::::::::Burkina Faso Travel Guide
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Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa, formerly known as Upper Volta. It is a very relaxed place to be and the people are very friendly. It may not have as many sights as Mali but still makes for good traveling with fascinating landscapes and wildlife. Major cities are Bobo-dioulasso and the capital Ouagadougou world66.com does not have an editor for this region. If you are interested click here.
:::::Burundi Travel Guide
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Nestled in the heart of Africa, tiny Burundi is a land of rolling green hills and endless smiles. Surrounded by Tanzania to the East, Congo Kinshasa to the West, and Rwanda to the North, Burundi has suffered through years of civil strife but its people remain devoutly optimistic. The recent peace treaty signed by government and rebel forces will hopefully justify this optimism. Once a proud independent Kingdom, Burundi was first colonized by Germany in 1903. Following World War I , Burundi , then Urundi, was annexed by Belgium who held the country as an independent state until full independence was achieved in 1962. Decades of violence followed the country’s independence. Like its neighbor to the North, Rwanda , Burundi was flung into the chaos of ethnic strife with the assassination of its newly elected President in 1993. Calm returned somewhat in 1996 but sporadic violence has been the norm. The nearly four decades of near-constant violence has destroyed the country’s infrastructure, lead to large-scale deforestation and given the country the unenviable title as the poorest country in the world with a per capita GDP of $106. Despite these hardships the people of Burundi are amongst the most welcoming and sociable you’ll ever meet. The capital Bujumbura , nestled along the shores of Lake Tangyanika , is a great place (really the only place) to get your feet wet and enjoy what Burundi has to offer. Home to thousands of U.N. soldiers and countless more NGO and AID workers, Buja is a fantastic place to grab a Primus, enjoy the nightlife and engulf yourself in African hospitality. Outside of the capital, Burundi offers no more than the most basic necessities of life making tourism a dicey, if not outright dangerous proposition. Due to its sandwiched location at the heart of Central Africa , most Burundians speak Kirundi, French, English and Swahili. Travel infrastructure is largely non-existent with only a few hotels in Bujambura. Transport leaves regularly from the capital to neighboring Rwanda and the Tanzanian border.

::::::History Cameroon
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Bantu speakers were among the first groups to settle Cameroon, followed by the Muslim Fulani in the 18th and 19th centuries. The land escaped colonial rule until 1884, when treaties with tribal chiefs brought the area under German domination. After World War I, the League of Nations gave the French a mandate over 80% of the area, and the British 20% adjacent to Nigeria. After World War II, when the country came under a U.N. trusteeship in 1946, self-government was granted, and the Cameroon People's Union emerged as the dominant party by campaigning for reunification of French and British Cameroon and for independence. Accused of being under Communist control, the party waged a campaign of revolutionary terror from 1955 to 1958, when it was crushed. In British Cameroon, unification was also promoted by the leading party, the Kamerun National Democratic Party, led by John Foncha. i love you.

France set up Cameroon as an autonomous state in 1957, and the next year its legislative assembly voted for independence by 1960. In 1959 a fully autonomous government of Cameroon was formed under Ahmadou Ahidjo. Cameroon became an independent republic on Jan. 1, 1960. In 1961 the southern part of the British territory joined the new Federal Republic of Cameroon and the northern section voted for unification with Nigeria. The president of Cameroon since independence, Ahmadou Ahidjo, was replaced in 1982 by the prime minister, Paul Biya. Both administrations were characterized by authoritarian rule.

