Middle East & Africa attractions

Peppered with panels of colorful tile mosaics, Tangier Kasbah is a historic fortress and former royal palace that offers coastal views from the tallest point in the city. The palace, Dar el Makhzen, dates back to the 17th century and is now home to a museum with a peaceful garden, which showcases a range of Moroccan art.

Home to around 1,400 animals, the Emirates Park Zoo is situated on the northeast outskirts of Abu Dhabi and makes an engaging destination for nature-loving families and visitors of all ages. The zoo houses mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds, and offers an inspiring space for visitors to have fun learning about animal life.

Maputo Special Reserve (Reserva Especial de Maputo) is a safari destination home to an ever-increasing and diverse number of wildlife species. Established in 1932, the reserve had lost much of its wildlife by the end of Mozambique's civil war. Since 2010, however, thousands of animals have returned, transforming the area into a biodiversity hotspot.

Located in Kleinbaai in the Western Cape, the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary provides rehabilitation for injured seabirds, especially endangered African penguins. In addition to the rescue, care, and release of birds, the center also conducts research and provides programs to help increase education and awareness.

The Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, also called Zayed Port, is located on the northern tip of Abu Dhabi island, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the city center. While the port has a state-of-the-art terminal and shopping area, there are no other on-site attractions, so new arrivals immediately venture out into the city.

Stretching for around 6.8 miles (12 kilometers) From Hew Harbour to Grotto Beach, the Hermanus Cliff Path winds its way over the cliffs that front the town of Hermanus. Overlooking Walker Bay, the path hugs the coast and offers spectacular views. It is one of the best land-based whale-watching spots in the world (in season).

In the heart of Addis Ababa, the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Kidist Selassie) is the most important Ethiopian Orthodox church in the capital, and the final resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie I. Behind the church is a lovely museum full of religious items, including an impressive selection of Coptic crosses.

Towering over Addis Ababa in the Entoto Mountains, Mount Entoto is notable for its great views and its mix of natural and cultural attractions. Key points of interest include verdant Entoto Natural Park and Entoto Maryam Church, the final resting place of 19th-century Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu.

Morocco is known for its bold-colored carpets created from handmade materials, and the Dar Si Said Museum in Marrakech celebrates this artisan tradition. Step inside to see intricate carpets made by master craftsmen from all over the country. The building’s 19th-century architecture is another draw, with beautiful painted ceilings and detailed doors and gates.

Khan el-Khalili bazaar is Old Cairo’s signature shopping destination; it spans a warren of stone alleys and historic courtyards. Thanks to the wafts of incense and the glow of lanterns, it’s an atmospheric place to shop or browse—although bargaining is essential and the quality of goods can vary widely.

Yad Vashem (World Holocaust Remembrance Center) in Jerusalem is the world’s most important Holocaust museum—a memorial to the 6 million Jewish lives lost. The complex comprises two museums, the Holocaust History Museum and an Art Museum, as well as an exhibition pavilion, learning center, and a synagogue. The centerpiece is the history museum, housed within a triangular prism-shaped structure running through the center of campus. Nine underground galleries recount the story of the Holocaust from a Jewish perspective through artifacts, survivor testimonies, personal possessions and audio-visual presentations. A visit to the museum ends in the Hall of Names, a place where the names and stories of millions of victims are recorded.

Take a break from the busy buzz of Fez, especially the medina, with a stroll in the Jnan Sbil Garden. It’s a welcome breath of fresh air, with plenty of lush greenery different from the surrounding sand-colored desert. The gardens are over 100 years old and have been recently spruced up. There are over 3,000 species of plants to wander around.

One of the most famous sights on São Tomé, Pico Cão Grande is a solitary tall and narrow volcanic tower that rises dramatically from the surrounding lush rainforest. Accessible only to experienced climbers, the peak features steep and challenging terrain. The area is also home to snakes, so many prefer to view from afar rather than attempting the climb.

The River Gambia National Park consists of five islands—collectively known as Baboon Island—that are home to a wealth of wildlife: hippos, crocodiles, monkeys, baboons, and a population of rescued chimpanzees. A selection of camps allow you to get closer to nature overnight, while river cruises feel miles away from the coastal chaos.

The legendary Nile River might be most famously associated with Egypt, but it starts in southern Uganda. The longest river in the world flows through a total of nine African countries, finally ending up in the Mediterranean Sea. From Jinja, a small Ugandan city on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, visitors can see where the Nile begins.

