I am welcoming today Julien, a blogger friend on my blog:
African country // Where to go in Africa?
My name is Julien, I run the blog North by Southwest where I share my travel experiences and also give tips and advice for traveling peacefully.
Today, I am going to introduce you to Africa, a fascinating continent but off the beaten tourist paths… Before starting this discovery of Africa, I would like to thank Stefan for publishing my article on his blog.
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African country: Ethiopia
It is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic countries in Africa. It was the only African country to maintain its independence throughout the 20th century (except for a few years of Italian occupation) and the only one to defeat a modern European army. This unique situation created a gap with the rest of the continent; their customs and manners are not the same. The codes are very different from the rest of Africa, resulting in a rather surprising contrast!
Ethiopia also houses a fabulous heritage. It is a very religious country and Orthodox churches are omnipresent. These churches, in the Tigray region, are carved into the rock and still active; it is possible to visit them. There is also archaeology with the ruins of Axum.
We must not forget to mention geological wonders such as the Danakil Depression or the Simien Mountains, which are part of the roof of Africa.
Favorite: the discovery of Lalibela and its 11 churches carved into basalt.
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African country: Kenya
If there is one country emblematic for its safaris, it is certainly Kenya. This country holds its own in terms of animal experiences. Spending several days in the Maasai Mara is a unique moment in one’s life. Who has never dreamed of being in a 4×4 and being in contact with nature? To see a herd of wildebeests trying to cross a river under the watchful eye of local crocodiles? To admire lionesses giving chase to an antelope? I won’t continue the list but it could be endless. You come back changed from this journey.
Favorite: Kilimanjaro from Amboseli, a park in Kenya. The volcano is magnificent at dawn with its eternal ice.
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African country: Ghana
This country in West Africa next to Ivory Coast is an exemplary democracy where the quality of life is rapidly improving. It is a country little known by the French because it is one of the few countries in the region where French is not spoken. It was a former British colony and tourists are mostly American, mainly descendants of slaves.
Indeed, Ghana has many ports that played a very important role during the infamous slave trade where African prisoners were sent to the New World to be exploited in exchange for raw materials. I went there because I was, at the time, in neighboring Togo (which I talk about later in the article) and going to Ghana interested me to see the differences between a Francophone country and an Anglophone country. Moreover, I absolutely wanted to see the colonial forts and better understand what the slaves experienced.
Unforgettable experience: visiting the colonial forts of Cape Coast and Elmina Castle.
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African country: Togo
Do you know Togo? It is a small country wedged between Ghana and Benin. This former German colony came under French rule at the end of the First World War and has since gained its independence. It is a country unknown to tourists; its main fault is not having must-see attractions like the pyramids of Giza for example. And yet, I really liked the region. The inhabitants are very warm, it is an excellent country to discover African life. What to say about Lomé, the capital with its chaotic traffic, the encounter with fetishism, voodooism… As soon as you go a bit inside the country, you can discover very lush areas, far from the desert image people have of Africa.
Favorite: the botanical excursion to Kpalimé inside the country. It is an opportunity to discover the fruits we eat every day in France.
That’s it for this little glimpse of Africa’s charms. I hope this story has made you want to discover more about this fabulous continent. Don’t hesitate to visit my blog for more information about Africa!
Thank you Julien for inaugurating my Africa section, which you can find here: Advice on African countries
