Africa brings to mind the vast game reserves of Kenya and Tanzania, the sweeping views of Cape Town from Table Mountain, or the ancient Pyramids of Giza on the outskirts of Cairo. All of these are extraordinary experiences and it’s no surprise that they feature on many bucket lists. Yet Africa has so much more to offer. The second-largest continent is littered with places that are equally beguiling but far from the beaten track. Let us tempt you to visit the continent’s hidden gems as we explore these six destinations in Africa you haven’t heard of.
Jinja, Uganda
The Nile is most closely associated with Egypt, but the sources of the world’s longest river lie far to the south. One of them is at Jinja, once a sleepy fishing village and now Uganda’s adventure capital. Here, adrenaline seekers can embark on a thrilling whitewater rafting trip. Those who prefer to stay dry can saddle up and take a horseback safari along the banks of the Nile or tee off at the golf course which allegedly used to allow players a free shot if their ball landed in a hippo’s hoof print. Take a hike to visit the memorial to 19th-century British explorer John Hanning Speke, accompanied by mischievous vervet monkeys. Later, take a boat trip out into the river channel for a selfie at the marker post which confirms your location.
St Louis, Senegal
St Louis is a sleepy town with a stellar beach in northwest Senegal. Cross the 1865 Faidherbe Bridge, designed by Gustavo Eiffel, to N’Dar Island and explore its characterful old town on foot. Its short past as the colonial-era capital of French West Africa is evident in its architecture, but the sight of today’s colorful pirogues is just as rewarding. Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is an hour and a half away by car. There, in the Senegal River delta, you’ll find around 365 species forming a population of about 1.5 million migratory birds. Take a boat trip to view flocks of pelicans, herons, egrets, spoonbills, and cormorants as well as warthogs, snakes, and crocodiles in this protected wetland.
El Djem, Tunisia
The tentacles of the Roman Empire once stretched across the Mediterranean and reached as far as North Africa. In Tunisia, the amphitheater of El Djem was built in the 3rd century in what was then Thysdrus. Back then, it would have accommodated a crowd of 35,000 people. However, 17th-century plundering, partially to supply stone for the Great Mosque in Kairouan, left it as a ruin. Nevertheless, it is still an imposing structure. Each summer, it hosts the Festival International de Musique Symphonique d’El Djem, when orchestras from across the world come to play to an attentive audience.
Tofo, Mozambique
Tofo boasts one of the best beaches along the Mozambique coast. The broad strip of sand doubles as a football pitch for the local kids, who cool off afterward in the sea. It’s a surfers’ paradise, particularly thanks to the barrelling right-handers at Tofinho. But the place mostly attracts tourists for what’s in the water: this is one of the best spots along the coast for wildlife viewing. Manta rays and whale sharks can be seen here year-round on snorkeling or scuba diving trips. Meanwhile, RIBs depart from June to October to view migratory humpback whales as they pass through on their way to and from the Antarctic. Swap stories of sightings on a sunset catamaran cruise in nearby Inhambane Bay.
Elmina, Ghana
There’s always something going on at the lively port town of Elmina on the Ghanaian coast. It hosts a daily fish market each morning, when hundreds of brightly painted boats return to the harbor to unload their catch. Hawkers capitalize on the crowded quayside to flog all manner of goods. Overlooking the scene, and also the area’s palm-fringed beaches, is an imposing white castle. The Portuguese built the Castelo de São Jorge da Mina in 1482. Initially, it served as a trading post from where gold was exported. However, it soon became a holding point where enslaved Africans would be incarcerated before being shipped across the Atlantic. Visitors can tour the castle and its dungeons, which, like nearby Cape Coast castle, form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Semonkong, Lesotho
Semonkong locals will proudly tell you that they live a stone’s throw from Africa’s highest single-drop waterfall. It’s a three-hour ride from Lesotho’s capital Maseru, but the winding road climbs through some of the country’s most breathtaking mountain scenery. Basotho shepherds bundled up in traditional blankets and all manner of hats herd unruly flocks of sheep and angora goats at the roadside. Once you reach Semonkong, hike across lush pastures to take in the view of magnificent Maletsunyane Falls. At a nearby lodge you can arrange to rappel 204 meters down the rock face in what the Guinness Book Records certify as the longest single drop commercial abseil in the world. But it’s just as satisfying to sit beside the river and down a Maluti beer in the sunshine.
