Africa

[marc26]

since it would be such a monumental trip, i am starting to kick some ideas around for a 3 week trip to Africa next year
i am just wondering if any members have been?

i am thinking a week just relaxing in SA
possibly a week on a small cruise of the Nile river
and then some time in Rwanda and/or Ethiopia

if anybody has been to any og the places, id love to hear some thoughts

also, does anybody know if it is possible to do expeditions or tours once in Africa or do you need to book these tours that last days(id rather not)

thanks for any help you can give me

[retepg]

Hey Marc
There are a few BM's who live in SA.
Myself in Cape Town and Thinwhiteduke in Johannesburg. And I am sure that others will soon enough let you know.
There is plenty to do and see on a trip to Africa, despite the turmoil in the region you can have a trip that you will never forget.
Just plan it out well and take care to avoid area's and situations that could lead to trouble..
If you need to know anything , just ask..

[marc26]

Originally Posted by retepg

Hey Marc
There are a few BM's who live in SA.
Myself in Cape Town and Thinwhiteduke in Johannesburg. And I am sure that others will soon enough let you know.
There is plenty to do and see on a trip to Africa, despite the turmoil in the region you can have a trip that you will never forget.
Just plan it out well and take care to avoid area's and situations that could lead to trouble..
If you need to know anything , just ask..

i appreciate it and Capetown would be my relaxation part of the trip
im sure ill have questions

thanks for response

[Iltis]

Mustang was planing a trip to africa for some kayaking and safari but i cant remember where exactly he wanted to go. maybe you can PM him and get some information he did a lot of research about the place.

i have only been to egypt so far and did the tourist-things like the pyramids in cairo and a couple of days in hurghada...was good to see it once but i probably wouldnt go back again.

[faultytowers]

One of the guys I work with is doing a 1 month trip to Africa at the moment , will get all the details when he gets back . This is the company he has gone with , lots of different options for tours/safari etc.

[Thin White Duke]

Yeah Paul,CT is a destination for the scenery,winefarms and general kickback.

JHB is worth seeing just for a day or two,but is primarily a business city and although very nice in summer,the rest of the country has a lot more to offer.If you are into the game park vibe,then the Kruger National Park is the biggest and is great, but there are lot's of private game parks all dotted around the area which are more exclusive.Have a look at Kruger National Park | South Africa Safari and Lodging Guide for starters.

The deserts in Namibia and the Okavango Swamps in Botswana are also good trips.Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe are also to be seen although the country is in turmoil at the moment.

I never book package-deals so that wouldn't be my choice but with a bit of internet searching you should get all the answers you need. I'd recommend a week in the Kruger Park area,perhaps a stint down the KwaZulu-Natal coastline and then Cape Town for a week for your first trip.Going too further afield will probably jet-lag you too much.

There's a lot to see in 3 weeks..........

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Thin White Duke

Yeah Paul,CT is a destination for the scenery,winefarms and general kickback.

JHB is worth seeing just for a day or two,but is primarily a business city and although very nice in summer,the rest of the country has a lot more to offer.If you are into the game park vibe,then the Kruger National Park is the biggest and is great, but there are lot's of private game parks all dotted around the area which are more exclusive.Have a look at Kruger National Park | South Africa Safari and Lodging Guide for starters.

The deserts in Namibia and the Okavango Swamps in Botswana are also good trips.Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe are also to be seen although the country is in turmoil at the moment.

I never book package-deals so that wouldn't be my choice but with a bit of internet searching you should get all the answers you need. I'd recommend a week in the Kruger Park area,perhaps a stint down the KwaZulu-Natal coastline and then Cape Town for a week for your first trip.Going too further afield will probably jet-lag you too much.

There's a lot to see in 3 weeks..........

wow...thank you so much
yes, Victoria falls looks amazing

[Thin White Duke]

Your welcome.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have..........

[Dodger]

I have a question Paul...........you thinking of taking Ao or not going to process the visa thingy???? can you take a thai to SA???? would be an absolutely amazing trip for her, no snow but wow!!!!

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Dodger

I have a question Paul...........you thinking of taking Ao or not going to process the visa thingy???? can you take a thai to SA???? would be an absolutely amazing trip for her, no snow but wow!!!!

ha...it seems like Africa, from what i researchd shouldnt be too hard for her to go. so i would be going with her, yes, if she wants. if/when she is living in Canada, i will always give her the chance to choose to take holiday with me or go home to Thailand. up to her

i was telling her about all the wildlife you can see
her response-" they have buffalo" 55555

[Dodger]

Buffalo.....5555555!!!, Alec is up in Ubon at the moment with Gee, he plays daily with the 5 buffalo they have in the adjacent field, 'Honey, he okay?? buffalo have big horn and maybe hurt him?'

'No he okay he like them'

Thats put my mind at rest then!!!!!

