Africa, Sponsored Posts, Travel Advice & News
Understandably, intrepid travellers who embark on a Nile River cruise like the idea of breaking free from the crowd and setting out on their own to soak up the sites, but having a tour guide in Egypt, whether private or in a group, can really work to your advantage. The ideal guide will serve as your interpreter, chauffeur, historian, Egyptologist and bodyguard.
The Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana might be familiar to viewers of the BBC TV motoring programme Top Gear. During a 2007 edition of the show, presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May became the first people to cross the Makgadikgadi by car. This was no mean feat as the pans are remnants of an inland sea and heavy vehicles tend to sink below the muddy surfaces and salty crusts found in the area.
Monica Adorno on fine dining and thrilling adventures in The Mother City.
Written by Monica Adorno
It’s little wonder that gorgeous Cape Town is South Africa’s most visited metropolis. The Mother City, as she is affectionately known, occupies a seriously stunning landscape filled with some of the best-known national parks and game reserves in the world, not to mention the iconic Table Mountain. So you can imagine my joy at being invited on a family holiday, the kind that your parents take you on when you’re still a kid, the free kind, to visit a family friend who moved out there. “Absolutely!!”, I yelled down the phone. “Count Me In.”
From the moment we stepped off the plane, buzzing with excitement, the country embraced us. Everyone, from the airline staff to the taxi driver who dropped us off at our charming little guesthouse, was so friendly. After checking in we sat down to enjoy a glass of chilled South African wine on our terrace and admired the superb view of the bay.
Johannesburg local Ricky Durrance visits the apartheid museum and the township of Soweto.
A 6-metre statue of Nelson Mandela outside Nelson Mandela Square shopping centre in Sandton.
Written by Ricky Durrance
Remember the negative attention South Africa and in particular Johannesburg received before the 2010 football World Cup? If you believed all the scare mongering, you just like me, would be slightly apprehensive about visiting the capital of South Africa. So, where did I decide to head to for my destination? Johannesburg, of course!
Frankly, the first things that enter my head when I think of South Africa are apartheid and poverty. Not exactly the two best things in the world I admit, but it’s the truth and probably is for many other people. For these reasons I decided the best thing to do whilst in Jo’burg (as we ‘locals’ call it) was to confront these two issues.
Confronting the Past
My first stop after I had settled in was to the apartheid museum. As you might expect, this is not for the faint hearted and deals with the terrible issues of apartheid which tore this country apart for many years. The museum is full of exhibitions, some permanent and some temporary. One such exhibition focused on the life of Nelson Mandela – a fitting tribute considering his central role in developing modern, apartheid-free South Africa. This is a must-see place and I feel lucky to have experienced it.
Rosie Baldwin faces her fears above the Namib Desert’s Sossusvlei.
Panoramic images are something that we, as humans, absolutely love and seem to devour. I’m talking about that moment in a film when the scenery and vastness of the image on screen work with the diegetic or non-diegetic sound to strike a chord that really hits our emotional core. It can shock us, render us speechless or inexplicably emotional, or remind us of our humble yet beautifully meaningful existence on earth.
I am not exactly the kind of person who jumps at the chance to do something daredevil-ish or dangerous — I love experiencing new things, but when push comes to shove, I have been known to give in to my safe and often cautious tendencies. I would love to say that I jump at and grab every opportunity thrown my way, but the truth is that some of us just get slightly more nervous than others. I am one of those.
Whilst searching for places to stay in Namibia I came across an advertisement for a hot air balloon trip across the Sossusvlei area and my mind instantly flitted towards the notion of unnatural heights and hot air balloon accidents of the past. Now, don’t get me wrong. I am well aware that a trip in a hot air balloon is hardly an act of extreme adrenaline or daring, but please be patient with me, as I am only a girl who has a slight tendency to over-think things (even though, funnily enough, my favourite song just so happens to be Bob Dylan’s classic, Don’t Think Twice, its Alright). I was ready and willing to bypass this opportunity, instead opting for a long walk that would show me some great views of Namibia had it not been for a hilarious and impulsive French couple I met out there. Having given me the nickname of ‘Petit Poulet’ they insisted that I come with them on a balloon ride to see a beautiful, panoramic view of Namibia.
