The Namib Desert, one of the world’s oldest deserts, stretches along the western coast of Namibia, offering a landscape of stunning, otherworldly beauty. The name “Namib” means "vast place," and fittingly so, as this desert spans over 2,000 kilometers and includes some of the tallest sand dunes on Earth, such as those found in Sossusvlei.
Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga, is where tradition, history, and the South Pacific’s natural world intersect in quiet and unexpected ways. As the political and cultural center of the Kingdom of Tonga, it is home to the capital city, Nukuʻalofa, as well as ancient royal burial grounds, dramatic coastal blowholes, and friendly villages where daily life unfolds slowly.
Santa Margarita is a small community in San Luis Obispo County, set among rolling hills and oak-covered countryside near the southern edge of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Located along the historic El Camino Real corridor, it has a rural character shaped by ranching, agriculture, and its position between the Salinas Valley and the Central Coast. The town sits near Santa Margarita Lake and is surrounded by open grasslands, vineyards, and wooded hills.
Mountain Zebra National Park lies in the Eastern Cape near Cradock, protecting a rugged section of the Great Karoo. The park’s landscape includes open grassland, rocky mountains, valleys, and dry plateaus, with vegetation adapted to the region’s semi-arid conditions. It was established to protect the Cape mountain zebra, a species that was once severely reduced in number.
This small yet charming city in Alaska's panhandle is a throwback to the gold rush era. Skagway is a well-preserved part of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
Photo Credit: Photo by Daniele Levis Pelusi on Unsplash
Although its great days are past, its palaces and castles deserted, gondar is one of Ethiopia's most fascinating cities and one of the world's most mysterious. The city stands at the foot of the Simien mountains and is set in a landscape of incomparable beauty. Gondar is the former 17th century capital of Ethiopia, although some say it was Saudi Arabia. You can also visit the imperial compound in which the seven emperors of the Gondar dyanasty built their castles and palaces. The oldest and most impressive is Emperor Fasiladas Castle, set in rolling parkland with fortified walls. Also visit Emperor
Fasilada's Bathing Palace, an open air pool filled with water drawn from a nearby river.
Other Popular Destinations in Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia and a highland city set at the foot of the Entoto Mountains. Its elevated setting gives the city a relatively cool climate compared with much of the country, while broad avenues, busy neighborhoods, green hills, and expanding modern districts create a varied urban landscape. Addis Ababa is also the headquarters of the African Union and hosts numerous international organizations, giving it an important diplomatic role across the continent.
Bahir Dar
A small town located on the shores of Lake Tana (Ethiopia's largest). Visit the ancient monestaries, the beautiful Tissisiat Falls (30km) and the place where the 'Blue Nile' creates smoking waters.