Monthly Archives: November 2023

The West African nation of Burkina Faso – “the land of upright people” – is hardly a mainstream travel destination for people living in the Atlanta area, with its harsh desert climate, lack of infrastructure, and continuing travel advisories (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/burkina-faso-travel-advisory.html).

“Yet Burkina Faso remains an enthralling destination for intrepid travelers, thanks to its wonderful inhabitants and dramatic landscapes,” according to World Travel Guide (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/burkina-faso/). “As such, the country, though not frequently visited, is a fine place in which to immerse yourself in African culture.” Burkina Faso claims to be one of the friendliest countries on the continent, the report continued. “Burkinabe, as the people of Burkina Faso are known, are the exact opposite of the harsh land that they inhabit – and it is these cordial and courteous people who make it such a joy to come here.”

Landlocked Burkina Faso, located south of the Sahara Desert, is bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast.  Formerly known as Upper Volta, Burkina Faso’s official language is French, reflecting its history as a self-governing section of French West Africa before gaining independence in 1960.  However, the country has suffered political instability, coups, droughts, famines, and terrorist violence in the decades since then.

The Central African nation of Cameroon is gradually drawing more visitors from Las Vegas with its vast geological, climate, and cultural diversity.  Often referred to as “Africa in miniature”, the Republic of Cameroon boasts 27 million citizens, 240 tribes, and three main ethnic groups (Bantus, Semi-Bantus and Sudanese).  Hundreds of African dialects are also present, although French and English are spoken by the vast majority of Cameroonians (70% and 30%, respectively).

Bordered by Chad, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon provides everything you expect to find on the African continent. “Natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannahs,” the presidential website (https://www.prc.cm/en/cameroon/50-country-information) states. “The country is well known for its native styles of music, particularly makossa and bikutsi, and for its successful national football team.”

In the 15^th Century, Portuguese sailors named the area Rio dos Camaroes (Shrimp River), which later became Cameroon in English.  The area became a German colony in 1884, but France and England divided the territory following World War I.  During the era of African independence, the French and British portions became independent countries in the early 1960s and merged in 1961, eventually becoming the Republic of Cameroon in 1984.

Tourists from Miami seeking historic ruins, stunning dive sites, mountain hiking, and upscale beach resorts are discovering the Middle Eastern national of Oman.  Located on the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, Oman shares land and maritime borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Pakistan.

The oldest independent state in the Arab world, the Sultanate of Oman is an absolute monarchy that has been ruled by hereditary sultans for centuries.  From the 17^th Century through the early 20th Century, the Omani Sultanate was an empire that competed with the British and Portuguese empires for influence across the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.  Over time, a series of treaties between the sultans and Great Britain provided the British a greater role in Oman as the Omani Empire declined.  The discovery of petroleum in 1964 transformed the area’s economy into the richest in the world and created a modern petrostate.

The biodiverse mountains and modern infrastructure of Rwanda have made the country one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in Africa.  From gorillas of the volcanic Virunga Mountains and the Great Rift Valley to the savannahs of Akagera and the African Great Lakes, “the land of a thousand hills” provides a variety of man-made and natural experiences for visitors from Denver.

The landlocked Republic of Rwanda in Eastern Africa was formed in 1962 after decades of German and Belgian rule.  Following civil unrest and war with neighboring Congo during the l990s, Rwanda evolved into one of the safest and most progressive nations in Africa.  The country of almost 13 million is composed of one cultural and linguistic group, the Banyarwanda, and the largest religion is Catholicism.  While the principal language is Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili are also official languages.  However, Western languages are more commonly spoken in cities rather than rural villages.

Indonesia, the largest archipelago in the world, has long been a favored destination for New Orleans area tourists seeking tropical natural beauty and cultural diversity.  The Southeast Asian nation is known for its sparkling beaches, active volcanoes, rugged mountains, extensive coral reefs, and unique wildlife (such as the Komodo dragon).  More than half of Indonesia is still covered by rainforests, enabling one of the world’s most biodiverse environments.

More than 18 million tourists came to Indonesia each year before the COVID-19 pandemic slowed traffic, but travelers are again returning to the islands in large numbers. “The tropical rainforests of Indonesia comprise some of the world’s oldest and richest natural habitats, which support a fabulous variety of fauna and flora, including many species found nowhere else on earth,” according to Insight Guides (https://www.insightguides.com/inspire-me/blog/best-national-parks-indonesia). “The country's multiplicity of islands also encompasses large areas of pristine mangrove forest and swamp, montane forests and savannahs, and thousands of miles of coastline harboring coral reefs.”

