Africa Travel Blog

Category: Travel Tips

  • 7 Secrets To Travel Safe in Africa

    You’ve got the plane ticket, the hotel reservation, the itinerary. But have you given any thought or taken any steps to protect your health and safety? The worst thing that can happen is that you spend your vacation in a hospital— or bring home a weird, exotic virus that has you bedridden for weeks.

    You also want to avoid theft, mugging, or worst, terrorist attacks. Your resort may call itself an “island paradise” but let’s not be naive and assume everyone is as friendly as they look in the brochures.

    Be smart. Prepare, make informed decisions, especially if you’re traveling with your family. This vacation is supposed to be fun—and you can do your part by preventing most disasters.

    1. Check Travel Advisories

    Your embassy will list places that they recommend “caution” or right-out tell you to stay away from altogether. This could be because of a tense political situation, or a low level of security in underdeveloped areas.

    But also take advisories with some degree of salt. You can safely assume that the capitals and major cities of a country will be more tourist friendly, since governments would’ve probably taken great efforts to develop them. The exception, of course, are countries going through civil war—in which case, read the international newspapers (or the web-version of their local English paper) to see how bad it really is.

    2. Get Vaccinated

    Some viruses that are relatively rare in your country may proliferate in the climate of another—and you don’t have the natural antibodies to fight them. Get the full range of vaccines (your embassy website will also recommend which ones you really need, depending on here you want to go).

    3. Bring Medicines and Prescriptions

    Ask your doctor for two copies of your prescriptions (carry one in your wallet, and leave one in your luggage). Also bring enough anti histamines (for allergies) or any maintenance vitamins or medications. Asthmatics should carry have a nebulizer—especially since attacks can be triggered by change in climate or physical exertion (you never know how much walking you’ll be doing during the tour).

    4. Never Flaunt Your Valuables

    Wearing your Rolex or flashing large amounts of money practically screams “Rob me!” to the pickpockets. Keep small bills and change in your belt bag for easy access (these are for entrance fees, cab fares, snacks). Keep larger bills in a zippered pocket. To be very safe, divide the money and distribute it among several pockets—at least, even if you do get robbed, you still have something left.

    Another tip: bring only what you need for that day and leave the rest in the hotel safety deposit box.

    5. Travel in Groups

    This is unfamiliar land, and you may not even speak the local language. So stick together (at least divide into pairs), especially at night.

    6. Ask the Hotel Receptionist/Travel Agent Which Places to Avoid

    Before exploring the area, get a list of places known for its crime rate, or streets that tend to get dark after a particular hour. Identify the areas on a map and avoid accordingly.

    7. Tell the Hotel Receptionist Where You Are Going

    This is very important if you are going skiing, hiking, or participating in any activity where there is a risk of getting lost or injured. Name how many people will be in your party and what time they can expect you. Then, they can alert authorities if you have not returned.

  • 25 Inspirational travel quotes everyone should know

    Travel is a very essential part of our daily lives. In one way or the other, we must acknowledge that we travel. We have gathered insightful and inspirational travel quotes and we hope you enjoy it. Try as much as possible to remember at least one.

    Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

    The American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson asks us to be courageous. In life, it is easy to take the path everybody else is taking or if I am to be a bit less polite — to follow the herd.

    It is an act of courage to break away from the majority and to create your own way. You may get judged for it and sometimes it can even be risky, depending on the area you chose to distance yourself from what is considered the norm.

    In your travels, when you leave your own trail, you get to discover more than you’ve read about in travel guides or on travel blogs and websites. Dare, give it a go!

    If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.

    The American author James A. Michener puts it bluntly when he tells people who do not wish to change their ways to simply stay home. In the comfort of your own house, you get to eat the same meals you always do and live by your own rules (hopefully, while respecting the law).

    At home, you can keep your ideas about religion unchallenged, and connect only with the selected few. Travel is all about novelty, diversity, and acceptance. It is about being open-minded, but if one doesn’t wish to step outside their box, the simplest thing is to just don’t travel. Passions aren’t universal, it’s ok for some people to just not be into travel.

    We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.

    The former Prime Minister of India, Jawaharial Nehru, encourages us to open our eyes to take in the surrounding sights. Actively searching to discover and admire our surroundings will help us become tourists even in our home towns and/or the towns we’re currently living in.
    Also read: Top 17 amazing experiences and things to do in Morocco

    How many days have you spent staring only at your shoes or at the shoes of others in crowded public transport? How long has it been since you last looked at the higher levels of the building surrounding you? When was the last time you admired the transformation of the trees with each passing season, in the park closest to your home?

    A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.

    Tim Cahill is an Australian professional footballer. Probably not who you’d expect to be the owner of an insightful quote about traveling, but you don’t have to be a famous writer to know anything about journeys.

