Things to Do in Middle East And Africa

South Africa is increasingly well-known for its wines, with the wine country near Cape Town being a particularly popular stop with oenophiles and foodies alike. One highlight of any wine tasting trip near Cape Town is to the oldest wine estate in South Africa at Groot Constantia.

The property in Constantia was given to Simon van der Stel in 1685 by the Dutch East India Company, which had an outpost at the Cape of Good Hope. At the time, van der Stel was the Dutch East India Company’s Governor of this area, and it’s his name that later was used at Simon’s Town south of Cape Town. He built a manor house and began farming grapes for wine production.

In 1779, a wine-making family purchased the part of the Groot Constantia estate that included van der Stel’s manor house. It’s that family, the Cloetes, who is to thank for making Groot Constantia one of the area’s top wine estates, especially noted for its Constantia dessert wine. A fire in 1925 destroyed van der Stel’s original manor house, but it was rebuilt according to the original design.

Today, visitors to Groot Constantia can tour the wine-making facilities as well as the historic manor house (now a part of the Iziko South African Museum with rotating exhibits on display), the beautiful grounds, and enjoy a meal at one of the estate’s on-site restaurants. Groot Constantia is part of the scenic Constantia wine route, and the winery is also producing dessert wine again (it had stopped for more than 100 years) along with highly-rated red wines.

Located near the village of Hatta, just outside of Dubai in the Hajar Mountains, the Hatta Rock Pools have become one of the city’s most popular weekend getaways. This series of spring-fed pools meander through narrow canyon passages, amid the waterfall-dotted mountain scenery.

After experiencing the scorching desert temperatures of Dubai, the cool, dry climate of the mountains is nearly as refreshing as a dip in the turquoise waters. With its close proximity to the Hatta heritage village, you may want to consider combining the two attractions into a single day trip from Dubai. The rocky mountain passages and interesting landscapes of the area are also popular for off-roading in a 4x4.

Since the Hatta Rock Pools sit near the Oman-UAE border, remember to take your passport, as you’ll need it to pass through checkpoints.

One of the most iconic and mysterious Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (and the only one still standing), the Pyramids of Giza—the Great Pyramid of Khufu, Pyramid of Khafre, and Pyramid of Menkaure—still live up to more than 4,000 years of hype. Seeing these three fourth-dynasty pyramids and their guardian Great Sphinx rising from the Giza Plateau is a must on any trip to Cairo (and the reason many travelers find themselves in Egypt).

The Basics
Few structures on the planet are as immediately recognizable as the Giza Pyramids, and travelers have several options for visiting these wonders of ancient Egypt. Most see them on a full-day tour from Giza or Cairo; these tours often also include a Nile River cruise or stops at other sights such as Memphis, the Egyptian Museum, and the Khan El Khalili Bazaar. Once at the pyramid site, explore the pyramid complex on foot, or choose to take in the view from afar with a camel ride (a great photo opportunity). Those who visit on their own should keep in mind that there are separate entrance fees for the complex and each individual pyramid.

• Remember to wear closed-toe shoes and modest clothing at the pyramids.
• Be prepared for plenty of sun; bring along a hat, sunscreen, and water to stay comfortable.
• Choosing a private tour will allow you to customize your experience.
• Leave yourself plenty of free time to explore.

How to Get There
While a guided tour from Cairo or Giza is the easiest and most convenient way to see the pyramids, it’s also possible to visit independently by taking a taxi or public bus from downtown Cairo or the Giza metro station along Pyramids Road.

When to Get There
The winter months (late November to early February) tend to bring optimal weather; in summer, expect temperatures in the 90s F. Keep in mind how traveling during Ramadan could impact your plans, and note that Fridays, a traditional day of rest in Egypt, tend to be a bit quieter at the Great Pyramids of Giza.

How to Avoid Scams and Touts at the Giza Pyramids
The main entrance to the pyramids is often crowded with pushy souvenir vendors, touts, and taxi drivers looking for a fare. To gain the assistance of a professional guide and avoid looking for vendors on the spot, it’s best to book your tour in advance, but if arriving by taxi, ask your driver to take you to the vehicle entrance, where there are fewer touts but still opportunities to book horse riding, camel riding, or carriage tours. You may also come across unofficial guides who claim you must tour the complex with them; this is not true.

One of the lesser visited of Kenya's parks, Hell's Gate National Park is small (just 27 square miles) and primarily savannah (grassland).  It was named for a narrow break in the sheer red cliffs (the outlet for a prehistoric lake in the Rift Valley) by Scottish explorer and geologist Joseph Thomson (Thomson's Gazelle is named for him).

One of the few parks were walking and hiking is encouraged, it's known for its nature trails as well as its herds of buffalo, zebra, giraffe, eland, hartebeest and two species of antelope: klipspringer ("rock jumper") and Chanler's mountain reedbuck. Bird watchers can spot vultures, Verreaux's Eagles (Aquila verreauxii), Augur Buzzards (Buteo augur) and swifts.

Rock climbers will be tempted to tackle Fischer's Tower, an 82-foot pillar of basalt rock located at the entrance to the Hell's Gate gorge (named for German explorer Gustav Adolf Fischer).

The Mervyn Carnelley Raptor Hide has a one-way window allowing visitors to view and photograph the raptors (birds of prey) of the Park at close range.

Also located in the park are two geothermal power plants, Olkaria I and Olkaria II (two of Kenya's largest), which draw from underground hot springs.

Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Hanging Church, which is still in use, is called the Hanging or Suspended Church as it is built on top of the Water Gate of Roman Babylon. Steep stairs lead from the forecourt to a 19th -century façade topped by twin bell towers. Beyond is a small inner courtyard, usually filled with sellers of taped liturgies and videos of the Coptic pope, Shenouda III.

The interior of this 9th-century (some say 7th-century) church, renovated many times throughout the centuries, has three barrel-vaulted, wooden-roofed aisles. Ivory-inlaid screens hide the three haikal s (altar areas), but in front of them, raised on 13 slender pillars that represent Christ and his disciples, is a fine pulpit used only on Palm Sunday. One of the pillars, darker than the rest, is said to symbolize Judas. In the baptistry, off to the right, a panel has been cut out of the floor revealing the Water Gate below. From here there is a good view of one of the gate's twin towers.

The Gold Reef City complex is built on the site of an old gold mine, and visitors can still descend into the pits and see how the precious metal is extracted. Those in search of their own windfall should head for the casino, where roulette, baccarat, black jack as well as slot machines are on offer round the clock. First time flutterers and hardened high rollers are well catered for.

The theme park component of Gold Reef City offers thrills for all ages, with rides including the Anacaonda, the Tower of Terror and a roller coaster which provides a great view towards central Johannesburg on its exhilarating journey.

A rocky plateau straddling the borders of Israel and Syria, the Golan Heights is one of Israel’s most scenic regions, with its hilly landscape dotted with ancient ruins and biblical sites. Despite the long-standing dispute over Syrian and Israeli occupation of the territory, the Golan Heights are still an increasingly popular tourist destination, home to Mount Hermon, Israel’s highest peak at 2,284 meters, and the Gamla Nature Reserve, renowned for its population of rare birds.

Other top attractions of the Golan Heights region include the Hammat Gader hot springs, located on the Syrian and Jordanian border; the ancient Jewish town of Katzrin, where the extensive ruins include a synagogue dating back to the 6th century; Israel’s largest Byzantine monastery in Kursi; and the extinct volcano of Mount Bental, which offers magnificent views over the Golan plateau and the Syrian Quneitra Valley.