Things to Do in Middle East And Africa

South Africa's Panorama Route includes historic mining towns, beautiful waterfalls, lofty views, a gorgeous canyon, and lots of wildlife. The mining town of Graskop serves as an ideal starting point for a trip around the Mpumalanga's Panorama Route, and nearby attractions include the viewpoint called God's Window (featured in the film “The Gods Must Be Crazy”). From there, you can enjoy the views over Blyde River Canyon and see the collection of dramatic waterfalls near Sabie.

As the name suggests, the Panorama Route is known primarily for its scenery. There is abundant wildlife in the region, too, so be on the lookout. Fall and winter are the best times to see wildlife, when there are fewer leaves on the trees.

For visitors from outside of South Africa, Stephanus Johannes Paulus “Paul” Kruger’s name may ring a bell – the country’s most popular National Park is named for him. South Africans and world history buffs also know Mr. Kruger as the popular one-time President of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR), an independent state that persisted for 50 years in the late 19th 

and early 20th centuries, battling the British during the Anglo Boer Wars. It was Kruger who signed the Pretoria Convention treaty that ended the First Anglo Boer War in 1881. Three years later, he built his private home in downtown Pretoria – today the site is open to the public as a museum tribute to the politician. The reflective museum lies just a few blocks south of the National Zoological Gardens and west of Church Square in busy downtown Pretoria. 

Three buildings – including the single-story white cement Paul Kruger House – and Kruger’s old private railway car, used on the campaign trail and for official visits, comprise the Kruger 

Museum. The home, guarded by stone lions, has been refurbished to look as it did during Kruger’s occupancy and features carpeting, wall décor and furniture from the period. The other two buildings house exhibits on the various periods of his life, including the knife that he used to amputate his own thumb after a shooting accident went awry. 

Among the many options for going on a safari near Johannesburg, the Pilanesberg National Park offers all of the Big Five on a reserve that shares a border with the popular resort Sun City.

The park, most often known as the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, stretches over nearly 221 square miles and is essentially contained within the crater of a long extinct volcano (hence its roughly circular shape). Inside the park there are more than 116 miles of roads – these are not paved, but they're maintained well enough that visitors can do self-guided driving tours through Pilanesberg National Park as well as go on guided safari drives. There are even “hides” where you can get out of your car and watch for animals in a safe and camouflaged spot.

Because of the volcanic setting,  Pilanesberg National Park is as interesting to geologists as it is to animal lovers. Several rare minerals can be found inside the park, as well as evidence of human existence dating from the Iron Age and Stone Age. This is, of course, in addition to the abundant wildlife on display.

Get a very visual understanding of Morocco by visiting this small, photo-dense museum tucked away on a tiny street in Marrakech’s medina, or old quarter. Housed in a former fondouk—a building to lodge merchants and travelers—the museum’s collection of images highlight life in Morocco over the course of roughly 100 years, from the 1870s to the 1950s.

Not just photos are on display either: you’ll also find glass photographic plates, postcards, and documentaries, including the first color film taken in the High Atlas Mountains. The collective images – of which the museum has thousands --provide a thought-provoking and visually intriguing overview of the country’s culture and history, especially as it relates to its Berber people. 

A relatively small venue, the Photography Museum spans several floors, on top of which sits a rooftop terrace. It is there that visitors are rewarded with sweeping views of Marrakech and even the Atlas Mountains beyond. The rooftop is also home to a café, so to take full advantage of your visit, plan to stop for a snack or even light lunch at this delightful and scenic spot.

The ancient city of Pella, one of Jordan’s most underrated attractions, is also one of the country’s most important archeological sites. Humans have been living in and around Pella continuously for more than 6,000 years. 

Among the ruins in the area are the remnants of a Greco-Roman theater, a Chalcolithic settlement dating back to the fourth millennium BC, Byzantine churches, Bronze and Iron age walled cities and early Islamic residential neighborhoods. Excavations in Pella have been ongoing since 1979, and there are still countless sites left to be excavated.

Jutting into the Persian Gulf from southern Dubai, the Palm Jumeirah is an artificial island in the shape of a palm tree and ringed by a crescent-shaped breakwater. The world’s biggest artificial island, it draws visitors to its palatial hotels, theme parks, and shopping malls.

 

The Palm Jumeirah offers some of Dubai’s most opulent 5-star hotels—including Atlantis, The Palm—all of them rising from its Crescent breakwater or trunk. The island’s 17 fronds are home to 1,730 private villas. Visitors come to enjoy the hotels’ beaches and dining options, as well as attractions, such as Atlantis’ Aquaventure Water Park and Lost Chambers Aquarium. Also popular are shopping malls, such as The Pointe and Golden Mile Galleria.

 

Nearly all Dubai tours include photo ops outside the Atlantis, arriving via road or the island’s monorail system. Some hop-on hop-off bus routes, meanwhile, let you alight at the Atlantis to explore at leisure, while boat and Jet Ski tours afford fabulous views of the Palm and Atlantis from the sea. However, the best option to admire the palm-shaped island design is to take a helicopter or seaplane trip that flies over the island.

