The African continent is vast with diverse landscapes and features. Africa offers many beautiful and serene islands that will make you one with nature and give you that blissful feeling while on vacation.
Here are 6 African islands to explore:
- Mauritius
An island bursting with colour, Mauritius is so much more than a beach destination (though its white-sand shores are indeed beautiful). With rich, green rainforests, craggy mountains, silvery waterfalls, and a diverse and delicious foodie scene, there’s plenty to enjoy when you’ve had your fill of beach time. Mauritius is also one of the best places in the world for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
- Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique
Swim with dolphins, explore the protected coral reefs, and ride horses down the beaches of the Islands that make up the Bazaruto Archipelago in southern Mozambique. These are some of the most beautiful Islands off the coast of Africa. For ocean lovers, it’s a dream: you might be able to swim with dolphins, whale sharks, turtles or manta rays and spot humpbacks cruising along the coast or even rare dugongs.
- Praslin, Seychelles
It’s tricky to pick a top Seychelles Island, but Praslin National Park, which is home to the UNESCO-protected Vallée de Mai with its huge coco de mer palms, might tip the scales a little. Praslin is one of the top African Islands to explore. It has plenty of beaches to enjoy, such as Anse Lazio, regularly cited as one of the best beaches in the world. There are also lots of accommodation options from the super high-end to the more reasonably priced.
- Zanzibar, Tanzania
Looking for an African Island to explore, look towards Zanzibar! Just off the coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar is one of East Africa’s most well-known beach destinations, ideal for post-safari decompression. The Island is known for its historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – it’s a mixture of Ottoman, European, Indian, and African influences, such as its series of ornate wooden doors, mosques, and the Old Fort.
- Príncipe, São Tomé & Príncipe
One of the two Islands that form São Tomé & Príncipe, Príncipe is the smaller and the most untouched, with just 7,000 inhabitants. Of all the islands off the coast of Africa, Príncipe is the one on the cusp of international recognition: a recently-opened luxury eco-resort has begun attracting more travelers to experience the island’s lush jungle and quiet beaches.
- Sal, Cape Verde
Cape Verde, in the North Atlantic Ocean, due west of Dakar, is made up of ten African islands to explore. The most popular is Sal, which has no shortage of golden beaches. The island gets its name from its old salt trade and you can go and see the salt flats, which have been out of operation since the late 1980s. The main town is Santa Maria, which has a long beach and lots of restaurants and bars to try out.
Have you explored any of these Islands? Share your experience here.
