Category Amazing Places

               The Sossusvlei is best known for its sand dunes, which are believed to be the highest in the world. It is located in the southern part of the Namib Desert.

                Geologically, Sossusvlei is a claypan that holds rain water to form a lake. In other words, it is a circular shaped depression filled with water in the heart of the Namib. Due to its high clay content, this pan retains water for a long time, making it a rare sight. There are many animals that live in the Sossusvlei. These include those which can survive with little water, like the anthropods, rodents, jackals, reptiles, antelopes etc.

              As a matter of fact, sand dunes are present in various parts of the world. But what makes the dunes in Sossusvlei special is their colour composition.

               The varying shades of red, depending on the age of the dunes, define the stark beauty of the Namib Desert. 

          Located in Aswan, in Southern Egypt, the Abu Simbel is yet another work of wonder that fascinates travellers across the world. It is a complex of two massive rock temples, carved into a mountainside on the west bank of the Nile River. There are many debates regarding the construction of this epic complex. But what remains universally accepted is that the structures were built by Pharaoh Ramses II, sometimes in the 13th century. It is said to have taken twenty long years for the completion of work.

          However, despite its grand size, the Abu Simbel complex was covered by desert sand for hundreds of years. It remained forgotten until a Swiss scholar named Jean-Louis Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1813. But he couldn’t dig out an entry to the temple. In 1817, an Italian explorer Giovanni Belzoni managed to enter the temple complex, and reintroduced it to the world.

          In 1968, the complex was relocated in its entirety on an artificial hill made from a domed structure above the Aswan High Dam reservoir.

            Bagamoyo is a famous town in Tanzania that is at once beautiful and disturbing. It is beautiful for its cultural heritage, but disturbing for its history of slavery.

            Founded at the end of the 18th century, Bagamoyo is situated 72 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam. Under German rule, it was the first capital of Tanzania. This place was also famous for the ivory trade, besides slavery.

            Presently, the Bagamoyo town is the capital of the Bagamoyo district. The name of the place has been derived from the Swahili words ‘bwagamoyo’, meaning ‘throw down your heart’.

            There are many important sites in the town, like the ‘Bagamoyo Church’ which was perhaps the first on the East Coast of Africa, the ‘Bagamoyo Museum’ that preserves old photos and remains of the slave trade and the Kaole ruins of the 12th century. Another important place is the Ruvu River Delta, a paradise for birds.

            In addition to these, the Bagamoyo white sand beaches are something known to leave visitors fascinated. They are among the finest beaches on the whole of the East African coast. 

          There are numerous reasons why South Africa remains a traveller’s favourite. One of it is the famous Table Mountain that overlooks the capital city of Cape Town. In fact, it is one of the few natural wonders that are located in the middle of a major city.

          Geographically, the Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain. The major attraction here is the national park with the same name, situated close by. The region is known to be one of the richest areas for plants in the world, with numerous unique species. The most important ones among them are the 1460 varieties of fynbos, a unique kind of vegetation and the rare amphibian Table Mountain Ghost Frogs.

          Adding to the attractions of the mountain is the enchanting cableway that takes visitors to the plateau at its top. The upper cable station offers a breathtaking sight of the Cape Town, Table Bay and Robben Island to the north, and the Atlantic seaboard to the west and south. The mountain is also a popular destination among hikers and para-gliders across the globe. 

Seychelles, officially, the Republic of Seychelles, is one of the most attractive tropical islands in the world. It is an archipelago located 1600 kilometres east of the African coast in the Indian Ocean, consisting of 115 islands. The capital city is Victoria on the Mahe Island, which is the largest of all.

The most fascinating feature of the island includes the beaches. It also has to its credit six marine national parks and a wide variety of marine life. Specifically, the island is home to a large number of Aldabra tortoises, and the hawksbill sea turtles.

Cousin Island on the archipelago is the best place to see these turtles as the nesting population here is very high. Besides, Seychelles is considered to be the best destination for scuba divers. 

          Fez is best known to the world as the cultural centre of Morocco. It was founded in 789 by Idris I. Until 1925, Fez was the capital city of the country. Even today it remains the best-conserved city of the Arab world, and is an international destination.

          The most attractive features of the city include its splendid architecture, and historical remains. Fez is divided into three zones. Among these, the most popular is the Fez el Bali Medina. The historical quarter and traditional houses make it an altogether interesting place for travellers. It is also one of the world’s largest urban pedestrian zones.

          According to some historians, the Medina of Fez is among the best conserved historic towns of the Arab world.

          Another prominent place in the city is the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in AD 859. It is the oldest continuously functioning university in the world today. Fez is known by different names across the world, popularly as the ‘Athens of Africa’.