Here are 10 breathtaking places in Africa you probably never hear about:
---
1. Lake Retba (Senegal) – The Pink Lake
This stunning pink lake gets its color from algae that thrive in the salty water. It looks like something out of a dream, especially during the dry season when the color is most vibrant.
---
2. Tsingy de Bemaraha (Madagascar) – The Stone Forest
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this "forest" is made of razor-sharp limestone formations. It’s a maze of towering spikes and hidden caves, unlike anywhere else on Earth.
---
3. Blyde River Canyon (South Africa) – The Green Canyon
While the Grand Canyon gets all the fame, Blyde River Canyon is the third-largest canyon in the world — and one of the greenest. It’s a lush paradise with waterfalls, cliffs, and epic viewpoints like God’s Window.
---
4. Sossusvlei (Namibia) – The Red Dunes Desert
Imagine endless waves of rust-red sand dunes — some towering over 300 meters high. When the sunrise hits, the desert looks like a glowing, alien planet.
---
5. The Richat Structure (Mauritania) – The Eye of the Sahara
From space, it looks like a giant bullseye carved into the desert. This natural wonder is still a mystery — some say it's an eroded dome, others believe it's a meteor impact.
---
6. Simien Mountains (Ethiopia) – Africa’s Grand Highlands
Carved by time and nature, these jagged peaks and deep valleys are home to rare wildlife, including the Gelada baboons and Walia ibex — animals you won’t find anywhere else.
---
7. Chott el Djerid (Tunisia) – The Endless Salt Lake
A surreal salt pan that stretches as far as the eye can see, with shimmering mirages and cracked earth. It even inspired Tatooine in the original Star Wars.
---
8. Lake Turkana (Kenya) – The Jade Sea
The world’s largest desert lake, glowing a strange turquoise-green. It’s surrounded by volcanic landscapes, and nearby, you’ll find fossil sites that reveal early human history.
---
9. Mount Nyiragongo (DR Congo) – The Lava Lake
This volcano holds one of the world’s largest active lava lakes, bubbling and glowing red in the night sky. It’s dangerous — but awe-inspiring to those who make the trek.
---
10. Ile Sainte-Marie (Madagascar) – The Pirate Island
This island was once a pirate’s hideout, and it still holds a pirate cemetery. Today, it’s a tropical paradise with turquoise water, coral reefs, and migrating humpback whales.