[Thin White Duke]

That's funny...........Thai's can come to SA for 30 days without worrying about a visa.You have to apply for any longer stay but it shouldn't be a problem if going thru' a travel agent

[retepg]

Originally Posted by Thin White Duke

That's funny...........Thai's can come to SA for 30 days without worrying about a visa.You have to apply for any longer stay but it shouldn't be a problem if going thru' a travel agent

Note to myself...
Must remember this as it could come in useful in the future.

TWD info is spot on…
A few days in the Cape are a must, there is so much to see and do here. Then travel up to visit one of the game parks or the biggie Kruger National Park.
Namibia, Botswana and Vic Falls, the Zambian side these days is flourishing. This would constitute a real good trip.
Then if you still have time visit North Africa.

[Soupdragon]

Originally Posted by Dodger

Buffalo.....5555555!!!, Alec is up in Ubon at the moment with Gee, he plays daily with the 5 buffalo they have in the adjacent field, 'Honey, he okay?? buffalo have big horn and maybe hurt him?'

'No he okay he like them'

Thats put my mind at rest then!!!!!

Buffalo in Thailand undergo extensive training from the time they are an egg. By the time they are born they can already do the run of the mill tricks, lay down, play dead etc. Experts in BKK are working on a buffalo keyboard so they can send the e-mails to sponsors themselves to confirm they are really sick and need money desperately. I think with this level of training Alec will be OK.

[Mustang]

I'm still hoping to make a trip to Africa this summer, if I can find a decent price on a flight to Zambia. 118000 baht for a return flight in August without painfully long stopovers right now so I'm hoping the price dips a little below that.

I'm looking at a week long safari in South Luangwa National Park,a 4 day canoe safari in Lower Zambezi National Park down the Zambezi river,a couple of days at Victoria Falls,rafting,ultralight flight over the falls and maybe riverboarding.
Then an overnighter to Chobe National Park in Botswana before flying home.

All top drawer destinations located fairly close together and reasonably priced if you choose wisely.


Dodger you should join me.I remember you said you regretted not going to Nepal with me.This trip would be an over the top adventure for sure!Give it some thought.

[Thin White Duke]

That sound's like a really great trip although an extremely active one!

The most I have done in that region is Tiger fishing on the Chobe River,northern Botswana and looked around the Chobe National Park-also both not to be missed..........

[visa2003]

Many years ago, I went to Etosha Game reserve(Namibia). What an amazing place!!! Sat in my car at a water hole and some of the animals were having a quick rub on it on the way to get a drink!!! You can't get much closer than that!!!
Also, during the 3 days I was there, I kept coming across this same bull elephant, and by the 3rd day he was so pissed off with seeing me, he did a mock charge!!! I never knew that Toyota Corolla's could reverse so fast!!!
Vic Falls, Lake Kariba and Whange Game reserve are also not to be missed!!
The Garden Route...from Cape Town to Port Elisabeth is another one!!!
There are heaps of things to see and do in Southern Africa alone!!!( it took me 3 months to do the sights described above!!!)

[Thin White Duke]

Forgot about the Garden Route-Knysna,Tsitsikamma Forest etc.........this thread is making me feel like getting into my car and getting the hell out of Jozi....555

Visited Etosha Game Park during National Service.Spent 6 months in the then South West Africa.........now Namibia.If deserts are your thing the Sossusvlei is the place to go.

This site has links to all the places mentioned so far.....African Safaris | Safari South Africa Tours | Botswana Safaris | Safari in Africa........plus a few more.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by Thin White Duke

That sound's like a really great trip although an extremely active one!

The most I have done in that region is Tiger fishing on the Chobe River,northern Botswana and looked around the Chobe National Park-also both not to be missed..........

Oh yea,I forgot about the Tiger fishing!I want to give that a shot too but I'm not going in the best season for it.
I originally wanted to include a week in South Africa since I have to fly through it anyway but it's big enough and diverse enough to warrant it's own trip.Diving Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoal are at the top of my SA list.Hluhluwe Umfolozi also for the Black Rhino.Largest concentration of rhino in Africa.

Marc as far as booking tours and safaris in advance I think it depends whether you're visiting a country in it's peak season.I'm sure there's always "something" available but not all tour operators are created equal so if you find a good operator offering something you're interested in it might be better to reserve than be disappointed on arrival.(I hate reserving months in advance too.What if something comes up?Change of plans?Loss of down payment.Grrrrrr )

A lot of Southern Africa countries have a wet season that make travel and game viewing difficult to impossible,followed by a green or "emerald" season where the jungle is so lush and the water so abundant that the animals are spread out and concealed by the green therefore hard to view.

It's when the water dries up and the animals gather around the remaining watering holes that game viewing is at it's peak.The long grasses and plants have died making it easier to see animals in the forest.

