Top 10 African Countries to Visit in 2019
This list was put together for people interested in the best places the continent of Africa has to offer a traveler. Check out any "Top Cities around the World to Visit" or "Top Countries to See before You Die", and you'll rarely get any more than one African city or country. We wanted to do you a favor and show you which African travel destinations should be on the top of your travel bucket list in 2019. The list of things to do and places to see is in no way exhaustive, and is only meant to give you an idea of some of the things each country has to offer.
Unique Features: Egypt has ancient history that is unmatched on the continent of Africa. The ancient ruins and monuments you can visit here are unique to Egypt alone.
Places to see/Things to do: Stroll along the Corniche in Alexandria before heading underground to explore the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. Take a cruise on the Nile River in Cairo. Hit up the amazing collections of the Egyptian Antiquities Museum Explore the Sphinx, and Giza pyramids before leaving Cairo. Visit Luxor to see the Karnak Temple Complex. Head down to Nubia to see the Abu Simbel Temple in Aswan. When you've had your fill of stunning ancient monuments and archaeology, head to the Sinai peninsula for some relaxation. Hurghada, Dahab, Marsa Alam, and Sharm el Sheikh are all resort towns where you can swim, dive or do desert safaris.
Best time to visit: October to April is the ideal time to visit, before summer temperatures soar.
Visa Requirements:Visa on arrival at all airports is only $25 for single entry or get an eVisa before travel and avoid the lines.
Places to see/Things to do: Start with a city tour of Accra for a lesson in the Ghanaian independence movement. Head to Cape Coast and Elmina Castle for an important look into the horrors of the Trans Atlantic Slave trade. Head north to Kumasi, and go shopping for glass beads, kente, batik and other printed cloth at Kumasi Central Market. Head to the National Cultural Centre for energetic dance performances. Go to Lake Bosomtwe where you will find trails to hike in the beautiful natural scenery.
Best time to visit:Come November to March or July and August to avoid most rain.
Visa Requirements: Get your visa at the embassy for $60 single entry or $100 multiple entry before travel.
Places to see/Things to do: Do not miss the annual Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras as they cross the crocodile infested Mara River. Enjoy the safari in an 4x4 or take a hot air balloon ride over Maasai Mara. Other notable parks where you are almost guaranteed to see the Big 5 are Tsavo East as well as Samburu National Park. If you do not have time to leave the city of Nairobi, head to the Nairobi National Park to have a more urban safari experience. Also in Nairobi, if you book at least a year in advance you might be able to have breakfast with the giraffes at Giraffe Manor! Support the cause of the women only village of Umoja Uaso when you buy hand made beaded jewelry from their co-op. Attend the colorful and exciting Lake Turkana Cultural festival, held annually in Loiyangalani. Walk the charming narrow alleyways of historical Lamu Island. Lastly take a dhow tour on the Indian Ocean.
Best time to visit: June to November is the best time to see wild life as well as the Great Migration.
Visa Requirements: Visa on arrival or eVisa service is available.
Places to see/Things to do: Stroll along the wide palm tree lined boulevards of Asmara, one of the best preserved African modernist cities. Take in the ancient ruins of a pre-Aksumite empire at the archaeological site of Qohaito. There are also several rock art sites nearby to explore. Keren is the second largest city in Eritrea and is known for its cave dwellings at Debre Sina monastery as well as the Tigu Egyptian Fort. Walk the abandoned streets of the port city of Massawa before taking a dip in the Red Sea. A tour of the Dahlak islands are not to be missed when visiting Eritrea. These raw and natural islands are mostly uninhabited and are completely off the beaten path. Dive, snorkel or swim in the pristine, sea life filled waters of the Red Sea. Hike during the day and camp under the stars at night.
Best time to visit: Visit mid-September to June or year round but Massawa has to be avoided during the summer months as temperature regularly reach 100 degrees.
Visa Requirements: Apply for your visa from the embassy before you even book travel.
