Top 10 Historical Sites to Visit in Africa - (Africa.com list)

Top 10 Historical Sites to Visit in Africa. Africa is not only blessed with warm weather, a variety of wildlife and great people and food, but also with great historical sites. Here are Top 10 Historical Sites Worth Visiting in Africa. At number 10 is Fort Jesus. Located in Kenya. This Portuguese fort was built in 1593 on Mombasa Island. It was built to secure safety of the Portuguese living on the east coast of Africa. It experienced more turbulence than any other fort in Africa. This was due to the hostilities of interested parties that lived in Mombasa. It was attacked by the Omani Arabs from 1696 to 1698. It was used as barracks for soldiers, and a prison by the British between 1837 and 1895. It became a museum in 1962. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Center. At number 9 is Mamuno Monument located in Botswana. The Mamuno Monument also known as Kangoumeni Rock Engravings, showcases Botswana's rich cultural history with a variety of rock paintings. Engravings that visitors can see here include, animal and human footprints, hand prints, geometric designs and weapons. The Kangoumeni Rock Engravings are located at the Ganzi District, approximately 5 kilometers northwest of the Mamuno border post. At number 8 is Larabanga Mosque. Located in Ghana. The Larabanga Mosque is a historical site located in the Islamic town of Larabanga in the northern region of Ghana. The mosque is believed to have been built by an Islamic trader named Ayubo in 1421. The mosque also houses a very old Quran, believed to have been delivered from heaven to an imam called Brahma in the 1600s. The mosque's design follows the Sudanic architectural building design characterized by two pyramidal towers. At number 7 is Talouet Casbah located in Morocco. The Casbah of Talouet is a historical and popular tourist destination located on the old caravan route towards Uzazate in the Sahara, just outside Marrakech. The Casbah was home to the governor of Marrakech and his family in the early 20th century. The Casbah was never completed, and some parts of the building are deteriorating. At number 6 is Kolmanskop in Namibia. Kolmanskop is Namibia's most famous ghost town. The town was in existence for 40 years in the early 1900s, and flourished as a result of the diamond boom experienced at the time. It was a bustling city for people working in the diamond trade. It was considered a haven in the harsh Namib desert. The development of Kolmanskop reached its pinnacle in the 1920s. The town declined after World War I when diamond prices crashed. This sent the inhabitants out of the town. Visitors to the ghost town can join a guided tour or take a self-drive to Kolmanskop. A permit is needed by visitors before the tour. At number 5 is Pemba located in Mozambique. Pemba is the capital of the city of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique. It is home to pristine white beaches. It is highly patronized by water sports lovers. Popular sites in the area include the Slave Trade Fort, the Kirimbaz Archipelago, which has over 30 coral islands. The area has never been developed. It remains an unexplored tourist paradise, and it also houses the Kirimbaz National Park. At number 4 is Isimila Stone Age Site in Tanzania. This is a historically rich archaeological site that is located outside of the town of Iringa. Archaeologists have found tools, stone artifacts and bones in a dry lake. These items are believed to be remains and tools used by the early hominoids that occupied the area. The site gives a glimpse into the lives and activities of early human and animal civilization. A tour of this place takes about 3 hours, and it usually starts early in the morning before temperatures start to soar. At number 3 is Robben Island in South Africa. Robben Island is a small island located in South Africa's Table Bay in Cape Town. The island was used as a place of imprisonment, banishment, and isolation for about 4 centuries. It is significantly known for housing South Africa's anti-apartheid supporters such as former President Nelson Mandela. Before then, the island was home to a variety of wildlife. The island's name, Robben, is derived from Dutch and is means seal. This is because, the island had an abundance of seals. From 1671, the Dutch began using the island as a prison for criminals, an asylum for the mentally ill and military hub. It was also used for housing social outcasts, and individuals who disagreed with Dutch rule. UNESCO declared the island a World Heritage Site because it is a remainder of the country's history and the triumph of the human spirit against injustice and apartheid. At number 2 is the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda. The Kigali Genocide Memorial located in Jisozi, just a few minutes drive from Kigali, is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the genocide against the Tutsi. It honors the memory of those who lost their lives in 1994 Rwandan genocide through education and peace building. The memorial has three permanent exhibitions, the largest of which documents the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. There is also a children's memorial and an exhibition on the history of genocidal violence around the world. Many of the tour guides that take visitors through the memorial are survivors of the attacks. At number 1 is House of Wonders Museum in Zanzibar. The House of Wonders Museum also known as Betalagyeb, is one of Zanzibar's best known historical landmarks. It is located at the waterfront area of Zanzibar town. The palace was built in 1883. It was the first building in Zanzibar to be installed with electricity, and one of the first in East Africa to have an electric lift, leading to the locals calling it the House of Wonders. Since then, it has survived destruction from bombardment in the 1800s due to a failed political coup. It was used by the British and the Tanzanian government as political headquarters. It has since been converted into a museum, where visitors learn about Zanzibar's rich history and culture. Thanks for watching please subscribe before leaving.