Ian Ripper of Guerba World Travel shares his experience of a 15-day tour in Libya, including the Akukus mountains, Tripoli and famous Roman sites.
Written by Guerba World Travel
I recently returned from our new Libya Desert & Culture tour, and have just been reminded why I got into this business in the first place!
I love the desert, and the Libyan desert is the best I’ve seen. I went along to oversee the first departure and to be there in case anything went wrong, but was delighted to be in the hands of our superb crew and to be able to sit back and enjoy a real holiday. The Akukus mountains topped the bill for me. A superb area of ‘Monument Valley’ type rock formations with classic sculpted dunes in between.
Al Hadi, our Tuareg guide, was born and raised here and is a real expert on the people of the area, past and present. He also had an almost uncanny ability to find stone axe arrow heads and other 6,000 to 10,000 year old artefacts (we searched him once to make sure he wasn’t planting these things!). A later visit to the museum revealed he was in fact a large contributor to their collection so clearly had an eye for rocks. Al Hadi spends his summer months working for the ministry of education, and is a font of knowledge on all things desert.
We travelled in a convoy of 4wd Toyota Land cruisers, piloted by Tuareg drivers who all had a superb knowledge of the desert and really made the journey come alive. We took a small diversion to the planned itinerary to head deep into the Eastern desert reaching a spot ideal for viewing the full solar eclipse along the line of totality. We ended up in a totally flat plain and had an awesome experience with the sun almost directly overhead as the moon crossed its path.
The temperature dropped seventeen degrees Celsius and the light took on a silver hue as Venus appeared and the sun, apart from the corona, vanished. Being so fundamental to the landscape, it was very moving to ‘lose’ the sun for those four minutes, and even more of an experience than I had anticipated.
After that, and some more vast desert scenery, we arrived in the Ubari sand seas – an area of majestic dunes that transformed with the changing light. Set within this sand sea are a number of lakes. It’s an improbable combination to see lakes within the dunes, and a real treat to escape the heat with a relaxing swim. The water is very saline, so it was easy to bob on the cool surface waters and chill off. If you do put your feet down, it’s almost scalding hot, and apparently fresh although I didn’t manage to test that assertion.
Leptis Magna, the African headquarters of the Roman empire.
We then parted company with the desert crew and took a short flight back to Tripoli where we all enjoyed the comforts of a modern hotel before visiting the extensive Roman ruins of Leptis Magna and other Roman sites. These are some of the finest Roman sites anywhere, and impressive for their scale alone.
Before departing, we managed some time in Tripoli medina, which was a real pleasure,as we were able to shop without any hasslers. It was a first for me to be able to look at carpets, rugs and other delights without being hounded to submission by over-enthusiastic merchants.
The tour was fifteen days, mostly under canvas in the desert, with great meals all provided and our only contribution to camp chores was to pitch our own tents. Evenings around the camp fire were filled with stories of the desert and the odd sortie to spot a gerbil collecting the scraps from supper. We travelled three to a car and there were two baggage vehicles for water and food and the kitchen crew.
Ian Ripper is the Marketing Director for Guerba World Travel, an adventure travel company with over 25 years experience and trips worldwide, allowing you to see the world in close-up. For more details see www.guerba.co.uk The guest post was originally published on travelarticlelibrary.com
Mark Bottell suggests one of many ways to spend a gap year for adults – by working with animal conservation at a South African game park.
