Choose from 633 Fun Things to Do in Middle East And Africa
Citadel of Saladin (Al-Qalaa)
Sprawling over a limestone spur on the eastern edge of the city, the Citadel of Saladin (or Al-Qalaa) was home to Egypt's rulers for some 700 years. Their legacy is a collection of three very different mosques, including the Mosque of Mohamed Ali, several palaces (housing some underwhelming museums such as the police and military museums) and a couple of terraces with city views.
The area was fortified around 1180 to protect it from the Crusaders. In the 1860s, ruler Khedive Ismail moved to newly built Abdin Palace, ending the citadel's role as the seat of government.
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Catch bus 174 from Midan Ramses or 173 from Midan Falaki, or grab a taxi which is cheap in Cairo. Admission to the Citadel of Saladin includes entry to all the museums within the Citadel. Though this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cairo (particularly for Egyptians), it is relatively unimpressive and decidedly overpriced.
Clifton Beach
Four distinct beaches make up Clifton Beach, which attracts a ritzier crowd full of scenesters eager to see and be seen. Year-round rigid water temps keep sunbathers firmly on the shores, but rented chairs, multi-million dollar yachts and tasty cafes along the main drag offer plenty of opportunities for people watching, as well as a chance to brush elbows with Cape Town’s most elite.
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Bo-Kaap (Malay Quarter)
The Bo-Kaap Museum, which examines the contributions made by Muslim settlers, is housed in the quarter’s oldest home. It is the ideal place to start exploring the culture of this colorful neighborhood. Afterwards, check out the historic Mosques that dot the streets of Bo-Kaap, including one built in 1844, before visiting the well-known Karamats. The township is home to three of these burial sites that honor saints of Islam. Travelers can also learn to make famous Malay Curry during a traditional cooking class, or sample local fare and purchase traditional works of art at the food and craft market held at Schotshcekloof Civic Center the first Saturday of every month.
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Colossi of Memnon
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Colored Canyon
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Colored Canyon is in the Sinai Desert, between St. Catherine and Nuweiba. The canyon is reached by 4-wheel drive or camel safari from the main road.
Bois Cheri Plantation
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City of the Dead (Qarafa)
Qarafa, or The City of the Dead, is two 4 mile (6 km) long cemeteries - a north and south cemetery - dating from Mamluk times (1200s - 1500s) and is still in use today. Traditionally all families kept a mausoleum and these days some families use them for living in as well as for burials. Some families have been inhabiting the tombs for generations, some arrived more recently after the 1967 war displaced them from the canal zone. The north cemetery has more people residing in it and estimates are up to half a million people live there. These days there are shops, cafes and even a post-office within the cemeteries.
Many of the tombs themselves are quite grand and beautiful dating back centuries and in the Mamluk style. The northern cemetery is home to some of Cairo's most beautiful Mamluk monuments, such as the Mausoleums of Sultan Qaitbay and Sultan Barquq.
Practical Info
The City of the Dead is located just east of Cairo, at the foot of the Moqattam Cliff. The easiest way to the Northern Cemetery is heading east from Midan al-Hussein along Sharia al-Azhar. As you crest the top of the hill, bear right, walk below the overpass and go straight along the road between the tombs. Follow this road to the left, then right. You'll pass by the crumbling, domed Tomb of Emir Tashtimur on your left. About 150m further on, a narrow lane goes left, passing under a stone archway. This is the gate to the former compound of Qaitbay, whose splendid mosque is immediately ahead.
It is a poor and conservative area so take care and be respectful when taking photographs. It is unsafe to go after dark.
Bloukrans Bridge
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Alexandria National Museum
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Alexandria
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Blyde River Canyon
Lucky visitors to the canyon may spot a pair of Taita Flacons—one of the most rare bird species in the world—near the Abel Erasmus Pass. Travelers can also get up close to some of South Africa’s other natural rarities too, like Three Rondavels viewpoint, where massive rocks spiral out of canyon walls. Hundreds of years of flowing waters have created Bourke’s Luck Potholes, natural rock sculptures that are recognized as one of the country’s most memorable geological formations.
A helpful information center is located near the mouth of the canyon, where man-made dams have crated placid pools perfect for swimming. Visitors can venture towards Blydesrivierpoort (near Swandini) and travel by boat across the dam to the scenic Tufa Waterfalls. Miles of well-marked trails make Blyde River Canyon a true hiker’s destination, but a wealth of canoeing, rock climbing and abseiling excursions mean there’s also plenty to occupy adventurers.
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Amman Citadel
Foremost among them is the Amman Citadel, built on the summit of Jebel al-Qala'a, the highest of Amman’s seven hills. It has had an extraordinarily long life as a fortress, with evidence of Bronze Age usage, while the remnants of a Roman site, including the Temple of Hercules, are still very much in evidence. This Citadel has also been a royal residence, as indicated by the ruins of the 8th century Ummayad palace, with its largely intact domed audience hall built on the site of a Byzantine basilica.
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Bomas of Kenya
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Al-Rifa'i Mosque
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Amboseli National Park
Amazighe Heritage Museum
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Al-Hakim Mosque
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Blue Bay Marine Park
Colossus of Ramses II
It is housed in the Memphis Museum in a small village on the site of what was once Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt. There is not much to see aside from the Colossus and a few other sculptures. There are ongoing excavations in the area but to the untrained eye it just looks like digging in river mud.