OT: Anyone done an overland Africa trip?

Search
Go

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List
This thread has been locked
Messages 1 - 20 of total 38 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Roughster

Sport climber
Vacaville, CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 9, 2018 - 08:51am PT
Going on sabbatical this summer and the family is doing a week in Cape Town then a 46 day south to north (Johannesburg to Nairobi) overland tour. Anyone done an Africa overland tour before? I don't really plan on climbing, but might scramble / boulder as opportunities present themselves.

Any suggestions on what to bring, things you would've done differently in retrospect, must do in Cape Town or optional excursions along the way to Nairobi, etc? We are making a list and would love to hear suggestions from people that have had boots on ground!

John M

climber
Jan 9, 2018 - 02:40pm PT
Prezwoods did a trip. He doesn't check in that often, but hopefully he will see your post.

http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/2135430/An-Ongoing-Journey-through-Africa-The-Middle-East-PIC-HEA


Roughster

Sport climber
Vacaville, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 9, 2018 - 04:38pm PT
Thanks John I'll give his thread a read through!
the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Jan 9, 2018 - 05:36pm PT
Congrats, sounds like an awesome time.

Not really on the way but west of Nairobi there are amazing things to see in Uganda. I'm not sure of the current stability / safety, but it was fine when we went in 2011.

1. Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest. Most amazing thing I've done in my life. Permits are expensive (I think it's $750 per person now) but it pays for the rangers who protect the gorillas from poaching (plus the trackers, etc) so I feel the money is well spent.

2. Chimpanzee tracking in northern Uganda. Almost as life changing as the Gorillas. Got to see a big group of them, and they ended up taking their siestas right in front of us.

3. Boat safari on upper Nile river. I imagine there are far better savanna type safari locations on your way, but the boat ride here was really cool because the animals knew you wouldn't get out of the boat so they'd hang out right at the edge of the river.

4. Chimpanzee island in the middle of Lake Victoria. Took a boat out and saw the chimp sanctuary there.
Ken M

Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
Jan 9, 2018 - 05:42pm PT
If you haven't already, you'll want to read:

Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown: Paul Theroux ...
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jan 9, 2018 - 06:47pm PT
Kenya is far from the safest part of Africa these days.
Bluelens

Social climber
Pasadena and Ojai, CA
Jan 9, 2018 - 06:54pm PT
The weather in winter/spring in Cape Town is wintery stormy. The inland desert areas including Karoo and Cedarburg (climbing, hiking area) should be nice. Much of southern Namibia is closed due to diamond mining but the rest of the country is wonderful, a geologist's dream with UNESCO sites and a nice national park up north.
Victoria Falls is spectacular, see it from the Zimbabwe side. Zimbabwe
is excellent value for your safari dollar with the best trained guides and uncrowded jeeps and camps. An excellent independent guide is Lewis Mangaba at Somalisa Camp in Hwange Park, book in Victoria Falls, he is world class. Mana Pools National Park along the Zimbabwe/Zambia border (the river) is spectacular. Herds of elephants swimming across the river to forage.
Gifts for local people/guides: DVDs, basic medical and hygiene products, inexpensive reading glasses in a variety of magnifications, men's belts, children's illustrated dictionaries (heavy, use your free checked bag allowance if you don't need it), children's books. Bring gently used backpacks, plan to leave behind. African people travel long distances on buses and they appreciate luggage. Give any wildlife/bird guides to the local guides before leaving the region. They can't afford them. If you have any unneeded free checked bag allowance ask a Cape Town area guide/sustainable tourism company to help coordinate drop-off at a local charity of whatever they may need. Will be much appreciated and they will let you know in advance what items are needed.
Laura
fear

Ice climber
hartford, ct
Jan 9, 2018 - 09:23pm PT
I took a dawn hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti.... I highly recommend that. Also Mt. Kenya and Kilimanjaro beckon...
F

climber
away from the ground
Jan 9, 2018 - 09:41pm PT
I have a friend that did a trip consisting of an attempt to bike the whole coastal circumference. His partner on the trip was murdered during a robbery about 8 months in. He barely escaped alive. They were far from the standard tourist destinations. In the real sh#t.
Dude is as hardcore as they get, and it affected him... deeply. That being said, I’m sure if you stick to the standard touron loop you’ll be fine.
But then you’d just be another credit card safarist.
Roughster

Sport climber
Vacaville, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 10, 2018 - 07:10am PT
Thank you for the suggestions guys! I'll look into the guides and recommendations. I went through the other thread from Prezwood and got fired up! His itinerary was very close to the same as ours. I don't think I will be as talented as he is obviously with a camera, but I'll do my best :)

As for being a credit card safari-ist, I'm okay with that. My wife and I aren't getting any younger, and we want to retire soon. Our kids are only getting older and getting into their own lives more. This may be our last chance to do something this amazing as a family. The touron corridor will probably be the safest way to see large chunks of Africa, so it is what it is!
John Duffield

Mountain climber
New York
Jan 10, 2018 - 08:13am PT
One thing I learned there, is you can't carry too much cash. Travel, isn't as cheap as you would expect and they don't take credit cards.

