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Best up-and-coming destinations in Africa

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Nairobi
Where urban life meets wild adventures
6.4
Nairobi's tech scene has earned the city the nickname Silicon Savannah in recent years. Startups and co-working spaces have multiplied across neighbourhoods like Westlands. Visitors can still spot lions and giraffes at Nairobi National Park, unusually close to downtown. Digital nomads increasingly extend layovers here before continuing on safari.
Highlights:
  • 🐘 Visit the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and meet baby elephants
  • 🦩 Feed endangered giraffes at the Giraffe Centre
  • 🦒 Go on a safari at Nairobi National Park
Accra
Vibrant Culture and Coastal Charm
6.1
Ghana's 2019 Year of Return campaign drew diaspora visitors back to Accra in record numbers. The initiative marked 400 years since enslaved Africans began arriving in Virginia. Visitors can tour Cape Coast Castle, once a departure point for the slave trade. A growing co-working and beach cafe scene has since taken root across the capital.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax and swim at Bojo Beach
  • 🛍️ Shop vibrant stalls at Makola Market
  • 🕊️ Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum
Kigali
Vibrant capital blending tradition and modernity
7.8
Kigali has built a reputation as one of Africa's cleanest and safest capital cities. Monthly community clean up days called Umuganda keep its streets notably tidy. Visitors can tour the Kigali Genocide Memorial before continuing on to gorilla trekking nearby. New conference centres have drawn a growing wave of business travellers.
Highlights:
  • 🚗 Ride a tuk-tuk to Nyamirambo neighborhood, chat with locals
  • 🍲 Stroll through Kimironko Market, taste local street food
  • 🪦 Explore Kigali Genocide Memorial, learn history
Djibouti
Desert landscapes with coastal charm
6.0
Lake Assal sits as the lowest point in Africa and one of the saltiest lakes on Earth. Whale sharks gather seasonally in the Gulf of Tadjoura just off the coast. Visitors can snorkel alongside the sharks during their migration each winter. Dive operators have only recently begun running regular trips to the area.
Highlights:
  • 🌋 Explore the otherworldly lava fields of Lac Abbé
  • 🦈 Dive with whale sharks in the Gulf of Tadjoura
  • 🌊 Float on the hypersaline waters of Lake Assal
Cape Verde
Islands of eternal summer
7.5
Constant Atlantic trade winds have turned Cape Verde's islands into a rising kitesurfing destination. Sal and Boa Vista now draw growing numbers of European surfers each year. Visitors can learn the sport at beach schools that barely existed a decade ago. Direct flights from Europe have expanded steadily to meet the demand.
Highlights:
  • ⛵ Sail between the islands and enjoy ocean breezes
  • ⛰️ Hike to the volcanic summit of Pico do Fogo
  • 🏖️ Relax on the golden beaches of Santa Maria, Sal Island
São Tomé and Príncipe
Equatorial paradise with volcanic landscapes
7.5
Sao Tome and Principe's volcanic islands sit just off the equator in the Gulf of Guinea. Portuguese settlers once built a global cocoa empire on plantations scattered across both islands. Visitors can tour restored colonial era roças now converted into small guesthouses. Direct flight connections remain limited, keeping tourist numbers low for now.
Highlights:
  • 🌿 Explore diverse wildlife at Obo National Park
  • 🏖️ Relax on Praia Banana's pristine golden sands
  • 🌋 Hike to the peak of Pico Cao Grande volcano
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