Africa continues to thrive as a top travel destination. South Africa, Mauritius, and Egypt are among the destinations that have emerged as premier travel destinations. Here is a look at Africa’s top 10 travel destinations for 2025 based on an evaluation by Travel and Tour World.
Significant surge in tourism
Since the post-pandemic era, the African tourism market has seen a surge in tourist arrivals.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization reported that Africa experienced a remarkable recovery in 2023, with international arrivals reaching 96% of pre-pandemic levels.
Markedly, Africa stands out as the continent with the fastest tourism growth in 2023. It experienced the highest post-pandemic recovery rate in the world.
According to Statista, the travel and tourism market in Africa is projected to grow annually by 7.45%. Should this be the case, it will bring the market volume to US$33.54 billion by 2029.
Among the factors that contribute to attracting visitors are improvements in infrastructure. This includes better transportation systems and more accommodation choices.
Top 10 African countries to visit in 2025
Travel and Tour World has evaluated African countries using various criteria in the assessment and revealed the following as the top 10 African destinations for holidaymakers in 2025:
| Country | Top attractions |
| South Africa | Table Mountain; Kruger National Park; Robben Island |
| Mauritius | Le Morne Brabant; Chamarel Seven Colored Earths; Black River Gorges National Park |
| Egypt | Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx; Valley of the Kings, Luxor; Abu Simbel Temples |
| Botswana | Okavango Delta; Chobe National Park; Makgadikgadi Pans |
| Kenya | Maasai Mara National Reserve; Amboseli National Park; Diani Beach |
| Tanzania | Serengeti National Park; Ngorongoro Crater; Zanzibar’s Stone Town |
| Morocco | Marrakech Medina; Atlas Mountains; Sahara Desert |
| Tunisia | Carthage Ruins; El Jem Amphitheater; Hammamet Beaches |
| Namibia | Sossusvlei; Etosha National Park; Skeleton Coast |
| Rwanda | Volcanoes National Park; Kigali Genocide Memorial; Lake Kivu |
In 2023, South Africa welcomed 8.48 million international visitors, marking a significant recovery from 5.70 million in 2022.
Importance of tourism
In a speech by Minister of Tourism, Patricia De Lille, she emphasised the importance of tourism stating that tourism is an engine for economic growth and is vital for several reasons, such as:
- Economic growth: Tourism is a major source of revenue, significantly contributing to the national GDP.
- Employment: The sector supports thousands of jobs directly and indirectly, providing livelihoods for many people.
- Infrastructure development: The demand from tourism drives infrastructure development, benefiting other sectors.
Have you travelled to African countries outside of South Africa?
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