Written by Mark Bottell
What would you do if you woke up one morning and decided it was high time you took some space to breathe, and had a few months (or an entire year) away from your life? It’s what’s commonly become known as a gap year for adults, and there are a million different ways in which to spend it. You could spend six weeks categorizing your 80’s cd collection; you could start work on that novel about a boy wizard you’ve been planning for so long; or you could just spend the entire time gazing at your navel and dreaming of a desert island. But if you’re passionate about animal conservation work, and you’re not afraid of a little hard work and a whole lot of adventure, why not head to South Africa and volunteer on a wildlife conservation project on a game reserve. If you do take the plunge and give it a go your day might look a something like this…
A Typical Day
You’ll wake up with the sun in your basic accommodation of wooden hut, mobile home or share house on the reserve. You’ll probably be sharing with a few other volunteers, who just like you, are taking a gap year for adults. You’ll be starting work around 7.30am so it’s a quick breakfast then its time to step out your door and into the office!
Depending on which park you choose, you’ll start your day with anything from monitoring a herd of elephants to undertaking predator research! You will be working with a team of experienced wildlife conservation trackers and researchers, on such diverse projects as lion health and breeding programs; wildlife care and capture; rehabilitation and relocation; wetland rehabilitation; animal behaviour; animal census programs; monkey research or many of the other wildlife conservation projects the park is conducting.
The parks are constantly monitoring the animals, and you help with report writing and data entry. Wildlife conservation is a constant cycle of research and field work, and keeping accurate records is an important part of the job.
But working in wildlife conservation is not just about the animal conservation work. There is plenty to be done behind the scenes, and some of your duties may involve a day on fence patrol and repair, erosion control, or clear up duties of broken wire and rubbish which could prove harmful to wildlife. You will also help in the upkeep of the many walking trails throughout the parks, and even turn your hand to vehicle maintenance!
There are two things certain on your gap year for adults on a South African game park – one is that no two days will be the same, and the other is that you’ll never be bored! After a long hot day out in the park, if you still have any energy, you could get a taxi to a local bar where you can socialise with loads of wildlife conservation volunteers from other parks. Then it’s home to bed to snuggle down and drift off to sleep with the unique sounds of the bush echoing in your ears.
Your gap year for adults working in wildlife conservation will be a life changing experience. Not only will you have a great suntan, but you will have learnt a huge amount about animal conservation work and you will have experienced life in an incredible part of the world. Most important though, you will have played an important role in preserving the destiny of some of the world’s precious, endangered animals. So there’s only one real question you have to ask yourself. What are you waiting for?
Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Worldwide Experience, an online tour operator offering extended breaks focusing on wildlife conservation and various adventurous gap years for adults.
Accommodation, Africa, Guest Posts
It was a romantic getaway planned with military precision. But nothing could prepare Paul Joseph for the whims of fate that nearly turned his long weekend in Marrakesh into the holiday from hell. Luckily, one of the city’s most luxurious hotels was on hand to soften the blow.
Written by Paul Joseph
I’d never been to Marrakesh, nor Morocco, nor Africa – and neither had my girlfriend Debra. Our trip away together was planned for early October and after a wash-out British summer, the prospect of getting some sun on our backs appealed to us both.
One of the most popular short-break destinations outside of Europe, and boasting culture, cuisine and a climate that is most people’s idea of ‘perfect’, Marrakech seemed to fit the bill. Decision made.
There was just one final ingredient missing from my recipe for a successful holiday: accommodation. Marrakesh’s recent tourism boom has given rise to a proliferation of ‘riads’ – a distinct type of independently-owned hotel based on Moroccan architecture and décor, and defined by the presence of an interior garden, courtyard and small swimming pool. They have been around for centuries, and are now ubiquitous.
A website dedicated to boutique hotels threw up a variety of luxury riads across the city, ranging from the traditional to the contemporary. But one stood out from the crowd: the eight-room Rose Sultan. It promised an idyllic setting away from the magical chaos of central Marrakesh. The words were enticing, the pictures stunning. We were sold.
The Rose Sultan is indeed a gorgeous hotel and a masterclass in minimalism. Every inch of every detail has been painstakingly considered, not least by the owner, an intriguing Casablanca-born gentleman who comes from a background in luxury brand marketing. Still awaiting its first birthday, the hotel is clearly a labour of love, and his passion for architecture and interiors is evidenced by an array of lavish, design-themed coffee-table books intricately positioned across the living room.
