Located in a 19th-century villa that was once home to anthropologist and activist Esther Roberts, Durban’s Phansi Museum hosts a world-class collection of Southern African art and artifacts. Galleries feature statues, body art, beadwork, pottery, and textiles, while the space also hosts classes, book launches, workshops, and exhibitions.
Spanning 350,000 square miles (560 square kilometers), the Kalahari Desert stretches across Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. With sandy red hills, low scrub brush, and herds of gazelle, Kalahari’s name derives from a Tswana word meaning “the waterless place.” It’s a dramatic and desiccated landscape where you can experience the vast scope of the land.
The open-air theater at the Hurghada Alf Leila Wa Leila hotel plays host each evening to the spectacular Fantasia show, often known as Alf Leila Wa Leila (1,001 Nights. The 2,500-capacity space delivers a feast of Arab, Bedouin, and Egyptian culture, folklore, history, and dance, complete with a horse show and an illuminated fountain.
A historic town in the Cape Winelands, Paarl is often overlooked in favor of more photogenic Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. But there’s plenty to do here, from wine tastings, farm tours, and winery tours, to paragliding, hiking, abseiling, climbing, and even off-road motorbiking in Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve.
A historical landmark and a working rum distillery, Mauritius’ St. Aubin House & Sugar Estate links the island’s colonial past to its contemporary present. Centered on an 1819 plantation house with National Heritage Site status, the estate teaches visitors about rum history and production, hosts tastings, and welcomes diners to its traditional restaurant.
With its cylindrical turrets and chunky doors, the 18th-century Al Hazm Castle could have been plucked from an illustrated Arabian adventure book. Rising from plains beneath Oman’s Al Hajar Mountains, the castle, with its rich history and well-maintained interiors, is one of the country’s most impressive forts.
For a day of family-friendly fun, head straight to Morocco’s biggest water park, at Oasiria Marrakech. You’ll find attractions for all ages, from river rapids and corkscrew slides to pools and restaurants nestled in 25 acres (10 hectares of palm-shaded gardens.
While Dubai is known for its glitz and glamour, you still can find great deals in the city. The most famous place for shopping like a local is Karama Market, with its 300-plus shops selling everything from apparel to souvenirs. The market is also an excellent place for photography, with numerous colorful murals painted across area buildings.
Unlike the ultra-modern malls of the Emirati capital, Central Market in Abu Dhabi pays homage to Middle Eastern souks. Though still contemporary and air-conditioned, its architecture embraces a traditional style and the complex combines local craft-based outlets and food stalls with designer boutiques.
Just inland from Muscat’s picturesque Muttrah Corniche, Ruwi is the commercial hub of Oman’s capital. Bisected by two main roads—Ruwi High Street and Bait Al Falaj Street—this bustling district is where everyday city life ticks by, with malls, offices, restaurants, and mosques taking center stage.
The Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery is one of the oldest and most significant burial grounds in all of Jerusalem. The more than 70,000 tombs that cover the hillsides at the base of the Mount of Olives create a dynamic visual that dates back more than 3,000 years and holds the remains of some of Judaism's most important historical figures.
The gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro's most popular route, the market town of Marangu is often the last place people stop before heading off on a summiting adventure. The village thrives mainly on the tourism industry, with many hotels, guesthouses, shops, restaurants, and services catering to international trekkers.
On the grounds of the Anthonij Rupert Wyne Estate, L’Ormarins, the Franschhoek Motor Museum is a tribute to founder Anthonij Rupert’s passion for cars. Home to well over 200 heritage vehicles, from a 19th-century motor tricycle to a 2003 Ferrari supercar and a 1950 Norton motorbike, it’s a must for any car lover visiting the Western Cape.
This Namibian mountain pass links the Khomas Highland and Namib Desert. With a top gradient of 14 percent, the road to the pass is among the region’s steepest. Quartzite rocks on the summit have become a landmark in their own right; the bright white stone can be seen at a distance as vehicles wind upward toward Spreetshoogte Pass.
Exhibits that examine modern art from the perspective of the Middle East fill the galleries of the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art. Permanent galleries with collections exploring women’s identity and the artistic development of Arabic script sit beside temporary exhibitions questioning modern culture.