 

 

The Palm extends into the Gulf from Dubai’s Al Sufouh area, midway between the Burj Al Arab and Dubai Marina. To visit, catch the monorail from the Gateway station on the trunk to Atlantis, The Palm on the Crescent breakwater. Alternatively, take a taxi to the island.

 

The Palm Monorail runs every 15 minutes, every day, from about 9am until 10pm. Check timetables before traveling, however. If you have a ticket for the Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park, aim to arrive early during the peak season (November-April) and on Friday and Saturday, to avoid the biggest crowds.

 

Though Atlantis’ main lobby is usually open to nonresidents, access may be restricted from time to time. Your best bet is to reserve a table at one of Atlantis’ on-site restaurants to ensure entry.

In the Gospel of John, chapter 5, Jesus is said to have miraculously healed a paralyzed man at the Bethesda Pool. This pool was discovered and excavated during the nineteenth century when the Church of St. Anne, located on the same grounds, was being restored. This public bath was likely used during the first century BC and first century AD.

The Romanesque church was built in 1140 by Crusaders at the site where Hannah, mother of Mary, was born. It’s considered one of the best specimens of medieval architecture in Israel and is famous for its astounding acoustics. Stick around for a few minutes and you’ll often hear hymns being sung.

Papyrus is an important part of Egypt’s history. The raw material used to make this ancient paper comes from the stalk of the Cyperus papyrus plant, which has a brittle interior and a tough exterior and grows in damp regions of the Nile Delta. Its method of production was a well­-kept secret for many years, allowing the ancient

Egyptians to have a monopoly over its production and distribution.

The Papyrus Institute is a government-­approved museum and shop not far from the Pyramids in Giza, where visitors can browse and buy a huge selection of hand­-painted papyrus prints. Prices range from the cheap to the very expensive, but bear in mind that these prints are the authentic article and make for some quality souvenirs.

Staff at the Papyrus Institute talk visitors through the entire process of manufacturing papyrus, including a demonstration of exactly how it is made.

The town of Paarl is not far from Cape Town and known around the world for its wine production. Founded in 1688, Paarl was immediately recognized as an ideal climate in which to farm. Settlers began growing grapes and planting orchards of various fruits. To this day, Paarl is known as a prominent fruit-growing area in South Africa.

In addition to the wineries you can visit around Paarl, the town is also worth a visit for its historic Cape Dutch architecture, many of which date from the 17th century. The town is also famous as the place where the Afrikaans language was born.

Visit the temple to learn about the temple's history, as well as Isis, who was a very important goddess in ancient times. She was known as the Mother of God, giver of life, and protector and healer of kings.

A lush expanse of terraced fields, forested hillsides, and cascading waterfalls in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, the Ourika Valley is a natural oasis just an hour from the city of Marrakech.

 

A popular day trip destination from Marrakech, the Ourika Valley is often visited as part of a full-day tour of the Atlas Mountains. Combine it with a thrilling drive along the Kik Plateau and a stop at Lake Takerkoust, or take an Atlas Mountains Four Valleys tour and visit the Ourika, Oukaïmeden, Sidi Fares, and Asni valleys.

 

Alternatively, savor your visit on a hiking or mountain biking tour, explore the Berber village of Setti Fatma, trek to the Setti Fatma Falls, or visit in winter to enjoy the ski resort of Oukaïmeden.

 

 

The Ourika Valley is located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Marrakech, in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains. Buses run from Marrakech to the main town of Setti Fatma in high season. You can also hire a taxi for the day or join a guided tour.

 

Time your visit for a Monday, when the local market (souk) of Tnin Ourika sprawls through the village and a mix of locals and tourists haggle for goods, sip sweet Moroccan mint tea, and catch up on gossip. The prettiest time to visit is in spring (February to April), when the valley is speckled with colorful wildflowers and the surrounding cherry and almond orchards are in full bloom.

 

For many visitors, the Ourika Valley’s principal attraction is its traditional Berber settlements. The village of Setti Fatma maintains a traditional way of life, tending to its communal saffron farm and organic herb farm, producing handicrafts to sell, and serving traditional tajines and breads in local restaurants. At the heart of the valley are the dramatic Setti Fatma falls, which flow into the Ourika River and offer a thrilling scramble for adventurous travelers. 

The Basics

First constructed in 2001, the islands are always in various stages of development, especially the World, which is set to replicate the entire world and cover 5.5 miles (nine km) of reclaimed land. Although the palms are mainly home to a mix of leisure, residential, marina and commercial structures, visitors need not own property (or even stay in one of the hotels) on the completed Palm Jumeirah or any of the other islands to get a good look at this manmade wonder. Tours by speedboat, rigid-inflatable boat (RIB), and jetski take visitors from the Dubai Marina to the Palm Jumeirah archipelago, where it's possible to see the 5-star hotels tower above the water and spot the Burj Al-Arab from afar.

