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North Africa


Colorful culture abounds in Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia—North Africa's most popular destinations. Egypt offers the famed Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, ancient Luxor, the Nile River, and belly dancers, while Morocco features treasure-filled open-air markets (where you can buy rugs, woodwork, and jewelry), and enticing cities such as Tangier, Casablanca, and Marrakesh.  In Tunisia—where desert scenes were filmed for Star Wars—beach resorts line the country's 746 miles (1,200 kilometers) of coastline. Must-visit historical sites there include Zitouna Mosque, a prayer hall surrounded by 200 columns salvaged from the ruins of Roman Carthage, and the mausoleum Tourbet el-Bay, which houses the remains of Husseinite princesses and ministers.


Related Web Resources:


Egypt Tourist Authority
Cultural information, diving sites, adventure trips, and more.

Morocco National Tourist Office
Rental cars, hotels, events, books, and music.

Africa Travel Magazine
Tunisia's food, hotels, safaris, events, and more.

Lonely Planet—Egypt
Cultural information, history, attractions, and transportation.

The Travel and Tourism Guide to Tunisia
Attractions, culture, sports, festivals, restaurants, hotels, and more.

AllAfrica.com
News articles and political coverage.

North Africa Geo Net
A forum for exchanging information and ideas on area geological studies.

The Open Directory
Links to sites on North African countries, including Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco.

Lonely Planet—Morocco
Attractions, transportation, culture, and history.

About.com—African History for Countries of North Africa
Links to historical information on North Africa's countries and cultures

Washington Post
Articles on North Africa, written by journalists from The Washington Post.


Recommended Reading:


Rediscovering Ancient Egypt: Chronicles from National Geographic, edited by Arthur M. Schlesinger and Fred L. Israel (Chelsea House Publishers, 1999)
In-depth information on Egypt's history and geology.

The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries, by Mark Lehner (Thames and Hudson, 1997)
A leading Egyptologist surveys the history, building, and use of every major Egyptian pyramid.

Africa: Biography of a Continent, by John Reader (Vintage Books, 1999)
Photojournalist John Reader chronicles the evolution of African people, animals, and plants.

The Best of African Folklore, by Phyllis Savory (BHB International, 1997)
An extensive collection of well-crafted African folktales.

Africa—A Continent Revealed, by Rene Gordon (State Mutual Book and Periodical Service, 1988)
Striking photographs that illustrate the need for greater conservation efforts in Africa.

Check out more books on Africa in our Travel Library.