North Africa

Overview

The region was fought over at great length by Spain and Turkey, although the French also later intervened ostensibly to help with the situation in Algeria. The result is a commingling of African, Arabian and colonial cultures. There are not too many restrictions on which destinations should be travelled to, but any warnings should be taken seriously.

The frequently winsome panoramas start low at the beaches of the Mediterranean and Atlantic. The sand theme continues with the Sahara, the largest desert in the world. The antithesis of this can be found in the water systems of the Nile in Egypt and the UNESCO protected Lac Ichkeul in Tunisia. In the west of the region lie remarkable mountain ranges including the Rif and Atlas.

Wildlife can be viewed in free and captive forms; along the banks of the Senegal River there are exotic birds including pelican and flamingos or the Dindar national park in Sudan for leopards and lions. The captive animals are not a failed euphemism for a zoo, but the far more intriguing camel market. This, other souks and medieval medinas should be peregrinated as moving by foot allows the full barrage of scents and sounds to be appreciated. Film stages, Roman ruins in both Tunisia and Libya and the Pyramids of Giza are all options after a game of croquet, golf, splash in the Nile or even, time of year permitting, a ski.