I travelled from Egypt through Sudan and further into Ethiopia and it was great to see how the Middle East slowly transfers into East Africa, with Sudan acting as an interface. The country is unique and will probably never be a big tourist destination. But those who are adventurous enough to visit will have a beautiful experience!
Patrick from germanbackpacker
Namibia
I fell in love with Namibia even before we reached our first destination. It was a long journey – straight to the airport from a day at work for a trio of international flights from London to Windhoek, where we transferred into a tiny four-seater Cessna for the last hop to the Namib Desert. Tired as I was, the exhaustion melted away as I looked down at the sun-warmed landscape, the ground becoming ever more colourful as we neared our journey’s end, the shadow of our little plane preceding us down below. As we reached the desert and reduced our altitude, I saw immense red sand dunes covered in swaying blonde grass, strangely freckled with circles of bare red sand edged with taller grass. On landing, our hosts from Wolwedans met us and we quickly drove from the airstrip to Dune Lodge, an intimate camp made of canvas chalets on raised wooden platforms. No time to rest, we headed straight out on a sun-downer drive!
During our stay, our guides revealed many delights of the ‘Living Desert’, including the mystery of those enigmatic “fairy circles”. Unlike classic safari destinations where wildlife viewing includes the big five and many more iconic animals, here we revelled in the species that managed to thrive in this desert environment. From chameleons, insects and snakes, to social weaver birds, bat-eared foxes, jackals, wildcats and baboons… and the huge and striking gemsbok oryx. At night, with no light pollution for miles around, the sky lit up with more stars and galaxies than I ever imagined visible from Earth, and early the next morning, we watched from our beds as the sun raced into the sky, tinting the sand in a fast-changing palette of golden yellows, oranges and reds.
Kavita from Kaveyeats
Kenya
There’s something rather special about Kenya. It isn’t just that the landscapes are vast and varied, that the wildlife diversity is amongst the best in the world, or that the sun always seems to be shining. For us, the icing on an already sweet cake was the welcoming and friendly nature of all the people we met during our travels out there. We were made to feel like long lost friends rather than curious outsiders, and that’s so important when you’re far from home in a country that is so different to your own.
Of course we were there to see the animals, and had chosen Kenya because of its reputation for world-class luxury safaris. We weren’t disappointed. In the Masai Mara we stayed at Saruni Mara and enjoyed the best wildlife viewing we’ve ever experienced, thanks to our expert local warrior guide who went above and beyond trying to find us unusual encounters. We witnessed a lion chasing a cheetah, breakfasted overlooking hippos in the river, and even joined a pride of lions out hunting at night. Further north we explored the arid lands around Saruni Samburu, again with a local warrior, who was super friendly and showed us the quirky endemic wildlife for which the area is famous, including the gerenuk, an antelope which stands on its hind legs to eat tree leaves! Kenya is all about diversity and beauty, and we left knowing we’d be back again soon.
Heather from Conversanttraveller
Botswana
Botswana left us completely memorized with its vast landscapes, varied wildlife, and extremely friendly people. We ventured in overland from Namibia with little expectations of Botswana and left vowing to return one day.
Starting with the safari experience in the unique Okavango Delta where we were able to see all the amazing wildlife in Africa from the middle of the delta. Elephants, hippos, crocodiles, lions, and above all the unique bird species make a safari here very special.
It isn’t just all about the delta though, one of my favorite parks in Africa is the almighty Chobe National Park. Here you can see impala, fish eagles, warthogs, buffalo, and plenty of elephants. Seriously you will see so many elephants here as there are over 120,000 roaming the park!
I also loved that the remoteness that you can feel in Botswana. There are just about 2 million people here, but the country is massive. The government has allocated 40% of the land to parks and wildlife so peace and quiet is sure to be had here.
Swaziland
While exploring Southern Africa, I made a stop in a small, landlocked country called Swaziland. Swaziland felt similar to South Africa besides being miniature in size. The locals speak English. There is good road infrastructure. The Swazi people are warm. And the scenery is breathtaking.
If you’re in the capital, Mbabane, make sure to visit eDladleni Restaurant. They are the only restaurant serving Swazi cuisine and it’s scrumptious! So good that I went back a second time. They open during the evening. A plate is on average 95 Rands ($8 USD).
Cape Verde
Cape Verde is an island nation off the coast of West Africa. Thanks to its political stability and natural beauty, Cape Verde has evolved into a popular charter tourist destination for sun-hungry Europeans over the last few years. In February this year, I visited the Cape Verde islands for the first time. Due to their reputation as package holiday islands, my expectations towards excitement and adventure were quite low.
