Where I’ve been, and where I want to go…Part 2 of 4 (Africa)

East Africa and South Africa are great destinations for people who want to travel to Africa - specifically because of the diversity of options. In the Fall of ‘06, I went to East Africa and visited Tanzania and its main destinations - Dar Es Salaam, Zanzibar, the Serengeti and Arusha. And, I also went down to Cape Town, South Africa.

For a link to my web photos from my trip to Africa - click here.

Here are my suggestions on where to go when you are in Africa.

1) Do a camping safari at the famous Serengeti National Park, which is a large conservation area located in the north of Tanzania. The park flows over into neighboring Kenya where it’s known as the Masai Mara. I specifically mention doing a camping safari — because nothing gets you closer to the wildlife (literally) and you feel a little bit closer to nature. A 7 day budget camping safari (including park fees, safari guides, transportation, food, and camp set-ups) can cost up to $1500. A 7 day safari in lodges with 4 or 5-star accommodations can cost up to $20,000 with Abercrombie and Kent. To find out more information on a 7-day budget camping safari, you can contact Kapanya Kitaba - kapanyak@yahoo.com. His team of guides also do week-long treks to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Kapanya and his team were so good to us, as far as accommodating every whim of ours, and I would highly recommend him and his company.

2) Do a 4 or 5 night all-inclusive trip to the island of Zanzibar. Zanzibar is an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania, consisting of Zanzibar Island Pemba Island, and many smaller islands. Zanzibar island is approximately 90km long and 30km wide. On the eastern side, there are several all-inclusive resorts that cater to many European Italian tourists — that even some of the locals have become fluent in Italian. I stayed at a 4-star all-inclusive resort called Mapenzi Beach Club, which has more than enough amenities and activities to keep you very happy. For more info about Mapenzi, click here. One night was approximately $80/person. You have a few options to get yourself to Zanzibar - a by plane or catamaran. I would strongly suggest the :30 minute plane ride over the catamaran. The catamaran is like a speed boat, but it takes a few hours and you can experience some sea-sickness.

3) Take a trip down to Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa. It is located in the south-west corner of the country near the Cape of Good Hope, and is the most southern city in Africa. It is a stone’s throw from South Africa’s world-famous Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. I spent 5 days here in Cape Town, and such an immense contrast of beauty and sadness from within the inner-city “townships”. The city has been a British and Dutch settlement since the 1800s, so the architecture, culture and city planning has been greatly influenced by the Europeans. There are so many places to visit and see, and my 5-days there was not enough. For more ideas on what to see and do, click here.

My next visit to Africa will be in 2010 for the 2010 Fifa World Cup between the 11^th June and 11^th July 2010. It will be the first time the tournament will be staged in Africa. I’ve already started planning this trip, and I’d like a big group of friends who will be able to join in on the fun!

Here are some other places in the southern part of Africa that I’d love to visit:

• Botswana
• Lesotho, the Kingdom in the Sky is a haven for outdoor pursuits: hiking, pony trecking, off roading…
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Swaziland
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

A bit further out, but popular with South African travelers and easy to reach by plane are

• Madagascar
• Mauritius
• Seychelles