Calls for reform eventually resulted in the adoption of a new constitution in 1996, which gave the president considerable power, although it did mandate regional and local elections. In 1997 Biya was not challenged for reelection. With the expansion of oil, timber, and coffee exports, the economy has continued to improve, although corruption is prevalent, and environmental degradation remains a concern. In June 2000 the World Bank agreed to provide more than $200 million to build a $3.7 billion pipeline connecting the oil fields in neighboring Chad with the Cameroon coast. Environmentalists fear the giant project will harm rain forests and only benefit the oil companies and the political elites in Cameroon and Chad

::::::::Cape Verde Travel Guide
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Yacht in Mindelo harbour

Yacht in Mindelo harbour

www.SoulSurfers.info
The Cape Verdian Islands are not far from the main land of West-Africa, but they have a very distinct character. The people on the islands speak Portuguese and mainly live of remittances from migrated family members and fisheries. The islands have an enormous touristic potential that is not yet fully exploited. This is a good reason to go now!

The most important island is Sao Tiago (Santiago) island. Praia, the capital of the country, Cidade Velha and the beaches around Tarrafal are some of the main attractions. Sao vicente is smaller but Mindelo, the capital of the island, is the most lively city of the country and considered the cultural capital of the island.

The main reason to go to Fogo is to hike on the volcano. Another good option for hikers is Brava. Beaches, beaches and beaches is what Sal offers. Most flights from Europe go directly to this island.
::::::Chad Travel Guide
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MarketPlace Abeche

MarketPlace Abeche

Darcy Burbank
Chad is a landlocked country in the Northern part of Africa. It is bordered by Sudan, Libya, Niger and Cameroon and the Central African Republic. The northern part of Chad is in the Sahara, the southern part is in the Sahel. Most of Chad is dry and arid.

After its independance from France, Chad has had its fair share of turmoil. The capital Ndjamena, known as fort Lamy under the French, had once been one of the best places in the Sahel for nightlife, turned into a grim sort of place. Chad has managed to put that behind it.

Still, not many travelers make it to Chad. And with some reason: Chad is not an easy country to visit. For people who are not afraid of some harsh traveling conditions, long distances and excessive heat, it does offer rewarding traveling. For more detailed information on necessary medical preparations, documentation, and hotel help, go to www.chadnow.com

The best sight is probably the Tibesti mountains in Northern Chad. They are of extreme natural beauty but hardly within reach at present. The capital Ndjamena is the travel hub of the country and located on the banks of Lake chad.

Chad can be part of a crossing the Sahara experience, but is is a bit off the beaten track. It is in principle accesible from Libya. Onward travel could take you to Niger or to Cameroon. See the section about crossing the sahara for more details about the possibilities. In any case check about the present situation before you set out.

Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: chadnow.com
::::::::.Comoros Travel Guide
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Located in a strategic position at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, the Comoros Islands once played a major role in a thriving world economy of the western Indian Ocean. Now they are a holiday paradise with great opportunities for diving, swimming and eco-tourism.

The archipelago is the result of volcanic activity. The four major islands: Ngazidja the largest island with the capital city Moroni, Mwali, Nzwani and Mayotte - still part of France and also known as Maore, are of varying age with distinct topograhical characteristics. Mayotte, the oldest of the islands, is highly eroded with slow, meandering streams. Ngazidja, the youngest of the islands, is closest to Africa, has a massive volcano, and marked by fresh lava flows. In October, 2000, the volcano showed signs of increased seismic activity.

The islands possess a variety of animal life with several species unique to the Comoros or rarely found elsewhere. The famous Coelacanth, a fish once thought to be extinct for millions of years, is found very much alive in Comorian waters. Livingstone's flying fox, a giant fruit bat with a wing span over four feet, is found nowhere else in the world. Several varieties of insects, including the butterfly pictured at left, and over a dozen species of birds are unique to the islands. Many of these species are now being threatened with extinction.
:::::::Ivory Coast Travel Guide
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Sainte Julienne (Azuretti)

Sainte Julienne (Azuretti)

rgcolette@hotmail.com
Ivory Coast, also known by the French name "Cote d'Ivoire", is one of the most important French speaking countries of West Africa. Abidjan the capital of Ivory Coast and Dakar in Senegal rival for the title of 'Paris of Africa'. Until recently it has always been one of the most politcal stable countries in Africa with a relative high income level. In the west the country is bordered by Liberia and Guinee Conakry, in the north by Mali and Burkina Faso and in the east by Ghana.