Places to see/Things to do: Namibia has good roads and conditions to do a self drive safari. Visit Etosha National Park, the best known park in the country to see wild life. Go to a Himba village for a cultural visit. Try sand surfing the world famous dunes of the Namib desert. Photograph the vast and remote desert and dunes of Sossusvlei, Hidden Vlei, Deadvlei, Big Daddy and Dune 45. Hike Fish River Canyon. Explore the Skeleton Coast where whales to ships and everything in between go to die.
Best time to visit:Year round depending on what you would like to do.
Visa Requirements:Visa on arrival for stays of maximum 90 days.
Places to see/Things to do: Capture the perfect blue shaded alleys of Chefchaouen in a selfie. Stroll the iconic streets of Tangier. Take a local guide and hike the Atlas mountains. Search for rare finds in the souks of Fez and Marrakesh. Absorb the music, food and energy of the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakesh. Enjoy a relaxing hammam(Turkish bath) experience. Stay at a riad in any medina. Visit an argan oil cooperative and buy the real deal. Explore the Jardin Majorelle. Check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Medina of Tetouan. Wind surf in Essaouira and make sure to catch the Gnaoua Music Festival if you are in Morocco June 20th to June 23rd.
Best time to visit: Visit April to October or effectively year round depending on where you would like to travel.
Visa Requirements: No visa required for stays of less than 90 days.
Places to see/Things to do: Drive the Garden Route and stop at different wineries and vineyards. Trek in the Drakensburg Mountains. Head to the most well-known national park in the country, Kruger National Park, to see not only the Big five but hundreds of other mammals and birds. In Capetown do not miss hiking to the top of Table Mountain, a visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of 27 years or a stroll through the Malay quarter of Bo Kaap. If you like to see both sides of a coin, take a guided walking tour of Khayelitsha township to see how working class Blacks live. In Johannesburg, visit the Apartheid Museum, Hector Pieterson Museum and Mandela House in the Soweto neighborhood for some in-depth history lessons. Bungee jump from the Orlando Towers in Soweto to get your adrenaline pumping.
Best time to visit: This country has many different climates and is effectively a year round destination.
Visa Requirements: No visa is necessary for stays of maximum 90 days.
Unique Features: Senegal is the undiscovered jewel of West Africa, at least by Americans. This colorful country has a rich tradition of music, literature and art. It is also the most peaceful and stable country in this part of West Africa.
Places to see/Things to do: Explore St.Louis a former French colonial city. Lounge on the beaches of small fishing villages along the Petite Cote. Take a pirogue tour to visit the mangrove forests of the Sine Saloum Delta. Head to Lake Retba known as the Lac Rose(Pink Lake), for a therapeutic salt bath or just to watch the salt miners at work. Visit the newly opened world class Museum of Black Civilizations. Also go to the top of the African Renaissance Monument for amazing views of Dakar and the Atlantic Ocean. The charming and well preserved Goree Island is must see destination in Senegal. The island is known for having the westernmost slave castle in Africa but also a thriving arts scene and often public art exhibits. Enjoy fresh seafood at any of the seaside restaurants at Pointe des Almadies.
Best time to visit:The best time to experience this amazing country is November to April.
Visa Requirements: Visa on arrival for stays of no more than 90 days.
Places to see/Things to do: Take a safari through the Serengeti National Park to witness the Great Migration. Enjoy a safari experience in the beautiful and lush Ngorongoro Crater also known as the Garden of Eden. Visit a Maasai village in Arusha. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro which is the highest mountain in Africa. Take a dhow cruise off the coast of the Indian Ocean. Do not miss Zanzibar, which is an island known for its idyllic beaches as well as its history of being a crossroads of Arab, African and Indian commercial trade. Stone Town, the main city of Zanzibar is the best place to learn about Swahili coast culture.
Best time to visit: Visit June to November for prime safari experience.
Visa Requirements: Get an eVisa or the visa on arrival. It is always recommended to get an eVisa to avoid visa on arrival lines at the airport.
