Africa

This is the Algeria chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Africa’s largest country is home to urbane cities such as Algiers and Constantine, magnificent Roman sites and legendary desert landscapes. The Algerians themselves, who welcome visitors with warmth and curiosity, are the real highlight of this nation.

• listen out for the ghostly footsteps of Roman legion­naires in the beautiful ruined town of Djemila
• maps
• stand atop the theatre in Timgad and survey the ruined grandeur of this vast Roman city
• transport
• picnic among the flowers surrounded by the tapering columns of the Roman city of Hippo Regius
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Algiers, Constantine, Ghardaïa, Understand Algeria and Survival Guide.

This is the Angola chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Angola is one of Africa’s last great travel mysteries, closed off to all but the most adventurous travellers thanks to stringent visa policies, high prices and a history that’s been more about war than peace.

• Kalandula Falls are as spectacular and large as any in Africa, but, as yet, get very few visitors
• maps
• Miradouro de Lua is a magnificent lookout over a canyon of moonlike cliffs that cascade dramatically into the Atlantic Ocean
• Parque Nacional da Kissama, Angola’s most accessible and largest national park, has been partly replenished with big fauna

Coverage includes: Understand Angola.

This is the Benin chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Benin is steeped in a rich and complex history still very much in evidence today. It wows visitors with its palm-fringed beach idyll of the Atlantic coast, the rugged scenery of the north and one of the best wildlife parks in West Africa.

• spend a night in the lakeside stilt village of Ganvié
• maps
• learn traditional fishing techniques on the shores of Lake Ahémé
• transport
• Spot lions, cheetahs, elephants and more in Parc National de la Pendjari
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Cotonou, Route des Pêches, Porto Novo, Ouidah, Grand Popo, Possotomé & Lake Ahémé, Abomey, The Atakora Region, Parc National de la Pendjari, Understand Benin and Survival Guide.

This is the Botswana chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

With some of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth, Botswana is one of the great safari destinations. Its lodges rank among Africa’s most exclusive, but self-drive expeditions are also possible. And however you visit, Botswana is a truly extraordinary place.

• go on the perfect safari with a luxury camp such as Vumbura Plains
• maps
• glide through the vast unspoiled wilderness of the Okavango Delta
• transport
• get up close and personal with Africa’s largest elephant herds in Chobe National Park
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Gaborone, Eastern Botswana, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Francistown, Tuli Block, Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans, Nothern Botswana, Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta, Maun, Eastern Delta, Inner Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Kalahari, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Understand Botswana and Survival Guide.

This is the Burundi chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Tiny Burundi is an incongruous mix of soaring mountains, languid lakeside communities and a tragic past blighted by ethnic conflict. The entire country is now considered unsafe to visit.

• sultry capital Bujumbura has great nightlife and delicious food
• maps
• soft white sands, warm waters and a stash of cool beach bars make Saga Beach one of the most enticing inland beaches in Africa
• four different waterfalls make up the gorgeous Chutes de la Karera

Coverage includes: Understand Burundi.

This is the Cabo Verde chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

This stunning island chain has a captivating blend of mountains, beaches and peaceful seaside villages. Throw in the constant beat of music and its renowned hospitality and you’ll see why many have come – and never left.

• hike the misty pine-clad ridges, canyons and valleys of Santo Antão, Cabo Verde’s most spectacular island
• maps
• admire the views from the summit of stunning active volcano Pico do Fogo
• transport
• follow the sounds of morna and coladeira around music-loving seaside towns
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Santiago, Praia, São Vicente, Mindelo, Santo Antão, Fogo, São Filipe, Chã das Caldeiras, Sal, Boa Vista, Understand Cabo Verde and Survival Guide.

This is the Cameroon chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Cameroon is Africa’s throbbing heart, a crazed, sultry mosaic of active volcanoes, white-sand beaches, thick rainforest and magnificent parched landscapes broken up by the bizarre rock formations of the Sahel.

