Rivers divide and unite. Rivers connect and isolate, they are the true lifeblood of our globe.

Over half of the land mass of Africa is made up of the continent’s river basins, sustaining over 500 million people and the varied eco-systems across multiple countries. September 25th marks World Rivers Day so in this notebook entry we’d like to introduce you to what we consider to be Africa’s Top 5 Rivers.

Nile River

Source: debatable!

The obvious place to start is the Nile, probably the most famous, being the world’s longest. The Nile passes through an impressive 11 countries, covering over 6,600km (4,100 miles) and connecting East to Northern Africa bringing life to millions of humans, animals and keeping the vast swathes of desert alive. The source of the Nile is hotly contested, although researchers do tend to now agree that there are multiple sources, although the highlands of Burundi claim to be the furthest headstream!

Congo River

Source: eastern DRC

Probably the least known of our selection is the Congo River, which is notable as being the world’s deepest and Africa’s second longest (4,700km/2,900 miles), yet biggest by volume. It remains a largely unexplored river, as it disappears deep into the rainforest where few humans have knowingly ventured. The history of the Congo River is a sad story of corruption and violence, one that has shaped the Congo and DRC as we know them today. For a first-hand and true account of just how imposing the Congo River is, we highly recommend reading Blood River by Tim Butcher; his story of a life-threatening, and life-changing, journey down these infamous waters.

Kavango River

Source: highlands of Angola

The Kavango River, also known as the Okavango, rises in Angola and flows some 1,600km (1,000 miles) across Namibia’s Zambezi Region (formerly Caprivi Strip) and into the sandy Kalahari region of Botswana, emptying via a multitude of streams into the wetlands of the Okavango Delta. The Kavango is unique in that it is the only east-flowing river that doesn’t reach an ocean. Along its course, the Kavango brings perennial greenery to an otherwise barren landscape and supports a larger population of wildlife than humans along its banks.

Zambezi River

Source: north-western Zambia

The fourth longest river in Africa (2,574km/1,599 miles), the Zambezi is probably the most visited of our selection. From its source, the Zambezi flows through Angola, then serves as a frontier between Namibia and Zambia before tumbling in dramatic fashion over Victoria Falls and continuing its flow through Zimbabwe then Mozambique, eventually emptying into the Indian Ocean. 

Along its course, the Zambezi is now a major source of hydroelectric power, there are four dams, however the two major ones are at Kariba in Zimbabwe and Cahora Bassa in Mozambique. The Kariba dam was built in 1958 and as a result created the world’s largest (by volume) artificial lake of the same name. The Zambezi features in many of our wonderful itineraries; exploring by boat, canoe, on foot and of course a visit to Victoria Falls are all popular experiences on this mighty river.

Mara River

Source: highlands of Kenya

Finally, we're heading over to East Africa and the Mara River running from the highlands of Kenya and draining into Lake Victoria in Tanzania. The Mara most famously plays a dramatic role in the annual Great Migration, when millions of wildebeest and zebra cross the river on their annual migration following the rains in search of nourishing new grazing.

While it is most certainly one of Africa’s greatest rivers, the Mara is just 395km (245 miles) long, yet is possibly the most affected by human activity and has suffered rapid degradation in recent years. A huge population of people rely on the river for survival; domestic, agricultural and hydroelectric demands have all pushed the river’s limits. Unfortunate conflicts have been the result, however local government, communities and tourism providers are coming together to implement sustainable practices to preserve the future of the Mara River.

Those are our top five, but there are plenty of other notable rivers criss-crossing the African continent so we must also tip our hats to the Limpopo, the Niger, the Orange and Senegal rivers, as well as the multitude of smaller tributaries, channels and waterways that all play a key role in making Africa the destination that it is.