Introduction
One of the best things about visiting Africa is seeing iconic landmarks like Victoria Falls, the Great Sphinx, and Table Mountain. These sights are some of the most famous in all of Africa and it is worth taking a trip there to see them up close.
Table Mountain, Cape Town.
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town. It is located within the Table Mountain National Park, which is a World Heritage Site.
Table Mountain was formed millions of years ago by horizontal strata of sandstone laid down by rivers running from ancient mountains to the east. About 2 million years ago, these were lifted up and tilted to form an outcrop of vertically jointed rocks now known as the “Hottentots Holland” formation.[2] The weathering of these hard quartzitic sandstones gives rise to much of the characteristic landscape found on and around Table Mountain today.[3]
Table Mountain has been designated as an international biosphere reserve site under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme,[4] making it one of only two such reserves in South Africa.[5][6]
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Victoria Falls is a waterfall on the Zambezi River, located in southern Africa on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It’s one of the most famous natural wonders in the world and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
The falls are 1,708 feet (534 m) wide and 354 feet (108 m) high, making them one of the largest waterfalls by volume in the world. They flow into Lake Kariba which was formed by damming up several rivers with an earthen dam wall built during colonial times.
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.
Ngorongoro Crater is a caldera, or volcanic crater. The largest unbroken caldera in the world and one of the most famous landmarks in Africa, it’s home to thousands of animals and birds.
Located on the edge of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater is surrounded by grasslands that offer some of the best game viewing opportunities in East Africa. Within its borders are three distinct ecosystems: forested hillsides, open plains with scattered woodlands and shrubs and finally an alpine desert at its center where you can see Mount Kilimanjaro peeking out from over 10 kilometers away!
The Great Sphinx, Egypt.
The Great Sphinx, located in Giza, Egypt, is the largest and most famous monument in Egypt. It is a statue of a reclining lion with the body of a lion and the head of a human. The Sphinx was built during around 2500 BC to serve as guardian for King Khafre’s pyramid at Giza.
The Great Sphinx is about 73 meters long (240 ft) and 20 meters high (65 ft). Its face has been damaged by wind erosion over time but it still remains impressive nonetheless!
Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania.
In Tanzania, you’ll find the only volcano on Earth that erupts carbonatite lava. This unique feature makes it a sacred site for the Maasai people. The volcano is also an active volcano and has been since its first eruption over 1 million years ago! In 2004, UNESCO added Ol Doinyo Lengai to its World Heritage List because of its geological importance as well as its cultural significance to locals who consider this place a spiritual home.
Today, visitors can hike up Mount Kilimanjaro or climb Mount Meru (the second highest mountain in Tanzania), but if you really want an adventure–and some spectacular views–you should check out this amazing landscape yourself!
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Mount Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania, near the Kenya border. It’s the highest peak in Africa and also has the distinction of being one of only three freestanding mountains that rise above 8,000 meters (26,246 feet). The other two are Mount Everest and Kangchenjunga.
Kilimanjaro means “white mountain” in Swahili–and it’s easy to see why! When you look at this volcano from afar, it looks like an enormous snow-capped mountain surrounded by lush greenery below. The summit of Kilimanjaro is called Uhuru Peak; this means “freedom” or “independence” in Swahili.
Lake Malawi, Malawi.
Lake Malawi is the largest lake in Africa and the ninth largest in the world. It’s also home to incredible biodiversity, including about 1,000 species of fish–more than any other lake on Earth! The area around Lake Malawi offers many tourist activities for visitors who want to explore this natural wonder, including safaris at Liwonde National Park or boat tours on nearby islands such as Chizumulu Island.
Mount Kenya National Park, Kenya.
Mount Kenya is Africa’s second highest mountain and the only one in the world with glaciers. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so if you’re looking for an adventure, this is the place to go! Mount Kenya National Park covers over 15,000 square kilometers (about 6,000 square miles) and has some incredible views of both Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Mount Meru in Uganda.
These landmarks are some of Africa’s most famous sights and it is worth taking a trip there to see them up close.
These landmarks are some of Africa’s most famous sights and it is worth taking a trip there to see them up close. They are also good places to visit for a holiday, as they have plenty of accommodation available in nearby towns.
The Great Pyramids of Giza are among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and one of Egypt’s most iconic landmarks. If you’re looking for somewhere more modern, try visiting Cape Town where you can get up close with Table Mountain or take a cable car ride over Table Bay – both experiences will leave you breathless!
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of iconic landmarks around Africa. These are some of the most famous sights in the world, and it’s worth taking a trip there to see them up close.
