Islands

Stone Town, Zanzibar

Stone Town preserves an urban landscape shaped by Swahili coastal trade. Its buildings reflect long exchanges among African, Arab, Indian and European cultures. The waterfront, shown here, offers one entry into that layered city history.

Fogo, Chã das Caldeiras

The road towards Chã das Caldeiras introduces Fogo’s volcanic landscape. The caldera, the community at the volcano’s foot and the surrounding rock formations offer a different island perspective from the coast. The natural park headquarters is in Portela.

Tunisia

Mediterranean beaches, Sahara desert and historic cities

September to June, from Tunis’s normals

Cape Verde

Ten volcanic islands off West Africa

Apr–Jun, Nov

Guinea

Paradise beaches, tropical forest, mountains and waterfalls

December to April, from Conakry’s normals

Guinea-Bissau

Bijagós archipelago, nature reserves and traditions

November to January, from Bissau’s normals

Senegal

Wild beaches, nature reserves and cultural journey

October to July, from Dakar’s normals

Sierra Leone

Wild beaches, mountains, marine parks and nature reserves

December to April, from Freetown’s normals

Equatorial Guinea

Wild beaches, tropical forest, nature reserves and waterfalls

December to February, from Malabo’s normals

São Tomé & Príncipe

Splendid beaches, tropical forest and wildlife

June to September, from São Tomé’s normals

Comoros

Paradise beaches, marine parks, food and culture

September to November, from Moroni’s normals

Eritrea

Red Sea, paradise beaches and desert

September to June, from Asmara’s normals

Kenya

Safaris, the Rift, Mount Kenya and the Swahili coast

Jan–Mar, Jul–Oct

Madagascar

Paradise islands, endemic animals and marine parks

April to mid-December

Malawi

Lake Malawi, diving, beaches and nature reserves

April to November, from Lilongwe’s normals

Mauritius

Paradise beaches, volcanic islands and rich food

April to November

Mozambique

Paradise beaches, safaris, culture and buzzing cities

May to October

Seychelles

Dream beaches, nature reserves and water sports

April, May, October and November

Tanzania

Dream beaches, lagoons, safari, mountains and culture

January–February and June–October

Lamu Old Town

Founded in the 14th century, Lamu is Kenya’s oldest continually inhabited town.

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.

The mangroves of the Saloum Delta

Over 200 islands and islets, brackish channels, mangroves and dry forest: a 145,811-hectare part of the delta has been a World Heritage Site since 2011.

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.

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.

Zanzibar’s beaches, from Nungwi in the north

At the island’s northern tip, about 56 km from Stone Town, Nungwi was a fishing and dhow-building village.

Mafia Island and its marine park

Opposite the Rufiji delta, Mafia Island covers 394 km² and became home in 1995 to Tanzania’s first marine park.

São Nicolau island

A mountainous island of 343 km², São Nicolau rises to Monte Gordo, 1,312 m, in its western half.

Brava, the smallest inhabited island

At 62.5 km², Brava is the smallest inhabited island of Cape Verde, but also the greenest.

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.

The Île aux Aigrettes reserve

850 m off the south-east coast and about a kilometre from Mahébourg, this 27-hectare islet has been a nature reserve since 1965.

Nosy Be island

A volcanic island of 320 km² off the north-west coast, Nosy Be — “the big island” — is Madagascar’s largest and busiest tourist destination.

The whales of Île Sainte-Marie

Off the east coast, Île Sainte-Marie, or Nosy Boraha, covers 222 km².

Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue

On the south-west coast of La Digue, Anse Source d’Argent is famed for its massive granite boulders.

The Vallée de Mai, Praslin

On Praslin, the Vallée de Mai is a palm forest inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, on just 19.5 hectares.

Aldabra Atoll

Some 1,120 km south-west of Victoria, Aldabra is the world’s second-largest coral atoll.

Curieuse Island and its giant tortoises

Off the north coast of Praslin, Curieuse is a small 2.9 km² granite island of red earth where the coco de mer grows.

Anse Lazio, Praslin

In the north-west of Praslin, Anse Lazio is bordered by large granite boulders.

Cousin Island bird reserve

Some 2 km west of Praslin, Cousin is a 29-hectare granite island protected as a Special Reserve and managed by Nature Seychelles.

Sainte Anne Marine National Park

About 5 km from Victoria, Sainte Anne Marine National Park takes in eight small islands.