But it isn't the theft zone, like say South America. I walked through crowds of Masai at the Namanga Gate, that were trying to sell me stuff, and I didn't feel the hands all over looking for the money belt, like say Ecuador.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jan 10, 2018 - 09:15am PT
One thing I learned there, is you can't carry too much cash.

Anecdotal evidence is not grounds for empirical statements. My wife is from Africa. She, her
family, and our many African friends would choke to death on that statement. But do call me
a naysayer despite our decades of combined African experience. Yes, I would agree you are
more likely to get pick-pocketed in S America, but I can categorically aver you are far more
likely to get killed in Africa, especially when you get off the beaten track. Oh, did I mention
that a close relative is the US ambassador to an African country? I know, he doesn’t know
jack despite having served in three African countries for 10 years.

The one rule to observe on an African road trip: DO NOT GET CAUGHT SHORT OF YOUR
PLANNED NIGHT’S STOP.
dirtbag

climber
Jan 10, 2018 - 09:26am PT
Namibia is incredible. Safe, good roads, affordable, and amazing parks (especially etosha, a great diy wildlife park). Nice campgrounds, too.I drove from Cape Town to Namibia to Botswana.
fear

Ice climber
hartford, ct
Jan 10, 2018 - 09:28am PT
We were held by a band of smiling thieves with machineguns in a DHL shuttle for an hour until they shook enough cash out of everybody. This hijacking was somewhere between Kenya and Tanzania on a relatively normal route.

They were polite until one older white Kenyan woman up front became outraged and refused to pay. One of the guys racked the slide on the AK sending an unfired round onto the floor.

At which point we generously paid for her.... They smiled again and left.

So, have cash, but don't flash it. Third world rules apply.
chainsaw

Trad climber
CA
Jan 10, 2018 - 11:46am PT
I have never been to Africa. But many of the miners I work with have worked in mines across much of that continent. They all share stories about malaria and men with machetes. Be careful out there.
dirtbag

climber
Jan 10, 2018 - 11:56am PT
I have never been to Africa. But many of the miners I work with have worked in mines across much of that continent. They all share stories about malaria and men with machetes. Be careful out there.


I’m sure that’s true in some places, but Africa is huge—much bigger than North America—and very diverse, so it’s difficult if not impossible to make generalizations about it.
WBraun

climber
Jan 10, 2018 - 06:26pm PT
I was in Mali but that is the desert.

Don't go there, you will die from thirst ......
rurprider

Trad climber
Mt. Rubidoux
Jan 10, 2018 - 07:07pm PT
Not sure of the current situation, but could be better to go North to South, as in the past many African countries wouldn't accept a passport stamped in South Africa. Had to "lose" our passports and get reissued in a country other than South Africa to continue the trip. Good luck, Roughster.
zBrown

Ice climber
Jan 10, 2018 - 07:36pm PT
I do not know the status of monkeys in Africa, but watch out.

Avoid Monkeys in Florida Because They Could Give You Killer Herpes



Researchers from the CDC, the University of Florida, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission analyzed macaque samples (feces and saliva) collected by trappers from 2000 to 2012 in Silver Springs State park and along the Ocklawaha River in central Florida. They also analyzed viral DNA taken from free-ranging monkeys in the park from 2015 to 2016. Collectively, these samples suggested that as many as 30 percent of the animals tested during this period were infected with the virus. The researchers say this represents a serious public health concern, and recommend that the monkeys be removed from the state, though they don’t explain how that should happen.





https://gizmodo.com/avoid-monkeys-in-florida-because-they-could-give-you-ki-1821963329




However, on the other hand it may be a good time to get outa the U.S.

Officials: Utah hepatitis A outbreak spread from San Diego


http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/officials-utah-hepatitis-outbreak-spread-san-diego-52269652
Roughster

Sport climber
Vacaville, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 11, 2018 - 08:05am PT
ZB: Good to know! After our overland Africa trip we were going to go on a makeout session with monkeys in Florida! Monkeys, like people on internet forums, are always best approached warily, with the proper PPE, and with some sort of candy or treat to calm them down ;)

We chose South to North because it maximizes our chances to see some of the great migration given the time we are there. We also will start "cold" and end "hot", which from a travel itinerary sounds good to me!

The passport stuff definitely seems like a crux of the trip. We had to renew my sons passport as it will expire within 6-months of our travel dates and that is a No No. My wife has exactly 16 pages left on her passport which is the minimum required for the trip. 16 pages, lol.

Thanks for all of the suggestion, recommendations, and watch outs! Keep'em coming if you got'em!
Messages 1 - 20 of total 38 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Return to Forum List
 
Our Guidebooks
spacerCheck 'em out!
SuperTopo Guidebooks

guidebook icon
Try a free sample topo!

 
SuperTopo on the Web

Recent Route Beta