Amazing Africa

By Dr. Diana Prince

For most people, Africa remains a mystery continent. Many do not realize that there are fifty-four different countries that make up the African continent. The spectacular animals that inhabit the grasslands and African savannas are only part of Africas story.

Africa has amazing mountains, jungles, deserts and rugged coastlines. It has small tribal villages and modern cosmopolitan cities. It has one of the richest tapestries of cultures in the world today. This book explores many of these places and their unique beauty.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546239758

Dr. Diana Prince

Dr. Diana Prince has a Master’s Degree in English and a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from California State University at San Diego. She has a PhD in Psychology from United States International University.

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© 2018 Dr. Diana Prince. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/15/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-3976-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-3975-8 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-3977-2 (hc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018905775

Page 11, 21, 23, 37, 39, 45, 50, 57, 69, 71, 93, 97, 103, 107, 109 and 110 are property of the Author.

The cover photo and remaining photos are used with permission of Getty Images.

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CONTENTS

1. Algeria

2. Angola

3. Botswana

4. Cameroon

5. Cape Verde

6. Congo

7. Egypt

8. Ethiopia

9. Ghana

10. Ivory Coast

11. Kenya

12. Lesotho

13. Libya

14. Madagascar

15. Malawi

16. Mali

17. Mauritius

18. Morocco

19. Mozambique

20. Namibia

21. Nigeria

22. Rwanda

23. Senegal

24. Sierra Leone

25. South Africa

26. Sudan

27. Swaziland

28. Tanzania

29. Tunisia

30. Zambia

31. Zanzibar

32. Zimbabwe

LIST OF PHOTOS

Algeria

1. Small Boat on Beach at Barbadjani, Ghazaouet, Tiemcen, Algeria

Angola

2. Epupa Falls on the Kunene River at Angola

Botswana

3. Leopard in Tree in Botswana

4. Hippos Bathing in Botswana

Cameroon

5. Ekom Nkam Waterfall in the Littoral Region of Cameroon

Cape Verde

6. North Coast at Santo Antao, Cape Verde

Congo

7. Kayakers at Waterfall on the Congo River

Egypt

8. Great Hypostyle Hall of Ancient Thebes in Temple of Karnak at Luxor, Egypt

9. Abu Simbel Temple built by Ramses II in southern Egypt

Ethiopia

10. Simien Mountains in Ethiopia

11. Woman from the Borana Tribe in Ethiopia

Ghana

12. Village Woman at Le Fort Saint-Georges

Ivory Coast

13. Chimpanzee Eating in the Tai Forest, Ivory Coast

Kenya

14. Maasai warrior in Kenya

15. Sunset in Kenya

Lesotho

16. Mountain Range at Drakensberg in Lesotho

Libya

17. Roman Theater Site of Leptis Magna, Libya

Madagascar

18. Lemur in Madagascar Jungle

19. Boat in Antsiranana Bay in northern Madagascar

Malawi

20. Elephants in Malawi

Mali

21. Dogon Village at Tireli in Mali

Mauritius

22. The Beach on Mauritius Island

Morocco

23. Dunes in Sahara Desert at Merzouga, Morocco

24. Camel Caravan across Sahara Desert in Morocco

Mozambique

25. Dhow sailing off Ibo Island, Mozambique

26. Sailboat at Benguerra Lodge in Quirimbas Islands, Mozambique

Namibia

27. Aerial View of the Skeleton Coast in Namibia

28. Traditional Namibian Dress

29. Traditional Namibian Village

Nigeria

30. Rock Formation at Lagos, Nigeria

Rwanda

31. Mother Gorilla with Infant in Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains

Senegal

32. Morning on the Senegal Coast

Sierra Leone

33. Surfer at Bureh Beach in Western Sierra Leone

South Africa

34. Southern Tip of Africa at Cape Point in the Cape of Good Hope National Park

Sudan

35. Pyramids of Meroe in the Nubian Desert of Sudan

Swaziland

36. Male Lion in Swaziland

Tanzania

37. Bull Elephant in Tanzania near Kenya border and Mount Kilimanjaro

38. Mother and Child in Tanzania

Tunisia

39. Bedouin Riding Camel in Sahara Desert, Tunisia

Zambia

40. Lilac-Breasted Roller Bird in Zambia

Zanzibar

41. Fisherman off the Zanzibar Coast

42. Narrow Street in Stone Town, Zanzibar

43. Sailing in Indian Ocean off the Zanzibar Coas

44. Dungeons Near Slavery Museum in Stone Town

Zimbabwe

45. The Gorge at Victoria Falls, Zimbabw

46. Aerial View of Victoria Falls

47. Archaeological Ruins of Ancient City of Great Zimbabwe

INTRODUCTION

For most people, Africa remains a mystery continent. Many do not realize that there are 54 different countries which make up the African continent. The spectacular animals which inhabit the grasslands and African savannas, are only part of Africa’s story.

