It’s Not All About South Africa – Other Great African Cities Everyone Should Visit

November 17th, 2011 - By MN Editor

It really bugs me when people refer to Africa as a country. Sadly enough, people like Oprah and influential celebrities don’t help in trying to correct the matter with the general public. Africa is the motherland of culture and the second largest continent on the planet; nevertheless, it’s merely associated with one country most of the time and that’s South Africa. Ironically, the country where apartheid oppressed Africans so boldly is the place that’s most benefiting from tourism.

Just because other African countries don’t invest in the PR machine like South Africa doesn’t mean that potential tourists shouldn’t be made aware of these other wonderful destinations. We couldn’t cover all 56 countries of course but here are a few cities that you should consider for your winter break (hey, it’s always warm in Africa)! We’ll continue to highlight various African countries in future installments of our travel series. And as always, feel free to nominate some destinations in your comments.

 

"zanzibar"

Stone Town, Zanzibar 

Zanzibar is a small island off the coast of Tanzania that boasts a mythical flavor. A three hour ferry ride from the mainland of Dar es Salaam will bring you to this very quaint fishtown of Stonetown which offers world-renowned architecture. The mix of Arab, Indian and East African influence is reflected in the diverse array of foods from currys to, of course, great grilled fish. A great time to go would be during the Zanzibar International Film Festival in the summer, which is the second largest film festival on the continent.

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  • Lillianmbula

    What about Nairobi and Mombasa and Lamu in Kenya

  • Fiyori

    Aww Eritrea:) Kootos to MadameNoire for showing Eritrea:) I was almost sure it was not going to be on here.That is my home.:) It is a amazing place to visit if you are going to Africa. The people are friendly, the land is beautiful, the weather is like spring time all year round, and there are so many historical sights to see. As mentioned it is one of the safest countries in Africa; I am a 21 year old women and can walk the streets in the night time by myself with no worries or anxieties. Of course I am familiar with the country so I would recommend always having someone with you if you are a foreigner visiting. Oh and FYI, the food is AMAZING. They have Italian and of course great Eritrean food. I think I gained 5 lbs last time I went lol. 

  • FulaNY

    Great post! I would only like to add that visiting African countries is even more awesome when you have a friend that actually has family in the country you wish to visit. Makes the trip even more enjoyable, safer, cheaper and to some extent more authentic!! I am originally from Guinea (born there, raised in the states), and every time I go back, I am so grateful that I have family to help me quickly readjust and re-discover my home.

  • Miss K

    growing up I lived in South Africa for 10 years, Kenya for 5 (and visited a bunch of other countries in between)… but I still want to visit MOROCCO soo much! something about that beautiful islamic architecture and the desert.

  • MeMe

    I would like to add Maputo Mozambique as well. I’m originally from D.R.Congo and I lived in Maputo, the people are great, the population is very diverse and you will enjoy eating chicken piri piri com batatas! Just talking about it makes me want to go back.  

  • Amija

    Why does she mention SA to talk about great cities to visit?

  • http://twitter.com/lilideedee Dahlia Beckford

    And you could  only come up with a list of four?

  • Aimeewill

    Thanks a lot for this article…it about time people show something positive about the African continent…Kudos!

  • Bbooker1943

    if you go start 3 months in advance to get passport ,shots and visa you will need all 3 things and you can not get the shots at 1 time they have to be spaced out. it also takes time for a visa and passport. you will need the passport to send to washington dc for the visa.

  • Bbooker1943

    africa was my dream trip for many years. my children knew this and my grands.3 years ago on mothers day they gave me a mothers day card that said for your bday you are going to africa. i went to ghana had a wonderful time. i still think about it. i have a whole album of memories.they have lots of mask and art work. that cost little i came back with money. i have never been on vacation and came back with money.go if you can the people are friendly. i even met some people from the states that knew people that i knew small world!!!

  • Prissy

    I want to visit Ghana so BAD!!!! I had my DNA checked, my dad side is linked to that country. Most countries from West Africa have “people” in the States.

  • Ms. Rich

    Would like to visit Lagos, Nigeria. Getting mixed messages like crazy but not any real assistance.  Can anyone help me out?  Seriously.

