Travel Guide: North Africa

North Africa is so close to us, and has so much to offer the tourist, it’s a wonder more Britons don’t make it a holiday destination.

A note of caution: security and safety issues are a concern in North Africa.

Morocco

Just across the Straits of Gibraltar, Morocco is an obvious starting-point for tourists wishing for a taste of North Africa. Large cities such as Tangier, Casablanca, Fes, Rabat and Marrakesh will be magnets for those in search of colour, excitement and a little shopping. (A number of old houses in the medinas, or markets, are being converted into guesthouses and small hotels, for the ultimate medina experience.)

The coastal town of Essaouira is where you will find backpackers, hitchhikers and the young and rootless. Not so much a tourist resort as a place to escape, relax and unwind.

Most tourists stay close to the coast, where the climate is temperate for much of the year. Marrakesh and Fes are inland, but to see unspoilt Morocco beyond the beaten track – literally – try hiking in the Atlas Mountains or arrange a trip into the Sahara.

Rail and bus services are modern and efficient, and internal flights are reasonably priced. For tourists with time to spend, there’s no excuse for not making the most of Morocco.

Algeria

The dangers to tourists from a terrorist insurgency mean that it is inadvisable to travel to this dramatically beautiful country at present. The capital city, Algiers, is less affected than the rest of the country, but serious crime is an increasing problem.

Tunisia

Tucked into a corner of the North African coast, this relatively small country packs quite a punch in tourism terms.

History buffs will marvel at ancient sites such as Dougga, El-Djem and the legendary Carthage; modern tourists looking for sun and comfort are well-catered for in anything from package-holiday resorts up and down the coast to more discreet, up-market destinations; Star Wars fans will lap up Ksar Hadada and Matmata, where scenes from the film series were filmed.

Tunis offers the sights and sounds, the souk and medina of the traditional North African city, but is small and friendly enough to allow the tourist the chance to get to know it thoroughly.

And beyond the coast lies the daunting, haunting Sahara. A variety of 4-wheel drive vehicles (and camels) are waiting to whisk you from coastal resort to desert oasis and on into the heart of the greatest desert in the world.

Tunisian National Tourist Office
http://www.cometotunisia.co.uk/

Libya

This would have been a very short paragraph just a few years ago, but the opportunities for travel to Libya have increased hugely since the conclusion of the Lockerbie trial.

Tripoli, wearing its Italian influences for all to see, is a relaxed Mediterranean city or traditional Arabic market town, depending on which corner you find yourself in.

The Roman remains at Leptis Magna may be the most exquisite in North Africa, and have been relatively undisturbed over the centuries by thieves, vandals - or tourists. The site is a hidden gem.

Once more, the Sahara dominates much of this country. There are the remains of ancient civilisations in the Akakus and Tadrart Mountains. Wave upon wave of ‘the great sand sea’ lead the traveller on to the old desert town of Ghadames, the ultimate destination of any journey into the Libyan Sahara.

One advantage of the slow thawing of relations between the UK and Libya is that travel to the country still needs to be organised through recognised travel companies, who will arrange the necessary visas and documentation. For example:

• http://www.libtratours.com
• http://www.coxandkings.co.uk
• http://www.caravanserai-tours.com

A note for the tourist seeking a more traditional holiday: there are no bars, nightclubs or theatres in Libya. Alcohol is strictly prohibited.

Egypt

Tourists have been coming to Egypt for thousands of years. Nowadays, half-a-million Britons visit every year – from weekend breaks to extended river cruises taking in all the wonders of Ancient Egypt.

Almost all enjoy a holiday without any problems. The threat of terrorist attacks on tourists has never disappeared, but it is extremely rare. Some good advice is to act and dress modestly at all times and be aware always of the advice of the police and holiday operators.

And what to see when you get there? Take your pick – or mix and match – from the Great Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings, modern Cairo and ancient Alexandria. Combine them with a river cruise down the Nile to sample the country in the manner of visitors down the ages.

Many modern tourists associate Egypt most closely with the exceptional diving to be had in the Red Sea.

Egyptian Ministry of Tourism
http://touregypt.net

Advice

The Foreign Office website offers advice for travellers to every country in the world; note especially the question of your security and safety, and closed borders in this area of the world.
http://www.fco.gov.uk