Compiling a list of Southern Africa’s most impressive natural features is a contentious issue certainly but one that I hope will breed healthy debate and discussion. To abbreviate such a wide ranging and diverse landscape into a few specific points may seem a little short sighted but my motivation for writing this article is simply to promote what a fantastic and eclectic place Southern Africa is, boasting some of the most unusual, breathtaking and famous geographical phenomena in the world.

Tourists have been flocking to Southern Africa for decades on family treks, honeymoons and safari holidays alike, all drawn by the beguiling wonder and mystery of this rugged but constantly evolving region. So without further ado, albeit somewhat modest and in not particular order, here is my list of Southern Africa’s greatest natural landmarks.

Sossusvlei, Namibia- They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and this sentiment is no truer than with Sossusvlei. Perhaps the name may not be familiar to you, but it is more than likely that you will have seen an image of this bizarre and ethereal landscape on television, in the cinema or in a pictorial or magazine; Sossusvlei a salt and clay pan nestled in the southern Namib Desert is in fact one of the most photographed natural sites in the world. The area features a startling array of colossal sand dunes, some of the largest in the world measuring as high as 380 metres which are rendered even more striking by the iron rich particles present in the earth which have over the ages oxidised to produce a brilliant red/orange hue.

Victoria Falls, Zambia- Considered as one of the true natural wonders of the world, extending 2km along the shelf of an grand fissure Victoria Falls is the largest curtain of falling water in the world. Plummeting down 100m metres into the ferocious Batuka Gorge water is continually sprayed up into the sky forming a cloud of misty vapour that amongst the locals has afforded the area the nickname of Mosi-oa-Tunya, or the Smoke that Thunders. During the dry season when the flow rate decreases tourists can descend into a rocky basin on the lip of the cliff known as the Devil’s Pool which allows those brave enough to peer over the edge of the falls.

Lake Victoria, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania- The largest tropical lake and second largest body of freshwater in the world, Lake Vicotria spans an area twice the size of Wales. Named after Queen Victoria by adventurer John Henning Speke, the grand lake is the source of the Nile River, the longest in the world. The Lake is known for supporting a vast array of fish species (around 500) and is a source of food and income for thousands of fisherman across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania- Rising up from the Tanzanian plains solitary and resolute, Mt Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest free standing peak and can be seen from hundreds of miles away even over the border in Kenya. Hundreds of tourists every year are drawn to Tanzania as they attempt to scale to the roof of Africa, from the youngest, 7 year old Keats Boyd from Los Angeles, to the oldest, retired Buckinghamshire professor George Solt who last year climbed Kilimanjaro at the ripe age of 82.

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania- Also in located in Tanznaia and situated in the north east of the country the Ngorongoro Crater is considered as one of the richest and most diverse ecosystems in Africa boasting numbers of black rhino, hippo, leopard various ungulates and the densest population of lions in Africa. The world’s largest caldera, the crater is 610m deep and covers an area of around 100 miles sq. The feature was formed when a huge ancient volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself and due to the size of the scar left behind it is estimated that this volcano could have been as tall as Mt Kilimanjaro.