solo backpacking through southern africa
TRANSCRIPT
The Rundown • Introduc)ons• ConsideringAfrica• Planning&Prepara)on• CountrybyCountry• Transporta)on• Accommoda)ons• GeneralSafety&Health• CulturalConsidera)ons
HI USA The Mission
“Tohelpall,especiallytheyoung,gaina greater understanding of the worldanditspeoplethroughhostelling.”
Purpose:“HIUSA inspires a genuine understandingof people, places & cultures for a moretolerantworld.”
What is Hostelling? Community │ Travel │ Experience
Community:SupportandconnectthegreatercommunityoftravelersbothinsideandoutsideHI-USA’shostelnetwork.
Travel:Throughthevehicleofhostels,providetravelopportuni)esandeduca)onfortravelerslookingtoexploretheUnitedStatesandbeyond.
Experience:CreatelocalanduniqueexperiencesthatleaveguestswithabeIerunderstandingoftheculturethey’revisi)ng.
About Me • Thesmartbutspontaneoustraveler
• WorkforHostellingInterna)onalBoston
• StudiedAbroadinArgen)na• Caughtaterminalcaseofthetravelbug
• Havetraveledto20Countries• Earlierin2014,spent7weekstravelingthroughAfrica
Africa in our Imaginations • InCinema– TheLionKing– Jumanji– HotelRwanda– LastKingofScotland– AfricanQueen
• InLiterature– GrahamGreene’s“JourneyWithoutMaps”– JosephConrad’s“HeartofDarkness”– ChinuaAchebe’s“ThingsFallApart”
Africa in Reality • Variedhistory&cultures,country-by-country• Economicallydiverse• Hugecon)nent--regionmaIers• Theimpactofcolonialism• Tourismv.Off-The-BeatenPath• Weakinfrastructure• Sprawled,disorganizedci)es• Impossiblybeau)fulscenery
Defining the Trip • Howlongareyougoingfor?• Wheredoyouwanttogo?• Areyoulookingforsafari,backpackingorboth?
• Whatkindofbudgetareyouworkingwith?• Areyouinterestedinvolunteering?• Haveyoutraveledtothedevelopingworldbefore?
First & Foremost: Building an Itinerary
• Choosea)meofyeartotravel– Knowyourdry&rainyseasons
• Selectyourcountries• Iden)fyyourpointofentryi.e.Nairobi,DaresSalaam,Kampala,etc.
• Buildaprojectedlengthoftrip• Purchaseatleastaoneway)cket,ifnotaround-trip)cket
TravelTip:Forthemoretech-savvy,keepablogandtrackresourcesusingEvernote.Greatwaytoorganizeyourpurpose,tripandresources.
Planning: Internet vs. Guides
• Debate:InternetversusGuidebooks• TheNeedforGuideBooks:– S)llmuchvalueinphysical,up-to-dateguidebook– Frequentinternetaccesswillcostyou
• TheInternetArgument:– GreatblogsandforumsaroundAfrica– Plentyofpersonalanecdotes– OnthegroundrealityviaTwiIer&Facebook
The Planning Essentials
• Internet– AfricaTravelResource– LonelyPlanetTravelForums– BootsnallTravelGuides– Wikitravel
• Books– BradtTravelGuides– LonelyPlanet– CoasttoCoastBackpackersGuide
TravelTip:Consultyourcommunity.Great@metoreachouttofriends,colleagues,acquaintancesandmoreforhelpful@psonwheretovisit.
Budgeting: Spreadsheets & Receipts
• Budgetpreandduringtripexpenses• Set-upshorttermsavingsaccounttofunnelmoneyaside
• Usemint.comforPre-tripbudge)ng• Onthereturn,enterinyouractualexpenses• TheValueofasmallnotepad– Usedittobudgetontheroad,day-to-daycostsTravelTip:Useyour“DuringTripExpenses”asaformofi@neraryplanningbydocumen@ngplacesandresourcesinthespreadsheet,alongwithprices.
Health & Safety: Before You Leave
• Getyourshotstwomonthsinadvance– Includesyellowfever,typhoid,rabies&hepa))s
• Inves)gateamosquitonetop)on– RarelyusedminewhileinAfrica,s)llgoodtohave
• EnsureyouhaveSPF30orSPF50Sunscreen• PurchaseyourDEETsprayandmalariapills
• RefertoDoctor’ssugges)ononwhattypeofmalariapilltohave• Don’tforgetTraveler’sDiarrheapills• Neutralcoloredclothing(toavoidTetseFlies)• RegisterwithSTEPontheStateDepartment
– Knowyourembassiesandrecordnumbersinnotepad
TravelTip:Dependingonyourtrip,youmaywanttopurchaseawaterfiltra@[email protected],affordableop@on.
