Middle East & Africa attractions

The Midlands Meander region stretches across KwaZulu-Natal and has plenty of ways to explore it. The area is known for its lush green mountains and rolling savannahs; its natural beauty serves as a backdrop for quaint guest houses, award-winning restaurants, artisanal boutiques, and hiking and horseback riding trails.

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.

Since its establishment in 1936, Dakar’s IFAN African Art Museum has dedicated itself to the preservation and promotion of art in the African subcontinent. Step inside and you’ll be surrounded by a glorious collection of work from across francophone West Africa and beyond, with items on display ranging from instruments to modern art.

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.

Khasab Fort was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century in Khasab, the capital of Oman’s peninsula exclave of Musandam. Wedged between two creeks in this quiet city and cruise port, the fort blends seamlessly with the town’s sand-hued mountains and coast, and features a museum, towers, and cultural exhibits.

Cupping a small bay on Muscat’s eastern fringes, Old Muscat is Oman’s original capital. Overlooking the Gulf of Oman and framed by rugged promontories and mountains, this old city is steeped in Arabian charm and offers many Muscat must-sees, including two Portuguese forts and the Sultan’s Al Alam Palace.

One of Oman’s oldest souks, Nizwa Souk (Nizwa Souq) neighbors Nizwa Fort in the heart of the former capital, and serves as a market and meeting place for locals from across the region. Comprising a main hall and outbuildings crammed with food, sweet, and handicraft stalls, the souk provides a fascinating window into local life and rich pickings for souvenir hunters.

The largest urban memorial park in Kenya, Uhuru Gardens was erected after the country gained its independence from British colonizers. Uhuru, Swahili for “freedom,” is comprised of verdant, grassy fields with three major landmarks, and is frequented by local families who like to picnic there on the weekends.

Known as the “Garden Town of Namibia,” this historic community of 24,000 residents makes a good home base for travelers seeking an alternative to Windhoek. There’s a laid-back, small-town feel here, as well as a craft market overflowing with vivid artwork by local woodcarvers, whose sculptures depict wildlife from fish to rhinoceroses.

Boca do Inferno (meaning “hell’s mouth”) is a natural blowhole on São Tomé’s eastern coast. Shaped by volcanic activity, this striking formation attracts photographers and nature lovers alike for its dramatic cliffs and crashing waves below. Visitors can take in the rugged scenery and ocean views, buy some fresh coconut water nearby, or explore hidden beaches and remote landscapes.

Located in Uganda’s verdant Kabale region near the border with Rwanda, Lake Bunyonyi is known for its scenery—in a country not short on impressive bodies of water. The volcanic lake is surrounded by green slopes and dotted with a few dozen islands. The area is also home to diverse wildlife, particularly of the winged variety (Bunyonyi means “small birds.”)

Dominating the town of Bahla in the lower Jebel Akhdar mountains, the striking Bahla Fort is Oman’s only UNESCO-protected fort. Dating mostly from the 12th and 15th centuries, this massive fort and its oasis are bounded by a 7.5-mile (12-kilometer) wall and offer insight into Oman’s history—plus sweeping views of Bahla and the surrounding peaks.

A tall white archway perched on eight huge fluted columns, Arch 22 was built to commemorate the military coup of 1994. It’s considered Banjul’s most important landmark—even appearing on the 100-dalasi note—and houses a small museum and café, though most travelers visit for the sweeping views.

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.

Part of Arusha National Park, this natural landmark is an animal-rich site that's often likened to a smaller version of the famous Ngorongoro Crater, a few hours' drive away. The interior of the crater is swampy, and is one of the more pristine (and untouched) parts of the park.

This small museum in the heart of Arusha is dedicated to the Arusha Declaration, a 1967 political statement focused on socialism within the African context. Inside, displays tell the story of the declaration through photos and artifacts.

In the city of Awasa, located in the Oromia region of the Great Rift Valley, the Fish Market at Hawassa Lake is a great place to visit if you want to get a feel for life in this lakefront area. There are shack-style restaurants serving up coffee, beer, and, of course, fresh fish.

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.

Flamingos, zebras, giraffes, and buffalos are among the many animals that roam freely within Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, along with more than 150 bird species. On the west shore of Lake Naivasha in Kenya’s Rift Valley, this small reserve is renowned for its striking emerald-green crater lake and its tranquil setting, surrounded by acacia trees.

Set under Oman’s Jebel Akhdar mountains above the village of the same name, the Birkat al Mouz Ruins (Harat al Siybani) offer a snapshot into old Omani life. Here, collapsed mudbrick houses and a UNESCO-protected falaj irrigation channel climb to a crumbled watchtower with sweeping views over the ruins, palms, and village below.

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.

The Archaeological Museum of Tetouan takes you back over a century, allowing you to explore artifacts, tools, ceramics, and stone inscriptions—some of the pieces are pre-Islamic. Most of the articles are from Northern Morocco and ancient Tetouan, which was destroyed by Romans in a revolt. There’s also an extensive library to explore.

Hacked into both banks of the Nile, where it narrows to a sandstone gorge, Gebel el-Silsila was an important ancient Egyptian quarry site—as well as a place of worship, where priests performed sacrifices to ensure fertile land and a good harvest. The west bank houses 32 rock-cut chapels, plus porches, stelae, and a temple. Nile views through the windows and gateways are mesmerizing.

Roça Água Izé is a plantation site, which was one of the key plantations (roças) that launched São Tomé and Príncipe’s cocoa trade industry. Here, cocoa is still farmed, although on a much smaller scale than in the past. Visitors can explore the old buildings and learn about São Tomé’s cocoa production legacy.

The Playground comes to life in Johannesburg’s Braamfontein district every Saturday. Located in the space of the former Neighbourgoods Market, The Playground is a weekly artisan marketplace and creative community space that combines food, fashion, art, music, and more, with vendors, pop-ups, and regular events.

A lush botanical garden in Algiers’ central Hamma district, Jardin d’Essai boasts stunning Mediterranean scenery and over 1,000 plant species. With its bubbling fountains and shaded paths, it’s a popular place to escape the bustle of Algeria’s capital city—the greenery even doubled as a jungle in Hollywood’s Tarzan of the Apes. Plus, its bayside location guarantees excellent views.

As you venture out to the Saharan town of Merzouga, surrounded by vast sandy desert and sweeping dunes, flamingos are probably far from your list of possible wildlife sightings. But in the winter, bird-watchers flock to the seasonal saltwater lake of Dayet Sriji just west of Merzouga to spot pink flamingos and other migratory birds.

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.

Situated on Mount Entoto in the northern outskirts of Addis Ababa, the octagonal Entoto Maryam Church is one of the most important churches in Ethiopia. The colorful building was commissioned in the 19th century by Menelik II and is today the resting place of the monarch and his wife, Empress Taytu.

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.