    • Busayo

      Lagos is complicated. It is an amazing place, i am nigerian have lived in the states for 20 years and go back to Lagos everyyear. Its AMAZING but also crazy. Its hard place to just show up to. I think in five years, it will improve. It helps to have someone come meet you. Nigerians are incredible hosts, so if you have a Nigerian friend with family there, they will probably take care of you. its doable to go alone but you won’t enjoy yourself as much. 

      To respond to an earlier comment, that Africans in africa don’t like Black Americans, this is complete rubbish and people have to stop saying that. It is untrue. Africans are tremednous hosts and love people visiting. 

  • Amy

    Yeeess! You mentioned my hometown, Dakar :) ! I miss home sooo much. The Gorée Island is beautiful and full of memories of the slavery era. There’s also the Pink lake, Saly and beautiful beaches. There are a lot of things to see and discover. People are friendly, that’s why Senegal’s called the country of hospitality.

  • Crystal

    How come there’s no Accra, Ghana? Accra Rocks!!!!!

  • Sugar/Spice

    Stone Town looks amazing!  I’ve often heard that African Americans are not that accepted in certain areas of Africa, can anyone speak to that?

    • LassiterKat

      Well im not sure about that. But in Liberia where my mother is from. Liberians who are descendants of the freed slaves that return back to Africa have a higher status. They live in the cities and have more money than the other ethnic Liberian groups. They are put on a pedestal.

      Either way, does it really matter. There are people in the US that are not welcomed into certain neighborhoods.  Sometimes poor countries tend to have tourist that come there and the poor in that country have resentment toward the tourist because they don’t have the money to even do things in their own country that tourist can come in and do.

      • Jjokocha99

        That was the reason for the civil war in Liberia.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=634725625 Lakshmi Marie-Noel

      the problem is that you A-A are quit forgetful of where your dark skins come from, and you often patronize us, as if we were still little children (just like the colons used to do… ) there a lots of reasons, but this one is the main I can think of.

    • Amy

      I cannot speak for other countries but in Senegal, foreigners are generally warmly welcomed.

    • YHOOOOO

      AA are always welcome in Africa more than europeans or other races. I can tell you that being african myself. Africans love it when african americans come visit the motherland. Don’t believe the conquer or divide thing. You will be welcome like one of theirs as you are anyway. They will see you as their blood or long lost cousins.   

      • Fahari

        I am Tanzanian and I agree to that…..AAs gotta stop believing they are the most hated….They are welcome to the motherland;)

    • Sugar/Spice

      Thank you all for responding & that’s comforting to hear.  I’ve always had an interest in visiting the Ivory Coast to see the The Basilica Notre Dame de la Paix

    • Sam

      1st - whether it be africa or latin america, european/white visitors are treated far better and with much more respect than visitors of color.
      2nd - It has been said that the discrimination of AA’s by africans, stems from a superiority complex. many africans do believe that they are the “true race” or that they are of “pure blood”. and when not only africans, but other foreign blacks migrate to the U.S., they discover that a majority of AA’s are in poverty, they dont value education, the men refuse to be husbands and fathers, women and children of great number are resorting to dependence on the government….this simply fuels the discrimination because they then consider AA’s to be a joke.

      • Ren

        Its silly to try and defend discrimination of AA’s by Africans with them considering AA’s a joke due to things like rampant poverty, dependence on government aid and men who refuse to be husbands fathers.

        African nations are always presented in the West as being rampant in poverty and disease, in constant warfare, perpetually dependent on foreign aid, brutal and neglectful towards women and children and lead by arrogant, ignorant puppet leaders that kowtow to the West.  In fact, African women and their children have the poorest outcomes of any population the world over.  So, who really is the joke? Africans do not like Africans. It obvious by how they treat each other. African’s who discriminate AA’s are just like the original African fools that sold their own for trinkets and beads.

        It is time for all of the African diaspora to work together. If a black foreigner comes to your country and gets treated like crap it is your country that loses. Those tourist dollars and the potential to have an advocate for policy change towards Africa in the US is lost.

    • Lillianmbula

      Lies lies. Africans are very welcoming people and dont reject anyone.