Blogs from Africa - page 3363

Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa October 19th 2000

Addis Ababa isn't like any other city I've seen. There's no public transport into town, just a swarm of taxi drivers who all want to negotiate a 3-hour tour of the city. We found a driver who'll take us for 40 birr ($5). If only we had a guidebook! We're at the mercy of what little info we have and any of the cabbie's suggestions which, of course, keep costing us more money. But he drove us to Piazza, to a street between 2 hotels. Mike checked them out and negotiated for the price of the cab + the hotel (package deal, I guess.) 4 nights for 260 birr. The room's shabby but clean-ish. The electrical system is scary as hell but there is an attached bathroom. This is one poverty-saturated city. The pretty pictures in ... read more

Morocco

Africa » Morocco August 1st 2000

noideagirl

Geo: 34.9224, -6.19284Essouira Altas Mtns Marrakech... read more

Crocodile Adventures

Africa » Gambia » District of Banjul » Bakau December 9th 1999

Petting a Crocodile

A Small Swede in the Big World

Hello my fellow travelers! This is the first and only post I'll make about a trip to Gambia from December 8 to December 14, 1999 that I did together with my parents and my uncle Anders. We stayed in Bakau, which is located west of the capital of Banjul but also took a trip into nearby Serrekunda, which is the largest city in Gambia and which is well known for it's markets. Here I bought a wooden bird to add to my growing collection of animals collected abroad. Gambia is chaotic, lot's of people, much poverty and certainly a risk of theft. While we visited the market in Serrekunda the tour agencies told us we could walk around freely at the market since they had undercover guards protecting us but we shouldn't stray beyond the market ... read more

Botswana Calling

Africa » Botswana » North-West » Chobe National Park November 30th 1999

Vic Falls

Taylors Ink

Only time for a quick entry. We are in Botswana - Kasane - a small village outside the Chobe national park. Botswana is a welcome relief after Zimbabwe where hyperinflation and political oppresion has seriously damaged the economy. Despite the problems, the Zimbabwe people remain friendly and try t6o support the tourists which help support them - there are tourist police everywhere protecting us from undue harrassment from touts. We saw Victoria Falls briefly - incredible - will re-visit later. We also walked with lions in the National Park. Today we visited Chobe for a morning safari ride where we saw impala, hippos, lions, jackal, warthog, numerous birds and a leopard!!! Saw elephants yesterday on the drive in. Stocking up now for our wilderness adventure tomorrow. Will write at length later. ... read more

African Rhythms

Africa » Zimbabwe » Victoria Falls November 30th 1999

Africa 001

Taylors Ink

Well. We are back in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and feeling much more at home. The trip has been fantastic!!! Highlights? The Irish lads on our tour - a young barrister and a fabulously talented singer who has just signed a recording deal with Sony. Consequently we have been enjoying quality live music in the African bush. Look out for Owen Brady (unless he takes on a stage name) - he deserves to be the “next big thing.” The group we have been traveling with has been mixed and interesting. Besides the Irish lads, we’ve had a young South African lawyer, a grey haired I.T. man and his teenage son, a young farmer and his teacher wife, a firefighter, a travel agent, an adventure tour agent, a stockbroker, and a young I.T. couple. I’ve developed a taste ... read more

Accra Ghana

Africa » Ghana » Greater Accra » Accra November 1st 1999

pg003

One week visit to Accra, teaching and installing. Last person to stay in the hotel before the Queen popped over and stayed in the same hotel. Customs was interesting.... read more

Tiiiim-ber!

Africa » Kenya » Nairobi Province » Nairobi September 23rd 1999

Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri)

grantcorp

This morning we headed out for a quick safari, going to be the last of the trip. The days just disappeared so quickly. We continued to keep an eye out for the reclusive rhinocerous still missing from the big five list but had to do with some antelopes and waterbuck instead. When we returned to the camp we packed our gear into the cars and prepared for the drive back to Nairobi. At this point a lot of the people wanted a group photo taken and we lined up like a school photograph while people dashed to the cars to collect their cameras. As we kept standing there our guide taking one picture after the other in the stark sunshine I suddenly started to feel a bit dizzy. The next thing I know I wake up ... read more

Mommy, I don't feel so good...

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Masai Mara NP September 22nd 1999

Grant's Gazelle (Gazella granti)

grantcorp

This morning I don't feel so well and decide to stay in bed while the group goes on the morning safari. In the afternoon we hike over to the nearby Masai village to have a look around and are welcomed by Big Moses and his fellows. There is a market where you can buy some trinkets and we are invited inside one of the traditional huts made of cow dung to look around. Apart from the door there is only a small window and it is absolutely pitch black inside even though there is a fireplace in the middle of the room. As we crowd some fifteen people inside you could be forgiven to think you were inside a sauna. The visit to the village was extremely interesting and the Masai very friendly, and the fact ... read more

Just whose hip bone is that?

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Masai Mara NP September 21st 1999

White-bearded Wildebeeste (Connochaetes taurinus)

grantcorp

Immediately after getting dressed and getting out I talk to some of my neighbours about last night's strange sounds. To my relief I have not yet turned insane, since more people have heard it. Confronting our guide at breakfast he laughs and explains that sometimes a leopard will come passing through the camp at night on its way to its hunting grounds. I am not sure that I should feel relieved by this information or not. To break the routine we will do a daytrip to a nearby river where we hope to spot hippos and crocodiles, and we will bring food with us. On the way we stop over at a nearby lodge, presumably to stock up on foodstuffs or other supplies. The lodge complex is very classy and the guests live in proper cottages. ... read more

Masai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi)

Oh look, it is a yellow-tufted, brown-bottomed, lesser francolin!

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Masai Mara NP September 20th 1999

The undisputed king of the savannah

grantcorp

We repeat the method of early morning and afternoon safari as yesterday. I am disappointed at the fact that everybody is now blasé and bored of the "common" animals and are ranting about the big five and where to spot them. The car will speed past fantastic groups of antelopes and gazelles as if they were cows ruminating next to the freeway. Everytime I ask if we could stay for a picture everbody seems completely surprised and almost bored, which pisses me off. When I return I will have a car of my own, and I will take the time to appreciate these fantastic animals in peace. Mr. Wahlstedt, our main guide has a keen eye for birds, so keen in fact that whenever he points out a great snake eagle or huff puffed pointy buzzard ... read more

South African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

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