The Best African Islands You Should Visit or Live On
Africa has great serene places in the world. The region’s exotic Islands and their beaches are not only tranquil but open doors to learning a whole new world, be it in its clear underwater, or rich history hidden in these havens.
Islands give me an impression of heaven- they are picture-perfect- with expansive white sandy beaches boasting tall green palm trees under the clear blue skies on Sunday afternoons, as the cool breeze blows its way up a palm tree to rustle the feather-leaved fronds.
Who doesn’t enjoy walking barefooted on white sand as the coarse tiny gravels caress one’s feet? On a sunny afternoon, consider an iced drink under a shade as the magic unfolds.
Islands are exotic and most often than not are inhabited by indigenous people with heavy, almost touchable accents with their ever-dazzling smiles and a variety of things endowed by the Mother Nature. Here are 5 exotic islands in Africa that you should consider visiting, and if possible live or retire in the future.
Réunion, Mauritius
Unlike many islands, Réunion is one tourist destination jumbled up with cultural influences from the Creole, African, Indian, Chinese and French people.
The French overseas territory is a destination with photogenic landscapes and adrenaline-pumping activities.
From architectural treasuries, charming religious and colonial buildings, historic sites and lively festivals that are a great attraction, and a platform for visitors to immerse themselves in local the culture. Réunion also has museums and eye-catching forests for your enjoyment.
“As a keen photographer, I’m always in search of photogenic landscapes. In that department, Réunion has no peer in the Indian Ocean,” Jean-Bernard Carillet reveals in an article adding that he’ll never get bored in Réunion.
Praslin Island, Seychelles
Seychelles in itself is a tourist destination as it’s an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean.
Of these several islands, Praslin Island beats them all. It has soft white sandy beaches, lush vegetation, and tropical forests with exotic birds like the common Seychelles Bulbul.
Did you know the beauty of this Island was once thought of as the real location of the Biblical ‘Garden of Eden’? With such similarities with the biblical garden, you can picture how splendid the second largest island of the Seychelles is.
Tofo Beach, Mozambique
Tofo beach or simply Tofo lies on the Indian Ocean coast, on Ponta da Barra peninsula in Inhambane city of Mozambique.
It’s an 8 km stretch of breathtaking sandy beach. The secluded bay overlooking the Indian Ocean, provide visitors with an opportunity to fish.
For visitors who want serenity and a time away from crowded cities and towns, the local village provides an escape from the hustle and bustle. The island has a little sister by the name of Tofinho and the two are great destinations for scuba divers who wish to see great big sea creatures including the whale shark, dolphins, and whales. Manta rays are all known to frequent the warm, nutrient-rich waters of Mozambique.
La Digue Island, Seychelles
Lying forty kilometers from Mahé and 7 km from Praslin, La Digue Island is the fourth largest island in the Seychelles. It has a tiny population of about 2,000 people.
The small population means that the place is laid back, and in fact, it has no airport and has countable vehicles. Most visitors and locals travel by bicycle or oxcart.
Despite it being underdeveloped, which to me is a great location to experience tranquility, La Digue has a gorgeous pink granite rock beaches. Yes! Pink…not white…like many African beaches.
Veuve Nature Reserve on the island hosts a rare paradise flycatcher, a beautiful black bird.
The island was named after one of the two vessels in Marion Dufresne’s small fleet of exploration which was sent by the French administration of Mauritius to explore the granitic islands in 1768.
Goree Island, Senegal
A little island called Gorée is located just a few kilometers from Senegal’s capital, Dakar. Seated on a 50-hectare piece of land, Gorée Island is a historical site inhabiting the ugly truths about slavery in West Africa.
The former slave trading center has now become a tropical paradise frequented by international and local tourists alike. In addition to these historic sites, Gorée has beautiful and serene beaches with few or no cars crisscrossing and polluting its natural environment.