VIAFRO
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Experiences
Culture
43 countries and 8 documented destinations for this experience, across 5 regions of Africa.
43 countriesNorth Africa · West Africa · Central Africa · East Africa · Southern Africa
8 destinationsGiza pyramid fields, Timgad, El Jem, Lalibela…
When to goRecommended period country by country, below
Destinations
Where to live it.
Egypt
Giza pyramid fields
The pyramids of Giza form part of the wider Memphis necropolis, which extends towards Dahshur. Look beyond the familiar skyline to understand a funerary landscape of tombs, temples and monuments connected to ancient Egypt’s royal history.
Algeria
Timgad
On the northern slopes of the Aurès, Timgad preserves the layout of a Roman town founded under Trajan. Its intersecting main streets make urban planning visible: a place to look at how routes, public spaces and buildings organised everyday life.
Tunisia
El Jem
El Jem’s third-century amphitheatre gives scale to Tunisia’s Roman heritage. The surviving arcades and the open arena invite a close reading of a building made for large public gatherings, now recognised on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Ethiopia
Lalibela
Lalibela’s eleven medieval rock-hewn churches belong to a living place of Ethiopian Christian devotion. Their architecture works with the rock itself; Bete Giyorgis, shown here, makes that relationship particularly clear. Approach the ensemble as religious heritage as well as architecture.
Mali
Bamako
A city portrait through music, creative spaces and life beside the Niger River.
Senegal
Dakar
An Atlantic city seen through its artists, everyday tables and ocean-facing neighbourhoods.
Morocco
Marrakech
Courtyards, materials and the art of looking closely: a different way into the city.
Kenya
Nairobi
Creative energy and green spaces form the starting point for this city notebook.
Countries
Countries made for it, and when.
North Africa
Algeria
Mediterranean beaches, Sahara desert and ancient monuments
February to October, from Algiers’s normals
North Africa
Egypt
The Nile, the pharaohs and the Red Sea
Jan–Apr, Oct–Dec
North Africa
Libya
Sahara desert, ancient monuments and cultures
September to July, from Tripoli’s normals
North Africa
Morocco
Medinas, Atlas, Atlantic and Sahara
Mar–May, Sept–Nov
North Africa
Sudan
Ancient pyramids, Sahara desert, the Nile and culture
December to February, from Khartoum’s normals
North Africa
Tunisia
Mediterranean beaches, Sahara desert and historic cities
September to June, from Tunis’s normals
West Africa
Benin
Splendid beaches, breathtaking views, safaris, hiking and culture
November to February
West Africa
Burkina Faso
Wildlife parks, wild hiking, waterfalls and waterfalls
In January, from Ouagadougou’s normals
West Africa
Cape Verde
Ten volcanic islands off West Africa
Apr–Jun, Nov
West Africa
Côte d’Ivoire
Magnificent beaches, nature reserves and buzzing cities
December to February, from Abidjan’s normals
West Africa
Gambia
Superb beaches, nature reserves, river and culture
December to June, from Banjul’s normals
West Africa
Ghana
Magnificent beaches, tropical forest, buzzing cities and culture
November to March
West Africa
Guinea-Bissau
Bijagós archipelago, nature reserves and traditions
November to January, from Bissau’s normals
West Africa
Mali
Rivers, desert, forest, waterfalls, nature reserves and culture
December to January, from Bamako’s normals
West Africa
Mauritania
Magnificent beaches, mountains, Sahara desert and cultures
November to May, from Nouakchott’s normals
West Africa
Niger
Sahara desert, Niger River, nature reserves and culture
December to January, from Niamey’s normals
West Africa
Nigeria
Niger Delta, wildlife parks and buzzing cities
November to April, from Abuja’s normals
West Africa
Senegal
Wild beaches, nature reserves and cultural journey
October to July, from Dakar’s normals
West Africa
Togo
Splendid beaches, villages, hills, nature reserves and culture
November to April
Central Africa
Angola
Paradise beaches, Namib desert and waterfalls
May to February, from Luanda’s normals
Central Africa
Cameroon
Mountains, breathtaking views, paradise beaches and food
December to February, from Yaoundé’s normals
Central Africa
Chad
Lake Chad, Sahara desert, green oases, nature reserve and culture
December to January, from N'Djamena’s normals
Central Africa
