Hi Ladies...I just had a quick question about Africa. Has
anyone here actually travelled through it without taking a
Safari? I don't mean this to sound silly, I'm just not
sure how to word it...I've travelled through Europe and GB,
but that was easy...trains, buses etc., but what is it like
in Africa?
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From what I've heard from my sister, traveling in Africa is
pretty hard. She traveled West-Africa a while back (from
Senegal to Togo) and she said she often waited long long
times for the minibuses to leave (how about 24 hrs?!). They
simply wait till the cars/minibuses fill up before leaving,
thus leaving you waiting for hours. Don't even think about
paying extra to leave earlier or for more space because
they'll keep cramming people in anyway... Safari's are a
bit more East-African I think... my sister enjoyed Africa
most because of the friendly people and that you really get
to meet people, unlike most of her trips in Asia. Hope this
is of any use...
Africa can be whatever you want it to be - it can be
more primitive than you have ever experienced, and it can
be quite luxurious - you just have to choose your
destination. If you want to start somewhere that won't
give you a total culture shock, I would suggest South
Africa. It is easy to get around, and most of the time you
can find all the comforts of home. At the same time, it is
a taste of Africa - Zulu villages and all. Cape Town is
incredibly beautiful, and the people are friendly. There
is always something fun to do. You can do a scuba dive
with great white sharks, taste wines at vineyards and
wineries, pet a cheetah, or even ride an ostrich - what's
your pleasure? Durban (on the east coast) is the party
spot! Dance clubs abound, and the beach is always
hopping. When I went there, an intl. surfing competition
was going on, and also women's pro beach volleyball (which
tempted me to pack my bags and move there)!
There is also the safari gig (Kruger Natl. Park), as well
as hiking in the gorgeous Drakensberg Mtns (which reminded
me of the canyons of the southwest USA - breathtaking).
South Africa has it all, and I have enjoyed myself
both times I went there. I would recommend it for anyone
who is traveling to Africa for the first time, because it
is a good balance of primitive and modern. From there, you
can decide where to go next.
Have fun!
Zim is great too, if anything easier than South Africa,
where I've also been. There are decent buses between most
towns and cities and the trains are great - get the
overnight from Vic Falls to Bulawayo and treat yourself to
1st class - it's a bargain! People are genuinely friendly
(I still write regularly to a local girl I met 3 years ago)
and there are some fantastic things to see and do. I met
people there who had travelled from Kenya through Tanzania,
Zambia and Malawi and didn't seem to have had too much
trouble.
southern africa is easy ,....from and including harare girls
normally team up with guys - its much safer
look at http://www.travelinafrica.co.za for more info