One of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa, Tanzania is well-established as one of the best wildlife-viewing destinations in the world. Safaris follow the trail of giant herds of antelope or wildebeest across the Serengeti, while lions lounge in the shade waiting for their next meal to trot by. On the horizon looms the conical silhouette of Kilimanjaro, beckoning the strong of lung and leg, and just off the coast the beaches and Arabian-infused culture of Zanzibar offer travelers a very different Africa.
Madagascar is, above all, a nature destination. While there are certainly interesting man-made facets of the country – including colonial towns, native crafts, and sleepy coastal villages – Madagascar is an eco-traveller’s dream. From endless jungles filled with endemic plants, rare birds, and endangered animals, to the white-sand beaches of the Malagasy islands and limestone karst formations of Ankarana, the island is an explosion of nature at each turn.
Cut off from the African mainland 165 million years ago, Madagascar evolved in isolation, leading to many unique and endemic species. The hands-down superstars of this wild performance are the endangered lemur, of which 90 percent of the surviving global population is found only here.
An entire continent’s worth of greatness concentrated into a single gorgeous package, South Africa practically bowls visitors over with its abundance of natural splendour, exotic wildlife, cosmopolitan flair, and friendly faces. There are hundreds of reasons to come to South Africa – savannah safaris, the vineyards of Stellenbosch, dazzling Cape Town, and the stunning Garden Route, to name but a few – and once you’ve gotten yourself here, you’ll discover millions more.
Picturesque white-sand beaches, an agreeable coastal climate, a fascinating culture, and a population of warm, welcoming people; Mozambique has everything you could ever want from a destination. So where is everybody? Better question: Who cares? This seaside nation on Africa’s southeastern coast is an emerging destination, which there’s more to explore, eat, and enjoy for yourself while the rest of the world fights through crowds someplace else. Get here now before word gets around.