|
Africa, the world’s second largest continent, is the birthplace of humanity. Archeological evidence shows that our human ancestry originated in Africa some 6 million years ago. Today, Africa is inhabited by more than 840 million people who live in the region’s fifty-four countries.
With its incredible wildlife, ancient ruins, barren deserts, and thriving metropolitan centers, Africa isn’t just a naturally diverse continent, it’s also one of the world’s most wonderful, exciting, and exotic continents. While millions of people travel to
Africa to broaden their cultural experiences, Africa’s natural beauty never fails to fascinate and intrigue all of its first-time visitors. Africa, in one simple word, is magnificent!
Although some African countries are still moderately to severely impoverished, most African governments, however, are now working hard to improve their country’s economies and social conditions. The majority of Africans, in fact, either live self-sufficiently in rural villages or in developing progressive cities, some of which rival many European and American cities.
So if you’re thinking about taking one of those once in a lifetime vacations, head to Africa; the “land of the Serengeti sun.” You’ll have a great time and you’ll accumulate a treasure trove of unforgettable memories.
Geographical and Sociological Profile
The information below was provided by The African Development Foundation, the United Nations, and the World Resources Institute, and was last updated on June 30, 2003. For more current population information please click here.
Total Land Area: 11,608,000 Square Miles (30,065,000 Sq. Km)
Population: 840,108,000
Population Density: 56.2 people per square mile
Main Languages: Arabic, Hausa, Amharic, Yoruba Oromo, Nguni, Igbo, and Berber
Principle Religions: Christianity, Islam, Baha'I, and numerous tribal religions
Literacy Rate: 46.9%
Largest Cities: Cairo (Egypt), Kinshasa (Zaire), and Alexandria, Egypt
Mountain Ranges: Ahaggar, Atlas, Cristal, Drakensburg, Mitumda, Muchinga
Largest Lakes: Victoria, Tanganyika, Nyasa
Notable Rivers: Nile, Zaire (Congo), Niger, and Zambezi
Travel Advisability Code
To help you identify those countries that offer the most desirable attractions, cultural experiences, and travel accommodations, we have assigned a Travel Desirability Code to each country based on the following rating scale: Good  Fair  Poor  .
|
