Middle East & Africa attractions

The Cango Caves are made up of a diverse array of underground formations. ranging from massive caverns to narrow passageways barely wide enough to squeeze through. Spacious, well-lit corridors reveal floor to ceiling stalagmites and stalactites. In contrast, the cave’s tunnels are dark and cramped, offering a bona fide caving experience.

With a spiral minaret inspired by the Great Mosque of Samarra and crenelated arcades surrounding a vast open prayer space, the 6-acre (2.5-hectare Ibn Tulun Mosque is one of Cairo’s longest-surviving Islamic monuments. Its simple, serene shape was completed in 879AD for Ahmad Ibn Tulun, who made it the center of his new capital city.

Encompassing the Zambian side of mighty Victoria Falls—one of the seven wonders of the natural world—Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is best known for the thundering waterfall at its heart. Yet, views of falls are not all the park has to offer. Wildlife, scenery, and adventure opportunities fill the 41-square-mile (66-square-kilometer) park.

Known for the enormous Casino du Liban and the Téléferique gondola lift that runs to Our Lady of Harissa above, Jounieh is a party-friendly high-rise beach town about 11 miles (18 kilometers) north of Beirut. The main attractions here are eating, clubbing, and barhopping, although the old souk has charm, and paragliding is possible.

An ancient city in the West Bank in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Bethlehem is home to many significant religious sites, including the Church of The Nativity in Manger Square, believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus.

Since 1957, the National Museum of Ghana has been a key destination for exploring Ghana's rich history and culture. It features three galleries with artifacts spanning ancient to contemporary Africa. Highlights include ornate chiefs' regalia, handcrafted instruments, and modern West African arts. The museum has a sculpture garden with life-size political figures, a library, and a conservation lab.

Translating from Arabic as Field of Dunes, the rolling landscapes of Erg Chigaga are some of the Moroccan Sahara’s most beautiful. The camps nestled between the dunes feel particularly secluded, making Erg Chigaga a great place to enjoy the space and silence of the desert.

All too often overshadowed by the magnificence of the Hassan II Mosque, the Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral is an important center of worship for Morocco’s Roman Catholic population and serves as a striking example of Casablanca’s modern architecture.

Offering one of Earth’s highest bungee jumps, the Bloukrans Bridge arcs 710 feet (216 meters above the Bloukrans River in Tsitsikamma National Park. Its slender-looking span impresses, but travelers come for the zipline, skywalk, rappelling—and most of all—the bungee, which drops more than 650 feet (200 meters with 5 seconds of free fall.

The Zaouia of Moulay Idriss II (Zaouia de Moulay Idriss II, sometimes spelled “zawiya,” is one of Fez’s most sacred places. A religious school and mausoleum, it houses the tomb of Moulay Idriss II, who made the city great in the ninth century. His body, apparently uncorrupted, was discovered in 1308, when most of the structure dates from.

Rising high above Cape Town, Table Mountain is a symbol of the city and arguably its most famous natural landmark. From the flat-topped summit—reached by cable car—visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the city and ocean. On clear days, you can see Robben Island, Camps Bay, and the Atlantic Seaboard. Hiking fans also love this area, as well as adrenaline seekers who come for rappelling.

Set on the outskirts of the Old City of Jerusalem, the scenic Kidron Valley is an ancient burial ground renown for its religious significance and natural beauty. The valley divides the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives and is prominently featured in both the Old and New Testaments, making it an important stop on many religious pilgrimages.

Set in north Israel, the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) is the country’s biggest freshwater lake. Bordered by lush countryside and fed by the Jordan River, it’s there that you’ll find farming villages and bustling towns among ancient ruins and biblical sites where Jesus lived, ministered, and is said to have performed miracles.

Perfect for escaping Dubai’s heat, Ski Dubai is one of the world’s biggest indoor ski centers. Housed inside the city’s Mall of the Emirates, this snow-laden complex boasts runs for all skiing levels and is kept at a constant sub-zero temperature to replicate real-world Alpine conditions. As well as skiing, there’s also a massive Snow Park offering family-friendly toboggan, tube, and other rides, plus snowboard runs, a chairlift, cozy cafés, and even penguin encounters.

With a massive permanent collection that combines history, culture, and artwork, the Nairobi National Museum is a must for travelers interested in Kenya’s rich heritage. Artifacts are displayed across two floors, and a nature trail winds through the surrounding grounds, a botanical garden, and collections of outdoor sculptures.

