Tropical Destinations in Africa

Besides the South Pacific, one of the greatest areas in the world to find untouristed, picture perfect tropical vacations is in Africa. Most of the tropical islands are undeveloped and do not have a big tourist industry, they are often very rough|mountainous|tropical|rugged, the ocean is a clear blue, the fish abundant, and their beaches are made of beautiful white sand. If there were any placeson earth that looked like post cards, the following tropical islands would be it.

The island of Zanzibar is part of Tanzania. Heavily influenced by its Arab trading partners, Zanzibar has a rich cultural history. The capital of the island is Zanzibar City. The old section of Stone Town is a World Heritage Site. The beaches here are undeveloped, and the area around the island has an abundant numbers of fish, as evident by the piles at the fish markets. The island is still sometimes referred to as the Spice Island because of the significance of its production of cloves.

Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The island is the fourth-largest island in the world and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar. The eastern side of the island is home to tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides, which lie in the rain shadow of the central highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands. For those looking for rugged jungle trekking, cool streams, and lovely waterfalls, then Madagascar is a place for you.

Mauritius is an island nation off the coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometers east of Madagascar. Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands, with the French island of Reunion to the southwest and the island of Rodrigues to the northeast. This island is home to white sand and palm fringed beaches, warm water, and friendly locals. Its out of the way location makes it a great place to go to get away from the crowds. Interestingly, the island of Mauritius is renowned for having been the only known home of the dodo.

Reunion is off the tourist trail to many of the world's travelers. This diverse location in the middle of the Indian Ocean is simply one of the most intriguing spots in the world. Like Mauritius, this island also part of France. With an active volcano, 17 miles of perfect beaches in the west, and lots of mountains and forests in between, Reunion offers a little bit of everything to every type of island traveler.

Africa may be known to most people for its safaris, jungles, and animals but it also offers great tropical destinations for travelers who like beaches. With so many beautiful tropical places, think about vacation to these islands when you are plan a jaunt to a tropical island.