Connecting To An Earlier Time – The UNESCO World Heritage Sites Of Africa

by erin on July 19, 2010

Often when you think of international travel, it’s hard to know where to begin. There are so many interesting places in the world. Deciding which sites to make priorities can be very confusing. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has taken a lot of the guesswork out of this for you. They have designated certain places in the world as World Heritage Sites indicating some of the most prominent sites related to humanity, culture and/or nature. Most of these sites require a passport but it is very easy to get a American passport expedited when your travel plans sneak up on you so there is no need to worry, even if you don’t have your passport in hand right now.

Online passport sites offer all sorts of services, from getting American passport extra pages or simply renewing an old passport.

There are two kinds of World Heritage Sites: cultural and natural. Africa is a continent that holds many World Heritage Sites, 119 to be exact. A family vacation to Africa, then, holds so much opportunity to experience some of the most famous sites on Earth. Here a few of them.

Egypt is one of the oldest civilizations on earth so it is not surprising that there would be World Heritage Sites located here. Thebes highlights the ancient civilization of this remarkable country with an array of ancient Egyptian monuments, temples and antiquities that add to the significance and attraction of this ancient city. The Necropolis is located here and among the ancient Egyptian leaders who are buried here lays Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh who history has recorded as being the most influential and loved among all the pharaohs in history. The Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens is also located in this region and has proven to be an irresistible destination for many travelers.

Moving on to Africa, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda is rich with biodiversity. A visitor can find over 120 species of mammals, 202 species of butterflies, 27 species of frogs and 346 species of birds at this location enjoying the beautiful terrain. Other sites that draw visitors include the mountain gorilla known as the Bwindi gorilla as well as numerous species of monkeys. The thick forest coupled with the altitude has encouraged a vast number of animal species to grow and thrive. Many other African forests and jungles have been labeled World Heritage Sites. It would not be difficult to enjoy an African safari in any one of these sites.

South Africa is home of the Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and Environs. Known as the cradle of humankind, these locations are home to many interesting and revealing fossils related to our earliest ancestors, some dating back as far as 3.5 million years. Investigating this area has lead many scientists to discover the answer to many of the mysteries concerning our early history.

If you should choose to travel to Africa, there are numerous World Heritage Sites to be investigated and explored but you will have to have a passport to travel there. The numerous online passport sites have made getting a passport expedited or passport extra pages simple and secure. If you are in a hurry, your can get your passport expedited by accessing an online passport agency like uspassportnow.com. Adventure awaits you, and World Heritage Sites can lead the way.

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