Middle East & Africa attractions

The Brazil House Museum in Accra’s Jamestown is a place that tells the story of the Tabom people, who returned to settle in Ghana in 1836 after being enslaved in Brazil. They built and lived in this vibrant yellow colonial-style house, which has evolved into a museum that showcases artifacts from and exhibits about the Tabom community.

The lush greenery of Victoria Falls is on full display in this private game reserve, where endangered black rhinos, sable antelope, and other members of the Big Five roam. Accompanied by your guide, you can follow the path of the Masuwe River and discover a diverse ecosystem teeming with life.

Spanning about 4 acres (1.6 hectares) of wetlands just beyond Accra city limits, the slum of Old Fadama—also known as Agbogbloshie—is home to some 40,000 Ghanaians living in extreme poverty. While living conditions are challenging in one of West Africa’s largest slums, members of this innovative community use discarded machinery, appliances, and old computers to forge a living through creativity, ingenuity, and a positive outlook toward improving their neighborhood.

Built in 1991 and revamped twice since, the BurJuman is one of Dubai’s oldest shopping malls but still popular for its ultraconvenient location in Bur Dubai, just south of Dubai Creek. Extending across four levels, the mall offers luxury and speciality stores, restaurants, and entertainments for all tastes.

With their long, feathery platinum tails and blowout manes, black-and-white Angolan colobus monkeys were once a common sight in southeast Kenya. Colobus Conservation works to protect these beautiful primates, which you can usually see—alongside vervets, Sykes’ monkeys, and baboons—in the forest around their rehabilitation and conservation center.

Located in the Emirati city of Sharjah, the Sharjah Classic Cars Museum features more than 100 vintage cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles dating back to 1915. Explore the evolution of the automobile, learn about different types of designs and engines, and admire meticulously restored vehicles across makes and models.

Fun and learning come together at the Children’s City in Dubai. Designed for kids between 2 and 15 years old, this science-themed center is both educational and entertaining for youngsters. Here, they can unravel the mysteries of the universe at the planetarium, tackle interactive challenges at the Earth sciences and technology galleries, and learn about wildlife at the nature exhibitions. Hands-on workshops, a kids’ theater, and toddler play zones provide colorful finishing touches.

Just east of Arusha, Tengeru is a small mountain village best known for its coffee research programs. While many visitors simply pass through on their way to Arusha National Park and Mount Moshi, Tengeru offers a few draws of its own, including schools that welcome travelers wishing to volunteer.

Surrounded by coral reef marine life off the Israeli coast, the Underwater Observatory Marine Park offers a window into the Red Sea's natural aquarium. On a visit to the tower observatory, you descend 40 feet (12 meters) below the surface of the Gulf of Aqaba—without getting wet—to see the underwater world from glass-lined halls.

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.

Close to the Bab Zuweila gate to Cairo’s old city, the 15th-century Mosque of Sultan Al-Mu'ayyad stands atop the remains of a prison that once housed the mosque’s creator, Sultan Al-Mu’ayyad. While the structure has been extensively reworked over the years, its brilliantly colored marble and ornate decorations still stand out, as do the elegant twin minarets.

Nalaga’at (Nalagaat Center) is a groundbreaking institution in Tel Aviv that’s transformed the lives of deaf and blind people. It’s home to a theater where deaf-blind actors perform award-winning shows, a café where hearing-impaired staff encourage guests to communicate in sign language, a restaurant where guests dine in the dark, and a wealth of workshops.

Located in Johannesburg’s sprawling Montecasino complex, the bird gardens offer a sunny respite from the bustle of the city. As you wander the manicured grounds, you’ll spot colorful tropical birds, inquisitive red-ruffed lemurs, and sleepy lizards basking in the sun. Thanks to the reptile and bird shows hosted throughout the day, it's a favorite destination for families.

With a collection spanning the gamut from oxcarts, tandem bicycles, and horse-drawn trams to steam trains, retro buses, and fire engines, the James Hall Museum of Transport is the biggest land transport museum in South Africa. The museum houses more than 2,500 vehicles, historic photos, informative displays, and occasional temporary exhibitions.

The top performing arts venue in the Durban area, The Playhouse Company occupies two adjacent buildings in the heart of downtown Durban: one mock Tudor, one a former 1930s picture palace. The multi-venue complex houses three theaters that put on live shows ranging from opera and ballet to drama, live music, poetry, and community arts.

Operated by the Petroleum Development Oman, the country's leading gas and oil company, the Exhibition Center contains a museum and planetarium. Since its inception in 1979, the facility has focused on scientific advancements in astronomy and energy. After undergoing a complete transformation in 1995, it's now an educational attraction.

