When comparing Asia and Africa, there are similarities and perhaps even more differences. It is important to realize that differences make the world an interesting place.
Asia is the largest continent in the world, covering a massive 44.58 million km². Africa, on the other hand, is the second-largest continent at 30.37 million km. square and comprises 54 countries.
Here's a table summarizing the key differences in size:
While Africa may be the oldest inhabited continent on Earth, it still lags behind the others in terms of infrastructure. In contrast, Asia, with the largest continental population of all and certainly an even longer coastline, can boast the most impressive mountain range in the world, the Himalayas, a huge variety of climates and cuisines that have spread all over the world.
Asia has made more impact on the rest of the world than Africa which is still a place where exploration proved extremely difficult and even today, the influence of the world’s most powerful nations and 21st Century life are patchy.
Read also: African Influence on Ancient Asia
Geography and Climate
Inevitably, such a vast continent with several degrees of latitude either side of the Equator has a huge variety. The Northern Coastline is the Mediterranean and Arabic while the Southern Tip is where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic Water coming straight up from the Antarctic.
The weather in Asia is as diverse as the size of its landmass. While it is difficult to generalise and weather systems seem less predictable than in years gone by, monsoons are the single biggest climatic factor in much of Asia. Some countries actually experience differing monsoons in different parts of the country. Countries like the Philippines, Thailand, East Timor, Indonesia, Singapore and parts of India have a tropical climate with dry and wet seasons. In contrast, others have four distinct seasons with huge variations when altitude becomes a factor such as Korea and Japan.
The Mediterranean in the North and South Africa in the South have what is commonly described as a Mediterranean climate, never very cold but neither extremely hot. The sea influence moderates temperatures around the year. In between, there is the vast Sahara Desert, the Sahil which is susceptible to drought and the Equatorial Region with significant annual rainfall and dense forest in many countries. Further south is the region where the wildlife attracts huge tourist numbers each year. There is certainly a rainy season here and migrating herds follow the rains in search of good grazing every year. It is never cold by day here at any time of the year, but it can be extremely hot either side of midday.
Culture and Language
Those countries include a number of different tribes at times even within a single nation [1] and a vast array of languages and dialects within a single country. Some of today’s national boundaries were made for colonial convenience rather than the reality of the traditional tribal areas.
There is a multitude of different languages spoken in Asia and the majority do not speak English at all except in countries like the Philippines and Singapore. In contrast, Africa is home to thousands of native languages and dialects, even within a single community. While countries like Burundi, Ethiopia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa speak their respective native languages as their official language, many other countries speak foreign languages like English, Spanish, Arabic, French and Portuguese due to the influence of colonisation. English speaking African countries, also known as Anglophile Nations, include Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, Liberia in West Africa and Zambia, South Sudan, Namibia, Uganda and Malawi over on the East.
Read also: Land Bridge Project
Africa is arguably the most culturally and linguistically diverse continent in the world with most of its countries having at least 10 to 15 languages and ethnic tribes. They share a colonial heritage and duality of language i.e. Both share a belief in superstitions, e.g. Asian cuisine has successfully spread throughout the world thanks to the huge movement of Asian people over the years. African cuisine is less so. Seasonal fruit and vegetables, the local game known as ‘’bush meat’’, dairy, rice and cereals have all found their way into the local diet.
Religion
Several religions were born in Asia; Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Jainism, Islam, Judaism and even Christianity. Religion has also played a major role in Africa with the main religion, Islam, brought from Asia. Just over half of Africa’s people are Muslim with the second most popular religion Christianity. Many of the top tourist attractions in Asia are based around religious sites. They include temples and pagodas throughout Indochina, some with Hindu origins and others strictly Muslim. In contrast, there are few religious attractions of similar appeal in Africa. Lalibela in Ethiopia is one obvious exception.
Modern Influence and Development
The influence of the 21st Century is clearly more evident in Asian life than African life. Despite African countries almost all having colonial rulers at one time, some of the tribes of Africa live as their ancestors did centuries ago. Little has changed from their traditional clothing to their general lifestyles and subsistence living. Although small ethnic tribes still exist in pockets in Asia, that is far less common than in Africa.
Africa has no equivalent to the Great Wall of China and the Trans-Siberian Railway has no equivalent in Africa, Asia huge modern cities are distinctly 21st Century with Africa having few to compare.
Africa’s large cities are different from typical Asian ones. No one walks around cities like Lagos in Nigeria, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania or even Johannesburg in South Africa without being on alert, and certainly not at night in quiet districts; that contrasts with the more modern cities of Asia like Singapore or Hong Kong.
Read also: Understanding Southwest Asia and North Africa
Tourism
There is huge potential for tourism in Africa which remains well behind Asia in popularity. Many Asian countries attract large numbers of tourists every year and there is significant growth in others. That is not the case in Africa. Safaris are very popular so parts of East and Southern Africa have good accommodation in place but when it comes to general tourism, only a small number of countries can cater for increased tourism at this stage. South Africa has an infrastructure to match countries anywhere but elsewhere, there are only pockets of good accommodation and travel infrastructure.
