With its sweeping landscapes and breathtaking wildlife, the world's second largest continent is arguably best suited to photographers.
Add to that the feeling of being somewhere that hasn't changed in centuries, and sometimes even millennia, and you get some of the most inspiring destinations on the planet.
Here are the 30 most amazing places worth seeing on a trip across Africa:
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The Great Migration, Tanzania
No photograph can capture the thunder of hooves on the ground as more than a million wildebeest and several hundred thousand zebras make their annual migration, yet it remains one of the great spectacles.
In fact, the migration happens all year round, as the animals move from Tanzania's Ngorongoro reserve in January, through the Serengeti around June, and reach Kenya's Masai Mara reserve around September before heading south once more.
Table Mountain, South Africa
Table Mountain makes Cape Town, one of the world's finest beach cities, also one of its most photogenic.
You can ride a cable car to the top of the plateau, where wonderful views, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, and superb photo opportunities await. The challenge: try to keep it to 50 photos.
Jemaa el-Fna, Morocco
The most captivating city square in the world, Jemaa el-Fna reminds you that you're in Africa. In the heart of Marrakech's old town, snake charmers, henna artists, storytellers, date sellers, and orange juice vendors set up their stalls in the drowsy heat of the day.
As night falls, the traders are joined by tribal drummers, ladyboy dancers, and mobile restaurateurs selling delicious grilled meat, bread, and salad, with smoke rising above their stalls late into the night.
Sossusvlei Dunes, Namibia
Sossusvlei means "gathering place of water," but you'll need to bring your own if you don't want to get dehydrated at this, Namibia's most remarkable landmark.
The dunes formed over millions of years as material from the Orange River flowed into the Atlantic Ocean, was carried north, and was pushed back onto land by the surf.
Climbing the dunes reveals breathtaking views, including Deadvlei, a ghostly expanse of dried white clay dotted with the skeletons of ancient camel thorn trees.
Mountain Gorillas, Rwanda
A close encounter with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda's rainforest will stay with you for life. Various operators run tracking tours to find silverback gorillas and their families deep in the dense forest.
At over 1,800 meters, Nyungwe National Park is a remote region covering more than 1,000 square kilometers in southwestern Rwanda. Visitors can meet a huge variety of primates and also cross the highest forest canopy in East Africa.
Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe
One of the grandest water spectacles in the world, Victoria Falls (also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "The Smoke That Thunders") was reportedly first seen by a European when the Scotsman David Livingstone visited in 1855.
Since then, thousands of people have enjoyed the spray of the 108-meter cascade, which has once been recorded at a flow of 12,800 cubic meters per second, twice the peak flow of Niagara Falls.
Spitzkoppe, Namibia
Namibia's deserts are so captivating that another landmark deserves a mention on this list.
Spitzkoppe is a group of granite peaks in the Namib Desert in Namibia, the tallest of which reaches nearly 1,800 meters. This place is a paradise for climbers, geologists, stargazers, and weaver bird watchers.
Sahara Dunes, Morocco
The most accessible part of the Sahara can be reached from the northern edge of Morocco. You can set off on a trek with the Berbers from the town of Zagora or camp in Tazzarine, where runners from all over the world take on the week-long Marathon des Sables every spring.
The foot of the Merzouga dunes is a perfect place for stargazing, completely free of light pollution.
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
The most famous of the buildings at Giza, near Cairo, the pyramid of King Khufu was built around 2650 BC from 2.5 million blocks of limestone. Its sides are precisely aligned to north, south, east, and west.
The pyramid of Khafre, built by Khufu's son, is of similar size and includes entrances to the burial chamber, which still holds the great granite sarcophagus of King Khafre.
The pyramid of Menkaure is smaller than both, and all three are surrounded by other smaller pyramids and dozens of tombs.
Nyika Plateau National Park, Malawi
Nyika, the largest national park in Malawi, is one of the most unusual in Africa, with a plateau cut through by numerous rivers that reach Lake Malawi via waterfalls on the eastern edge of the mountains.
The eastern boundary of the plateau forms a wall of the Great Rift Valley. The large domes of the hills have gentle slopes, making Nyika an ideal place for hiking and mountain biking as well as for exploring by jeep.
Antelopes and zebras are plentiful here, and the park also has one of the highest densities of leopards in Central Africa.
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Botswana
They say that in this vast area of dried salt pans in the Kalahari Desert, you can hear your own blood flowing, a harsh landscape formed by a huge lake that dried up thousands of years ago.
But it can transform in an instant in winter, if the rains have been heavy enough for lush grass to sprout, triggering an invasion of wildlife that shatters the silence, including zebras, wildebeest, and flamingos.
Draa Valley, Morocco
Between the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara dunes lies one of Morocco's grandest and most striking landscapes: the Draa, a mass of date palm plantations dotted with kasbahs of rammed red earth rising against the sky.
Zagora, on the southern edge, makes a good base with decent hotels and restaurants. Reaching the Draa from Marrakech takes five hours along a spectacular route through the Atlas Mountains, and it's best not to drive it yourself.
The Sphinx, Egypt
This colossal temple sits along the causeway down to the Valley Temple of King Khafre in Egypt. The body of a lion with a human head measures 70 meters long and 20 meters high, the same as a six-story apartment building.
Although the Sphinx was thought to be a female figure, many scholars believe the face belongs to King Khafre.
