The 10 Wonders of Africa
What are the 10 wonders of Africa? Africa boasts of its diverse natural wonders making it every explorer’s dream spot. It is a content full of wonders, but has a detailed list of 10 that are without doubt incomparable and they include the glorious Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta, Ngorongoro Crater, the Great Migration, Mount Kilimanjaro, The Sahara Desert, the Nile River, Red Sea Reef, and more. The beauty of the endless natural wonders in Africa is that each harbors some of the most bio-diverse ecosystems on earth.
The Mighty Victoria Falls
Lying on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia in Southern Africa, behold the smoke that thunders –the powerful Victoria Falls. The Victoria Waterfalls is one of the world’s largest falling curtains of water with a width of 1700 meters and cascades over 500 million liters of water into the gorge each minute. The Victoria Falls is notably the world’s greatest sheet of falling water. It is the world’s treasure due to its exceptional geological and geomorphological features, active land formation processes, and irresistible beauty. As you get close to this natural wonder, what welcomes you is the water spray, mist, and rainbows.
The Great Migration
The Mara-Serengeti migration is the world’s spectacle, a natural wonder where over 1.5 million wildebeest move in search of pasture and water. The annual wildebeest migration includes thousands of zebras and gazelles making it the world’s biggest land migration. The movement covers up to 18,000 sq. miles and occurs between the Mara and Serengeti ecosystems. This enriching spectacle occurs once a year from July to September. It is a circular event that also includes wildebeest calving/birthing. The calving season takes place from December to February. During the birthing season, over 800 calves are born.
The great migration is often triggered towards the end of rains in May. Around this month, wildebeest move towards the northwest and arrive at the Grumeti River by late June. From late July to August, the wildebeest herds would have crossed to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The main highlight of the Serengeti-Mara migration is the Mara River crossing where wildebeest forcefully cross the hugely infested Nile crocodile River. On crossing, countless predators are lurking including leopards, lions, and cheetahs.
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater also most popular as the Garden of Eden due to its remarkable beauty and status as a haven for wildlife is an essential spot for biodiversity conservation. It is home to several internationally threatened species, and the world’s biggest unbroken caldera also referred to as the “Cradle of Life”. The Ngorongoro Crater’s caldera extends about 19 km wide and has a surface area coverage of 290 sq. km. It lies at an altitude of 2000 meters and protects more than 30,000 animals. It features vast grassland which provides significant habitat to a diversity of wildlife.
Ngorongoro is most popular for its abundant wildlife including the Big Five game; the black rhinos, lions, cheetahs, elephants, and cape buffaloes. Within this natural wonder of Africa, over 25,000 large animals are making it a home to a huge profusion of wildlife compared to most protected areas in Africa. It is most popular for its highest concentration of lion –the largest lion population on earth.
The Nile River
The Nile River is one of the top 10 wonders of Africa. River Nile is the world’s longest natural river shared by over 11 countries. This mighty natural river is 6650 km long and comes second just after the Amazon River of South America. Known for its vast source of life, flowing northwards via the 11 countries on its way to the Nile Delta in Egypt where it pours its water into the Mediterranean Sea.
Almost every valuable cultural and historical monument in Egypt concentrates around the Nile River banks. It is here where the ancient Egyptian civilization first emerged. Today, the River Nile still features as a major source of water for the largest population of Sudan and Egypt. In the far South, on the White Nile tributary in Uganda, the River is home to diverse adrenaline adventures including bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, kayaking, boat cruising, and more.
The Red Sea Reef
The Red Sea Reef lies between the Middle East and Africa. It is a narrow estuary of the Indian Ocean. On its broadest point, the surface covers a width of 355 km, and length of 2250 km, and an overall area coverage of 438,000 sq. km.
Over 1,000 fish species, 10 percent of which are native to the Red Sea. The Red Sea is credited for its diverse coral and marine life. It also holds over 44 species of sharks that often visit its reefs for feeding and breeding reasons. The Red Sea Reef is an aquatic paradise and the most popular spot for scuba diving. Diving adventures are excellently done at the Ras Mohammed, Daedalus Reef, and Elphinstone in Egypt.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Conquering the snow peaks in the African savanna at Mt. Kilimanjaro is such an unforgettable adventure. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the world’s free-standing volcano at an altitude of 5885 meters and is Africa’s tallest mountain. It features a snow-capped tropical peak, refined farmlands along its lower slopes, and lush rainforests as well as grassland. At its summits, there are two peaks; Kibo and Mawenzi. Kilimanjaro Volcano lies in Mount Kilimanjaro National Game Park in Tanzania. It is Africa’s natural wonder and is known for its breathtaking views.
The Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert is one of the remarkable 10 wonders of Africa. It is a popular arid wonder, also the world’s 3rd biggest desert just after the cold Antarctic and Arctic Deserts. It features the hottest deserts and covers over 9,200,000 sq. km. Its extensive size is more than that of China and covers 11 countries. The Sahara Desert stretches from the Mediterranean in the North and the Red Sea in the East then to the Atlantic Ocean in the west. At the Atlantic Ocean, this desert’s scenery progressively transforms from desert to coastal plains.
Regardless of its hotness, the Sahara Desert still supports diverse species including the red-necked ostrich, Dama gazelle, Sand vipers, Single-humped camels, foxes, and Saharan cheetahs. These are capable of surviving in the harsh terrain. The numerous activities to do in the Sahara Desert include camel riding, wildlife viewing, camping, and cultural tours.
Table Mountain
Lying in South Africa is Africa’s flat-topped Table Mountain (1086m), one of the world’s natural wonders. This is one of South Africa’s easiest-photographed landmarks and is home to some unique plant species. The Table Mountain’s summits can be accessed using a cable car. At the summits, you enjoy the mesmerizing views of the cosmopolitan city down below, the Wine lands, etc.
The scenic Blyde River Canyon
The Blyde River Canyon is the world’s 3rd biggest canyon and boasts of its breathtaking scenery. It holds over 1000 species of flora and is known for its most picturesque landscapes. The Blyde River Canyon is found in the Mpumalanga Nature Reserve in South Africa. It lies close to South Africa’s most popular Kruger National Park.
Baobabs on Madagascar
The Avenue of the Baobabs is one of the best places to explore on an African tour. This comprises a group of Grandidiers baobabs all lined up on the unpaved road between Marondava and Belon’i Tsiribihina in Menabe region, Western Madagascar. It features among the most explored sites in the Menabe region. The Baoba Avenue forms dozens of unique and ancient baobab trees and features as Madagascar’s first official natural monument.