• explore stunning verdant scenery, picturesque villages and rushing rivers in the Ring Road region around Bamenda
• maps
• shop for flamboyant bronze and beaded crafts in the attractive Islamic town of Foumban
• transport
• don your hiking boots to climb the mist-shrouded slopes of Mt Cameroon, West Africa’s highest peak
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Yaoundé, Douala, Buea, Limbe, Bamenda, The Ring Road, Bafoussam, Foumban, Bandjoun, Kribi, Ebolowa, Campo, Ebodjé, Bertoua, Understand Cameroon and Survival Guide.

This is the Central African Republic chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Central African Republic (CAR) is a country with staggering rare natural beauty and some wonderful wildlife. Since 2012 political problems and civil war have made the country completely off limits to travellers for safety reasons.

• Western lowland gorillas and elephants inhabit Dzanga-Sangha Reserve, a pocket of virgin rainforest
• maps
• a scenic river frontage and the old town’s wide colonial boulevards that radiate out from the Point Kilometre Zero monument in Bangui
• the Baka (a pygmy tribe) depart for traditional hunts outside the Dzanga-Sangha Reserve from the small village of Bayanga

Coverage includes: Understand Central African Republic.

This is the Chad chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Chad has always been some place where travellers wave goodbye to their comfort zone and say hello to adventure. Even when it is safe to visit, which sadly it is currently not, the art of travel here is demanding in every sense of the word.

• big herds of elephants and dazzling birds thrive in Zakouma National Park, one of Central Africa’s finest national parks
• maps
• Gaoui contains beautiful painted houses and a fascinating village just minutes from N’Djaména
• Sarh is a green and pleasant town along the banks of the Chari River

Coverage includes: Understand Chad.

This is the Côte d’Ivoire chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Côte d’Ivoire is a stunner, shingled with starfish-studded sands, palm-tree forests and orange roads. This is a true tropical paradise, and a country that is fast modernising its lifestyle and culture without losing its identity.

• dine on creative Ivoirian dishes, explore contemporary African art and sway to the sweet sounds of coupé-decalé music in the shadow of the stunning skyline of Abidjan
• maps
• enjoy the relaxed beach vibe and explore the dilapidating colonial past of Côte d’Ivoire in Grand Bassam
• transport
• laze in a pirogue while watching surfers slide to shore, then tucking into fresh seafood under the stars in Assinie
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Abidjan, Grand Bassam, Assinie, Sassandra, San Pédro, The Centre, Yamoussoukro, Man, Parc National de Taï, Understand Côte d’Ivoire and Survival Guide.

This is the Democratic Republic of Congo chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Carpeted by huge swathes of rainforest and punctuated by gushing rivers and smoking volcanoes, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire) is the ultimate African adventure.

• stare down in wonder at the lava lake of Nyiragongo, a magnificent active volcano
• maps
• visit the habituated mountain gorillas that thrive in the thick forests of Africa’s oldest national park, Parc National des Virunga
• transport
• meet the bonobo, a rare, peace-loving relative of the chimpanzee, at the excellent lola Ya Bonobo Sanctuary
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Kinshasa, Bukavu, Goma, Parc National des Virunga, Understand DRC and Survival Guide.

This is the Djibouti chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

What Djibouti lacks in size, it more than makes up for in beauty. Travelling independently around Djibouti may not come cheap, but you’ll leave this little corner of Africa with new experiences and wonderful memories.

• catch local vibes while wandering through the animated streets of the capital and enjoying its culinary delights
• maps
• descend to Lac Assal, the lowest point on the African continent at 155m below sea level
• transport
• wander flabbergasted in Llac Abbé’s Martian landscape, with hundreds of spikelike limestone chimneys
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Djibouti City, Lac Assal, Lac Abbé, Tadjoura, Goda Mountains, Understand Djibouti and Survival Guide.

This is the Egypt chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Egypt’s ancient temples, tombs and pyramids still inspire the same reverence in travellers as they have for centuries; meanwhile modern Egypt can frustrate and confound but it enchants in equal measure.

• overload on tombs and temples in ancient Thebes
• maps
• visit the pyramids of Giza, the ancient wonder still as iconic today
• transport
• immerse yourself in Cairo, the chaotic, confounding heartbeat of the nation
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Cairo, Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur, Alexandria, Sinai, Dahab, Sharm el-Sheikh & Na’ama Bay, Suez Canal, Port Said, Red Sea Coast, Hurghada, Nile Valley, Luxor, Aswan, Philae, Abu Simbel, Understand Egypt and Survival Guide.

