The Apartheid Museum details the injustice, cruelty, and absurdities of white minority rule in South Africa. Apartheid, meaning “separateness” in Afrikaans, was officially in effect from 1948 to 1994, though segregation had been a cornerstone of South African politics since the country’s inception. The museum is dedicated to helping South Africa overcome its oppressive past and look toward the future.
Second only to Petra in terms of archaeological importance, Jerash (Gerasa) is one of Jordan’s most significant Roman sites. The area has been inhabited for over 6,500 years, but its high point was under Roman rule, beginning in 63 BC. Today it’s known for beautifully preserved ancient architecture, including temples and an amphitheater.
One of the oldest cities in Oman, Nizwa sits on a plain in the Al-Hajar Mountain range. Once a stop on ancient caravan routes—and a center for trade, religion, education, and art—today’s Nizwa is a diverse place with agricultural, historic, and cultural points of interest.
Standing 614 feet (187 meters) tall on Gezira Island, the Cairo Tower (Burj al-Qahira) is one of Cairo’s most recognizable landmarks. Completed in 1961, with a striking lattice exterior designed to resemble a lotus flower, the tower is topped with a café, an observation deck, and a revolving restaurant.
Despite the name, the rugged Valley of the Queens doesn’t just house the tombs of ancient pharaohs’ wives: Their children and some high officials are buried here too. Four of the 70-odd graves are open: the tombs of Nefertari, Titi, Khaemwaset, and Amenherkhepshef. There is an extra charge to visit Nefertari’s tomb.
Younger than the most ancient Luxor sites by thousands of years, the Dendera Temple complex spans many eras and artistic styles. Vivid paintings illuminate the Dendera Temple complex, and the magnificent Hathor Temple—the complex's centerpiece—hosts soaring columns, carved faces, an underground crypt, and shrines to a long list of gods.
A modern-day theme park where you can shop, dine, and be entertained all in one place, the Global Village is one of Dubai’s most unique attractions. Immerse yourself in the sights, cuisines, and creations of more than 90 different world cultures as you explore the themed pavilions, shop for traditional handicrafts, watch spectacular live performances, and have fun on the fairground rides.
Carving through high sandstone cliffs on the Gulf of Oman coast, Wadi Shab is one of the country’s most picturesque dry river gorges. The wadi’s palm-lined hiking trail and aquamarine waters make it a must for outdoors enthusiasts.
Nestled along Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru National Park offers a diverse landscape of rocky caves, brushy grasslands, and, of course, Lake Nakuru. The national park is populated with an abundance of wildlife, including more than 400 different bird species, but its huge draw is the gathering of greater and lesser flamingos that wade across the lake.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya), on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, represents the largest sheet of waterfalls in the world, though not the widest or tallest. Dr. David Livingston named the falls after the Queen of England, but the Batonga people had already named them Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders). On a clear day, you can see the mist generated by the falls from up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) away.
Located by the village of Tanaghmeilt in the High Atlas Mountains, the Ouzoud Waterfalls (Cascades d’Ouzoud) are Morocco’s highest falls. They are a magnificent sight, tumbling 361 feet (110 meters) through a dramatic red-rock gorge of El Abid River.
An ancient sacred city, even older than the Giza Pyramids, Abydos was already a burial ground over 6,000 years ago. While many tombs at the site are still being excavated, highlights of it include the ruined Temple of Ramses II, the Temple of Seti I with its gorgeously decorated chapels, and the Osireion, dedicated to the god Osiris.
The rugged buttresses of the Twelve Apostles mountains back the white-sand sweep of Camps Bay Beach, making Camps Bay one of Cape Town’s fanciest suburbs—and a popular weekend getaway. Sun, sea, sand, food, and drink are the main attractions here, but you can also cycle the beachfront or hike up to Table Mountain or Lion’s Head.
An open-air synagogue where worshippers recite prayers, Israel’s historic Western Wall (Wailing Wall) is where travelers come to kiss pale gold stones the color of the Negev desert and to stuff paper prayers between the stones. The beating heart of the Old City of Jerusalem, this is a must-see sacred site in the Jewish Quarter.
Built between 1356 and 1363 by Cairo’s Mamluk ruler Sultan Hassan, the Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrassa was designed as a place of worship and madrassa (Islamic school). Visitors can admire its scale and beauty, see its teaching areas (liwans), and view its other highlight: the mausoleum of Sultan Hassan himself.
The Erg Chebbi is a majestic sand sea in Morocco’s desert that spans about 17 miles (28 kilometers) and boasts dunes that reach heights of about 525 feet (160 meters). Conveniently near the town of Merzouga, this is the Moroccan Sahara’s most popular desert camping destination.
