Lesser-known tourism attractions
Africa is a wealth of natural, historical, and cultural wonders. Many travellers will know the popular tourist destinations on the continent: South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Egypt’s Pyramids, Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, Kenya’s Masai Mara, and Zambia’s Victoria Falls; all of which are of course incredible places to visit.
But have you heard of a village built on stilts over a lake in Ghana, or the 12th-century stone-cut churches of Ethiopia, or Malawi’s highest mountain?
If you have been drawn to this article, there’s a good chance that you’ve either already visited the continent’s most well-known attractions, or you’re looking for a trip to Africa that is a little more off the beaten track.
But Africa is a vast continent, and deciding where to go and what to see can be overwhelming, so I’ve narrowed it down to my pick of the 6 less-travelled African destinations that are worthy of a spot on your bucket list.
Draa Valley
At 680 miles long, the Draa is Morocco’s longest river and lends its name to the Draa Valley.
Ancient farming villages and farming communities line this river, and the area is known for its date farming, and production of cereals, vegetables, and henna.
The valley is also famous for its ancient kasbahs, fortresses that were used for defense when cities came under attack.
These kasbahs also doubled as houses for local leaders and were built with high walls for protection.
The Valley stretches from the city of Ouarzazate to the Sahara Desert in the south of Morocco.
The Draa valley peters out near the settlements of Zagora and Tinfou, where a curiously lone sand dune sits, in the middle of a vast gravel plain.
Here you will find a sign reading “Tombouctou 51 jours,” translating to “Timbuktu fifty-one days” — 51 days by camel that is – a measurement dating back to the days when Morocco controlled all the way across the Sahara Desert and into Mali.
Audley Tours offers an 8-day desert circuit that you can join to visit the Draa Valley.
Nzulezo, Ghana
Some 224 miles — about a 7-hour drive — west of Ghana’s capital, Accra, lies the village of Nzulezo. Nzulezo is located on Lake Tandane, part of the Amasuri Wetlands, a sensitive ecosystem that is home to an impressive array of flora, fauna, and countless rare birds.
The town is nestled in a mangrove forest and is only accessible by canoe from the coastal town of Beyin. Nzulezo’s estimated 600 inhabitants are farmers, fishermen, or brewers of the famous, local alcoholic “gin,” “akpeteshi.” Nzulezo is the only village in Ghana built entirely on stilts and is often referred to as “Ghana’s Venice.”
According to legend, the ancestors of Nzulezo’s modern-day inhabitants were from the ancient Ghana Empire in today’s Mali.
In the 15th century, after a war fought over fertile land and gold, they were forced to flee. Legend has it that their god appeared as a snail and led them to today’s Ghana. Continuously forced to move onwards by other tribes or by slave traders, they followed their god until finally reaching Lake Tandane.
Here they remained, feeling the lake would protect them against enemies and also provide them with food.
Nzulezo depends on tourism. One of the highlights of a visit to this town is the actual journey to get here. After driving as far as the unpaved road allows, a short walk takes you to your canoe, and an hour’s canoe ride takes you through narrow, lush channels, open plains, and finally into the wide expanse of Amansuri Lake (the ride is safe and lifejackets are available). If you are staying at one of the beaches in the Western Region, such as Busua or Axim, the visit to Nzulezo can easily be done as a day trip. Anyone wanting to “live like the villagers” can stay at the Home Stay guest house, but don’t expect modern standards.
Pro Tip: There is a fine line between tourism and invading the local resident’s personal space — do ask before you take photos, and check behind you before posing for a selfie, in case some scantily clad person is trying to take a bath in the lake — most of the town does not have indoor running water.
Easy Track Ghana offers an 8-day Water Lover Tour if you are interested in visiting Nzulezo.
Mount Mulanje
Mt Mulanje lies to the east of Blantyre, the main city in southern Malawi. Mulanje is an impressive sight to see, and its summit, Sapitwa Peak is the highest point in Malawi at 9,850 feet.
Mt. Mulanje is known locally as the “island in the sky” because it rises almost straight up from the flat plains below. This is a truly magnificent mountain and has to be seen to be appreciated. Unlike some of the world’s peaks that are obscured by surrounding ranges, here there is a genuine sense of awe as you draw closer to Mulanje and see it looming over its surroundings. The area boasts a variety of wildlife including small mammals and several bird species including the black eagle and countless white-necked ravens.
Visitors can drive around the foot of the massif in a day, but even better is to walk, trek, hike, and camp on the mountain. There is a large network of paths and trails and choices between quite gentle walking and serious climbing. Visitors can spend a couple of hours taking a walk to some river pools and waterfalls or spend many days exploring the whole massif.
Crafted Africa offers a great 9-night ‘Walk Malawi’ tour that includes Mount Mulanje and a number of other spots in this beautiful country. Alternatively, Mulanje town, at the base of the mountain, has shops and services, as well as a colonial-era “sports club” (complete with golf course) and a handful of hotels and guest houses, the best of which is Africa Wild Truck Camp & Lodge, who offer a variety of accommodation, in a converted colonial building, and can also organize Mulanje hikes using local guides and porters.
A half-hour journey from Mulanje some lovely accommodation is offered at Huntingdon House on the Thyolo Tea Estates.
Pro Tip: Unsurprisingly for a vast, foreboding, and sometimes unforgiving mountain, local myths and legends abound around Mulanje, and visitors are well-advised to keep the mountain’s spirits “appeased” in the hope • of a successful ascent!
To be continued next week.
Kingdom was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Africa at the age of 21. She is a mountain climber and guide, traveller, yoga teacher, trail runner and mother of two.