But the island of Sal which I visited was absolutely amazing. The most amazing thing about it were the locals. In normal tourist spots, locals are often quite fed up with international visitors. But in Sal, everybody stopped and asked me if I was looking for help whenever I started looking a little lost.
And the rich history of Sal as a salt producing colony for Portugal and its scenery convinced me even more to return one day. The island offers plenty of activities like kite surfing, diving and snorkeling and caters to every budget. During my time on the island, I visited the green eye of Buracona, the salt fields of Pedra de Lume and the incredible Kite Beach – a beach with hundreds of kite surfers.
Mike from 197travelstamps
Mauritius
Lying 2000km off Africa, Mauritius is part of the African continent but its rich history makes it a truly diverse nation. Formerly a Dutch, French and UK colony, Mauritius is a melting pot of cultures including Indian, Sri Lankan, African and European and is summed up by the motto
‘One island, many peoples, all Mauritian’.
This approach to life is part of the appeal of Mauritius, the warmth and the ready welcome. People come here for the fantastic beaches but if you can drag yourself away from the coast, Mauritius has rainforest at Black River Gorge, botanical gardens, traditional plantation houses, a UNESCO world heritage site in its capital Port Louis, and a Hindu temple boasting a 180 foot tall statue. Seven Coloured Earths is a unique geological feature with dunes of multi coloured sand inland.
If you’re a wildlife watcher you might not need to move too far from your sun lounger, many mornings we watched dolphins playing offshore as we had breakfast. The Seychelles tortoises are a common sight in Mauritius and you can head to Casela Nature Park for a day at the zoo with spectacular views. If you’re heading to Mauritius, enjoy the spectacular sunsets of the beach resorts but make sure you explore beyond. Your efforts will be rewarded with the experience of Africa meets India meets Europe on this unique island.
Jo from wherejogoes
Malawi
There’s something special about Malawi, yet somehow it’s often overlooked as a travel destination, with many people favouring its famous neighbours instead.
Sure, Malawi is a little rough around the edges, but for me, that’s what makes me love it that little bit more. Malawi can be a challenging place to travel, but also one of the most rewarding and if you’re looking for a real African adventure, this is where you’ll find it. It’s the type of place where anything can happen and you never quite know where the day will take you.
I first fell in love with Malawi in 2009 whilst overlanding through the country and have been back a number of times since. It has everything I look for in a holiday destination – beautiful mountains, incredible sunsets, cool activities, great safaris and of course, stunning Lake Malawi, the lifeblood of the country and one of the most relaxing and chilled out places on the planet. Plus, it’s great for those travelling on a budget!
But it’s the people that really give Malawi the edge. Malawians are the most welcoming and warm people you could ever meet and before you know it, you’ll be part of the family!
Helen from heleninwonderlust – Travel Blog & Africa Tours
Tunisia
From the capital city of Tunis to the Algerian border at Le Kef, Tunisia is filled with amazing cities and sights. The people, the marketplaces, the food help your imagination run wild, conjuring up stories of yesteryear, just like the story of the Arabian Nights. Some of the places we recommend are the blue and white city of Sidi bou Said, the world heritage sites such as Carthage, El Jem, or Dougga, or the colorful harbor city of Bizerta in the north of the country. Surprisingly, Tunisia is pretty easy to get around. We rented a car and had no trouble finding our way or reading the signs. We loved the food! I couldn’t believe how much tuna they ate, but it makes sense with a long Mediterranean coastline. Some food on the “must-try” list are leblebi, a chickpea soup, ojja with mergez (lamb sausage) or eggs, a tomato based stew, as well as lots of olives and harissa, a pepper sauce. You can’t go wrong.
Whether you want to visit the Star Wars filming site of Tatooine, other-worldy to be sure, or visit some Roman era historical sites such as Bulla Regia, you will love Tunisia as much as I did.
Corinne from Reflections Enroute
Zambia
Morocco
Egypt
Tanzania
World Environment Day & World Oceans Day 2018 | Celebrating Planet Earth – Happy World Environment Day! We look back at some of the amazing experiences we have had with wildlife and nature on our travels.
10 Alternative Holiday Destinations To Avoid The Crowds – Are you looking for a holiday destination away from the crowds this year? Check out our post on where you can go.
The Place I Keep Returning To – We asked the world’s top travel bloggers what country they keep returning to, some of their answers were surprising.
#LoveYourTravels
[…] The Best Country In Africa according to Top Travel Bloggers | global help swap […]