Just minutes from the bustling medina of Marrakech, the Menara Gardens (Jardin de la Ménara) offer a tranquil oasis with olive groves, towering palms, and citrus trees. Arranged around a 12th-century pavilion, the botanical gardens feature a large lake and a stunning view of the distant Atlas Mountains.

The former home and final resting place of W. E. B. Du Bois—the African-American civil rights advocate and father of Pan-Africanism—Accra’s W. E. B. Du Bois Centre is open to tourists and visiting academics. Home to Du Bois’ mausoleum, it contains a small museum and lecture theater. Its serene grounds are a verdant escape from the capital’s bustle.

Part of Baku's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old City (Icherisheher), Maiden Tower is a fantastic spot to take in views of the city and the Caspian Sea in the distance if you're willing to climb to the top. The tower also houses a museum that traces the history of the Old City over the centuries.

Located about 6 miles (10 kilometers) south of downtown Nairobi in Langata, just outside Nairobi National Park, the Bomas of Kenya cultural village recreates and preserves Kenya’s traditional heritages. The village offers the chance to see reconstructed villages, watch traditional performances, check out arts and handicrafts, and try regional cuisines from all over East Africa.

While a robust wine culture and picturesque vineyards are now synonymous with the Western Cape of South Africa, it all started with Groot Constantia. The oldest wine estate in the country, Groot Constantia offers visitors opportunities to tour the winemaking facilities, historic manor house and museum, and surrounding grounds. Plus, you can enjoy tasting their famous dessert wines.

Between April and July 1994, countless Rwandans were murdered by Hutu extremists, who terrorized the country in an attempt to wipe out the Tutsi population. More than 250,000 victims are buried at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which aims to provide a context for the slaughter and educate visitors about prevention of future genocide.

A northern satellite of Petra, Little Petra centers on a narrow canyon known as Siq al-Barid. With its water cisterns, carved houses, and rock-cut stairs, it has more of a lived-in feel than Petra proper. Its signature site, the Painted House, is home to one of the only surviving Nabatean painted interiors, which features jaw-dropping frescoes.

According to the Christian faith, the night before his crucifixion Jesus prayed in anguish on a rock in the Garden of Gethsemane. Today, the Church of All Nations (Basilica of the Agony enshrines the sacred stone. Completed in 1924, the basilica stands on the remains of two older churches, with Crusader ruins still visible as you enter.

When the Dutch East India Company arrived in what would become known as Cape Town in 1652, one of the first things they did was plant a garden to help feed the settlers. The Company's Garden still exists, today as a public park. A green oasis in the center of the city, the garden is a favorite of both locals and visitors.

In Christian doctrine, the angel Gabriel came to Mary in Nazareth and told her she was going to give birth to Jesus. Built over the Grotto of the Annunciation, where some believe Gabriel appeared, the Roman Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation celebrates this miracle. Don’t confuse it with the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation.

A short drive from Arusha, this compact park is an exceptional place to see wildlife, such as giraffes and zebras, both on foot and from the comfort of a safari vehicle. The park is also home to Mount Meru, a popular hiking destination and the second-highest mountain in Tanzania after Kilimanjaro.

Tanzania's second-highest mountain (after Kilimanjaro), Mount Meru attracts hikers with its easy and moderate trails and its outstanding scenery. Its location in the heart of Arusha National Park makes it an easy-to-reach destination for travelers staying in the nearby city of Arusha. It gets fewer crowds than Kilimanjaro.

Just southeast of Agadir, Crocoparc is one of Morocco’s most unusual and popular attractions—a botanical park that’s home to more than 300 Nile crocodiles. After entering the park through a huge, artificial crocodile mouth, visitors roam the five thematic gardens to see the crocodiles in pools and admire the park’s flora.

In Mauritius, a region replete with beautiful beaches, it’s difficult to name a true standout. However, the white sands of Île aux Cerfs may just take the title. This private island boasts unspoiled beaches, tropical jungle, an 18-hole golf course, and one of Mauritius’ most luxurious hotels.

Roughly the size of Belgium, Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest and most historical game reserve. Home to more than 100 mammals—including one of the world’s largest herds of elephants, and 400 avian species—the national park is one of the most diverse game reserves found anywhere else on Earth.