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
Africa’s baobab trees can store water in their huge trunks
The African baobab tree has a huge, water-rich trunk that helps it survive long dry seasons. Discover how one of Africa’s most famous trees survives
Uganda has a lake dotted with 29 islands
Lake Bunyonyi in southwestern Uganda is dotted with 29 islands surrounded by steep green hills, creating one of the country’s most distinctive landscapes
Kenya once used camels to deliver library books
Kenya’s camel library once carried hundreds of books across remote areas, bringing reading services to communities in Garissa and Wajir
One of the world’s most extraordinary trains crosses Mauritania
Mauritania iron ore train services cross more than 700 km of desert, carrying millions of tonnes of iron ore from mines to the Atlantic coast
The world’s oldest continuously operating university is in Africa
The oldest university in Africa is in Fez, Morocco. Al-Qarawiyyin was founded in 859 and remains an important centre of learning
Why are Senegal’s fishing boats so colourful?
Senegal’s colourful fishing boats, known as pirogues, are decorated with bright patterns, names and symbols that can reflect identity and community
There’s a place in Africa where millions of bats fill the sky
The Kasanka bat migration brings millions of fruit bats to Zambia each year, creating one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles
Yes, elephants really walk on beaches in Africa
Elephants on beaches in Gabon are a real sight at Loango National Park, where forest elephants can emerge from the rainforest onto the Atlantic coast
Africa has a giant ‘eye’ visible from space
The Eye of the Sahara is a giant 40-kilometre geological formation in Mauritania whose remarkable circular rings can be seen from space
The African river that never reaches the sea
The Okavango River travels across southern Africa but never reaches the sea. Instead, its waters create Botswana’s spectacular inland delta
Why does Ethiopia have 13 months?
Why does Ethiopia have 13 months? The Ethiopian calendar has 12 months of 30 days plus a short 13th month called Pagumen
Yes, you can go skiing in Africa
Skiing in Morocco is possible high in the Atlas Mountains, where snow-covered slopes offer one of Africa’s most surprising winter experiences
The African town painted almost entirely blue
Chefchaouen’s blue city streets make this Moroccan town instantly recognisable. But why are so many of its buildings and alleyways painted blue?
Why do goats climb trees in Morocco?
Morocco’s tree-climbing goats really do climb argan trees. Discover why they head into the branches and the truth behind the famous images
The African river that crosses the Equator twice
The Congo River crosses the Equator not once but twice. Discover why the African river follows such an unusual route through Central Africa
The African islands where 150,000 giant tortoises roam freely
Around 152,000 Aldabra giant tortoises roam freely across a remote Seychelles atoll, forming the world’s largest population of giant tortoises
Senegal has a lake that naturally turns pink
Senegal Pink Lake, known as Lake Retba, naturally turns pink because of microorganisms living in its extremely salty water
This tiny African country has no traffic lights
São Tomé and Príncipe has an unusual claim to fame: the tiny African island country has no traffic lights. Here’s what makes it unique
Most of this African country lives around one city
Djibouti City population figures reveal an unusual fact: a huge share of this African country’s people live in and around its capital
Why Lesotho is known as Africa’s ‘Kingdom in the Sky’
Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa and its entire territory sits more than 1,000 metres above sea level. Discover Africa’s Kingdom in the Sky
There’s a place in Africa where the ocean seems to disappear
Madagascar tides can make the ocean appear to disappear at low tide, exposing vast stretches of seabed along the island’s western coast
Why does this Nigerian town have so many twins?
Igbo-Ora in Nigeria is famous for its unusually high rate of twin births. From genetics to local foods, scientists are still investigating why
UN votes to change world map to show Africa’s true size
The UN has voted to adopt a world map that better reflects Africa’s true size, challenging the centuries-old Mercator projection
Africa in 4 hemispheres
Africa spans all four hemispheres of the Earth. Discover how the Equator and Prime Meridian give the continent this unique distinction