Equatorial Guinea
Wild beaches, tropical forest, nature reserves and waterfalls
December to February, from Malabo’s normals
Central Africa
Gabon
Splendid beaches, tropical forest, nature reserves and marine parks
June to August, from Libreville’s normals
East Africa
Burundi
Lake Tanganyika, waterfalls, mountains and meeting the gorillas
June to August, from Gitega’s normals
East Africa
Comoros
Paradise beaches, marine parks, food and culture
September to November, from Moroni’s normals
East Africa
Eritrea
Red Sea, paradise beaches and desert
September to June, from Asmara’s normals
East Africa
Ethiopia
Monuments, volcanoes, mountains, lakes, deserts and culture
October to January, and September
East Africa
Kenya
Safaris, the Rift, Mount Kenya and the Swahili coast
Jan–Mar, Jul–Oct
East Africa
Madagascar
Paradise islands, endemic animals and marine parks
April to mid-December
East Africa
Malawi
Lake Malawi, diving, beaches and nature reserves
April to November, from Lilongwe’s normals
East Africa
Mauritius
Paradise beaches, volcanic islands and rich food
April to November
East Africa
Mozambique
Paradise beaches, safaris, culture and buzzing cities
May to October
East Africa
Rwanda
Lake Kivu, volcano, nature reserves, cities and culture
June to September, from Kigali’s normals
East Africa
Somalia
Gulf of Aden, magnificent beaches, caves, ruins and desert
July to May, from Mogadishu’s normals
East Africa
Tanzania
Dream beaches, lagoons, safari, mountains and culture
January–February and June–October
East Africa
Uganda
Tropical forest, lakes, mountains, safaris, cities and culture
June–August and December–February
East Africa
Zimbabwe
Safari, rivers, Victoria Falls, monuments and culture
May to October
Southern Africa
Botswana
Okavango Delta, Kalahari desert and lush savannah
May to October
Southern Africa
Eswatini
Mountains, traditions, hiking and lush savannah
April to September, from Mbabane’s normals
Southern Africa
Lesotho
Skiing, hiking, horse riding, waterfalls, splendid landscapes and culture
April to October, from Maseru’s normals
Southern Africa
Namibia
Wild beaches, Namib desert, nature reserves and culture
May to September
Southern Africa
South Africa
Breathtaking views, buzzing cities, paradise beaches, safari and culture
March–May and September–November
Activities
Activities to try.
Morocco
The Jardin Majorelle
The painter Jacques Majorelle began planting this Marrakech garden with species from all over the world in 1922.
Morocco
The ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou
In the province of Ouarzazate, this ksar packs its earthen houses behind walls reinforced by corner towers.
Morocco
The Fez medina and the Chouara tanneries
Founded between 789 and 808 as the Idrisid capital, Fes el Bali is a large car-free area of about 300 hectares, a World Heritage Site since 1981.
Morocco
The medina of Essaouira
Built in the mid-18th century on the principles of European military architecture, the former Mogador has been a World Heritage Site since 2001.
Morocco
Chefchaouen, the blue medina
Founded in 1471 as a small kasbah, Chefchaouen lies at about 600 m in the western Rif.
Morocco
Jemaa el-Fna square at night
Proclaimed Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2001, Jemaa el-Fna is the heart of the Marrakesh medina.
Egypt
The Khan el-Khalili bazaar
In the historic centre of Cairo, Khan el-Khalili began as a centre of trade in the Mamluk era and is named after one of its caravanserais.
Egypt
The Karnak temple at Luxor
Temples, pylons and chapels: Karnak was the main place of worship of the Theban Triad, headed by the god Amun.
Egypt
The temples of Abu Simbel
Carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC under Ramesses II, the two temples were moved in their entirety in 1968 to escape the waters of Lake Nasser.
Egypt
The temple of Philae at Aswan
Threatened by the Aswan dam, the temple of Philae was dismantled and rebuilt on the nearby islet of Agilkia, 12.40 m higher.
Kenya
Lamu Old Town
Founded in the 14th century, Lamu is Kenya’s oldest continually inhabited town.
Kenya
Fort Jesus in Mombasa
Built from 1593 to 1596 to guard Mombasa’s Old Port, Fort Jesus was the only fort the Portuguese maintained on the Swahili coast.
Senegal
Gorée Island
Two kilometres off the port of Dakar, Gorée is an 18.2-hectare island and a major place of memory of the Atlantic slave trade.