Africa has amazing vistas of mountains, jungle, deserts and rugged coastline. It has small tribal villages and modern cosmopolitan cities. It has one of the richest tapestries of cultures in the world today.

This book explores many of these places and their unique beauty.

CHAPTER ONE

Algeria

Algeria is a country in North Africa on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the largest country in all of Africa. Most of Algeria is part of the Sahara Desert. Over 40 million people live here today. Their main languages are Arabic and French. Many great civilizations have left their mark in Algeria. In the seventh century BC, the Phoenicians arrived here in ancient ships. The Romans came in the first century and left their indelible mark in timeless architecture.

In the early seventh century AD, the Arab Muslims conquered Algeria, which had been settled by the Berber tribes. The Ottoman invaded from Turkey in the sixteenth century, and remained in power for 300 years. In 1830, the French entered Algiers and took over Algeria as a province. It was not until the following century that the Algerians fought for independence from France. Over a million Algerians died in the attempt. In 1962, Algeria won independence. Today Algeria is a democratic Republic.

Islamic groups clashed with the military in 1990, and a civil war erupted a year later with many casualties. Peace was restored after this high cost of civilian lives.

Algeria’s greatest revenue is from its export of natural gas to European countries. Algeria also has the second greatest oil reserves in all of Africa. Despite this, there is widespread unemployment in the country.

Algiers is the capital and largest city in Algeria. There are about 4 million people in this city, known for its striking white buildings. The Botanical Gardens of Hamma in Algiers were built 200 years ago near the sea. Today, this park covers 140 acres of trees and gardens with over a thousand different plant species.

The cathedral of Notre Dame d’Afrique, dedicated to Our Lady of Africa, was built in the late 1800’s. It stands on a cliff in the northern part of the city overlooking the bay. It has survived bombing during World War II and a major earthquake in 2003. Catholics are a minority in this predominantly Muslim country. Inscribed in French in the rounded ceiling of the cathedral, is an appeal for peace. It says, Our Lady of Africa, pray for us and for the Muslims.

The Martyrs’ Monument is a tall white structure with graceful arches rising skyward. It commemorates those who died during Algeria’s War for Independence in 1962. The 300-foot monument was erected in 1982.

There are many excellent museums in Algiers. An interesting incident occurred at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Algiers, when Algeria won independence from France in 1962. Many priceless paintings were secretly removed from their frames and shipped back to the Louvre in Paris. These included works by Delacroix, Monet and other world renowned artists which had formerly come from the Louvre. By international law, they were supposed to belong to Algeria, once they had been given to that museum by the French. The French feared that extremists would destroy the paintings. Negotiations took place, and the art was finally returned to the Algerian museum eight years later. This collection of art includes some of the finest museum paintings in the world.

There are also two other interesting museums in Algiers. The Museum of Antiquities showcases objects from the ancient Roman occupation of Algiers as well as art from other historical periods of the country. Also, the Archaeology Museum called Dar Aziza, located in the Casbah, or fortress, of Algiers, has displays of ancient artifacts.

The Kelchaoua Mosque in Algiers was built during the Ottoman era in the 1600’s. During its 400-year history, it has been both a mosque and a Christian church. For over 110 years it was a Catholic Cathedral.

On a high cliff overlooking the Mediterranean is the port city of Oran. The Ottoman fortress of Santa Cruz built in the 1600’s was later restored by the Spanish. Nearby is the small white chapel of Santa Cruz. This fort was one of three ports built to defend the city against invaders approaching from the Mediterranean Sea. The fortresses were interconnected by an underground tunnel system.

In 1791, when an earthquake caused massive damage to the city, the Spanish who had been there for almost 300 years, left the destroyed city. Forty years later, the city was claimed by the French who restored and revived