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Africa » Tunisia » Tunis » Carthage March 15th 2024

After visiting with my gals in London I wanted to make the most of trip so I decided to make a visit to Tunisia. For those not familiar Tunisia is situated between Algeria and Libya and is about the size of Wisconsin. It has a population of 12 million with 93% being Muslim. In school they learn Arabic, French, and English. At home they speak Tunisian which is a combination of Arabic and French. This is not an official language but more of a dialect. I arrived on the first day of Ramadan. Muslims follow a lunar calendar which is approximately 11 days shorter than the solar calendar. Because of this Ramadan starts 11 days earlier each year so it falls in all seasons over time. I knew Ramadan would have some limitations such as availability ... read more
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Africa » Togo March 12th 2024

When you go on an organised tour of any region, there are always a number of prescheduled excursions included in the base package. But sometimes it is the spontaneous or unexpected stop that can be a highlight. Such was the case for me at a place called Atakpame in Togo, which just happened to be on the day of my 75th birthday. As we were driving along, we made a spontaneous stop when we interrupted an outdoor school lesson of grades 3 and 4 to check out their facilities and get familiar with their lessons approach. There was a beautiful moment for me when the whole class sang “Happy Birthday” to me (en Francais) then stood up and gave me a big clap. This was followed by one of our tour group, who had brought his ... read more
The Muslim market at Djougou
Crude stilling operation
Firewalker warming up his arm

Africa » Tanzania March 12th 2024

Tanzania offers unparalleled opportunities to experience nature through safari adventures. When you visit this wildlife wonderland can have a huge impact on what you see and your overall experience. Understanding Tanzania's diverse seasons and timing your trip for peak wildlife viewing periods will lead to optimal game spotting success. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the best months to visit Tanzania for safaris, based on seasonal weather and wildlife patterns. Tanzania's Seasons Tanzania experiences distinct wet and dry seasons that impact wildlife behavior and transportation. The wet season, from March/April through May, coincides with the short rains. Days are hot and humid with afternoon showers. Some roads may become muddy and impassable. Animals congregate near remaining water sources and vegetation is lush. From June through October/... read more

Africa » Tanzania March 12th 2024

Africa is renowned for its abundance of wildlife and unspoiled landscapes that offer unparalleled opportunities for safari experiences. In this article, we will explore the most important factors to consider when planning unforgettable African safaris. From choosing the right destination and timing your trip for optimal seasonal game viewing, to immersing in local culture and navigating logistical details, following these top tips will help ensure you make the most of your adventure. Tailoring Your Safari Experience There are many wonderful places to go on safari in Africa, each with its special attractions and seasons. When planning, consider which ecosystems and wildlife species appeal most to your interests. Deciding between popular locales like Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa and others involves researching their unique flora and fauna. For example, Eas... read more

Africa » Ghana March 9th 2024

Firstly, can I offer some background and detail for those with only a superficial knowledge of this key element of West Africa’s history. It helps to explain why slavery is still an undercurrent of most aspects of life today in this region. The Transatlantic slave trade involved the transportation by slave traders of enslaved African people, mainly to the Americas. The outfitted European slave ships of the slave trade regularly used the triangular trade route, and existed from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The vast majority of those who were transported were from West Africa, who had been sold by West A... read more
Locals paying homage at the Gate
St George's Castle at Elmina
View of Elmina from the coast

Africa » Morocco » Souss-Massa-Draâ » Erg Chigaga March 9th 2024

Nach einer erneut etwas eintönigen Fahrt durch karge Sandsteinlandschaften wird die Vegetation um uns herum irgendwann immer sandiger, je mehr wir uns den Sahara-Ausläufern im Erg Chigaga nähern. Die Orte, die eigentlich meistens eher losen Häuseransammlungen gleichen, bestehen bald nur noch aus Lehmbauten, das Leben dort erscheint immer einfacher, es sind deutlich mehr Tierkarren als Autos zu sehen. Immer öfter stehen statt der bislang üblichen Ziegenherden Kamele am Wegesrand und Sandverwehungen erschweren die Fahrt. Bald sind in der Ferne große orangefarbene Dünen zu erkennen, die ersten Zeichen, dass wir uns unserem Ziel, der kleinen Wüstenstadt Merzouga, nähern. Wir erreichen am frühen Nachmittag unser schönes lehmfarbenes Kasbah Hotel mit Pool und verbringen den Nachmittag dort am Poolbereich. Auch unser Zimmer und unsere kleine eigene Terrasse sind wunderschön, traditionell und do... read more
Merzouga
Merzouga
Pool in Merzouga

