Where to Go in Africa in 2019

If traveling to Africa in 2019 is your goal, we invite you to go beyond the typical safari. Take a walk on the wild side in these under-the-radar African countries that are brimming with wonderful landscapes and creatures.

Republic of Congo

The Congo is sparsely populated with people and rich in thick, lush rainforests that are home to lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, and red-tailed monkeys. Adventure seekers will love making their way through the untouched wilderness of Odzala-Kokoua National Park—one of the oldest in Africa. The humid northern rainforests of the Congo Basin make up the second-largest collection of rainforests in the world, second only to the Amazon. African grey parrots fly through the foliage, crocodiles skim the tops of murky swamps, and forest elephants linger in open clearings. The Republic of Congo may be far flung, but it’s well worth the journey to tap into the untamed beauty of one of Africa’s best kept secrets.

Zimbabwe

Landlocked Zimbabwe was once known as the richest country in Africa. Today it is wealthy in wildlife, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and natural marvels like the iconic Victoria Falls. The Big Five frequent Hwange National Park, a sanctuary near the Botswana border. This is the country’s biggest protected park and it hosts an incredible variety of other animals, too. Cheetahs, zebras, and impalas all roam the landscape. Hippos splash and frolic and crocodiles show off their toothy grins in the UNESCO-listed Mana Pools National Park right in the heart of the Zambezi Valley. To preserve Zimbabwe’s unmatched natural beauty, many camps run on solar power and are built using sustainable materials. It’s an eco-conscious traveler’s delight, and it’s a great place to experience in Africa in 2019.

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Mozambique

A melange of cultures meet in Mozambique. Long ago, Arab and European sailors stumbled upon the area, then the Portuguese colonized the country. Their centuries of occupation left behind European-style buildings and towns that today beckon you to wander their narrow streets. Cultural explorations are musts in Mozambique. But so is beach-side lounging under the swaying palms, and dipping into the clear blues to discover an equally astounding underwater world. Coral reefs and colorful fish greet sea explorers in the Quirimbas Archipelago, a treasure of 32 islands. Mozambique may not be the Africa you imagined, but it’s a slice of the continent that you need to see.

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