These charming African towns and cities have so much to offer, from history to adventures and even some of the most beautiful scenery in Africa.
By Joshua Chiedu
Africa is a massive continent filled with so many amazing destinations worth visiting year-round. From beautiful islands in Africa to mountains and huge African national parks full of amazing wildlife, this diverse continent is full of incredible things to see and do.
The continent is also full of vibrant cities and charming towns, most of which are bustling with history and culture. One of the towns offers an insightful look at the sobering history of the slave trade era, and another is hidden deep in a desert featuring relaxing hot springs and historic attractions that date back to ancient times. Without further ado, here are some charming and amazing towns and cities in Africa worth a visit.
10 Ifrane, Morocco
Skip Casablanca and other larger cities in Morocco to visit Ifrane - the cold part of the country. The charming town is also known as the Switzerland of Morocco, as it is located at an elevation of 1,650 meter (5,400 feet), and it snows all winter.
Although it is also exciting to visit in the summer, Ifrane is particularly exciting during winter as it is home to Michlifen resort & Golf, which is equipped with alpine ski runs and lifts. In addition to its winter appeal, Ifrane is full of stunning colonial architecture as it was built to be a French Alpine village.
9 Lamu, Kenya
Lamu has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for being the best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. The town’s population is less than 30,000, and it sits on a coastline where it welcomes visitors to come to relax on its beautiful beaches, sail in its waters, and eat delicious seafood.
In addition to being one of the most charming towns in Africa, Lamu is also among the most interesting; it's home to several museums that shed more light on its history, including the Lamu Fort - a historic fort built in the 1820s.
8 Tofo, Mozambique
Tofo is a small beach town in Mozambique with a population of less than 10,000 people. For those seeking beach vacation destinations in Africa, Tofo is an amazing place to visit, as it has beautiful uncrowded beaches that offer enchanting scenery and opportunities for water activities year-round.
Tourists here can also enjoy scuba diving, fishing, surfing, and whale watching, here is incredible, especially from June to October.
7 Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana
Sekondi-Takoradi, also known as the Twin City, is located in the western region of Ghana. This is one of the most charming cities in Africa, and it comes with a rich history of the Fante people who occupy it. Additionally, it also features an interesting colonial history.
The city was once occupied by the Dutch and the British, who built several structures, including a fort and a railway station, which still exudes the colonial presence in the city today. Sekondi-Takoradi is also home to beautiful resorts and museums, and it hosts the Kundum Festival, which is held annually during harvest to thank God for the abundance of food.
6 Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria
Auchi might be a small town at the moment, but it is one of the fastest growing towns in Nigeria and all of Africa. The town is famous for hosting the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, which is considered to be one of the best schools for tertiary education in Nigeria and the best polytechnic in Africa.
The school makes the town a vibrant place filled with so many young people from all over Nigeria and Africa. It is a great place to meet and mingle with the young and vibrant youths who are known to party a lot.
Auchi has so many things to love. The town has football stadiums, massive churches and mosques, numerous restaurants offering delicious Nigerian meals, theme parks, and dense forests where hiking and biking can be done. The town is close to popular places in Nigeria, like Benin City, Asaba, Akure, and Lokoja, so it is a great base from which to explore the inner parts of the country.
Even if it’s not for adventures, Auchi is also just a great place to live, retire, or invest. The people are accommodating and friendly, and business thrives, especially in areas close to the school. The town is also a great place to invest in real estate as land is cheap, and land disputes are not common compared to other parts of Nigeria.
5 Badagry, Nigeria
Badagry is a coastal town in Nigeria with a rich history and interesting culture. This town is an interesting place to learn about the sad history of the slave trade. Visitors to this town can actually walk through the slave route and get a first-hand experience of the inhumane activities that once prevailed here.
Visit one of the town’s numerous slave museums to learn more about the sobering history, and also head over to the beach to listen to the sounds of waves and reflect on the town’s past.
4 Luderitz, Namibia
Luderitz is one of the most beautiful towns in Africa; it's a coastal town positioned on the Atlantic coast and known for its colonial architecture and stunning landscapes. This dreamy town is full of historic buildings designed with German architecture, as the town was once a booming German mining town. The town is a great base from which to visit the ghost town of Kolmanskop and also explore the Namib Desert.
Tourists to the town can check out Goerke House - a historic double-story building built on a rock by the inspector of the German mining company operating in the town. They can also visit the lagoon to witness its beautiful sight. Luderitz also offers delicious seafood.
3 Grand Baie, Mauritius
Also known as Grand Bay, this small coastal town is made up of a little over 10,000 people, and it is popular for its gorgeous white sand beaches, which are ideal for relaxation and a wide range of adventures. The town is popular with both locals and tourists alike as it has incredible natural scenery as well as amazing shopping and great nightlife.
Shops, bars, restaurants, and resorts line up the shores of this town, and activities like snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, and sailing can be done on the water.
2 Kalk Bay, South Africa
Kalk Bay is a small sleepy fishing town that’s home to approximately 700 people. The town is part of Cape Town, and it is characterized by charming coastal views and massive mountains that overlooks it. Kalk Bay has everything needed for an enjoyable vacation, from restaurants to shops, hotels, and interesting attractions like bookstores and art galleries.
The town is particularly a great place for fishing, and tourists here will enjoy a wide variety of seafood. Other activities like swimming, surfing, and hiking can also be done in this village.
1 Siwa Oasis, Egypt
Tucked away in the Western Desert of Egypt, about 560 km from Cairo, Siwa Oasis is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. This desert city is home to so many incredible sights and attractions, from beautiful olive trees to relaxing hot springs, thousands of palm trees, otherwordly desert scenery, and lots of historic sites.
Enjoy a fun-filled day at Siwa by visiting the city’s top attractions like the Shali - a melted mound of mud and salt - and Cleopatra’s Spring, which was said to have been visited by the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra herself, whose tomb has not been found to date.
Next, head over to the Temple of the Oracle, which once housed the Greek oracle of Jupiter Amun - an oracle which Alexander the Great is said to have visited to ask if he was going to rule the world.
Read the original article on The Travel.
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