Africa Destination A to Z

Algeria
Algeria boasts Roman ruins, Ottoman palaces, not to mention the Sahara desert and the M'Zab Valley, perfect for desert safaris

Angola
Little-visited Angola, nestling north of Namibia, is a place for pioneers - hike its deserts, visit its waterfalls and explore its cities with few other tourists

Benin
Tiny Benin, a thin sliver of West Africa, packs a big punch. Come to Benin for voodoo ceremonies, fetish markets, friendly locals and truly wild national parks

Botswana
Simply, Botswana is one of Africa's - if not the world's - greatest wildlife destinations. Find pristine wilderness, animals galore and fascinating Bushmen culture

Burkina Faso
Get way off the beaten track in Burkina Faso, to find camel traders, elephant herds, friendly people and Africa's best film festival

Burundi
One of the poorest countries in the world, Burundi has spectacular national parks and is close to the Great Lakes of Eastern Africa

Cameroon
Cameroon has it all - climb mountains, trek with gorillas, laze on beaches and meet local herdsmen in intriguing West Africa

Cape Verde
A little piece of Portugal floating off the west coast of Africa, sun-kissed Cape Verde offers fine sand, atmospheric city streets and soulful music

Central African Republic
During times of political stability, Dzanga-Sangha national park in the southeast is the perfect place for intrepid explorers to meet gorillas and elephants in the wild

Chad
A tough climate and civil unrest has made Chad a challenging destination for travellers. However, for those who make the trek, Chad has captivating desert landscapes and diverse wildlife

Comoros
The desert landscapes and luscious rainforest of the Comoros Islands makes this remote part of the world a fantastic place for hiking - and keep your eye out for giant bats

Cote d'Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire – the Ivory Coast – is Africa for the most adventurous travellers, who'll be rewarded with mud mosques, chimpanzee sightings and super trekking

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Africa's 'heart of darkness' is still challenging travel territory, but mountain gorillas, bonobos and other primates reward the intrepid explorer

Djibouti
Good things come in small packages. A haven for hiking and diving - with a delicious cuisine to boot - this is certainly the case with this tiny Eastern African nation

Equatorial Guinea
Rich in oil, the fear of foreign coups has made it difficult to gain entry into Equatorial Guinea. However, if you don't mind the odd frisking, you'll delight in discovering more about the traditional cultures of the people

Eritrea
A little bit of Italy in Africa - Eritrea boasts stylish architectural reminders of its past colonisers, twinned with wild lands, great diving and quirky charm

Ethiopia
Mighty mountains, deep depressions, sunken churches, unique wildlife and damn fine coffee - Ethiopia has it all

Gabon
Gabon could be the next big thing in African ecotourism: its forests are packed with chimpanzees, gorillas and more – you just need a bit of patience to see them

Gambia
The Gambia is a tiny slice of West Africa, but it packs in fine beaches, a world-class chimpanzee reserve, colourful markets and some of the continent's best birding

Ghana
Chaotic cities, crumbling castles, birds, beaches and hypnotic drum-beats, the lively West African nation of Ghana offers an intoxicating mix

Guinea
Although the security situation in this part of Africa is frequently volatile, Guinea has been blessed with tropical forest, abundant wildlife and some of the best hiking in West Africa

Guinea-Bissau
The friendly people of Guinea-Bissau will be eager to teach you more about their customs and traditions. They will also point you towards the beautiful delta islands of the Arquipelago dos Bijagos

Kenya
Kenya is more than safari – when you’ve seen the ‘big five’, go trekking with tribesmen, hike mountain peaks and scuba dive reefs in the Indian Ocean

Lesotho
Surrounded by South Africa and dubbed the 'Kingdom of the Sky', mountainous Lesotho is the perfect place for outdoor adventure and tribal encounters

Liberia
When Liberia is safe for travellers, the African people are quick to share their passion for art, dance and storytelling with visitors

Libya
Packed with the rolling dunes of the Sahara and well-preserved ancient ruins, Libya is a the place to travel back in time and live out those Arabian Nights fantasies

Madagascar
Neither Africa nor Asia, Madagascar defies classification. From desert to rainforest, mountain to beach it’s packed with endemic species and a culture all of its own

Madeira
With its luxuriant plant life, levada walking trails and volcanic landscapes, Madeira has more to offer active types than its middle-aged image suggests

