Compass: Africa

“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy.”
–Ernest Hemingway
Explore Africa , its not only a colorful continent but also the world’s second largest and second most populace land mass. The continent hosts a broad diversity of 3,000 ethnic groups and cultural heritages that compose 2,000 different languages.
The earliest evidence of homo sapiens is found in Africa and that is why the continent is often referred to as the “cradle of civilization”.There are 54 sovereign countries on the African continent. The borders of some countries shift slightly because of armed conflict between ethnic groups. But most of the borders were drawn during the time of European colonialism.
The 54 countries within the African continent include: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Republic of the, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa , South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Explore Africa, everything from its history, cultural heritage to diverse mix of people. The land offers a lot to those who are passionate about traveling.

Why Namibia Should Be Your Next Travel Destination in Africa
By Derek CullenLet’s be honest, most people head for the same places when they visit Africa for the first time like the Masai Mara, Kruger, and Serengeti National Parks. However, some of the most fascinating experiences on the continent are far off the beaten track and this is certainly true of Namibia … Read more Read more
Africa Insights
Queen of Mantas – One Woman’s Fight For a Threatened Species
By Melissa HobsonWhen Andrea Marshall began studying manta rays in Mozambique in 2003 there was so little information about the species that she was forced to recommend them as “data deficient” on the Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, the go-to authority on endangered species. Read more
Africa Conservation
An early visit to Namibia’s most famous ghost town: Kolmanskop
By Thomas SpäterDuring the early years of the 20th century, the small town of Kolmanskop, which originally was just a train station, became the richest town in Namibia during a diamond boom. However, after mining over 1 ton of diamonds during World War I alone, the resources soon became depleted, and the … Read more Read more
Africa Off the Beaten Path History
A day out amongst the white lions of Johannesburg
By Davison MatangaLions and elephants are nothing fantastic. They are part of the DNA of the land and they are not page turners. There is an animal park on every road leading out of Johannesburg. Read more
Africa Adventure Preservation
A Trip to Burundi
By Breana JohnsonAsk any average Westerner, and they likely won’t be able to point out Burundi on the map. Although this tiny country is virtually ignored when it comes to East African tourism, that’s no reason why it shouldn’t be on your travel bucket list. Read more
Africa Off the Beaten Path Food & Drink
Welcome to Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley
By Derek CullenStretching for more than six thousand kilometers from Mozambique to Syria in the Middle East, the Great Rift Valley is home to thousands of tribes and some of the most stunning landscapes anywhere in the world. Read more
Africa Experiences
Human Trafficking in Kenya: A Nonprofit Takes Aim
By Jessica BarrettImagine a seven-year-old girl, spending her days not in school, but cooking and cleaning for a family in a wealthy suburb. Or a young mother struggling to make ends meet, lured away from her children by an employment agency and forced into sex work abroad. For millions of people, this … Read more Read more
Africa Human Trafficking
Slow Tourism in Morocco: My 5-Day Trek up Mount Toubkal
By Sara PerilloStanding at 4167 metres, Mount Toubkal is the tallest peak in Northern Africa. As prominent as it is (the highest mountain for over 2000 kilometres), Toubkal is a popular, relatively safe and non-technical destination for hikers. In fact, Toubkal National Park attracts roughly 40 000 tourists per year! Read more
Africa Adventure Experiences
Empowerment By Stringing Beads in East Africa
By Julie Dee SumanIrene patiently showed me her technique for rolling clay into beads using a tiny mold. While I needed more practice, the women at Kazuri worked diligently to produce ceramic jewelry. Kazuri, located in Nairobi, employs single mothers. This small business provides a daily income and healthcare in a country where … Read more Read more
Africa Humanity
An African School for the Deaf
By Breana JohnsonThere are only two schools exclusively for the Deaf in Burundi (the other, also founded by my husband’s family, is five hours away). Without the chance to go to school and learn sign language, these kids would never have the chance to learn any language at all, a situation that … Read more Read more
Africa Accessible Experiences
Underestimating the Climb of Namibia’s “Big Daddy Dune”
By Thomas SpäterAt the end of my second week of traveling through Namibia during the pandemic, I reached the most-anticipated stop of my journey within the Namib-Naukluft National Park: Deadvlei, a white clay pan that represents an inevitable stop for nature lovers and photographers. I will never forget the second I stepped … Read more Read more
Africa Adventure Landscape
TODAY IN HISTORY: Apartheid ends, Mandela elected in South Africa (May 2, 1994)
On this day in 1994, South Africa officially ends apartheid and elects Nelson Mandela in the country’s first multiracial election. After 27 years in prison Nelson Mandela was freed in 1990 and negotiated the end of apartheid in SA bringing peace to a racially divided country and leading the fight for … Read more Read more
Africa History
Ghana: A Journey Through the Door of Return
By Rachel FlynnMost recently, I traveled to Ghana over the holidays with friends and family. I tried many foods like fufu, bofrot, and my personal favorite, Jollof! I sat in the notorious Accra traffic for too many hours to count, and I spent Christmas on the beach. But the most important thing … Read more Read more
Africa History
Mombasa: A different side of ancient Kenya
By Derek CullenMombasa is a sublime mix of cultures and one of the most popular destinations in East Africa for white powdered sands and five-star luxury resorts. At the same time, there is as much to experience for backpackers as there is for wealthy tourists and this is best seen in the … Read more Read more
Africa Family Travel
A Burundian Lesson in Hospitality
By Breana JohnsonIt’s evening in the small African nation of Burundi, and the waning sun throws shadows over the city of Bujumbura. In the old Land Rover, we bump and jostle our way through the crowded dirt roads of the capital. Before we left the mission station where my husband’s family lives, … Read more Read more
Africa Off the Beaten Path Social Responsibility