Mount Mulanje, Malawi
The Mulanje massif, standing at about 3,000 meters, towers over the lush land surrounding it. It is split into two parts by the Fort Lister Gap, a wide pass carved out by the Phalombe and Sombani rivers.
The mountain is marked by giant stone basins and narrow gorges cut by fast-flowing streams. A grueling hike leads to superb viewpoints.
Along the way you might come across monkeys, hares, voles, and a carpet of enchanting wildflowers after the rain. Another highlight is the abundance of butterflies.
Horseback Safari, Kenya
The best way to get to know Kenya's zebras? From the back of a horse. Travelers can gallop alongside the striped beasts in the Masai Mara, covering up to 100 kilometers in a week.
Wonders of the Nile, Egypt
A cruise along Egypt's Nile, ideally on a romantic felucca rather than a crowded tourist boat, reveals the relics of one of the world's oldest civilizations.
The main attraction is the Valley of the Kings with its monumental statues, along with the magnificent Kom Ombo temple north of Aswan on the eastern bank.
Flamingos, Kenya
Lake Nakuru National Park is home to 1 million resident flamingos, offering one of Kenya's most unforgettable sights. The lake became famous for the world's grandest bird spectacle, when bands of bright pink fill the alkaline lake and the vast sky.
Lower Zambezi, Zambia
Canoe safaris on the Lower Zambezi offer the chance to see hippos, elephants, and other animals drinking from the rivers and tributaries around the camp.
Fishing enthusiasts can also stay at various camps and lodges along the riverbanks.
Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique
The 10-minute helicopter flight across the Bazaruto Archipelago to the Azura Retreats lodge on Benguerra Island is worth it in its own right. The destination is the cherry on top.
This award-winning boutique hotel, set on a remote desert island, lies within the Marine National Park, giving you the chance to spot whales, dolphins, and dugongs.
Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana
Baines' Baobabs, located near the entrance to Nxai Pan National Park in Botswana, were named after a series of watercolors by the Victorian explorer and artist Thomas Baines. Their fruit is said to taste a little like sherbet.
Nxai Pan Park is wonderful for viewing the vast, salt-rich depressions typical of the Kalahari, and is also known for lions, leopards, cheetahs, and unusually large herds of giraffes.
Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Namibia is a gift for travelers that never stops surprising. Around 500 meters deep and more than 160 kilometers long, this vast rift is second in size only to the Grand Canyon in the United States, and in the dry season it is marked by beautiful turquoise pools of seasonally flowing water stretching into the distance.
Rhinos at Solio Reserve, Kenya
Set in a valley between the dramatic slopes of Mount Kenya and the rolling peaks of the Aberdare mountains, Solio Reserve is home to around 250 black and white rhinos and is considered the best place to watch these increasingly rare species.
Nyiragongo Volcano, Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Nyiragongo volcano, a full 2 kilometers wide and usually holding a lava lake, is one of Africa's most active volcanoes, and its 2002 eruption displaced half a million people.
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
At 5,895 meters, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak and a bucket-list item for thousands of people. It is a "sky island" that creates a diverse and dramatic natural habitat.
Climbing through lush rainforests and alpine meadows, climbers eventually cross a barren lunar landscape to reach the twin summit, often set above the clouds.
Lake Malawi, Malawi
Lake Malawi, one of the largest lakes in the world, was named the "Lake of Stars" by Dr. David Livingstone, who visited it a century and a half ago.
The lake is home to more tropical fish than any other lake in the world, 1,300 species, and the freshwater diving here is superb.
Its biodiversity has been recognized by UNESCO, which made Lake Malawi National Park, the world's first freshwater park, a World Heritage Site.
African Renaissance Monument, Senegal
Standing 49 meters tall, the African Renaissance Monument in Senegal, which is higher than the Statue of Liberty in New York, is the tallest statue in Africa.
Climbing to the top is an exhilarating feat, crowned by a stunning view of Dakar from the summit of the monument.
Lekki Conservation Centre, Nigeria
Walking high above the ground along Africa's longest canopy walkway is a wonderful way to discover Nigeria's natural beauty.
The Lekki Conservation Centre offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and noise of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital.
Nzulezo, Ghana
Nzulezo takes its name from the local Ghanaian Nzema language, meaning "surface of the water."
The village is built entirely on stilts on Lake Tadane in western Ghana.
Nzulezo gives you a sense of what it's like to live entirely on the water. Visitors should try Akpeteshie, one of the finest local gins, made from the raffia palm.
Cape Verde Archipelago
Set in the North Atlantic and made up of 10 islands, the Cape Verde archipelago is a cultural blend of African, Iberian, and Brazilian influences.
From water sports and hikes across volcanic landscapes to relaxing on picturesque beaches, Cape Verde offers it all.
If you get there between February and March, the annual Cape Verde carnival in the cultural capital of Sao Vicente is not to be missed.
Lake Retba (Pink Lake), Senegal
There are several pink lakes in the world, and one of them lies on the Cap-Vert peninsula in Senegal.
Lake Retba, also called Lac Rose by locals, is a body of water with an extremely high salinity, one of the highest in the world. The lake gets its color from harmless bacteria in the water, which produce a red pigment to absorb sunlight.
The best time to see the lake at its pinkest is during Senegal's dry season, from November to June.
