Mnemba Island in Zanzibar is picture perfect (Image: Getty)
From the winding streets of Morocco’s iconic blue city, Chefchaouen, to hikes up Table Mountain in Cape Town and tracing the paths taken by ancient Egyptians at the Pyramids of Giza, more and more travellers are flocking to Africa’s tourist hotspots. Even in Tanzania’s famous Serengeti, you might have to fight through the crowds just to catch a glimpse of the extraordinary wildlife. So it comes as no surprise that travel experts are urging more adventurous travellers to broaden their horizons and explore some lesser-known corners of the vast continent.
Here the Express reveals some of the little-known delights that are in Africa and out of this world from bustling cities and picturesque beaches to intimate cruises and unspoiled nature reserves.
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Mozambique’s Maputo Fortress, which offers a taste of the country’s colonial past (Image: Getty)
Underrated city – Maputo, Mozambique
A port city on the Indian Ocean, Maputo boasts a “vivid tapestry” of modern life mixed with history and culture, and is “easily one of East Africa’s most attractive capitals” according to Lonely Planet.
Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO of Global Travel Moments, says some of its must-see sites include the Maputo Central Railway Station, ranked as one of the world’s most beautiful, and the Fortress of Maputo, which offers visitors a taste of Mozambique’s colonial past. Meanwhile, the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora da Conceição is impressive with a gleaming bright white spire, before visitors slip off to enjoy the bustling cafes and cultural scene.
Although Maputo has few of its own beaches, Greenfield-Turk added that a two-hour trip to Ponta do Ouro reveals an unspoilt stretch of golden sand ideal for dolphin spotting and diving.
How to get there: Fly from Heathrow to Maputo International Airport (MPM) with one stop at Addis Ababa (ADD) with Ethiopian Airlines from £1,077 return.
Best time to visit: May to November boasts pleasant dry weather with temperatures around 26C, perfect for touring the city and its sights. Fewer people around this time also improve the experience.
Costs: From opulent hotels like the Polana Serena Hotel to small guesthouses, Maputo offers a variety of lodging options. Prices range from £79 to £238 each night, catering for all budgets.
For those seeking a unique, wild and uncrowded experience, Namibia should be at the top of your list (Image: Getty)
Incredible natural landscape – Skeleton Coast, Namibia
Namibia boasts some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes on Earth, its vast and towering dunes appear almost Martian. For those seeking a unique, wild and uncrowded experience, this southern African country should be at the top of your list.
“From the soaring Sossusvlei dunes to the large salt pans of Etosha National Park, it’s ideal for people seeking less traffic and stunning views,” explains Greenfield-Turk.
With the vibrant capital, Windhoek, as your base, you can then venture into the desert for adventure sports like sandboarding, away from the crowds that gather for the same experience in Dubai, he adds. For a unique experience, head to Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, which was once littered with whale bones from the whaling industry and is now home to the remains of more than a thousand shipwrecks caused by offshore rocks and fog, earning it the nickname “the gates of hell”.
How to get there: Fly from Gatwick to Windhoek Hosea Kutako (WDH) with one stop at Addis Ababa (ADD) with Ethiopian Airways from £788 round trip.
Best time to visit: During the dry winter season, between June and October when the country has clear skies and little rain. This is also the best time for safaris when the wildlife concentrates around waterholes.
Costs: Namibia offers a range of accommodations, from budget-friendly campsites to luxurious resorts in private reserves. During peak season, you could camp for as little as £20 per night. You could also stay in a two-bedroom in Etosha Village, complete with a restaurant, two pools, and a bar, with breakfast and dinner included, for £185. A room in Gmundner Lodge in Windhoek, meanwhile, goes for £1,415 a night.
While cruises across the Mediterranean have boomed in popularity, Africa’s remain hugely underrated (Image: Getty)
Under-the-radar cruise – Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau
While cruises across the Mediterranean have boomed in popularity in the last few years similar cruises to Africa’s gems remain hugely underrated in comparison. Tucked off the Atlantic coast of Guinea-Bissau lies the idyllic Bijagós Archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve consisting of 88 unspoilt islands that range from dense forests to vast white-sand beaches.
“It’s one of the few places left where you actually feel like you’re stepping into a world that hasn’t been altered by mass tourism,” says Kristin Winkaffe, founder of Winkaffe Global Travel. The only catch is that it is not easy to explore independently. Luckily, Ponant Cruises has launched a nine-day voyage aboard a small ship: “It takes care of all the logistics, so instead of worrying about how to get from one remote island to another, you’re just enjoying the ride – spotting hippos from the deck, visiting villages, and exploring islands most people will never even hear about.”
While the likes of Tanzania and Kenya are inundated with millions of visitors each year, Guinea-Bissau receives about 50,000. “This is true off-the-beaten-path travel,” says Winkaffe. “If you’re looking for a destination where you won’t be surrounded by other tourists, this is it.”
How to get there: Fly from Gatwick to Bissau (OXB) with one stop at Casablanca Mohamed V (CMN) with Royal Air Maroc from £796 return. From here, you can step right on board the ship.
