Things to Do in Middle East And Africa

The Garden Route offers visitors one of the most smooth and scenic drives in all of South Africa. The well-paved road winds through rolling hills, densely populated towns and small, subsistent farms. It’s a look at African life in the vast open countryside, with plenty of stopping options for destinations off the beaten path—like Wilderness National Park.

The rivers, lakes and beaches of this popular spot are protected by thick forests marked by hiking trails and nature paths. As its name suggests, this rugged town attracts mostly outdoor enthusiasts eager to enjoy the unspoiled coast. Spend an afternoon canoeing Dolphin Point, where the playful mammals and massive whales come to play, trek through overgrown wetland trails, paraglide from nearby mountain tops or rent a bike and explore the area on two wheels instead.

Another element of the World Heritage Site in old Jerusalem, the Wailing Wall (or, as Jews call it, the Western Wall) lies at the foot of the Temple Mount, a remnant of the stone wall that used to surround the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Babylonians destroyed this temple in 425 B.C., and since then it has been a sacred site for Jewish pilgrimage; the name “Wailing Wall” was coined by non-Jews who witnessed the weeping of devoted Jews who had come to mourn and daven (pray with a rocking motion).

Long a hotly-contested symbol for Jews, Muslims and Christians (all three groups have, over time, built houses of worship on this site), the Arab-Israeli Six Day War in 1967 was largely fought over claim to the Wailing Wall. Israel won both the war and the right to include the wall in the boundaries of the Jewish state. Within days, Israeli soldiers also bulldozed the surrounding Moroccan Quarter, an 800-year old Arab neighborhood, forcing the residents out of their homes; the resulting razed land was turned into a huge courtyard where Jews now come to pray.

The Wall today remains the dividing point between the Jewish, Muslim and Christian areas of Jerusalem.

When people talk about wildlife in Africa, they usually mean the Big Five: Elephants, rhino, buffalo, lions and leopards. But World of Birds, a unique park just outside Cape Town that’s home to more than 400 different species of wild birds, proves there’s more to this diverse continent than just its massive mammals.

More than 3,000 birds and other small animals call this aviary home. Visitors can explore their well-kept habitats, which spread over a generous four hectares of land. The scenic backdrop of Table Mountain, Little Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles makes it an ideal spot for photos, too.

While it may not be the largest river in Africa, the Zambezi, which carves through six countries including Zambia, is one of the continent’s most powerful and most scenic. As a result, this rushing river attracts visitors from across the globe—including travelers with a love of extreme water sports looking for adventure. The fourth-largest river in Africa is divided into three main parts, and Victoria Falls is typically considered the boundary between the upper and middle Zambezi. Here, the thundering river flows over falls, into the Boiling Point and through the narrow Batoka Gorge, where it provides some of the most exhilarating white water rafting, kayaking and river boating on earth. Non-adrenaline junkies can still enjoy the beauty of the Zambezi by floating along on a sunset river cruise.