Where is Marrakech?

Local Water Seller

The “Red City”, in which Marrakech is often referred to is centrally located in Morocco. Situated midway between the mighty Atlas Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, Marrakesh has an approximate population of more than a million. Unofficially, it is believed it could be nearly two million. The population is a mixture of Arab, French, Belgians, Berbers and Tuareg.

The famous Market Square of Djemaa el Fna and also one of the busiest in Africa is a treat for the senses. Here you will experience snake charmers, water sellers (in their very traditional and colourful attire), story tellers and people from all walks of life, making it a fabulous place for people watching.

Atlas Mountains in the background

Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakech and quite a recognisable landmark with its square minaret. It was completed during the reign of Sultan Yacoub el Mansour (1184-1199), making it one of the oldest of three Almohad minarets remaining in the world. The other two are in Rabat, Morocco and Seville, Spain.

Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent became a feature to Marrakech when he purchased the ‘Majorelle Gardens’ during 1980 that had belonged to the French artist Jacques Majorelle. The gardens represent everything that is Moroccan with lush palms, fountains and splashes of vivid blue paint, pots and tiles adding a rich array of colour.

If you’re requiring accommodation whilst in Marrakech, I highly recommend this boutique hotel Riad Orangeraie - take a look at what’s on offer. It looks simply divine.

This ‘Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide of Marrakech’ will set you in the right direction to see all the grand sites of this exotic city.

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Marrakech

One Great Reason to Visit Marrakech

One great reason to visit Marrakech is to experience toothless Snake Charmers wrap a snake around your neck encouraging you to kiss it to bring ‘Good Luck’!

The Colours of Marrakech

For More Information

You Might Also Enjoy The Following Travel Destinations

Where is the Namib Desert?

Namib Desert

The Namib Desert is situated on the west coast of Namibia in Africa. It also covers a small part of Angola the country located north of Namibia. It’s one of the most captivating destinations in the world. Tourism is increasing but still there are very few travellers. The Namib Naukluft Park encompasses one of the oldest deserts in the world and offers amazing sights, including some of the highest sand dunes of Sossusvlei in the world.

It’s also one of the largest conservation parks in the world. North of the Namib Naukluft Park but still by the Namib Desert you’ll reach the Skeleton Coast. The Skeleton Coast has one of the most wildest, windswept and amazing coastlines in the world. Its name dates back to the early 1930’s when Mr Sam Davis, a publisher of a South West Annual, stated in an article concerned with a missing plane of a local celebrity, that “his bones will forever lay on the coast of skeletons”, referring to the many ship wrecks, whale and seal skeletons that laid to rest on this inhospitable coastline.

A necessary guide book for those planning to travel to Namibia

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of the Namib Desert

One Great Reason to Visit the Namib Desert

One great reason to visit the Namib Desert is for the absolute remoteness, solitude and beauty of the surrounds you can experience here.

Namibia

For More Information

You Might Also Enjoy The Following Travel Destinations

Where is Cape Town?

Cape Town

Cape Town is situated not far from the southern-most tip of South Africa. It lies on Table Bay, with the majestic Table Mountain as its backdrop. A cable-car can take the visitor to the top, above the cliffs some 1,000m high, to the 3km long plateau. Here, the view over Cape Town and Table Bay is spectacular. The cliffs attract many rock-climbers to the area and well documented climbing routes provide for them.

Not far from Cape Town lies ‘Cape Agulhas’. Here, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. There is often a misconception that the ‘Cape of Good Hope’ is the meeting point.

The ‘Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden’ is also worth a visit if in Cape Town. It’s world-renowned for the diversity of indigenous plant to South Africa. Its magnificent setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain adds to the value of the visit.

An invaluable guide book ‘Insight City Guide Cape Town’ in paperback for easy packing.

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Cape Town

One Great Reason to Visit Cape Town

One great reason to visit Cape Town is for the cultural mix in a spectacular location by Table Mountain.

Classy Cape Town

For More Information

You Might Also Enjoy The Following Travel Destinations

Where is Aswan?

Aswan

Aswan is found on the banks of the Nile River in southern Egypt. It is the last main stopping point before you reach the Sudanese border. Like much of Egypt’s large cities and towns there are numerous archaeological sites to see. The most well-known being the Isle of Philae but it is also the main travelling point to the more southern ‘Abu Simbel’ which was in fact a temple that was moved and reconstructed to make way for the damming of the Nile to form Lake Nasser during the 1960s.

Diary extract – 25 July, 1988 – Abu Simbel to Aswan Taxi Trip.
“…The drive back to Aswan was absolutely unbearable. (I later learnt the temperature was 40C plus) The hot wind that blew off the desert and hit us full-on choking us because we had the windows down due to no air-conditioning, was incredible. All 8 of us in the taxi carried bottled water but it was now ‘hot’ and no longer gave us the cool relief we needed. There was no getting comfortable. Either your back was dripping with sweat, you stuck to the seat or to your neighbour. Beads of sweat trickled and tickled all over and became really annoying. It was the longest 3 hour car trip I’d done and it was truly revolting…”

A short ferry or felucca trip on the Nile takes you to Elephantine Island. Here you’ll find the Museum which displays many Nubian artefacts. Beyond Elephantine Island, is Kitchener’s Island and soley constitutes the local Botanical Gardens, a popular spot for locals and tourists wishing to have some peace and quiet. Continuing across the Nile to the west bank is the Tomb of Agha Khan, a great viewing spot of the traffic on the Nile and Elephantine Island. A great viewing location of the western bank and the Nile River is from the Old Cataract Hotel. It in itself is a landmark of the city.

An essential travel guide to Egypt including Aswan and the other major travel destinations of this historic country.

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Aswan

One Great Reason to Visit Aswan

One great reason to visit Aswan is to sit by the pool at the beautiful Old Cataract Hotel, that majestically overlooks the Nile River that is constantly busy with feluccas.

Aswan and Abu Simbel

For More Information

You Might Also Enjoy The Following Travel Destinations