Destination North Africa | National Geographic

hi I’m Patti Kim we’re heading now to

hi I’m Patti Kim we’re heading now to North Africa a land of vast deserts

North Africa a land of vast deserts

North Africa a land of vast deserts ancient cities and bustling markets here

ancient cities and bustling markets here

ancient cities and bustling markets here are the cultures of Africa the Middle

are the cultures of Africa the Middle

are the cultures of Africa the Middle East and the Mediterranean all come

East and the Mediterranean all come

East and the Mediterranean all come together this is the place where you can

together this is the place where you can

together this is the place where you can find the best of many worlds that’s if

find the best of many worlds that’s if

find the best of many worlds that’s if of course you know where to look

of course you know where to look

of course you know where to look North Africa the land stretching from

North Africa the land stretching from

North Africa the land stretching from the southern tip of Sudan

the southern tip of Sudan

the southern tip of Sudan up along the Red Sea and across the

up along the Red Sea and across the

up along the Red Sea and across the southern Mediterranean coast to Morocco

southern Mediterranean coast to Morocco

southern Mediterranean coast to Morocco and Western Sahara on the Pacific it can

and Western Sahara on the Pacific it can

and Western Sahara on the Pacific it can sometimes be a tumultuous place so

sometimes be a tumultuous place so

sometimes be a tumultuous place so before heading off check the State

before heading off check the State

before heading off check the State Department’s website for any travel

Department’s website for any travel

Department’s website for any travel warnings and advisories now that’s not

warnings and advisories now that’s not

warnings and advisories now that’s not to scare you away some of the most

to scare you away some of the most

to scare you away some of the most visited and most amazing tourist

visited and most amazing tourist

visited and most amazing tourist destinations in the world are found

destinations in the world are found

destinations in the world are found right here in a class all its own is

right here in a class all its own is

right here in a class all its own is Egypt for nearly four thousand years the

Egypt for nearly four thousand years the

Egypt for nearly four thousand years the Pyramids at Giza were the largest

Pyramids at Giza were the largest

Pyramids at Giza were the largest buildings on earth and they remain an

buildings on earth and they remain an

buildings on earth and they remain an inspiration to as many as 5,000 visitors

inspiration to as many as 5,000 visitors

inspiration to as many as 5,000 visitors every day further south along the Nile

every day further south along the Nile

every day further south along the Nile River sprawling ruins serve as reminders

River sprawling ruins serve as reminders

River sprawling ruins serve as reminders of the grandeur of the Pharaohs and some

of the grandeur of the Pharaohs and some

of the grandeur of the Pharaohs and some of the sites at the top of your must-see

of the sites at the top of your must-see

of the sites at the top of your must-see list looks or the capital of ancient

list looks or the capital of ancient

list looks or the capital of ancient Egypt and home of the sprawling Karnak

Egypt and home of the sprawling Karnak

Egypt and home of the sprawling Karnak temple complex on the Nile Eastern Shore

temple complex on the Nile Eastern Shore

temple complex on the Nile Eastern Shore one of the largest examples of religious

one of the largest examples of religious

one of the largest examples of religious architecture in the world and to the

architecture in the world and to the

architecture in the world and to the west of the river the Valley of the

west of the river the Valley of the

west of the river the Valley of the Kings where Egypt’s pharaohs were laid

Kings where Egypt’s pharaohs were laid

Kings where Egypt’s pharaohs were laid to rest for nearly 500 years many of

to rest for nearly 500 years many of

to rest for nearly 500 years many of their tombs are now open to the public

their tombs are now open to the public

their tombs are now open to the public each offers a spectacular glimpse into

each offers a spectacular glimpse into

each offers a spectacular glimpse into the ritual lives of one of humanity’s

the ritual lives of one of humanity’s

the ritual lives of one of humanity’s first great civilizations further south

first great civilizations further south

first great civilizations further south nearing Egypt’s border with Sudan are

nearing Egypt’s border with Sudan are

nearing Egypt’s border with Sudan are the massive ruins at Abu Simbel built

the massive ruins at Abu Simbel built

the massive ruins at Abu Simbel built during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses

during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses

during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses the second it’s thought that the massive

