Heritage with Related Tags
Stone Town of Zanzibar
Stone Town in Zanzibar is an example of a Swahili coastal trading town in East Africa. It has preserved its urban structure and townscape almost intact, with many fine buildings reflecting its unique culture, which has blended and homogenized different cultural elements from Africa, the Arab region, India and Europe for more than a thousand years.
Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara
The remains of two great East African ports admired by early European explorers lie on two small islands off the coast. From the 13th to the 16th centuries, Kilwa's merchants dealt in gold, silver, pearls, perfume, Arab pottery, Persian ceramics, and Chinese porcelain; much of the Indian Ocean trade passed through them.
Lamu Old Town
The ancient town of Lamu is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa, retaining its traditional functions. Built of coral stone and mangrove wood, the town has simple structural forms enriched by features such as inner courtyards, balconies and intricately carved wooden doors. Since the 19th century, Lamu has hosted important Muslim religious festivals and has become an important center for the study of Islamic and Swahili culture.
Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites
James Island and associated sites bear witness to the major periods and aspects of the encounter between Africa and Europe along the Gambia River, from pre-colonial and pre-slavery times through to independence. The site is particularly relevant to the beginning and abolition of the slave trade. It also documents early access to the African interior.
Dja Faunal Reserve
This is one of the largest and best-preserved rainforests in Africa, with 90% of its area undisturbed. The reserve is almost completely surrounded by the Dja River, which forms a natural border and is known for its biodiversity and wide variety of primates. There are 107 mammal species here, 5 of which are threatened.
Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves
This is the largest protected area in Africa, covering approximately 7.7 million hectares, but only one-sixth of the total area is considered protected. The reserve includes the Aïr Volcanic Massif, a small area in the Sahel region that is isolated in terms of climate, flora and fauna, located in the Sahara Desert in Ténéré. The reserve has a rich diversity of landscapes, plant species and wildlife.
Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town
The historic city of Harar is located in the east of the country, on a plateau with deep canyons and surrounded by desert and savannah. The walls of this Muslim holy city were built between the 13th and 16th centuries. The fourth holiest city in Islam, Harar is home to 82 mosques (three of which were built in the 10th century) and 102 shrines, but it is the townhouses with their unique interior designs that are the most striking part of Harar's cultural heritage. The influence of African and Islamic traditions on the town's building types and urban layout has given it a unique character and distinctiveness.
Salonga National Park
Salonga National Park is the largest tropical rainforest reserve in Africa. Located in the heart of the Central Congo River Basin, the park is so remote that it can only be reached by water. It is home to many local endangered species, such as the pygmy chimpanzee, the Congo peacock, the forest elephant and the African slender-nosed crocodile or "false" crocodile.
Island of Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis was founded as a colony by French colonists in the 17th century and began to be urbanized in the mid-19th century. It was the capital of Senegal from 1872 to 1957 and played an important cultural and economic role in the whole of West Africa. Saint-Louis is located on a small island at the mouth of the Senegal River. Its regular town planning, dock system and typical colonial architecture give it a unique appearance and characteristics.
Taï National Park
The park is one of the last major areas of intact tropical forest in West Africa. It is rich in natural flora, as well as endangered mammal species such as the pygmy hippopotamus and 11 species of monkeys, and has important scientific value.
Comoé National Park
The park is one of the largest protected areas in West Africa and has a wide variety of flora. Due to the presence of the Comoé River, the park contains plants that are usually only found further south, such as shrub savannah and large areas of dense rainforest.
Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador)
Essaouira is an excellent example of a late 18th century fortified town, built according to contemporary European military architectural principles in a North African context. Since its founding, Essaouira has been an important international trading seaport, connecting Morocco and its Saharan hinterland with Europe and the rest of the world.
Amphitheatre of El Jem
Located in the small village of El Jem, the remains of North Africa's largest Colosseum were a massive amphitheater that could seat up to 35,000 spectators. This 3rd-century monument showcases the grandeur and vastness of the Roman Empire.