The best views of the Palm Islands and the World are from the air. Flightseeing tours aboard a helicopter or seaplane provide the perfect bird's-eye views—and photo ops—of these impressive archipelagos. Heading to the Observation Deck at the Burj Khalifa or to the top of one of the city's many other high-rise skyscrapers is another way to see the sprawling development from above.

Things to Know Before You Go

• A wide variety of small-group and private tours viewing the islands are available by boat or helicopter, some in combination with Dubai city tours.
  
• The layout of the islands is best appreciated from above.
  
• Expect sky-high temperatures of up to 110°F (43°C) in summer.
  

How to Get to the Palm Islands and The World

The completed Palm Jumeirah stretches 3.2 miles (five km) by 3.2 miles. Although there is no public transit in place to reach the Palm Gateway Monorail Station on the coast, from here, travelers can take a 10-minute ride out to the tip of the palm to see the length of the artificial island from a good vantage point. Taxis can also drive out to palm leaves. Dubai's famed Atlantis hotel, Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark, and Lost Chambers Aquarium are set on Palm Jumeirah.

Private Islands for Sale

If you're in the market for a private island to call home, some of the islands in The World project are still up for grabs.

The Palmach was founded on May 15, 1941 as an elite unit of the underground army of the Jewish community. At the innovative Palmach Museum, visitors are transported back in time, where they follow the story of a group of young Palmach recruits who fought and eventually died fighting for the establishment of the state of Israel.

Each tour begins in a memorial hall dedicated to fallen Palmach members. Rather than the artifacts and informational placards common to most museums, the Palmach Museum uses audio visual effects and three-dimensional decor to recount various experiences in the personal stories of Palmach fighters.

This famous palace, which dates back to the 1400s, is comprised of five distinct sections. Its complex is an ideal place for travelers who want to learn more about the area’s culture, architecture and traditions to visit. 

Construction on the palace’s main building began in 1411. Visitors can enter through its portal and make their way to the Divankhana—a stone pavilion inside the courtyard. The towering mausoleum serves as a burial space and was designed by the architect Memar Ali. Travelers can also make their way to the Palace Mosque, which is part of the palace that was later built in the 1430s, as well as the bath house, which is complete with 26 unique rooms.

First built some 4,700 years ago as a flat-roofed mastaba, the Pyramid of Djoser was one of the very first pyramids built by the Egyptians. Pharaoh Djoser had the structure built as part of his tomb complex at Saqqara, just outside of Egypt's then-capital Memphis, and by the end of his reign, the pyramid had been transformed into six stepped layers reaching 203 feet (62 meters) in height.

The complex of pyramid, tombs, courtyards, and temples covers nearly 40 acres. Upon entering, you'll find a large hypostyle hall leading onto an open court flanking the south side of the pyramid. A temple sits on the north side with a statue of Djoser set in a stone enclosure known as a serdab (Look through the hole in the serdab and you'll see straight into the pharaoh's eyes).

The pharaoh's burial chamber, vaulted in red granite, is located beneath the pyramid, surrounded by a series of tunnels and other chambers. Although the interior is closed to the public, an interesting museum sits at the entrance to the complex.

Most day trips combine a visit to the Djoser complex with the Giza Pyramids and a tour of the ruined city of Memphis, taking in the most important ancient sites in the Cairo area.

This untouched island off the coast of Zanzibar offers travelers the perfect beachfront escape. Commonly referred to by locals as the “Green Island” because of its lush forests and tropical vibe, it’s Pemba’s incredible stretches of white sandy beach and turquoise blue waters that make it a destination for visitors from around the globe. 

Chake-chake, Mikoani and Wete are some of the most popular cities on the island, and small-scale farms in the rural inland produce cloves, coconuts, bananas and cassava that are common in local cuisine. But it’s Pemba’s unspoiled beaches that draw travelers to this tropical getaway, where a history of (now resolved) political unrest and inaccessibility has left the island mostly untouched for decades.

Understanding Egypt's complex and mysterious history can seem as impossible as becoming fluent in hieroglyphics. However, once you've traveled through the time machine that is the Pharaonic Village, untangling the country’s tale is simplified.

Enter the Pharaonic Village and exit a few hours later with an entertaining education on Egypt from the period of the pharaohs up through modern politics. This painstakingly designed reproduction of ancient Egypt lies on Jacob's Island six miles outside of Cairo, with 5,000 strategically planted trees hiding the view of the modern city to help visitors feel as though they have really traveled back through the millennia. Floating through its winding canals are actors in period costumes engaging in agricultural activities, making pottery, weaving and sculpting among faithful replicas of homes and gardens, a market and a shipyard. There is even an exact reproduction of King Tut's tomb.

There are about a dozen museums in the area, and the nearby Nile River provides a prime way to explore the waters, whether by yacht, paddleboat, rowboat or canoe. Visitors can experience Egyptian cuisine in the village restaurant, while children can play in one of the largest playgrounds in Egypt. Cleopatra's Photo Studio provides a laugh, as visitors can dress up and pose as a pharaoh, sheikh or peasant to remind them of the day they discovered Egypt.