Africa

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Feb 9, 2013 5:30 AM
Korppikotka

last reply
Feb 21, 2013 11:03 AM
kaitangsou

5 replies
579 views
location: South Africa

Money Exchange Johannesburg airport

In Finland rate is 1 EUR = 11 ZAR, without comissions.
Should I change here ?

Another question, Do I need us dollars in my trip in South Africa/Swaziland/Mosambik ?

Feb 9, 2013 4:44 AM
rajivms

last reply
Mar 18, 2013 2:42 AM
hagardt

3 replies
453 views
location: Tanzania

Tarangire, Serengeti,Ngrongoro safari travel partners

I and my wife have booked our tickets to Arusha and are planning to go on a 5D/4N safari starting 28th March. Looking for travel partners to share costs. Anyone interested?

Feb 9, 2013 2:50 AM
vandriver

last reply
Mar 16, 2013 12:42 AM
roro

8 replies
694 views

sahara

hi can anyone tell me how i can get in to the sahara ,safely by coach or by exscursion ,i dont speak any french can anyone also tell me how safe it is for solo traveller

Feb 9, 2013 12:28 AM
chismi

last reply
Feb 24, 2013 1:01 PM
iloveafrica

8 replies
1,019 views
location: Tanzania

Hi - going to Zanzibar in mid-March and trying to decide on which beach area to stay in. I'm travelling with 2 friends (all in our 30's) and whilst we want the beautiful white sand & blue water views, where we can swim & relax, we aren't so concerned about it being secluded and ultra quiet.

So looking at the north but am a little confused by my online research Vs the Lonely Planet guide on Tanzania.

The LP guide says that Nungwi lacks any sort of substantial beach during much of the year because of shifting tidal patterns and erosion caused by development. It also says that you can swim around the clock at Kendwa beach.

Is this the case? From what I've read & hear I got the impression that you can swim (almost) around the clock at Nungwi contrary to what Lonely Planet says.

Thanks

Feb 9, 2013 12:02 AM
dbcruise

last reply
Feb 12, 2013 11:14 PM
eugenevs

4 replies
364 views
location: South Africa

Where is Bellville 7535 ?

Hello my mom has had a penpal for years in South Africa and she was under the impression she lived in Johannesburg area I am now planning a trip and hope to meet her . I have written a letter but have not heard back from her yet all we have is a po box # then Bellvile 7535 for a address . When i put this in the search engine it looks to me it is near Cape Town. Can someone from South Africa tell me which city she is near? Thank You.

Feb 8, 2013 10:48 PM
3surfgirls

last reply
Apr 9, 2013 6:19 AM
davidmarkrogers

13 replies
853 views
location: Kenya

14 Day Kenya Trip With Family

We are planning a trip to Kenya this summer and have 14 days outside of Niarobi. I have found an outfitter in masa Mara that looks good and am thinking we spend about five days doing safari and village visiting. We have three kids ages 15, 12,, and 10 and they enjoying playing with local children. Then I am thinking some time in the Rift Valley. Biking through Hells Gate sounds great and some of the day trekking. Can anyone recommend a midrange place to stay for a family in that area and how long do you suggest we stay there? Finally, I am looking for another destination to round out the trip. I think the coast is too far. Would it be worth going to Mt. Kenya if we would only day trekking? Are there any good "off the beaten path" places I am missing? Ambroseli isn't really pulling me. Thanks for any advice.

Feb 8, 2013 10:47 PM
holla_w

last reply
Feb 8, 2013 10:47 PM
holla_w

0 replies
131 views
location: Tanzania

Pre-Kili Marathon Safari?

I'm going to Kili for the half marathon, is anyone else that's going to be there before the race interested in going on a safari from Feb 27-Mar 1? I think most people go after, but I have to leave town early the next day. Of course all the price quotes I get say they would be better with more people, so if anyone is planning on going then that wouldn't mind me coming or joining me on one of these, please let me know!

Feb 8, 2013 8:30 PM
jasoninportland

last reply
Feb 10, 2013 5:04 PM
kiwibabe

4 replies
421 views
location: Morocco

Current Atlas Mountains Passes

Hey there.

I'm leaving for Morocco this coming Tuesday and plan on arriving in Marrakech with a few days to spend there. The next weekend, I plan on traveling from Marrakech to Ouarzazate by bus, or perhaps a grand taxi. I was wondering if anyone has any current info on the snow conditions for the passes over the Atlas Mountains? Or, if anybody has an opinion on whether I'll have difficulty making the crossing next weekend, the 16th-17th of Feb?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jason

Feb 8, 2013 1:41 PM
moroccoexplored

last reply
May 25, 2013 6:11 PM
kiwibabe

10 replies
1,287 views
location: Morocco

Morocco in May too hot? No it isn't.

Please note: visiting Morocco in May is not too hot. It's fine. The temperatures vary considerably all over Morocco and depending upon where you are it can be hot, warm or cool in May. June it will be hot. July it will be hot. August it will be hot. September it can be hot. It can even be hot in October. But please visit in May if you want to, you will be fine!

Not sure why "May in Morocco is too hot" is going around but I someone said they saw it from Lonely Planet. Just wanted to set this record straight.

