The most popular countries in Africa come from every corner of the continent; they are well known for a variety of reasons which make people drawn to them. Africa is an endowed continent; and no matter where one looks, there is always something impressive to see.
Nevertheless, not all countries on the continent have been able to take advantage of their endowments, and to profit from their natural or cultural heritage.
The few countries in Africa that have maintained peace, encouraged industry, and projected a good image to the rest of the world are those that have become very popular; as the paragraphs below will show.
Most Popular Countries In Africa
1. Egypt
Egypt is without any doubt the most popular country in Africa; its pyramids have been some of the most popular monuments since ancient times. Egypt is the site of an ancient kingdom- perhaps the most ancient kingdom that humanity has ever seen.
Ancient Egypt gained fame for the imposing structures that the Pharaohs built as monuments to themselves; each pharaoh attempting to outdo his predecessors.
Today those monuments are some of the most ancient structures in the world; and people come in from all over the world to see them.
Egypt is also popular for sports; Egyptian teams are as dominant and ferocious as any other on the continent and beyond. The country is quite well advanced; and the economy is stable.
2. Morocco
Morocco is another country in north Africa; one that is immensely popular. There are many things that make morocco so popular; one of them is the abundance of beaches both on the Mediterranean Sea and on the Atlantic Ocean.
Due to its advantageous location; it is a favorite spot for holidaymaking for tourists coming from Europe and America. Aside from laying on the beach, there are many other attractions that make morocco popular.
Morocco also has desert, mountains, and ancient cities which are just as popular as the modern ones.
The desert is the symbol of morocco; people come in to ride the camel caravans, and to spend time with the desert tribes. The desert people have delightful music, cuisine and culture, and aside from the experience one can actually make real friends.
The ancient city of Marrakech is another popular place in morocco; it is a place where you can see people living and dressing exactly as they did hundreds of years ago.
3. South Africa
South Africa is a country in the southern end of the continent- which is on the opposite side of the compass from those two countries ahead of it. South Africa is a very popular country; it is known as the rainbow nation because of the various ethnic identities that live together, and call the nation home.
South Africa is famous for its game reserves where people come in from all over the world to see the big game animals in their natural habitats. Some of the animals that people come in to see include lions, leopards, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes, and crocodiles.
South Africa also has the biggest impact crater in the world; the Vredefort Crater. The country also has the site of the oldest human skeletons ever excavated; the site has been named the Cradle of Humanity.
South Africa also has two of the most developed cities in Africa; Cape Town and Johannesburg. This is a country that can be called the face of Africa.
4. Nigeria
Nigeria is the most populous black nation; with a population approaching 200 million. This is a country in West Africa; one which has all times of land including the Sahel savanna, tropical rainforests, and mangrove swamps.
Nigeria is a country with a rapidly developing economy; while still dependent on oil exports, the country is becoming more popular as a place to invest in manufacturing, tourism, or infrastructure.
Nigeria is also very popular in terms of sports; the country is one of the arrowheads in sports development in Africa.
5. Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a country in east Africa that is popular as being the only African country that refused to bow to European colonists. The kingdom of Ethiopia was one of the rallying points during the days of early pan Africanism.
Ethiopia has so many ancient sites to visit; it is a popular spot for people with an interest in archaeology and history.
Ethiopia has one of the most developed economies in Africa; tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and services all contribute to make the country one of Africa’s most advanced countries.
6. Tunisia
Tunisia is another North African country; one with a great and impressive history. Tunisia is the site of the ancient city of Carthage; this ancient city, under the command of the general and statesman Hannibal once took the fight to the Romans; taking and occupying parts of southern Italy for 15 years.
Carthage is one of the biggest gifts the world has received from antiquity; it is unique for showing the civilizations as they rose and fell, and the roman civilization that preceded modern times.
Tunisia has many roman ruins; some of which are in pristine condition; they attract people from all over the world to see this beautiful and impressive country.
7. Madagascar
Madagascar is one of the most popular island countries; it lies around 2000km from the coast of east Africa. Madagascar has a unique ecosystem; there are many different types of birds and animal that are not found anywhere else in the world.
Madagascar is a favorite place for animal lovers; there are many protected areas and national parks from where nature enthusiasts can watch the animals as they interact in their natural environment.
Madagascar is a great place to spend time with loved ones on the beaches, and there are many hiking trails in the country.
8. Zambia
Zambia is where you have the famous Victoria Falls; which is one of the world’s biggest and most impressive waterfalls. Zambia also has quite a cool weather which is surprising for a sub Saharan country.
The country is a very peaceful and enjoyable place; tourism is big here as people come from all over the world to see these falls, and to enjoy bird-watching, animal watching, and hiking.
As a country that depends on its tourism sector, you can find excellent hotels in Zambia; and the people are very friendly and accommodating.
9. Kenya
Kenya is the most popular country in east Africa; the country is notable for its rapid economic development, and the opportunities for investors that it has to offer.
Kenya has one of the most liberal and welcoming societies in east Africa; aside from the native tribes, there are also well integrated populations of Indians and Somalis who live as part of the Kenyan societal structure.
Kenya has very good beaches; and the nightlife in the major cities is one big party. This is a popular place for tourists who like to enjoy life on the wild side.
10. Tanzania
Tanzania is another country in east Africa; this is where you have Mount Kilimanjaro; the tallest mountain in Africa. As mountains go there can be non-more popular than the tallest; and it is therefore no surprise that this is a very popular retreat for climbing enthusiasts who come in from all over the world to test their endurance and skill level.
The mountain will of course attract hotels to accommodate the visitors; and the services sector all work together like a well-oiled machine with the singular purpose of giving visitors a very good experience and impression about the country.
11. Sudan
Sudan is one of Africa’s most researched countries so that has to count as some form of popularity. The country is in northeast Africa, and has a coast into the red sea.
Sudan is the modern day site of the ancient kingdom of Kush; and there are hundreds of pyramids built by that kingdom which mirrored the ancient kingdom of Egypt.
Sudan has much history about it; various kingdoms ruled this land in close succession of one another, leading up to the present day.
The present day has not been very pleasant; unfortunately it appears that Sudan is one of the continents’ most volatile grounds; it does not take long for violence to erupt in this country.
The following is a list of the 20 most famous countries in Africa.
| Rank | Country | Location |
| 1 | Egypt | North Africa |
| 2 | Morocco | North Africa |
| 3 | South Africa | Southern Africa |
| 4 | Nigeria | West Africa |
| 5 | Ethiopia | East Africa |
| 6 | Tunisia | North Africa |
| 7 | Madagascar | East Africa |
| 8 | Zambia | Southern Africa |
| 9 | Kenya | East Africa |
| 10 | Tanzania | East Africa |
| 11 | Sudan | North Africa |
| 12 | Libya | North Africa |
| 13 | Ghana | West Africa |
| 14 | Senegal | West Africa |
| 15 | Ivory Coast | West Africa |
| 16 | Algeria | North Africa |
| 17 | Somalia | East Africa |
| 18 | Uganda | East Africa |
| 19 | Zimbabwe | Southern Africa |
| 20 | Senegal | West Africa |
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Closing
The most popular countries in Africa attract the most curiosity, the most internet searches, and the most visits. These are countries that owe their popularity to one thing or another, but who have done well to profit from their popularity.