Big Five & Baobabs
Editor’s note: This post will continue to evolve as I do.
Welcome back, curious minds and wanderlust hearts as well as those just joining. Around the World is a series exploring every country, one story at a time. It’s a quick overview of each, roughly six countries per post, designed to help us all familiarize ourselves with the nations of the world and the people, places, and histories that shape them.
This stop, “Big Five & Baobabs,” moves through Africa’s wild heart, where safari giants roam, baobab trees stand like sentinels, and desert frontiers stretch toward endless horizons. From Tanzania’s sweeping plains to Tunisia’s sunbaked dunes, Uganda’s green heart to Western Sahara’s quiet expanse, along with Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Each nation holds its own rhythm, its own truth, and its own reminder that the world is far bigger, and far more connected, than we often realize.
So, with open eyes and grounded curiosity, let’s set out across deserts, plains, and coastlines, discovering the seven nations that make up this leg of our Around the World journey.
Hand drawn flag of Tanzania
TANZANIA
Official name: United Republic of Tanzania
Pronunciation: tan-uh-nee-uh
Capital: Dodoma City
Official language: Swahili and English
Location: Along the Eastern coast just below the equator in the Southern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia
Climate: Tropical
Most known for: It’s wildlife safari’s, such as the Serengeti National Park. For more information on the park, click the link to their website, here.
Fun fact: Has the highest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro
Recent news article: VIDEO: Tanzania: The African Dream
My knowledge: I’m not very knowledgeable on Tanzania
Hand drawn flag of Togo
TOGO
Official name: Togolese Republic
Pronunciation: tow-gow
Capital: Lomé
Official language: French
Location: In West Africa along the coast in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Benin
Climate: Humid, Tropical
Most known for: Rich, cultural heritage. Home to over 40 distinct ethnic groups.
Fun fact: Significant cultural importance of respect for elders
Recent news article: Lomé Hosts Blueinvest Africa 2025
My knowledge: I’m not familiar with Togo
Hand drawn flag of Tunisia
TUNISIA
Official name: Republic of Tunisia
Pronunciation: too-nee-zhuh
Capital: Tunis
Official language: Arabic
Location: On the Northern coast of Africa, part of MENA, in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Algeria and Libya
Climate: Mediterranean and desert
Most known for: Beautiful mediterranean beaches
Fun fact: Northernmost point of Africa
Recent news article: Tunisia: Solar power plant in Kairouan expected to start in October 2025
My knowledge: Aside from the name, spelling of the country, and location, I am unfamiliar.
Hand drawn flag of Uganda
UGANDA
Official name: Republic of Uganda
Pronunciation: Yoo-gaan-doh
Capital: Kampala
Official language: Swahili and English
Location: In Eastern Africa at about the Equator and is in both Northern and Southern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda
Climate: Tropical
Most known for: Home of over half’s the world population of mountain gorilla’s. For a little more information on Mountain Gorilla’s, check out Uganda Wildlife Authority website, right here.
Fun fact: Known as “Pearl of Africa.” Nickname coined by Winston Churchill is his 1907 book My African Journey to describe its natural beauty and biodiversity. Check out the Discover Uganda: The Pearl of Africa website that dives further into his book. To read, click here.
Recent news article: Uganda to Host GAIME Conference 2025 — Africa’s Largest AI Gathering Set for October
My knowledge: Not all that familiar with Uganda
Hand drawn flag of Western Sahara
WESTERN SAHARA
Official name: Western Sahara (Conventional) and Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)
Pronunciation: weh-strn suh-heh-ruh
Capital: Laayoune (under Moroccan control) and Tifariti (defacto capital of SADR)
Official language: Modern Standard Arabic and Spanish
Location: North west coast of Africa in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania
Climate: Hot desert
Most known for: Its long running political conflict over its status as a disputed territory
Fun fact: Contains the Berm (sand structure), second longest wall in the world to separate Morocco and Western Sahara
Recent news article: 50 Years After the Green March, Morocco Says Sahara is a Model of Stability, Growth
My knowledge: I only learned that this was a territory/country trying to gain independence when planning out this series. In other words, very recent knowledge
Hand drawn flag of Zambia
ZAMBIA
Official name: Republic of Zambia
Pronunciation: zam-bee-uh
Capital: Lusaka
Official language: English
Location: In Southern Africa in the Southern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia
Climate: Subtropical
Most known for: Victoria Falls as it’s one of the largest and famous waterfalls. One of the seven wonders of the world. For more on Victoria Falls, read this page from Zambia Tourism here.
Fun fact: Home to the largest man-made lake, Lake Kariba. Here is another page from Zambia Tourism but on Lake Kariba. To read, click here.
Recent news article: In Zambia, African Development Fund reshapes the country’s agriculture and education landscape
My knowledge: Not too familiar
Hand drawn flag of Zimbabwe
ZIMBABWE
Official name: Republic of Zimbabwe
Pronunciation: zim-baab-way
Capital: Harare
Official language: Shona, Xhosa, Venda, English, Chewa, Tswana, Tasha language, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, and Tongan
Location: In Southern Africa in the Southern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, and South Africa
Climate: Subtropical
Most known for: Great Zimbabwe Ruins. For more information, check out Great Zimbabwe Ruins webpage, click here to read.
Fun fact: Has the most official languages of any country in the world with 16.
Recent news article: In Zimbabwe an AI “midwife” is making pregnancy safer for underserved woman
My knowledge: Not very familiar with Zimbabwe
From Zimbabwe’s rugged wilderness to Uganda’s green heart, and the quiet resilience of Western Sahara’s dunes, this chapter reminded me that the world’s strength often mirrors its stillness. The Big Five that are bold, steady, and untamed, and the baobab trees which as ancient, rooted, and patient, both tell the same story. Endurance it’s loud, it’d lived.
If there’s a lesson here, it’s this: growth doesn’t always mean movement. Sometimes it means standing firm, taking in the view, and learning from what’s around you. Like the baobab, we grow stronger the longer we stay grounded.
As this Around the World journey continues, I hope it inspires you to explore, not just new places, but new ways of seeing. Every map, every story, every horizon teaches us something about what it means to belong to this world.
And before you head out, don’t forget, the giveaway is still open until Saturday, October 25th. Check out my post “Let the Fun Begin,” for all the details and how to enter.
As a signature of my blog, I’d like to end this post with a suggestion to “Pass on kindness.” There’s no time like the present to Inspire Those Who Inspire You. Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can have a direct, positive impact on someone else. Go out there today and change someone’s life for the better!
***These are my personal opinions and may not be those of my employer.***
