Four stops to open an immense continent. From Cape Town's mountains to the temples of Nubia, from the snows of Kilimanjaro to the thunder of Victoria Falls, Caroline discovers a new sense of scale.
Her Africa notebook
Landscapes that leave you speechless
Caroline discovers an Africa of contrasts: mountains carved by time, monumental temples, legendary volcanoes and rivers that suddenly become walls of water. Every stop tells a different story about landscape, history and memory.
For this first selection, four powerful destinations set the tone: Cape Town and Table Mountain, Abu Simbel, Kilimanjaro and Victoria Falls. Each has its own story, memorable fact and collectible retro poster.
4African stops
4 landscapesiconic across the continent
€29.90poster price
01
South Africa · Western Cape
Cape Town — Table Mountain
Table Mountain towers over Cape Town with a silhouette so regular it almost looks drawn. Its rocky plateau rises above the city and bay, framed by Devil's Peak and Lion's Head. Made mainly of very ancient sandstone, the mountain forms part of a natural area of exceptional biodiversity. It has become one of Cape Town's defining landmarks and one of South Africa's most instantly recognisable symbols.
Did you know?When clouds spill over the plateau, locals call it Table Mountain's 'tablecloth', as though the mountain were literally covered in white fabric.
The temples of Abu Simbel were carved into the rock in the 13th century BCE during the reign of Ramesses II. The Great Temple is instantly recognisable by the four colossal seated statues flanking its entrance. In the 20th century, construction of the Aswan High Dam threatened to submerge the site. A remarkable international operation cut the temples into blocks and rebuilt them on higher ground, safe from the rising waters of Lake Nasser.
Did you know?The rescue of Abu Simbel became one of the most famous examples of international cooperation in heritage conservation.
Kilimanjaro is a volcanic massif in north-eastern Tanzania near the Kenyan border. Its highest point, Uhuru Peak, reaches 5,895 metres and is the highest summit in Africa. Its silhouette is spectacular because it rises almost directly from the surrounding plains. The massif crosses several climate zones, from savannah to alpine environments before reaching the high-altitude summit zone.
Did you know?Kilimanjaro is not a single mountain: it is formed by three main volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira.
On the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls create one of Africa's greatest natural spectacles. The river plunges into a long rock fracture, forming an immense curtain of water whose power changes with the seasons. People of the region have long known the site as Mosi-oa-Tunya, often translated as 'the smoke that thunders', a name inspired by the mist visible from far away.
Did you know?When the Zambezi is in high flow, spray from the falls can rise high into the air and sustain exceptionally lush vegetation around the gorges.
Four short questions to see Caroline's first African stops from a different angle.
Why is Table Mountain so flat on top?
Its spectacular shape is the result of long periods of erosion that sculpted the mountain's rock layers. The upper plateau, especially visible from Cape Town, gives it an almost geometric silhouette.
Why are Victoria Falls called 'the smoke that thunders'?
The mass of water plunging into the gorges creates a permanent cloud of spray and a powerful roar. The name Mosi-oa-Tunya captures this combination of sight and sound.