This is the Equatorial Guinea chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

This is the land of primates with painted faces, clouds of butterflies and insects so colourful they belong in the realm of fiction. Yes, it has a history of failed coups and more, but there is plenty to bring you to this country’s beautiful black-and-white shores.

• go wide-eyed over Bioko Island’s strange combination of little villages with Spanish colonial churches, dense rainforest, rare wildlife and oil platforms
• maps
• explore the colonial architecture, bustling markets and buzzing nightlife of Malabo
• transport
• whisper during forest walks in search of gorillas, elephants, chimpanzees and a glorious array of colourful birds and insects in Monte Alen National Park
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Bioko Island, Malabo, Ureca, Rio Muni, Bata, Rio Campo, Cogo, Isla Corisco, Monte Alen National Park, Understand Equatorial Guinea and Survival Guide.

This is the Eritrea chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Historically intriguing, culturally compelling and scenically inspiring, Eritrea is one of the most secretive countries in Africa. For those with a hankering for off-the-beaten-track places, it offers a unique blend of natural and cultural highlights.

• discover Asmara’s dazzling collection of colonial-era architectural wonders
• maps
• explore the ruined alleyways and faded-glory buildings of historic coastal Massawa, which suffered heavy bombing at the tail end of the War for Independence
• transport
• soak up the languid atmosphere of Keren, Eritrea’s beguiling and multicultural second city, and join the weekly walk out to haggle for camels and other livestock on the edge of town
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Asmara, Keren, Massawa, Understand Eritrea and Survival Guide.

This is the Ethiopia chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Ethiopia contains over two millenniums’ worth of ancient treasures scattered about, from hidden tombs to rock-carved churches, and the Rift Valley has left some of its most memorable landscapes in Ethiopia.

• immerse yourself in Christianity’s most raw and powerful form at Lalibela’s rock churches
• maps
• see the rock-hewn churches of Tigray, staring from Abuna Yemata Guh then climbing to the monastery at Maryam Korkor
• transport
• lace up your boots to hike through Simien Mountains National Park, home of magnificent wildlife and unparalleled panoramas
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Addis Ababa, Gonder, Simien Mountains National Park, Aksum, Rock-Hewn Churches of Tigray, Lalibela, Harar, Understand Ethiopia and Survival Guide.

This is the Gabon chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Gabon offers a spectacular array of wildlife in its dense rainforests and open. Add to that superb white-sand beaches, rushing rivers and ethereal landscapes, and you have an Eden-like travel experience in an unexplored part of Africa.

• follow a troop of wild gorillas in loango National Park
• maps
• come across wild elephants amid spectacular scenery in lopé National Park
• transport
• kick back in cosmopolitan Libreville and taking a day trip to nearby Pointe Denis
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Libreville & around, Pointe Denis, Pongara National Park, Coastal Gabon, Port-Gentil, Omboué & Fernan Vaz Lagoon, Loango National Park, Setté Cama, Mayumba National Park, Central Gabon, Lambaréné, Lopé National Park, Ivindo National Park, Understand Gabon and Survival Guide.

This is the Ghana chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

With its welcoming beaches, gorgeous hinterland, rich culture, vibrant cities, diverse wildlife, easy transport and affable inhabitants, Ghana is one of Africa’s great success stories and is suffused with the most incredible energy.

• gain a chilling insight into the history of the slave trade at Cape Coast Castle
• maps
• hike, climb waterfalls and swim in Volta, the former German Togoland, in Ghana’s east
• transport
• join a safari in Mole National Park for some close-up encounters with herds of elephants
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Accra, Volta Region, Amedzofe, Tafi Atome & Tafi Abuipe, Wli Falls, Kokrobite, Anomabu, Cape Coast, Kakum National Park, Elmina, Takoradi, Axim, Busua, Akwidaa & Cape Three Points, Kumasi, Lake Bosumtwe & Abono, Tamale, Mole National Park, Bolgatanga, Wa, Understand Ghana and Survival Guide.

This is the Guinea chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Guinea is a land of surprising beauty, from the rolling mountain plateau of Fouta Djalon to wide Sahelian lands and thick forests. Almost nobody else bothers to take this turn-off – meaning you’ll likely have the country to yourself.

