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The Africa branch is one of the worst for touts and spammers. They can be very cleverly disguised, but the post count and previous posting history are a dead give-away.
There are a host of regulars you can trust; normally they have a high post count (1000+) and you can see from their posting history that they aren't spammers or touts.
Where ya goin'?
Kenya I think. This (given our ages) will probably be our only chance to visit Africa so I am really looking hard at everything I can read. Might try to do it during the migration. It is a bit bittersweet realizing that the trips over the next few years are our last chance. For example, would love to see the gorillas but I am no longer up for a possible 8 hour trek. (And particularly annoying since my in-laws knew Dian Fossey so could have visited with her during the day, But that time is passed.) So it is getting to be a now or never thing.
A few years ago I spent a month traveling throughout much of the country. I had a fantastic experience.
You'll enjoy it a lot.
I can only speak for Rwanda but certainly there you can request a group that involves relatively little trekking. In practice they know pretty much exactly where each family is on any given day as they are tracked round the clock and their locations relayed by radio. Of course no guarantees and gorillas move but it is far less random than I imagined.
I had hurt my foot so we requested the nearest group and walked for about 45 mins. Lots of tourists in the other groups were much older/less fit than us and no-one had any problems.
Kenya is also spectacular though.
BTW I don't know how old you are but we have just traveled up the east coast of Africa and the oldest couple we met doing the same thing were in their 80s ...
We are both about 70 and there are other places we want to go- Galapagos and Amazon, for example. Between age and money we have to figure out how to do all the things we still want to do. Including going back to spend time in Micronesia. Lots of time there.
So many places, so little time.
When they will see you are 70, the guides will take you to the nearest gorilla group. They are quite helpful. If it is your dream, then go for it. I have never heard of people regretting a gorilla trek. Good luck.
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Very new to this board but I have the sense that I need to read some of the reviews and recommendations very carefully. Seems like some/many of them are actually not just us folks telling it like it is. Or am I just being overly suspicious? Those of you who are regulars here- am I reading this right?3
Yes 5W.The Africa branch is one of the worst for touts and spammers. They can be very cleverly disguised, but the post count and previous posting history are a dead give-away.
There are a host of regulars you can trust; normally they have a high post count (1000+) and you can see from their posting history that they aren't spammers or touts.
Where ya goin'?
5
Where ya goin'?
Kenya I think. This (given our ages) will probably be our only chance to visit Africa so I am really looking hard at everything I can read. Might try to do it during the migration. It is a bit bittersweet realizing that the trips over the next few years are our last chance. For example, would love to see the gorillas but I am no longer up for a possible 8 hour trek. (And particularly annoying since my in-laws knew Dian Fossey so could have visited with her during the day, But that time is passed.) So it is getting to be a now or never thing.
7
Kenya is a great choice.A few years ago I spent a month traveling throughout much of the country. I had a fantastic experience.
You'll enjoy it a lot.
9
Don't rule out the gorillas on fitness grounds.I can only speak for Rwanda but certainly there you can request a group that involves relatively little trekking. In practice they know pretty much exactly where each family is on any given day as they are tracked round the clock and their locations relayed by radio. Of course no guarantees and gorillas move but it is far less random than I imagined.
I had hurt my foot so we requested the nearest group and walked for about 45 mins. Lots of tourists in the other groups were much older/less fit than us and no-one had any problems.
Kenya is also spectacular though.
BTW I don't know how old you are but we have just traveled up the east coast of Africa and the oldest couple we met doing the same thing were in their 80s ...
10
Hm...thanks for the info on the gorillas. May need to look into that further. I just had visions of getting there having paid big bucks to see them and discovering that we would be walking miles and miles through the jungle all day.We are both about 70 and there are other places we want to go- Galapagos and Amazon, for example. Between age and money we have to figure out how to do all the things we still want to do. Including going back to spend time in Micronesia. Lots of time there.
So many places, so little time.
11
If you really want to see the gorillas, you can still do it, as #9 says. First you will walk uphill along potato fields before you cross a stone wall and enter the forest. From there, you might see the gorillas within less than an hour. It has happened that gorillas have left the forest to wander in the farmers fields.When they will see you are 70, the guides will take you to the nearest gorilla group. They are quite helpful. If it is your dream, then go for it. I have never heard of people regretting a gorilla trek. Good luck.
13
I love planning travel but somehow Africa is SO vast with SO many things to do and see and places you can do it. And then throw in the issue of security- I do find it a tad bit ovewhelming.ADVERTISEMENT
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