Africa

The Bab Abi al-Jounoud or Bab Bou Jeloud (also spelled Bab Boujeloud or Bab Boujloud) is an ornate city gate dividing the western entrance of Fez to the medina (old city). This city entrance, also known as the Blue Gate is replicated in Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion. Read about our visit to this location and other Moroccan points of interest in our blog post: Treasures of Morocco: Finding Epcot’s Real-Life Landmarks Address: Fès, Morocco Visitor Information: Regional Council of Tourism FES

The Chellah Necropolis is a complex dating back to medieval times on the east side of Morocco’s capital city of Rabat. The area has gone from a Phoenician (thanks) trading site to a Roman colony, to a Muslim burying ground and mosque. Today, the area is considered a historic archaeological site and park, open to visitors for a fee. The mosque’s minaret (tower used to announce the call to prayer), which still stands, was replicated and can be found in Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion. Read about our visit to this location and other Moroccan points of interest in our blog post: Treasures of Morocco: Finding Epcot’s Real-Life Landmarks Address: Quartier Chellah, El Youssoufia, El Youssoufia 10190, Morocco Visitor Information: TripAdvisor

Touted as the world’s largest film studio (by acreage), Morocco’s Cinema Studio Atlas is the reason why the region is considered the Hollywood of Africa. Founded in 1983, the studio has seen big-budget productions like the non-Disney Ridley Scott flick Gladiator (2000) and HBO’s Game of Thrones. A number of Disney and their subsidiaries have filmed here including Fox’s The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Kundun (1997), Fox’s Kingdom of Heaven (2005), and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010). Additional scenes for most of these films took place at the nearby ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou. While this place is still a working film studio, visitors are free to wander the grounds to check out a variety of props and abandoned film sets. Read about our visit to this location and other Moroccan points of interest in our blog post: Treasures of Morocco: Finding Epcot’s Real-Life Landmarks Address: Km 5, BP 28 Route de Marrakech, Ouarzazate 45000, Morocco Visitor Information: TripAdvisor

This Magana, or hydraulic clock, hangs above the medina (the walled, old quarter of the city), just across the street from the entrance to the Abu Inania Medersa, one of the largest theological schools in Morocco. Eagle-eyed Epcot fans know that a replica of this clock exists in the Morocco Pavilion, just left of the entrance to Restaurant Marrakesh. Epcot’s version is an idealized one: what the clock may have looked like when it was in working order, back in the heyday of water clocks. The real clock was built in 1357 by the astronomer master Abou l’Hassan Ali Tlemsani and used a complex system of water released into 13 metal bowls on regular intervals. Today, the clock mechanism is in extreme disrepair, with no more bowls left on the wooden perches. It may be a bit hard to find in the medina’s maze but if you can navigate to the Abu Inania Medersa or Cafe Clock, a well-publicized restaurant with great reviews, you know you’re close. The clock is just above the cafe’s entrance corridor, across the street from the Medersa. Read about our visit to this location and other Moroccan points of interest in our blog post: Treasures of […]

Hôtel Sidi Driss was a filming location in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) starring as Luke’s sunken home (the Lars family homestead) on Tatooine. It was again a filming location in 2002’s Episode II – Attack of the Clones. The interior courtyards of this traditional Berber style home still feature some remnants from filming including murals and set dressing as it seems the current owners embrace the Star Wars lore. While interiors were filmed here, the exterior shots of the home took place about 150 miles away at an unnamed structure on the Chott el Jerid salt flats. This location made our list of the 10 Most Unique And Coolest Disney Related Locations Where You Can Spend The Night Address: Matmatat-Al-Qadimal, Tunisia Visitor Information: Hôtel Sidi Driss (only available in French)

