Whenever people plan their travels to take a break from the monotony of life, they think of the architecturally exquisite European cities or the affluent skyscrapers of New York City in the United States of America. Well, contrary to the common notion, it is Africa that is a heavenly abode for tourists.
According to a survey conducted by American media channel, CNN Travel, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kenya’s Samburu national reserve and Morocco’s Mount Toubkal have been named among the 25 most beautiful places in the world.
The channel compiled a list of ‘Breathtakingly Beautiful’ places in the world in commemoration of Earth Day, an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
CNN travel chronicled the African destinations on the list in the following words:
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Dense, lush and otherworldly, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the last redoubts of the mountain gorilla. Over 400 call this UNESCO-protected national park home, with the chance for visitors to trek to and meet habituated groups. Its biodiversity extends far beyond its most famous inhabitants, however; 348 bird species and 220 butterfly species can be found within its 331-square-kilometer expanse.
Samburu, Kenya
Thanks to its relative inaccessibility, Samburu, in the heart of Kenya, is a haven for some of Africa’s most beguiling wildlife. The grassland and acacia-dotted landscapes of its national reserve are home to the endangered reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra, as well as the pioneering Elephant Watch Camp, run by conservationist Saba Douglas-Hamilton.
Mount Toubkal, Morocco
At 4,167 meters, Mount Toubkal lays claim to the title of “the roof of North Africa.” The path to its summit zigzags across empty valleys, past holy shrines and up steep snowfields before emerging onto a ridge that falls away to give climbers unrivaled views across the Atlas Mountains. It’s a peaceful world away from the buzz of nearby Marrakech.
The other destinations include:
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica
- Ciudad Perdida, Colombia
- Dominica
- Svalbard, Norway
- Lake Bled, Slovenia
- Cappadocia, Turkey
- Positano, Italy
- Lake District, UK
- Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
- Vancouver Island, Canada
- Denali National Park, Alaska
- Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
- Badlands, South Dakota
Monument Valley, Utah