Is an excellent and very unusual travel experience in Africa worth taking your life? Or you have never asked this question: Where are the most dangerous tourist destinations in Africa?
Africa is home to some of the most dangerous tourist destinations in the world. You won’t believe it! It is advisable to be cautious when exploring these sites.
Some risky travel attractions in Africa are guilty pleasures, especially for a person with a compulsive desire for excitement and adventure. It’s all friendly and entertaining until someone gets injured. These destinations will excite and frighten you!
1. The Danakil Desert (northeast Ethiopia)
The Danakil Desert stretches from north-east Ethiopia to the southern parts of Eritrea, and is one of the most dangerous places you can ever visit. So hazardous that it is known as ‘hell on earth’. This salt wasteland is precisely the kind of place we should avoid, but, of course, nothing of the sort happens.
Tourists still come to experience hot temperatures and risk their lives in the process. Active volcanoes, windy geysers, a lack of oxygen, and temperatures of around 120 degrees Fahrenheit are all things you can look forward to if you decide to visit the desert. If you survive all this, there are also hostile rebels to look after. Actually, don’t go here if you value your life.
2. Devils Pool Victoria Falls (Zambia)
They don’t call it Devil’s Pool for anything! Or dangerous tourist destinations in Africa? This natural rock pool is situated on the very edge of the majestic Victoria Falls on the Zambian side (the other side is in Zimbabwe). Some tourists dare to swim in it. Some go even further in and dangle their feet to the side.
You can only swim from September to December, when a natural rock barrier forms, but it is still hazardous.
Several people have rushed to their deaths from Devil’s Pool, including one famous tour guide who managed to save one of his charges who had started to fall. Unfortunately, he slipped during the rescue and lost his own life instead. You can admire the beauty of Victoria Falls without risking your life, so why not do it?
3. Famous Zambezi River (Zambia)
Often considered one of the best whitewater rafting locations globally, the Zambezi River is not something to take lightly. The rocks and trenches that often leave boats un-turned are just the tips of the iceberg when it comes to the dangers you’ll encounter.
Each section of rapids has its name, which you might think is cute until you hear what they are called. Would you raft somewhere called the Devil’s Toilet, the Boiling Cauldron, the Grinding Jaws of Death, or the Land Devourer of Trucks? If not, you might give the Zambezi a miss.
In addition to all this, you’ll also have to worry about the river natives – crocodiles and hippos are common in the Zambezi, and they’re not exactly considered friendly. It is advisable to consider the facts before making decision to travel to the destination.
4. Tataouine (southern Tunisia)
The city of Tataouine is for any Star Wars fans planning a visit to Tunisia. You may be acquainted with Tataouine as the fictional village of Tatooine in George Lucas’ Star Wars films. The Skywalker farm buildings were left there after shooting the movie and have since attracted thousands of Star Wars fans.
Unfortunately, it looks like this region is no longer safe for tourists to visit. Recent terrorist activity in neighboring Libya has made the Tataouin area unstable as it is on the trail of traveling jihadists hoping to join the infamous ISIS terrorist group.
Tourists have already been killed in Tunisia, with 19 dead after the Bardo Museum attack. We think it’s best to leave it until the further risk of attack disappears.
5. Lake Natron (soda lake in Arusha Region, Tanzania)
Do you wish to explore the dangerous tourist destination? Those that visited Lake Natron in Tanzania can hardly believe their eyes – it’s almost entirely pink! The same pink flamingos live here, and it’s obvious why so many people want to see this fantastic salt and soda lake for themselves.
But it’s not all pretty pink, and Lake Natron has an unusually high alkaline content and a pH level of 10.5, which is the same as ammonia. Simply put, Lake Natron will burn the skin off humans and most animals.
In addition to burning all skin, temperatures around the lake can reach a whopping 60 degrees Celsius (140 Fahrenheit). The only thing that can survive here is flamingos. The lake is made up of hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide, so most animals will die as soon as they touch its waters. And yes, this applies to tourist travelers too!
6. Port Moresby (Pom City of Papua New Guinea)
Another dangerous tourist destination in Africa is Port Moresby, which is situated in the eastern part of New Guinea. It is the nation’s capital and, at the same time, one of the most dangerous cities in the world. A bird’s eye view of the city doesn’t make it seem scary and hazardous.
It’s unlikely to come back from a port city, as the lower classes consume human flesh. The occasional visitor can be killed for a natural purpose, just to provide food for the locals and their families.
7. Andohahela National Park (south-east Madagascar)
Madagascar’s island is home to Andohahela National Park, which can be called one of the world’s most beautiful places. Rare endemic plants grow here. The park is home to 12 species of lemurs and more than 120 species of birds.
Despite the huge tourist attraction, it is now considered extremely dangerous. The reason for this is the high crime rate. Despite the high level of danger and the park’s inaccessibility, around 1,500 travelers visit it every year.
8. Erta Ale (basaltic shield volcano, northeastern Ethiopia)
Do you really want to visit the place the locals call the ‘gateway to hell’? The Erta Ale volcano is just one of the terrifying features of Ethiopia’s the Danakil Desert. At over 2,000 feet high and 120 degrees Fahrenheit, Erta El is one hot spot you don’t want to visit.
It is one of the few active volcanoes globally, but it is the only volcano in the world with two active lava lakes, making it unique.
No wonder people want to see the phenomenon for themselves, but it comes with risks. It’s so dangerous because of the heat and the lava that it can only be seen by helicopter.
9. Lake Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda)
On the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda’s border, Lake Kivu is one of Africa’s largest and most important lakes. ‘Majestic’ seems an understatement when you try to find words to describe it.
But stories of swimmers being swallowed whole and dead fish mysteriously appearing on the surface give us a different picture of what lies beneath. Lake Kivu has fascinated scientists in all fields because of the methane trapped in its depths.
If the gas is ever released, it would mean an unspeakable catastrophe for everyone and everything in the vicinity. All it takes is one volcanic eruption for this lake to burst like a champagne bottle, which is why experts call this possibility the ‘champagne effect’. We would advise you to stay away if you plan to stay put with your life.
10. Lake Nyos (northwestern Cameroon)
We don’t know exactly why all the world’s killer lakes seem to be located in Africa, but here’s one more to add to the list of dangerous tourist destinations in Africa. Lake Nyos in Cameroon contains large amounts of carbon dioxide in its depths.
No harm was done for many years, until 1986, when the carbon dioxide exploded upwards. This created a huge “cloud” of carbon dioxide, causing extreme destruction and death. The cloud came down and actually suffocated 1,746 people and many more animals. All in all, nothing survived for 15 miles.
Things are not as dangerous today as they once were because there are pipes to pump carbon dioxide from the lake. The risk is still not eliminated, but for the most part, it is considered safe.
