The sandy white beaches, hiking trails, clear waters and deep cultural heritage of Africa’s beaches and coastal towns make it the perfect holiday destination this year.
1. Cap Skirring - Senegal
Why not head to the Basse Casamance (Ziguinchor) region of Senegal and check out the seaside resort of Cap Skirring on the Atlantic Ocean coast? The beach, which sits at Senegal’s extreme southwestern edge, arcs its way up the coastline in a series of shallow crescent-shaped coves lined by palm trees and lush vegetation.
But really nothing can beat a casual walk on the stunning beach. You can take your pick from the numerous curio stands and sample the catch of the day from the friendly fishermen on the beach front.
2. Vamizi Island - Mozambique
On the edge of indigenous tropical forests of Acacia, Hibiscus and Casuarina trees lies the desert paradise island of Vamizi Island. This private island stretches for 12 kilometres in a crescent-shape in a marine conservation area off the coast of northern Mozambique in the Quirimbas Archipelago.
Boasting endless stretches of wild, deserted beaches, the island is perfect for quiet long walks to the sound of lapping Indian Ocean waves. Its kaleidoscopic reefs, with over 180 species of pristine coral and over 400 species of reef fish, make Vamizi Island a perfect excursion for snorkellers and scuba divers.
There are a variety of activities available on the private island including saltwater fly-fishing, mountain bike trails, bird walks and dhow cruises.
Top tip? You should definitely befriend the local guides who are eager to share their knowledge of this beautiful island.
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3. Likoma Island - Malawi
A trip to Malawi poses so much fun, vibrancy, relaxation and exploration of rich African culture. One of the places to go where you can find all the above is Likoma Island.
The larger of two inhabited islands on Lake Malawi (one of Africa’s largest lakes) contains a diverse fresh-water ecosystem harbouring an estimated 1000+ fish species. Be sure to look out for the Pearl of Likoma, a fish endemic of Lake Malawi found in the rocky areas around the island.
With lots of rocky slopes, sandy beaches and swamps, there is a lot to be explored by both local and international travellers, so feel free to grab a mountain bike to aid your adventure. When you’re not diving into the turquoise waters, you can take boat trips around the island to the nearby Chizumulu Island or to neighbouring Mozambique.
You can reach Likoma Island by flight from Lilongwe or take the scenic route by boat from Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Senga Bay, or Monkey Bay.
4. Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika’s waters lap Tanzania, Burundi, Congo DRC and Zambia. It is the longest freshwater lake in the world and the second deepest after Lake Baikal in Russia.
The clear blue waters host more than 350 different species of fish — most of which are endemic to the lake. Species such as the Giant Nile Perch and Small Nile Perch are important commercial and sports fishing (angling) species.
For the adventurous, lodges along the lakeshore such as Ndole Bay offer numerous watersports such as skiing, wakeboarding and tubing. As the first and only fully registered dive facility in Zambia, Ndole Bay strictly adheres to international diving standards and practices for all diving and dive training activities.
The waters of Lake Tanganyika offer amazing views on sunset cruises, with some heading eastwards to nearby Nsumbu Island (an old slaving island). The cruises also take you past Mpende Fisheries bream cages, and sometimes you can even catch the boat makers building or fixing wooden dhows.
5. Sharm el-Sheikh - Egypt
Whether you want to hang out in the Red Sea or explore the various shops, you might want to add Sharm el-Sheikh (fondly called Sharm) to your travel list and explore a different side of Africa.
Though largely popular for various watersports (particularly scuba diving and snorkelling), scientific tourism is also worth exploring due to the diversity of marine life — 250 different coral reefs and 1000 species of fish.
A visit to the Ras Mohammed National Park is definitely worth adding to your list. This peninsula, south of Sharm, is home to glorious beaches, a saltwater lake and boasts the world's second most northerly mangrove forest.
Travellers can also enjoy land-based day trips to Ras Mohammed to explore the peninsula's desert environment. Good views can be found at the clifftop Shark Observatory right on the southern edge of Ras Mohammed where one can see both sides of the Red Sea.
Don’t forget to soak up the sun at Naama Bay which is the epicentre of Sharm el-Sheikh's resort life. Dotted with restaurants, cafés, and souvenir stores, the beach has a pedestrian-only promenade rimming the entire beach area. Be sure to check with your desired resort on what beach access they provide when choosing your Naama Bay accommodation. This is because this beach is sectioned into separate areas owned and run by the hotels, with complimentary access for resort guests.
There are so many beautiful beaches and resorts to explore in Africa, so what are you waiting for? Get booking your 2022 holiday now!