AFRICA What are your experiences?

[IdesOmarch]

Another thread got me more interested in this. I have always been fascinated with Africa, but really too chicken to consider visiting, due to all the news. I realize its a huge continent and not all countries in Africa are dangerous. And I started this partly in hopes that I will be talked into eventually getting over this and going ahead and taking a trip, but obviously to the most safest country possible.

What have been your experiences, good and bad. Have you done a safari? A photography trip? Mission trip? Would love to hear about any and all experiences, and as a Disney tie in, how close is the AK Africa section to the real Africa? I've heard it is very realistic all things considered.

 

[eliza61]

My family and I have been to Africa twice in the last 20 years. Once to Botswana, it's a small African nation right next door to South Africa and the 2nd time it was my dh and myself on a Safari in Zimbabwe when we first married.

Both experiences were unbelievable. The people are obscenely friendly, Victoria falls is cannot be described in words and if you ever saw wild giraffes, hippos and wilderbeast you would laugh next time you went to a zoo.

We are desperately saving up for one of those adventures by disney.

I recommend pretty much the same principals in travelling to Africa that I do when I travel to Europe.

Research, research, research. Nowadays there is simply so much information to be easily found, simply do a lot of legwork.

 

[Ilivetogo]

I'll have to start by saying that I went MANY years ago. (1984) I was in the Navy and our ship made port at Mombasa, Kenya. I was among a group of about 11 who took a safari into the Tsavo National Park (a wildlife preserve) and it was absolutely amazing. We stayed in a Hilton (I believe it was) which were like round, thatch-roofed bungalows WAY up on stilts. The entire trip was amazing - albeit too short. (only 2 days) I started photographing antelope/gazelles but after a while, there were SO many of them, they weren't so interesting any more. But we DID end up seeing giraffes, one elephant, lions EATING a dead elephant (AMAZING - we felt like were were living in an episode of Wild Kingdom), baboons, crocs in the river, birds, etc. I recall the ground being a very dry, rich, clay-like reddish/orangeish color.

If you go ... enjoy!!


.

 

[IdesOmarch]

Those sound awesome, would love to see your pics.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I went to South Africa with my dad and older sister on a hunting safari when I was a teenager. It was a pretty sheltered trip, our PH(professional hunter) was with us at all times and was kind of our guide to everything.

We hunted mostly around St. Petersberg and we were only in Johannesburg for a very short time. Mostly we were around the back country hunting ranch areas. We actually hunted right near Kruger National Park, there was an enormous electric fence that was the only thing that separated our hunting area from the Park.

It was a pretty big culture shock, really. When we drove from hunting ranch to hunting ranch we drove through many villages right next to the road and all the houses were just tiny little tin/cardboard huts.

All of the people we did get a chance to meet were very nice and friendly (but then again, we were paying them a lot).

I would love to go back again someday.

Oh yeah, and the DIS AK safari is perfect down to the last detail. The truck even reminds me of the jeeps we would drive around in, the savanna looks exactly the same, even the Acacia trees (those are the trees that have giant thorns, next time you go on the safari, look closely at some of the smaller trees).

 

[punkin]

ohhhhh, I wanna go...

 

[laurie31]

I have a friend who is in Sudan right now on a medical mission trip. She'll be home in two weeks; I'll try to remember to update here with her experiences. Sudan isn't one of the places that would make my "top 10 countries in Africa to visit" list, though. She is seeing children rescued from slavery and prostitution.

 

[IdesOmarch]

People like your friend are so brave, courageous and just saintly IMO. I can't imagine doing something like that, there is probably a special place in heaven for those types of people, I wish I could be more like that, but I"m hopeless.

 

[Katy Belle]

We went to South Africa in 2006. We planned/booked everything ourselves, but stayed in places that friends had stayed before. We spent about 4 days in Cape Town and about 5 days at a bush camp. We rented a car and DH drove us all around Cape Town! We swam with the penguins at Boulder Beach, went up the mountain on a tram, toured wine country, and many other fun things that now escape me

Then we flew to a tiny airport in the middle of nowhere. Tiny, like one tiny building! The owner of the Bush Camp we were staying at met us at the airport and drove us to the camp. He was our Tour Guide for the rest of the trip. We were the only family staying there, they like to give one on one attention! His wife was a gourmet cook! It was really awesome. They were great with our boys, then ages 6,8,10. One day we did an all day game drive/Safari to Krueger National Park. The other days we did safaris at smaller game preserves closer to the camp, even a night game drive! We also visited an African Village, a animal rehabilitation center, and a rehab center for Big Cats. With kids especially, its good to do a variety of stuff!