• stretch out on palm-fringed strands on Iles de Los and sip fresh coconut juice
• maps
• ramble through the mountains and swim in the waterfalls of the majestic Fouta Djalon plateau
• transport
• come face to face with cheeky, alcohol-drinking chimps during a forest walkin Bossou
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Conakry, Îles de Los, Fouta Djalon, Mamou, Dalaba, Mali-Yemberem, Forest Region, Kissidougou, N’zérékoré, Bossou, Parc National du Haut Niger, Understand Guinea and Survival Guide.

This is the Guinea-Bissau chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

This tiny nation contains multitudes of landscapes, peoples, cultures and plant and animal life, all of it within reach of the capital, Bissau, where faded colonial-era houses sag, from tropical decay and the weight of history.

• relax amid world-class facilities and natural splendour on Ilha de Rubane
• maps
• experience village life a short walk from your island getaway on Ilha de Bubaque
• transport
• tango in cobbled streets by candlelight, after a dinner of salty bacalau and red wine in the capital, Bissau Velho
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Bissau, Arquipélago dos Bijagós, Ilha de Bolama, Ilha de Bubaque, Ilha de Orango, Ilha João Vieira, Quinhámel, Varela, Parque Natural das Lagoas de Cufada, Parque Nacional de Cantanhez, Understand Guinea-Bissau and Survival Guide.

This is the Kenya chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Kenya is the Africa you always dreamed of: a land of vast savannah, immense herds of wildlife, and peoples with proud traditions rooted in the soil. There’s nowhere better than Kenya to answer the call of the wild.

• experience the savannah, unmatched wildlife and the world’s most fascinating traffic jam in the annual wildebeest migration in Masai Mara National Reserve
• maps
• check out the elephants and Kilimanjaro, two of Kenya’s most famous picture-postcard views, in Amboseli National Park
• transport
• enjoy the tremendous hikes and jagged peaks that await on Kenya’s highest mountain, Mt Kenya
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Nairobi, Southern Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha, Nakuru, Lake Nakuru National Park, Central Highlands & Laikipia, Mt Kenya National Park, Naro Moru, Aberdare National Park, Isiolo, Samburu, Buffalo Springs & Shaba National Reserves, Marsabit, Loyangalani, Lake Turkana, Lake Victoria, Kakamega Forest, Masai Mara National Reserve, Mombasa, Malindi, Watamu, Amboseli National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Understand Kenya and Survival Guide.

This is the Lesotho chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Beautiful, culturally rich, safe and affordable, mountainous Lesotho (le-soo-too) is a vastly underrated travel destination. Villagers on horseback greet you round precipitous bends and infrastructure in the three stunning national parks continues to improve. This is genuine adventure travel.

• stay in a former trading post for mountain views and authentic village life
• maps
• pony trek or hike your way through the highlands and stay in traditional Basotho huts
• transport
• raise a glass at Sani Mountain Lodge, Southern Africa’s highest pub
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Maseru, Morija, Roma, Thaba-Bosiu, Northeastern Highlands, Sani Top, Central Highlands, Semonkong, Southern Lesotho, Malealea, Quthing, Understand Lesotho and Survival Guide.

This is the Liberia chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Liberia, a lush, green, friendly and vibrant land, offers everything from excellent surf spots and shops selling wares by edgy local designers to days spent lolling in a comfy hammock on the edge of the rainforest while listening to tropical birds sing.

• explore the relics of Liberia’s rich history and the American influence that still shapes the capital, Monrovia
• maps
• hit the long, bumpy road to pretty Harper, a town that’s blessed with southern American architecture and an end-of-the-line feel
• transport
• venture into Sapo National Park, the habitat of the endangered pygmy hippo, camp beneath the forest canopy and listen to the sounds of the rainforest
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Monrovia, Marshall, Robertsport, Buchanan, Zwedru, Harper, Understand Liberia and Survival Guide.

This is the Libya chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Libya offers some of the finest Roman and Greek ruins in existence, and some of the most beautiful corners of the Sahara Desert, from seas of sand sheltering palm-fringed lakes to remote massifs adorned with prehistoric rock.

