Africa is an incredible continent. It’s diverse with contrasting landscapes from beaches to mountains, deserts to wetlands, and mountains to endless open savannah. The people are culturally enriched and have been living a unique way of life for centuries. You can witness wildlife up close and personal, unlike a regular zoo. This continent contains architecture and history that is unforgettable. Africa contains 54 countries overall some people have unfortunately never heard of. Here are five of Africa’s hidden gems you won’t want to miss out on.

Uganda

Uganda is an exquisite area. It attracts visitors from all over the world with its stunning landscape in a mystical and surreal atmosphere. It varies from snowy Rwenzori mountains, which is stated as one of the best hikes in the world by National Geographic. These hike peaks are permanently covered in snow, sheltering glaciers and home to one of the sources of the Nile. The lower part of these mountains are covered with moorland, bamboo and moist montane forests. This wonderland grows enormous tree heathers and luridly coloured mosses that cover the mountainsides along with trees that drape as if they were curtains. The Rwenzori mountains national park covers most of the centre and eastern half of the range. It's different from any hike because the mountains in Africa are steep, rugged, and wet.

Africa’s largest lake, known as Lake Victoria. It has five islands worth exploring named Rusinga, Mfangano, Rubondo, Ukerewe, Ssese island. Ssese is among the top ten world’s hidden treasures and best islands. It does take an airplane, boat, and ferry to get there but once you do it is worthwhile. It has gorgeous beaches, horseback riding, ATV quad biking, hiking, and volcano climbing. If you visit Lake Victoria in general there are several other activities you can do while visiting. You can go fishing, on boat-rides, and bird watching. It makes for a wonderful outdoors experience.

Rwanda

There are only four places in the world where you can go gorilla trekking. Those locations are Congo, DRC, Uganda, and Rwanda. Rwanda is most well known for its gorillas. Luckily gorilla trekking is once in a lifetime experience but a year-round activity. Like any rainforest, it's easier to trek in the dry seasons, which are mid-December to early February and June to September. If you don’t mind the rain, just bring waterproof gear. During the wet-season it’s crystal clear air with great views of not only the gorillas but also volcanoes. You can hike to these volcanoes and see inside the vast caves. Regardless, if you go during the low season that means there will be fewer tourists to impede your proximity to the primates to get a closer look.

Other unknown facts of Rwanda is it was deemed one of the safest countries in the world in 2017. It’s capital Kigail still ranks the safest capital city in all of Africa. It's excellent for families or solo travelers. It’s not only safe but it is an extraordinarily clean location. All able-bodied people available do a country-wide clean up on the last Saturday of every month. One of the reasons why it is so clean is because the leadership there cares deeply for the environment. Rwanda is actually rapidly growing economically as well but the Rwandan government doesn’t let the economic boom come between making sure the local environment is taken care of. The country is gorgeous with rich mountains, Savannah and lakes. It’s home to gorillas, hippos, chimpanzees, elephants, leopards, zebras, giraffes, and more than 700 kinds of birds.

Madagascar

Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the entire world located right off eastern Africa in the Indian Ocean. Since it is surrounded by water, the beaches are spectacularly unspoiled. Rainforests line these beaches and are filled with unique wildlife. Madagascar is mostly well known for its le mars. Wildlife is booming here and a large percentage of the species found on Madagascar can only be found because it's an isolated island. It's the dreamiest location for photographers looking for vibrant areas with availability to be getting close up to some of the rarest animals in the world.

Madagascar is literally paradies. It is a gorgeous location for a marriage proposal or for honeymooners looking to relax. For those who like this type of vacation they can venture to Nosy Ankao, the largest of the five islands off the north-eastern coast of Madagascar. Miavana is an area that is only accessible by helicopter and is the centre for “blue safaris.” This spot explodes with sea life where you can spot sea turtles, whales, and dolphins. There is scuba diving and fishing available and even a nice top notch spa nearby. Be sure to also stop by Madagascar’s famous baobab called the “Reniala” which means, “mother of the forest” in the Malagasy language. These baobab species can be found forming vast forests in the semi-arid regions in the south. Some baobab can reach almost 30 feet high and almost 100 feet in circumference. They are unique trees you’ll want to see for yourself in person.

Tanzania

Over 120 languages are spoken in Tanzania, most of them from the Bantu family. The Kiswahili language (Swahili) is the official language of Tanzania. Tanzania is made up of at least 120 tribes, each significant in their own way. Each of them is culturally distinguished by their unique masks, hand-woven baskets, batiks, poetry, items carved out of ebony or rosewood, etc. Home to the continent’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania is situated on the East coast of Africa. A guided safari is definitely the way to go when traveling through Tanzania, as game reserves and national parks make up more than 40 percent of the country’s land area. In addition to the high peaks of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania has beautiful beaches and off-coast islands including Pemba and Zanzibar. Zanzibar, a port city of Tanzania, is a cosmopolitan hotspot which dominates East African culture. Its long history with Arab rulers, Indian workers, Portuguese traders and European colonizers have created a unique blend of traditions, cuisine, music, dance forms, and arts.

Ghana

Although widely considered to be “Africa for beginners,” Ghana is often overlooked by travelers. Ghana is known for its diverse wildlife, vibrant culture, delicious food scene, deep history, and unspoiled nature. Truthfully Ghana is a treasure place where you can soak in the sun, sand and surf at its fabulous beaches. There are miles of unspoiled sandy beaches lined with coconut palm trees. Delicious seafood like lobster and barracuda. Everything there is always super-fresh and caught daily right there. If you want to visit the local villages and attend a cooking class, you can look for a local market tour. You can bargain with local shop owners as you pick fresh ingredients for yourself then go home or to a local family to prepare legendary West African dishes like Fufu, Banku with Tilapia and Jollof. There is so much to do other than just food and luxury beaches. There are cap coast castles, large national parks, and gorgeous waterfalls to see. Ghana is one of the best hidden gems available in Africa.

Why not see some of the world’s greatest hidden gems? Come on a journey you’ll never forget.

Post written by Aryn