Nowadays, travelling and moving to even distant destinations is no longer impossible, or almost impossible. With planes getting faster and faster and information always at hand, thanks to the web, everyone can organise their own holiday to the most remote places on the planet. This guide will show you some interesting destinations to consider: the 10 most beautiful African islands to visit.
The first destination is one of the most famous and frequented by tourists from all over the world. The Canary Islands. They are located off the Atlantic Ocean west of the African mainland. Although legally belonging to Spain, the islands have characteristics and history deeply linked to the dark continent. The Canary Islands are an archipelago of nine islands, two minor and seven major ones, formed in past geological eras as a result of volcanic eruptions. The main names associated with the Canaries are undoubtedly the island of Tenerife, Las Palmas and Gran Canaria. However, alongside these paradises, now actually a little less pristine due to mass tourism, there are other destinations where one can find one's own piece of paradise.
Madagascar is the largest island in size on the African continent. Situated south of the tropic opposite Mozambique, it is home to a large percentage of the planet's unique and rare species of fauna and flora. The long coastline combined with the beautiful inland landscape gives the island not only environmental beauty, but also a sufficient degree of hospitality for tourists.
One of the islands off Cape Verde, to the west of the continent, immersed in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The island is large enough to accommodate infrastructure and services for the resident population, such as schools, hospitals and churches. Tourism is at the heart of the local economy, which also includes strictly naturalistic destinations, thanks to the presence of rare and protected species such as the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta, which nests in summer on the sandy beaches along the coast.
The island of Gerba, Djerba in Arabic, is an island located off North Africa along the coast of Tunisia. Given its precise geographic location, the history of the place has been strongly characterised by the presence of the neighbouring Arab world, which over the centuries has shaped the culture and economy of the African island. Alongside the classic seaside tourism that is on the rise, Gerba has a wide range of non-coastal itineraries of considerable charm.
The island of Zanzibar, among the largest on the African continent, is situated off the coast of Tanzania. The territory has always been the subject of conquest by Western powers, from the Portuguese and Spanish as well as the British, until independence was achieved in 1964. Like all large islands, Zanzibar has an infrastructure and services similar to those of western metropolises. Therefore, tourism can vary in modes between bathing and relaxation.
African islands with European jurisdiction include Reunion Island. Located off the coast of Madagascar, it is completely immersed in the ocean. The connections from mainland Africa, although existing, do not guarantee perfect infrastructural integration. The island's positive point is the naturalness present in almost the entire island extension, preserved by the few residents.
The island of Socotra is situated close to the horn of Africa and faces the Asian coast of Yemen. Its inestimable wealth of flora and fauna earned the island the title of World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2008. Socotra's economy and history is linked to simple agriculture and animal husbandry.
The archipelago of the Azores is located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the west coast of Africa. Although under Portuguese jurisdiction, the numerous islands are associated in history, economy and environmental beauty with coastal Africa. The economy and tourism have been on the rise in recent years, thanks to the numerous sea and air links that have been established over time.
The island of Sao Tome is located near the Gulf of Guinea, along the Atlantic coast. The beautiful island is immersed in the ocean, which is why the coastline and the nature present appears unspoilt and spectacular to the Western tourist's eye. Marine flora and fauna are the main environmental forces on the island, which has a fair degree of urbanisation and tourist accommodation.
The Madeira archipelago is situated in the north-west of the African continent, under Portuguese sovereignty. There are two major islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, which are tourist destinations and routinely visited by visitors from all over the world. There are also other smaller islands: the Desertas group and the Selvagge group, all of which are completely uninhabited. It is easy for visitors to Madeira to reach these unspoilt wildernesses.