The most important attractions of Cote d'Ivoire are to be found in Abidjan, the biggest and most vibrant city of the country, the capital of Yamoussoukro, the birth place of Felix Houphouet Boigny which has an African version of the St. Peter's Cathedral as one of the main sights, Man, a good starting place from where to explore the lush green hills and villages of the West of the country, Korhoho and the national parks of Comoe and Tai.
:::::::::::::Djibouti Travel Guide
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Ghoubet reef

Ghoubet reef
Djibouti is a small country in East Africa, that borders on the Red Sea, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. The French came into the area in 1862, having acquired the right to settle there from the Afar Sultans of Obock in exchange for money and other goods. Not to be outdone, the Sultan of Tadoura made a similar agreement with the French in 1884. The construction of the town and port of Djibouti began in 1888. According to the terms of a treaty signed between France and Ethiopia in 1897, Djibouti was to be "the official outlet for Ethiopian commerce" and, in consequence of this, a railway was later built. Djibouti was the last African country to gain its independence and it is still an important French base in the region.

The capital, Djibouti City is located in the south of the country close to the Somali border. It is an important harbor town and this is where the train going to Ethiopia leaves from.

Tadjoura is on the other side of the Gulf of Tadjoura and is a good place to go if you want to go diving.

Most of the land in the country is very dry and rocky. There are some spectacular rock formation, volcanoes and lakes, like Lac Assal and Lac Abbe, inland but it requires some real traveling to get to them.
:::::::::::Egypt Travel Guide
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Egypt does not need an introduction. It was the introduction to human civilization itself, and has all the evidence to show for it.

Tour Egypt from the live Nile Valley , to the solitary deserts, to the diversity of the Sinai desert , to the lush oases, to the exotic underwater life of the Red Sea , to the Mediterranean beaches. "Now, let me talk more of Egypt for it has a lot of admirable things and what one sees there is superior to any other country." - Herodotus, 50 BCE

"...In Egypt all the operations of the powers which rule and work in heaven have been transferred to earth below...It should rather be said that the whole cosmos dwells in [Egypt] as in its sanctuary..."

"There will come a time when ... the gods will return from earth to heaven; Egypt will be forsaken, and the land which was once the home of religion will be left desolate, bereft of the presence of its deities."

- Ascleptus III (25 BCE), Hermetic Texts, zeeshan avais moustapha

Even though much of what Herodotus witnessed has been ruined by the cruelty of later generations, his statement is still valid to this day. Today's Egyptians have abandoned their ancient heritage for a mostly Moslem Arabic-speaking nation. Happily, they have maintained their friendly, hospitable, and warm characteristics.

Cairot , the capital is the place to start. It has the Pyramids, the Sphinxs, the Egyptian Museum, many more sights and more than ten million cairenes to share the experience. Alexandria , the two hundreth city of the country has its fare share of historic sights as well and with its location on the Mediterranean it is an ideal spot for your holidays.

The north of Egypt has many impressive temples and graves from Pharaonic times. Luxor , Aswan and Abu Simbel should all be on your to do list.

The Nile River has great scuba diving : Hurghada is world famous for its under water world.

Em Hetep (Peace Out, in ancient Egyptian language).

:::::::Gabon Travel Guide
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Gabon is a small, oil rich country on the West Coast of Central Africa. It borders on Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Congo Brazzaville.

Compared with those countries travel in Gabon is relatively easy and very expensive. That's what you get after an oil boom.

Libreville, the capital, has very nice -but crowded- beaches, some good markets and a few nice sights. The presidential palace is a good example of what you can afford to do when you get lots of money from the oil business.