Packing: The Essentials
• Passport(withenoughblankpages)• WorldHealthOrganiza)onVaccina)onCer)ficate
• Copiesofallcreditcards&IDs(emailthem)– VISACreditCardgoesfurtherthanMastercard
• AnyCountryVisasyou’vesecuredinadvance• HIMembershipCard(goodforSouthAfrica)
TravelTip:Explorethevisasofeachcountryyou’regoing—somewillneedyoutoapplyinadvance,othersyoucangetattheborder.Have$USready!
Packing: Clothes • ThreePairsofShoes– Hiking/walkingshoes,sneakers,flip-flops
• 2-3PairsofCoIonPants&Shorts(andBathingsuit)
• Sunglassesandhat• Lightrainjacket• Breathabletravelunderwear• Onelongsleeveshirtand5-6T-Shirts
TravelTip:Africahasalotofclothes.MostofyourusedclothingdonatedtocharityendsupinAfrica.Youcanalwaysbuyitemsincountry,forcheap!
Packing: Special Accessories
• QuickDryTravelTowel• Flashlight• Waterprooffirstaidkit• Specialmoneybelt• MosquitoNet• WaterPurifier• Binoculars• GlobalPhone(Teles)al)
TravelTip:Checkinwithtravelerswhohavetakenthistripbefore,andaskthemfortheitemstheyfoundindispensable.Lotsofgreatinfothere.
Sidetrack: Phones On The Road
• Unlockedphonescangoalongway• GreatforlocalSIMcard– AfricanTelecomcompaniesaresurprisinglygood– PrimarycarriersincludeVodacomandAirtel
• Allowsforintercon)nentalcommunica)onviaglobalSIMCard
• Alsocanbeconfiguredforinternet• Valuedependsonlengthoftrip
TravelTip:Iftripexceedstwomonths,dualSIMglobalphoneviaTeles@[email protected].
Arriving in Africa • Preparefortheheat• Englishwillnotbewidelyspokenini)ally• AirportisaliIlebitcrazy…– HaveVisamoneyanddocumentsprepared
• Jetlagandgeneralcultureshockwillbepresent
• Haveatleastafewnightsatyourfirststoptogetoriented
TravelTip:Haveyourtransporta@ontoyourfirstnight’sstayalreadyarranged,andyourfirstnight’saccommoda@onsalreadybooked.
Tanzania: A Brief Look
• TouristmeccaofEastAfrica• SitesincludeKilimanjaro,Serenge),NgorongoroCrater,Zanzibar
• FormerBri)shcolony• SwahilispokeneverywhereàEnglishnotascommon
• GreatjumpingoffpointforotherAfricandes)na)ons
Alterna-veDes-na-on:Star@nginKenyacanlenditselftocoveringmoregroundinEastAfrica,andprovidesseamlessaccesstonorthernTanzania.
Tanzania: Dar es Salaam
• Primaryhubofeconomicac)vityinTanzania
• StandardstopoverforthoseheadedtoKilimanjaro
• JumpingoffpointforZanzibar• AIrac)ons:WhiteSandsBeach,Na)onalMuseum,Kariakoo&MwengeMarkets,ArabQuarter
• Total)meneeded:2Days
RecommendedA5rac-on:MwengeMarketoffersupaslewofAfricanartandcraWs,whilealsoprovidesyouwiththenewertakeontheAfricanmarket.
Tanzania: Zanzibar
• TheSpiceIsland• Beau)fulbeaches,Muslimarchitecture&seafoodcurry
• EasyaccessviaAzamferry• Hostelseverywhere• AIrac)ons:StoneTown,BlueLagoonSnorkeling,FullMoonParty,SpiceTours&Dolphins
• Total)meneeded:>4Days
RecommendedA5rac-on:Thespicetourissimplynottobemissed,especiallyonbicycleifyou’reupforthechallenge.Guesswhatthatspiceis?
Tanzania: Mikumi National Park
• 4thLargestNa)onalParkinTanzania
• Elephants,buffalo,impala,giraffes,zebra
• 5HourBus-ridefromDar• AIrac)ons:Thegiant,Africananimals!
• Total)meneeded:1-2nights
RecommendedTip:AffordablegamedrivesareofferedfromtheTanSwissLodge—s@lltrytolinkupwithothertravelerstolowerthecostofthetour.
Tanzania: Udzungwa National Park
• Jungle-mountains&raremonkeyspecies
• Beau)ful,incrediblewaterfalls
• 2HourBus-ridefromMikumi
• AIrac)ons:SanjeFalls,Sanje-crestedManjebey
• Total)meneeded:2-3nightsRecommendedA5rac-on/Tip:Don’tjustdothehikestoseethewaterfalls,buttakeabikeintothevillagestoo.You’llevenseeoneoftheTazararailwaystops.
