From Sahara to Diamonds
Letter board displaying the quote "The desert is the soul of Africa" by Ryszard Kapuściński, placed in front of a blanket featuring a delicate dandelion knit pattern.
Editor’s note: This post will continue to evolve as I do.
Welcome, curious minds and world travelers! Today we’ll be starting a new series called Around the World. Over the next few months, we’ll explore all 199 countries of the world. Yes, every single one. Whether you’re curious to learn them all or you finally want to stop second-guessing your spelling of Kyrgyzstan, you’re in the right place.
Now if you’ve been following me, you might be wondering: how do you cover 199 countries posting once a week? Here’s the twist, for the rest of the year, I’ll be sharing three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Each post will spotlight 6-7 countries at a time. Think of it like a quick overview to familiarize yourself, especially if you don’t know many or all of the countries in the world. This post will be your guide.
Why? Because knowing the world is more than trivia, it’s perspective. It changes how we connect, how we talk, how we understand each other. And honestly, it’s just plain cool when someone can place a country on a map without blinking.
So, let’s dive in. Get comfy and let’s explore the world together.
If you couldn’t already tell from the hints within the title of this post, we’ll start by reviewing Africa. The countries we’ll be covering today are as follows: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, and Burundi. In other words, from Sahara to Botswana’s rich mines.
Hand drawn flag of Algeria
ALGERIA
Official name: People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Pronunciation: Al-jee-ree-uh
Capital: Algiers
Location: Top of Africa in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region within the Northern Hemisphere.
Surrounding countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Libya
Official language: Arabic, Tamazight
Climate: Dry also known as arid or semi arid
Most known for: Vast oil and gas reserves
Fun fact: In the article, 26 Interesting Facts About Algeria, “Algerians frequently invite visitors and friends to drink tea with them. In a cafe, having just one cup with a host is acceptable, but in someone’s house, three cups is considered customary (Caitriona Maria, 2025)
Recent news article: Intra African Trade Fair 2025
My knowledge: I have no knowledge of Algeria
Hand drawn flag of Angola
ANGOLA
Official name: Republic of Angola
Pronunciation: Ang-gow-luh
Capital: Luanda
Location: Southern half of the continent in the Southern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia.
Official language: Portugese
Climate: Tropical
Most known for: Natural resources reserves, such as oil and diamonds
Fun fact: According to the article, 5 Fun Facts About Angola, Cabinda (Angola’s exclave, which is a coastal province) is considered to be a geographic anomaly as it physically separated from the rest of the country by a strip of land belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo (Yuri Kim, 2025).
Recent news article: Angola Oil & Gas 2025
My knowledge: Again, not familiar with Angola, but I’m curious to know more
Hand drawn flag of Benin
BENIN
Official name: Republic of Benin
Pronunciation: Buh-neen
Capital: Porto-Novo
Location: Lower western portion in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria
Official language: French
Climate: Tropical
Most known for: The birth place and spiritual home of Vodun (Voodoo).
Fun fact: In the article, 21 Interesting Facts About Benin, it says “Although Porto-Novo is the capital city, the government sits in Cotonou, the country’s largest city.
Recent news article: Solar Project
My knowledge: Not familiar with Benin
Hand drawn flag of Botswana
BOTSWANA
Official name: Republic of Botswana
Pronunciation: Baat-swaa-nuh
Capital: Gaborone
Location: Southern portion in the Southern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Official language: English
Climate: Dry
Most known for: Rich natural heritage and diamond production
Fun fact: More elephants than people according to Christina Leitner in her article Botswana Fun Facts: Cultural, Wildlife, and Natural Wonders.
Recent news article: Public Holiday Declared After Historic Championship
My knowledge: Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with Botswana either
Hand drawn flag of Burkina Faso
BURKINA FASO
Official name: People’s Republic of Burkina Faso
Pronunciation: br-kee-nuh-faa-sow
Capital: Ouagadouguo
Location: Western part of the country in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’ivoire, Mali, Niger
Official language: Mòoré, Fula, Dyula, Bissa
Climate: Tropical
Most known for: Rich African Art and Culture.
Fun fact: If you are into the arts and films, Burkina Faso is known for hosting one of the largest and most important film festivals in Africa, which showcases African Cinema. The country also hosts the largest market for handmade crafts (sounds like my kind of place!). Here is more information on the FESPACO film festival. Please note, the information on the site in not in English.
Recent news article: Prime Minister addresses General Assembly of UN in New York (September 23-29, 2025)
My knowledge: I have no previous knowledge of Burkina Faso
Hand drawn flag of Burundi
BURUNDI
Official name: The Republic of Burundi
Capital: Gitega
Location: It is close to the equator on the southern portion in the Southern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Official language: Kirundi, English, French
Climate: Tropical
Most known for: Specialty Arabica coffee, significant tea industry, and renowned Royal Drummers
Fun fact: In 2014, group jogging was banned. For more information and history as to what led to the banning of group jogging, you can read more from this article, How Jogging in Burundi Became an Act of War, by Peter-Frick Wright.
Recent news article: Burundi’s vital expanded vaccination program
My knowledge: I have no personal knowledge in regard to Burundi
Exploring countries like Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, and Burundi reminds us just how layered and diverse the African continent truly is. From rich histories and vibrant cultures to surprising fun facts that break stereotypes, each nation offers a unique lens into Africa’s past, present, and potential. Hopefully, this glimpse sparks curiosity to dig deeper, because there’s always more beneath the surface.
Your turn: Have you visited or learned about any of these countries before? What surprised you the most? Comment down below.
This post is part of the Around the World series, spotlighting countries that deserve attention. If' you’re enjoying this journey, stay tuned for more cultural insights and global highlights. From Sahara to Diamonds: 6 African Nations to Know is just the beginning.
For further climate information, check out NOAA’s “What Are the Different Climate Types?” here.
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.***
