When people come to Africa for a vacation, not many of them consider booking some golfing. However, this sport is getting more and more popular across the continent and you can find amazing courses—there are more than 800 of them, so you’re bound to find something you like. Here are our top picks.
Leopard Creek, South Africa
If you don’t mind an interested audience of impalas and baboons watching you play, this elegant course at the border with Mozambique is a real paradise on Earth for golfers. Leopard Creek might be manicured, but it peacefully coexists with the local wild fauna. When you reach the par-five 13th hole, you can even see a hippo or an elephant and when you get on the elevated tee on the 15th, you’ll have a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding savanna.
The Cascades at Soma Bay, Egypt
This is how you make a golf course in the desert! This course is full of lush greens, water traps, and problematic lakes—it’s not for the faint of heart. There are also palm trees speckled all around the fairways, bunkers on most holes and plenty of desert sand that will trap your ball as soon as you stray too far from the green. If that’s too much for you, the Cascades also has a nine-hole par-three course, a driving range, putting and pitching greens and a team of professionals to help you get your swing in check.
Nyali Golf and Country Club, Kenya
Kenya is your typical safari and beach holiday destination, but you can spend your free time golfing as well. Nyali in Mombasa is a peaceful golf club nestled on a hilltop. Its 18-hole course is known for its Madagascan Flame trees and vervet monkeys and it’s home to some of the fastest greens in Kenya. It also has a junior course—one of its kind in Kenya, perfect for beginners. If you need some extra help grabbing your gear, click here and get all the info you need to become a pro golfer (or at least look like one). Once you’re equipped, there’s no better place to work on your skills than Nyali.
Mazagan Golf Club, Morocco
This course was designed by Gary Player, a South African legend, and is one of the best courses in Morocco and the entire continent. Mazagan is a par-72 course that stretches along the beach and sand dunes. The course is in pristine condition and usually provides people with a chill playing experience. However, when the winds of the Atlantic hit, you can expect a nice challenge.
Windhoek Golf and Country Club, Namibia
You might not even consider Namibia when thinking about African golf, but this southern country has 8 golf clubs, Windhoek Golf and Country Club is the most popular. Stretching over 72 hectares of bush and vegetation, this par-71 course will provide you with a nice challenge with its lush fairways winding through the trees. There are also wetlands and deep bunkers to provide additional obstacles. However, with its lux four-star resort hotel attached, this is a nice treat for all visiting golfers.
Lemuria Golf Course, Seychelles
This par-70 course is relatively short, but don’t let that fool you. Challenges can be found wherever you look, so make sure to pack plenty of balls. The record for lost balls stands at whopping 40, so play smart! Even if you lose all your balls, you will get to enjoy amazing views of the island and forget all about the challenges of golfing.
If you get the time, make sure to rest from your exciting African vacation and have a golfing break at one of these courses. You will definitely love the challenge and enjoy the scenery that will make your experience even better.