Last Updated on July 5, 2022
More than a billion people from all walks of life live on the huge and diverse continent of Africa. As a result, the culture is rich and diverse and varies not only between nations but also between towns, tribes, and villages!
A wildlife safari or a trip up Kilimanjaro is typically the top reason visitors come to Africa. There are many more “other” reasons to visit Africa besides the fact that it is home to some of the most abundant wildlife and one of the seven summits. Cities, jungles, deserts, and even glacial landscapes may all be found on this interesting continent, so there is always something new to learn about it.
It’s true that there isn’t much good press for Africa in the global media. Even though there are many negative things that occur on the continent, the reality is that many people are unaware of how fascinating Africa may be. Even while there are drawbacks, there are far more pros than drawbacks. The kind nature of the people, which is embedded in the culture, will charm you as you travel the continent. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few things that Africa is famous for.
Its Wildlife
Animals, insects, and birds of all sizes are among the great highlights of Africa, drawing tourists from around the globe. Undoubtedly, one of the biggest pulls to Africa—and to countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa in particular—are The Big Five (the lion, leopard, African elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo). Travellers can see these magnificent animals in their native habitat on safaris in vast wildlife reserves, with a large portion of the safari fees going toward the conservation of the species.
Along with the Big Five, there are The Ugly Five, The Little Five, The Shy Five, and The Impossible Five. As well as gorillas, chimpanzees, and birds (of which Africa is home to approximately 25% of the world’s total).
If for nothing else, you should be familiar with Africa’s fauna. Known for inventing the word “safari,” which is Swahili meaning “travel.” The pride and joy of Africa is its wildlife, which draws visitors from places where zoos are the only places where animals exist in the wild.
You can discover the unique wildlife here in their native home, which are the huge grasslands. There is no denying that the continent is a Mecca for wildlife aficionados and nature lovers, with wonders like the Great Wildebeest Migration being known the world over.
Diverse Ethnic Groups
The continent of Africa is well-known for its variety of ethnic groupings. It should come as no surprise that there are numerous cultural customs, festivals, costumes, and rituals to explore given that there are thought to be around 1500 languages spoken in Africa (although other researchers believe there are closer to 2000).
There are various indigenous communities in every African nation, and they all speak different languages. Their common tongue, or national language, is what binds the populace together. The official language, which is the one that colonial powers left in the nations they dominated, is another. Depending on the nation, this language could be either English, French, or Portuguese.
There are so many diverse tribes to learn about, like the Maasai in East Africa, the San Bushmen of the Makgadikgadi Pans, the Yoruba ethnic group headquartered in and around Nigeria, and the Himba tribe in Northern Namibia.
Traditions and rites have persisted to this day because each tribe takes great pride in safeguarding its cultural legacy.
Pyramids of Egypt
The Ancient Egyptians predate several sub-Saharan African groups by considerably farther. Their history is believed to have started in the year 3200 B.C., when King Menes joined the Lower and Upper Kingdoms to form a strong dynasty.
The first pyramids, which served as graves for their pharaohs, were constructed about this time. Since they have survived the vicissitudes of time and are still standing today, these constructions are estimated to be thousands of years old.
However, the iconic Pyramids of Giza are what we are most interested in today. The Great Pyramid was constructed with enormous limestone stones, each of which weighed about equivalent to two and a half elephants!
The architectural skill with which the pyramids were constructed, at a time when technology was rudimentary, is equally as impressive as their age. Due to these characteristics, they were named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and became a representation of Egypt’s tourism industry.
This mechanical achievement, together with Ancient Egyptian mummification procedures, their understanding of astronomy, and their hieroglyphic language, continue to amaze both scholars and tourists.
The carvings, statues, and murals discovered at the site of the Giza Pyramids provide valuable insight into ancient Egyptian culture. We now know that they loved beer and bread and that they worshipped more than a thousand distinct deities. They are also credited with being the first to devise a calendar with 365 days divided into 12 months.
The Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert, which is about the size of the United States and is the largest hot desert in the world, has an area of 3.6 million square miles. Only over 2 million people actually live in the desert, which spans 11 nations (Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Chad, Morocco, Eritrea, Niger, Mauritania, Mali, and Sudan).
It is not the largest desert, though; that honour belongs to Antarctica, which, despite being covered in ice and snow, receives little to no precipitation.
Despite the fact that a large portion of the Sahara is currently a dry, desolate landscape, it is believed that prior to 8000 B.C. this area had lush savannah and grassland that would have been a haven for grazing animals and productive farms. Surprisingly, the desert nevertheless supports 1200 different plant species.
Mount Kilimanjaro
African continent’s tallest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, is well-known to everyone who isn’t in a bubble. It has a striking appearance: a flat-topped crest with white snow covering the top. From a distance, Kilimanjaro’s magnificence can be seen, and as you draw closer, you can sense its pull to be scaled. Although it is located near to Kenya’s border, Tanzania claims ownership of this magnificent feature because it is nestled within Kilimanjaro National Park.
Many people aspire to climb mountains, and millions have succeeded in overcoming this challenge. Make a point of seeing this impressive landmark if you’re ever in East Africa to see for yourself what all the hype is about.
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