The theme of the hotel is sensual luxury with a traditional Moroccan twist. And from the ambient music to the enchanting aromas, strolling around the grounds is certainly an experience in sensory overload.
There do, however, remain teething problems. In our otherwise delightful room – stripped down to its most basic features in the most sensitive way – the sink was leaking, there was no waste basket, and the lock was cumbersome to say the least. You also wonder how the current staff, numbering three (the owner, plus two other chaps with seemingly multi-functional roles including handyman, waiter and on-site taxi driver) would cope with fully occupied rooms.
Certainly, the two outdoor breakfast tables, which look out onto a jaw-droppingly beautiful swimming pool, would be a bit of a squeeze in the mornings.
The other temporary defect with the Rose Sultan is its location. There is a fine line between seclusion and isolation, and if true luxury can allow no compromise, the barren wasteland surrounding the hotel must be considered a fatal flaw. Approaching either by car or by foot, requiring the negotiation of mounds of dusty rocks and rubble, is simply objectionable, and until developers populate the vicinity with something – anything – more aesthetically pleasing, or at least create a makeshift road or walkway, the hotel will lose significant brownie points. Not least with unacquainted taxi drivers who cannot believe their eyes when instructed to navigate this vast stretch of desolate wilderness. The non-existent road signs also means the turn-off for the hotel is often missed. Far from ideal.
One of the few signs of life nearby is an equestrian club, which offers beginner, intermediate and advanced expeditions to all-comers. Amateur horse riding is one of those activities that seems pleasant in theory, but in practice is at best tedious, and at worst dangerous. Unfortunately my own experience fell into the latter category. (I should state at this point that what happened in no way reflects badly on the Rose Sultan, which has no affiliation with the club, and is merely an incidental neighbour.)
During a snails-pace amble across a litter-strewn eyesore of nothingness, our horses were thrown into panic by an approaching donkey. The collective raking of hooves sounded distinctly to my untrained ears like the preamble to a retreating stampede and the look of panic on our guide’s face said it all. My own horse turned sharply and I was promptly thrown to the ground, with my knees taking the impact. That’s our holiday over then.
Back at the horse club, the staff treated me well, giving me ice packs for my knees, and any other comforting items they could lay their hands on. But their attitude changed when, to my amazement, they told me I would still have to pay. I explained politely that I thought this unfair, and the atmosphere turned nasty. At this point, I just wanted to get back to my room and rest my battered knees, so I bit the bullet and paid up. What a disaster; and there was more to come.
Our first night had been the perfect introduction to Marrakesh. The awesome scale of Djemaa El-Fna square, with its snake charmers, food stalls, and electric atmosphere exceeded all expectations, while a short walk took us into the heart of the historical Medina and down a maze of sidestreets bustling with medieval commercial activity straight out of Aladdin. Donkeys, bicycles and motorbikes came out of nowhere like space invaders, before routinely passing, allowing us a few seconds of respite before the next wave.
Caught up in this cauldron of brilliant Arabian mayhem, I was unaware that brewing away inside me was a stomach bug, more than likely sparked by the snail soup I had devoured in the Djemaa El-Fna. Twenty-four hours later, legs already out of action following horsegate, I was suffering the consequences in a big way.
In fairness to us both, we made the most of our remaining time in the city. Walking was painful, so we avoided the chaos of the city centre and instead headed for Nouvelle Ville, a tranquil neighbourhood west of the Medina, and home to the delightful Jardin Majorelle, a botanical garden and modern art retreat once owned by the late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
Stepping into Nouvelle Ville feels like you’re in Europe again. Its wide boulevards lined with palm trees, cafes and designer stores is light years away from the old world feel of the religious Medina, where alcohol is banned and most women wear traditional burkhas.
Our one remaining day was spent back at the hotel, lapping up the rays around the swimming pool and trying not to think about the horrors that surrounded us. It also gave us more time to enjoy one of the other delights of the Rose Sultan: the service. Staff are attentive without being intrusive, and even seem to talk in a soothing, laconic tone that adds to the sense of relaxation. It contributed greatly to our enjoyment of the trip, despite the misfortune of my accident and tummy troubles.