Tourists will find reasonable accommodation along the Mediterranean. Elsewhere in Africa, accommodation of tourist level is currently found in capital cities. Africa is starting to develop as a tourist destination. The catalyst for that has been safaris but there are countries which have a great deal to offer as well. Egypt has a rich history while there was an ancient civilisation in Zimbabwe with the Victoria Falls a stunning site. Cross over into Zambia and visitors will find a stable country where conflict has not existed since independence.
Travellers will see the similarity between Boracay and the Island of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean off Tanzania. The whole of the Indian Ocean coastline on Africa’s eastern side has lovely beaches down through Kenya and Tanzania to Mozambique and South Africa. Tourists can head for Nepal simply to see Mount Everest without thoughts of climbing it. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Angkor in Cambodia is known the world over by everyone with an interest in religion and culture. Angkor Wat was a Hindu temple built during the Khmer Empire. In Ethiopia in North East Africa, there is Lalibela, another with UNESCO recognition.
However, although Asia has parks where wildlife, especially the tiger, finds protection, it cannot compete with the variety and locations where travellers can enjoy a safari. To compensate for that, it has a huge number of attractions that make it worth all the frustrations that tourists can feel from time to time as they travel around. Where else in the world are there vast plains where wild animals roam free? The stunning coastline, especially on the Indian Ocean side, has mile after mile of beautiful beach with the warm crystal waters very enticing.
BEST AFRICAN SAFARI DESTINATIONS (TOP 3)
Challenges in Africa
It is important to realise that the quality and availability of the Internet is far more limited in many parts of Africa than it is in Asia. A hotel may have Internet in public areas, but it is impossible to rely on the quality and often the connection will be lost. As a result, you may be unable to access relevant information when you want it even if it is available online.
Every country in Africa has international airports although for regular flights, it is often more convenient to fly to one of the cities that act as a hub for ongoing flights into neighbouring countries. Johannesburg in South Africa is a case in point as is Nairobi in the east. Tourists may find flying via Johannesburg is the best way to reach neighbouring countries like Botswana, Malawi or Zambia. Direct flights between African countries are limited as illustrated by Johannesburg operating as a hub. In the West, Laos is the equivalent, in the East Nairobi.
Because there are limited flights, and fewer people are flying, prices are likely to be proportionally higher than they would be between Asian airports; budget travel in Africa is more difficult. Border crossings in Africa are not for the impatient and tourists need to be well-prepared with all the necessary documents. If they are travelling on a bus, they need to be sure that it is going as far as they need to go. If it is a matter being dropped at a border post, there will be transport on the other side but, be aware that travellers are in need, prices can be high.
Independent travelling is far less common in Africa than in Asia. Travellers stand out from the crowd, especially in remote places and at night time. Public transport is usually available but used largely by locals, so tourists need to be prepared to be stared at if they get on board.
Africa has been described as the Dark Continent and in some ways that still applies. It is far more difficult to do online in-depth research on parts of Africa than it is to learn more about the highlights of Asia. Certainly, there is general information but information on the practicalities of travelling around is not detailed.
South Africa: An Exception
One way to answer this complex question is by analyzing the data from the Country Similarity Index. The data suggests that South Africa is the most similar Sub-Saharan African nation to East Asia.
Most East Asian countries have populations that are much older than the global average. Sub-Saharan African countries tend to have younger populations. However, South Africa’s median age is 28 years old, the highest among countries in the region. Furthermore, South Africa’s average education and income levels are among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its GDP per capita is around $14,400, much more than a majority of countries in the region. It also has one of the highest literacy rates. Unlike most Sub-Saharan African countries, the majority of its people work in the service sector, not agriculture.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, infrastructure is not nearly as well developed as in most East Asian countries. However, South Africa has some of the best infrastructure on the continent. The country has the second highest number of vehicles per capita in the region, behind only Botswana. It also has by far the most frequently used passenger railroad system in Sub-Saharan Africa. Urban areas in South Africa generally have well-developed water supply and sanitation systems. Major cities have access to treated drinking water and modern sanitation facilities, contributing to better public health outcomes than other Sub-Saharan African countries.
Generally speaking, East Asian countries tend to have cooler climates than Sub-Saharan African countries. Since South Africa is at the continent’s southern-most point and much of its land is at a high elevation, it has the coolest temperature in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of Lesotho.
East Asia is well known for its many famous peaks, like Mt. Everest and Mt. Fuji. However, Africa is not an especially mountainous continent. South Africa is one exception. The Drakensberg is a stunning and rugged mountain range that spans several of its provinces.
The Country Similarity Index suggests that China is the most similar East Asian country to South Africa. Both China and South Africa have large and diverse populations. They also have experienced rapid urbanization and modernization in recent decades. This has led to significant social and economic changes. The economy of these countries relies on industry. China has many large-scale factories, while South Africa has a lot of mines.
Africa can be a particularly frustrating continent when it comes to travel, and at times, the documentation to cross borders. Asian countries have more experience in tourism and the need for a suitable infrastructure to encourage visitors. Africa has some catching up to do in that respect. Its many attractions still make it well worth a visit with Asia currently more popular and developed as such a tourist destination.
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