Into Malawi • PrimaryfocuswasnorthernMalawi– LesstouristythansouthernMalawi
• Tanzanianjumpingoffpoint:Mbeya
• 2HourBus-ridefromMbeyatoTukuyuandthenKusumulu
• 1Mileonfoottoborder@SongweRiverBridge
• CrossduringthedaybeforenoonRecommendedTip:Bordersareusuallyseedyplaces.Ignorescammersandconar@stsfollowingyouandchangeyourmoneyatWesternUnion.
Malawi: Chitimba & Livingstonia
• RemoteplacesinMalawi• Greattohangoutinthelakeorgetsomehikingin
• AIrac)ons:Villages,thelake,MushroomFarm,Livingstonia,HikestoChombePlateau,highestwaterfallinMalawi
• TotalTimeNeeded:2-4Nights
RecommendedTip:IfyoustayatHakunaMatatabackpackers,youcanleaveyourlargepackthereandtakeadaypacktoMushroomFarmforeasierhiking.
Malawi: Nkhata Bay • Backpackersparadise– Alsogenerallyaparadise…
• Perfectplacetohangonthelake• EasilyaccessiblefromMzuzu• AIrac)ons:Snorkeling,cliffjumping,greatbeaches&Africanstylecanoeing
• TotalTimeNeeded:2-3NightsRecommendedTip:Stayatahostelhereifyou’relookingtomeetpeople.They’llalsogetyouset-upwithstufftodoandplacestoseeinthearea.
Malawi: Mzuzu to Lilongwe
• Largestnortherncitywithgoodhostels&…Koreanfood?
• Transporta)ontoLilongwe• Lilongwe-jumpingoffpointforsouthernMalawi,ZambiaorMozambique
• AIrac)ons:OldTownMarket,Na)onalParliament,Bookstore
• TotalTimeNeeded:2-3Nights
RecommendedTip:Lilongwedoesn’thavealottooffer—it’sasprawly,confusingcitybe\erforspending1-2nightstorecuperateinthanactuallyexplore.
Into Zambia via Lusaka • Boomingduetolargecopperindustry• Lusakaaccessedvia– 8-10hourbusridefromLilongwe– Short1.5hourflightonProflight
• GerngYourVisa:– Buyatairportonarrival– Purchaseinadvanceifcrossingborderoverland
• GeneralaIrac)onsinclude:– Africa’sbestgamepark:SouthLuangaNa)onalPark– VictoriaFalls—oneofthesevenwondersoftheworld
RecommendedTip:Zambiacanbedonein4nightsor10nights,dependingonwhatyouwantdosee.ArrangeasafaritoSouthLuangainadvanceifpossible.
Must See: Victoria Falls
• Oneofthesevenwondersofthenaturalworld
• Junglemeetsbeau)fulwaterfalls• AccessedontheZambianorZimbabweside
• AIrac)ons&Ac)vi)es:VictoriaFalls,BungeeJumping,RiverCruises,Whitewaterrauing,kayaking&more
• TotalTimeNeeded:2-5NightsRecommendedTip:BecarefulwhenstayingatJollyboysBackpackersbecausethereareatonofac@vi@es,whichcanquicklystarttobreakthebank.
Detours: Zimbabwe & Botswana
• EasilyaccessiblefromLivingstone• CrosstheborderbyfoottoZimbabwe
• BeIerviewsofVictoriaFalls• ZimbabweAIrac)ons:SeeingVictoriaFalls(falls&town)
• BotswanaAIrac)on:ChobeNa)onalPark(lotsofelephants)
• TotalTimeNeeded:Dayeach
RecommendedTip:Duetohyperinfla@on,ZimbabwenowusestheUSDollar.Ifyouhavesparedollars,besuretokeepthemhandytopayforthepark&souvenirs.
Into South Africa • GoodendpointonyourAfricanadventure– Expectwesterndevelopmentandameni)es– Incrediblywell-establishedbackpacker’sculture
• Diversecultureandpainfulhistory• Canbeenteredbynight-trainfromZimbabwe,busfromBotswanaorplanefromZambia.
• NoVisanecessaryforentry– YellowFeverCer)ficateismandatory,however
RecommendedTip:Don’tbypassJohannesburg.Peopletalkaboutdangerandviolence,butit’sworththetripandgivesyouauniqueglimpseintoSouthAfrica.
South Africa: Johannesburg
• Economiccapitalofthecountryandhubofmining
• Alsocenterofapartheidstruggle
• AIrac)ons:ApartheidMuseum,CBDGraffirTours,SowetoBikeTours,Pretoria,MineVisits
• TotalTimeNeeded:3-4Nights
RecommendedTip:Ifpressedfor@me,u@lizetheRedHop-on,Hop-offbustoseethemajorsitesincludingtheApartheidMuseum,GoldReefCity,andothers.
