There are wondrous sights all over the planet, be them Japanese temples, pretty American cities or vast European lakes, and plenty of them feature on our recently revamped list of the most beautiful places in the world.
But which destinations in Africa made the cut? We called on our international network of writers and editors to name what they deem to be the world’s most beautiful place, and representing Africa were gorgeous waterfalls, rivers, and deserts.
The first of these was Victoria Falls, which claimed second place overall. It straddles the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe and is thought to be the largest waterfall in the world.
‘Immense curtains of water stretch along the edge of Victoria Falls National Park – home to giraffe, zebra, baboons, and other wildlife – and spill over cliff faces into the whirling pools of the Zambezi River,’ writes Alicia Erickson. ‘The first time I visited, standing at the edge of a dense jungle atop a flat rock table and gazing down into the abyss, I was swallowed by spirals of mist, rising from the bellowing falls and raining back down on me.’
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Worlds away in the Western Sahara is Dakhla, a 35km-long peninsula that juts into the Atlantic, which creates a shallow turquoise lagoon. Dakhla sits at number 18 on the list – no wonder when it has white beaches and clear, unpolluted waters. It’s a kite surfer’s paradise and a habitat for fresh seafood and oysters.
Storms River, which winds through the country’s Tsitsikamma National Park in South Africa, is the fourth destination from the continent to make the ranks, claiming twenty-first place. Our tip? ‘Once you’ve taken in the sight of the river and the coastal forest, head out on the famous Otter Trail, which will lead you to the park’s magnificent waterfall,’ says contributor Alison Budge.
Lastly was Erg Chebbi in Morocco, a vast stretch of the Sahara that sits just beyond the town of Merzouga. With sand dunes reaching up to 300 metres tall, it’s an otherworldly spot for watching the sunrise.
Check out our full roundup of the world’s most beautiful places.
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