Africa is home to some of the most stunning paradise islands in the world. While popular destinations like Mauritius, the Seychelles, the Canary Islands, and Tunisia’s Djerba island attract many tourists, there are also several lesser-known gems waiting to be explored. If you’re looking for a unique and crowd-free island experience, consider these eight amazing African islands.
Nosy Be (Madagascar)
Despite its name meaning “Big Island” in Malagasy, Nosy Be is actually quite small compared to neighboring Madagascar. However, it makes up for its size with its incredible natural beauty. The Lokobe Natural Reserve on the island’s south side is home to an ancient rainforest and various unique creatures, including the turquoise-colored panther chameleon, the Madagascar owl, and several lemur species. Visitors can explore the park via pirogue canoe with a local guide. The island’s warm tropical waters offer excellent diving opportunities at Nosy Tanikely Marine Park and 20 other dive sites, as well as the chance to swim with migrating whale sharks in October and November. Most of Nosy Be’s hotels are located along the white-sand beaches on the west coast.
Bazaruto (Mozambique)
Bazaruto is the largest island in the five-island Bazaruto Archipelago along Mozambique’s Indian Ocean coast. It is renowned for its towering sand dunes, wild beaches, and luxurious resorts. Shellfish Bay on the island’s windward side is home to one of East Africa’s most spectacular beaches, with a crescent of white sand framed by 100-meter dunes. As part of the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, the island is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, including crocodiles, wading birds, five types of sea turtles, East Africa’s largest dugong population, and rare marine species like the guitarfish and rhino ray. Visitors can enjoy various outdoor activities arranged by the island’s top resort, Bazaruto Island Resort.
Lamu (Kenya)
Lamu, an island off Kenya’s northeast coast, is a haven for Swahili culture. The waterfront is crowded with triangular-sailed dhows, and the island resonates with the sounds of craftsmen building new wooden boats and the call to prayer from ancient mosques. Visitors can explore the small but interesting museum and ancient fort in Lamu Town, as well as take a short boat ride to the ruins of 15th-century Takwa on nearby Manda Island. The island’s best beaches are on its windward side, about a 30- to 40-mminute walk from Shela village. Accommodation options include the chic Lamu House boutique hotel in town and the remote Kizingo Eco Lodge on the beach.
Fogo (Cape Verde)
Fogo, one of the Cape Verde islands off the coast of West Africa, is known for its black sand beaches, twisted lava landscapes, and active volcano, Pico do Fogo. The volcano has erupted 30 times since the 15th century and offers a challenging 4.5-mile trek to its summit. The island’s main town, São Filipe, is one of Cape Verde’s oldest and best-preserved Portuguese colonial towns, with cobblestone streets and colorful sobrado homes. Visitors can stay at the nostalgic Hotel Savana in one of the town’s mansions or at Casa Marisa in the volcanic caldera.
Réunion (French Overseas Territory)
Réunion, a French possession since 1638, lies in the southern Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. With its coconut palms, sugarcane fields, and Creole dialect, the island has a French Caribbean feel. Réunion offers more than 20 miles of beaches, ranging from popular urban strands to secluded black-sand shores. The rugged volcanic highlands can be explored on numerous hiking trails, while the island’s towns offer excellent French cuisine, live Creole music, and stylish oceanfront hotels.
Elephantine (Egypt)
Elephantine is an elongated island rising in the middle of the Nile at Aswan, named for its shape resembling an elephant’s tusk. Despite recent development, much of the island still maintains a rural Egyptian atmosphere. The island is home to ancient temples dating back to around 3,200 B.C.E. and a stone nilometer used for measuring the river’s water level. The Animalia Museum, located inside a traditional Nubian-style home, offers insights into Elephantine’s human and natural history. Visitors can relax in waterfront cafes, guest houses, or the island’s Mövenpick Aswan Resort while watching feluccas sail along the Nile and admiring Aswan’s exotic skyline.
Bissagos Islands (Guinea-Bissau)
The Bissagos (Bijagós) Archipelago, a group of 88 islands off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, remains largely undiscovered despite being featured in Vogue and on the itineraries of a few small cruise companies. The archipelago was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1995 due to its pristine mangroves, mudflats, savannah grasslands, tropical forests, and diverse wildlife, including rare ocean-going hippos. Accommodation is limited, with modest options like Cajou Lodge and EcoLodge Ponta Anchaca on the Ilha de Bubaque catering to adventurous travelers.
Pemba (Tanzania)
While not as well-known as nearby Zanzibar, the large Tanzanian island of Pemba boasts pristine, palm-shaded beaches and incredible diving opportunities. Pemba’s 30+ dive sites are celebrated for their healthy coral gardens, sheer underwater walls, and offshore waters with large pelagic fish and migrating humpback whales in July and August. PADI-certified dive centers like Afro Divers and Dive 360 Pemba at Manta Resort cater to diving enthusiasts.