    I mean, look at you and me! One can enjoy being most anywhere if he is in the right company. We can consider people we’ve met along our journeys or those we have brought along to share the ride.

    Either way, there are many times when we remember a place more dearly, because of those we were with. My best personal example is my visit to Shkoder, with those I met at The Wanderers Hostel.

    Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.

    Anita Desai is an Indian novelist. In this insightful quote about traveling she points out that every journey leaves its print on you. Even without your knowledge, just being in a different place will leave a mark.

    Whether you see new things on the street, taste the local food or beverages, connect with strangers, or take part in an event, you will not leave the same person you were when you arrived.

    Good or bad, the things we live are what make us who we are. They reinforce our traits or make us realize we need to change for the better.

  • Benefits of a Messenger Bag When Traveling Africa

    Messenger bags were first made for bike messengers and it was designed to carry a lot of things that carry around to do their job. These bags are spacious and made to be carried around comfortably especially when you are cycling. These bags are durable and made to be worn for hours of walking around which makes them perfect for travelling. Many tourists can be spotted sporting different kinds of Messenger bags when they go on city tours where they spend most of their time walking.

    When you travel to Africa, you have to expect to experience lots of walking around; especially if you go want to explore the place. This requires proper gear that offers durability and comfort to withstand all of the activities. This is where Messenger bags come in. They are perfect for your African escapade because it offers ease so you can walk around for hours with it and it also is very sturdy that it won’t easily be damaged.

    If you are still thinking twice about bring a messenger bag for your African trip, here are some benefits that might help convince you.

    Comfort

    Messenger bags are made to be worn around the body leaving you with both hands free. This can prove to be very useful especially when you want to go out to the Safari. Messenger bags are also made with breathable and lightweight materials so you won’t have to carry a heavy bag around for your trip. Some messenger bags even have accessories that prevent you from getting sweaty while carrying them around your back.

    Easy Access

    Most messenger bags come with external pockets that you can easily access when you need something. This is an advantage because you can put important things that you always use inside these pockets. The best thing about external pockets is that you don’t have to open the bag to get something inside it. For trips, you can put your mobile phone and cameras on the external pockets because these are things that you are probably going to use most. You can also put a pen and paper to write things down if you are researching.

    Durability

    The best messenger bags are made with top quality materials that are sure to withstand any kind of activity that you use it in. The stitches are also made to carry heavy loads without unraveling. They are also secured with high quality Velcro tab to make sure that your bag is always secure and protected. Most messenger bags are also waterproof so you can be sure that your personal belongings are safe even if it rains or you need to go through a body of water.

    Storage

    Messenger bags are spacious and they allow many items to be stored inside. This is good for a trip so you don’t have to bring a lot of bags with you. You can fit all of your items in one big messenger bag and then use it as a carry-on for your flight and use it for your tour as well.

  • Flights from Mombasa to Zanzibar

    Flights from Mombasa to Zanzibar are a great way to get from one of Kenya’s most popular beach holiday destinations to Tanzania’s beloved Indian Ocean archipelago.

    There are several airlines that offer flights from Mombasa to Zanzibar. Some are regional East African airlines, some are Kenyan low-cost airlines, and others are larger European airlines.

    The list of airlines that fly from Mombasa to Zanzibar includes Condor, which flies from Frankfurt to Zanzibar via Mombasa, Fly540, a budget airline that offers cheap flights to Zanzibar, as well as Jetairfly, Precision Air, and ZanAir.

    There are good, reliable airlines that fly to Zanzibar, and there are not-so-good ones. Low-cost airline Fly540 is a good airline that flies high-quality planes and offers cheap flights. The airline is a good option for flights from Mombasa to Zanzibar.

    On the other hand, Precision Air is not a very good airline. It has a habit of overbooking its flights and rebooking people on later flights. Most of the time they do not notify passengers of these changes until they arrive at the airport. In light of this, only book with Precision Air if you have to.

    All flights from Mombasa to Zanzibar take off from Mombasa’s Moi International Airport (MBA). They land at Kisauni Airport in Tanzania, which is also named Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ). The Zanzibar airport is on the island of Unguja and is located just south of Stone Town.

  • Trains from Tunis to Sidi Bou Said

    Sidi Bou Said

    Trains from Sidi Bou Said to Tunis are a great way to get from the iconic white and blue city on the sea to the capital of Tunisia.

    Trains on this route are called TGM trains. They run from Sidi Bou Said to Tunis without requiring any changes.

    Trains from Sidi Bou Said to Tunis leave from the Sidi Bou Said TGM train station at the base of the hill town. They arrive at Tunis Marine TGM station, which is located in the Ville Nouvelle at the east end of Avenue Habib Bourguiba.