Paul Joseph is a London-based writer and author. He is currently writing a book called “Vanishing London” on his home city. He also works for tubehotels, a price comparison and booking site for London hotels near train stations.
Africa, Guest Posts, Sports & Outdoors
Navaya ole Ndaskoi meets with veteran trip leader Kapanya Kitaba to learn about the many important aspects surrounding a successful climb to Mount Kilimanjaro.
Written by Navaya ole Ndaskoi
It is not often one meets a very experienced veteran trip leader specializing on safari to wild parks and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro who says, when he successfully climbed Kilimanjaro to the summit for the first time in 1988, “I was very happy when I reached the roof of Africa. I felt like I have been ascended into heaven, body and soul.”
It is unusual to find a trip leader whose father, and grandfather before him, was a herbalist who got connected to the African culture on the mountain. It is even unusual if that trip leader was a lecturer at Mweka College of Wildlife, one of the biggest of its kind on earth. So I made the most of my meeting on February 4, 2010, with Kapanya Kitaba.
The location is the Parastatal Pension Fund Business Center in the outskirts of Arusha town of North Tanzania. Kapanya receives me. His smile is broad and his handshake friendly. He is the type of man who appears larger in his photos than in real life.
Mountaineering Background
I ask if he ever climbed any mountain when he was a child. He did, he says. “To us a mountain is a sacred place. My father, and prior to him my grandfather, would climb Mount Rungwe in South-West Tanzania, where I was born and raised, to pray. They told us to stay quiet at home while they are on the mountain until they get back home. After they returned they allowed us to go on with normal activities. My father was a herbalist. He used to climb Mount Rungwe to get some herbs and roots. He used the herbs and roots as well as leaves to treat people with different problems.”
He explains that he comes from a mountaineering back ground. “Climbing has a done a great thing in my life. I am connected to people from across the globe. Through climbing I have traveled to Russia. In fact I led climbing trips in Russia. That was the first time in my life I stayed in the coldest place on earth. Then climbing to me is a sport. Other people have their own reasons for climbing certain mountains. Likewise, climbing is like a laboratory.”
“I climb to see how fit I am,” Kapanya says. “I remember at one time when I wanted to climb Kilimanjaro and the mountain refused. I thought I was stronger while actually I was sick. I was rescued. I had malaria and pulmonary edema. I nearly died because I forced to climb. I started to cry. When I arrived home my daughter laughed at me when she saw me in a stretcher. She teased me, ‘this time Kapanya is caught.’”
The point, he says, is that one must be healthy in order to attempt the climb.
Not Necessary to Summit Mount Kilimanjaro
Rebuffing the charge that it is necessary to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Kitaba explains: “Trip leaders usually have in their minds that they must summit. They know that a miner dies in the mine. A fisherman can drown. A soldier dies on the frontline of the war. Trip leaders think that it is a weakness and that they are bad leaders if they do not summit. Summiting is not necessary if the situation does not allow. Trip leaders push themselves up. I can understand the reason. Leaders must lead by examples. Even then, it is also true that humans have weaknesses. If you are unfit, please descend.”
He advises: “There is something I would love to say about hopeful climbers. Clients pay a lot of money, by any standard, to attempt Mount Kilimanjaro. Their dreams too are understandably to summit. It is a fact that Kilimanjaro climb does not require technical skills. However, it is strenuous and can in fact be a serious physical test.”
After a pause, he says: “It is unpredictable how you will adapt to the altitude. Do not go fast and drink plenty of water all time. The greatest protection is avoiding rapid climbs, ascends and descends as well. Bear in mind too that some people might not summit. We have an excellent team to accompany you to descend, if need be. Even then you still have a life experience. Attempting Kilimanjaro is a greatest achievement in a special way. Very few people have heard of this mount let alone setting their eyes on it. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. It is the highest free-standing mountain on earth. The fact that you attempted it is surely worthwhile.”