It's also the busiest time for tourists.Typically from July to October with August/September being the peak.(roughly)

South Africa,like Thailand has 2 oceans therefore a couple of different weather systems.It's not as extreme as some of the countries to the north but there is certainly a "better" and "worse" time to visit Kruger NP.I just don't know when it is.5555555

I mention Southern Africa(Namibia,Botswana,Zambia and Zimbabwe along the Zambia border ie Mana Pools) because I think logisically it would combine better with South Africa than Ethiopia or Rwanda.

Just for fun google Robin Pope Safaris
Bushcamp Company
Norman Carr Safaris
All in the Luangwa Valley,Zambia and a quick flight from Victoria Falls.
Safari Par Excellance also a highly regarded operator in the area.(Zam and Zim)

[Izzy]

Went to S.A for a month many years ago,went around Kruger Park, back down Johannesburg, over to Rorkes Drift (Rorke's Drift, Wednesday 22- Thursday 23 January, 1879, when some 150 soldiers defended a supply station against some 4000 Zulus, aided by the Martini-Henry rifle 'with some guts behind it'.), Sun City, spent few nights in a Zulu village onto Durban and finished up at a resort located at Champagne Valley...Loved the place...Kruger park I could have done less off as it got a bit same old driving about seeing the wildlife once the novelty wore off, the Oliphants camp tho was something spectacular to see and have a drink overlooking everything...Sun City I could have done a lot more of, while never having been to Vegas, from what I know Id liken it to a mini-vegas, lots of gambling, shows, sports etc....

Got lucky a few times travelling about there tho, after leaving Kruger park was working out how to get back to my mothers cousin house, thought about taking one particular road, we were stopped at the crossroads looking at a map thankfully a helpful guy stopped and made mention if we took that road we would probably not come out the other side....another time the car was surrounded by about 20 guys with clubs while I was reading a magazine at Rorks Drift and my folks were in a museum, asked me to open the door so they could talk to me, shitting myself to put it mildly, told them to talk to me through the glass, yeh, the glass will protect me!... but they left after a few mins...we also took a road between Durban and Champagne Valley that was closed not long after we used it (i.e. the next day) due to the number of killings on it every day. Reading the local papers was something, people getting killed by a bar manager for complaining about warm beer (my dad liked that one, cut it out and put it over his bar). Beautiful place, just take a hand cannon with you when you go out (my mums cousin lent us one of his, legal or not dunno)..

Been to Dakar too in Senagal...fricking shit hole, picture a pipe connecting all the sewers of the world and pumping in the worlds fecal matter to a single place...nuff said...

[retepg]

Originally Posted by Izzy

Got lucky a few times travelling about there tho, after leaving Kruger park was working out how to get back to my mothers cousin house, thought about taking one particular road, we were stopped at the crossroads looking at a map thankfully a helpful guy stopped and made mention if we took that road we would probably not come out the other side....another time the car was surrounded by about 20 guys with clubs while I was reading a magazine at Rorks Drift and my folks were in a museum, asked me to open the door so they could talk to me, shitting myself to put it mildly, told them to talk to me through the glass, yeh, the glass will protect me!... but they left after a few mins...we also took a road between Durban and Champagne Valley that was closed not long after we used it (i.e. the next day) due to the number of killings on it every day. Reading the local papers was something, people getting killed by a bar manager for complaining about warm beer (my dad liked that one, cut it out and put it over his bar). Beautiful place, just take a hand cannon with you when you go out (my mums cousin lent us one of his, legal or not dunno)..

There is no doubt that there is a big crime problem in South Africa, but if you are sensible, follow the advice given by the authorities and use reputable tour operators. There is no reason that you cannot have a great holiday and feel reasonably safe.
From what I have read about Phuket City, there are areas that one would not necessarily go to at night, the same with most countries.
As for the hand cannon, I have lived in Africa for just about all of my 52 years and have never carried a gun. But that is my choice. Just remember that unless you are fully trained to use a gun and are prepared to use it, you are often in more danger than you would be without one.

[Denver]

Good Luck with this Paul! I've worked all over Africa and from all of it I can only recommend that if you are going to go, stay in Cape Town and forget Jo'berg. Take a guided tour through Gauteng Province (GP also known as Gangsters Paradise) and go to the North of Botswana if you can and have a look at the Victoria Falls which is the joining of three countries there IIRC Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. If you get a chance to go to Sun City for a round of golf or two then let me know, I know the Security Manager there.

I've lived and worked in Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Kenya (5555555 mmmmmmmmm!!!) and can honestly say I didn't enjoy it at all. I do apologise to any Africa (Big continent) based BM's but that's my own experience of it.

I worked with a hell of a lot of SA guys in Iraq who all seemed pee'd off with thier lot and what is happening to them in South Africa at the moment.

Up to you as they say. TIT This is Thailand................Same Same TIA!!! 55555555555

[Thin White Duke]

Special Forces,Security type people and all previous Govt puppets are all peeved off because their regime and therefore livelihood has gone.

Lots of other prosperous and happy people around tho'...........