Seven Natural Wonders » Seven Natural Wonders of Africa

Zuma Rock

admin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:41:45 +0000

Quick Facts:

Monolith located in Niger
Also known as the “Gateway to Abuja”
Pictured on the Niger 100 bill

Zuma Rock is a monolith found in Niger. It is easily observed by driving the road out of Abuja which is the capital of Nigeria. The nickname, Gateway to Abuja, is derived from this road. The Zuma Rock features a naturally occurring face on the side of the monolith.

Best way to see the Zuma Rock

More will follow on the Zuma Rock as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Best way to experience the Zuma Rock

More will follow on the Zuma Rock as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Peak of the Furnace

admin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:41:24 +0000

Quick Facts:

One of the most active volcanoes in the world
5 mile (8 km) wide caldera atop the volcano
Features 400 meter lava shield inside the caldera.

The Peak of the Furnace (Piton de la Fournaise) is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The Enclos Fourque caldera is 5 miles (8 km) wide and accounts for the top part of the volcano. Dolomieu is a 400 meter lava shield found inside the caldera. In addition to the lava shield, the caldera features craters, spatter cones and beaches.

Best way to see Peak of the Furnace

More will follow on Peak of the Furnace as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Best way to experience Peak of the Furnace

More will follow on the Peak of the Furnace as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Mount Kenya

admin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:41:05 +0000

Quick Facts:

Second highest mountain in Africa behind Kilimanjaro
Stands 17,058 feet high (5,199 meters)
Protected by Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya is the tallest mountain in Kenya and is only second to Mount Kilimanjaro. The mountain features three peaks over 16,000 feet: 1) Batian as the tallest at 17,058 feet (5,199 m), 2) Nelion at 17,022 feet (5,188 m) and 3) Lenana at 16,355 feet (4,985 m).

Mount Kenya is located in the Mount Kenya National Park close to the equator. The UNESCO has declared Mount Kenya as a world heritage site. The park and area receives approximately 15,000 visitors each year.

Theder immense pressure. To the west side of the mountain is the peak Shira (3,962m), of which only the southern and western rims remain.

Best way to see Mount Kenya

More will follow on Mount Kenya as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Best way to experience Mount Kenya

More will follow on the Mount Kenya as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Aldabra Atoll

admin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:19:56 +0000

Quick Facts:

Largest African atoll and second largest in the world
Largest population of giant tortoises
Home to the Aldabra rail which is the last surviving flightless bird of the area

The Aldabra Atoll is the second largest atoll in the world behind the Kiritimati atoll. It stretches 21.1 miles (34 km) long and 9 miles (14.5 km) wide. The Aldabra atoll is 26.2 feet (8 m) above sea level and has a land area of 96.5 miles (155.4 km). The lagoon stretches 139.1 miles (224 km) across; much of the lagoon will be exposed during low tide.

The Aldabra Atoll includes a ring of four larger islands: Grand Terre, Malabar, Polymnie, and Picard, and a few smaller islands. The islands have no inhabitants apart from a small staff of rangers. The atoll accounts for the largest population of giant tortoises. Additional wildlife includes: hammerhead sharks, barracuda, green turtles, hawksbill turtles, mantarays, and various birds.

Best way to see the Aldabra Atoll

More will follow on the Aldabra Atoll as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Best way to experience the Aldabra Atoll

More will follow on the Aldabra Atoll as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Tsingy de Bemaraha

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:59:10 +0000

Quick Facts:

Located on the western coast of Madagascar
Declared a UNESCO world heritage site

Tsingy de Bemaraha is a unique geographical area with intriguing landforms. It is also known for its mangrove forests and lemur populations.

Best way to see Tsingy de Bemaraha

More will follow on Tsingy de Bemaraha as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Best way to experience Tsingy de Bemaraha

More will follow on Tsingy de Bemaraha as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Red Sea Reef

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:57:59 +0000

Quick Facts:

Home to over 1,100 species of fish
Approximately 1 in 10 are exclusive to the area
The reef extends over 1,200 miles

The Red Sea Reef stretches over 1,240 miles along the coast of Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea. There are more than 1,100 species of fish that call this Red Sea Reef home and nearly 10% of these are exclusive to this region. The reef features include abundant aquatic life, platforms, lagoons, and cylinders.

