The capital city of Luanda acts as the core of Angola and by looking around, you can observe the remnants of former colonisation which are to be found in places such as Benfica Market, which stocks everything from ivory to animal skins. Most visitors to Luanda enjoy the pleasant bay area and take a boat to one of Angola’s famous beaches on Mussolo Island.

Other popular places in Angola include Benguela, which is where the beautiful desert beaches of Baia Azul are situated, and the Benguela Railroad, which offers breataking views of the local scenery as it travels across the country. Those really looking to get away from it all head to Kwanza Sul and enjoy the Conde Hot Springs and Bing Waterfalls.

Angola has world class hotels in the capital city of Luanda and other places around the country. Tropico Hotel, Le President Meridien Hotel and Alvalade Hotel are some of the most famous and offer four-star rooms for the same price as a mid-range hotel in the US.

Those coming to Angola fly directly to Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport, which is conveniently located just four kilometres from the heart of the capital, Luanda. There aren’t any train or bus links between Angola and surrounding countries but you are able to get in overland by crossing the border from Namibia.

Although tourism is rare in Cameroon, it is a diverse country with a proud multiethnic tapestry. The capital city of Yaounde is a historical place but doesn’t have as many attractions as places like Kribi, which has beaches, waterfalls and botanical gardens. The King Palaces in Foumbam are worth a visit if you wish to learn more about African history while admiring fine centuries-old architecture.

Dja Faunal Reserve is one of western Africa’s most popular tourist destinations and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you are a keen outdoor enthusiast, the highest mountain on this side of the continent can be admired by organising a daytrip to Mt Cameroon. For culture and tradition, head to Ngoketunija in the northwest region of the country.

Hotel rooms in Cameroon’s largest cities range in price from mid-range to high-end. The further you get from the big cities, the cheaper the accommodation gets and budget rooms are often surprisingly pleasant. Unless you are travelling with a registered tour guide, it’s best not to camp anywhere in Cameroon due to safety concerns.

Due to its past as an old French colony, Cameroon is easy to reach by flying directly from Paris, Brussels or Zurich into Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport. If you are already in Africa, flights can be booked from Lagos, Nairobi and Casablanca as there aren’t many well-known train, bus or boat links to and from Cameroon.

The Central African Republic’s capital, Bangui, is beside the River Ubangi. Bangui features modern buildings in the shade of tropical greenery. Bangui’s tourist attractions are Bogonda Museum and St Paul Mission Cathedral. The Central Market and the Arts and Crafts School are also worth a visit.

Further afield, the Lobaye region, 100km from the capital, has several indigenous forest tribes in residence. Take a tour through the Lobaye region and see the tribes’ culture and traditions. Coffee plantations are situated on the edges of the forests.

The Central African Republic has two waterfalls of note: Boali Waterfalls and Kembe Waterfalls. The magnificent Kembe Waterfalls are near the village of Kembe on the Democratic Republic of Congo’s border. About 400km from Bangui are the 5,000-year-old Bouar Megaliths. The Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park is one of several wildlife parks in the Central African Republic.

There is not a great choice of hotels in Bangui. Hotels that are available tend to be over-priced. Boali and Bangassou and other small towns offer guesthouses for tourists. The guest houses are usually cheaper than the capital’s hotels. Western food, including pizza, is available, but be prepared to pay for it.

The principal gateway to the Central African Republic is Bangui M’Poko International Airport. This airport is four miles northwest of Bangui. Domestic flights at the airport use an unpaved runway. Overland entry to the Central African Republic is not really an option because of the country’s security situation. Most roads in the Central African Republic are unpaved.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, is on the Congo River opposite the other Congo’s capital, Brazzaville. The city’s affluent part contrasts sharply with its poorer areas. Attractions in Kinshasa are Kinshasa Fine Arts Academy, Kinshasa Museum and the Hotel Memling’s skyscrapers. The central market offers myriad products while Commune de Matonge is the city’s chief nightlife area.

Three of the African Great Lakes: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Albert and Lake Edward are on Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern border. The country also has great tracts of rainforest. National parks in the country are Garumba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga and Virunga. These parks and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve are World Heritage sites and contain many rare animals, including okapi and white rhino.

Cruises on the Congo River offer spectacular scenery. The DR Congo contains two notable waterfalls: Boyoma Falls and Livingstone Falls. Other destinations in the country include Lubumbashi, the country’s second largest city. Lubumbashi features the National Museum of Lubumbashi, a brewery and a zoo. Kisanto Botanical Gardens, in Matadi, contains trees imported from all over the world.

