Minimalist black and white heart illustration, simple symbol to showcase this post heart of Africa.

Editor’s note: This post will continue to evolve just as I do.

Hello, traveler, welcome back to Around the World, our journey through every nation on Earth. I’ll be publishing new posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the rest of the year (unless there’s an American holiday*). Each post will spotlight a group of countries at a time. Think of it as an ongoing passport stamp, one post at a time.

Today’s stop is the Heart of Africa with nations that sit at the center of the continent, often overlooked on maps but pulsing with history, culture, and resilience.

World geography is more than borders and capitals. It’s a chance to see beyond our bubble, to understand names and flags we might never encounter, and to realize that every country, no matter how small or how remote, has its own story.

So let’s dive into the heart of a continent that has shaped human history and continues to shape the future.

CABO VERDE

Official name: Republic of Cabo Verde

Pronunciation: kaa-bow-vehr-day

Capital: Praia

Location: Island country is in Western Africa off the coast of Senegal in the Northern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: Near Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau

Official language: Portuguese

Climate: Dry, tropical

Most known for: Morna Music

Fun fact: More Cabo Verdeans live abroad than on the islands themselves. To learn more, click here.

Recent news article: This year Cabo Verde became an upper middle income country. Read this link to learn more.

My knowledge: Not too familiar with Cabo Verde. The only thing I know is that the country previously went by Cape Verde in English. But Cabo Verde is the official Portuguese name they requested to go by.

CAMEROON

Official name: Republic of Cameroon

Pronunciation: ka-mr-oon

Capital: Yaoundé

Location: Central Africa on the Gulf of Guinea just above the equator in the Northern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, and Gabon

Official language: French and English

Climate: Hot and humid as we all semi-arid and dry

Most known for: Home to one of Africa’s largest volcanoes, Mount Cameroon.

Fun fact: The World’s Largest Frog, Goliath Frog, can get up to 45 cm, call Cameroon home. Here is a video from YouTube that provides much information on this frog.

Recent news article: Here is an article about the Democratic elections that are ahead for Cameroon title 2025 Presidential Election in Cameroon. A Decisive Turning Point or More of the Same?

My knowledge: I am unfamiliar with Cameroon. Interest if you have any experiences of your own.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Official name: Central African Republic

Pronunciation: sen-truhl a-fruh-kuhn ruh-pub-bluhk

Capital: Bangui

Location: In Central Africa, just above the equator in the Northern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Republic of Congo

Official language: French, Sango

Climate: Humid, tropical

Most known for: Rich, natural resources like diamonds and gold

Fun fact: The African Pole of Inaccessibility is located in Central African Republic near the town of Obo. This point is the furthest from any coastline in Africa. Due to its remote location as well as a few other factors, it is difficult to get too. However, Daniel Garcia-Castellanos shares his journey there. Click here to read.

Recent news article: Here is information about CAR’s general election which will take place on December 28th, 2025. To learn more, click here.

My knowledge: I’ve been aware of Central African Republic as I was assigned this country for a project back in 2012.

CHAD

Official name: The Republic of Chad

Pronunciation: Ch-ad

Capital: N’Djamena

Location: Located in North, Central Africa in the Northern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: Niger, Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria

Official language: Arabic, French

Climate: Hot, arid desert and tropical

Most known for: It’s extreme ethnic and linguistic diversity with over 200 ethnic groups and more than 120 indigenous languages. To read more, I’ve found this article Exploring Chad’s Ethnolinguistic Diversity: Major Languages and Dialect article.

Fun fact: The Enned Massif is one of the World’s most significant sites for prehistoric art. If that is something up your alley, here is an article with more information.

Recent news article: Did you know if Chad it was recent decided to allow the president to run unlimited times? If you would’ve asked me, I wouldn’t have known. But here is an article regarding it, click here.

My knowledge: I’m not familiar with Chad

COMOROS

Official name: The Union of the Comoros

Pronunciation: kaa-mr-owz

Capital: Moroni

Location: Island country located in South Eastern Africa off the coast of Mozambique in the Southern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: Near Mozambique and Madagascar

Official language: Comorian, French, Arabic

Climate: Tropical

Most known for: World’s largest producer of Ylang-Ylang, a fragrant flower used in perfumes. For more information on Ylang-Ylang, you can read here.

Fun fact: Here is a direct quote from 12 Interesting Facts About Comoros, “With fewer than a million people, Comoros is one of the least populous countries in the world but its one of the most densely populated.”

Recent news article: Comoros celebrated 50 years of Independence this year. To celebrate they hosted the Sixth Edition of the International Crafts Fair (SIACOM). Here is more information on regarding the SIACOM.

My knowledge: I don’t have any prior knowledge of Comoros.

CONGO

Official name: Republic of the Congo

Pronunciation: rip-uh-lik uhv dhuh kong-go

Capital: Brazzaville

Location: In Central Africa on the equator in both Northern and Southern Hemisphere

Surrounding countries: Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic African Republic, and Belize

Official language: French

Climate: Equatorial climate

Most known for: Rich in natural resources like timber, petroleum, and minerals like copper, gold, and diamonds.

