Africa

The most interesting facts about Somalia include a gigantic coastline, prehistoric rock paintings and a tragic and troubled history.

From ‘the smoke that thunders’ to the capital city of the legendary Queen of Sheba, these are the most interesting facts about Zimbabwe.

The most interesting facts about Ghana include a history-making 10-year-old DJ and a world record for running backwards.

Outstanding biodiversity and a unique bare-knuckle fighting sport are just two of the most interesting facts about Madagascar.

From a gargantuan desert, an unparalleled array of wildlife and ancient rock art, these are the most interesting facts about Botswana.

The most interesting facts about Uganda, from an array of natural wonders to the “Butcher of Uganda” at the centre of a dark history.

From a giant desert engulfing four-fifths of the country to the world’s smallest fox, these are the most interesting facts about Algeria.

The most interesting facts about Egypt, from the most visited country in Africa to one of the world’s most iconic landmarks

The most interesting facts about Comoros, from enduring over 20 coups in just 40 years and the world’s largest producer of ylang-ylang.

The most interesting facts about Cabo Verde, from Africa’s second-most democratic country to a mysterious ghost ship carrying synthesizers.

The most interesting facts about São Tomé and Príncipe, the continent’s second-smallest country known as the “African Galápagos”.

The most interesting facts about Seychelles, from the original Garden of Eden to the world’s largest population of giant tortoises.

The most interesting facts about the Republic of the Congo, from Africa’s first Marxist-Leninist state to the Congo’s Loch Ness Monster.

From a village where men are banned to the cradle of humanity, these are the most interesting facts about Kenya.

The most interesting facts about Guinea-Bissau, from hippos adapted to saltwater, to briefly having two presidents and two prime ministers.

The most interesting facts about Morocco, including a town that’s painted blue, goats that climb trees and the world’s oldest university.

From Africa’s highest mountain to some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife, these are the most interesting facts about Tanzania.

Home to the longest river in the world and over 200 pyramids – more than Egypt – these are the most interesting facts about Sudan.

The most interesting facts about Equatorial Guinea, from one of the world’s wettest places to a corrupt dictator with a playboy son.

Ancient ruins, a tank graveyard and one of the oldest human skeletons, these are the most interesting facts about Eritrea.

The most interesting facts about the Gambia, from washing in a sacred crocodile-infested pool to using marbles to vote in elections.

The most interesting facts about Gabon, from “the land of the surfing hippos” and “Africa’s Last Eden” to 400,000 years of history.

The most interesting facts about Sierra Leone, from a history intertwined with slavery to a giant cotton tree in its capital city.

The most interesting facts about Ivory Coast – or Côte d’Ivoire – from the “Paris of West Africa” to the largest church in the world.

We take a look at the countries along the Silk Road, the ancient network of trade routes that connected China with the West.

The most interesting facts about Guinea, from Africa’s first million-selling single to chimpanzees who use tools to chop fruit.

From idyllic islands to the only country to have all five vowels in its name, these are the most interesting facts about Mozambique.

The most interesting facts about Niger include its very own dinosaur – the Nigersaurus – and the world’s highest mud-brick minaret.

One of the world’s least developed countries and a fierce beauty pageant for men, these are the most interesting facts about Chad.

The most interesting facts about Togo include once being known as the “The Slave Coast” and having its first president assassinated.

The most interesting facts about South Sudan, from Africa’s newest nation and decades of conflict to “mega-herds” of migrating wildlife.

In 1981, Mauritania became the last country in the world to abolish slavery. But the West African nation still has a long way to go.

The most interesting facts about Mauritania, from the last country in the world to abolish slavery to the world’s longest train.

The most interesting facts about Nigeria, from the twins capital of the world to Nollywood – the world’s second-largest film industry.

The most interesting facts about Libya, from an ancient crossroads of civilisations to bizarre natural phenomena in the Sahara Desert.

The most interesting facts about Tunisia, from the northernmost point of Africa to triggering a wave of revolutions across the Arab World.

The most interesting facts about Liberia, from Africa’s oldest republic to pygmy hippos known as “water cows”.

The most interesting facts about Zambia, from the world’s largest curtain of falling water to near-blind rats that can sense magnetic fields.

The most interesting facts about Rwanda, from the Land of a Thousand Hills to one for the world’s most gender-equal countries.

From the richest man who has ever lived to the world’s largest mud-brick structure, these are the most interesting facts about Mali.

From rich flora and fauna to a tragic history, these are the most interesting facts about the Democratic Republic of Congo.

From the world’s hungriest country to superb star-gazing, these are the most interesting facts about the Central African Republic.

Home to the “African Che Guevara” and one of the world’s youngest populations, these are the most interesting facts about Burkina Faso.

The most interesting facts about Senegal, from killer hippopotamuses, Africa’s Mecca and Africa’s tallest statue.

The most interesting facts about Malawi, from one of the planet’s largest and deepest lakes to selling the presidential jet to raise funds.

The most interesting facts about Benin, from the “Venice of Africa” and reverence for snakes, to the largest intact eco-system in West Africa.

The most interesting facts about Burundi, from a man-eating crocodile called Gustave to a tragic history of genocide and war.

The most interesting facts about Cameroon, from a poisonous lake to the world’s largest frog that builds its own ponds using rocks.

Africa’s richest woman, a rediscovered antelope and an immense waterfall are among the most interesting facts about Angola.