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[dcm]

I would love some feedback and advice from anyone who knows the areas I am going to below:

I am so happy I found this forum - I have asked so many people for advice, but I am sure that I will get much more accurate information from the thousands of members who use travelpod on a daily basis.

I have been planning this for months - I work in a book store - so I have access to ALL lonely planets, and other guides, african photography, travel writing etc etc.

I have chosen all my transport options, accommodation and sights - my itenary almost looks clinical, but I understand that this is Africa and nothing ever goes according to plan.

Things such as safety and security in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi. When last did someone go on the MV Liemba down Tanganyika or on the TAZARA with a student discount? Can one get to Bujumbura from Kigoma on a ferry or other boat?

If you have been to any worthwhile memorable places - that are either free or cheap - that are on or near to my routing, please please tell me - the guide books don't tell you the true secrets, and when they do, they don't last for long!

I am leaving in 3 weeks on an expedition from Cape Town to Uganda and back via Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia.
I plan to take 9 weeks and spend R9000 ($20 per day).

I am doing it as cheap as possible - with the aim of writing some feature stories on budget travel.
I have just graduated and am now officially a journalist (everyone is really, but I just have the certificate).
I am going to document my journey, do features on the people I meet, the sights I see, the food I eat and the bribes I don't pay.

I am getting around and about with public transport and hitchhiking. Accommodation will be in cheap hostels, camping grounds and trains and busses!

My routing is as follows:

Leg 1: 28/11/06 to 06/01/07
Cape Town - Johannesburg - Lusaka - Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar - Pemba - Tanga - Mombassa

Leg 2: 07/01/07 to 19/01/07
Mombassa - Lamu - Nairobi - Mbale - Kampala - Kalangala (Ssese Islands) - Kasese - Ishasha

Leg 3: 20/01/07 to 31/01/07
Kigali - Bujumbura - Kigoma - Mpulungu - Lusaka - Livingstone - Popa Falls, Supupa - Swakop - Cape Town.

I plan to take in game parks - Selous, Malindi, Lamu, Ishasha, Okavonga... (the free ones), Zanzibar, Pemba, Lamu, Ishasha, Okavonga Namib-Naukluft park and others.

I am doing epic transport options - like the TAZARA train from Zambia (Kapiri Mposhi) to Tanzania (dar es Salaam), a Ferry from top to bottom of lake Tanganyika.

If you want to see a detailed itenerary, including transport details and prices, accommodation and prices, and all the destinations, then e-mail me and I will send you a small word doc containing all the info.

I AM definately biting off more than I can chew - but I know it and I thrive on it!

Whatever I don't see I will come back and see again.

Dave

-------------------------
The Journey IS the Destination!

Love like you've never been hurt,
Work like you don't need the money, and
Dance like nobody's watching.

[whereshegoes]

Wow! How exciting! Your trip sounds epic and I think you are going to have such rich experiences. Africa is one of these places that I don't believe you can ever read about or watch of TV. To truly get the essence, you must go. Because it is all those little moments that color your experience and etch themselves deep into your soul.

Here are a few things I learned:

In Cape Town: I stayed at a hostel called Big Blue. They have great tours for good prices. Its a good location for the most part and you can walk down to the waterfront from here.
Try to get to Cape Point. There is a bike tour that I did that was incredible and the views were stunning.

In Nairobi: Make sure you get to the market as it is the biggest in East Africa. There are great deals to be had and just the energy here was worth the visit. The art is breathtaking and you almost feel bad paying so little. But deal and barter anyway because this is part of the experience.

I did a safari in the Masai Mara and got to learn alot about the Masai. I would recommend it. I felt like I was in national geographic and couldn't believe that there were still tribes like this, so natural.

Hope this helps. Most of all, listen to yourself. Your instincts will serve you well.

Be well!
Carmella

[kevandsian]

Wow Dave, what a challenge, I like a challenge! Good for you for taking on such an adventure. It's clear that you've already done heaps of research and your enthsiasm is almost contagious! Please email me your detailed itinerary, I'd be very interested.

I'm going to look into your specific questions and I'll get back to you as soon as I've got the most up to date info. However, please just bear in mind the following notes of caution for now.....

Firstly, Taking just 9 weeks to do this trip is probably going to be your biggest challenge, why do you want to pack so much in? or perhaps the mega tight schedule is the challenge!?

Secondly, taking 9 weeks with your own transport would be tricky but on public transport....................!! Just bear in mind that when someone tells you "the bus is coming soon" this means "the bus is coming in the next few days - if you're lucky", "the bus is coming now" translates as "the bus is coming today", and "the bus is coming now now" means the bus is coming in the next few hours".

This is not in anyway trying to discourage you, I just want you to be prepared!!

The part of your schedule that concerns me most is leg 3, it might be possible but you would see nothing, it would be constant, hard travelling, just bear that in mind. This kind of travelling is an experience in itself and one that I enjoy the experience of every now and then!

I think your budget is manageable, certainly food and accommodation you can get by on as little as $6-10usd per day. Transport costs vary wildly and hitchhiking will be the cheapest but will still cost you a negotiable fee in most cases. However, be prepared to pay more to leave quickly otherwise transport will generally leave only when full or almost full which might not fit your schedule.

Lake Tanganyika is still cause for concern in terms of security but again I'll get back to you once I've got the latest.

Whatever happens this is going to be a great adventure and I'm looking forward to hearing more.

Sian

My Pod

[gilgamesch]

I've done a similiar trip in 2004/2005. You will be fine with your budget but that is only if you exclude visas. I assume you are from SA. As a South African you will not need many expensive visas for Southern Africa but if you hold a British passport, you will pay a lot!

I traveled with the train from Mwanza to Dar. Train travel is quite relaxing and not that cramped like the busses. However the trains are extremely slow so bring a nice book from your store with you...

Bus travel is quite expensive in Tanzania (ca. R200 from Dar to Nairobi) and quite dangerous. Busses speed there and the drivers are reckless. Scandinavian (thats the name of the bus company) are among Tanzanians the first choice. They don't speed that excessively, but they do anyway... Anyway, they are reliable and comfortable. Just a tip when buying a bus ticket: Don't buy from some "agent" who will be approaching you on the bus stations. You will get a ticket, but the price includes a comission.

In Zanzibar, rather in Stone Town, you will get your best food and very cheap at the Forodhani Gardens. You will be surprised, you will find very cheap Hotels in Stone Town. Take the services of a guide - I don't have to tell you where you find them, they will find you... However hard you try, you will never find that specific hotel on your own...

Student card didn't help me at all.