african & middle eastern potpourri chapter 27. copyright © 2007 by nelson, a division of...

African & Middle EasternPotpourri

Chapter 27


Before You Go

Check current travel advisories to the countries you wish to travel to

www.voyages.gc.ca

Keep up to date with world affairs Check documentation requirements and keep

your passport updated Check with your doctor on health concerns in

the countries you wish to travel to

http://www.voyages.gc.ca/


Morocco www.visitmorocco.com

Exotic yet accessible Easy access from Spain Cruise destination Capital

Rabat Language

French & Arabic Gateway

Casablanca (CAS) Royal Air Maroc

www.royalairmaroc.com Flights from YUL

Atlas Mountains

http://www.visitmorocco.com/

http://www.royalairmaroc.com/


Casablanca Blend of east & west, tradition & innovation Active nightlife Beaches - surf and sand Casbah

Souk explore and haggle

Hassan II Mosque 2 hectares – 80,000 faithful – 200 m minaret Only mosque open to non-Muslim in country

Notre Dame de Lourdes Church 1956 - Dangleterre Stained glass windows


Rabat

Capital Archaeological Museum Chellah

Site of ancient port city of Sala Roman ruins dating from 200 BC includes forum, temple, craftsmen's quarter.


Tangier

Major port across from Gibraltar White city on hill Medina

Original town

Beaches Mediterranean & Atlantic


Fez

Oldest Imperial city – founded 790BC Medina – UNESCO world heritage site

Most complete medieval city in existence 143 mosques Souks – famous tanneries Quaraouyine University

Oldest in world Qarawiyin ( Karaouiyne) Mosque

Day trips Meknes Versailles of Morocco Volubilis Roman ruins


Marrakech Founded in 1062 Most visited of 3 Imperial cities Djemaa el-Fna

Square with snake charmers, and bazaar Fantasia

Feast with charging horse guards Riad

Unique accommodation Rooms in Palaces

Nightclubs Nearby

Agadir – beach resort– golf Oukaimeden – ski resort in Atlas Mountains


Tunisia www.tourismtunisia.com

French influence 1st Club Med

Tunis Capital Formerly Carthage

Excellent Roman ruins Bardo Museum

Roman mosaics Great Mosque

http://www.tourismtunisia.com/


Tunisia (cont.)

Matmata Underground city Site of “Star Wars”

Beach resorts Island of Djerba Hammamet

www.tourismtunisia.com

http://www.tourismtunisia.com/


Mali

www.voyage.gc.ca Canadians are advised against non-essential travel

to the regions of:

Tombouctou ( Timbuktu), Gao , Kidal

due to the presence of armed groups. Air travel to the northern regions of Mali is

preferable to overland travel due to security threats.

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/


Ethiopia

SAFETY: www.voyage.gc.ca Canadians should evaluate carefully the

implications for their security and safety before deciding to travel to Ethiopia.

Addis Ababa – capital Aksum –

Palace of the Queen of Sheba Cathedral of St May of Zion

Lalibela 11 churches carved out of rock

www.tourismethiopia.org/pages/ethiopia.asp


http://www.tourismethiopia.org/pages/ethiopia.asp


Eritrea

Asmera - capital city Italian influenced architecture

Red Sea coast Diving

Canadians should check with Foreign Affairs before considering a leisure trip to Eritrea

www.voyage.gc.ca



Middle East

Volatile Historically important Religious Centre Travel presently not recommended

for non- VFR leisure travellers


Middle East – Travelling Safely Foreign Affairs Canada advises

against all travel to Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia

Canadians travelling to Bahrain should carefully evaluate security concerns

Heightened tensions throughout the region, together with increased threats globally from terrorism, put Canadians at greater risk travelling to Syria and Unite Arab Emirates

www.voyage.gc.ca



Saudi Arabia Riyadh – RUH

Gateway and capital

Jiddah (Jedda) – JED Major port Red Sea beaches

Arabic, strict Islam Shamal

sand-laden winds most frequent in early summer can blow for days at 40-48 km an hour


Saudi Arabia (cont.)

