Choose from 633 Fun Things to Do in Middle East And Africa
Avenue of Sphinxes
The Avenue of Sphinxes was the site of ceremonial processions and originally connected the temples of Luxor and Karnak, although it is considerably more recent than either of those sites, dating to around 380 BC. It stretched some 1.5 miles (2.7 kilometers) and would once have had 1,350 sphinxes lining its sides. Around half of those have been uncovered, with many reworked by later civilizations or sitting in museums. Much of the avenue itself is covered by modern buildings.
There are dozens of examples in various states of preservation forming the immediate approach to each temple. Some of them bear the cat-like features of the famous Great Sphinx at Giza, others have rams’ heads. The entire avenue is the subject of a major ongoing excavation project.
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The visible parts of the Avenue of Sphinxes form the main approaches to both the Karnak Temple and the more centrally located Luxor Temple.
Ga-Mashie District
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Babylon Fortress
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Baalbek
Civilizations as old as the Phoenicians worshiped here and themselves built massive stone structures to “Baal”, revered Phoenician deity and possible subject for the town’s name of Baalbek. With the arrival of the Romans in 64 BC, Baalbek was converted to a pagan center of worship and work was begun on the massive Temple of Jupiter, a hulking structure of granite columns which would eventually become the largest temple ever built in the history of the Roman Empire. While many of the columns have crumbled and eight were even relocated to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, six columns still remain standing and provide a relevant framework for the sheer size of the ancient Roman ruins.
Confounding to scholars at the Temple of Jupiter are the dimension and weight of the stones which are used in the platform of the temple. While many of the stones comprising the foundation already weigh in excess of 450 tons, three gargantuan stones 14 ft. high and 64 ft. in length are believed to weigh over 1000 tons. These are known as the Trilithon, and they are one of the most mysterious elements of ancient architecture found anywhere in the world.
In addition to the Temple of Jupiter visitors can walk among the ornately designed Temple of Bacchus as well as the smaller Temple of Venus, the three of which comprise the triad of deities that Baalbek was centered around: Jupiter, Venus and Mercury.
Humbling in their size and stupefying in their architectural history, the ancient ruins of Baalbek are on par with any other ruins and wonders of the ancient world.
Cape Point Nature Reserve
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Bahla
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Garden of Gethsemane
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Azraq Wetland Reserve
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Cape Wheel of Excellence
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Cape Agulhas
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Badiyah Mosque
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Cape Spartel
- Cape Spartel is a must-see for first-time visitors to Tangier.
- Bring a light jacket as it can get very windy here.
- The beaches between Cape Spartel and Hercules Cave are the best for sunbathing and swimming.
- Full-day tours from southern Spain can last upwards of 10 hours.
Badagry Black Heritage Museum
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Bab Boujloud
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Cape Town Stadium
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.
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Bahia Palace
- There is an admission fee to visit the palace.
- It’s best to visit with a guide, as there is no visitor information available.
- Plan to spend about an hour.
- Most areas of the palace are wheelchair accessible.
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
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Bahariya Oasis
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B enitiers Island (L'Ile aux B enitiers)
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Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
- Not all tours include the entrance fee to Cape Point, so it’s best to check before you book.
- Many facilities, including the funicular, restaurant, and restrooms, are wheelchair accessible.
- Stairs lead to the lighthouse, making it inaccessible for wheelchair users.
- Cape Point offers a free, GPS-enabled audio tour that provides background information about your specific location.