Africa, considered to be the origin of mankind by many scientists, is a continent with 54 independent countries and a diverse mix of native people, cultures, economies, and histories. It is home to vast deserts, tropical rainforests, rugged mountains, and fertile grasslands. It is abundant in flora and fauna unsurpassed by any other continent. Thousands of tourists from around the world visit this incredible continent every year to experience its wonders.

Below is our pick of the top 10 things you should know before you visit.

Number 10. Africa hosts the world’s largest wildlife migration

In Tanzania, the Serengeti hosts the world’s largest wildlife migration, with 1.2 million wildebeest crossing this incredible landscape ahead of 750,000 zebras.

Number 9. Africa has the world’s biggest, tallest, and fastest animals

African elephants are the world’s largest land animals, weighing over six tons and reaching seven meters in length. The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world, with males reaching a height of 6m and females reaching about 4,6m.

Number 8. Africa has the world’s largest and hottest desert

One of the harshest environments on earth is the Sahara Desert, the world’s largest hot desert. After Antarctica and the Arctic, which are cold deserts, it is the largest desert in the world. With 3.6 million square miles (9.4 million square kilometres), it is bigger than the entire United States! There are large parts of the desert in 11 countries (Albania, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, and Tunisia).

Number 7. The world’s longest river is in Africa

As the longest river in the world, the Nile flows through 11 countries, passing through Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt. It is approximately 4,258 miles (6,853 kilometres) long.

Number 6. The  Richest Man Ever  Is an African

One of the richest men in history is Mansa Musa or Musa I of Mali. In the later medieval period, Musa was the tenth emperor of the Mali Empire, one of the prosperous Sahelian kingdoms that developed along the Saharan slave trade routes. In the late 2000s, his net worth was estimated to be between US$300 billion and US$400 billion at the time of his death in 1937.

Number 5. In South Africa, there is the world’s highest Bungy jump

At 216 metres (709 feet) above the Bloukrans River, the Bloukrans Bridge Bungy is one of the world’s highest commercial bridge bungys. Bloukrans Bridge is situated on the N2 Highway at the border between the Eastern Cape and Western Cape on the Garden Route’s Tsitsikamma area.

Number 4. The number of languages spoken in Africa ranges from 1500 to 2000

Africa has at least 3,000 distinct ethnic groups, and around 2,000 languages are spoken, each with its own dialect. The most widely spoken language on the continent is Arabic, followed by English, Swahili, and French.

Number 3. The world’s oldest university is located in Africa

Founded in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri in Fez, Morocco, the University of Karueein is the oldest continuously operating educational institution in the world. Europe’s oldest university, Bologna University, was founded in 1088.

Number 2.  In Africa, you will find the world’s first themed resort hotel

Sun City’s The Paradise of the Lost City is located in South Africa, the Palace of the Lost City is the world’s largest themed resort. 

Number 1. Africa is the second-largest continent in the world

With an area of around 11.73 million square miles (30.37 million square kilometers), Africa is the second largest continent in the world. It accounts for 5.7% of the earth’s surface and 20% of the total surface of land on our planet. The continent is divided into five sub-sections: North Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa. 

Africa has 54 countries, ten territories, as well as two de facto independent states with limited or no recognition. Until Sudan and South Sudan were split, Sudan was the largest country in Africa. By geographical area, Algeria is now the largest African country. Egypt’s capital city, Cairo, is its largest city.

It is often believed that Africa is quite isolated from the rest of the world, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Spain from Morocco, separates Africa and Europe by less than nine miles. Ferries are available to take you from Africa to Europe or the other way around.