When Louis Armstrong sang ‘What a Wonderful World’, he was definitely talking about Africa. Because when you think about it, from flowers of green and red roses too, the description just fits.
What makes Africa more beautiful is that it is not just green flowers and red roses. We have some unimaginable awe-inspiring, crazy places in Africa, with even crazier stories attached to them within this continent.
So if you have it on your bucket list to see or visit some crazy places in Africa, then let me show you some.
12 of the Craziest Places in Africa
The Giant Blue Eye of Africa – Mauritania
Feast your eyes on one of the craziest places in Africa: the Giant Blue Eye of Africa, found in the Western Sahara Desert in Mauritania.
Structured like an eye in the sands of Mauritania, people believe this location is a hole that formed when God flooded the earth in the days of Noah. Therefore, it is estimated to be around 100 million years old.
Scientists, however, are confused about this structure, as the origin remains unknown and they are unable to unravel the mystery surrounding it.
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Snake Island – Nigeria
I know what you are thinking.
Contrary to the name, snake island is not actually an island of snakes. The name comes from the snakelike structure of the communities that make up the island.
The ancient island has maintained its structure throughout history and the civilization that has come to Lagos.
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The Seven-Colored Earth of Chamarel – Mauritius
An unusual site in Africa is the seven colors of earth of Chamarel.
The “7 Coloured Earth” sands, which can go as deep as 15 meters, are remnants of past geo-climatic activity. The hot and humid weather has leached the basalt from the lava flow from the intermediate era (3-1.7 million years ago), resulting in gullied clay.
Iron and aluminum oxides are still present due to this extensive and final breakdown. Aluminum and iron naturally form stripes out of their mutual repulsion.
The area has reddish to brown hues thanks to the ferric oxide, and blue to violet-blue hues thanks to the aluminum. Also, the basalt’s leaching has depleted the nutrients in the soil that plants require to thrive.
The dunes will never support plant life because of this. It is not one of the craziest places in Africa for nothing.
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Tsingy de Bemaraha, a Forest of Limestone Needles – Madagascar
I dare you to say that fast five times.
You may know Madagascar for its lush feel and the penguins. You cannot deny the penguins.
However, what you may not know about is the deadly forest of limestone needles, aka the rock forest. Sculpted by water over several millennia, it is around 85,000 hectares in size and remains a mystery and has been so for as long as man has inhabited it.
In the African language of Malagasy, “tsingy” means “where one cannot walk barefoot.” And truly so, because it is impossible to traverse the Tsingy without substantial assistance.
The rocks can be very sharp and the pinnacles make it very difficult to find footholds.
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Kilimanjaro – Tanzania
A popular location as one of the highest mountains in the world, what many people do not know about this mountain is that it is actually a dormant volcano.
Mount Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano – a term for a very large volcano made of ash, lava, and rock.
It’s crazy that explorers keep climbing this mountain even after scientists have confirmed the mountain is dormant, not dead. Which means it can erupt at any time.
Another interesting thing about this mountain is that the meaning of the name Kilimanjaro does not have a certain origin.
While some say the mountain got its name from the Swahili words “Kilima” meaning “mountain” and the Chagga word “Njaro” meaning “whiteness”, some also call it the “mountain of greatness”. Others say it’s from the KiChagga phrase meaning “we failed to climb it”.
The Sahara desert
The Sahara desert is unarguably the hottest desert in the world.
It covers about 10 different countries — they are Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, and Tunisia. At 3.6 million square miles, the Sahara Desert is as big as China and bigger than the U.S.A.
According to reports, the desert comprises majorly rocks 70% rock and 30% sand.
The crazy thing is that every 41,000 years, the Sahara alternates between desert and savanna grassland.
I don’t know who lived through all 41,000 years and saw it sha.
READ: Nigeria: All You Need to Know About The Giant of Africa
The mummifying Lake Natron, Tanzania
Ever seen a lake that turns animals into stone?
The scarlet waters do not look inviting for a swim but that’s a good thing because Lake Natron has a high PH. This unusual chemistry is due to the surrounding volcanic geology: the minerals, particularly sodium carbonate, and salts created by volcanic processes flow into the lake from the surrounding hills.
The properties in this water are acidic enough to mummify dead animals. So if you ever want to join Imhotep‘s club, feel free to take a dive.
Even though the water itself doesn’t kill animals, as it is home to some species of fish and some birds, it has the ability to preserve the body of dead animals and leave them looking mummified.
The marshes of Deadvlei, Namibia
Characterized by very dead black trees, the marshes of Deadvlei, Africa, are one of the strangest and craziest places in Africa.
The trees in Deadvlei are said to be around 900 years old, and died due to lack of water some 700 years ago. They are now black because of the scorching sun.
What makes it strange is the contrast between the white sand and the very black trees. Also, the fact that the trees are standing.
Imagine getting lost in a place like that, at night.
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The Pink Lake Retba, Senegal
Also known as Lac Rose, or Lake Retba, the lake lies north of the Cape-Verde peninsula of Senegal, Africa.
It got its name for its pink waters caused by Dunaliella salina algae. It is also known for its high salt content, up to 40% in some areas.
Just like the dead sea, you can swim easily in it without drowning. At least that’s the idea. Your village people might have other ideas, and the day you decide to swim in it is the day all the salt will disappear.
The acidic pools of the Danakil Depression, Ethiopia
Known as the hottest, lowest and driest place on the planet, these are essentially acid pools. They are not your usual swimming pools. I repeat, they are not your usual swimming pools. You sha saw the description “acid” there.
Even the surface of what seems to be land is covered in crumbling salt and sulfur crusts.
The tectonic plates under the Danakil Depression in Africa are still shifting after millions of years.
The best way to travel to this site is from the town of Berahile.
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The Magical White Desert of Western Egypt
One of the craziest places in Africa, the white desert of Egypt, is unlike any other.
With its blindingly white sand and unique rock formations, this location is one of Africa’s beauty and awe.
The White Desert is white because the rocks there are made of chalk. Due to what geologists call “differential weathering,” all of the wind and sand that has buffeted these rocks for millennia give them their odd shapes.
Most are around ten to fifteen feet tall, and some have developed nicknames over the years. One of the most famous dual formations is called “chicken and mushroom”.
The gorgeous underwater waterfalls of Mauritius
Ever heard of an underwater waterfall? Sounds like something straight out of Atlantis, innit? I mean, how can water fall under water, right?
Well, it isn’t really a waterfall. It is a mass of sand and silt deposits that slide down the slope. Because of this, it literally looks like there’s a waterfall underneath the water.
You cannot see the waterfall from the shore, but you can see it flying over the sea.
The view is breathtaking! Have I been there before? Let’s make that another mystery.
SEE: Nigeria: All You Need to Know About The Giant of Africa
Conclusion on Craziest Places in Africa
These are the awe-inspiring and equally craziest places in Africa. If you are the adventurous type, then you should check out these locations.
