How to Identify African Countries in Street View

Africa is the most diverse continent on Earth, yet many geography game players treat it as a single, undifferentiated region. This guide breaks Africa into its distinct sub-regions and gives you the specific visual clues to identify each country with confidence in LostStreet and similar games.

First: Is It Africa?

Before identifying the country, confirm you are in Africa. Key continental clues:

• Red or orange laterite soil on unpaved roads.
• Acacia trees (flat-topped, umbrella-shaped) in savanna regions.
• Corrugated iron roofs on houses.
• Older Japanese or Chinese vehicles (Toyota Land Cruisers, Isuzu trucks).
• Hand-painted shop signs with bright colours.
• The sun is high in the sky and shadows are short (equatorial region).

West Africa

Countries with Street View coverage: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Togo, Benin.

Language clues: English (Nigeria, Ghana), French (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Togo, Benin).

• Ghana: The Google car has distinctive black tape on the roof rack. English signage. Green, gold, and red flag with a black star.
• Nigeria: English signage. Very dense urban areas. References to specific Nigerian states on signs. Green and white flag.
• Senegal: French signage. More Sahel-like landscape (drier, sandier). Green, yellow, red flag with a green star.
• Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire): French signage. Orange, white, green flag. More tropical vegetation than Senegal.

East Africa

Countries with Street View coverage: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda.

• Kenya: Left-hand traffic. The Google car has a black snorkel on the front right. English and Swahili signage. Red, green, black, and white flag.
• Tanzania: Left-hand traffic. Similar to Kenya but generally less developed road infrastructure. Blue, black, green flag with yellow stripes.
• Ethiopia: Unique Ge'ez (Ethiopic) script on signs — completely unlike any other African country. Green, yellow, red flag with a blue circle.
• Rwanda: Very hilly, green landscape. French and English signage. Blue, yellow, green flag with a sun symbol.

Southern Africa

Countries with Street View coverage: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar.

• South Africa: Left-hand traffic. English signage (plus Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa). Very modern road infrastructure. Yellow and black chevron bollards. Distinctive green highway signs.
• Botswana: Left-hand traffic. Very flat, dry Kalahari landscape. English signage. Light blue, black, white flag.
• Namibia: Right-hand traffic (former German colony). German and English signage. Very arid, desert landscape. Red, blue, green flag with a sun.
• Madagascar: Right-hand traffic. French signage. Unique red laterite roads. Distinctive baobab trees. Red and white flag.

North Africa

Countries with Street View coverage: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt.

• Morocco: Arabic and French signage. Red flag with a green star. Distinctive Islamic architecture. Atlas Mountains visible in background.
• Tunisia: Arabic and French signage. Red and white flag with crescent and star. More Mediterranean feel than Morocco.
• Egypt: Arabic signage. Red, white, black flag with an eagle. Nile Delta vegetation or desert landscape. Ancient monuments occasionally visible.