Did you know these 10 facts about Africa?

According to scientists, Africa is considered to be the place of origin for mankind as a whole. It is a vast continent that is home to a variety of customs, cultures, traditions, histories, climates, and topographies.

The following are ten interesting facts about the continent of Africa.

1. Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world. It has the largest water curtain although it is not the highest nor the widest.

2. The largest hot desert in the world is located in Africa. From Egypt and Sudan in the east to Mauritania and the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Sahara desert covers most of northern Africa. The area covers 9.4 million square kilometers (3.6 million square miles).

3. About 2000 languages are spoken in Africa, including some that originated in Europe and Asia.

4. The continent of Africa is the second largest in the world. The continent covers a total area of 30.22 million square kilometers.

5. The continent of Africa covers five time zones.

• UTC-01 - Cape Verde
• UTC+00 - Western European Time | Greenwich Mean Time
• UTC+01 - Western Sahara Time | Central European Time | West Africa Time
• UTC+02 - South Africa Time | Central Africa Time | Eastern European Time
• UTC+03 - East Africa Time
• UTC+04 - Mauritius Time | Reunion Time | Seychelles Time

6. Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean, is the largest island in Africa and the fourth largest island in the world. Africa has islands in the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

7. Africa is the most multilingual continent in the world. Many people in Africa speak different African languages, including European and Asian languages.

8. Ice hockey is played in South Africa, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya. The first African Nations Cup was held in 2009 in South Africa with three participating countries - South Africa, Morocco and Algeria.

9. The longest river in the world is the Nile. It is 6853 kilometers (4258 miles) long. Due to blocking of the river by a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, the Nile lost some headwaters and otherwise would be 1400 kilometers (800 miles) larger than it is today.

10. Africa has 54 sovereign recognised states. The newest independent country is South Sudan.

There is so much more to learn about Africa, which is home to deserts, grasslands, thick tropical forests, steppe climates, humid subtropical and Mediterranean climates. The continent is surrounded by the Indian and Atlantic Oceans in the east and west, and the Mediterranean Sea in the north. Africa’s precious minerals and metals include gold, copper, iron and steel, platinum, uranium, diamonds and other precious stones.

You will find this website a valuable resource for current information. From the history and culture of Africa to accommodation and activities in Victoria Falls, and everything in between.