Places to see/Things to do: Take a city tour of Addis Ababa that includes a guided excursion to Merkato, East Africa's largest open air market. Head to Gondar to see the only castles in Africa before proceeding to the Simien Mountains. Get up close and personal with Gelada Baboons in the Simien Mountains, and search for Walia Ibex and the illusive Ethiopian Wolf too. Feed the hyenas in Harar.Take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to discover its ancient island monasteries. Tempt faith and climb to Abuna Yemata Guh ,one of the rock-hewn churches of Tigray region. Spend 2 days exploring the 11 rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Watch the sunset at Ben Abeba restaurant in Lalibela. Head south to the Omo Valley and experience the ancient traditions of Mursi, Hamer, Dassanech and other local tribes through village visits. The Danakil Depression is a must see destination in Ethiopia. This place is one of the lowest and hottest places on earth but well worth the effort. Hike to the one of the few permanent lava pools on earth at the center of Erta Ale. Watch the salt miners work and prepare their camel caravans to make the long ride out of the salt flats to market.
Best time to visit: If you mind rain only visit mid-September to the beginning of June.
Visa Requirements: Get an eVisa or the visa on arrival. It is always recommended to get an eVisa to avoid visa on arrival lines at the airport.
So what countries are you thinking of adding to your bucket list in 2019? Leave the name in the comments below? If you think we missed the mark with a country, please let us know below in the comments as well.
*All visa requirement information is for United States citizens only. If you are of any other nationality, we suggest you research your visa requirements.
#10 Egypt
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| Photo credits: @FitFathers |
Places to see/Things to do: Stroll along the Corniche in Alexandria before heading underground to explore the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. Take a cruise on the Nile River in Cairo. Hit up the amazing collections of the Egyptian Antiquities Museum Explore the Sphinx, and Giza pyramids before leaving Cairo. Visit Luxor to see the Karnak Temple Complex. Head down to Nubia to see the Abu Simbel Temple in Aswan. When you've had your fill of stunning ancient monuments and archaeology, head to the Sinai peninsula for some relaxation. Hurghada, Dahab, Marsa Alam, and Sharm el Sheikh are all resort towns where you can swim, dive or do desert safaris.
Best time to visit: October to April is the ideal time to visit, before summer temperatures soar.
Visa Requirements:Visa on arrival at all airports is only $25 for single entry or get an eVisa before travel and avoid the lines.
#9 Ghana
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| Photo credits: CNN Inside Africa |
Unique Features: The country of Ghana is a very popular place to visit among African diaspora visitors due to historical reasons. Ghana is a very safe, friendly and fiercely religious Christian majority and Muslim minority country.
Places to see/Things to do: Start with a city tour of Accra for a lesson in the Ghanaian independence movement. Head to Cape Coast and Elmina Castle for an important look into the horrors of the Trans Atlantic Slave trade. Head north to Kumasi, and go shopping for glass beads, kente, batik and other printed cloth at Kumasi Central Market. Head to the National Cultural Centre for energetic dance performances. Go to Lake Bosomtwe where you will find trails to hike in the beautiful natural scenery.
Best time to visit:Come November to March or July and August to avoid most rain.
Visa Requirements: Get your visa at the embassy for $60 single entry or $100 multiple entry before travel.
#8 Kenya
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| Photo credits: @MagicalKenya |
Unique Features: Nairobi National Park is only four miles south of Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. You can see all kinds of animals separated only by an electric fence from the hustle and bustle of the capital.
Places to see/Things to do: Do not miss the annual Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras as they cross the crocodile infested Mara River. Enjoy the safari in an 4x4 or take a hot air balloon ride over Maasai Mara. Other notable parks where you are almost guaranteed to see the Big 5 are Tsavo East as well as Samburu National Park. If you do not have time to leave the city of Nairobi, head to the Nairobi National Park to have a more urban safari experience. Also in Nairobi, if you book at least a year in advance you might be able to have breakfast with the giraffes at Giraffe Manor! Support the cause of the women only village of Umoja Uaso when you buy hand made beaded jewelry from their co-op. Attend the colorful and exciting Lake Turkana Cultural festival, held annually in Loiyangalani. Walk the charming narrow alleyways of historical Lamu Island. Lastly take a dhow tour on the Indian Ocean.