• look out across the Mediterranean from Leptis Magna, one of the world’s best-preserved Roman cities
• maps
• explore the whitewashed medina and world-class museum in Tripoli
• visit Ghadames, the Sahara’s most enchanting oasis town with a labyrinth of covered passageways shadowed by palm gardens

Coverage includes: Understand Libya.

This is the Madagascar chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Lemurs, baobabs, rainforest, beaches, trekking and diving: Madagascar is a dream destination for lovers of nature and the outdoors. The world’s fourth-largest island is also a relatively easy destination: hassle-free, with good tourism infrastructure, sensational national parks and divine food.

• take a dip in natural swimming pools at Parc National de l’Isalo
• maps
• snorkel and dive to your heart’s content at Nosy Be
• transport
• snorkel, dive and paddle the Great Reef
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Antananarivo, Central Madagascar, Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Parc National de Ranomafana, Ambalavao, Southern Madagascar, Parc National de l’Isalo, The Great Reef, Northern Madagascar, Nosy Be, Diego Suarez (Antsiranana), Eastern Madagascar, Parc National Andasibe Mantadia, Andasibe, Tamatave (Toamasina), Île Sainte Marie, Understand Madagascar and Survival Guide.

This is the Malawi chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Apart from the legendary Malawian friendliness, what captures you first about this vivid country is its geographical diversity, from the shimmering clear water of Lake Malawi to the dramatic peaks of Mt Mulanje.

• kayak across the bottle-green Lake Malawi from ultra-chilled Cape Maclear to Mumbo Island
• maps
• search for reintroduced lions in Majete Wildlife Reserve
• transport
• scramble up the twisted peaks of Mt Mulanje to admire the astounding views
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Lilongwe, Northern Malawi, Karonga, Livingstonia, Nyika National Park, Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve, Mzuzu, Nkhata Bay, Likoma Island, Central Malawi, Monkey Bay, Cape Maclear, Southern Malawi, Liwonde, Liwonde National Park, Zomba, Blantyre & Limbe, Mt Mulanje, Majete Wildlife Reserve, Understand Malawi and Survival Guide.

This is the Mali chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Mali is blessed by an extraordinary amount of beauty, wonders, talents and knowledge. Yet for now, its landscapes, monuments and stories are off-limits, sealed from tourists by a conflict that is threatening the very culture of Mali.

• Dogon Country is a fairytale of rose-coloured villages, big blue skies, sacred crocodiles and sandstone cliffs
• maps
• the sounds of live music, sprawling markets and motorbikes purring along the banks of the Niger River in Bamako

Coverage includes: Understand Mali and Survival Guide.

This is the Mauritania chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Mauritania has some of the continent’s grandest scenery. The Saharan Adrar region, with its caravan towns, is currently off-limits for security reasons, but the desert is a constant presence elsewhere, pushing hard up against the Atlantic Coast.

• track down a rare colony of charismatic Mediterranean monk seals in Réserve Satellite du Cap Blanc in the country’s remote north
• maps
• taste Mauritanian cooking in Nouakchott’s best and most atmospheric restaurant, La Tissayade
• transport
• observe vast flocks of birds from a traditional pirogue in Parc National du Banc d’Arguin
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Nouakchott, Atlantic Coast, Nouâdhibou, Parc National du Banc d’Arguin, The Adrar, Understand Mauritania and Survival Guide.

This is the Morocco chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

For many travellers Morocco might be just a short hop from Europe, but culturally it’s a much further distance to travel with the full technicolour arrival of Africa and Islam. From the cities to the mountains, it’s a complete sensory overload.

• witness the endless spectacle of Morocco’s most dynamic city, Marrakesh
• maps
• lose yourself in the mazelike charms of medieval Fez, replete with sights, sounds and smells
• transport
• laze by the sea in Essaouira, Morocco’s coolest and most evocative resort
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Mediterranean Coast & the Rif, Tangier, Chefchaouen, Atlantic Coast, Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira, Agadir, Western Sahara, Dakhla, Imperial Cities & the Middle Atlas, Fez, Meknès, Central Morocco & the High Atlas, Marrakesh, Drâa Valley, Aït Benhaddou, Merzouga & the Dunes, Understand Morocco and Survival Guide.

