Landscapes in Africa

About 45 km outside Lubango the beautiful Serra da Leba mountain range gives way to the lowland. The drop is very steep, so the road snakes back and forth in some sharp hairpin turns. There is a viewpoint at the edge (photo), which probably has the best views, but don't settle with that - drive all the way down and back up, for there are many other breathtaking viewpoints. Right at the bottom the concrete support has been turn into an art canvas with some cool murals.

Tundavala gorge is just spectacular. It's a deep narrow gorge which ends dramatically with a vertical drop of about 1000 m. The views of the gorge and the landscape far below are unmatched and should be high on any Angola itinerary. There are several safe viewpoints, but the rest of the edge is unprotected - all with nerve-racking deep drops. As with many other natural sights in Angola, there are no entrance fee nor vendors, so you will probably have the whole place to yourself. Drivers are used to do the six hours tour of Lubango, which includes Serra da Leba, Cristo Rei and Tundavala Gorge.

A short detour from the main road to Tundavala Gorge leads to this waterfall. There are multiple levels with several pools, but unfortunately the area is littered with empty beer cans. In 2014 two men went drunk driving and went over the edge and died. The car wreck still lies in the pool at the bottom of the falls.

A world away from the dry savanna and scrubland that is most of Burkina Faso, the south-west is rocky, lush and green. It's not surprising that this is the most popular destination for visitors. A dozen kilometres to the north-west of the town Banfora is one of Burkina's loveliest spots, the upper falls of Cascades de Karfiguela - a favourite spot for locals to chill and swim. Just 3 km to the east are the Dômes den Fabedougou; climbable sand cliffs formed as scores of basilica-like domes by water erosion. Directly west of Banfora, circa 7 km, is Tengréla Lac, where it's possible to take a pirogue ride and, with luck, spot a hippo. Renting an old moped in Banfora itself is probably the town's most amusing pass time and the best way of getting to the surrounding sights.

Probably the most spectacular natural attraction in Burkina Faso, the Peaks of Sindou is a three-kilometre-long chain of sculpted crags and cones made from sandstones eroded by the elements. The towers rise more than 50 metres from the ground creating a spectacular backdrop for the small villages. It's been described as a geological fantasyland, and it's indeed easy to waste a day away by searching out new exciting features and shapes in the rocks. The area is ideal for small hikes, straightforward rock climbing and sunrise breakfasts. There's a basic camp ground close by the peaks run by the reputable Association Djiguiya, which also offer a range of activities from cycling tours over multiple treks to homestays.

Boa Vista has some of the finest untouched beaches on the planet. Never-ending stretches of soft white sand, fringed by desert inland and by bright turquoise water oceanside. It doesn't come more picturesque than this. The thing is, there is nothing else here. No palms, no shades, no roads, no people, no bungalows, no beach huts, no resorts (besides the few on the whole island). Just sand, sun, and the sea... and, of course, the wind.

After a few days on Boa Vista, you might start to wonder whether the rest of the island is as barren as where you are. And yes, it is. But the best way to figure it out, is a tour of the island. A full loop of Boa Vista takes a whole day in a 4x4 on dirt tracks, in sand dunes, over stony desert, and occasional on a stretch of real road – with potholes of course. Rent a car with a driver, since they know the right track from the wrong ones.

A suggestion for a route could be:
Sal Rei (town) – Rabil (village) – Deserto Viana (desert) – Povocao Velha (village) – Praia da Varandinha (beach with caves) – Praia de Santa Monica (beach) – Curral Velho (ruins and salt lake) – Praia de Joao Barrosa (turtle nesting beach) – Baobab (a lone Baobab tree) – Ervatao (a surf beach) – Fundo das Figueiras (village) – Santa Maria shipwreck – Sal Rei

Take a look at the photo gallery for more details.

At the Western end of the island lies a small gem called Carbirinho. It may be a little hard to get to this spot, which is hardly mentioned in any guidebook, but it is well worth the effort! You can sit for hours watching the waves crash into the rocks and the water pulling in and out of the small black-sanded beaches. The rough sea has been carving the sandstone cliffs for centuries forming beautiful patterns. Some natural springs seep through the rocks attracting goats who come here to drink. Especially around sunset, the place becomes magical. If you are lucky, you can also see turtles swimming below the rocks.

A central ridge of mountains splits the island of Santo Antão in two. The Southern half is dry and arid but the Northern part gets more rain and has lovely green ribeiras (valleys) that are great for hiking. As most islands in Cabo Verde, Santo Antão is volcanic, so there are several old craters at the top of the mountains that are being used for agriculture. There is an abundance of fruit trees such as mango, papaya, banana and bread fruit.
Most tourists come to Santo Antão for hiking. Due to its proximity to São Vicente, which is only a short ferry ride, there is a lot more tourism than on São Nicolau but it is mainly still unspoiled.

Mountainous and dry is the best way to describe São Nicolau island. People struggle to get enough water to grow some crops. The island hardly gets rain so all water sources are dealt with carefully. Traditionally, people live off fishing and agriculture but since many Cabo Verdeans work overseas, people are doing pretty well. The island’s main towns are the island’s capital Ribeira Brava in the center and Tarrafal at the west coast.
There are plenty of great hikes to do, which are not too hard to navigate.
São Nicolau doesn’t get a lot of tourism and part of the great experience of being on this island are the chilled and extremely friendly people who will love to stop for a chat and smile for a picture.