Port Hawkesbury is a good place for fishing trips, sailing or golf. The town is located on a small island at the mouth of the Ogooue River. That name may sound familiar to some of you. Take a canoe trip up the river and you remember why: this is where Albert Schweitzer came to start his find against leprosy. The hospital he founded can still be visited.
::::::::::Ghana Travel Guide
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Waiting for fish at Langma Beach

Waiting for fish at Langma Beach
Economically, Ghana is one of the most sucessful countries in West-Africa. It also has a lot to offer to visitors. on a relatively small area and since transport is good by African standards you will find travel enjoyable.

Your trip to Ghana will probably start in Accra, the capital. It is a vibrant city with some good museums and many colourful markets. It is an ideal starting place to explore the country since the distances are not too big and Accra is the travel hub of Ghana.

The coast towns of Ghana played an important role in the days of the slave trade and there are many forts that remind you of this period. The forts and the beaches are the prime attraction of this area. Elmina, Cape coast Shama and Dixcove - where you can sleep on the beach or in a fort - are among the hot spot on the coast.

When you visit a slavefort you feel the history lumbering between the walls. you feel the presence of the slave their souls. The most important thing is that you remember what happened there when you leave the place again.

In the centre of the country Kumasi has a huge market and great opportunities for buying art and handicrafts. Although the city is wonderful and abuzz, it can be disorienting, hot and crowded. The area around is perfect for daytripping.

Kumasi is the hotspot for encountering the african urban feeling. In contrast with Accra (which tries to be as western as possible), Kumasi is proud to be african.

The main tourist attraction in the north is probably Mole National Park which is accessible by public transport from Tamale. There's a very crowded bus that makes the trip each day around 2pm and overnights at the Mole Motel and will take you back to Tamale around 4am. At Mole you can usually see elephants (at least in the dry season). There are also olive baboons and warthogs that hang around the motel.

The great thing about Mole is that you can visit the park on foot. it just makes everyting more real. standing there, waching elephants and other animals in stead of sitting in some kind of tourist jeep.
::::::::::::Equatorial Guinea Travel Guide
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Equatorial Guinea is a small country in Africa. The capital city Malabo is located on an island off the coast. The island of Bioko is really pretty, with a high mountain and a rough coastline.

The inland is still very much untraveled and offers great opportunities for anyone who wants to feel like Stanley of Livingston. You might even really discover a tribe here that has not seen a white face (or a pink or a yellow one).

Bata is the biggest town on the mainland. Great beaches are to be found close to the town.

The Government do not accept or acknowledge the presence of AIDS in their country. It is an offence even to have an AIDS test. There are lots of pretty African girls in Malabo but the doctor (no names for safety) estimates that 80+% of females over 14 are infected. You have been warned. Arnold D.
:::::::::::::Lesotho Travel Guide
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Shepherd boy at Malealea

Shepherd boy at Malealea

Duncan Jones
Lesotho is a tiny country in Southern Africa, and landlocked within the Republic of South Africa. It used to be known as Basutoland when it was a British Protectorate. It is spectacularly scenic, and has a large mountain range (part of the Drakensberg), forming most of its border. All of Lesotho consists of high mountainous terrain. Even the region that is referred to as the lowlands is over 1000 meters high. The main attraction of the country is its ruggedness and its people who in many cases still follow a traditional way of life.

The capital Maseru is a laid back place and a good starting point for exploring the country. Hikes and visits to the only national park of the country, Sehlabathebe national park can be arranged in the capital.

Note to drivers: police checkpoints frequently pop from behind a sharp curve in the road. Come to a full stop and remain stopped until the officer motions you to come forward. Even if you have to wait 5 minutes, do not move the vehicle without his permission. Doing so will get you fined for failing to come to a complete stop.

A Journey Into Lesotho via the Sani Pass

At a local airstrip in Durban, we boarded a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter for an hour and fifteen-minute flight over hilly farmland, small villages and forest plantations before climbing up the slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains. This World Heritage List range is South Africa's highest and forms a majestic semi-circular border between KwaZulu-Natal and the land-locked mountain kingdom of Lesotho.