This is the Mozambique chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Mozambique beckons with its coastline and swaying palms, its traditions, its cultures, its vibe and its opportunities for adventure. This enigmatic southeast African country is well off most travellers’ maps, but it has much to offer those who venture here.

• discover Mozambique Island’s time-warp atmosphere, cobbled streets and fascinating history
• maps
• get to know Mozambique’s waterside capital, Maputo, with its museums and lively sidewalk cafes
• transport
• explore the islands of the Quirimbas Archipelago, especially magical Ibo with its old fort and crumbling mansions
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Maputo, Southern Mozambique, Inhambane, Tofo, Vilankulo, Bazaruto Archipelago, Central Mozambique, Beira, Chimoio, Quelimane, Northern Mozambique, Nampula, Mozambique Island, Cuamba, Lake Niassa, Pemba, Quirimbas Archipelago, Understand Mozambique and Survival Guide.

This is the Namibia chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Namibia possesses some of the most stunning landscapes in Africa, and a trip through it is one of the great road adventures. Among all this is a German legacy, evident in the cuisine, the architecture and in Windhoek’s legendary Oktoberfest.

• crouch by a water hole in Etosha National Park, one of the world’s premier wildlife venues
• maps
• watch the sun rise from the top of Sossusvlei’s fiery coloured dunes
• transport
• hike through Fish River Canyon, one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Windhoek, North-Central Namibia, Erongo Mountains (Erongoberg), Erindi Private Game Reserve, Okonjima Nature Reserve, Waterberg Plateau Park, Tsumeb, Etosha National Park, Northern Namibia, Rundu, Khaudum National Park, The Caprivi Strip, Northwestern Namibia, Damaraland, The Kaokoveld, The Skeleton Coast, Central Namibia, Swakopmund, Namib-Naukluft Park, Southern Namibia, Fish River Canyon, Lüderitz, Understand Namibia and Survival Guide.

In spite of coups, rebellions and famines, those who have been lucky enough to visit the desert republic of Niger normally return with stories of a warm and generous population living in ancient caravan cities at the edge of the Sahara.

• a spiky summit of a majestic mud mosque overlooks Agadez and the Sahara
• maps
• Kouré is home to West Africa’s last wild herd of giraffes
• the sultan’s palace in Zinder tells of a brutal history

Coverage includes: Understand Niger and Survival Guide.

This is the Nigeria chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Nigeria’s capital Lagos is resurgent: with burgeoning tech industries, posh restaurants and clubs, and an exploding arts scene, this megacity is the face of modern Africa. Outside are ancient Muslim cities and stunning natural environments.

• join the gold rush of the country’s super-confident boom city, Lagos, and explore its insatiably lively art and music scene
• maps
• climb the sacred rock of Abeokuta via historic hideouts and shrines, and look out on the picturesque rooftops from a high vantage point
• transport
• in Oshogbo, learn about traditional crafts, browse the impressive galleries and lose yourself on the river bank in the sacred grove
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Oshogbo, Benin City, Calabar, Abuja, Understand Nigeria and Survival Guide.

This chapter contains the Welcome to Africa, Africa’s Top 20, Need to Know, First Time Africa What’s New, If You Like…, Month by Month, Itineraries, Safaris, Eat & Drink Like a Local, and Regions at a Glance chapters from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Your journey to Africa starts here. You’ll find the tools to plan your adventure: where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in-depth info on planning a safari.

• tailor-made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events
• list of highlights and best experiences
• everything you need to know about planning a safari
• user-friendly country overview ensures you won’t miss a thing

Coverage includes: Welcome to Africa, Africa’s Top 20, Need to Know, First Time Africa What’s New, If You Like…, Month by Month, Itineraries, Safaris, Eat & Drink Like a Local, and Regions at a Glance.

This is the Republic of Congo chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

A land of steamy jungles hiding half the world’s lowland gorillas, masses of forest elephants, and hooting, swinging troops of chimpanzees, the Republic of Congo is on the cusp of becoming one of the finest ecotourism destinations in Africa.

