Dangerous tourist attractions are guilty pleasures, especially for adrenaline junkies. It’s all fun and games though, until someone gets hurt. These destinations will excite and terrify you!
Is a good adventure story worth risking your life? Let’s leave you to decide from a list of beautiful tourist attractions in Africa that can actually hurt you.
You wouldn’t believe it, but Africa is home to some of the most dangerous … Here are the 5 places below:
1. Devil’s Pool at Victoria’s Falls, Zambia
They don’t call it the Devil’s Pool for no reason! This naturally formed rock pool is located at the very edge of the majestic Victoria Falls on the Zambia side (the other side of the falls is in Zimbabwe). Some tourists are daring enough to swim in it.
Swimming can only take place between September and December when a natural rock barrier forms, but it is still extremely dangerous. Several people have plunged to their death from the Devil’s Pool, including one famous tour guide, who managed to save one of his charges.
2. Lake Natron, Tanzania
Most people who visit Lake Natron in Tanzania can barely believe their eyes – it’s almost totally pink! Home to matching pink flamingos, it’s obvious why so many people want to see this amazing salt and soda lake for themselves. But it’s not all pretty in pink – Lake Natron has an unusually high alkaline content and a pH level of 10.5, which is the same as ammonia.
To put it simply, Lake Natron will burn the skin off humans and most animals. In addition to the whole skin burning thing, temperatures around the lake can reach a whopping 60 degrees Celsius (140 Fahrenheit). Basically, the only thing that can survive here are the flamingos.
3. Danakil desert, Ethiopia
Stretching from north eastern Ethiopia to southern parts of Eritrea, the Danakil Desert is one of the most dangerous places you could ever visit. It is well known as ‘Hell on Earth’. This salt wasteland is exactly the kind of place we should be avoid.
Tourists are still showing up to experience the blazing hot temperatures and risking their lives in the process. Active volcanoes, gassy geysers, a lack of oxygen, and temperatures of around 120 degrees Fahrenheit are all the things you can look forward to if you decide to visit ‘Hell on Earth’. If you manage to survive all of this, there are also the hostile rebels to look out for. Basically, don’t go here if you value your life.
4. Zambezi River, Zambia
Long considered one of the most extreme locations for whitewater rafting in the world, the Zambezi River is not one to take lightly. The stones and trenches that often leave boats unturned are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the dangers you’ll face. Each section of rapids has its own name, which you might think is cute until you hear what they’re called.
Would you raft anywhere named ‘Devil’s Toilet Bowl’, ‘Boiling Pot’, ‘Gnashing Jaws of Death’ or ‘Overland Truck Eater’? If not, then you can give Zambezi a miss. In addition to all this, you’ve also got the river’s natives to worry about – crocodiles and hippos are common in the Zambezi, and they’re not exactly considered friendly locals.
5. Erta Ale Volcano, Ethiopia
Would you really want to visit somewhere that the locals refer to as the ‘Gateway to Hell’? Erta Ale Volcano is just one of the terrifying features within the Danakil Desert in Ethiopia. At more than 2000 feet high and 120 degrees Fahrenheit, Erta Ale is one hot spot you don’t want to visit. It’s one of the few active volcanoes in the world, but it’s the only volcano in the world with two active lava lakes, making it one of a kind.
It’s no surprise that people want to view this phenomenon for themselves, but it does come with risks. It’s so dangerous due to the heat (and lava!) that the only way to view it is by helicopter. So, as you can imagine, this is an activity for those of us with plenty of cash to spare!
