Why are some people in the Sahara known as the Blue People?
Why are the Tuareg called the Blue People of the Sahara? Discover how indigo clothing, desert traditions and cultural heritage inspired the nickname
Did you know? Lake Malawi is home to hundreds of colourful fish species
Lake Malawi fish species include hundreds of colourful cichlids, many found nowhere else on Earth. Discover Africa’s extraordinary underwater biodiversity
The story behind the world’s favourite drink
Coffee originated in Africa, with Ethiopia recognised as Arabica’s birthplace. Discover how coffee spread worldwide and became a global favourite
Coco de mer: The world’s largest seed grows in Seychelles
The coco de mer grows in Seychelles and produces the world’s largest seed, weighing over 15 kilograms. Discover this rare African natural wonder
The African island where giant tortoises outnumber people
Aldabra giant tortoises number over 100,000 on a remote Seychelles atoll with no permanent human residents. Discover this African wildlife wonder
The African football match that ended 149–0
The 149-0 football match in Madagascar remains one of sport’s strangest results, with all 149 goals deliberately scored as own goals
Africa’s butterflies can migrate thousands of kilometres
Butterflies may look fragile, but some species found across Africa migrate enormous distances, crossing deserts, seas and even oceans. The painted lady butterfly is one of the most remarkable examples. These butterflies move between Africa and Europe as part of a huge migration that unfolds across several generations. Researchers have documented painted ladies travelling across the Sahara and Mediterranean during their journeys. Scientists have even found large concentrations of painted ladies in countries including Chad, Niger and Benin. Thousands of butterflies can appear together Painted ladies do not simply remain in one location throughout the year. Their movements follow changing environmental conditions, including rainfall and the availability of vegetation. When conditions are particularly favourable, their populations can increase dramatically. In 2019, unusually large numbers of painted ladies appeared across Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Researchers linked the outbreak to abundant vegetation that provided favourable breeding conditions. In earlier fieldwork in Chad, Benin and Niger, scientists recorded concentrations reaching as many as 20,000 painted ladies per hectare in some locations. Their journey can cross the Sahara The Sahara might seem like an impossible barrier for an insect weighing only a fraction of a gram. Yet painted ladies regularly undertake trans-Saharan movements. Their wider migratory cycle between the Afrotropical and Palearctic regions can span around 15,000 kilometres across multiple generations, according to research published in Nature Communications. No single butterfly necessarily completes that entire migration. Instead, successive generations continue different stages of the journey. Some even crossed the Atlantic One discovery revealed just how far these butterflies can travel. Researchers investigated painted ladies found on a beach in French Guiana in South America, where the species does not have an established native population. Evidence from wind patterns, DNA, pollen and chemical signatures indicated that the butterflies had arrived from West Africa. Scientists concluded that they had travelled at least 4,200 kilometres across the Atlantic, probably taking between five and eight days. Favourable winds were crucial to making the crossing possible. The butterflies may originally have emerged in Western Europe before travelling through Africa, potentially making their overall journey more than 7,000 kilometres. Tiny insects, enormous journeys Painted ladies show that some of the world’s great migrations are happening almost unnoticed above us. Their movements connect different parts of Africa with Europe and, in exceptional circumstances, even regions across the Atlantic. Scientists are still studying how weather, vegetation and seasonal changes influence these movements. For an insect that can fit easily in the palm of a hand, the distances involved are extraordinary.
The African bird that leads humans to honey
The African honeyguide bird leads people to hidden bees’ nests, while some communities even use special calls to communicate with the wild birds
Why is Moroccan tea poured from so high?
Why is Moroccan tea poured from high above the glass? Discover the reason behind the famous high pour and its place in Moroccan hospitality
How monsoon winds connected East Africa to Arabia and India
Discover how seasonal monsoon winds helped sailors connect East Africa with Arabia and India through centuries of Indian Ocean trade
Why Senegal is known as the ‘Land of Teranga’
Why is Senegal called the Land of Teranga? Discover how hospitality, generosity, sharing and respect became part of the country’s identity
Why salt was once one of West Africa’s most valuable goods
The West Africa salt trade once connected Saharan mines with major trading cities, where salt became so valuable it could be exchanged for gold
Why Mozambique is named after a tiny island
The Island of Mozambique is tiny compared with the country that shares its name. Discover how this historic Indian Ocean island gave Mozambique its name
Mauritania iron ore train: Why is it one of the world’s longest?
Mauritania’s iron ore train crosses more than 700km of Sahara railway, carrying ore from mines near Zouerate to the Atlantic coast
Why Botswana’s money is named after rain
Botswana’s pula has one of Africa’s most unusual currency names. Discover why the country named its money after the Setswana word for rain
Lake Natron: The African lake that preserves animals like stone
Lake Natron in Tanzania is famous for preserved animals that appear turned to stone. Discover why this unusual African lake behaves this way
A vast water reserve lies beneath the Sahara Desert
Vast groundwater reserves lie beneath parts of the Sahara Desert, including huge aquifer systems shared by several African countries
Kenya elephants may use medicinal plants when sick, study suggests
Kenya elephants may use medicinal plants when sick, with researchers identifying 35 plant species used by elephants around Mount Elgon
Ghanaian day names: Why children are named after their birthday
Ghanaian day names can reveal the day a person was born. Discover the Akan tradition behind names such as Kofi, Kwame, Yaa and Akua
Why are Kenya’s minibuses covered in incredible artwork?
Discover Kenya matatu art and why Nairobi’s colourful minibuses feature bold graphics, customised interiors and eye-catching designs
Why does the Congo River cross the Equator twice?
The Congo River crosses the Equator twice during its remarkable journey through Central Africa. Discover why the river follows this unusual route
Why do thousands of lights appear on this African lake at night?
Lake Tanganyika fishing lights create a remarkable nighttime sight as fishing boats illuminate the water across one of Africa’s Great Lakes
The African village where homes become works of art
Discover the Tiébélé painted houses in Burkina Faso, where Kassena communities decorate traditional earthen homes with striking geometric designs
Why is Swahili spoken across so many African countries?
Why is the Swahili language spoken across so much of Africa? Discover how trade, cultural exchange and regional connections helped it spread
Why are Zanzibar’s doors so elaborate?
Zanzibar carved doors are among Stone Town’s most striking sights. Discover how centuries of trade and cultural exchange shaped their designs
This African town has homes hidden beneath the ground
Matmata underground homes in southern Tunisia are dug into the earth around open courtyards, helping residents stay cooler in the desert heat
Inside the maze-like streets of Morocco’s ancient city of Fez
The Medina of Fez in Morocco is famous for its maze of narrow streets, traditional workshops and centuries-old architecture