Mental Preparation
I ask about his technical advice to hopeful climbers. He says, “The love and will to climb must be respected. It is important every participant understands the climb is challenging. Climbing is a challenging dream that most people would wish to turn into reality. Remember that you will be in high altitude. So number one is that you must be prepared mentally. Your mind is the greatest weapon in your disposal.”
Of course that is not the only necessary thing. “Physically preparations then follow,” he adds for good measure. “Trip members should be in excellent physical condition. Make sure you prepare yourself as much as possible. Running, jogging, biking, swimming and other physical exercises prepares you better for the climb. Exercise your lungs and muscles. The lungs must be able to absorb enough oxygen for your body. Muscles must be prepared to withstand the climb.”
He continues: ”Try also to set up little camping and sleep there if possible. Also get familiar with nature. You must have the best gear. You must be better dressed from feet to head. Above all, you must take seriously the advice of your trip leader even if you are a professional mountaineer. Principally, you must respect a mountain. If a trip leader tells you to slow down, please listen.”
This advice, he says, applies to every participant. “Porters, trip leaders, guides, cook and camp crew. Every one must be prepared. If a cook, for instance, is poorly prepared it means the whole attempt is going to crumble; same with the porters. Bear in mind that we attempt the climb as a team.”
Kooh Navard Team Crew
Best Routes
I ask him about the best and the most dangerous routes on Kilimanjaro. “To be honest with you every route is dangerous on its own way and degree. There are six main routes through which you can climb. Mweka route is for descending. Machame route is for ascending. Marangu is for both ascending and descending. Loitokitok is for ascending. Umbwe is for ascending and descending. Shira is for both ascending and descending as well.”
As for his favorite route, he says he loves Shira route. “It is the best scenic route. It is less traveled route. It is the cleanest of all. Above all it takes more days to reach the summit. This means it gives enough time to acclimatize and therefore more chances to summit. Machame is my second favorite. It is challenging and it is also scenic. It is comparatively less crowed. It is clean. Through this route you approach Kibo Peak with a very good view. You go through different types of vegetation zones.”
He loves other routes as well. “I also love Loitokitok route. It is short. It is therefore good for all ages including children and the elderly alike. It is a gentlest of all except when you reach Kibo hut. Otherwise it is the best, as I said, for all ages attempting Kilimanjaro.”
“About 25,000 people attempt climbing Kilimanjaro annually,” Kitaba reveals. “Of this, 55 percent climb through Marangu route,” he says. “The rest go through Shira, Machame, Umbwe and Loitoktok and the rest. I am told the Government is soon going to open Maua route to stop the two ways congestion on Marangu route. So climbers will soon be ascending through Marangu route and descend through Maua route.”
Western Breach
When I ask Kapanya what he thinks about the Western Breach, his answer is a classic: “the Western Breach is a section of three routes meeting together. The section starts at Arrow Glaciers to the crater. The Western Breach Wall is steep. It is challenging as it is dangerous in the sense that rocks fall. This is due to the fact that glaciers which used to hold rocks down have melted. A small rock, say 20 grams, can start rolling down from several feet above. As it rolls its speed increases. On its way it can provoke other rocks to fall as well. They roll down bouncing very dangerously.”
The falling rocks can be fatal, “To be sure, these falling rocks can be as dangerous as a bullet if they hit you. Remember that the route is too thin, rocky and steep. In some places you have to climb with all fours. I mean with feet and hands. So you literally have no hiding place once the rocks starts coming aiming straight at you.”
“But why do some companies use this route?” I ask him. “Their clients like challenges. They do not like to do easy things. It also means that few companies travel through that section. In that way they companies which sell it are selling a unique product.”
At this point, Kapanya goes global, “In 1996 a storm struck the summit of Mount Everest. That was the deadliest storm in recorded history of the mount. Eight people died. Among the fatalities were group leaders Rob Hall and Scott Fischer. Journalist Jon Krakauer, a survivor from that trek, went on to write the bestseller, Into Thin Air.”