South Africa: Cape Town
• CoastalCityontheAtlan)c– FeelslikeSanDiego,sortof
• Westernized,moderntouristhubofSouthAfrica
• AIrac)ons:RobbenIsland,TableMountain,Wine,CapePoint,LongStreet,Tradi)onalBraai
• TotalTimeNeeded:4-7NightsRecommendedTip:Don’tmissthetradi@onalSundayBraaiatMzoli’sinGugulethu,oneofCapeTown’stownships.Themeat,andtheexperienceareincredible.
Detour: The Garden Route
• Funrouteupthecoast• Plentyofstopswithplentyofac)vi)esatplentyofhostels
• AIrac)ons:Sandboarding,Paragliding,Surfing,Canoeing,Shark-cagediving,Hiking&More
• TotalTimeNeeded:3-10Nights
RecommendedTip:UsetheBazBustogoupthecoastusinga7daypass.Extremelyconvenient,stopsatallofthehostels,andagreatwaytomeetpeople.
Getting To Africa • Bemindfuloftheseasonyou’retravelingin
– Wetvs.DrySeasonsMaIer• UseSkyscanner.comorKayak.com• Round-TripsversusOneWays
– Tanzania• RTflights:$800to$1,500• OneWay:$900to$1,000
– SouthAfrica• RTflightsrangefrom$1,020to$1,800• OneWayflightsrangefrom$820to$1,400
• OptforanAsian-basedairlinecompany– Turkish,Emirates,Qataror,ifyou’refeelingconfident,Egypt– Allhaveincredibleameni)esandin-flightservices
TravelTip:TrytoflyonaTuesdayorWednesdaytominimizethecostoftheflights,orturnyourlonglayoverintoadaytrip.
Getting Around Africa
• LotsofwaystotraverseAfrica• Havepa)ence!– Mini-bus:Dala-DalasinTanzania– CoachBus:Mazhandu,AXA,Abood– Train:TheTazara&Night-Train
– Longerjourneybutagreatwaytoseesights– Airplane:Proflight,Mango,Kulula– Motorcycles…Areeverywhere– SharedTaxis&Bajajis:Packedbutfun– Boat:AzamFerriesforZanzibar
TravelTip:Don’tunderes@matethevalueoflocaltransporta@on—thecostofaDalaDalatripwasabout$.30perrideversus$5forataxiride.
Accommodations
• Hostels($6-14/night)• Tanzania-SouthAfricaPrices• LotsofHI-HostelsinSouthAfrica
• Guesthouses($12-20/night)• Hotels/Lodges($12-55/night)• ForestCamps($75/night,includesthreemealsperday)
• Eco-Lodges($4-8/night)• Couchsurfing-FREE!
TravelTip:LotsofpricesinplaceslikeTanzaniaareinflux,fromfoodtotransport.Youcannego@atethepriceofahostelbedtoareasonablerate.
Health & Safety: On The Road
• Waterisabsolutelyessen)al—alwayshaveaboIleortwoavailable
• Usesunscreen,butacknowledgereality—ifyou’rewhite,youwillfryinaplacelikeZanzibar
• Becau)ouswithstreetfood&freshfruitinmarkets• Takeadvantageofhostelswithlockers• Alwayslockyourvaluablesi.e.passport,extramoney,officialdocuments,etc.
• Avoidtravelingatnightwherepossible• Holdontoyourbags,especiallyonbuses
TravelTip:Alwaysaskaboutanylocalillnessesorissues.FromBilharziatoscorpions@ngs,thereisgreatknowledgewithhostelownersandlocals.
Cultural Considerations • YouaregoingtostandoutasaMizungu(whiteperson)
• LearnSwahili• Mambo–Hello!• HakunaMatata–NoWorries(truly)• Asantesana–Thankyouverymuch
• Notalwaysappropriatetotakephotos—alwaysaskfirst
• Menholdinghandsisasignoffriendshipandsupport—highlycommonTravelTip:Learnhowtobarterandhaveaspine.It’sdifficult,butyouhavetotalkdownpricesforeverything.Haveafriendwho’susedtoit,helpyou.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
A:ThisliIleyellowcardisgiventoyoubyyourdoctorandyou’llneeditwhencrossingtheborderfromcountrytocountry.Q:WorldHealthOrganizaPonVaccinaPonCerPficate
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
A:TheSTEPprogramfromtheStateDepartmentprovidesup-to-dateinforma)ontotravelersthatareincountryandthisiswhatitsacronymstandsfor.Q:SmartTravelerEnrollmentProgram
Thank You!
PaulKuhneRegionalEngagementManager
[email protected]://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog/pauljkuhne/1/tpod.html