Fun fact: Only country where Bonobos, a type of Chimpanzee, can be found.

Recent news article: New Gas Code Launch this month. Read this article here.

My knowledge: Unfamiliar with Congo

As we leave the Heart of Africa, it’s worth remembering that maps aren’t just lines on paper. They’re living stories of people, cultures, and places that shape the rhythm of our shared world. The countries at Africa’s core remind us that what often feels far away is in fact connected to us, through trade, history, music, food, and even the air we breathe.

The lesson here is simple: just as a heart keeps life flowing, geography keeps perspective alive. The more we learn about the world, the more we strengthen our understanding of ourselves.

This is just one stop in our Around the World journey. Come back each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as we continue to explore other corners of the globe, one group of countries at a time. The more we open our maps, the more we open our minds.

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.***

From Sahara to Diamonds 💎 They say travel changes you, but if the journey begins before the plane takes off? I haven’t left the country yet. No passport stamps. No surprise photos from Bali or passport selfies in Paris. All the while international adventures are definitely on my radar, the truth is, I’ve had different priorities. Life has called me to grow, build, and show up in other important ways first. But still, I wander. Through books, documentaries, conversations. Through culture, art, and history. I study maps the way some people scroll through real estate listings, eyes wide, imagination on fire. And in all that wandering, Africa keeps calling. There’s a quote that at sticks with me: “The desert is the soul of Africa”. - Ryszard Kapuścinśki. Isn’t that something? The soul of an entire continent resting in the vast silence of the Sahara. It reminds me that exploration isn’t always about movement, it’s about depth. So until I board that international flight, I’ll keep discovering the world from right where I am. Through stories, through learning, through listening. And when the time is right, I’ll be ready. Not just to see the world, but to meet it. ✨ From Sahara to Diamonds, the journey is already unfolding. https://www.inspirethose.com/blog/from-sahara-to-diamonds #TravelDreams #CuriousMinds #FutureTraveler #LearningTheWorld #NewPost #Blogger #TravelSeries #Travel #AllCountries #Africa #Angola #Algeria #Benin #Botswana #CentralAfricanRepublic #Comoros

🌍 Just the Beginning 🌎 Geography has always been something I’ve found fascinating, not for the sake of trivia or showing what I know, but because learning different places, cultures, and civilizations gives us a broader perspective on the world. And let’s be honest, sometimes the world can feel overwhelmingly big. There are nearly 200 countries, thousands of languages, and countless ways of life that exist outside of our daily view. That can make it hard to know where to start, or even feel like it’s worth trying. Thats exactly why I’m launching this new series: Around the World. It’s a quick, brief introduction of every country in the world. It’s not to overwhelm rather to get familiarized with. Not to teach, but to share what I’m learning along the way that makes geography feel approachable, meaningful, and even personal. My hope is to help create small windows into places that might seem far off, but are filled with stories, people, and cultures worth knowing. You don’t need to be a geography buff to follow along. There’s no test, no rush. You can go at your own pace, explore what interests you, and maybe even come away seeing the world a little differently. The journey starts tomorrow. This is just the beginning. Check out the newest post “Just the Beginning” (link in bio). #AroundTheWorld #GlobalPerspective #NewPost #AroundTheWorld #CuriousAboutTheWorld #GeographyAwareness #CulturalConnection #GeographyForEveryone #ExploreTheWorld #Adventures #HopelessWanderer #blogger #TravelBlogger #DreamsOfTravel #Travel #Plane #Flying

✨ The Finale of Creation ✨ 31 days. Dozens of prompts. And at least three moments where I asked myself, “Why do I do this to myself?” 😅 But honestly? That’s the beauty of it. The final chapter of my Creative Creations series taught me as much about laughing at my own chaos as it did about discipline. Here are a few extra lessons I picked up along the way: • Coffee is a creative tool, not a beverage • Deadlines feel less scary if you rename them as “plot twists” • inspiration usually shows up after you start, not before • It’s okay if your “masterpiece” looks like a doodle, art still counts. This finale isn’t just an ending. It’s a reminder that every little, messy, funny, imperfect attempt adds up to something bigger. And tomorrow? A new series begins. One with its own surprises waiting to unfold.

✨ Everyday Epiphanies ✨ What happens when you try to learn something new every single day for a month? **Spoiler: random trivia, surprising lessons, deep reflections… and yes, way too many screenshots 😅 This post is a little longer (sorry, not sorry), but it’s full of the weird, the fun, and meaningful discoveries I made during my 31-day learning challenge. And don’t worry, breaks are part of the process. I had days I had to catch up, but showing up again mattered more than being perfect. ☕️ Grab your drink, swipe the link in the bio, and maybe you’ll find an epiphany of your own too. • • • • • #EverydayEpiphanies #CreativeCreations #LearningChallenge #CuriousMind #PersonalGrowthJourney #DailyDiscovery #MindsetShift #ChallengeYourself #NewExperiences #StayCurious #CreativityEveryday #EpiphanyMoments #KnowledgeIsPower #SelfGrowth #InspiredLiving