A Nation of Poets
In Somalia, poetry is more than art—it’s conversation, law, memory, and soul. Known as the “Nation of Poets,” Somalia has preserved its stories through verse for centuries. At tea stalls or during camel trading, it’s not unusual for someone to burst into spontaneous poetry—sometimes in praise, sometimes in protest. In the absence of written records, the oral tradition lives on, line by line.

Leptis Magna in the Rain
Most visitors picture the Libyan desert as dry, sunbaked, and unchanging—but every so often, the skies open up. When rain falls over Leptis Magna, it feels like walking through a dream. Water runs along 2,000-year-old Roman drains, puddles form in the market square, and marble columns shimmer in soft light. The ancient stones seem to breathe again. Few people are lucky enough to witness this moment—but if you do, you’ll never forget it.

Ark of the Covenant
By many accounts, the ark is kept in Axum, Ethiopia. While there, you will be able to see the chapel where it is kept but it is heavily guarded and only one person has access. The closest you can get to it is the nearby Old Church of St Mary of Zion where one can see stunning frescoes and chat with the priest. Axum itself is a VERY religious but also very historic place with many lesser known spots to discover.

Straw Hats of Yemen
One of the most curious and unusual details you will see in the mainland are the strange, tall hats worn by local women in the fields. Despite the scorching heat, Yemeni women are dressed in black burqas while working in the fields and the only relief, apparently, is coming through these tall hats. The hats are made of dried and braided strips of date palm leaves and are characteristic to Hadramaut province of Yemen. These strange hats are called madhalla and please ask for permission before taking a photo.

Aral Sea
Once a third largest, sweet water mass on the planet, the Aral Sea is just a sad reminder of our destructive nature today. Long drive from Muynak - where one can see last local ships, anchored in sands 150 kilometers from the nearest water - the Aral Sea is an eerie site today. Dead, lifeless and completely abandoned, this area is a true treat for dystopia seekers. The drive there is 4 hours long, through the steppe and some stunning geology.

Saint Louis
This was a capital of French West Africa in early 1900s. And little is left from past glamour and shine. But still, fantastic place to visit! Saint Louis feels like going back in time with it's classic French architecture and the wild African charm on the streets. Once you cross to the harbor and to N'Dar island, true Africa reveals. While this town has a potential to be one of the World's top travel hot spots, it is now just a big mess of color, scents, smiles and smiles.

Meroe Pyramids
If you are looking for a single reason to visit to Sudan, it should be the Pyramids of Meroe. This is the site that has it all: historic mystery unseen by tourists, desert atmosphere of the past. True return to some other times with shrieks of Egyptian sacred vultures flying over one's head. This specific pyramids are a site to behold! And there are local kids selling some of the local souvenirs Worth spending a dollar or two to help them out.

Richat Structure
If you are a seeker of unknown and interested in truly unique places, the a visit to Richat Structure is simply a must! One of the most unique places on the planet is also called "Eye of Sahara" due to its unusually regular shape. While this structure can only be seen from the sky, a visit to it by car is also a unique experience. Especially if you are waiting for dawn at it's very center. This structure is purely a geological formation although some are connecting it to legendary Atlantis. There is only one way to check.