The Central part of Africa is one of the most interesting parts of the continent and it’s not because it is located at the equator.
The reasons why Central Africa is so interesting is because of its vast and diverse culture and natural wonders that attract a number of visitors to the country at different times of the year with so many activities to participate in and attractions to visit.
Here’s what you can do if decide to travel across the central part of Africa.
Burundi
Burundi is a country that is covered in the greenery and the beauty that nature offers its visitors and residents.
A great activity to partake in is a hike on Mount Heha – a mountain that is the highest mountain point in the country, standing at 2864 metres.
The hike offers beautiful views of the Burundi mountain range and its thriving wild forests that surround the mountain range.
Mount Heha is located in the Bujumbura Rural province of Burundi and it lies approximately 20 km to the east of Lake Tanganyika and about 30 km to the southeast of Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi.
The Boali waterfalls are one of the Central African Republic’s most popular tourist attractions, because of its mighty falls, especially during the rainy season.
Measured at 250 metres wide and 50 metres high, the Boali falls are controlled by a dam that is built to power two hydroelectric power plants for the country.
For a small fee, visitors are able to see the Boali falls and learn more about them.
São Tomé and Príncipe
Pico Cão Grande is a needle-shaped volcanic plug peak that is located in the southern region of São Tomé and Príncipe natural park.
Surrounded by shrouds of ferns and made a home by tropical snakes thriving in the humid weather, the plug peak attracts quite a number of climbers who risk it all to summit the peak.
The peak is approximately 370 metres tall and its summit goes up to 663 metres above sea level.
Guided climbs up the peak are offered, but most visitors are encouraged to take pictures of the plug peak from the bottom with it in the background.
Equatorial Guinea
Monte Alén National Park is home to over 8000 wild species including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, crocodiles and wild birds.
The national park provides guided day walks and drives through the park where visitors are treated to the lucky sights of the primate, mammal, reptile and bird species that inhabit the wild forest.
Gabon
Another country that is home to mountain gorillas, Moukalaba-Doudou National Park is one of Gabon’s popular destinations for tourists who visited the Central African nation.
The national park is – mountain gorillas, elephants & other wildlife.
The third largest national park, Moukalaba-Doudou is home to a variety of species because it is a biome that has different types of habitats including humid rainforest and savannah grasslands.
The entire national park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on October 20, 2005, in the Mixed (Cultural & Natural) category.
Angola
Fortaleza de São Miguel (or Saint Michael Fortress) has a bit of a dirty past with the people of Angola, as it was a colony fort during the Portuguese’ occupation of the nation – and it also served as a base for slave trade to Brazil during the 17th century.
Built in 1576, the fort has ceramic tiles which tell the story of Angola from early years, while in the courtyard are large, imposing statues of Portugal’s first king, the first European to reach Angola, Diogo Cão, renowned explorer Vasco da Gama and other notable figures.
Until 1975, the fortress served as the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the Portuguese Armed Forces in Angola. Today, it holds the Museum of the Armed Forces and is open for public viewing.
Chad
An interesting activity to check out in Chad is located at the Tibesti Mountains, home to the Toubou tribe – called camel racing.
Surrounded by chasms and crags from the Saharan region with the features of ancient rock paintings, the people of Chad converge near the hot springs to watch the humpback animals gallop across the Saharan region, near hot springs and Emi Koussi – the country’s highest peak (standing at 3 450m).
Source: IOL