Best time to visit: June to November is the best time to see wild life as well as the Great Migration.
Visa Requirements: Visa on arrival or eVisa service is available.
#7 Eritrea
Unique Features: Known as "The North Korea of Africa", for its isolationist policy, Eritrea is a mystery worth discovering.
Places to see/Things to do: Stroll along the wide palm tree lined boulevards of Asmara, one of the best preserved African modernist cities. Take in the ancient ruins of a pre-Aksumite empire at the archaeological site of Qohaito. There are also several rock art sites nearby to explore. Keren is the second largest city in Eritrea and is known for its cave dwellings at Debre Sina monastery as well as the Tigu Egyptian Fort. Walk the abandoned streets of the port city of Massawa before taking a dip in the Red Sea. A tour of the Dahlak islands are not to be missed when visiting Eritrea. These raw and natural islands are mostly uninhabited and are completely off the beaten path. Dive, snorkel or swim in the pristine, sea life filled waters of the Red Sea. Hike during the day and camp under the stars at night.
Best time to visit: Visit mid-September to June or year round but Massawa has to be avoided during the summer months as temperature regularly reach 100 degrees.
Visa Requirements: Apply for your visa from the embassy before you even book travel.
#6 Namibia
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| Photo Credits: Namibia Endless Horizons |
Unique Features: Known for its remote vastness and low population density, Namibia is the hidden jewel of Southwest Africa.
Places to see/Things to do: Namibia has good roads and conditions to do a self drive safari. Visit Etosha National Park, the best known park in the country to see wild life. Go to a Himba village for a cultural visit. Try sand surfing the world famous dunes of the Namib desert. Photograph the vast and remote desert and dunes of Sossusvlei, Hidden Vlei, Deadvlei, Big Daddy and Dune 45. Hike Fish River Canyon. Explore the Skeleton Coast where whales to ships and everything in between go to die.
Best time to visit:Year round depending on what you would like to do.
Visa Requirements:Visa on arrival for stays of maximum 90 days.
#5 Morocco
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| Photo credits: @VisitMorocco |
Unique Features: This diverse kingdom is rich in history and traditions and welcomes some of the most overseas visitors to Africa.
Places to see/Things to do: Capture the perfect blue shaded alleys of Chefchaouen in a selfie. Stroll the iconic streets of Tangier. Take a local guide and hike the Atlas mountains. Search for rare finds in the souks of Fez and Marrakesh. Absorb the music, food and energy of the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakesh. Enjoy a relaxing hammam(Turkish bath) experience. Stay at a riad in any medina. Visit an argan oil cooperative and buy the real deal. Explore the Jardin Majorelle. Check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Medina of Tetouan. Wind surf in Essaouira and make sure to catch the Gnaoua Music Festival if you are in Morocco June 20th to June 23rd.
Best time to visit: Visit April to October or effectively year round depending on where you would like to travel.
Visa Requirements: No visa required for stays of less than 90 days.
#4 South Africa
Unique Features: Typically this is the first country that people visit on the continent and the country has the best tourism infrastructure in Africa. You can explore wildlife, vineyards, history, mountain scenery and everything in between in South Africa. There is also the bonus of visiting both mountain kingdoms of Eswatini and Lesotho while you are here, as both countries are almost completely surrounded by South Africa.
Places to see/Things to do: Drive the Garden Route and stop at different wineries and vineyards. Trek in the Drakensburg Mountains. Head to the most well-known national park in the country, Kruger National Park, to see not only the Big five but hundreds of other mammals and birds. In Capetown do not miss hiking to the top of Table Mountain, a visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of 27 years or a stroll through the Malay quarter of Bo Kaap. If you like to see both sides of a coin, take a guided walking tour of Khayelitsha township to see how working class Blacks live. In Johannesburg, visit the Apartheid Museum, Hector Pieterson Museum and Mandela House in the Soweto neighborhood for some in-depth history lessons. Bungee jump from the Orlando Towers in Soweto to get your adrenaline pumping.
