Africa is a huge place, obviously, and very diverse. I've been to both Northern Africa (Arab Africa) and Southern Africa (black Africa) and both are amazing places. Which location you choose depends on the kind of adventure you are looking for.

I highly recommend Tunisia. Lots of culture and built for tourism, there are plenty of places to get away. Tunis is an amazing city, especially the Medina (the old, central part of the city). Ancient Carthage is close by, as is the enchanting Mediterranean town of Sidi Bou Said. There are resorts along the coast of Tunisia (Tabarka, et al.), and the desert offers a number of treasures, as well. The nice thing is that the country is small enough to travel throughout over the course of a week (it's about the same size as the state of Georgia), although you might find yourself wanting to stay in one place for a longer period of time. Be sure to bring a French translation book if you don't speak the language.

Egypt is one of those amazing places that is littered with culture. It's tourist friendly...as long as you are a more seasoned traveler. Cairo is cluttered but offers a lot in the way of history. Luxor and the southern gems are accessible by train, albeit the ride takes about 9 hours. First class train tickets are pretty inexpensive, though.

I've been to other countries in Northern Africa that are less tourist friendly, so I won't bother to mention those.

Countries like Kenya offer a different perspective. They seem to have less cultural heritage but more of a natural, undisturbed beauty. The Great Rift Valley is absolutely amazing, and there are nice places on the coast in which one can stay. Safaris are popular tourist attractions.

I would recommend Tanzania, as well, although I've never been there. I hear it is very interesting and it is on my list of places to see.

Zambia is an adventure, and friendly enough. Expect to rough it a bit; I don't think there is much in the way of resorts. Prices are cheap, the people are fantastic, and the country is beautiful. I'm not sure how easy it is to rent a car, but in such a case, be prepared to drive on the left-hand side of the road.

I wouldn't drink the tap water in any African country. I've never found a place that doesn't have an abundant supply of bottled water available for cheap. I don't have any problems washing my fruits in tap water or eating washed produce in some countries, but in others I avoid it all together.

As for camera equipment, it pays to have something decent. It would be a shame to visit such an amazing place and come back with crappy pictures. Depending on your gear, you'll want to keep it fairly compact for travel. I can give you a run-down of what I normally take, if you like, including the bag, travel tripod, digital storage options, etc. I can fit everything I need on my back, which makes travel photography much easier.

If I didn't cover any of your questions sufficiently or you have more questions, feel free to ask.