Namibia ranks high on the world’s economic disparity list, as the income gap between its richest residents and the nation’s poorest people is one of the largest on record. The difference between the haves and the have-nots is particularly evident on a visit to Swakopmund, where well-paved roads, modern streetlights and beautifully constructed colonial buildings sit next to quiet cafes and restaurants dishing up international cuisine. But just beyond the city limits lies an informal settlement called the Democratic Resettlement Community. Once a temporary holding ground for people awaiting government housing, some 6,000 people call the thriving DRC home, an area built from reclaimed trash discarded by the city’s rich. Visitors to this impoverished but thriving neighborhood can see how the other half of Namibia’s city dwellers live—those who often work in the service industries that supply the country’s elite and international travelers with all the comforts of home. Tour the DRC’s active youth center, free health clinic and home for orphans and vulnerable children while wandering the streets of this informal settlement.

In the headquarters of Banque du Liban, Lebanon’s central bank, the Banque du Liban Museum (Musée de la Banque du Liban) is a money museum, devoted to the history of currency. The collection runs from coins dating back to the Phoenicians to interactive games such as seeing what your weight in gold is worth. There’s also a small gift shop.

One of the most significant sites in Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter, the walled Church of St. James serves as the cathedral of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Georgians first built a church on the site — believed to be the location where St. James was beheaded — during the eleventh century. The structure was resorted by Armenians during the twelfth century. Besides its ties to the martyred disciple, the Church of St. James also houses the tomb of another James, the oldest brother of Jesus and the author of the Epistle of James, who was himself martyred in 62 AD. The church ranks among the most ornate houses of worship anywhere in the holy land, adorned with hanging lamps, gilded icons and colorful woven carpets. The courtyard of the church features a series of interesting carved stone crosses, called khatchkars.

One of Jordan's largest malls, Amman City Mall offers an array of international brands, including Levi’s, Calvin Klein, Mango, and Ted Baker. It also offers home decor, toys, a supermarket, a wide range of food options, and a multiplex cinema with an IMAX screen. The sleek interior with its glass roof is more stylish than it looks from the outside.

Crack puzzles, climb horizontal ropes, and chase clues in one exciting mission at TEPfactor Dubai. A maze of indoor cave-like cells and obstacle courses, this escape-room-style park aims to test the wits and agility of anyone aged 8 or over. Players work in teams to navigate 21 tasks and games and enjoy a lot of fun while at it.

The family-owned Bufflefonstien Game and Nature Reserve comprises rolling grassland where zebras and rhinos roam and copses of trees where you can spot giraffes grazing peacefully. When dusk falls, visitors can bunk down in thatched cottages with rustic stone walls constructed from natural materials found on the grounds and hear lions roar outside.

An informal settlement, Imizamo Yethu sits above Hout Bay in Cape Town as a collection of colorful shacks, many built from scrap metal. Residents come from different South African cultures and most remain disadvantaged, with the site plagued by fires, but Imizamo Yethu has a positive energy that’s distinctly South African.

Tsauchab River does not always exist. If you’re lucky enough to be in Namibia in the rare periods of rainfall in the Naukluft Mountains, you’ll be able to watch the drama of a canyon rapidly filling with water to create the ephemeral Tsauchab River. The contrast of the red sand against the wide blue sky adds an alien feel to the scene.

If someone in Accra mentions that they're going to Sakumono, chances are high that they're headed to the beach. This small community in the western coastal suburbs is known for its shores, as well as its beachside bars and restaurants, bird-watching opportunities at Sakumono Lagoon, and a golf club.

Salaga Market is a vibrant cultural hub with a tapestry of colors, scents, and sounds. Notable for its lively atmosphere, this bustling market offers a glimpse into Ghanaian daily life. A visit here is a journey into the heart of the country, where you can witness local traditions and savor the flavors of Ghana’s rich culinary heritage.

Skydive Dubai is Dubai’s only skydiving operator and boasts two of the world’s most impressive drop zones: one over the Dubai desert and the other above the Palm Jumeirah and the World Islands. Adrenaline seekers can experience a tandem skydive, take a thrilling gyrocopter flight, or even complete a solo skydiving course.

Located off the coast of Namibia, Pelican Point is a remote peninsula and sandbar in the Erongo region. With the Atlantic Ocean on one side, and the calm Walvis Bay Lagoon on the other, Pelican Bay is known for its stunning natural beauty. It’s also home to abundant wildlife, including seals, flamingos, cormorants, and pelicans.

A thin strip of water separates Bojo Beach from the bustling streets of Accra, but this quiet coastal area feels a world away. Bojo Beach is relatively undeveloped but has everything you need for a perfect beach day—and a break from city crowds. You can access the private beach, a restaurant, lounge chairs, and shaded tables on the shore for a small fee.

In the hilly northern outskirts of Addis Ababa, Gullele Botanical Gardens is a fantastic place to get some fresh air--and do some hiking. Expect lush vegetation, plenty of birds, and fantastic views of the Ethiopian capital.