Deaths on mountains can be turning points. “The book and the mainstream media took the disaster far and wide and raised questions about the commercialization of Everest. People thought hopeful climbers would stop attempting the mountain. Everest attracted many hopeful climbers instead. People love challenges. The same can be said about Mount Kilimanjaro. In 2005, two clients died at the Western Breach. Several porters were seriously wounded. We thought the route would be closed down all together. The number of hopefuls attempting Mount Kilimanjaro through the route shot up instead.”
Mountain Sickness
I wonder what mountain sickness is and how it is treated. “This is a combination of undesirable conditions. These include headache, loss of appetite, nausea, failing to sleeplessness, vomiting, dry cough, swelling of eye ankles and eyelids, pulmonary edema as well as cerebral edema,” Kitaba explains.
There are different ways to approach the crises. “You must be prepared. You must know mountain hazards. People do fall down. Others get injured. A trip leader must act instantly to save lives. If someone dies you must be courageous. The body must be taken down and out of the mountain. So you call a rescue team.”
He adds, “There are no cars high on the mountain. Helicopters cannot just land everywhere. In times of crises you rely on the team. Well fed and cared of porters who are also strong are very helpful. They can carry some extra luggage and continue with the rest of the group while others evacuate the sick person or carry out the body in that case. Evacuation is possible anywhere on the mountain.”
Equipment
You must have the best of equipment to attempt Kilimanjaro, I ask him. “Of course yes. You need equipments,” he says. “Number one is personal clothes. You need layers of warm clothes to protect yourself against cold. You need rain gears to protect yourself against the rain. You also need a mattress and a sleeping bag as well as warm clothes that keep you warm and comfortable in a sleeping bag at night. You must be protected from head to toes. Sun glasses and walking sticks are necessary. In short everybody must be well dressed when attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Preferably clients come with their own gears. In fact more than 90 percent do so.”
Do companies have some equipment? I ask him. He says that most companies arrange accommodation in tents. They also have first aid gears such as Gamow bags, oxygen tanks and some medicine. They have cooking utensils, the crew, and water and so on.
Balanced Diet
But you must be well fed to be able to attempt the climb, isn’t it, I ask him.
“Everybody must eat a balanced diet on Mount Kilimanjaro. You must eat quality food that is easy to digest. Food should not be oily. Oily food subjects the body to double work; to digest the food and convert fat into carbohydrate. You will loose a lot of calories required for the climb. You need to eat proteins so that to replace the worn-out cells. You need a lot of water too.”
He stresses the need to drink plenty of water, “As you hike you loose a lot of water through breathing, hyperventilation, urine and so forth. Now you must replace water. Otherwise you are prone to acute high altitude sickness like cerebral edema. If you are dehydrated you can easily construct cold related body complications. In the meantime water helps the body expels unwanted water in the body.
Kapanya supports the Jimmy Carter Center with a climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Winding Up
What message does he have for prospective Kilimanjaro climbers? I think it is an easy question, but it turns out to be otherwise. “Most people use Marangu route for six days. It is popularly known as Coca Cola route. It is also called soft route. It allows a six days climb. Shira route through Western Breach cannot be attempted in six days.”
“I highly recommend eight days climbing however. It gives you wider chances to summit since you have a fair time to acclimatize. This also means a higher possibility to summit with slim chances of constructing acute altitude sickness.”
Kapanya is currently the Executive Director of his own company called East African Outdoor Adventures Ltd which specializes on Kilimanjaro climbing and safari.
Morning Impression on Palm Beach © Frank Giebel
The first light of the day on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. If you’d like to download this phote, visit Frank Giebel’s profile on sxc.hu
Frank of The Adventure Company discover the ancient culture of Egypt during a walking holiday.
Written by: The Adventure Company
I have always had an interest in Egypt and the impressive ancient culture and spectacular architecture it produced. I jumped at the chance to take a trip to this exciting country and see the pyramids whilst enjoying the desert experience. I decided to try one of the trekking holidays from the Cairo pyramids to Dahab.