Malawi
Heaps of wildlife, tranquil lake-life, granite peaks, great cycling and big smiles – that's what awaits travellers heading to Malawi

Mali
Mali offers an abundance of essentially African experiences – camel trek into the Sahel, visit a mud mosque, join the masses on a riverboat and listen to world-class musicians at the Festival of the Desert

Mauritania
Little-visited Mauritania, nestled onto Africa's Atlantic coast, is a land of empty desert, wildlife-filled wetland and intrepid travel

Mauritius
Mauritius is an Indian Ocean stunner – but it's more than fine beaches: find lush hikes, super diving and a fascinating cultural mix

Morocco
Accessible and exotic, Morocco has it all: mountain trekking, Atlantic surf beaches, boutique riads, labyrinthine bazaars and some of North Africa's tastiest food

Mozambique
Lapped by the turquoise Indian Ocean, resurging Mozambique offers beautiful beaches, succulent seafood and big game parks on the up

Namibia
Huge and wonderfully empty, Namibia is the lesser-known star of southern Africa, offering wilderness, wildlife and the world's biggest sand dunes

Niger
Around 80% covered by the Sahara, West African Niger is a land for the intrepid to live out their desert fantasies

Nigeria
Troubled Nigeria can be chaotic and confusing, but you'll also find wildlife-rich national parks, Atlantic beaches and a warm West African welcome

Republic of Congo
The lesser-visited of the two Congos is a raw travel experience, but also one of the best places to see western lowland gorillas

Reunion
It's France, but not as you know it... the island of Réunion, stranded in the Indian Ocean, offers lush volcanoes, Creole cuisine and top diving with a French twist

Rwanda
Landlocked East African Rwanda has had a troubled recent history. Now however, the scars are healing and Rwanda is firmly back on the travel map

Saint Helena
One of the world's remotest islands, South Atlantic St Helena offers whales, wildlife and an intrepid sea voyage to get there

Sao Tome and Principe
The small islands of Sao Tome and Principe are truly undiscovered Africa – come for great diving, vivid birdlife and no other tourists

Senegal
Senegal is the world music hub of West Africa - dance in Dakar's clubs before heading off to explore pink lakes, sandy beaches and wild national parks

Seychelles
Possibly the world's ultimate beach spot? But there's more than sand to the Seychelles - trek the lush interior, dive deserted waters and meet the unique creatures of Aldabra, the Indian Ocean's Galapagos

Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is slowly making its mark on the travel map, boasting beautiful beaches, chimpanzee sanctuaries and some of Africa's most beguiling scenery

Somalia
The security in this patchwork state is volatile, making it difficult for travellers to visit. Somaliland - a fertile and mountainous territory - is the safest corner

South Africa
South Africa has it all - from penguins to vineyards, from Zulu battlefields to zebra-strutted plains: hike, kayak, drive, bungy and explore Africa at its most accessible

South Sudan

Sudan
Sudan is the biggest country in Africa, and within its generous proportions you'll find rolling desert, hidden pyramids, multicoloured fish and fascinating peoples

Swaziland
Smiling Swaziland is southern Africa in miniature, a traditional kingdom with mountains and savannah, wildlife and time-honoured culture

Tanzania
Tanzania is perhaps Africa's ultimate destination – come for really wild wildlife, huge skies, the continent's highest mountain and its spiciest island

Togo
As long as you don't fall under a voodoo curse, you'll love the food, customs and beautiful capital of this fascinating West African nation

Tristan da Cunha
Tristan da Cunha is an active volcano island isolated in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean with rare wildlife

Tunisia
Tunisia is a land of sand, with glorious Mediterranean beaches and the rolling Sahara, plus ancient souqs and abundant adventures

Uganda
Uganda is a land of biggies: visit for big mountains, big waterfalls, big white-water rafting rapids and big primates – the matchless mountain gorillas

Western Sahara
This disputed and challenging territory, claimed by both Morocco and the local Saharawi population, offers Atlantic surf, rare seals and serious desert

Zambia
Zambia is where those in the know go on safari, a land of unbelievable wildlife, pioneering bush walks, thundering waterfalls and sublime lodges

Zanzibar
Zanzibar: without doubt one of the most evocative words in a traveller's vocabulary

Zimbabwe
With Zambia, South Africa and Botswana among its neighbours, landlocked Zimbabwe occupies a prime position in southern Africa’s safari zone