North Africa is divided by the Sahara from the Sub-Saharan portion of the continent. The countries making up North Africa include Tunisia, Morocco, Chad, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Libya, Egypt and Algeria.This area contains the Mediterranean shores in the north, while the dry sandy Saharan Desert lies in the south. Although the Mediterranean region has hot, arid summers and wet winters, its year-round sunshine makes it a major tourist destination.
The Adventure Company offers a nine-day Tunisia vacation, including highlights such as visiting "Star Wars'" Luke Skywalker's home in Tunisia and the amphitheater at El Djem. The Travel In Style tour company provides a nine-day tour of Tunisia and Libya where tourists can explore ruins such as in Cyrene, Ptolemais and Apollonia. Tours begin on the first Friday of every month in Tunisia. Abercrombie & Kent has Nile cruises which feature a visit to the Ptolemaic Temple.
The medieval city of Fez, Morocco, which has mosques, shrines, shops, bazaars and museums, is the world's largest pedestrian area. Abu-Simbel, Egypt contains the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings where visitors can see the twin temples built by Ramesses II. Carthage, Tunisia is home to Hannibal and has ruins of Carthage and abandoned paved streets. Ghat, Libya, another key tourist attraction, was once a main trading outpost and contains carvings, paintings and prehistoric rock art.
Most African countries require visas for entering. Ensure drinking water and food are safe as waterborne and food diseases are the main source of illnesses for travelers. Bacteria, viruses or parasites, which are problematic throughout the region, can cause traveler's diarrhea. The flatter the terrain, the hotter the weather. This is particularly true in summer, so it's cooler to travel in the highlands.
North African countries vary in their risk for contracting diseases. There's a low risk for malaria in the regions of Morocco, Egypt and Algeria, so it's not recommended to take an anti-malarial drug, but use insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites. You may need a certificate proving a yellow fever vaccination for entering certain countries if coming from sub-Saharan Africa or South America, although there's not a risk for this disease in North Africa.