Feira de Artesanato, Flores e Gastronomica (FEIMA) is a popular and colorful open-air market in Maputo. Locals and tourists alike are drawn to the market for its array of locally-made crafts, including wooden sculptures, traditional masks, jewelry, textiles, and paintings.

Tucked inside the fishing town of Taqah east of Salalah, Taqah Fort is one of Oman’s youngest forts but is no less interesting for it. Built in the 19th century as a private residence for Taqah’s wali (governor), this compact castle feels more home than fort, and rewards visitors with a tree-shaded courtyard, carved doors, and reconstructed family quarters.

Part of a Kenyan archipelago, Lamu Island boasts a landscape of sandy dunes mixed with the occasional oasis. One of its main draws, though, is Lamu city. Set amid Indian Ocean trade routes, Lamu was once a bustling port established by Arabic traders. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its maze-like streets and centuries-old buildings.

Tetouan isn’t featured on most tourist itineraries, so its medina has a relaxed, local feel, unlike bustling ones in Fez or Marrakech. You have residents shopping here, so the vendors don’t cater to tourists, and there aren’t any touts. Walk through lanes of white-walled traditional buildings, see what’s being sold, and try your hand at bargaining.

On the eastern coast of southern Zanzibar, Jambiani Beach is considered one of the loveliest beaches on the island. Its white, powdery sands and clear waters make it great for relaxing and swimming, making it a great day trip from Zanzibar City or an overnight destination.

Around a 10-minute boat ride from the northern coast of Dakar, Ngor Island has pretty beaches and plenty of spots to dine. It's a popular day trip from the city, especially for travelers looking for a relaxed place to swim and sunbathe.

Set in Abu Dhabi’s waterfront Al Qana district, the National Aquarium Abu Dhabi brings you face-to-fin with thousands of exotic creatures courtesy of tanks, tunnels, and recreated marine worlds. View sharks, stingrays, and rainbow-colored shoals; admire vibrant reefs from a mock shipwreck; see birds and crocs in a flooded forest; and explore fascinating ocean-themed exhibitions.

One of the greatest feats of 19th-century engineering, the Suez Canal has linked the Mediterranean and the Red Sea since 1869. Carving through Egypt’s Isthmus of Suez, this 120-mile (193-kilometer) waterway is a sight to be seen, not just from the ships plying its waters, but canalside cities like Port Said, Ismailia, and Suez.

Located on the northern fringes of Fujairah city center, Fujairah Museum offers a rare insight into the region’s ancient and modern history. Set in a crenelated, ochre-stone building, this old-school museum exhibits everything from prehistoric treasures unearthed at local archaeological sites to dioramas of traditional Emirati life and customs.

Running from the shores of the Dead Sea to the mountains of Karak and Madaba, the Mujib Biosphere Reserve centers on Wadi Mujib, a dramatic gorge that locals consider Jordan’s answer to the Grand Canyon. The landscapes range from rugged desert to tumbling falls, and hiking and ziplining are just some of the ways to explore them.

A hellish landscape of volcanic-looking peaks and tumbled black stone, the Black Desert sits in Egypt’s Western Desert, near the White Desert. Together, the pair redefine typical ideas of golden sands and rolling dunes to create a bizarre and wonderful desert safari, which proves very photogenic.

The Dubai Cruise Terminal—situated about 7 miles (12 kilometers) from the center of old Dubai—serves as the gateway for cruise passengers taking shore excursions into the city and its surrounding desert. Also known as Port Rashid, the port boasts a modern and comfortable terminal, but nothing by way of visitor attractions, so new arrivals head straight off into the waiting metropolis.

Named for the Egyptian military hero Abdul Munim Riad, the Abdel-Moneim Riad Mosque can be spelled many different ways in English. Built in the early ’70s, not long after Riad was killed in action, the mosque’s twin minarets tower above El Dahar (Old Town, Hurghada’s most traditionally Egyptian district.

A short drive from Arusha, Lake Duluti is a volcanic crater lake that attracts hikers and boaters who want an easy-to-access escape from the city. Visitors and area residents come to rent canoes or enjoy a beer or meal at one of several lakefront restaurants on Duluti’s northern shores.

With its octagonal minaret stretching free of the surrounding rooftops, and staircases leading up to its entrance from Place Outa el Hammam, the Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen is a landmark that’s hard to overlook. Unlike the rest of the city, this 15th-century mosque is not coated in blue paint, but rather a more modest combination of white and earthen brown.