Little-Known African Islands That Could Become a Trend

25 August 2026

For decades, the African island imagination has been dominated by names like Zanzibar, Mauritius, or the Seychelles. However, Africa hides dozens of archipelagos and islands that remain virtually outside international tourism. Territories where nature still sets the pace of the days and local hospitality has not been molded by the big hotel chains.

They are destinations where it is still possible to walk along deserted beaches, share a meal with fishermen, sail among mangroves, or sleep listening only to the sound of the Indian Ocean or the Atlantic. Of those few genuine places left on our well-trodden planet.

On these islands it is still possible to share a meal with fishermen.

The bad news is that they won’t stay that way forever. The improvement of air connections, the rise of nature tourism and the growing interest in authentic experiences are drawing attention to territories that until recently barely appeared in travel guides.

We are ahead of the next big trend to enjoy the last island corners where Africa preserves its essence intact. From almost pristine coral reefs to ancient colonial cities and marine parks of extraordinary biodiversity, these African islands deserve a prominent place on any list of future adventure travel.

Isla de Ibo Parque Nacional Quirimbas Mozambique.

Fort São João Baptista, on the island of Ibo.

Aoife Brennan

I write about culture, gastronomy, and lifestyle with a deep interest in the places, people, and traditions that shape how we live. I am drawn to stories that feel thoughtful, vivid, and rooted in real experience, whether they begin in a gallery, around a table, or in the rhythm of everyday life.