I've been to Africa a lot and even lived there. Kenya is a great tourist destination, and the game parks there attract (you should pardon the phrase) the lion's share of tourism in Africa. And Kenya is a lovely country, with beautiful beaches, snow capped mountains, modern (and old, traditional) cities, and beautiful scenic countryside. You couldn't go wrong with a
Kenyan vacation. Here's the University of Nairobi:
Here's downtown Nairobi:
Here's inside the University campus:
But I have to admit that my usual suggestion for first time visitors to Africa is
Ghana. It's not as overrun with tourists as Kenya, but it still has most of the things that people go to Africa for, including some of the friendliest people in the friendliest country. Here's the library clock tower at the University of Ghana, Legon:
Here's the library itself, with an obvious Asian influence:
Here's the signboard for the Noguchi Centre. I think you know about the man on the ¥1000 note, and his connection to medical research in Ghana.
This is my M.A. advisor, Merrick Posnansky, who lived in Ghana for many years and who took us to Africa for research:
This is Elmina, famous as the site of the first European castle on what was later called the Gold Coast, now Ghana. The name means "the mine" in Portuguese, and it's where the Portuguese bought their gold.
Here are some pictures of Ghanaian friends.
And I don't even have time to mention the country I know best, Nigeria. Maybe later.