Tunisia has many sights associated with ancient cultures, including Carthage and many Roman remains.
Morocco is also brilliant for sightseeing – wander the souks, take a trip into the Atlas Mountains, and enjoy the bustling cities.
Namibia has some surprising sights, including a German castle, wild horses, abandoned mining villages and memorials and museums related to the First World War.
Swaziland has particularly colourful Royal Festivals and some excellent places to buy arts and crafts.
Mozambique’s picturesque Ilha de Mozambique is well worth seeing.
Nigeria has one of the continent’s biggest cities, Lagos – you’ll find plenty of attractions there.
Sinai, the part of Egypt detached from the Africa mainland, has many fascinating sights. Chief amongst them is Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments. You can either get a camel or hike up the mountain and watch the dawn. Don’t miss the nearby Monastery of St Catherine. Visit the Ras Abu Galum both to dive in the famous Blue Hole and to visit a Bedouin village. You can also include a trip to ‘mainland’ Egypt, to see the many Ancient Egyptian sights there.
Tanzania has many fantastic things to see. The first is Kilimanjaro – even if you don’t fancy climbing it, you can still admire it from below. Visit the Ngorogoro Crater and the Odluvai Gorge. Tanzania has a portion of two of the biggest lakes in Africa, Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. There are numerous game reserves, and you’re sure to enjoy wandering the exotic streets of the island of Zanzibar. To the southeast is one of Africa’s most stunning sights and the largest waterfall in the world, the Victoria falls, tumbling between the borders of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
It’s nearly always possible to combine either a beach or a safari holiday with some sightseeing. If there’s anywhere that you have your heart set on seeing, check you can definitely get there before you book.
Distances between towns and attractions can be long, particularly compared to Europe – don’t try to get around too much in one day.
Some African countries operate a separate pricing system for visitors and residents to popular attractions.
If you’re keen to buy souvenirs, you’ll generally find them at roadside stalls around sights, as well as at shops inside. Depending on the situation, buying them from stalls can mean that locals get a better deal.