Rough Guide will only be releasing their book “The Rough Guide to the 100 best places on earth 2020” on September the first, but a leaked incomplete list reveals Africa will have much to be proud of as the guide steps up to promote the continent in a way it has never done before. Here are the places we know are included on the list.
Despite what it describes as being all the tourists and the high costs the guide also recommends Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which it says “more than lives up to the hype”. Once a volcano roughly the same size as Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro exploded about 3-million years ago covering the Serengeti in ash and forming a naturally protective bowl that now teems with wildlife. “The area has an abundance of wildlife and has the world’s densest population of lions, hyenas and elephants – and is home to some of East Africa’s last black rhinos,” the guide gushes.
Egypt too is included in the guide with its ancient history being of particular note. “Comparatively few foreigners realise that there are at least 115 further pyramids spread across 70km of desert, from the outskirts of Cairo to the edge of the Fayoum Oasis, the guide says, explaining that the great pyramid is not all that is there. The book adds that the great most famous pyramids can be a little underwhelming at first, saying, “During the daytime, the tourist hordes dispel the mystique, but visit at sunset, dawn or late at night and you’ll find that their brooding majesty returns”.
Ethiopia’s churches at Lalibela are one of the country’s true highlights according to Rough Guide, but they hasten to add that overall it is an “enigmatic and utterly beguiling country with endless intrigue”. The Orthodox Christian country’s religious festivals and structures are said to be, “something to behold”. While the 900-year-old hand-carved rock churches are complimented as being, “an astonishing feat of engineering”.
Madagascar too finds a mention on the leaked destinations list, with one of its primary attractions being its, “postcard-perfect beaches, turquoise lagoons, whispering palm plantations, craggy islets and snorkel-friendly coral reefs”. The book though goes further in its praise stating that Madagascar truly comes into its own only once you venture away from the coast. “This immense tropical island is sometimes referred to as the Eighth Continent on account of its unique biodiversity, which incorporates an estimated 10,000 animal and plant species found nowhere else in the world,” it states.
South Africa will definitely appear in the book with Cape Town being called “one of Africa’s most beautiful and most visited cities. The city comes in for praise for its “array of high-octane activities to take part in from paragliding to kite surfing and partying”. While other attractions are billed as being the “fabulous beaches, rolling vineyards and fine museums”.
The complete guide will feature hundreds of stunning photos from these locations and will be out on September 1st and is available from Amazon on pre-order.
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