Africa is a continent of 53 countries and is home to people who make up more than 800 ethnic groups. More than 5,000 years ago, the country of Egypt, located in northern Africa, was one of the world’s greatest civilizations. Africa is the land of the Sahara, the world’s largest desert. It also hosts the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has one of the world’s thickest rain forests. Many important natural resources, from exotic animals to precious minerals such as oils and diamonds, can be found in Africa.