• explore the superb Parc National d’Odzala virtually alone, with just lowland gorillas, chimpanzees and forest elephants for company
• maps
• visit Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki, one of Africa’s last great wildernesses
• transport
• discover beaches, savannah and jungle in the impressively wild Parc National Conkouati-Douli
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, Parc National d’Odzala, Ouesso, Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki, Understand the Republic of Congo and Survival Guide.

This is the Rwanda chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Today Rwanda is one of Africa’s most stable nations, coming together in the decades since the dark times to create a promising future. Tourism is a key contributor; a highlight is the chance to track mountain gorillas through bamboo forests.

• hike the forested slopes of the Virungas for a close encounter with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys
• maps
• hack through steamy rainforests in Nyungwe Forest National Park in search of colobus monkeys and chimpanzees
• transport
• confront the horrors of the genocide at the haunting Kigali Genocide Memorial
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Kigali, Musanze (Ruhengeri), Volcanoes National Park, Huye (Butare), Nyungwe Forest National Park, Understand Rwanda and Survival Guide.

This is the São Tomé & Príncipe chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Two-island São Tomé & Príncipe (STP) has suffered an economic collapse since independence from Portugal in 1975, but remains amazingly safe and welcoming to visitors, particularly ecotourists.

• boat past Príncipe’s extraordinary volcanic skyline in baía das Agulhas, a spectacular trip back in time
• maps
• visit roças (plantations) like Roça Agua Izė for an eye-opening look at a national calamity
• transport
• eat thick slabs of deep-sea fish at restaurants such as Papa Figo in São Tomé
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: São Tomé (City), Ilhéu das Rolas, Príncipe, Santo António, Understand São Tomé & Príncipe and Survival Guide.

This is the Senegal chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Though it’s one of West Africa’s most stable countries, Senegal is far from dull. Whether you want to mingle with the trendsetters of urban Africa or be alone with your thoughts and the sounds of nature, you’ll find your place in Senegal.

• weave your way via tiny villages to Senegal’s best beaches on Cap Skirring and kick back for a day of doing absolutely nothing
• maps
• wander the cobblestone streets past colourful French colonial buildings in the Unesco World Heritage Site of Saint-Louis
• transport
• spend sleepless nights touring the vibrant nightclubs and bars of the capital, Dakar
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Dakar & around, Île de Gorée, Petite Côte & Siné-Saloum Delta, Mbour & Saly, Palmarin, Toubakouta & Missirah, Toubab Dialao, Northern Senegal, Saint-Louis, Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj, Tambacounda, Parc National de Niokolo-Koba, Casamance, Ziguinchor, Cap Skirring, Understand Senegal and Survival Guide.

This is the Sierra Leone chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

For the traveller, Sierra Leone is still West Africa’s secret beach destination. Sweet sands rise from the soft waters of the Atlantic, with the backdrop dressed in sun-stained hues, rainforest green and the red, red roads of the north.

• join a nighttime hike through Tiwai Island’s forest in search of the elusive pygmy hippo
• maps
• eat barbecued lobster pulled fresh from the sea at one of the Freetown Peninsula’s stunning beaches
• transport
• glide down the river by dugout canoe in Outamba-Kilimi National Park while monkeys and birds chatter in the surrounding forest
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Freetown, Freetown Peninsula, Banana Islands, River No 2, Tokeh Beach, Bunce IslandMakeni, Mt Bintumani, Outamba-Kilimi National Park, Bo, Turtle Islands, Tiwai Island, Gola Rainforest National Park, Understand Sierra Leone and Survival Guide.

This is the Somalia chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

A few decades ago Somalia was a magnet for travellers, but right now the country is still unsafe for foreigners, with its people, places and infrastructure still recovering from over 25 years of brutal civil war.

• explore the fascinating history of Somalia
• maps
• understand the culture and environment

Coverage includes: Understand Somalia

This is the South Africa chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

South Africa’s diversity stretches far beyond its blend of cultures. Here, you can sleep under the stars in a desert, hike to snowcapped peaks or join the bustle of large cities. Wildlife watching ranges from remote safaris to penguin encounters.

