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.
Unfurling around 10 miles (16 kilometers) of silky sands, baby-blue seas, and palm-lined promenades, Ajman Beach is a serious crowd-puller. Sunbathers and sports enthusiasts flock to its open-to-all public sections, laze on the sun loungers of its private hotel zones, and enjoy the different activities available, including parasailing, camel rides, and kayaking.
Situated on Gorée Island, off the coast of Senegal, the Maison des Esclaves is a large pink structure once used as the boarding point for enslaved people heading to the new world on ships. Today, it’s a monument and museum that serves as a reminder of the atrocities of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
In the heart of Addis Ababa, this large public square is a popular place for events. It's at its liveliest during the annual Meskel Festival, which takes place in September, though all sorts of significant gatherings—from concerts to religious celebrations—take place here.
On the border of Tanzania and Kenya, Lake Chala is a caldera lake that's among the deepest lakes on the African continent at 295 feet (90 meters) in depth. It's a popular spot for hiking and kayaking, and the lake's abundance of avian species makes it an excellent spot for bird-watching.
Located on the edge of Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, the Red Terror Martyrs' Memorial Museum honors those who died during the Red Terror (Qey Shibir), which took place between 1976 and 1978. Exhibits feature everything from photographs to blood-stained clothing, bringing visitors face-to-face with this dark period in history.
An outdoor souk that’s a little more laid-back than its Lower Egypt peers, Aswan Market (Sharia el Souk) offers everything you’d expect from an Egyptian market: scarabs, alabaster, perfumes, papyrus, shisha pipes, and fresh produce. But as you stroll the long, narrow street a distinctly African edge emerges, with Nubian masks, colorful baskets, and wooden crocodiles.
Within easy day-tripping distance from Addis Ababa, Menagesha Suba Forest Park offers ample opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, picnicking, and even camping. Wildlife abounds here, and many visitors spot black-and-white colobus monkeys during their hikes through the park.
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.
Situated on Zanzibar's eastern coast, northeast of Zanzibar City, Kiwengwa Beach is a popular spot for snorkeling, water sports, swimming, or just relaxing. Many people base much of their Zanzibar vacation at one of the many hotels and resorts here, while others come just for the day.
During the Great Migration, Africa’s Mara River hosts one of nature’s greatest spectacles, as vast herds of wildebeest surge through the murky waters in quest of fresh territory—with crocodiles and lions waiting to snap up any stragglers. Even outside that perilous period, it’s a popular safari stop—some river stretches are alive with both hippos and crocodiles.
Sitting within Khalid Lake, Al Noor Island is a lush nature-and-art sanctuary in the heart of Sharjah. Visitors wander boardwalks through shady palms, walk amid butterflies, relax on white sands, and enjoy art installations, reading retreats, and evening light shows—all in a family-friendly haven that feels far from Sharjah’s high-rises and highways.
Forming a crescent around the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) on Doha’s waterfront is MIA Park. This calm green space in the city provides excellent views of the museum and even better ones from the East Mound across to the West Bay skyline. Palm trees line its promenade leading to the steel sculpture on its point, standing proud like a minaret.
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.
Located on the edge of the Bot River Lagoon in the Western Cape Winelands between Hermanus and Cape Town, Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is known for its cool-climate Walker Bay wines. In addition to the vineyard, the estate also offers restaurants, villas, and a wide range of activities for the whole family.
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.
Stretching from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront to the tip of the Cape of Good Hope, the Cape Peninsula’s Atlantic Coast is lined with beaches, viewpoints, and towns. Choices in where and how to enjoy the coast range from the partygoer hubs of Green Point and Sea Point to the expansive beaches and resorts of Hout Bay and Camps Bay.
Set on the western headland of Muscat’s Muttrah district, Muscat Cruise Port—officially called Sultan of Qaboos Port—is one of the most scenic in the Middle East. As your ship arrives, you’ll enjoy stellar views of Muttrah’s mountain-backed corniche before disembarking just 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from its souks and attractions.
Bohemian beach town meets surfing hotspot at Kokrobite, a coastal community about an hour north of Accra. It’s grown from a thriving fishing village into a popular day trip from Accra, and is a destination in its own right for anyone in search of a slower pace.
A private game reserve that shares an unfenced border with the Greater Kruger National Park, Thornybush Game Reserve is one of the top locations for spotting Africa’s “big five.” The classic Lowveld savannah is home to lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo as well as a vast array of other wildlife. Plus, the private reserve offers top-notch service and accommodations.
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.
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.
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.
As Amman’s oldest quarter, and most would say its liveliest, bustling Downtown Amman (Al-Balad) offers souks, stores, and cafés aplenty, not to mention the Amman Citadel, home to the city’s best Roman ruins. With the call to prayer undulating and car horns beeping, it’s an atmospheric contrast to the more modern areas further west.
Located within Sharjah Desert Park, the Arabian Wildlife Center houses a large collection of Arabian wildlife. All of its animals—more than 100 species, including fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals—are native to the Arabian Peninsula and live in natural surroundings.
Located in the Kleinrivier Mountains above Hermanus, Fernkloof Nature Reserve is known for its rich biodiversity, its fields of fynbos and wildflowers, and stunning views. Spanning 4,448 acres (1,800 hectares), it features many trails, gardens, a botanical center, nursery, and visitor center.
One of two administrative divisions of Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, the Mara Triangle covers roughly one-third of the park. Home to elephants, leopards, lions, rhinos, hippos, buffalo, and more, it’s harder to reach and, therefore, less visited than the park’s southern sections. The Mara River on its border sees spectacular wildebeest crossings during the annual Great Migration.
Located in the heart of the Mozambican capital, a visit to the Maputo Central Market (Mercado Central de Maputo) offers travelers a slice of local life. Almost always buzzing, the market is filled with vendors selling everything from tropical fruits and vegetables to nuts (don’t miss the cashews), carvings, and capulanas (the traditional cloth used as a sarong-style skirt or baby carrier).
Ilhéu das Rolas is a small islet off the southern coast of São Tomé island that’s accessible by ferry. It’s famous for being the point where the equator crosses the land, marking the center of the world, and it’s surrounded by lush jungles and secluded beaches. Visitors can also see a monument that commemorates the equator’s crossing.
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.
