The source of rumors since the 1600s, the ancient stone structure known as Great Zimbabwe was not discovered until 1871. Now an official World Heritage site, you don't have to wait more than 200 years to find this treasure in southern Zimbabwe. Fly into Harare and head south about 150 miles, by road or plane. En route, you may want to read up on the storied history of these ruins, which are the remnants of an ancient kingdom and were built over several centuries (the exact origins, still debated, add to the mystery and intrigue surrounding this site). Visitors can either stay on a hotel close to the ruins or in the nearby town of Masvingo, which offers a greater variety of services for tourists. In addition to the Shagashe Game Park, Queen Victoria Gardens and the Mucheke River, Masvingo also has a golf course for those looking to bring a touch of "traditional" vacationing to the trip. Switzerland native Marcus Baeder, who spent time wandering the ruins a few years back, recalls that from what is preserved he "was able to imagine what it must have been like to live there centuries ago." Now that's the mark of good ruins.

These five destinations are a mere sampling of what's offered in a region encompassing roughly 50 countries (due to political disagreements, the exact number is disputed) -- the history, natural beauty and wildlife described here are by no means a complete picture of the travel opportunities to be found in Africa. But if you're looking to break the cookie-cutter vacation mold, look to this vast continent for a unique offering of destinations "off the beaten path."

Zimbabwe

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