Things to Do in Middle East And Africa

When you think of beautiful, tropical Mauritius, it usually isn’t lions, rhinos, or giraffes that immediately spring to mind. At Casela World of Adventures, however, visitors will enter a safari-style compound that covers 620 acres, where seemingly every adventure possible is happening here in the park. Strap on a helmet and go on safari while also riding a quad bike, or get the feel for what it’s like to sit and ride on a camel. Fly down the island’s longest ziplines, or climb the Via Ferrata, before clipping into the canyon swing or touring the park on a Segway. All of the experiences have separate charges, although general admission still includes a guided safari adventure, where you drive around in search of zebras, ostriches, impalas, and kudus. You’re sure to see at least a dozen of the park’s 1,500 birds, and to up the adventure to heart-racing levels, join the staff on a stroll through fields full of cheetahs, lions, and tigers.

Originally called the Green Point Stadium after a structure that previously stood here, this state-of-the-art complex was home to the 2010 World Cup. In addition to the 60,000-plus sports fans that flooded its seats during the big event, the Cape Town Stadium has hosted concerts by performers like Michael Jackson, Metallica, Paul Simon and Robbie Williams.

Today, visitors can catch a local Rugby match or even a live performance if the timing is right. But the stadium also offers daily tours for travelers on a budget—or those whose schedules don’t match up with the local calendar of events.

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building on the planet, soaring 2,717 feet (828 meters) high with more than 160 stories set in a stepped design that narrows as it climbs, syringe-like, to the sky. The design is patterned after the repetition of a single geometric shape, meant to echo Islamic art. Bringing a new meaning to the term skyscraper, the building is part of the massive downtown Dubai complex of offices, hotels, shopping malls, entertainment precincts, and apartment buildings.

The sail-like silhouette of the Burj Al-Arab has become a symbol of Dubai's opulence and affluence, standing at 1,053 feet (321 meters) as the third-tallest hotel and one of the most luxurious hotels in the United Arab Emirates. Opened in 1999, the landmark boasts plenty of superlatives, including its five-star status.

When even the Phoenicians (an ancient society who populated Lebanon as far back as 1,200 BC) consider a place to be old, then you know it’s legitimately old. Such is the case with Byblos, A UNESCO World Heritage site so steeped in history it’s regarded as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Dating back over 7,000 years, the ancient city now known as Jbail has been the home for civilians and soldiers since the dawn of modern humanity.

The modern city of Byblos is located just 23 miles (37 km) north of Beirut. While the coastal cafés and Mediterranean beaches are a heavy tourist draw, so too are the archeological ruins and the vibrant souks which lay scattered about the cobbled streets of the old town. Of all the ruins in Byblos, the most notable is Byblos Castle (Crusader Castle) which was rebuilt by the Crusaders in the late 12th Century and is open for public touring.

An ancient hub of commerce for transporting shipments of papyrus paper, (byblos is the Greek word for papyrus), Byblos is also revered as the birthplace of the modern alphabet. Millennia of ruins and history aside, modern day Byblos is a rapidly expanding coastal retreat awash in open air beach bars overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. A viable alternative for those looking to see-and-be-seen outside of Beirut, Byblos is a fascinating mosaic of history and hedonism which deserves a spot atop the itinerary of any Lebanon traveler.

The dark tunnels and shadowy chambers of this popular tourist cave wind through nearly four kilometers of dimly lit underground passages. Visitors can only explore Cango Caves on guided group tours, which are offered in two vastly different options. The standard tour takes travelers through easy-going portions of the caves, where sharply pointed stalactites and stalagmites aglow from spotlights make for impressive photos.  Adventure tours take more daring travelers up steep rocky passes and through narrow tunnels, including a 15 centimeter-wide passage that visitors must navigate on their stomachs and elbows.