From the tallest standing mountain in the world to the spectacular great migration, to premier wilderness areas and others, you can’t help but hold your breath at these rich magnificent gifts of nature situated in the great African Content. Declared in Arusha, Tanzania in 2013, here are seven wonders of Africa and fun facts about them that will coax you to include an African escapade to your bucket list.
Mt Kilimanjaro
Did you know that the oldest person to ever Summit Mt. Kilimanjaro was an 89-year-old American Woman Anne Lorimor! Oh yes! And the youngest, a six-year-old boy, Coltan Tanner from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Approximately 250000 people attempt to summit the mountain annually. Just about two-thirds are successful!
This dormant volcano in Tanzania is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world! The mountain rises about 16,000 feet from its base to attain an altitude of 19,341 feet above sea level.
There are official scenic trekking routes leading to the peak of the mountain. So the next time you want to go on a hike, why don’t you head on and book a plane to Tanzania where you can enjoy a dramatic, stunning, and out-of-this-world trek!
PS- The journey to the summit is like going from the Equator to Antarctica because of its distinct ecological zones which include
- Bush land/Cultivated Zone: 2,600′-6,000’/800m-1,800m
- Rainforest Zone: 6,000′-9,200’/1,800m-2,800m
- Heath/Moorland Zone: 9,200′-13,200’/2,800m-4,000m
- Alpine Desert Zone: 13,200′-16,500’/4,000m-5,000m
- Arctic Zone:16,500’+/5,000m+
Ngorongoro Crater (Africa’s Garden of Eden)
You know a place is to die for when numerous famous people, including Prince William, Bill Clinton, and the Queen of Denmark have visited it! Oh, and the Oscar-winning movie Out Of Africa was partly filmed there! One of the scenes you can spot the crater is when Denys takes off from the Olkurruk airstrip and flies over the Masai Mara and Ngorongoro.
Standing proudly in Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater is the biggest inactive and intact unfilled volcanic caldera in the world. It has over 25000 wild creatures! Including, 7,000 wildebeest, 4,000 zebras, 3,000 elands, 3,000 gazelles, 600 hyenas, 200–300 elephants, over 60 lions, 30 rhinos, and many others!
Exciting excursions to undertake include, cultural theme tours! Food and nightlife, Private tours, day trips, safaris and so much more!
PS- It is also home to the Big 5, and your best chance at spotting the Black Rhino!
Sahara Desert
Imagine yourself watching the sunset! Or having an out-of-experience spa day! Or sand surfing! In the largest and driest desert in the world, the Sahara!
The Desert blankets nearly all of Mauritania, Western Sahara, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Niger; the southern half of Tunisia; and the northern parts of Mali, Chad, and Sudan.
Did you know that this desert is mostly rock? It is just 30% sand, the remaining 70% being mostly gravel. The rest of the desert comprises sand seas, stone plateaus, salt flats, arid valleys, mountains, rivers, streams, and oases.
Sahara has been used as a set for star wars! Director George Lucas was intrigued by the desert barber towns and used them as a backdrop for the towns Tatooine (which is a real place by the way) and Matmata! Matmata is the fictional village where Luke Skywalker grew up, and today you can still see some of the sets, often either abandoned or repurposed curiously.
PS — It is the hottest place in the world. The record high temperature being 136 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Great Migration
When nature offers you a chance to witness the cycle of life firsthand you should definitely not give a cold shoulder! The great migration is the once-in-a-lifetime experience you don’t want to miss.
Throughout the year, East Africa’s wide-open grasslands are the setting for the Great Migration as millions of wildebeests, Burchell’s zebras, antelopes, and other herd animals make the trek from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of grazing and water. This is not a smooth journey in search of food though, it is a journey of their life! There are about 3,000 lions within the Serengeti that follow (and prey upon) the migrating herds! While crossing rivers, crocodiles wait with their mouths wide open!
PS- if you happen to be a Lion King fan then you should know the Pride Lands setting in the movie is a reflection of the Serengeti!
Okavango Delta (The jewel of the Kalahari)
Located in Botswana, it is the most intriguing wildlife destination. It offers the unique opportunity of going on a water-based safari on a traditional canoe-like vessel (Mokoro canoe) constructed from molded fiberglass. Why? Because this inland delta, the largest in the world, is filled with water channels, lagoons, swamps, and islands and is home to approximately 160 mammals (including the newly reintroduced black rhino and the globally endangered African wild dog), 155 reptiles, 30 amphibians, 80 fish species, 1500 plant species, and 500 bird species, 22 of which are globally threatened.
The delta hums with life for several months until the floodwaters evaporate or recede into the red desert sands.
PS- Animals are not the only inhabitants of the region! The Basarwa Bushmen, live on the Moremi gaming reserve on the eastern side of the Delta with up to five tribes revisiting the region for hunting, fishing, and growing crops.
Nile River
If you ever want to go on a ship cruise then you should definitely visit Cairo for a sailing trip on the Nile! Touted as the longest river in the world, the Nile looms large because of its historical significance and cultural status. Though Uganda is home to the source of the river which makes its way through 10 countries, Egypt is the country usually associated with it. Maybe this is the reason why ancient Egyptians planned their calendar around the stars and the Nile! The year began in mid-July when the river began to rise for the annual flood.
PS -About half of Egypt’s population lives in the Nile Delta area. That is approximately 40 million people!
Red Sea Reef.
The world’s fastest fish (the solitary sailfish) lives in this third largest reef in the world. The reef Stretches over 1,200 miles along the coasts of Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea, and is home to over 1,100 species of fish, with approximately 10% exclusive to this reef area. The reef is teeming with health benefits since it is approximately 35% saltier than most other seas. The saline concentration is believed to improve blood circulation.
PS — The Red Sea Reef is a major hotspot for Scuba Diving and snorkeling when you consider the rich variety of its underwater ecosystem. As a diver, you can swim with brightly colored Angelfish, butterflyfish and Clownfish, and many more!
There you go, now you know where to go on your next breathtaking and a once in a lifetime adventure!
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