5 incredible tourist sites in Africa you've probably never heard of

The world's second-biggest continent arguably has the best scenes for photographers as the African region has been interspersed with expansive landscapes and formidable animal life.

Throw in that sense of being in a place that hasn't changed for centuries and sometimes millennia, and you get some of the most inspiring, and inspired, spots on the planet.

Africa seeks to unlock tourism potential

Today, have a good read as Business Insider Sub Saharan Africa treats you with these amazing sites in Africa.

Lakes of Ounianga-Chad

The 18 interconnected lakes of Ounianga in the landlocked African nation of Chad are lined with palms, dunes and sandstone formations. Some of the lakes are covered with floating green reeds, offering an intense contrast against the blue water. Others are so salty the rocky shore is encrusted with white salt deposits.

Island of Goree-Senegal

Goree Island is the great western bulge of Africa - the nearest point on the continent to the Americas. The Senegalese people called it Ber.

It lies off the coast of Senegal, opposite Dakar. From the 15th to the 19th century, it was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast. Ruled in succession by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French, its architecture is characterized by the contrast between the grim slave-quarters and the elegant houses of the slave traders. Today it continues to serve as a reminder of human exploitation and as a sanctuary for reconciliation.

Archaeological Site of Cyrene-Libya

A colony of the Greeks of Thera, Cyrene was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world. It was Romanized and remained a great capital until the earthquake of 365. A thousand years of history is written into its ruins, which have been famous since the 18th century.

Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve-Madagascar

Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve comprises karstic landscapes and limestone uplands cut into impressive 'Tsingy' peaks and a 'forest' of limestone needles, the spectacular canyon of the Manambolo river, rolling hills and high peaks. The undisturbed forests, lakes and mangrove swamps are the habitat for rare and endangered lemurs and birds.

Okapi Wildlife Reserve-Democratic Republic of Congo

The Okapi Wildlife Reserve occupies about one-fifth of the Ituri forest in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congo river basin, of which the reserve and forest are a part, is one of the largest drainage systems in Africa.

The reserve contains threatened species of primates and birds and about 5,000 of the estimated 30,000 Okapi surviving in the wild. It also has some dramatic scenery, including waterfalls on the Ituri and Epulu rivers. The reserve is inhabited by traditional nomadic pygmy Mbuti and Efe hunters.