7 Incredible Natural Wonders of Africa - National Geographic

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NAMAQUALAND, SOUTH AFRICA
Following the rains, around August and September each year, South Africa’s dry Namaqualand area is blanketed with thousands of bright flowers. Many flower seekers, travel for miles to the northwestern part of the country to see this exceptional landscape change from dry desert to plains of brilliant flowers. Some of the best places to take in views are the Richtersveld National Park, Goegap Nature Reserve, and Skilpad Wild Flower Reserve. Those keen on hiking can also explore on foot.


Photograph by Anthony Asael/Art in All of Us, Getty Images
TSINGY ROUGE, MADAGASCAR
Located outside Madagascar’s Diego Suarez, Tsingy Rouge is a magnificent collection of red needled rocks. A result of soil erosion of the Irodo River, the rock formation was only discovered in the mid-20th Century and is considered a magnificent work of Mother Nature (despite being the result of erosion). Unlike other Tsingys in Madagascar (which tend to be grey in color), Tsingy Rouge is formed from laterite, similar to clay, which gives the pinnacles a distinctive red tone. Visitors can explore the area on foot, but it’s a spectacular sight seeing the the pinnacles rise out of the ground from above.


Photograph by Carl Court, Getty Images
DANAKIL DEPRESSION, ETHIOPIA
Going to one of the hottest and most inhospitable places on earth might not sound like an appealing idea in theory, but Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression is a spectacular sight of dry land and bubbling pools of lava. A result of the friction of three tectonic plates, the geological depression bubbles with lava and sulfurous mounds. The surrounding grey salt pans, which are a stark contrast to the myriad of the luminescent colors in the depression, go on for as far as the eye can see. Getting there is not easy but visitors can book trips through local travel companies (which transport guests via car and camel).


Photograph by Richard Packwood, Getty Images
LIUWA PLAIN NATIONAL PARK, ZAMBIA
A landscape of never-ending grassy plains, the Liuwa Plain National Park in western Zambia could easily be compared to the Serengeti–it even has the second largest wildebeest migration after the Serengeti. The park is so isolated that until the opening of the intimate King Lewanika lodge this year, it didn’t have a permanent camp. Previously affected by poaching and hunting, although the Liuwa Plain National Park is currently being rehabilitated and doesn’t have an abundance wildlife, it is home to a plethora of birds and large packs of hyena. With most tourists going in search of plentiful wildlife, the park remains one of the wildest and most untouched places in Zambia.


Photograph by Cultura RM Exclusive/Tim E White, Getty Images
TAGHAZOUT, MOROCCO
One might not associate surf culture with Morocco, but the small fishing village of Taghazout is home to some of the best surf spots in Africa: Anchor and Killer Points. Skilled and amateur surfers flock to Taghazout to take advantage of the excellent waves and small surf community, which isn’t entirely dominated by tourists. For non-surfers, the beaches are great for swimming and the charming town has loads of cafes and seafood restaurants. There’s also the nearby Paradise Valley, a formation of rocks and natural pools, set in the High Atlas Mountains.


Photograph by Ben McRae, Alamy Stock Photo
MAKGADIKGADI SALT PAN, BOTSWANA
What was once Botswana’s Lake Makgadikgadi (many millions of years ago), is now Makgadikgadi Salt Pan, an arid salt pan roughly the size of Portugal, making it one of the largest in the world. Located in the northeastern part of the country, the desolate pan isn’t what anyone would envision when thinking of a wildlife-dense country like Botswana. The stark, flat area covers 6,200 square miles and is a never-ending landscape of creamy dry earth set against blue sky. Void of wildlife for most of the year, the annual rains bring a spectacular stream of wildlife including zebra, wildebeest, and flamingos. Lodges like Jack’s Camp and San Camp, make it a less-complicated (and more romantic) destination to visit.


Photograph by Papilio, Alamy Stock Photo
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK, UGANDA
The only wild cats that safari-goers are likely to see climbing up trees in most of Africa’s national parks are leopard. This is not the case in the Ishasha area in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, where visitors can expect to see lions dangling from large branches of fig trees. When the heat of the day sets in, most lions recline under a shady bush or tree, but the lions of Ishasha, are inclined to climb up the tree. It’s also believed that they do it to escape the flies. Visit on a hot day and it’s likely there could be up to five lions in one tree at one time.