The Seven Wonders of Africa 2023–2024

Because of its immense diversity, the African continent is home to a wide variety of rare and endangered creatures in its numerous unique settings. Not to mention the many millions of inhabitants that call the continent home. The African continent has something to offer every kind of traveler, from deserts and mountains to savannah plains and vibrant coral reefs to countless unique and fascinating cultures and histories. Therefore, the region is full of wonders, but on February 11, 2013, the public voted to select seven that stood out above the others. Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders are as follows:

1. Delta of Okavango

The Okavango Delta is a vast area of inland marshland where the Okavango River meets a natural depression. The delta is situated in the endorheic basin of the Kalahari. During the dry season, the river’s water evaporates and never reaches the ocean. On the eastern border of the Okavango Delta sits the Moremi Game Reserve.

The area is home to a variety of animals, including larger kudus, rhinoceroses, chacma baboons, African buffaloes, South African cheetahs, African buffaloes, and African bush elephants. The Okavango Delta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its grandeur and expanse.

2. Reef at Red Sea

Asia and Africa are connected by the Red Sea, a saltwater inlet in the Indian Ocean. The Gulf of Aden and the Bab el Mandeb Strait connect this Sea to the rest of the world. Beneath the sea sits the Red Sea Rift, one of Africa’s Seven Wonders. The Red Sea spans an area of 169,000 square miles and measures 1,400 miles in length and 221 miles in width. The highest depth of the Red Sea is 7254 feet. The extensive network of shallow shelves in the Red Sea is home to an abundance of corals and other marine species.

There are over 200 different types of hard and soft coral in the Red Sea, along with 1,000 different species of invertebrates. Of the 1,200 fish species in the Red Sea, about 10% are exclusive to the region. The coral reefs that surround the sea are made up of relatively young porites and acropora corals, which have ages ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 years. Platforms, lagoons, cylinders, and other elements make up the reef habitat. The reefs of the Red Sea are home to over 44 different kinds of sharks.

3. The River Nile

Any list of Africa’s Seven Wonders must include this river, which is the longest river in the world. The Nile flows through northern Africa on its northward journey. The 4,145-mile-long Nile, shared by eleven countries, provides the majority of the water needed for the pofpulations of Sudan and Egypt. The Nile River empties into the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt through a massive delta.

The Sudanese kingdoms and Egyptian culture were both nurtured by this river, which also gave birth to them. Because of this, the majority of Egypt’s most important historical and cultural sites are centered near the banks of the Nile River.

4. The Great Exodus

Africa’s Serengeti region stretches from northern Tanzania to southwest Kenya. The largest migration of terrestrial animals occurs in this area. The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and several smaller game reserves comprise the ecoregion. In addition to lions, this habitat is home to 70 different species of large animals and 500 different species of birds. The varied topography of Serengeti National Park includes kopjes, wetlands, riverine woods, grasslands, and forests.

In Tanzania’s southern Serengeti, in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the migration starts. Approximately 260,000 zebras, 1.7 million wildebeests, 470,000 gazelles, and other plains species set out on their migratory journey between January and March. These animals start to graze in the southeast Serengeti’s short-grass plains in February, and by March, they have given birth to over 500,000 calves.

The animals travel northwest as the rains stop in May; however, they stay close to the Grumeti River until late June. The herds travel to Kenya in late July or early August, where they spend a few days before heading back to Tanzania’s Serengeti. The births and deaths of migrants are all part of the dramatic journey known as the great migration. Due to hunger, thirst, and predators, around 250,000 wildebeest perish along the journey.

5. Ngorongoro Crater 

The center of Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation region, a protected area and World Heritage Site west of Arusha, is the Ngorongoro Crater. The largest intact, inactive, and empty volcanic crater on Earth is the Ngorongoro Crater. About two to three million years ago, a large volcano erupted and collapsed on itself, creating the crater.

The crater highlands’ eastern side is covered in montane forest, while the western wall, which experiences little rainfall, is made up of grassland and scrub. Two fever trees dominate the small forested areas and open grassland that make up the crater bottom. The Ngorongoro Crater is recognized as one of Africa’s Seven Wonders because to its exceptional features.

6. Sahara Desert

After the icy deserts of the Arctic and Antarctic, the Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the planet. In contrast, the world’s hot deserts are ranked highest by the Sahara Desert. The desert is roughly 3,500,000 square miles in size, which is almost the same as the United States. With the exception of the Mediterranean Sea coast, the Nile Valley in Egypt and Sudan, and the Atlas Mountains in the Maghreb, the Sahara Desert covers the majority of North Africa.

There is some life in the dry desert. The Sahara Desert is home to a variety of animals, including red-necked ostrich, addax, dama gazelle, Saharan cheetah, monitor lizard, sand viper, desert crocodiles, Saharan silver ant, dromedary camels, and goats.

Numerous nomadic tribes live in the desert, in addition to the towns that can be found in its oasis. Certain regions of the Sahara Desert arrange a variety of tourism activities, including camping, camel rides, animal viewing, and cultural excursions, with the help of knowledgeable locals.

7. Kilimanjaro Mountain

Africa’s highest mountain is Tanzania’s dormant Mount Kilimanjaro. From its base, the mountain rises about 16,000 feet to a height of 19,341 feet above sea level. Situated at the center of Kilimanjaro National Park, the mountain is a well-liked climbing destination. The Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira cones are three separate formations on the stratovolcano. There are official hiking trails that lead to the summit of the peak. Of the three, the Machame is thought to be the most picturesque.

While scaling Mount Kilimanjaro is not as challenging as reaching the heights of the Himalayas or the Andes, fatalities still happen frequently. To increase the likelihood of a safe ascent to Mount Kilimanjaro, the government has created a number of rules that climbers must abide by.