    Trains depart Sidi Bou Said for Tunis Marine TGM station every 15 minutes. The travel time is around 40 minutes.

    Trains from Sidi Bou Said to Tunis are basic and old, but they are a great way to experience the local culture and transport. They also offer great views of Carthage and the sea en route.

    Train tickets from Sidi Bou Said to Tunis cost around 2 dinars.

    There are first and second class carriages on trains from Sidi Bou Said to Tunis, but there is not a lot of difference between them, and virtually no enforcement of where anyone sits.

  • Winchester Day Trip from London

    Winchester is a day trip from London that is easy to do and well worth the visit. Traveling to Winchester by train is the easiest way to get there from London, and once you’re in Winchester there are a lot of activities and sights to keep you busy.

    Winchester is a day trip from London that is ideal for those that like to see historic sights as well as those that enjoy outdoor activities. Winchester is home to The Great Hall, which houses King Arthur’s Round Table, as well as the Winchester Cathedral, which boasts of having the longest nave in Europe. Winchester is also the burial place of Jane Austen, and visitors can see the house where she spent her final weeks.

    For those that like outdoor activities, Winchester is the start of the South Downs Way, a 100-mile hiking trail that runs from Winchester to Eastbourne.

    A short distance from Winchester is Chawton, where visitors can the house where Jane Austen lived when she wrote several of her novels. The town is an easy bus trip from Winchester.

  • Kilimanjaro Tour Companies

    There are hundreds of Kilimanjaro tour companies operating out of Arusha and Moshi, the two largest cities near Mount Kilimanjaro. Finding a good company to do your Kilimanjaro climb with is important.

    Whether you book in advance or when you arrive, make sure to nail down all details in advance of payment and check your equipment for damage before starting your climb.

    Here are several good Kilimanjaro tour companies:

    Kiliman Trek and Bike Safari Company

    luxury safaris Tanzania Company

    African Amazing Adventures

    Bush Explores

  • Best Time of Year for Kenya Safaris

    The best time of year for Kenya safaris is during the annual wildebeest migration, which goes from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The wildebeest migration takes place from July to September.

    Outside of the annual wildebeest migration, July to February is the best time to go on a Kenya safari.

    The best time of year for flowers in the Masai Mara is March to June and again in September and October.

    The best time of year for birdwatching in Kenya is October to April.

  • Airlines that fly to Mombasa Kenya

    Below is a list of airlines that fly to Mombasa’s Moi International Airport (MBA):

    African Air has flighs to Mombasa from Nairobi

    Air France has flighs to Mombasa from Nairobi

    Air Kenya has flighs to Mombasa from Nairobi

    Belair has flighs to Mombasa from Zurich

    Condor Airlines has flighs to Mombasa from Zanzibar and Frankfurt

    Corsairfly has flighs to Mombasa from Paris

    East African Safari Air has flighs to Mombasa from Nairobi

    Edelweiss Air has flighs to Mombasa from Zurich

    Eurofly has flighs to Mombasa from Milan

    First Choice Airways has flighs to Mombasa from London and Manchester

    Fly540 has flighs to Mombasa from Nairobi

    Kenya Airways has flighs to Mombasa from Nairobi

    KLM has flighs to Mombasa from Nairobi

    Livingston Airlines has flighs to Mombasa from Milan

    LTU has flighs to Mombasa from Düsseldorf and Munich

    Martinair has flighs to Mombasa from Brussels and Amsterdam

    Neos has flighs to Mombasa from Milan

    Precision Air has flighs to Mombasa from Dar es Salaam

    Star Air has flighs to Mombasa from Nairobi

    Swiss Air has flighs to Mombasa from Nairobi

    Utair has flighs to Mombasa from Nairobi

  • Lakes in kenya

    Lake Sonachi, Kenya

    Located near Lake Naivasha in Kenya, Lake Sonachi is a crater lake of volcanic origin known for its bright green color and large flamingo population. Lake Sonachi is cut deep in a crater basin with high walls where the lake was carved into the earth.
    Lake Simbi, Kenya
    Lake Simbi in Kenya is located 1 km south of the Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria. Lake Simbi is a volcanic lake that is known for birding. The lake is home to a large flamingo population and it has a path around it for visitors to walk on.
    Lake Oloidien, Kenya
    Located near Kenya’s Lake Naivasha is Lake Oloidien. Smaller and less touristed, Lake Oloidien is a great destination for travelers wanting to get away from the crowds.

    Lake Oloidien was once part of Lake Naivasha but is now its own lake. It is known for the thousands of flamingos at Lake Oloidien that feed on organisms in the water. Known as ‘lesser’ flamingos, they are a threatened species.