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.
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.
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.
A resort town in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Sharm el Sheikh offers snorkeling, diving, and desert trips. It's also close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. Catherine’s Monastery. Ships dock at the in-town Sharm el Sheikh Port (rather than at a dedicated cruise port), and you may need to tender if another ship is docked.
Set midway between the towns of Ibra and Bidiyah, Al Mudayrib (also spelled Al Mudhaireb) is one of Oman’s oldest villages. Once a stop on the ancient Muscat-to-Sur caravan route, this often-overlooked village is ringed by watchtowers and boasts an old quarter of mudbrick mansions and fortifications, all of which lie in ruins.
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.
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.
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.
A modern, spacious seafront promenade, Agadir Corniche runs for about 3 miles (5 kilometers) along Agadir Beach in the heart of town. Lined with palm trees, restaurants, bars, ice-cream stores—and more than the odd persistent street peddlers—it’s a charming place for a waterfront stroll. The sunsets can be spectacular against a backdrop of the Atlantic surf rolling onto the golden sands.
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.
The Luxor Cruise Port on the Nile River is the disembarkation point for visitors heading to the famous ruins of Luxor. Smaller ships come right into town, while larger ships spread out or dock side by side along the East Bank waterfront.
Located in the desert outside of Abu Dhabi, Masdar City is the emirate’s revolutionary vision of a city of the future. Combining modern technology, renewable energy, and ancient Arabic architecture and design, the city aims to become the world’s most sustainable eco-city, a mixed-used development of technology, business, and residences.
The Dead Sea Museum, nestled within the Panorama Dead Sea Complex, features informative displays covering the iconic salt lake’s archaeology, geology, and ecology. The lake is receding at a rate of almost 4 feet (more than 1 meter) every year, and the museum highlights attempts to conserve it.
Once home to Mahatma Gandhi, Satyagraha House is an elegant and sustainable guesthouse with a small museum. It was in this thatched cottage inspired by native designs that Gandhi came up with his idea of satyagraha (a type of nonviolent resistance). It would shape not only India’s but also South Africa’s future.
Previously known as the Zoma Contemporary Arts Center, the Zoma Museum is a center for arts and culture that showcases eco-conscious construction and design techniques. Along with its unique architectural structure and exhibitions, highlights include a gift shop, a library, and an edible garden to stroll.
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.
Situated in the heart of Addis Ababa, in the middle of a traffic circle, Menelik II Square has long been a popular gathering place for Addis residents, particularly on religious and national holidays and during protests. It's named for Menelik II, who was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 until 1913, and an equestrian statue of the ruler sits at its center.
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.”)
Underneath Jerusalem, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city’s crowded alleys and ancient attractions, there is more than a mile (2 kilometers of pathways where some of the most exciting archaeological finds of the ancient world have been uncovered. Take a trip underground and discover 2,000 years of history.
The Black River District (Rivière Noire)—the third largest district by area in Mauritius—is home to one of the smallest populations in the country. But its beautiful rural landscapes, dry climate, and outdoor activities like fishing and hiking make it a favorite among travelers. The district derives its name mainly from the grayish and black basaltic mountainous rocks throughout the region.
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.
The Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies just an hour from Johannesburg, and the Origins Centre makes a great preview. The three-story museum, close to the city center, tells the tale of humanity’s African beginnings through interactive exhibits, video, tapestry, a spectacular collection of rock art, and more.
Originally known as Nekheb, El-Kab was one of ancient Egypt’s oldest and most important cities. Most of the city is an active archaeological dig and not open to visitors, but you can walk around its impressive mud-brick walls. You can also see the El-Kab tombs, three Nubian desert temples, and a vulture-shaped rock sacred to Nekhen’s presiding deity, vulture goddess Nekhbet.
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.
Combining the age-old traditions of a Moroccan hammam with the modern innovations of a Western-style spa, Les Bains de Marrakech is a popular choice for travelers seeking a Marrakesh hammam experience. Opened in 2001 by Frenchman Kader Boufraine, this was Marrakech’s first luxury private spa.
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.
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.
Set inside the 18th-century Ajman Fort—a former residence of Ajman’s rulers—Ajman Museum casts a spotlight on the history of the emirate. Distinct for its cannon-flanked gateway, sand-colored ramparts, and antique wooden doors, the museum chronicles Ajman’s ancient and recent past with everything from an early excavated cemetery to tribal weaponry, replica dhow boats, and dioramas of traditional Emirati domestic life.