Solo travel is a great way of meeting other budding travellers and I was pleased when I found out that there would be 12 of us in the group. All of us were relatively young and fit with an interest in culture and trekking. I enjoy walking holidays and have been on a number of solo holidays previously, so this trip gave me a great group to go with. It was amazing to visit Cairo as I found this city to be an exciting assault on the senses in many ways; with 15 million people living there, it’s an animated, vivacious city that is fantastic if you can avoid the cars spiralling past you! The Khan El- Khalili Market is particularly beautiful at night when lit up; we took our time sipping the aromatic sweet mint tea whilst enjoying the atmosphere.
The next day we took a trip to Giza to see the Pyramids. Nothing can prepare you for the sight of these overwhelming pyramids that dominate the landscape. The view from a distance is best as up close it is more difficult to appreciate the tremendous nature of these giant structures. There were a huge number of interesting artefacts in the Egyptian Museum, it surely helped to have a guide that could give me all the information I could want. The highlight of the museum was the Tutankhamen collection which featured many of the treasures I remember reading about as a child.
Our next adventure was to the Sinai Desert. Here we took a hike up Mount Sinai (2285m). The hike started at 12.30 am which certainly added to the challenge! The trek itself made up for it with one of the most spectacular sunrises I have seen. Things did get a bit chilly as we reached the summit; so I was glad I had brought layers. After we went to see the famous St Catherine’s Monastery before continuing on to the desert resort of Dahab.
Dahab was fantastic for its superb snorkelling with stunning offshore corals. The gorgeous warm waters were incredible for unwinding and seeing the magnificent multi-coloured fish. Next on the trip was a spot of camel trekking where we had to contend with bad-mannered camels that seemed to take pleasure in their own grumpiness. This activity led to much hilarity in our group. This town had a relaxed bohemian feel that made an idyllic end to the trip. By the time we had to start thinking about getting back home, I was sad to part with the rest of the group; this was a great adventure and one which I will always remember.
This guest post was authored by Frank from The Adventure Company, an adventure holidays provider.
Written by Iain Miller
Located mainly in North Africa, Egypt — along with the Sinai Peninsula — forms a land bridge in Western Asia. Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Gaza Strip and Israel in the north east; the Red Sea is to the east and Sudan to the south. Egypt is an ancient civilization with one of the richest histories of any country in the world. Many attractive locations make it a popular visiting site for tourists and historians alike. The tourist trade is a large commercial venture in Egypt, and a fairly good portion of its 76 million citizens are employed in the tourist business. Some of the most popular package holidays in Egypt include Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Sharm El Sheikh, and Marsa Alam.
Naama Bay is a popular resort area for Egypt holidays with many restaurants, beaches, and places to go and have fun. Various shops and boutiques set up around the Naama area allow travellers to relax and shop. However, haggling is a common practice here and the locals will try and sell merchandise at higher prices, but a little haggling can earn many good deals. Restaurants and clubs around the Naama area will often offer free drinks as an incentive to stick around and eat and some will even knock off tax for the food to make people want to hang around.
Sharks Bay, another resort hotel village in Egypt, has many similar qualities to Naama Bay. Here, activities like scuba diving and desert excursions are also available. The Scuba diving is led by one of the many scuba experts of the area and divers are able to see all kinds of underwater paradises and a vast menagerie of interesting sea life. The desert excursions include camel safaris and camping under the blanket of stars that lie above the lovely canopy of shifting sands. Tourists can fully experience life in the desert without the risk of getting lost.
Sharm El Sheikh is a resort city situated on the Sinai Peninsula. It is generally called the City of Peace because of the many international peace conferences that take place there. In Sharm El Sheikh there is an endless amount of beach fun to be had, not to mention the interesting people and resort hotels that can be reserved for very low prices. Because of their excellence, most of the restaurants and hotels in Sharm El Sheikh are rated three to five stars.
Marsa Alam is yet another resort village in Egypt. This one primarily earns its tourists from the various fishing ventures. However, it also offers beautiful tours of the mystic Emerald Caves and the Temple of Seti. Marsa Alam is one of the smaller resort villages of Egypt, but no less enchanting that the larger ones.
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