It was awesome! So glad we did it! Here is the web site of the Bush Camp, if you want to have a look.
http://www.nselesafarilodge.co.za/

 

[IdesOmarch]

Thanks, that sounds great.

 

[Jennn]

Africa is a large, diverse continent though, isn't it? I don't know if we could really generalize about it.

I mean, I wouldn't compare Ottawa to Miami, or Fargo to Mexico City. Rural Maine is different from Los Angeles, you know what i mean?

I can talk about individual places in North America, and Africa, but not really say anything that would apply to the entire continent. Is there something specific you're looking for, maybe I can help?

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

We were in Morocco last March and it was one of the best trips we've had......very far from what people imagine when they think Africa.

 

[walden]

I'm interested in this thread. I grew up in 3 different African countries (medical missionary kid) so very long ago (1955 to 1973.) It was a very interesting and valued childhood. I have great respect for the rich cultures I experienced living in 3 very different countries on that very diverse continent.

My brother went back to Ethiopia last year for a visit after many years. A stunningly beautiful country with a very rich heritage. He felt sad that the group he was with had to be escorted by armed guards. That was not necessary during our childhoods there. He did feel safe, however, and would recommend it to anyone. I can ask him for more details if anyone is interested.

 

[IdesOmarch]

Africa is a large, diverse continent though, isn't it? I don't know if we could really generalize about it.

I mean, I wouldn't compare Ottawa to Miami, or Fargo to Mexico City. Rural Maine is different from Los Angeles, you know what i mean?

I can talk about individual places in North America, and Africa, but not really say anything that would apply to the entire continent. Is there something specific you're looking for, maybe I can help?

No nothing specific, just interested in hearing anyones stories about their personal experiences in Africa. I guess I was secretly hoping for an exciting ....."then we got chased by a water buffalo" type stories, but wasn't counting on it.

 

[gm]

If you want to see gorgeous beaches, resorts than head to Mombasa. Also so much shopping there going from Nairobi to Mombasa. You can rent a car and driver for a bargain but we had a white volkwagon(the classic style) that we drove everywhere. We were driving at night and we would see giraffes crossing the street and even a Rhino. This was between nairobi and Mombasa.

We lived there several years because my dad held an engineering job in Nairobi. We use to live in the Parkland area of Nairobi.

Do check out the national parks where you drive thru. They are so much fun. Yes, the animals will come up close to your car and also sometimes chase your car or block it. You have to wait until they move. Also Nakuru has a big flamingo population which is fun to see.

If you go to Kenya, Check out the Masai Mara lodge. It is so fun there. You get to hang out with the Masai and dance with them.

I cannot remember this one place but you tour the huts of the Masai and how they live and etc.

 

[Katy Belle]

We did get chased by a herd of ostriches! The supposedly can kick a jeep to pieces!

We also got to pet a baby hippo in a rehabilitation center, he was awesome! At the bird rescue place they put a huge glove on my 8yr old so a vulture could sit on his arm. The vulture missed the glove a little and pinched is arm same son got bit by a bush pig in the same center! Rough day for him.

At the visitors center at the Cape of Good hope baboons would climb all over the cars and chase people carrying food!

 

[Ember]

Our safari vehicle was charged by an elephant we we got too close (in South Africa). We drove a little farther away and things were fine.

 

[minniemarie]

My sister and I went to Kenya last year. Spent the first few days on safari in Tsavo East. Stayed in Ashnil Aruba Lodge which was absolutely beautiful. We had a brilliant driver and saw plenty elephants, giraffes, lions (lions eating the remains of a giraffe) chetaahs, zebras, baboons, loads of cute "pumbas"!

You have to have a driver there, do not even consider renting (very hard to do so anyway) and night driving is extremly dangerous, which is why tour operators arrive during the early morning.

Then spent the rest of the time in Bamburi Beach, Mombassa, relaxing by the pool and snorkeling on the reef.

We had a fantastic time and would love to return. Beautiful country but also alot of poverty.