Mecca http://lexicorient.com/e.o/mecca.htmBirthplace of Mohammed Travel forbidden to non- Muslims Hajj

Major pilgrimage for all able bodied Muslims Approx 2 million per year

Holy Ka’aba Shrine the centre of Islam, a rectangular brick building

Great Mosque - al-Haram Medina

Travel forbidden to non- Muslims Tomb of Mohammed

Dhahran Business travellers, oil fields

http://lexicorient.com/e.o/mecca.htm


United Arab Emirates www.uae.org.ae

7 emirates Business travellers Abu Dhabi – capital - AUH Dubai – gateway

www.dubaitourism.ae Sheikdom Burj Al Arab Hotel Palis The Wind

http://www.uae.org.ae/

http://www.dubaitourism.ae/


United Arab Emirates (cont.)

Etihad Airways YYZ – AUH weekly www.etihadairways.com

Abu Dhabi www.exploreabudhabi.ae

http://www.etihadairways.com/

http://www.exploreabudhabi.ae/


Lebanon Once one of the most popular

destinations of the region Beirut

popular destination “Paris of Middle East”

Tyre Port, beaches, diving

Baalbek Roman City of the Sun

Byblos Site dates back 7,000 years

Tripoli mosques, Turkish baths,

souks, crusader castle.


Bahrain www.bahraintourism.com

Business travellers 33 islands – area 707km ² Largest island – Bahrain

Linked to airport Oil and pearls Souqs, mosques, forts, temples, oil museum

Shopping Beaches and diving

http://www.bahraintourism.com/


Not ready for visitors…

Iran was the centre of the Persian Empire

Iraq ruins of Babylon, including the Hanging Gardens Baghdad


West Africa Nigeria Ivory Coast Liberia Sierra Leone Gambia Ghana Togo Benin

*Check with www.voyage.gc.cabefore travelling to any of these countries



West African Countries Nigeria

Oil producer Senegal

Dakar – capital Island of Goree Cape Verde Basse Casanace National Park

Ivory Coast Abidjan “ Paris of Africa” Grand-Bassam Sassandra Plantations Yamoussoukro

Our Lady of Peace largest and tallest place of

worship in Africa Benin

Cotonou – gateway Ganvie – city of canals Abomey Former French colony

Liberia Settlement of freed slaves from US Monrovia – capital Lake Piso

Sierra Leone Settled by freed English slaves Freetown – capital National Museum

The Gambia Starting point for “Roots” Banjul – capital

Ghana Accra – capital Festivals

Togo Akrowa Waterfalls Lome - capital


Central Safari Belt

Democratic Republic of the Congo Formally Zaire You are advised against non-essential travel to the

DRC at present www.voyage.gc.ca

Virunga National Park Kahuzi-Biega National Park

One of the last groups of mountain gorillas (only 250) between 2,100 and 2,400 m above sea-level. UNESCO World Heritage Site



Central Safari Belt (cont.)

Cameroon Waza National Park

Herds of elephants

Rwanda & Uganda Mountain gorillas Parc des Volcans – Rwanda Bwindi National Park – Uganda “Gorillas in the Mist” - Dian Fossey


Zambia www.zambiatourism.com

Lusaka – LUN Gateway & capital

Seasons opposite Canada’s Dry season May – Oct Victoria Falls

Livingstone Museum 546 million cubic m. of water per minute 2 km. wide -108 m. down

Kafue National Park Elephants & 400 bird species

South Luangwa National Park 60 different animal species & over 400

different bird species

http://www.zambiatourism.com/


Zimbabwe Formally Southern Rhodesia Harare- HRE – gateway & capital Victoria Falls

Better vantage Zambezi National Park

Elephant, buffalo, giraffe, sable, eland, kudu, waterbuck Hwange National Park

Elephant, buffalo, zebra, lion, cheetah, hyena, giraffe Matobos Hills National Park

White rhinoceros, impala, zebra, giraffe, leopard Great Zimbabwe

Remains of a city 12th C – 15th C


Southern Africa Lesotho

Maluti Mountains Sehlabathebe Nat’l Park

Swaziland Wildlife reserves

Namibia Etosha Nat’l Park Fish River Canyon Nat’l Park Namib Desert Skeleton Coast

Botswana Chobe Nat’l Park Moremi Wildlife Reserve Okavango Delta


South Africa South African Airways (SA) – via NYC Pretoria – administrative capital – PRV Johannesburg – JNB - gateway Cape Town – legislative capital – CPT Sep – Nov – best weather (spring) Currency - Rand Kalahari Desert Drakensberg Mountains

www.southafrica.net

http://www.southafrica.net/


South Africa (cont.) Johannesburg

Gold - 1886 Largest city and economic centre Gold Reef City

Recreation of mining era Kimberley

Diamond mining centre Soweto

Apartheid Museum Nelson Mandela’s home


South Africa (cont.)

