10 of The Most Beautiful Islands in Africa
- By Karim Hassan
- Reviewed by Sophia Rose
- April 17, 2024
- Travel
With its stunning diversity and natural beauty, Africa provides a mixture of experiences, from being the heart of the earth to its incredible blend of cultures, from being a wildlife wonderland to its yummy foods, it has some of the most beautiful places you could ever see.
But one of its most enchanting features is often overlooked – its islands. For this blog article, we’re going to explore 10 of the most beautiful islands Africa has to offer. So, let’s set sail and discover the most beautiful islands in Africa.
Table Of Content
1. Unguja, Zanzibar Island
Unguja, or Zanzibar Island, is the biggest island in the Zanzibar Archipelago, which is near Tanzania. It’s part of Zanzibar, a region that governs itself.
The island is famous for its history, special animals, and beaches as pretty as the ones in the Caribbean. It used to be a big trading spot with a mix of African, Indian, and Arab cultures.
The best part of Zanzibar is Stone Town, a place with white houses, cute shops, markets, mosques, squares, and courtyards. Plus, it has gorgeous white beaches with a sea that’s a beautiful shade of turquoise.
If you’d like to see yourself in this island’s charm, snorkeling, visiting the spice farm, or even swimming with dolphins, Explore Zanzibar by The Minutes Tours is here to bring you that adventure.
2. Lamu Island, Kenya
Lamu Island is part of the Lamu Archipelago in Kenya and is one of the oldest and best-kept Swahili places in East Africa.
The town is made of coral stone and mangrove wood, and it has courtyards, verandas, and fancy wooden doors.
There are no roads on the island, only small paths and trails, so there aren’t many cars. The main town on the island, Lamu Old Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Praslin, Seychelles
Praslin is the second biggest island of the Seychelles and about 6,500 people live there. It used to be a secret spot for pirates and Arab traders, but now it’s a popular place for tourists with lots of hotels and resorts.
It’s famous for its amazing beaches, especially Anse Lazio, which is often called one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
The island also has the Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the unique coco de mer palm tree grows.
4. Djerba, Tunisia
Djerba, the largest island in North Africa, is located near the southern coast of Tunisia. It’s known for its beautiful sandy beaches and peaceful countryside.
It’s one of the few places in Tunisia where people still speak the Berber language. The island has a rich cultural history, influenced by Africa, Asia, and Europe.
The town of Ajim was where they filmed the exterior scenes of Mos Eisley for the first Star Wars movie in 1977.
5. Pemba Island, Comoros
Pemba Island, also known as Mwali, is the smallest of the three African islands in the nation of Comoros. It has few people and modern stuff.
It’s also where the only national park in Comoros, Mohéli Marine Park, is located, which is a haven for sea turtles, dolphins, and whales. The island is famous for its unique animals, like the Pemba flying fox and the Pemba sun squirrel.
6. Mumbo Island, Malawi
Mumbo Island is a beautiful and untouched tropical island in Lake Malawi National Park, Malawi. It’s part of the first fresh-water marine reserve on earth and a Natural World Heritage Site.
The island is covered in miombo woodland, old fig, and baobab trees. The waters around the island are clean and calm, perfect for sea kayaking, snorkeling, and SCUBA diving.
The island is home to African fish eagles, monitor lizards, African clawless otters, and many types of cichlids.
7. Bazaruto Island, Mozambique
Bazaruto Island is about 80 kilometers southeast of the Save River’s mouth in Mozambique. It’s the biggest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago and the Bazaruto National Park.
The island is known for its clear waters, sandy shores, and lots of different sea animals. It’s one of six islands in Mozambique, including Benguerra, Magaruque, Banque, Santa Carolina (Paradise Island), and Shell.
Bazaruto Island is a popular place for tourists because of its sandy beaches, coral reefs, and places to surf and fish. It’s also home to the biggest group of dugongs in Mozambique, with about 300 of them.
8. Mahe, Seychelles
Mahe is the biggest island in the Seychelles and is known for its beautiful beaches, green rainforests, and special animals.
The island has the Morne Seychellois National Park, which takes up more than 20% of the island and is where you’ll find the Morne Seychellois, the tallest peak in the Seychelles.
The island is also where the capital city of Victoria is, which is the smallest capital city in the world.
9. Sal, Cape Verde
Sal is the most liked island of Cape Verde, a group of 10 African islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Sal, which means salt in Portuguese, is loved for its nice sandy beaches.
The main town is Santa Maria, where you can find restaurants, bars, music, and fun things to do at night. The streets are lined with houses and shops in soft, pastel colors.
10. Funzi Island, Kenya
Funzi Island is a place in Kenya’s Kwale County. It’s made up of four islands covered in mangroves, with Funzi Island being the main one and the only one where people live all the time.
About 1500 members of the Shirazi Tribe live on the island, most of whom are Muslims and make their living through fishing and farming.
Funzi Island is famous for its clean beaches and is known as the best place in Kenya for different kinds of sea turtles to nest, including the green turtle, hawksbill, and leatherback, which are endangered or critically endangered.
The Most Beautiful Islands in Africa are more than just destinations on a map. They are living, breathing embodiments of Africa’s spirit and diversity, waiting to be explored.
Each island, with its special landscapes, rich cultures, and interesting history, gives us a peek into the colorful and lively world that is Africa.
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