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Old 11-20-2010, 10:37 AM   #1
ajb3000
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Default My next trip - DRC or Afghanistan?

I've now been working in London for 6 months, and it's time to plan for my next trip! I can only go away for a maximum of 4 weeks as I'm not leaving my job though. The problem is, I'm equally torn between two possible trips:

1. Fly to Kabul, take a trip to Bamyam and then go trekking for 3 weeks in the Wakhan Corridor and Pamir Mountains before flying home from Dushanbe.

2. Fly to Kampala, cross the border to Goma (DRC) and hike up the Gisenyi Volcano, trek to see the mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park, then spend a couple of weeks backpacking round Uganda / Rwanda.

Any input? I know we have a member (whose name is on the tip of my tounge) whose been to Uganda / Rwanda who I would like to hear from.
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Old 11-20-2010, 11:43 AM   #2
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#2 sounds amazing (I've been to Afghanistan so maybe I am biased LOL), I've been DYING to get to Uganda to see the Gorillas for several years now.
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Old 11-20-2010, 11:49 AM   #3
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Me too. It's getting rediculously expensive though, all three countries now charge for a permit to see to Gorillas, with Uganda charging $750, Rwanda $500 and DRC $400. That's just for the foreigners permit before the cost of guides etc. are taken into account as well. I also fear there aren't many years left before they'll be extinct.

That said, if I choose the Afghansitan route I have a unique opportunity to go with an Afghan guy whose currently studying here in the UK, so I would have far better interaction with the locals than I could if I do it alone at a later date.
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Old 11-20-2010, 03:59 PM   #4
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DRC, DRC, DRC!!!!! You wont regret it. The people are so lovely.....and the nightlife is surprisingly crazy. It's the best of both worlds. There's a lot of expats too because of all the aid that goes in there (although you wont see many during the days) so it's kind of the best of both worlds....

If you get in to see the volcano in Goma though I am going to be piiiiiissed!! It was closed when I was there because of rebels in the area. It's one of the 5 volcanoes in the world I think that you can actually climb and LOOK IN to see the lava...not from some crazy crazy distance. Plus the gorillas are amazing and majestic.



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Old 11-21-2010, 02:38 PM   #5
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That looks great! Where did you go in the DRC? Just to Goma or elsewhere? Do you know if you can organise the Volcano and Gorilla treks on the ground or do they need to be organised in advance? Bearing in mind I'll be on a tight timeframe.
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Old 11-22-2010, 02:34 PM   #6
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Yeah, I only really went to Goma...although I'd like to have seen more.

When are you planning on going? I organized my trip to see the gorillas from Kigali (Rwanda). I think it's definitely possible to set something up for only a few days in advance to see them if you go in the off season. Although if you don't have much time to travel I (personally) wouldn't want to risk it. Hike's are much easier to get on though and I doubt you'd have much of a problem organizing one. Rwanda/the DRC's not the most popular travel destination so you shouldn't run into too many problems.

Let me know if you have any more questions.
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Old 12-14-2010, 12:03 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ajb3000 View Post
1. Fly to Kabul, take a trip to Bamyam and then go trekking for 3 weeks in the Wakhan Corridor and Pamir Mountains before flying home from Dushanbe.
.
The thing how would you GET to Bamiyan? I mean I don't know of any non-ISAF or UN flights going in and out of there. I HELL no, I wouldn't go there by road.

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Old 03-04-2011, 04:04 PM   #8
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Id'e love to go to Afghanistan, but isnt that still unstable ? The FCO advises against travel there and you can bet your bottom dollar that no Travel insurance company will cover you if you travel there. Is there anything left in Bamiyan, I thought the Taliban destroyed all the Buddhas that were carved up in the mountains ? If you do go please post your experiences.
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Old 07-06-2011, 03:32 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by haraamzadaa View Post
Id'e love to go to Afghanistan, but isnt that still unstable ? The FCO advises against travel there and you can bet your bottom dollar that no Travel insurance company will cover you if you travel there. Is there anything left in Bamiyan, I thought the Taliban destroyed all the Buddhas that were carved up in the mountains ? If you do go please post your experiences.
Yes you are right and I agree with you that bad circumstances come during your trip.
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