Africa » Morocco » Souss-Massa-Draâ March 8th 2024

Über Land und einmal durch Marrakeschs verrückten Verkehr hindurch (die Hauptroute ins Atlas Gebirge führt von Essaouira aus tatsächlich leider mitten durch das Stadtzentrum was uns locker eine Stunde Zeit kostet), ein paar Kilometer Serpentinen, über den berühmten Tiz-n-Tichka Pass (2.167 m) und dann wieder runter, durch ein malerisches Flusstal immer entlang des Abgrunds und "schwupps" (= knapp 5 Stunden später), sind wir mitten drin im beeindruckenden schroffen Atlasgebirge, rund 270 km östlich von Marrakesch. Hier sieht es zum ersten Mal so aus wie Marokkos Berge in meiner Vorstellung aussahen. Während das nördliche Rifgebirge viel grüner und lieblicher war als ich es mir vorgestellt hatte, sieht man hier im so genannten Mittleren Atlas, wilde rostrote Canyons und schwarze karge Mondlandschaften. Und in der Ferne ab und zu sogar die schneebedeckten Gipfel des hohen Atlas weiter südl ... read more
Ait-Ben-Haddou
Ait-Ben-Haddou
Ait-Ben-Haddou

Africa » Ghana » Ashanti March 6th 2024

Soon after crossing the border from Togo into Ghana, we headed for Kumasi, Ghana’s second city and the ancestral home of the old Ashanti Kingdom. By way of background, the Ashanti people were one of the most powerful nations in Africa until the end of the 19th century, when the British annexed Ashanti country, bringing it into their Gold Coast colony. Originally from the northern savannah regions, the Ashanti people migrated south, carving farms out of the wild rainforest. The region was rich in gold, and trade in this precious metal developed quickly, with small tribal states developing and vying for control of resources. In the late 17th century, the Ashanti ruler had brought these states together in a loose confederation and the Ashanti Kingdom was born. Their social organisation is still very much centred on ... read more
Lining up to pay their condolences
A sacrifice to the gods
Plenty of colour amongst the Chiefs

Africa » Mauritania March 5th 2024

My last day cycling south out of Mauritania was one of the best yet. Perfect weather. The landscape became more savanna-like. I stopped frequently as I saw birds I'd never seen before. The last 50km to Diama was through the Parc National du Diawling. Greenery and birds everywhere. On the last day I added about 20 species to my Mauritania list. Normally that's what the first day in a country is like. I'm still trying to work out what some of the birds were. I got at least six or seven lifers. Not far into the park, I passed the first of several warning signs warning about the presence of warthogs. I didn't pay too much heed to them, that is until I actually saw one standing on the track. It stood and watched quietly as ... read more
Lovely lunch spot along the road.
Black-crowned sparrow lark
A lot more birds in the savanna.

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Nakuru March 5th 2024

My previous blog submit turned into posted in a hurry due to the fact a worm the period of my middle finger flew thru the window carelessly, leaving Alice shivering like a little toddler on the couch even as Erick, the 4-yr-antique at Sure 24, eagerly chased the worm and tried to hit it with several pencils. I become afraid it would devour its way through the paper or sting me thru the paper, but I subsequently controlled to capture it in a jar and included it with a bit of paper! It seems that the day past, a 12-year-old boy killed one and captured it in a tissue (reputedly reappearing in big quantities). The purpose for the put off in blogging is because I do not have much or costly net get admission to; however, ... read more




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