I’m sure we’re all familiar with this country. Often known as “the giant of Africa”, Nigeria is located in West Africa, bordered by Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Like the country I flew on right before, the nation got its name from the Niger river. Nigeria is the most populous African country, with a population over 210 million. The nation is one of the largest film producers in the world. Nollywood movies are very popular in Africa and Africans around the world. English is the official language, but more than 500 different languages are spoken throughout this country, making the nation one of the most multi-lingual nations in the world.
This West African country may be small, but the Gambia shares a fascinating tale full of culture, history and natural beauty. The nation is named after one of Western Africa’s largest rivers, River Gambia. Banjul is the capital and the fourth largest city of the nation. English is the official language, with Mandinka and Wolof acting as the lingua francas of the country. Islam is the predominant religion, with 96% of the population identifying as Muslims. The Gambia is also a popular tourist destination because of their beautiful coastline and beaches. In 1964, the prime minister at that time said that one of the reasons they like to have “The” in their name is to avoid confusion with Zambia.
Guinea-Bissau is a nation located in West Africa. The name Bissau was later added to the name ‘Guinea’ to avoid confusion with their French-speaking neighbor, Guinea. Portuguese is the official language, though it is spoken only by 11% of the population, as the local Crioulo language is spoken more widely. The flag of the nation is a tribute to Ghana’s flag, as it was the struggle of the Ghanaians for freedom that inspired the people of the nation to fight for the independence of Guinea-Bissau. The nation is home to the great Amilcar Cabral, an anti-colonial leader respected throughout Africa.
Sierra Leone 🇸🇱
Speaking of Portuguese, did you know that Sierra Leone got its name from the Portuguese language? Meaning “Roaring Mountains”, Sierra Leone is an English-speaking nation located in West Africa. The nation is famously known in the history of the transatlantic slave trade. It’s capital, Freetown, was founded in 1787 as a home for repatriated former slaves from London and the Americas. The nation also features a rich and diverse cultural heritage, it has a collection of people from across Africa, Europe and the Middle East/Asia (Middle East Airlines of Lebanon have flights to Freetown along with many other African big cities!).
Known as being the oldest republic in Africa, and the second oldest Black republic after Haiti, Liberia is an English-speaking nation located on West Africa. The capital of the city is Monrovia, and is named after former US President James Monroe who supported the creation of Liberia, which may also explain the similarities of the flags of the two nations. The name “Liberia” comes from the Latin word for “Land of the Free”.
The world runs on four things: Oil, diamond, gold and chocolates! And this nation has it all.
Located in Western Africa, Ghana is the first country in the sub-saharan region of Africa to gain independence. English is the official language, but over 40 languages are spoken with Twi being the most widely spoken language. True to its former colonial name “Golden Coast”, Ghana is a gold heaven, being the second largest gold exporter in Africa after South Africa. The nation is also one of the major exporters of cocoa. Ghana is known to be one of Africa’s most peaceful nations.
51 out of 54 countries done.
The last three will be done on the next flight. Check below for more information.
I don’t think I have to tell you where this nation is located, but here’s a lesser known fact: South Africa is the only nation in the world to have three official capitals which are Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Cape Town. The nation is home to many valuable crystals and minerals, it was once the world’s largest gold producer, and is today the largest producer of platinum. South Africa is home to the great Nelson Mandela, who helped topple the white minority ruled apartheid system. The nation is known to be the “Rainbow Nation” due to its diverse population. Springbok is national animal of South Africa, notably referenced in the callsign of the flag carrier, South African Airways.
Eswatini 🇸🇿
You may have heard of this nation as that one country which changed its name back in 2018, but Eswatini is certainly more than that. The nation is a tourist favorite and amongst due to its status as one of the most scenic places on the African continent. The nation is home to the oldest mine in the world: the Ngwenya Mine.
Lesotho 🇱🇸
Lesotho is a nation within a nation, surrounded on all sides by South Africa. It is known as “the Kingdom of the Sky” because it’s the only nation that is entirely above 1,000 meters. A person from Lesotho is called a Mosotho, and a group of people from Lesotho are called Basotho. The official language is Sesotho.
Hey all! So we’ve finally reached the end. This really has been a great experience!
I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, whether if you joined one of my flights, a close follower of the thread, an ATC on one of my flights or even just someone who’s a fan of Africa, I appreciate you for helping me get here. I’d also like to shout out everyone who were inspired by my thread, to encourage others to fly to places and regions many overlook. As I promised before, here are some stats:
Stats
First flight: Port Sudan (HSPN) - Khartoum (HSSK), Sudan Airways A320 (Generic)
Out of 54 flights/sectors, 32 of them was flown on a generic livery.
Out of every airport visited, 5 of them were 3D.
Most used aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Most used livery: Asky Airlines Boeing 737-800 (Generic)
Last flight: Accra (DGAA) - Johannesburg (FAOR) - Lubombo (FDSK) - Maseru (FXMM)