We landed the three helicopters on a gravel clearing at 1,800 metres and got into a 5-litre Chevrolet 4-wheel drive built for the South African army in the 1970's. From here it was three kilometres to the South African border post, from where the Sani Pass – a dirt track open only to 4x4s – rises 1,000 metres in just eight kilometres, arriving at the Lesotho border control and top of the pass at 2,873 metres. The final section of track has seventeen precipitous hairpins over three kilometres, with reassuring names like Big Wind Corner, Ice Corner, and Suicide Bend. It rises through spectacular scenery with imposing basalt buttresses soaring over remote valleys and jagged gorges, and waterfalls twinkling in the bright sunlight and cascading into the river far below. As we climbed the tortuous pass, buzzards and lammergeier vultures circled the sky around us, baboons barked from the cliffs and eland grazed the lush grass. Reaching the top, we drove 8 kilometres into Lesotho across a Scottish highlands-like landscape covered with summer flowers, and visited a small village of some twenty stone, mud and thatch huts. Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in the world, about the size of Belgium. Average annual income is about US$125, but the shepherds we met up here make about a third of that. It was a scene of extreme rural poverty although people looked fit and healthy, as they would have to be to survive the -14°C winters. We were welcomed into the hut of a 61-year old widow who makes a living from providing food, shelter and home-brewed beer to visiting herdsmen and sheep shearers. We sampled her delicious behobe bread baked on a fire in the centre of the hut, but – probably fortunately – she was out of her joala home-brew.

Driving back to the pass the temperature dropped suddenly and the next minute we were in the midst of a violent hailstorm so loud it drowned out the sound of the 5-litre Chevrolet. An hour before we had been under a warm cloudless sky! Before our cloud-covered drive back down to the waiting choppers we had a beer and a simple lunch at the highest pub in Africa run by an enterprising South African and his wife.

Contributed by Howard Banwell

Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: shalunda_cannon@yahoo.com

:::::Liberia Travel Guide
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Mamba Point, Monrovia

Mamba Point, Monrovia

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After more than a decade of civil war that left Liberia a shell of its former shelf, traveling throughout the country is akin to standing naked on a busy highway – dangerous yet exhilarating. Since the deposition of Charles Taylor to Nigeria in 2003 the country has slowly but steadily regained stability. United Nations troops continue to patrol the country but strife is rare. Elections in November 2005 saw Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf take power and optimism for the country’s future has never been higher.

Travel throughout the country, however, has yet to improve. The war destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure and save for a decent highway that connects Monrovia with the Sierra Leonean border, roads throughout the country are less than ideal. Adding to the travelers hassles are ever-present military and police checkpoints where “registration fees” are demanded. Keep your cool and stick to your beliefs on the issue of bribery and you’ll be fine.

Despite the country’s poverty, its people are amongst the most welcoming you’ll ever meet. Walking through the streets of Monrovia you’ll undoubtedly be approached and quizzed on your views on the country’s development, its future and, chances are, your thoughts on Charles Taylor. Take a deep breath before you get there and enjoy!
::::::Libya Travel Guide
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Qaser El Haj

Qaser El Haj

Sami Zaptia
Until recently Libya was very hard to get to due to political restictions, but now the country is slowly opening up to tourism.

Libya has quite some potential. It is just a few hours south from mass tourist destinations in Tunisia. It has some great Roman sights in Leptis magna, Sabratha, Shahhat etc. It also has lots of desert with unique old desert cities such as Ghat Ghadhames and numerous castles. Also numerous mountains and desert lakes off Sebha down the Wadi al Haya valley (Valley of Life) such as Umm Al Maa, Mandara and Gaber Oun lake lakes etc. Germa is about halfway between Sebha and Ubari
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Grandi Laghi (Africa)