the second it’s thought that the massive

the second it’s thought that the massive structures carved straight into the

structures carved straight into the

structures carved straight into the mountainside

mountainside

mountainside we’re built here at least in part to

we’re built here at least in part to

we’re built here at least in part to impress and to intimidate ancient

impress and to intimidate ancient

impress and to intimidate ancient Egypt’s other neighbors the Nubians when

Egypt’s other neighbors the Nubians when

Egypt’s other neighbors the Nubians when you’re ready for more modern sights and

you’re ready for more modern sights and

you’re ready for more modern sights and sounds consider a trip to the town

sounds consider a trip to the town

sounds consider a trip to the town centers markets and bazaars of North

centers markets and bazaars of North

centers markets and bazaars of North Africa’s magical cities Tunis in Tunisia

Africa’s magical cities Tunis in Tunisia

Africa’s magical cities Tunis in Tunisia and Fez and Marrakech in Morocco

here you can bargain in the souk sand

here you can bargain in the souk sand stalls for trinkets handicrafts and

stalls for trinkets handicrafts and

stalls for trinkets handicrafts and carpets haggling is part business

carpets haggling is part business

carpets haggling is part business transaction part national sport win or

transaction part national sport win or

transaction part national sport win or lose you gain a souvenir and a valuable

lose you gain a souvenir and a valuable

lose you gain a souvenir and a valuable cultural experience in Marrakech don’t

cultural experience in Marrakech don’t

cultural experience in Marrakech don’t miss a cultural highlight the plaza of

miss a cultural highlight the plaza of

miss a cultural highlight the plaza of jamal fanaa it’s been show time here

jamal fanaa it’s been show time here

jamal fanaa it’s been show time here every day since the 11th century with

every day since the 11th century with

every day since the 11th century with the city square filled with snake

the city square filled with snake

the city square filled with snake charmers acrobats and storytellers it’s

charmers acrobats and storytellers it’s

charmers acrobats and storytellers it’s carnival atmosphere beckons old and

carnival atmosphere beckons old and

carnival atmosphere beckons old and young local and tourists alike when you

young local and tourists alike when you

young local and tourists alike when you need a rest head for the shore coastal

need a rest head for the shore coastal

need a rest head for the shore coastal areas like Morocco’s Esso era and

areas like Morocco’s Esso era and

areas like Morocco’s Esso era and Tunisia’s Jabba Island are prime Beach

Tunisia’s Jabba Island are prime Beach

Tunisia’s Jabba Island are prime Beach spots their relaxed pace and ocean views

spots their relaxed pace and ocean views

spots their relaxed pace and ocean views will get you recharged and ready to go

will get you recharged and ready to go

will get you recharged and ready to go all of North Africa shares one common

all of North Africa shares one common

all of North Africa shares one common outstanding feature the Sahara the

outstanding feature the Sahara the

outstanding feature the Sahara the desert stretches over 3,000 miles from

desert stretches over 3,000 miles from

desert stretches over 3,000 miles from coast to coast it is one of the hottest

coast to coast it is one of the hottest

coast to coast it is one of the hottest driest windiest places on earth

driest windiest places on earth

driest windiest places on earth despite its desolation Berber tribes

despite its desolation Berber tribes

despite its desolation Berber tribes have lived here for thousands of years

have lived here for thousands of years

have lived here for thousands of years flying the ancient trade routes with

flying the ancient trade routes with

flying the ancient trade routes with caravans and camels here you’ll find

caravans and camels here you’ll find

caravans and camels here you’ll find that many towns along the edge of the

that many towns along the edge of the

that many towns along the edge of the Sahara offer tourists a tastes of desert

Sahara offer tourists a tastes of desert

Sahara offer tourists a tastes of desert life a chance to ride across the sands

life a chance to ride across the sands

life a chance to ride across the sands run along the dunes and sleep under the

run along the dunes and sleep under the

run along the dunes and sleep under the stars

with blazing hot summers and wet cool

with blazing hot summers and wet cool winters the best times to visit North

winters the best times to visit North

winters the best times to visit North Africa are in the spring and fall but

Africa are in the spring and fall but

Africa are in the spring and fall but during Ramadan keep in mind many

during Ramadan keep in mind many

during Ramadan keep in mind many restaurants and stores are closed and

restaurants and stores are closed and

restaurants and stores are closed and schedules are disrupted otherwise there

schedules are disrupted otherwise there

schedules are disrupted otherwise there were plenty of tourists arriving

were plenty of tourists arriving

were plenty of tourists arriving year-round drawn to some of the most

year-round drawn to some of the most

year-round drawn to some of the most exciting attractions on earth when

exciting attractions on earth when

exciting attractions on earth when traveling in North Africa be patient and

traveling in North Africa be patient and

traveling in North Africa be patient and be polite keep in mind that most signs

be polite keep in mind that most signs

be polite keep in mind that most signs are in Arabic you can probably get by

are in Arabic you can probably get by

are in Arabic you can probably get by speaking English in most tourist places

speaking English in most tourist places

speaking English in most tourist places French comes in handy and Morocco and

French comes in handy and Morocco and

French comes in handy and Morocco and Tunisia but mastering a few phrases in

Tunisia but mastering a few phrases in

Tunisia but mastering a few phrases in Arabic can make everyday interactions a

Arabic can make everyday interactions a

Arabic can make everyday interactions a whole lot easier and a whole lot more

whole lot easier and a whole lot more

whole lot easier and a whole lot more fun once you do that the spirit of North

fun once you do that the spirit of North

fun once you do that the spirit of North Africa will no doubt seduce you with its

Africa will no doubt seduce you with its

Africa will no doubt seduce you with its ancient charms