When you picture Africa, popular destinations like Kenya, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria often spring to mind. But the continent actually comprises 54 unique nations, some of which are so remote, under-the-radar or simply overlooked that even seasoned travellers blink when they hear their names. According to a Pulse Ghana feature, here are ten countries you may never have known existed — and why each deserves a closer look.
1. São Tomé and Príncipe – Africa’s hidden cocoa paradise
This twin-island nation in the Gulf of Guinea boasts lush forest, rain-soaked waterfalls, golden beaches and a rich Portuguese-Creole heritage. With a population of just around 240,000, it’s Africa’s second-smallest independent state.
2. Comoros – The archipelago that smells like perfume
Floating between Madagascar and Mozambique, Comoros is nicknamed “The Perfume Isles” thanks to its fragrant ylang-ylang flower farms. With fewer than a million people, it remains largely untouched by mass tourism.
3. Guinea‑Bissau – West Africa’s understated gem
Often overshadowed by its neighbour Guinea, this Portuguese-speaking country features a coast dotted with islands and matriarchal societies in the Bijagós Archipelago. It has around 2.3 million people.
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4. Equatorial Guinea – Africa’s Spanish-speaking oil state
Rich in resources but rarely featured in travel conversations, this small country enjoys Spanish as an official language and is building a new rainforest-capital, Ciudad de la Paz. Population: ~1.9 million.
5. Djibouti – The desert-shaped nation with other-worldly landscapes
At the cross-roads of Africa and the Middle East, Djibouti offers salt flats like Lake Assal (Africa’s lowest point), volcanic plains, and the chance to swim alongside whale sharks. Population: ~1.18 million.
6. Eritrea – “The Italy of Africa”
Bordered by the Red Sea, Eritrea is often overlooked thanks to its isolation. But its capital, Asmara, is a UNESCO-listed enclave of Italian colonial architecture and vintage steam-locomotive railways. Population: ~3.6 million.
7. Burundi – A green surprise in Central East Africa
Often overshadowed by Rwanda, Burundi charms with its rolling hills, tea plantations and lakeside vistas. Home to ~14.4 million people, it remains off the mainstream travel radar.
8. Chad – The desert giant few explore
Despite being one of Africa’s largest countries, much of Chad remains wildly unexplored. From the Sahara to the Ennedi Plateau, it offers raw landscapes and historic art carvings. Population: ~21 million.
9. Central African Republic – The hidden heart of the continent
Deep in the African interior lies this country rich in diamonds, gold and wildlife. Its forest reserves host gorillas and forest elephants, yet it remains barely visited. Population: ~5.5 million.
10. Mauritania – Where the Sahara literally swallows cities
Stretching between North and West Africa, Mauritania is desert-dominant. The ancient city of Chinguetti is gradually being consumed by shifting sands — a dramatic emblem of time and change. Population: ~5.3 million.
The Bottom Line
Africa’s story isn’t told only through the familiar capitals and icons. It also whispers through lesser-known nations, full of cultures, landscapes and histories waiting to be discovered. Next time someone says “I’ve been to Africa,” you can ask: “But have you been to São Tomé and Príncipe?”
