Top 8 African Countries Foreign Tourists Love to Visit

Africa is a large continent encompassing 54 internationally recognized countries and an even greater number of tribes. It provides travelers with magnificent opportunities to visit incredible wildlife areas, deserts and jungles, beaches and mountains, historical and archeological places, and outstanding modern cities. Here is a list of the eight African countries that have remained tourist’ destinations over the years.

1. South Africa

Tourism is a very important sector in the continent, mainly dominated by South Africa which is the most visited country in Africa. Over 10 million foreigners visited the country for tourist activities alone in the year 2019. It boasts excellent tourist facilities, a favorable climate for several parts of the year, scenic views, and diverse wildlife. The fact that the city of Cape Town with the towering Table Mountain is one of the most popular destinations is also a plus. The Kruger National Park is home to numerous big five sightings during the safari. They also cater to beautiful beaches, breathtaking drives such as the Garden Route, and wine-growing areas.

2. Morocco

Tourism is an important sector in Morocco’s economy which recorded more than 12 million international tourist arrivals in the year 2019 to make the North African country the most popular tourist destination in Africa. Morocco is an interesting country that combines the traditions of both Arabic and European countries and the culture of the Berbers. While the modern part of Morocco attracts foreign tourists with the Imperial cities of Fez, Marrakesh, and Rabat. Other popular sites are the colossal structures of the Atlas Mountains that stretch across the length of the country, kasbahs which are a special kind of fortress, the vast dunes of the Sahara, and the renowned beach city of Essaouira. Moroccan food is amazing and their hosts are extremely friendly making any trip enjoyable.

3. Egypt

Egypt is one of the oldest tourist destinations globally, and its tourist count was over 13 million in 2019. Many travelers consider the famous Pyramids and the Great Sphinx as the must-visit attractions. Other well-known landmarks include Luxor Temple, the necropolis of Thebes (Valley of the Kings), the Karnak Temple Complex, and Abu Simbel. The Red Sea coastal resorts are some of the most significant holiday destinations where visitors can enjoy sunbathing on clean sandy beaches or have an adrenalin rush as they engage in water sports activities. Egypt also provides fantastic Nile River sightseeing between two notable landmarks.

4. Tunisia

Tunisia attracted more than 9 million foreign tourists in 2019 putting the country among the most preferred beach tourism destinations in Africa. Its Mediterranean coastlines endow it with coastal tourism for sun lovers from Europe and other parts of the world who seek to enjoy holidays in resort towns. Tourism is one of the main sources of income for Tunisia; the archaeological discoveries include the ruins at ancient Carthage and the great Amphitheatre of El Jem. Matmata, the shooting location behind the scenes of the Star Wars movie, is yet another point of interest. Tunis, the capital of the North African nation, offers visiting tourists sights such as the old Medina and well-developed museums.

5. Tanzania

famous for long Safaris, Tanzania hosted over 1.5 million visitors in 2019. The well-known Serengeti National Park, as well as the Ngorongoro Crater, are top safari destinations because of the Great Migration when a million plus wildebeests, and other game, crisscross the savannah. Tanzania’s tourist attraction site is Mount Kilimanjaro the tallest in Africa which tests the strength of the hikers in a hike to the top. The Zanzibar beaches with coconut trees are perfect for relaxation after wildlife viewing and safari activities. Tanzania also boasts of another honor in as much as it has the largest wildlife population; it is also home to Olduvai Gorge which is famous for housing some of the oldest human fossils ever to be unearthed.

6. Kenya

Kenya is another East African country that is a favorite destination of tourists due to its excellent options for safari tourism. Statistics revealed that in 2019, approximately 2 million tourists visited Kenya. In addition to wild and natural areas including the famous Masai Mara and Amboseli, Kenya boasts some of the best beaches along the Indian Ocean coasts. Other attractions are the size of the Great Rift Valley which is so extensive and the natural beauty of the serene Lake Nakuru with the flamingo. The capital city of Nairobi is also a tourist hub and visitors to the city can enjoy a great deal of history, National Parks in the region, and good restaurants.

7. Uganda

Despite being relatively new to receiving foreign tourists, Uganda received over 1.5 million foreign visitors in 2019. It has one major draw; it offers tracking services with guided hikes through the Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. For the adrenaline junkies, white water rafting on the Nile River near Jinja or viewing the splendid Murchison Falls can also be a wonderful experience. Bird watching and wildlife enthusiasts consider it great as it has Queen Elizabeth National Park. Some other enjoyable attractions in Uganda are the crater lakes which are scenically beautiful to relax in.

8. Namibia

Over 1.7 million visitors arrived in Namibia in 2019, with the population coming to experience the semi-desert terrains and exotic fauna and flora. Some of the famous tourist attractions include the Namib Desert which is the second largest sand desert in the world and covers more than 2,000km from the Atlantic Coast with high red dunes and Deadvlei clay pan. Etosha National Park is one of the best places to have exceptional views of the games and birds. People also come to watch whales and dolphins at the coast, to tour Fish River Canyon, or to meet some of the last remaining isolated tribes. Namibia is among the least densely populated countries in Africa and this has contributed to making it one of the most peaceful countries to visit.