Russia – which has drawn tourists from the Charlotte area for decades with its rich history and culture – is the largest country in the world, spanning 11 time zones from Eastern Europe to within 50 miles of Alaska.  The country’s recorded history dates back more than 1,100 years, from the emergence of the Russian Empire, through the rise and fall of Soviet Union, and its recent transformation into the Russian Federation.  The country is home to 30 UNESCO World Heritage sites, plus countless museums, theaters, art galleries, cathedrals, palaces, and other historic landmarks.  It also contains areas of stunning natural beauty, ranging from towering ski mountains to sunny Black Sea beaches to thriving nature preserves.

More than 32 million foreign travelers visited Russia during the late 2010s before the COVID-19 pandemic decimated global travel in 2020.  However, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, only 200,000 foreigners visited that year -- a decline of more than 96%.  While sanctions by the United States, the European Union, and other nations against Russia do not prohibit travel, they have made tourism more difficult by closing foreign airspace to Russian airlines and cutting off access to financial resources such as debit and credit cards.

Tanzania remains a popular destination for Phoenix area tourists seeking a variety of unique adventures.  From the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro to African bush safaris and the tropical islands of the Zanzibar archipelago, “the green land” promises numerous one-of-a-kind natural experiences.

The United Republic of Tanzania, located in eastern Africa on the Indian Ocean, was formed in 1964 by the union of two former British colonies: Tanganyika and Zanzibar.  The country’s population of more than 65 million people blends more than 120 ethnic groups, creating a unique Swahili culture composed of African, Arab, European, and Asian influences.  More than 100 languages are spoken in Tanzania.  Most locals speak Swahili, but English is still used in secondary and higher education, foreign trade, and high court proceedings.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – the second largest country in Africa and fourth most populous – offers Minneapolis tourists and business travelers a range of natural tropical settings, unique wildlife, and cultural diversions not found in other parts of the continent.  From the mountain gorillas in the rainforest along the Congo River to its active mountain volcanoes, the DRC is one of a kind.

Formerly known as Zaire, the DRC (also referred to as Congo-Kinshasa) covers more than 2.3 million square miles—roughly the size of Western Europe.  It borders Angola, Burundi, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, as well as the South Atlantic Ocean.  With more than 96 million residents, the Central African nation is also the largest French-speaking country in the world.

Tourists from the Atlanta area continue to discover the picturesque natural landscapes, cultural diversity, sparkling beaches, and sprawling game preserves of South Africa.  Located at the intersection of the Atlantic and Indian oceans, the country occupies the southernmost tip of Africa.  South Africa draws most of its overseas visitors from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and France.

The Republic of South Africa was previously a Dutch and British colony before gaining independence from the United Kingdom in the early 20^th Century.  Almost 80 percent of its 60 million inhabitants identify as Black Africans, while nearly 10 percent are white.  The nation has 12 official languages, reflecting a multi-ethnic society with numerous cultures and religions.  The most popular sports are association football (soccer), rugby, and cricket.   

The African nation of Sudan is a hidden gem, with huge deserts, hospitable people, and twice as many pyramids than Egypt.  However, few tourists from the Dallas area visit the country: continuing armed conflict with neighboring countries, domestic unrest, and terrorism have kept Sudan off most travelers’ itineraries in recent years.

Located in Northeast Africa, Sudan borders the Red Sea, the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, and South Sudan.  The White Nile and the Blue Nile merge at the capital city of Khartoum to create the River Nile, the world’s longest river.

The area known as Sudan has been inhabited for several millennia.  From 780 B.C. through 350 A.D., it made up part of the Kingdom of Kush (which also included part of Egypt).  Over time, Egypt took political control of Sudan and introduced cultural influences that remain today.  By 1896, the United Kingdom and Egypt were exercising joint control of Sudan until the new Republic of the Sudan achieved independence in 1956.  Arab Muslims dominated the northern part of Sudan, while African Christians and other groups dominated the south.  Sudan was the largest country in Africa until South Sudan seceded in 2011.  Today Sudan covers more than 720,000 square miles, making it the third largest African nation.  Official languages are Arabic and English.