Qurum Beach, famous for its soft golden sand and water activities, is the go-to destination for families and active visitors in Oman. The low tide allows for a delightful walk along the coast, and you can also enjoy perusing the amenities—beachside hotels, snack bars, and cafés. For extra enticement, there are also top-notch restaurants facing the water.
One of the best ways to delve into Bahrain’s history is to visit Bahrain Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Persian Gulf’s most important archaeological sites. The most important artifacts from the ancient Dilmun Empire were found here, telling a lot about the power of Dlimun and its successors in the Tylos and Islamic periods.
Experience the spray of the largest sheet of falling water in the world as you stand on Victoria Falls Bridge. Spanning the Zambezi River, the former railroad bridge is now a tourist attraction where visitors can marvel at the Zambezi gorge. A unique platform for viewing the falls, the bridge is also the jumping-off point for numerous high-adrenaline sports.
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.
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.
Cape Town’s Two Oceans Aquarium celebrates the unique marine animals that live off South Africa's coasts, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Travelers can get a glimpse of life below the surface of the ocean surrounding southern Africa, including microscopic creatures, magnificent fish, penguins, turtles, sharks, stingrays, rare seahorses, and colorful clownfish.
Yas Waterworld sits on Yas Island just outside Abu Dhabi and attracts families, thrill seekers, and water lovers of all ages. Alongside five one-of-a-kind rides, the park serves up an additional 40 slides, experiences, and adventures. This attraction also stages entertainment events and offers restaurants, cafés, and shops.
The misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is South Africa’s southernmost point has made it a bustling tourist hot spot, with throngs of visitors queuing for the perfect photo. Buck the trend and make your way to the true southern tip of South Africa–Cape Agulhas in Agulhas National Park. Apart from its geographical significance, the park offers hiking, fishing, and accommodation.
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.
Prized artifacts from Qatar’s history and religious items from around the world fill the exhibits at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). Galleries with ornate manuscripts of the Quran sit alongside displays of jewelry, textiles, ceramics, and more. Here, you can also learn how I. M. Pei designed the building, which combines traditional Islamic architecture with cubist influences.
Perhaps Egypt’s best-known diving and snorkeling site, the Blue Hole is a coral-fringed submarine sinkhole just north of Dahab in the Sinai. Dropping vertiginously to depths reaching 426 feet (130 meters), with a dramatic tunnel at 183 feet (56 meters), it’s popular with submarine enthusiasts, from technical divers to snorkelers.
On the white clay pan of Deadvlei, petrified trees stand out like Matisse cutouts against the orange dunes. Located in the Namib-Naukluft Park, the site was formed through persistent drought and scorching sun, which killed the trees and dried them until they became stark black skeletons. Eerie and dramatic, Deadvlei shows off the strange beauty of the desert.
Slated as the home of Abu Dhabi’s culture, the Cultural Foundation is a hub for art, film, music, and theater, shining a light on the city’s creative spirit. Featuring multiple art galleries, a children’s library, and auditorium for world-class music, theater, and dance performances, the Cultural Foundation embraces its traditions while moving towards the future.
Prepared to be amazed at Dubai’s first permanent show,La Perle by Dragone. A feast for the senses,La Perle is an immersive theater experience that features thrilling aerial displays, aquatic stunts and acrobatics, and cutting-edge special effects and illusion, all unfolding in a purpose-built “aqua theater” that includes an on-stage pool.
North of Hurghada’s luxury resorts lies the Old Town of El Dahar, where you’ll find the city’s most authentic restaurants and shops. A highlight of the area is a traditional Egyptian souk that’s crammed with shops selling leather, copper, papyrus, spices, and shisha pipes.
Set at nearly 10,000 feet (2,865 meters) above sea level, Sani Pass is the gateway between KwaZulu-Natal and the landlocked mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. Via 4-wheel-drive, experience the rugged dirt road cut with hairpin turns on a steep climb to the top of Sani Pass. Your reward is a bumpy adventure along with panoramic views.
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.
A complex of 300 limestone caves, South Africa's Cradle of Humankind is one of the most significant archaeological and anthropological sites in the world. The UNESCO World Heritage Site has produced an extensive human and animal fossil record, including a nearly-complete hominin skull dating back more than 2 million years. Note: Cradle of Humankind is temporarily closed.
The oldest building in Stone Town, the Old Fort (also called the Arab Fort), is one of the city's top attractions. It originally served to protect Stone Town from attack and was later converted into a prison, but now it is a popular tourist attraction and event space.
The granite Voortrekker Monument towers 200 feet (60 meters) above Pretoria. The monument was built to honor the Great Trek—a 19th-century exodus from the then British-ruled Cape Colony to central South Africa. The monument depicts the treacherous journey in the Hall of Heroes, and an empty tomb represents the lives lost on the trek.
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.
Casela World of Adventures is one of Mauritius’ top family-friendly attractions—for good reason. It’s home to adrenaline-fueled activities such as ATV riding, suspended bridges, a high-speed zipline, and a wealth of African animals you can see on a safari with a difference.
The smallest of the Old City’s four quarters in Jerusalem, the Armenian Quarter has roots dating back to the 4th century. That makes the tiny, 2,000-strong neighborhood the oldest Armenian diaspora in the world. Travelers come to soak up the old-world atmosphere and visit 12th-century landmarks such as St. Mark’s Chapel and the Cathedral of St. James.
Created by World War I Field Marshal Lord Kitchener while he was Governor of Egypt, the Aswan Botanical Garden is a tranquil tropical oasis on a Nile island that still bears Kitchener’s name. Birds sing and insects hum among a wealth of palms and plants sourced from Asia, Africa, and beyond.
Tucked into Old Muscat just east of the modern city, the Bait Al Zubair shines the spotlight on Oman’s history and heritage. The privately owned museum occupies three beautifully restored Omani houses and attracts visitors with displays of photos, weaponry, jewelry, and artifacts that provide insight into Omani life and history.
The chasmic valleys and towering peaks of Simien Mountains National Park are a beacon of wildlife conservation, sheltering rare species such as the Walia ibex and Simien fox. Though UNESCO-listed in 1978, the park remains off the beaten track, providing active sightseers an authentic glimpse of Ethiopia’s natural heritage.
With a huge Roman-era theater, an ancient aqueduct framing a golden beach, and more, Caesarea is home to some of Israel’s most striking ruins. Built by Herod the Great around the time of Christ, the remains of this once-thriving port extend beneath the ocean, while waterfront restaurants and bars let you soak up the views in style.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City sits on what is thought to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Christianity’s holiest site, the church stands at the end of the Via Dolorosa—the route Jesus is believed to have taken on the way to his crucifixion.
Nudging Oman’s mountains southwest of Muscat, Bahla is one of the country’s oldest oasis towns. Top attractions include its UNESCO-listed hilltop fort, mudbrick old town, original souk, and age-old pottery industry, where craftspeople still fashion clay pots in the way their ancestors have done for centuries.
One of the most recent additions to Dubai’s skyline, this museum serves both as an architectural landmark and a fascinating glimpse into our changing world. Housed in a gigantic silver “eye” adorned with Arabic calligraphy, the futuristic museum certainly looks the part. Inside, interactive exhibitions and experiences invite visitors to explore the future of humanity, science, travel, and technology.
