Urban landscape, African
Aksum
The city of Aksum emerged several centuries before the birth of Christ, as the capital of a state that traded with ancient Greece, Egypt and Asia.
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Ancient ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata
The Ancient ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata are trading and religious centres along the ancient Sahara trade routes.
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Djenné
Djenné is situated on an island in the Bani-river, in central Mali. It was a prospering city from the 14th til the 16th century, when it acted as an important station on the Trans-Sahara route.
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Ghadames
Ghadames is an oasis town and one of the oldest pre-Saharan cities. The old part of the town, which is surrounded by a wall, has been declared World Heritage.
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Harar
Harar is a fortified historic town in southeastern Ethiopia. It has been a major commercial center, linking African and Islamic trade routes.
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Koutammakou
Koutammakou, the land of the Batammariba, lies in northeastern Togo.
It was made a WHS because of the singular culture of the Batammariba, manifesting itself in the architecture of the mud Takienta tower-houses set in aesthetically pleasing landscapes.
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Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou
Aït Benhaddou is a 'fortified city', or ksar, along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech in present-day Morocco.
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Lamu Old Town
Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best preserved example of Swahili settlement in East Africa: it has maintained its social and cultural integrity, as well as retaining its authentic building fabric up to the present day.
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Timbuktu
Timbuktu became famous in the 15th century because of the booming gold and salt trade in the Sahara region at that time.
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