Guinea

Guinea is often called the water tower of West Africa, and for good reason. The Niger, Senegal, and Gambia rivers all begin their journeys in Guinea's Fouta Djallon highlands, a dramatic plateau of sandstone cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and lush valleys that feeds water to half the region. The country also sits on roughly a third of the world's known bauxite reserves - the raw material for aluminum - making it one of the most mineral-rich nations on the planet.

Guinea was the first French colony in Africa to vote for independence, saying a decisive "Non" to Charles de Gaulle in 1958. The French left in a hurry, reportedly ripping out telephone wires and smashing china as they went. Despite decades of political turbulence since, Guinean culture has thrived. The country's musical traditions are legendary - Bembeya Jazz and the balafon orchestras of the Mandinka people influenced African popular music far beyond Guinea's borders. Conakry, the capital, is a chaotic, humid peninsula city where the sounds of djembe drumming mix with car horns and the call to prayer.