Best way to see the Red See Reef

More will follow on the Red Sea Reef as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Best way to experience the Red Sea Reef

More will follow on the Red Sea Reef as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Serengeti Migration

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:57:08 +0000

Quick Facts:

Migration crosses Tanzania and Kenya
Spans 18,641.1 square miles (30,000 sq km)
Longest and largest over land migration in the world
The name Serengeti means “endless plains”

The Serengeti migration is the longest and largest over land migration in the world. The Serengeti plains account for over 18,641 square miles and the migration itself travels 500 miles on the path from Tanzania to the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya. Approximately 80% of the Seregeti plains are protected by the Tanzanian and Kenyan governments.

The Serengeti is home to over 70 larger mammals and approximately 500 different types of birds. Probably the most impressive part of the migration is the herds of wildebeests that blanket the plains. The migration will kill off around 250,000 wildebeests each year.

Best way to see the Serengeti Migration

More will follow on the Serengeti Migration as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Best way to experience the Serengeti Migration

More will follow on the Serengeti Migration as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Ngorongoro Crater

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:55:17 +0000

Quick Facts:

Largest unbroken caldera in the world
Also referred to as “Africa’s Garden of Eden”
Crater is 12 miles (19 km) across and covers 102 square miles (264 sq km)
Rises over 2,000 feet above the caldera floor
Home to over 30,000 animals including the rare black rhino

Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest unbroken caldera. Often referred to as “Africa’s Garden of Eden,” the crater is home to over 30,000 animals including elephants, lions, cheetahs, wildebeests, buffaloes, and the rare black rhinos. View Wildlife of Ngorongoro Crater to learn more about the wildlife and View Birds of Ngorongoro Crater to discover some of the many species that are found in the area.

Ngorongoro Crater was created from a volcano that exploded creating the caldera wilderness haven. The crater is 12 miles (19 km) across and consumes 102 square miles (264 sq km) of wilderness. The rim of the crater rises just over 2,000 feet (610 m) above the caldera floor reaching an elevation of 7,500 feet (2,286 m).

Best way to see the Ngorongoro Crater

More will follow on the Ngorogoro Crater as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Best way to experience the Ngorongoro Crater

More will follow on the Ngorongro Crater as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Mount Kilimanjaro

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:54:22 +0000

Quick Facts:

The tallest mountain in Africa reaching 19,340 feet (5,895 m)
Tallest free standing mountain in the world
Seven different peaks with Uhuru Peak being the highest
Kibo peak features a 1.5 mile wide crater

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the largest stratovolcanoes in the world reaching 19,340 feet (5,895 m) into the air. As the tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro is also the tallest free standing mountain in the world. Kilimanjaro is a composite volcano that includes layers of lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. The volcano is currently inactive with no known history of eruptions.

Mount Kilimanjaro has seven distinctive peaks with Uhuru Peak accounting for the mountains highest elevation at 19,341 feet (5,895 m). A 1.5 mile wide crater is featured as part of the Kibo portion of the mountain.

The high elevation and proximity to the equator allows visitors to experience every climate type. Kilimanjaro also features a year round snow-topped peak. Although the volcano is isolated, it is part of the line of volcanoes that reach across northern Tanzania.

Best way to see Mount Kilimanjaro

More will follow on Mount Kilimanjaro as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Best way to experience Mount Kilimanjaro

More will follow on Mount Kilimanjaro as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Avenue of the Baobabs

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:53:37 +0000

Quick Facts:

Also known as boab, boaboa, bottle tree and upside-down tree
Can be up to 800 years old
Reaching heights of 98 feet (30 m)
Diameters reaching up to 36 feet (11 m)

The Avenue of the Baobabs, also known as the Alley of Baobabs, is located in Madagascar but the tree may be experienced in several other parts of Africa. The largest baobab trees are considered to be in South Africa. These trees are reported to have a circumference of 160 feet (50 m).

Best way to see the Avenue of the Baobabs

More will follow on the Avenue of the Baobabs as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.

Best way to experience the Avenue of the Baobabs

More will follow on the Avenue of the Baobabs as it is declared an official or notable wonder of Africa.