The southernmost of Mauritius’ nine districts, the scenic Savanne District is known for its rugged, unspoiled scenery, idyllic beaches, and several major cultural attractions. Seaside resort towns such as Souillac and Bel Ombre offer a more traditional tropical getaway experience. However, it’s worth venturing to inland natural wonders like the Black River Gorges National Park.
Boasting four acclaimed white-sand beaches, Clifton attracts Cape Town’s elite residents and wealthiest visitors. From upscale homes perched above the shoreline to high-dollar yachts anchored in the bay, the Cape Town suburb has a reputation for being frequented by celebrities and wealthy entrepreneurs. That said, anyone can spend the day sunbathing and enjoying drinks and seafood served on the picturesque beaches.
An elaborate artificial island north of Doha’s West Bay, the Pearl-Qatar is home to luxury apartment towers, villas, marinas, and shopping boutiques,—it’s the city’s very own riviera. At the center of the Pearl-Qatar is the Qanat Quartier, which combines sheltered beaches with a Venetian-inspired look.
The inspiration for animators of Disney’sThe Lion King, Hell’s Gate National Park covers roughly 26 square miles (68.25 square kilometers). Named for a gap in the red-tinged cliffs carved by the flowing waters of a prehistoric lake, it’s the only park in East Africa in which you can get out of your safari vehicle and hike freely.
Home to a towering crew of endangered Rothschild’s giraffes, Nairobi’s Giraffe Centre supports conservation work and educational programs across Kenya. Here, visitors can feed giraffes from a treetop platform, walk a nature trail to the Gogo River, and learn about wildlife conservation at the on-site nature center.
Extending for around 125 meters (410 feet), the Tomb of Ramses III—also known as KV 11— is among the longest and best-preserved tombs in the Valley of the Kings on Luxor's West Bank. The interior walls are adorned with hieroglyphs and colorful bas-relief art depicting scenes from ancient funerary texts.
The Fez Mellah, in the center of Fez, Morocco, was the city’s Jewish quarter from the mid-15th century until after World War II. This walled quarter served as a barrier to protect the Jewish community from attack by other Fez residents. Today, the neighborhood offers explorers an insight into Moroccan history with architecture that stands in contrast to the surrounding old medina.
Set inside Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is one of the world’s biggest aquariums. Walk through the 270-degree glass Aquarium Tunnel, where you’ll be surrounded by colorful fish, sand tiger sharks, and sting rays; admire rainforest, coastal, and river creatures such as penguins and giant crocodiles at the underwater zoo; and immerse yourself in the aquatic environment with close-up animal encounters, boat tours, and diving experiences.
The Nelson Mandela National Museum (Mandela House), is dedicated to the preservation of the history, heritage, and legacy of the Mandela family. Former South African president Nelson Mandela and his family lived in this Johannesburg house from 1946 to the 1990s before dedicating it to the Soweto Heritage Trust.
One of Uganda’s most popular nature reserves, this sprawling safari park is an excellent place to experience the Rift Valley’s diverse landscapes and wildlife. The park spans dense forests, hippo-filled lakes, and savannah grasslands flanked by volcanic peaks. It’s also the only place outside of Tanzania where you can spot the rare tree-climbing lion, plus chimpanzees and more than 600 species of birds.
Also known as KV8, the Tomb of Merneptah in the Valley of the Kings is the final resting place of Pharoah Merneptah, the son of Ramesses II and Queen Isis-Nofret. It was rediscovered in 1902, a good decade before the tomb of the more famous King Tutankhamun was found, and gets fewer crowds than some of the other major tombs in the Valley.
A quaint fishing village on the Cape Peninsula’s Atlantic Seaboard, Hout Bay is an idyllic vacation spot with a historic downtown, a bustling harbor front, wineries, and marine life. While only about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from Cape Town, the community has a remote feel, giving visitors a chance to slow down and savor the seaside vibes.
The most-visited of Oman’s wadi, or river beds, Wadi Bani Khalid also is one of its easiest to access. Join locals at this picturesque oasis to swim in a string of natural aquamarine pools flanked by boulders and palms, and picnic along the rocky trails.
The Dubai Fountain is a spectacle of swaying sprays, multi-coloured illuminations, and booming music, rising from the vast Burj Lake beneath Dubai’s Burj Khalifa tower. Composed of multiple jet formations accompanied by dazzling light displays, the fountains reach up to 459 feet (140 meters) as the water sprays dance in time to classical, pop, and Arabian music. Locals and visitors gather at the lakesides for the free-to-view shows that run at regular times every afternoon and evening.