• tackle Table Mountain, paddle with penguins or just laze on Atlantic beaches near Cape Town
• maps
• join rangers on a safari of the most involving kind – on foot – in Kruger National Park
• transport
• hike past waterfalls and San rock art in uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Cape Town, Winelands, Stellenbosch, Garden Route, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route National Park (Tsitsikamma Section), Sunshine Coast, Jeffrey’s Bay, Port Elizabeth, Hogsback, The Wild Coast, Port St Johns, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Durban, Zululand, Drakensberg & ­uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, Free State, Bloemfontein, Gauteng, Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria, Mpumalanga, Nelspruit (Mbombela), Graskop, Kruger National Park, Northern Cape, Kimberley, Upington, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Understand South Africa and Survival Guide.

This is the South Sudan chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

In July 2011 Africa’s largest country, Sudan, split into two and with that South Sudan was born. It’s one of the least developed nations on the planet, and until stability is established, even the most intrepid travellers will have to wait to visit.

• Boma National Park is a vast wilderness home to huge quantities of wildlife, including migrating herds of over a million antelope
• maps
• Nimule National Park is home to hippos, Ugandan kobs, elephants, buffaloes and beautiful scenery
• Bandingalo National Park is a paradise for giraffes, hippos and wild dogs, and also welcomes hundreds of thousands of migrating antelope

Coverage includes: Understand South Sudan.

This is the Sudan chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Among Sudan’s sweeping hills of sand lie treasures the rest of the world are only just beginning to discover, and visitors invariably agree that the Sudanese are among the friendliest and most hospitable people on earth.

• discover the superb Meroe Pyramids at Sudan’s most striking archaeological site
• maps
• dive into Kassala’s exotic markets and scramble around the photogenic Taka Mountains
• transport
• sweep away the sandy layers of time and discovering a wealth of Pharaonic ruins, tombs and pyramids in Karima
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Khartoum & around, Begrawiya (Meroe), Naqa & Musawarat es-Suffra, Wadi Halfa, Wawa, Kerma, Dongola, Karima, Kassala, Port Sudan, Suakin, South of Khartoum, Gedaref, Understand Sudan and Survival Guide.

This is the Swaziland chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

The intriguing kingdom of Swaziland is diminutive but boasts a huge checklist for any visitor. Rewarding wildlife-watching, adrenaline-boosting activities and colourful local culture? Tick. Plus it still has that slow-down-this-is-Africa feeling, and that’s why it’s gaining in popularity.

• watch wildlife, including rare black rhinos, at Mkhaya Game Reserve
• maps
• walk or hike in enchanting Malolotja Nature Reserve
• transport
• shoot over whitewater rapids on a day-long adventure on the Great Usutu River (Lusutfu River)
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Mbabane, Central Swaziland, Ezulwini Valley, Lobamba, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Manzini, Malolotja Nature Reserve, Northeastern Swaziland, Hlane Royal National Park, Mlawula Nature Reserve, Mkhaya Game Reserve, Understand Swaziland and Survival Guide.

This is the Tanzania chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

Tanzania is the land of safaris, with wildebeest stampeding across the plains, hippos jostling for space in rivers, elephants kicking up dust and chimpanzees swinging through treetops. More than anything, though, it is the people that make a visit memorable.

• marvel at nature’s rhythms in Serengeti National Park
• maps
• take in the skyline and wander through narrow alleys in Zanzibar Town
• transport
• enjoy sublime views over the enormous Ngorongoro Crater
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar Archipelago, Zanzibar, Pemba, Northeastern Tanzania, Bagamoyo, Tanga, Usambara Mountains, Northern Tanzania, Moshi, Marangu, Mt Kilimanjaro National Park, Arusha, Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, Lake Victoria, Mwanza, Bukoba, Lake Tanganyika, Kigoma, Gombe National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park, Southern Highlands, Ruaha National Park, Southeastern Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve, Mtwara, Mikindani, Understand Tanzania and Survival Guide.

This is the The Gambia chapter from Lonely Planet’s Africa guidebook.

The Gambia’s mere 80km of coastline encompasses golden beaches backed by swaying palms, sleepy fishing villages and biologically rich coastal reserves, while its namesake river teems with wildlife.

• boat past river islands where great apes rule
• maps
• indulge in fresh seafood while watching the sunset over the seaside
• transport
• get teased by monkeys on the 4.5km nature trail in Bijilo Forest Park
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage inclu