Feb 8, 2013 12:21 PM
curtiss

last reply
Feb 8, 2013 2:50 PM
Kira

7 replies
574 views
location: Ghana

Fixer/Contact in Ghana

Hello!

I'm looking for a reliable contact in Ghana who can help with research and facilitate my remote communication with the local population.
Anyone have any stellar recommendations?

Thank you so much!

Best,
Curtis

Feb 8, 2013 12:20 PM
TimCullis

last reply
Feb 11, 2013 1:22 AM
kiwibabe

7 replies
523 views
location: Morocco

RIP Hotel Ali

Hotel Ali has always been a "marmite" hotel, travellers tended to love it, tourists weren't so sure, and guidebooks described it as a bit of a bus station. It's been my base in Marrakech for more than a decade and this trip I've stayed five nights so far. The room I have is OK, it's a triple with a balcony that gets the sun morning through to about 2pm and is costing me 200dh/night. I might even stay here again but I cannot seriously recommend it any more to other people

The last couple of times I've visited I've thought the building work was temporary but what they've done is to separate off the old kitchens and breakfast/dining room into a separate 'Cafe Brioche' which is under unconnected manangement. The dark, dingy common area is now the breakfast room and there's no sign of any evening meals any more. Part of the old common area is now a permanent mosque, with a dividing... more »

Feb 8, 2013 12:08 PM
Kira

last reply
Feb 15, 2013 2:25 PM
sdub

5 replies
223 views

Vic Falls for a day with 100 delegates

I'm trying to arrange the nearly impossible ...

I have a vehicle, I have 100 delegates with a variety of African & other passports who will all be staying in Kasane, Botswana.

We're looking at going to Vic Falls for one day & possibly

a) Returning by bus to Kasane & flying out
b) Flying out of Livingstone
c) Flying out of ??? in Zambia

We will have a chartered aircraft so that's not the problem

Our problem is entering Zim or Zam for a few hours - is there any sort of 'transit' visa available?

How long is the trip from Kasane to either side of the Falls (Zam/Zim), we will have our own transport!

Any suggestions, how ever mad they might be (sensible ones though clockwork orange please!) are appreciated!

Thanks

Kira

Feb 8, 2013 11:48 AM
wingygoth

last reply
Feb 9, 2013 7:46 AM
DubinNYC

2 replies
477 views
location: Tanzania

Uhuru Expeditions review - highly recommended!

I just came back from Tanzania and I wanted to recommend the trekking company we used.

After a lot of research, I chose Uhuru Expeditions. They're based in Moshi and I preferred to deal directly with the tour operator and not go through a (more expensive) third party like Intrepid. The price was right for a budget to mid-range trek and I can't say I noticed much of a difference between what we got on the mountain and what more expensive operators brought. On most days, everyone from all companies had a packed lunch, all the dining tents were similar. Some companies used Mountain Hardwear tents, which I think is maybe a little overboard unless you're doing the Western Breach/Lemosho route. Anyway, our non-Mountain Hardwear tents were great and did just fine in pouring rain and hail. The crew slept in the dining tent and our 2 guides slept in a tent, so no one was sleeping outside. ... more »

Feb 8, 2013 11:16 AM
Expatriate_LP

last reply
Feb 8, 2013 11:16 AM
Expatriate_LP

0 replies
228 views

What countries to get visa for NIgeria,Angola, Chad, Eq Guinea;SaoTome

Nigeria - have read ppl got it in Mali (cfa 135,000 crazy price i;m not paying), Ghana (Usd éà for q Japanese person, but hozw nuch for other countries?). Possible in Cote d;Ivoire?

Angola - pplwrote ofgetting it in Ghana but someone wrote in 2012 no longer possible in Ghana; so where to get it coming from Ghana and going south ?

Chad - is it really usd 141? i read somewhere (don;t recall where) it;s usd 100. Again from Ghana and going south except for going north to get to Chad via Nigeria

Equatoriql Guinea - read thqt they won;t issue a visq if only purpose is for Tourism (they want Business ppl i read). But i read about boqt fro, Nigeria-Cameroon-EquatorialGuinea(Malabo) so is it possible to tqke this boqt qnd they let youenter Malabo?
For this boat which docks at Cqmeroon, is it possible to stay on board first time at Cameroon qnd therefore notneed 2 visa;s for ... more »

Feb 8, 2013 11:11 AM
Stonian

last reply
Feb 9, 2013 7:23 AM
Stonian

9 replies
714 views
location: Morocco

Camping fuel in Morocco

Hello friends,

I am in the preliminary planning stages of a solo camping and surfing trip to Southern Morocco in November or December of this year. I will be flying into Casablanca or Marrakech, depending on airfares, renting a car and heading south for about a week or ten days. I hope to camp most of the time and was planning on bringing my Jetboil cooking stove for simple cooking and making tea. The stove uses a en417 type fuel canister (short and fat with a fairly small threaded port). Is it possible to find this type of camping fuel anywhere?

Also, any other advice on solo camping in the areas between Agadir and Western Sahara? Is a 4x4 necessary to drive down some of the tracks to beaches a couple of miles off the main road? I don't mind hiking in either, is it safe to leave a rental car unattended(obviously with no valuables inside)?

I'm looking forward to everyone's ... more »

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