500 Adrenaline Adventures (Frommer's) - Lois Friedland [81]
Masada, which rises some 390m (1,300 ft.) above the desolate Judean Desert, about 48km (30 miles) from Jerusalem, was built as a walled palace fortress by Herod the Great in the First Century b.c. After the Romans conquered Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple was destroyed in a.d. 70, some 1,000 Jewish resistors and their families fled to remote Masada. Led by Eleazar ben Jair, the zealots withstood a 2-year siege by the Romans. In a.d. 73, the Roman Tenth Legion encircled the base of Masada with eight camps and constructed an earth and stone ramp leading up to the top of the cliff. In spring of the following year, the Romans carried a battering ram up this ramp and breached the fortress wall. Looking on, all but seven of the zealots chose to die by their own hands—they committed mass suicide—rather than surrender to the enemy.
Masada, a former palace fortress, is a World Heritage Site.
Today a World Heritage Site, Masada is visited by members of all religions. Some hike up via the Roman Path or the steep zigzagging Snake Path, while others ride up in a cable car. At the top, there’s a vast complex of ruins to explore, ranging from Herod’s Northern Palace and the enormous storehouses to the cisterns and remains of the oldest synagogue in the world.
In 2007, a unique museum opened, which gives visitors a guided tour of the Story of Masada through a combination of archaeological artifacts set in a theatrical atmosphere, accompanied by radio play and audio explanations. Twice a week, a dramatic sound and light show tells the history of Masada by way of a performance at the Masada amphitheater.
Many visitors combine a visit to Masada with a float in the Dead Sea and a spa treatment featuring the mineral-rich Dead Sea black mud. Hiking in Ein Gedi Nature Preserve, where four springs create a haven in the desert for flora and fauna, is another popular stop after a visit to Masada. —LF
Masada National Park, Dead Sea Hwy. (Rte. 90), 18km (11 miles) south of Ein Gedi ( 972/7/658-4207;www.parks.org.il).
When to Go: Year-round. In the summer morning is best because of the desert heat.
Jerusalem, 112km (70 miles).
$$$ Golden Tulip Dead Sea, Ein Bokek ( 972/8/662-9444;www.goldentulipclubdeadsea.com). $ Masada Youth Hostel, Masada National Park ( 972/8/995-3222;www.hihostels.com).
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Mount Kilimanjaro
Africa’s Great White Mountain
Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania
It’s an unforgettable sight—the snowy plateau of Mount Kilimanjaro, rising above the Tanzanian plains, just south of Kenya. Named Oldoinyo Oibor, or “white mountain,” by the Masai tribesmen and Kilima Njaro, or “shining mountain,” in Swahili, it’s Africa’s highest mountain and one of the world’s largest free-standing peaks, a triple volcano thrusting out of equatorial jungle and moorland. As world-class peaks go, it’s a relatively easy climb—the lower slopes are downright gentle—but you don’t need to go all the way to the summit to get the Hemmingway-esque thrill of exploring Kilimanjaro.
Ascending, you pass through four radically different climate zones. First comes the lush, steamy Kilimanjaro Forest Reserve surrounding the base; then the grassy moorlands of the shouldering slopes; above 3,962m (13,000 ft.), the mountain suddenly becomes steeper and more barren, with rocky scree underfoot. Last of all, you hit glacial ice fields, dazzling in the reflected African sun. It’s not a technical climb, but it’s a strenuous steep hike, and the extreme altitude makes it physically challenging if your body hasn’t acclimated properly.
Enter at the Marangu Park Gate—you should already have obtained park permits and hut reservations (available through a licensed tour operator or local hotels in Moshi), but at the park gate you’ll hire