Best time to visit: October to March is the sweet spot, during the dry season so the weather is nice, the wildlife is active, and best of all it falls during turtle nesting season, a magical site to witness. April to June is still tolerable but the humidity will start to creep up.
Costs: Ponant’s nine-day expedition cruise, setting sale on April 7, starts from £4,830 per person.
For those longing for a private island fantasy, Mnemba in Tanzania is the ultimate destination. (Image: Getty)
Desert island – Mnemba Island, Tanzania
For those longing for a private island fantasy, where you do nothing but lie on soft white sand sipping fresh coconut water while watching the waves roll in, the paradise island of Mnemba in Tanzania is the ultimate destination. “You know those screensaver-perfect beaches with white sand and ridiculously blue water that make you want to quit your job and move to a tropical island forever? That’s Mnemba,” explains Winkaffe.
You can spend your days doing absolutely nothing, or you could be out in the water all day snorkelling, diving, kayaking and even swimming with dolphins. If you time your holiday right, you can even witness baby turtles hatch.
What’s more the island is a protected marine conservation area, where locals carry out incredible work for turtle conservation and reef restoration.
Mnemba welcomes only 1,000 guests a year. Compare that with the 500,000 or so that visit Zanzibar’s main island of Unguja and you begin to understand just how special this island is. “There are no crowds, no big resorts, no noisy beach bars… just you, the sea and a handful of other guests who are lucky enough to be here at the same time,” adds Winkaffe.
How to get there: Fly from Gatwick to Zanzibar (ZNZ) with one stop at Addis Ababa (ADD) with Ethiopian Airways from £553 round trip. From here, drive 90 minutes to the coast, followed by a 10-minute boat road to Mnemba.
Best time to visit: For sunny and dry weather that’s not too humid, head to Mnemba between June and October. This is also the best season for diving, with the clearest water. For those wishing to tick turtle nesting season off their bucket list, aim for November to March.
Costs: Mnemba Island Lodge is the only available accommodation, boasting 12 beachfront open-air villages. Prices start at £1,585 per person per night. Baskets of fresh fruit and fish are sailed daily, with romantic candlelit meals on the beach.
For those in search of the authentic, rugged Africa, head for Sierra Leone. (Image: Getty)
Up-and-coming country – Sierra Leone
For those in search of the authentic, rugged Africa – travel blogger Claudia Tavani of My Adventures Across The World recommends heading for Sierra Leone.
Travel to the West African country is still virtually unheard of as the perception of Sierra Leone is that of a dangerous country following more than 20 years of civil war that ended in 2002. While tourism infrastructure is still somewhat lacking, those who visit will find a place that is both raw and charming.
Freetown, the capital, is the best place to base yourself and start your adventure. It’s also where you will find some incredible beaches, including River Number 2, which is high praise indeed considering Tavani hails from Sardinia.
If you want to rough it she recommends visiting the Turtle Islands, where you will find a basic guesthouse on the beach and meals cooked by local women. “This is as local as it gets,” she explains. “The children and local community welcome you.”
“Give it a chance,” Ms Tavani teases. “It may surprise you.”
How to get there: Fly from Heathrow to Freetown Lungi International (FNA) with 2 stops at Istanbul (IST) and Ouagadougou (OUA) with Turkish Airlines from £930 return.
Best time to visit: During the dry season – between November and April. Consider getting a local guide and driver, as it will make all the logistics significantly easier.
Cost: One week with breakfast included at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown costs from £1,164.
Trekking to see the critically endangered Western lowland gorilla is ‘the adventure of a lifetime’ (Image: Getty)
Amazing wildlife – Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo
While the Serengeti receives somewhere between 350,000 and 500,000 visitors per year, the incredible Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of the Congo welcomes less than 3,000. Organised into groups of four, travellers “have the opportunity to experience the magic of gorilla trekking in a very wild, untouristed setting”. A trip to Odzala to see the critically endangered Western lowland gorilla will not only be “the adventure of a lifetime” but thanks to the stunning luxury lodges in the heart of the Congo rainforest, relaxation in the beautiful surroundings will also be on the agenda.
There are three exclusive eco-luxury lodges (Ngaga, Lango and Mboko) operated by Kamba African Rainforest Experiences, for seven, 10 or 11-night journeys. “This is an extremely off-the-beaten-path adventure that also offers polished service and accommodation, combining the best of both worlds for the discerning traveller,” adds Hancock.
While this is a highlight, other activities include bird watching, night walks, a visit to the Ombo village, kayaking down the Lekoli River, 4×4 drives and swimming in Likeni River.
How to get there: Fly from Heathrow to Brazzaville (BVZ) with one stop at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) with Air France from £669 return. From here, you can take the charter flight to Odzala.
Best time to visit: The large mammals can be found in the forest year-round, making this destination a great visit any time of year. While the Congolese rainforest is always wet, June to September is a drier time. The wet season’s equatorial storms also benefit the rainforest, with picturesque skies perfect for keen photographers and higher water levels, meaning boating activities can be extended and guests can explore further.
Cost: The seven-night journey starts at £11,700 per person, including charter flights and a stay in an exclusive eco-luxury lodge, meals, medical evacuation and two gorilla trekking permits per traveller.