Senegal
The island of Saint-Louis
Near the mouth of the Senegal River, 320 km north of Dakar, Saint-Louis was the capital of the colony of Senegal from 1673 to 1902.
Senegal
The Soumbédioune craft village
On Dakar’s western Corniche, facing the Médina, the Soumbédioune craft village was created in the early 1960s at the initiative of Léopold Sédar Senghor.
Senegal
Fadiouth, the shell island
At the end of the Petite Côte, Joal lies on the mainland and Fadiouth, linked by a bridge, on an island of clam shells, also used in local architecture and crafts.
Tanzania
Stone Town, Zanzibar’s old town
Zanzibar’s old town is a maze of narrow alleys lined with houses, shops, bazaars and mosques, famed for their carved wooden doors.
South Africa
The Drakensberg (uKhahlamba)
The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park covers 2,428 km² in KwaZulu-Natal and belongs to the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, declared a World Heritage Site on 30 November 2000.
South Africa
The vineyards of Stellenbosch
Founded in 1679, 50 km east of Cape Town, Stellenbosch is South Africa’s second oldest town.
Cape Verde
Cidade Velha, Cape Verde’s first town
Founded in 1462 by Portuguese traders, Cidade Velha is the oldest settlement in Cape Verde and its former capital, the first European colonial settlement in the tropics.
Cape Verde
Mindelo, Cape Verde’s cultural capital
A port city in the north of São Vicente island, founded in 1793, Mindelo is considered Cape Verde’s cultural capital.
Tunisia
The Medina of Tunis
Founded in 698 around the Zitouna Mosque, the Medina of Tunis holds some 700 monuments: palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains.
Tunisia
Sidi Bou Saïd, the blue and white village
Some 20 km north-east of Tunis, Sidi Bou Saïd is celebrated for its white houses with blue doors and windows.
Tunisia
Djerba island
North Africa’s largest island at 514 km², in the Gulf of Gabès, Djerba has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023.
Tunisia
Kairouan and its Great Mosque
Founded around 670 under the Umayyads, Kairouan became a major centre of Sunni Islamic scholarship.
Tunisia
The troglodyte homes of Matmata
In Matmata, some Berber residents still live in traditional underground troglodyte homes.
Mauritius
The sacred lake of Grand Bassin
Ganga Talao, or Grand Bassin, is a lake sacred to Hindus, set in a volcanic crater in the Savanne district.
Mauritius
Port Louis, the capital
Mauritius’s capital and largest city, Port Louis mixes the Jummah Mosque, St James Cathedral, a Tamil temple, a Chinese pagoda and a colonial theatre.
Madagascar
The royal hill of Ambohimanga
About 24 km north-east of Antananarivo, the fortified hill of Ambohimanga is the best-preserved monument of the precolonial Merina Kingdom.
Namibia
The rock engravings of Twyfelfontein
In the Kunene Region, this site inhabited for 6,000 years holds at least 2,500 rock engravings, one of Africa’s largest concentrations.
Rwanda
The Ethnographic Museum in Huye
Formerly the National Museum of Rwanda, the Ethnographic Museum in Butare (Huye) opened in 1989, built with Belgian help.
Rwanda
The royal palace of Nyanza
In Nyanza, the King’s Palace Museum stands in the former palace complex of King Mutara III Rudahigwa, seat of Rwanda’s kings.
Seychelles
Victoria and its market
The capital of Seychelles, Victoria lies on the north-eastern side of Mahé.
Nigeria
Nike Art Gallery, Lagos
Founded in 2009 by Nike Okundaye, Nike Art Gallery is West Africa’s most extensive art collection, with 25,000 works.
Nigeria
Freedom Park, Lagos
In downtown Lagos Island, Freedom Park stands on the site of the former Broad Street Prison.
Nigeria
Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
On the banks of the Osun river just outside Osogbo, this centuries-old sacred grove is among the last of the Yoruba sacred forests.
Nigeria
Sukur Cultural Landscape
In the Mandara Mountains, on a hill above the village of Sukur, this is Africa’s first cultural landscape on the World Heritage List, inscribed in 1999.
Nigeria
Olumo Rock, Abeokuta
In the heart of Abeokuta, Ogun State, Olumo Rock rises to 137 m above sea level.
Nigeria
Idanre Hill
In Ondo State, Idanre Hill rises to about 914 m above sea level over the town of the same name.
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