As China beefs up investment in Africa, economic cooperation between the two parties is growing at breakneck pace, and the same is true of tourism.

Tired of the usual tour routes in familiar regions and wanting journeys to the unknown, more Chinese tourists are going beyond Southeast Asia to spend their holidays in Africa.

Thanks to Africa's superb natural scenery and unique cultures, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt and several islands in the Indian Ocean are hot destinations for Chinese travelers.

The number of Chinese travelers to South Africa rose 10.2 percent to more than 130,000 last year, making China the fourth-largest source of tourists there.

From 2011 to 2012, the number of Chinese tourists in Africa grew by 56 percent despite Europeans remaining the biggest tourism group.

There are several reasons why the Chinese are rushing to Africa for vacations.

First, Africa is a rich continent full of natural resources, not only for safaris and for those who want to visit places that have rarely been seen by outsiders, but also for people who want to discover the unique features of various countries and regions on the continent.

Experienced Chinese tourists are seeking more experience-based activities - anything from scuba diving in Hawaii to adventures in Africa.

Second, the close relations between China and Africa and the increasing business, cultural and political exchanges help to attract Chinese visitors.

Since 2004, when China granted Kenya Approved Destination Status for outbound Chinese tourist groups, the number of Chinese visitors there has continued to increase.

In addition, as the tourism sector in Africa plays a more important role in driving local economic development by creating jobs and stimulating infrastructure and construction, some African countries are putting more effort into attracting tourists from China.