Best time to visit: This country has many different climates and is effectively a year round destination.
Visa Requirements: No visa is necessary for stays of maximum 90 days.
#3 Senegal
Unique Features: Senegal is the undiscovered jewel of West Africa, at least by Americans. This colorful country has a rich tradition of music, literature and art. It is also the most peaceful and stable country in this part of West Africa. Places to see/Things to do: Explore St.Louis a former French colonial city. Lounge on the beaches of small fishing villages along the Petite Cote. Take a pirogue tour to visit the mangrove forests of the Sine Saloum Delta. Head to Lake Retba known as the Lac Rose(Pink Lake), for a therapeutic salt bath or just to watch the salt miners at work. Visit the newly opened world class Museum of Black Civilizations. Also go to the top of the African Renaissance Monument for amazing views of Dakar and the Atlantic Ocean. The charming and well preserved Goree Island is must see destination in Senegal. The island is known for having the westernmost slave castle in Africa but also a thriving arts scene and often public art exhibits. Enjoy fresh seafood at any of the seaside restaurants at Pointe des Almadies.
Best time to visit:The best time to experience this amazing country is November to April.
Visa Requirements: Visa on arrival for stays of no more than 90 days.
#2 Tanzania
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| Photo credits: @TanzaniaTourism |
Unique Features: Tanzania is almost undisputed, the best place to witness wild life on the continent of Africa.
Places to see/Things to do: Take a safari through the Serengeti National Park to witness the Great Migration. Enjoy a safari experience in the beautiful and lush Ngorongoro Crater also known as the Garden of Eden. Visit a Maasai village in Arusha. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro which is the highest mountain in Africa. Take a dhow cruise off the coast of the Indian Ocean. Do not miss Zanzibar, which is an island known for its idyllic beaches as well as its history of being a crossroads of Arab, African and Indian commercial trade. Stone Town, the main city of Zanzibar is the best place to learn about Swahili coast culture.
Best time to visit: Visit June to November for prime safari experience.
Visa Requirements: Get an eVisa or the visa on arrival. It is always recommended to get an eVisa to avoid visa on arrival lines at the airport.
#1 Ethiopia
 |
| Photo credits: @FitFathers |
Unique Features: Ethiopia is a very diverse and unique country with an intact history partly preserved because the country was never colonized.
Places to see/Things to do: Take a city tour of Addis Ababa that includes a guided excursion to Merkato, East Africa's largest open air market. Head to Gondar to see the only castles in Africa before proceeding to the Simien Mountains. Get up close and personal with Gelada Baboons in the Simien Mountains, and search for Walia Ibex and the illusive Ethiopian Wolf too. Feed the hyenas in Harar.Take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to discover its ancient island monasteries. Tempt faith and climb to Abuna Yemata Guh ,one of the rock-hewn churches of Tigray region. Spend 2 days exploring the 11 rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Watch the sunset at Ben Abeba restaurant in Lalibela. Head south to the Omo Valley and experience the ancient traditions of Mursi, Hamer, Dassanech and other local tribes through village visits. The Danakil Depression is a must see destination in Ethiopia. This place is one of the lowest and hottest places on earth but well worth the effort. Hike to the one of the few permanent lava pools on earth at the center of Erta Ale. Watch the salt miners work and prepare their camel caravans to make the long ride out of the salt flats to market.
Best time to visit: If you mind rain only visit mid-September to the beginning of June.
Visa Requirements: Get an eVisa or the visa on arrival. It is always recommended to get an eVisa to avoid visa on arrival lines at the airport.
So what countries are you thinking of adding to your bucket list in 2019? Leave the name in the comments below? If you think we missed the mark with a country, please let us know below in the comments as well.
*All visa requirement information is for United States citizens only. If you are of any other nationality, we suggest you research your visa requirements.
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