Take your pooch to the Dubai Pet Show, consider a horse trail in South Africa or cruise over to Egypt to the land of the cat with your favorite feline. There’s no need to leave the pets at home in Africa.
- Dubai Pet Show, United Arab Emirates This is the only show of its kind in the Middle East. The annual Dog show attracts over 13,000 visitors annually and is popular amongst families. Bring your pooch to enter the usual categories and win an award. It is held at the Dubai Golf and Racing Club.
- Horse trails, South Africa Nature reserves around Cape Town allow you to bring your own horse on routes that are as diverse as the terrain. There are beach rides on the dunes, vineyard ambles, grassland scenery or even rides among the big game.
- Qatar If you’re relocating to Qatar the best place to exercise dogs is probably in the desert. Here you’ll have miles of dunes and sand to run in – the only problem is it can get a bit hot! Unfortunately dogs are not allowed on the seafront or in parks so watch the heat.
- Al Khalediah Arabian Horse Festival, Ryiadh, Saudi Arabia This event organized by his Royal Highness in January is a showcase of the Arabian horse. Events include an auction of exceptional Purebred Arabian Horses, racing displays and a show displaying their beauty and elegance - farms from all around the world can come to participate in this part.
- Cruising to Egypt Cruise on over to Egypt with Cunard Luxury lines aboard the Queen Mary 2. Dogs and cats can be transported in up to 12 kennels. You can wander onshore to the pyramids and sphinx knowing Fido and Fluffy are being well looked after with a QM2 logoed coat and plenty of treats.
- Cairo, Egypt You can stay in some truly amazing pet oasis in Cairo and leave your pet in the best of care while you’re out seeing the sights. There’s the Hilton Pyramids Golf Resort, the Marriott Cairo Hotel and Casino where pets are royally pampered, the Cairo Ramses Hilton in the Cairo downtown and the Four Seasons Hotel with its dramatic views overlooking the Nile and the great pyramids.
- International Camel Racing, United Arab Emirates Camel racing has a long tradition and is supported at the highest levels of UAE society. Camel racing is taken very seriously and Dubai’s racetrack fills to the brim every Thursday and Friday in the winter. Camels tend to be owned by sheikhs - in other words you’ll have to have a bit of cash if you want to race your own camel pets.
- Table Mountain National Park, South Africa Dog owners revel in the access to the walking tracks in Table Mountain National Park. This narrow peninsula of land with its beautiful valleys, bays and beaches is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and Indian Ocean on the east. Table Mountain is no ordinary mountain and you’ll love the magnificent forests and biodiversity. Keep your dog leased at all times.
- Cape Town, South Africa Ride your horse, run with your dog, watch penguins, sail, snorkel and dive on the beaches of Cape Town. Options to choose include Muizenberg Beach which is rather populated but fun for families with dogs or the more deserted Noordhoek Beach, which is perfect for horse riding or strolling with the dog.
- Morocco To enter Morocco cats and dogs simply must have a health certificate and vaccination. Then you’re free to tour the souks and markets together. There’s plenty of beautiful, wild beach to explore down the coast of Morocco and the desert dunes are a fun bit of exercise for canine legs while the Atlas Mountains will give you both a workout. Orlando Bloom took home a stray dog from Morocco.
Click here to read about the Top 10 Pet Friendly vacations in Asia and the Far East