Awe-Inspiring Destinations That Look like Wakanda

“Shuri: Did he freeze?

Okoye: Like an antelope in headlights.”

Who else is frozen by amazing visuals of techno-utopic Wakanda? Even Thomas Moore would freeze after seeing the technology used in Wakanda. Who wouldn’t like to live in a country where death is optional after all?

Most of the futuristic technological movies created on screen lack one thing: Culture! As if we will all turn into robots with the improvement of technology and lose our traditions, nature, ethnicity. Black Panther breaks the cliche and blends culture with technology in a unique way.

Some movies trigger the travel urge we have inside. After hearing Idrissa Soumaoro and Ali Farka Toure’s Bèrèbèrè playing at the bazaar where T’challa and Nakia were chatting around, it gets even more difficult to bear the itch at one’s feet.

Wakanda is a fictional place, but how thin is the line between reality and fiction? We’ve listed the places where the creators of Wakanda possibly get their inspiration from. Let’s have a look together.

The Bazaar of Golden City

Photo Credit: marvel cinematic universe

In the movie, at the heart of the city, the bazaar is where you can find handmade artefacts, smart gifts such as key chains that recognize your fingerprint and find you wherever you go.

Photo Credit: the color crush

Just as Wakanda has the Golden City market, Nairobi has one of the biggest open-air markets in Africa. Karatina Open Market in Karatina Town is only 130 km away from Nairobi. Why not try this bazaar for some hand-made baskets, colourful textile and yummy street bites?

Jabari Village

Photo Credit: imdb

Located in the mountains, Jabari Village’s locals believe that Hanuman the Monkey King used to sleep in the snow to maintain his strength. Thus nap sessions in the snow are provided here for the curious visitors who want to experience the traditional Jabari village life.

Photo Credit: mko photography

Well, if you don’t like the cold, you should think to visit the northern lake shores of Lake Turkana and visit the smallest Kenya tribes, the El Molo villages are the best to understand the mystery and unique lifestyles of Africa. They don’t believe in Hanuman, but they have many more stories to satisfy your curiosity.

Coronation Ceremony at Warrior Falls

Photo Credit: imdb

Many people from all around Wakanda come to Warrior Falls to attend the ceremony held to celebrate the ascension of the new king. Warrior Falls was shot at Argentina and Brazil’s Iguazu Falls. And in height, width and beauty, its only rival is Victoria Falls that is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Photo Credit: African Budget Safaris

Victoria Falls presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was described by the Kololo tribe living in the area as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ – ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. Once you are there, close your eyes and imagine T’Challa beating Erik Killmonger for some time.

Royal Palace of Wakanda

Photo Credit: imdb

The Royal Family of Wakanda resides in the capital of Central Wakanda. There is an amazing view of the city from the hall and the Throne Room in the movie.

Photo Credit: Peak Planet

Sultan’s Palace in Zanzibar offers the same kind of historical journey. This imposing building was once the residence of the Zanzibari royalty. It’s now a museum where you can find much of the royal paraphernalia. Banqueting tables, portraits, thrones and water closets are exhibited. To know more about the stories behind the walls, you can get Princess Salme’s fascinating book “Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar”, which you can buy in the museum and local bookshops.

Incredible High Tech Fashion Shows

Photo Credit: wox.com

There is a laboratory where mind-blowing inventions take place every day in Wakanda. There are also tech fashion shows in which the latest wearable technology on display.

Photo Credit: BSOpen

Thankfully a similar event (well, perhaps not that technological) is held on the 3rd of August in Nairobi this year. Brads Fashion Show most identified a higher fashion show of the year. Do not miss the splendid runway fashion show, catwalk, designers’ works, colourful exhibitions, live band performances, wine testing, red carpet coverage. The event starts at 4 pm at Michael Joseph Center.

Meet the White Rhinoceros

Photo Credit: artstation.com

The Border Tribe lives on the mountainous borders of Wakanda. In the village, they breed the White Rhinoceros. The giants are friendly enough to be hand fed but people still need to ask W’Kabi.

Photo Credit: Bush Tracks

They are not only at the movie, but White rhinos can also to be found at Kruger National Park in South Africa. So it’s possible for us to have a very close experience to T’Challa’s by visiting Kruger National Park and seeing these beautiful giants.

Heart-Shaped Herb at the Hall of the Kings

Photo Credit: collider.com

This native herb of Wakanda enhances strength, speed, stamina, durability, and instincts. It is traditionally used for an out of body experience to commune with the dead temporarily in the Ancestral Plane.

Photo Credit: Sapeople

The closest herb to The Heart-Shaped Herb is the Protea. Protea dates back approximately 300 million years and they are considered to be among the oldest families of flowering plants on the planet. Kirstenbosch Gardens is located at the eastern foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town and displays plants from the remarkably diverse Protea Family. Visit Kirstenbosch Gardens for an afternoon, we guarantee you’ll have bliss in this stunning floral kingdom.

Mount Bashenga

Photo Credit: tangasta604.artstation.com

This mountain is where the Wakandan stocks of precious Vibranium are. It is named after the warrior-shaman of Bashenga. There is a small factory on the way to the mountain.

Photo Credit: Magical Kenya

If Mount Mashenga is not your choice, you can try it’s more climbed cousin Mount Kenya. Plenty of wildlife and stunning lake views are on your path to the Lenana summit at 4895 meters. The panoramic views of volcanic peaks, wide valleys, and surrounding savannah makes this trek an amazing African experience.

Is Black Panther Real?

Photo Credit: marvel.com

Wakanda may be a fictional country but Black Panther is real. We ran into one in 100 years.

“Melanistic leopards have been reported in and around Kenya for decades, but scientific confirmation of their existence remains quite rare. The opposite of albinism, melanism is the result of a gene that causes a surplus of pigment in the skin or hair of an animal so that it appears black.”

(National Geographic)

“… the fictional country of Wakanda, home of the superhero Black Panther is located in East Africa, fairly close to Kenya. It’s a unique coincidence,” says Pilfold. “The only place where we have black leopards is where this place in the Marvel Universe appears to exist.”

(National Geographic)

Black leopards are common in the tropical rainforest on the slopes of some African mountains such as Mount Kenya, Aberdare Mountains and in Ethiopia and South Africa. In 2019, a black leopard was recorded in Kenya’s Laikipia County.

Photo Credit: BBC

The thought of running into this rare animal and looking into his big dark eyes in the depth of the night is enough to have some shivering dreams tonight. The movie was shot in Georgia, USA. There will be a chance to visit the film studio and experience the magical atmosphere of Wakanda soon. And for more adventurous souls, Kenyan forests are welcoming all with many different activities. Who knows maybe you will be the one who runs into the Black Panther himself during a night trek.

Please mention your ideas on possible Wakanda destinations in the comment’s section. Wakanda forever!

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