So You Want To Travel Africa

[simply_angelic]

As many of you must know, I've been jumping around Africa a lot these past few months (just hit the 4 month mark a couple days ago) and here's some of the tricks of the trade I've aquired through my travels.

(1) First and foremost- BRING A FLASHLIGHT OR HEADLAMP!! Power outages are COMMON, you'll probably aquire one at least once every few days if not a couple times a day. On average, I'd say they happen about once a day. Even if you (by some miracle) don't encounter a power outage while in africa street lamps aren't exactly common in most areas outside the major cities so they definitely come in handy at night.

(2) Don't bank on maps. A few major cities will have them but that's pretty much it...and even if you find a map, most roads aren't labelled. Memorize your route and make sure you know the name of where you want to go/where you're staying before you head out...otherwise finding your way back can be tres difficile. (As from personal experience in Gaborone, Botswana...)

(3) Roadside vendors rock (also known as people coming up to your bus/minibus-taxi offering you food)!! Don't be afraid of them...(as I was initially). The further north (outside of South Africa) you go, the more common they will become, especially in poorer countries. When people approach your car offering food, chances are it's the only food you're going to get for a while...and it's cheap!

(4)Long-haul buses are everywhere and reasonably affordable. You can travel great distances for like 5$-10$ in most countries. You'll learn to love the minibus taxis as well, when there aren't "real" buses as they're ridiculously cheap. Rules for minibus taxis:
-Always try to barter first, you can usually reduce the fare a bit
-The best seats in the house are the front by the driver (leg room) but the back isn't bad because you have great airflow so it's not as hot
-Don't talk to the driver, there is a man who'll usually negotiate the fare with you/sit by the big sliding door who you pay and ask where to get off.
- Get into the fullest minibus taxi you can find going to the same location you are. They don't leave until they're full (usually)...otherwise you'll be waiting for a while. I think the longest I've waited is 3 hours....
-knock on the wall if you want to get the driver's attention or need off early.

(5) Bring food with you on a long trip or money to buy from roadside vendors...there usually aren't many stops and you usually dont want to get off b/c the buses are so packed it's very difficult to walk...

(6) If there's anywhere I can recommend travelling light, it's in Africa. The people here can be aggressive! There isn't usually much baggage space and when there is it is a hot commodity (this is how people transport goods for their businesses). Overhead luggage space can also be a challange to aquire on a long haul "reg" bus. There is very much the "everybody push & squeeze" to get onto a bus mentality so that they (a) will have a seat and (b) will have luggage space. Also, you never know when you're going to have to hitch and if there's only one ride that comes around every hour you're going to want to be able to fit in....

(7) If you're a vegetarian, it's going to be tough, but it is manageable. I'd definitely recommend bringing vitamins with you, you're going to be eating a lot of rice/maize meal and beans. When you can find salads it's the most amazing thing in the world. That is one thing I will be excited to get back to in Canada, although the veggies in Rwanda aren't bad, I can usually find salad. Botwana was horrible...

(8) ATMs are here but not always accessible, they're usually in major towns. If you're in a relatively poor country (eg. malawi(poor) vs. Botwana(rich)) you're probably not going to find an atm or bank so stock up on cash while you can! Another option if they don't have ATMs that will accept your card (say, if you have mastercard like me) is to take money out through the bank at a fee, but it's usually a lot higher than an ATM fee as they usually charge %'s, not a set amount. (Although everything is developing like lightning here so that may change in a few years)

(9) Unless you're staying at fancy hotels, they're probably not going to take your credit card (unless you're in a rich country where credit cards are accepted everywhere). I was actually laughed at when I thought you could buy A PLANE TICKET with a credit card.....

(10) Money belts aren't widely known here (awesome). Every once in a while when I need to get money out in public people laugh at me because they think I store it in my underwear...

(11) English/French are widely accepted, depending on where you travel (a good chunk of the population should be fluent in either of these languages depending on who colonised, sometimes both). Although it pays to learn the basics of whatever language is native in the area you travel as people in rural areas will most likely not have very good schooling....

(12) Learn some of the language, when you speak their language to them they really really appreciate it. I can get smile from local women who usually glare me down!!

(13) "Give me my money" Get used to hearing this from the local children (and full grown adults who look well off? wtf?)...you're going to get it a lot. If you are white, you are rich in their eyes. Plain and simple. On the other hand if you don't get it, it's the most amazing feeling ever to see these kids because they are genuinely in awe of the fact that they are looking at a white person. 99% of the time I can make a baby stop crying. It's like you're a celebrity. Everybody wants to touch your hands and come out and see "the muzungu" (in central/southern africa).

(14) Bring a travel guide. Highly recommended. It's like having a friend with you who knows the area and speaks your language. Beautiful. Just add about 1/3 to the price listed, especially for loding. In Rwanda expect prices to be 2-3X what you read....

(15) Africa is expensive for budget travellers in terms of lodging. It's comparable with europe. Yes, you'll get more for your money but you'll still be paying similar prices. Expect to pay between $10(cheap)-30/night. If you have someone who you can share with, the prices are usually $10-20/night. Backpackers are few and far between. Most countries are more "lodge-based" in their acommodation.

(16) Cellphones are EVERYWHERE!!! And cheap! Everyone has a cellphone here, it's crazy. Some of the poorest areas...everyone has cellphones...Sim cards are between 1-2$ on avg per country. I bought my basic cellphone (does nothing other than phone people) in Botswana for approx $35. Long distance calls are around $0.75/min avg. but incoming calls are free (on pay as you go! WHAT?!). Just make sure that if you're changing countries you have an open phone so that you're not locked into one provider and therefore stuck without service once you get to a country dominated by one provider. PS if you can avoid it, avoid MTN. They're the worst provider I've used so far....


um...that's all I can think of for now, will update again soon with more but need to scadaddle. Chow!