Travelling Africa is the new ‘cool’
There was a time when all people knew about Africa was famine, poverty, hunger, disease, corruption and poor leadership. If there was a light at the end of the tunnel, it was the safaris offered in Kenya and Southern African countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Anyone remember the furore surrounding Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe in 2015?
A lot of changes have been taking place to accommodate tourism as seen in the meteoric rise of the hotels getting built across the continent. According to the Africa Investment Report 2017 by the Financial Times, real estate was the top sector by capital investment in 2016, accounting for $36.5bn (or 40%) of announced FDI (foreign direct investment) in the region.
With the rise of social media, has arisen a crop of vloggers and instagrammers who have made it their life’s mission to illuminate the best parts of the continent further. By the way, Africa is still not a country. YouTube TV channels have also joined this wagon such as UBA bank’s RedTV and Guaranty Trust Bank’s NdaniTV.
These are the instagrammers and YouTube vloggers showcasing the best of Africa and the coolest spots and activities to visit as a tourist. Follow them and you will not be sorry.
For ideas of where to travel, please follow the following programmes on YouTube, Vloggers and Instagrammers for some great pointers:
Presented by FoluStorms, she takes us on entrancing journeys from Jinja & Kampala in Uganda, Cape Town & Jo’burg in South Africa, Maputo in Mozambique where we meet the renowned fashion designer Taibo Bakary among others, Accra in Ghana, then Lagos and Calabar in Cross Rivers States in Nigeria. In Calabar, we are transported to breathtaking sights of the Obudu Cattle Ranch, the Canopy Walk and stunning views of Hill Mountain which teases your eyes with waterfalls. In Lagos, we meet a great depth of art in the alternative music show — Afropolitan show which happens in Freedom Park every month. We meet Mr Ade Adekola, a celebrated photographer and conceptual artist. There is more but please explore the possibilities in the videos.
2. REDTV’s — Here and Now with TASA
This series follows a group of four friends Taje, Ajifa, Seyitan and Amiola, all very well-known in their right in the entertainment circus in Nigeria as they travel across Africa and visit exotic locations. In Season One, the friends travel to Douala and Buea in Cameroon where they participate in a jam session in a studio in Buea and meet a radio entrepreneur in Douala. They move to Nairobi, Kenya and of course there has to be a safari; followed by a wedding in Tanzania’s picturesque Zanzibar which they describe as a page from a magazine. Don’t miss a trip to islands off the coast of Tanzania. In Season 2, they take us to Senegal and Ivory Coast. Amazing spots highlighted for your next visit if you intend visiting any of these countries.
3. Now over to our instagrammers. The first spot goes to Visiter L’Afrique, a network of travellers travelling across Africa who share photos of their experience. Started by Cameroonian Diane Audrey Ngako, a journalist, you see photos from various countries across the continent. The brand recently released a photo book titled: “They Call it Africa but we call it home.”
4. Lee Litumbe aka Spirited Pursuit
I love the SpiritedPursuit page because it is not boring. I enjoyed views of Senegal which has been on my list of must-go-to countries for 4years now. Lee’s page helps immensely in staving the hunger until I make that trip. I have seen Guinea and most of Morocco through this page and certain parts of South West Cameroon as well. Not only is this page for travel but the fashion sense is a complementary offering. It is never boring.
5. Sharon Mundia aka ThisIsEss
I have travelled East Africa and many islands off the coast of Kenya and Tanzania thanks to her page. Because of her, I crave a sight of Lamu Island and Mombasa.
There are more pages I could point to but you get the message? Share ideas in the comment section of other travellers across Africa, exploring the continent in all its entirety and beauty!