The Hillbrow Tower is a tall tower located in the Hillbrow suburb of Johannesburg. Originally known as the JG Strijdom tower, the structure was completed in 1971 and is one of the tallest constructions in the Southern Hemisphere. The Hillbrow Tower was also a major telecommunications for the city.
Just east of Dubai Marina off Sheikh Zayed Road, the Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) is a large development of high-rises and lakes that epitomizes 21st-century Dubai. Composed of 68 residential and commercial towers, this waterside community is also home to plush lakefront hotels, shops, restaurants, and leisure attractions.
Hoedspruitt Endangered Species Centre (HESC) houses some of Africa’s most rare and vulnerable species, including elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, and sable antelope. The center nurses injured animals back to health, breeds endangered species for release back into the wild, and provides educational programs for students and travelers.
Towering over the town of Paarl, the granite structure of the Afrikaans Language Monument is a reminder of how Afrikaans has impacted Southern Africa. With swooping curves and soaring peaks that indicate the heritage and influence of the language, the monument invites visitors to learn about Afrikaans’ complex legacy.
The main entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem for more than 1,000 years, the Damascus Gate is also known as Bab al-Amud, Nablus Gate, St. Stephen’s Gate, and Sha’ar Shechem. A grand, Ottoman-era confection, shaped rather like a crown, today it marks the boundary between Palestinian East Jerusalem and Israeli West Jerusalem.
Home to a large Jewish Haredi (ultra-Orthodox, community), the lively yet cloistered neighborhood of Mea Shearim (Me’a She’arim) is a world of its own. With its winding streets, kosher shops and eateries, and traditionally-dressed inhabitants—skirts and stockings for the women and girls, black coats and fur hats for the men—the neighborhood feels like an Eastern European Shtetl where time has stood still.
Set in the former home of afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti (who advocated for human rights and anti-corruption through his music), Lagos' Kalakuta Museum exhibits Fela’s personal belongings, such as clothing, musical instruments, album covers, and household items. You can also peek inside his bedroom and living room, which remain largely untouched.
Experience luxury island bliss for a day on the Île des Deux Cocos, a private island in the Blue Bay marine reserve off the coast of southeast Mauritius. You can play luxury hotel guests with island day packages that offer a boat shuttle to the island and a bevy of sea and beach activities—plus a chance to visit a Moroccan-inspired villa.
South African golfer Ernie Els took a big swing with his winery, but it paid off in spades. Known for their full-bodied red wines which include Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends, the winery is home to a stylishly cozy tasting room that looks out over Table Mountain and the Helderberg Mountains.
Victorian-style buildings with wrought-iron balconies and 24/7 street life make Long Street Cape Town’s answer to New Orleans’ French Quarter. It’s where locals go to party and backpackers go to sleep. Expect everything from late-night clubs, cocktail bars, and pool halls to cafés, restaurants, vintage stores, and even an antique arcade.
Situated on the southern edges of Dubai, the Gurunanak Darbar Temple has been a place of worship for the city’s 50,000-plus Sikh population since its opening in 2012. This opulent temple is open to Sikhs for worship and ceremonies, as well as non-Sikhs keen to experience its interior and a slice of Sikh religion and culture.
Just south of Dubai Creek in the Dubai Healthcare City district, the Wafi City Mall offers around 250 shops set inside a pyramid-roofed complex inspired by ancient Egypt. Visitors can enjoy everything from top brands to family entertainments, all in a building adorned with pharaonic statues, carvings, and stained glass.
Home to some of the world’s most northerly tropical coral reefs, Coral Beach Nature Reserve offers Eilat’s—and likely Israel’s—best snorkeling. Seagrass patches draw hawksbill turtles, seahorses, and more; hundreds of different coral species lure aquarium favorites including lionfish, angelfish, and clownfish.
The covered markets of Marrakech form a dense network of alleyways pierced by intermittent shafts of sunlight. Each souk has a specialty, such as rugs, leather goods, ceramics, spices, metalwork, and clothing. When you make a purchase, haggling—ideally over a cup of hot mint tea—is an important part of the transaction.
The incredible power of Victoria Falls is on full display in Batoka Gorge–the waters surge and eddy to create thrilling opportunities for white-water rafting and stunning scenery for hikers. The Zambezi River created the gorge, which runs along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, providing an environment bursting with flora and fauna.
