Africa as a continent: when to visit Africa
A few years ago former president George Bush referred to Africa as a "country" on cnn instead of a continent. Ofcourse it was a slip of tongue which he immediately corrected. Africa is not a country but a continent of about 55 different countries. Africa is the second largest continent in the world today in terms of land mass and population size. Some people sometimes underestimate the size of Africa but to put it in perspective, Africa is larger than the combination of China, United States, Western Europe, India ,Argentina, three Scandinavian countries and the British Iles. So it is a huge mistake to refer to Africa as a country. Traveling to Africa is just like traveling to the second largest continent on earth full of people of different colors and races. In other words, Africa is like a whole world on its own. There are people of all colors in Africa. There are people of all races in Africa. There are several religious and cultural groups. There are several clans and ethnic groups. There are several countries and several borders. There are several languages both foreign and local. There are several mountains, rivers, plants, animals, etc. and to sum it up, Africa is a whole world on its own.
Where should I visit in Africa? I got an email the other day asking me where to visit in Africa. As I said earlier on, Africa is a whole world on its own and there are so many places to visit in Africa. There are so many tourist attractions in almost any country you visit in Africa. When is the best time to visit Africa? The best time to visit Africa depends on what you want to see and what you are going to Africa to do. Just like Winter, Summer, Autumn and Spring, every season brings with it new things and what season to visit Africa depends on the things you want to see. There are several festivals and cultural celebrations across Africa but most festivals and rituals are celebrated seasonally. There is wildlife and great wildlife in Africa but once again, it depends on what you want to see. Take Namibia for example, Wildlife and game viewing is best in September and October as the wildlife is found mostly around waterholes and along river banks. It is also excellent from June to August. In other words, if you are going to Namibia just to see the wildlife then the best time to visit is from August to the end of October. If you are going to Tanzania just to climb mountain Kilimanjaro then the best time to visit is from January to March and also from August to October. If you are going to Zimbabwe just to see the famous Victoria falls, then the best time to visit is April-May why because the Victoria falls is very spectacular especially after the rainy season. If you want to visit the famous Seychelles island(one of Africa's most beautiful Islands) then the best time to visit is from March to May and also from August to November why because The Seychelles are at their busiest and most expensive especially from December to July. However, if you can afford it, then the best time to visit is Now. There are some countries in Africa with spectacular tourist attractions and cultural display all year round and you can visit anytime you like.
Don't just go to Africa. Before you go, you must make sure you know which country you are going to and what you are going there to do. There are friendly countries like Ghana and Nigeria you can visit all year round. Although Ghana does not have much wildlife compared to other African countries, Ghana has the best blend of cultural display and some of the most beautiful forest reserves on the continent which makes Ghana attractive all year round. One thing I will like to point out is the language barrier. You can visit any African country you like because language barrier isn't a big issue these days. There are trained professionals in almost every African country who will help break the language barrier for you. However, if this is your first visit to Africa then I will advise you choose a country that speaks a language you understand to make things easier for you. If you are from an Anglophone country then I will advise you choose an Anglophone country like Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, etc. for your first African visit. If you are from a francophone country then I will advise you consider francophone countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, etc. for your first African visit. This will make things easier for you. Africans are very hospitable especially towards foreigners why because hospitality is part of our culture and traditions. You can travel to any country you like in Africa and come back safe. You may be a foreigner but nobody is a stranger in Africa. So when is the best time to visit Africa? The best time to visit Africa is NOW.