Ghana's Atlantic Coast is lined with old forts (castles) built by various European powers during the 17th Century. Initially, the forts were used to store goods for export, later the slave-trade turned many into prison dungeons. The Cape Coast Castle is the most impressive of Ghana's old forts. It was originally built by the Dutch in 1637, later expanded by the Swedes, finally the British took control of it in 1664 and turned it into their colonial headquarters. It stayed that way for the next 200 years until they moved the capital to Accra in 1877.

The Cape Coast Castle is now an excellent museum with information about the history of Ghana, the slave-trade and local culture. President Obama visited the castle on his tour of the country earlier this year. Find out more about Ghana's top attractions...

_{President Obama visiting the Cape Coast Castle, Ghana -- © Getty Images}

You are looking at one of the largest churches on earth. It took 1500 workers just under four years and cost $300 million to build, doubling the national debt of this already poor country in West Africa. It can accommodate 18,000 worshipers on any given Sunday, unfortunately there aren't even close to that number of Catholics attending regular services here. It is constructed entirely of marble imported from Italy. Where is this?

Check back next week for the answer along with more information about this destination.

_{Image © Sierra Hutchinson}

'Tis the season for gift buying and I've put together a list of gift ideas that should appeal to anyone planning a trip to Africa. Gifts include CD's, beasts of burden, newspapers, air travel vouchers and more ....

Christmas is celebrated widely throughout Africa but for most Africans sharing a meal and attending church is what it's all about. But you will still see window shops decorated with fake snow and people dressed as Santa, so the commercial aspects of the holidays are somewhat alive and well.

Read: Top 10 Africa Travel Gift Ideas.

_{Image of a Maasai Lade holding necklaces from the Leakey Collection (i.e. what I want for Christmas) -- © Leakey Collection}

Finally, it looks like Zimbabwe is getting out of its terrible economic slump. The coalition, forced on Mugabe after last year's elections, has helped stabilize the country and tourism is on the rise. According to a recent AP report, "The number of tourists visiting Zimbabwe this year has more than tripled". The initial number was so low, this probably sounds better than it is, but at least the trend is in the right direction. With the forced power sharing agreement many foreign governments have lifted their travel warnings, which has undoubtedly helped tourism. Zimbabwe was never very dangerous to visit, even during its worst times, but perception is everything and tourists are quite risk averse, after all they want to enjoy their holiday.

Mugabe's regime itself also put a lot of people off from visiting. The idea that your tourist dollars may end up in his pocket is not very appealing. But, of course, it's the ordinary man and woman in the street that really suffers when tourists don't come. No one to buy their crafts or stay at hotels where they work. Zimbabwe is blessed with the magnificent Victoria Falls, excellent national parks, beautiful landscapes, great fishing, golfing, rafting ... (you name it) and very friendly people. It has always been one of the safest countries to visit in Africa and one of the best to explore independently. Hopefully this recent upward trend will continue and Zimbabwe will be back on every tourist's Southern Africa itinerary. And hey, they're using the US Dollar as their currency now, you won't even have to change money when you get there.

_{Zimbabwean Pottery, Waiting For Buyers -- Getty Images/Neil Beer}