A intrepid adventurer who has visited every nation on the planet before turning 26 has revealed two unexpected destinations amongst his top picks. Cameron Mofid, from San Diego, California, embarked on an ambitious quest to explore all UN-recognised countries and territories worldwide – totalling 195 – whilst battling obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) during the pandemic.
The determined globetrotter completed his extraordinary journey in April when he and his companions reached the secretive state of North Korea.
With almost 200 nations ticked off his list, selecting favourites might appear an overwhelming challenge. Nevertheless, two particular countries captured Cameron’s heart, despite both carrying stern Foreign Office (FCDO) advisories.
Algeria emerged as his first standout choice, a location he branded as “unbelievable”.
Speaking to CNN, he revealed: “It’s one of my favourite countries in the whole world. The countries that receive the least amount of tourism are often the ones where you have the best experience, because you feel totally immersed in their culture.”
Cameron also voiced his admiration for Yemen, having explored the Middle Eastern nation in February 2023. He observed that wandering through its streets felt like “going back in time.”
He continued: “To see people dress the same way that they were hundreds if not thousands of years ago. To see people living in mud houses, to see people still using flip phones.”
Algeria, situated in the northern part of Africa, is predominantly covered by the Sahara Desert except for its coastal north where the majority of its inhabitants reside. It is the largest country in Africa.
The country boasts a rich tapestry of history, having been under the rule of various Arab and Berber dynasties from the 8th to the 15th centuries before becoming linked with the Ottoman Empire and subsequently annexed by France in 1848.
When it comes to travelling to Algeria, the FCDO has marked much of the nation in green on its website, indicating travellers should “see our travel advice before travelling”. However, the border regions are flagged with orange and red warnings.
Specifically, the FCDO discourages all travel within a 30km radius of Algeria’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and some areas of Tunisia. Moreover, it recommends against all but essential travel within 30km of the remaining Tunisian border.
On the other hand, Yemen, a relatively young nation located at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia, shares its shores with the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, lying south of Saudi Arabia.
Since 2011, Yemen has been engulfed in a political crisis and is currently suffering from a devastating civil war that has claimed over 150,000 lives and led to a humanitarian disaster, leaving 23 million people in need of assistance.
The Foreign Office’s stance on travel to Yemen is unequivocal, strongly advising against all travel to the country and imploring anyone there to depart “immediately” due to the volatile security situation.
The report warns that terrorist attacks are highly probable in Yemen, alongside a “very high and constant threat” of kidnapping, highlighting that propaganda from Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has actively encouraged the abduction of Westerners.