Koutoubia Mosque is located in the heart of Marrakesh, just steps away from the bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa square. Its 250-foot tall minaret (a mosque’s tower used to announce the call to prayer) is one of the important recognizable landmarks of the city. Epcot fans will no doubt recognize this from the Morocco Pavilion as a scale version stands proudly above the pavilion. Visiting the real mosque is reserved for practicing Muslims, but its surrounding archeological excavation site, gardens, and grounds are open to the public, offering incredible views of the beautiful, 12-century sandstone structure. Read about our visit to this location and other Moroccan points of interest in our blog post: Treasures of Morocco: Finding Epcot’s Real-Life Landmarks Address: 279 Avenue Mohammed V, Marrakech 40000, Morocco Visitor Information: Regional Council of Tourism Marrakech

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait-Ben-Haddou is situated in the Moroccan desert, about 100 miles from Marrakesh. This ksar, or group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, was a key stop along the caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. Disney Parks fans may recognize the earthen clay towers of Ait-Ben-Haddou as they’re represented in the facade above the entrance to Restaurant Marrakesh in Epcot. A number of films have been shot here due to its unique and biblical looking structures, the most famous being the very non-Disney Ridley Scott’s Gladiator (2000). Disney and their subsidiary’s films include Fox’s The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Kundun (1997), Fox’s Kingdom of Heaven (2005), and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010). Additional studio and outdoor sets for most of these films were located at the nearby Cinema Studio Atlas. Read about our visit to this location and other Moroccan points of interest in our blog post: Treasures of Morocco: Finding Epcot’s Real-Life Landmarks Address: Aït Benhaddou, Morocco Visitor Information: TripAdvisor

This abandoned film set in the Tunisian desert was built in 1997 for the filming of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). The sandstone facades formed the village of Mos Espa on Tatooine. The set was used again in Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and still stands today, open to the public. Address: Naftah, Tunisia Visitor Information: Atlas Obscura

The plains of this UNESCO World Heritage Site near the city of Moshi, Tanzania is featured in Soarin’ Around the World (Disney California Adventure), Soarin’ Around the World (Epcot), Soaring Over the Horizon and Soaring: Fantastic Flight as it is a featured location visited during the ride. The name Kilimanjaro is believed to mean The Mountain of Caravans in Swahili, referring to Africa’s highest peak. The name might sound familiar if you’ve ever been on Disney Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safaris – here you actually do ride through the park in a caravan of off-road vehicles. In film, the park is the setting of both the 1994 and 2019 versions of The Lion King. Address: Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania Visitor Information: Tanzania Tourist Board

Located just outside of the Nejjarine Fondouk Museum, the Najjarine Fountain is considered a historic site due to its intricate zellige tile pattern and plasterwork. A near-exact, working replica of this fountain can be found in Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion (to the right of Restaurant Marrakesh). Read about our visit to this location and other Moroccan points of interest in our blog post: Treasures of Morocco: Finding Epcot’s Real-Life Landmarks Address: Rue Nejjaarine, Fes, Morocco Visitor Information: TripAdvisor

Known locally as Star Wars Canyon, Sidi Bouhlel is a desert ravine which was the filming location for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977). This is the gorge where R2-D2 is captured by the Jawas. Lucas used this area again for Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) in the scene when Indiana Jones threatens the Nazis with a bazooka. Address: Bouhlel Sdada, Tunisia Visitor Information: Atlas Obscura

Egypt‘s famed pyramids outside the city of Cairo are not only the oldest of the seven wonders of the ancient world, but also the only one still in existence today. This magnificent complex of three granite and limestone structures can be seen by taking flight on Soarin’ Around the World (Disney California Adventure), Soarin’ Around the World (Epcot), Soaring Over the Horizon or Soaring: Fantastic Flight as it is a featured location visited during the ride. You can also catch a brief cameo by the pyramids in the ancient Egypt scene during Spaceship Earth. During the animated version of Aladdin (1992), the three pyramids can be seen briefly while Aladdin and Jasmine are exploring by carpet while singing A Whole New World. Address: Al Haram, Giza Governorate, Egypt Visitor Information: Egypt Tourism Authority