The best hotel options are available in the big cities. Kinshasa features a five- star hotel where room rates are reasonable. Accommodation is more basic outside the big cities, but travel can be dangerous.

The main entry point for international visitors is N’Djili International Airport. DR Congo has a rail network reaching major destinations in the country but it can be unreliable. The country has a vast network of waterways and traditionally this was the main means of transport.

Bioko, containing the country’s capital Malabo, is nearer to Cameroon than to the country’s mainland area. Bioko has a rugged coastline with several beaches and a mountainous interior that features dormant volcanoes. One of Bioko’s more popular beaches is Arena Blanca near the town of Luba. Malabo still has many Spanish colonial buildings standing, which add to the city’s charm. Buildings of note in Malabo are Malabo Cathedral and Malabo Government Building.

Equatorial Guinea’s other main attraction is Monte Alen National Park, which is located on the mainland and contains myriad animal species. Bata, on mainland Equatorial Guinea, is the country’s second city. Ferries to Malabo sail from its port. Bata is renowned for its beaches, markets and nightlife.

Malabo features several luxury hotels which range in price from expensive to out of most visitors’ range. Accommodation in the rest of Equatorial Guinea is less luxurious. Bata features several mid-range hotels. Equatorial Guinea is one of the safer African countries to visit but visitors should exercise a certain amount of caution.

International travellers to the country arrive at Malabo International Airport. There are domestic services to Bata Airport. Equatorial Guinea has no railway services and most of its roads are unpaved. In the rainy season a lot of the roads are impassable. Ferry is the best option for travelling from the mainland to the islands, or between the islands. There are regular ferry services between Bata and Malabo.

Gabon’s capital, Libreville, is a port on the Komo River with a population of 500,000. Libreville’s focal point is the seafront (Bord de Mer) where people congregate and relax. The seafront is guarded by imposing Gabonese sculptures, some of which are 20 feet high. Libreville has several beaches nearby, including Pointe Denis. Good nightlife abounds in the Loius area.

Other attractions in Gabon are Mont Iboundji and Monts de Cristal, which are both good locations for hiking and spectacular scenery. La Lopez National Park has a diverse variety of animal species in it. Nyonié Reserve is the place closest to Libreville to go on a safari. Makokou, on the Ivindo River, near Ivindo National Park, offers fishing and stunning sunsets.

Port Gentil, Gabon’s second city, is near Cape Lopez, Gabon’s westernmost point. Port Gentil is a port surrounded by rainforest isolated from the rest of Gabon as it has no major roads accessing it. Port Gentil is renowned for its nightlife and hotels. It also features St Louis Church, a zoo, a casino, beaches and swamps with ample wildlife.

By African standards Gabon is quite an affluent country and so has fewer dangers for the independent traveller. A good selection of hotels is available in the country. A four-star hotel in Libreville is on hand for those with large budgets. Buy Gabonese souvenirs and handicrafts at Marche Artisanal in Libreville.

Gabon’s main entry point for international arrivals is Libreville Leon M’ba International Airport. The airport has flight services originating in France, Germany and other African nations. Gabon also has a small railway network. Roads of a reasonable standard link most major towns in the country.

The Equator is just below the southern tip of Sao Tome, passing through an islet called Ilheu das Rolas. A monument on the islet marks the equator. The islet has beautiful secluded beaches and friendly people. Accommodation is available on the islet, including the Pestana Equador Island Resort.

Sao Tome City, the capital of Sao Tome and Principe, is on Ana Chaves Bay in the northeast part of Sao Tome Island. Sao Tome City is home to most of the tiny democratic nation’s population. Attractions in the city are the 16th century Santa Se Cathedral, Fort Sao Sebastiao now Sao Tome National Museum and Sao Tome Palace. Close to the city is Boca de Inferno, Hell’s Mouth, a natural blowhole.

Principe, the smaller island, only has 5,000 people living on it. The island’s capital is Santo Antonio, which features churches and colonial architecture. The 1,000m tall Pico de Príncipe is the highest mountain on Principe. It is heavily forested and forms part of the Obo National Park.

Both islands have spectacular coastlines with palm-fringed beaches and islets. An ideal way of seeing the coastline, and possibly the dolphins and whales that frequent the area, is to take a cruise on a sailing boat. Sao Tome City has souvenir shops, myriad beer bars and cafés.

The main entry point for Sao Tome and Principe is Sao Tome International Airport, which has services from Libreville and Lisbon. Principe has a small airport. The nation has a good range of accommodation ranging from bed and breakfasts to luxury resorts.