Sun City - www.suninternational.com

Casinos, theme attractions, resort hotels Tourists, golfers & conference delegates 55 000-hectare “Pilanesberg” game park

Stocked with “Big Five” Palace of the Lost City

Fairytale palace residence http://sun-city-south-africa.go2africa.com/palace.asp

Cascades Hotel, Sun City Hotel, The Cabanas

http://www.suninternational.com/

http://sun-city-south-africa.go2africa.com/palace.asp



Cape Town Oldest city in S.A. Cape of Good Hope

Cape Point Table Mountain

Landmark 1,086 m above the city Garden Route

To Port Elizabeth Wine Routes

Over 3000 wineries Robben Island

Prison of Nelson Mandela



Durban SE coast Golden Mile beach

Kruger National Park Jun–Oct – best months 20-million hectares

Zululand Zululand Historical

Museum



Sabi Sand www.sabisand.co.za

shares a common 50km unfenced eastern boundary with Kruger Private reserves

Mala Mala http://malamala.krugerpark.co.za/

Mala Mala Main Camp is the oldest of its kind, and well known as the “top safari lodge in the world”

Blue Train www.bluetrain.co.za “A window to the soul of South Africa”

http://www.sabisand.co.za/

http://malamala.krugerpark.co.za/

http://www.bluetrain.co.za/


The African Islands


The Seychelles

www.seychelles.com/en/home/index.php 115 unspoilt islands Western Indian Ocean

Seasons reversed to North America Granite Boulders Beautiful beaches 29° avg. year round Diving, sailing, fishing Hiking, Eco-tourism Spas

http://www.seychelles.com/en/home/index.php


Mahé Largest , cultural, economic centre of Inner

Islands 28km by 8km International airport - SEZ Nation’s capital

Victoria Rare plants found nowhere else Tour island by car - 2 to 2 1/2 hours


Praslin

10km by 3.7km Tour island by car in 2 hrs. Vallée de Mai

UNESCO World Heritage Site once believed

original site of Garden of Eden Coco-de-Mer- world's heaviest nut

Beaches Anse Lazio & Anse Georgette

Top-10 list of world’s best beaches in recent years


La Digue 10 km² - ferry from Mahé Birds

Black paradise flycatcher one of rarest birds

Chinese bittern, cave swiftlet, waxbill Terrapin (tortoises)

2 rare species Flora

orchids, vanilla, hibiscus Travelling by ox-cart and bicycle are popular Beaches

Union Beach Anse Source d’Argent


Bird Island

Most northerly island 100km north of Mahé.

May – Sep > million Sooty Terns each lay eggs on own exclusive sq. ft

Marine life Hawksbill and green turtles Dolphins Whales


Denis Island

Population: 78 Terrapin Game fishing

Barracudas, bonitos and sailfish Marlins

May & Oct to Dec

Denis Island Lodge 5-star 25-chalet


Mauritius www.mauritius.net Accessible Tropical paradise, beaches, reefs, diving Port Louis – capital

La Caudan Waterfront Casino, cinema, shops bars, restaurants

Black River Gorges National Park Hiking, rare birds and plants

Curepipe Size due to malaria epidemic of 1867

Thousands fled from Port Louis – and stayed

http://www.mauritius.net/


Madagascar

S.E. coast of Africa 385km 4th largest island (+smaller islands)

Flora & fauna Lemurs – 10 species 3000 butterfly

Antananarivo - ‘Tana’ Nosy Be

Premier resort island of Madagascar Diving


Canary Islands

http://www.canarias.org/eng/turismo/playas.html

Atlantic – west of Morocco 7 islands – 2 provinces of Spain

Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura capital Las Palmas

Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro capital Santa Cruz de Tererife

Mild climate, >500 beaches Whale watching

http://www.canarias.org/eng/turismo/playas.html

african & middle eastern potpourri chapter 27. copyright © 2007 by nelson, a division of...

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