Hi, I've read through several threads here and found bits of info but still not quite what I'm after..
I'll be visiting a friend in Nairobi first week of Dec, then I have about 2 weeks to travel around, before visiting another friend in Zanzibar towards the end of Dec and flying back from there.
I very much want to avoid the crowds and the touristy spots - no safaris, guided tours, etc. I'm looking for proper OFF the beaten track places, or at least relaxed enough so they don't feel like they've been part of some tour operator's itinerary. I do love natural beauty but I appreciate finding that without the crowds and guides in TZ is trickier. So I'd be equally happy to simply roam around nice small towns or remote villages where I can simply spend my time sipping coffee/beer/locally brewed spirit and hanging out with new friends. Of course it'd be great if it's in beautiful surroundings, I do love hiking around and would gladly do that if any good ideas, but I'm willing to give the 'must sees' a miss if it means I can enjoy local life better. Any suggestions please??
To give you an idea of what I'm like (at the risk of coming across as boasting lol.. I'm really not, friendly easygoing guy here) - I'm a solo backpacker, always use local shared transport, love eating street food, not deterred by almost anything, what most would consider 'roughing it up' is pretty normal for me, often end up sleeping at people's I befriend along the way, always somehow find myself at the local hidden drinking hut or brewery, don't need much in terms of comforts, definitely welcome any kind of 'out there' adventures, pretty content spending my time conversing with people and/or just walking around, often hitch-hike, and I don't have a problem moving around so spending hours on the road isn't an issue. I'm also on a pretty low budget, but all the above is mostly by choice because that's my character and how I like to travel.
I've travelled for months at a time VERY off the beaten track in Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Ethiopia, Morocco and Sinai, so am not new to how things work.
So - I'd appreciate very very much any relevant suggestions. I realise 2 weeks isn't a whole lot of time, but if it's good and worth it I'm happy to either focus on one area or move around (could consider a domestic flight too if I find myself on the other side of the country).
Thanks a lot in advance :)
Tom
