How many of you been in Africa?

Question

How many of you been in Africa..where you have been..what you saw, will you go again...where?

Answer 1

I have been lucky to visit Africa for both business and pleasure.
For pleasure I have vizited Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia (89), Malawi (94) Egypt (99) Ghana and Benin (2000) Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda (2002) and Morocco (2007).
For work I have lived in Uganda for over 6 months (2001) and visited Togo (2000), Rwanda (2001 and 2002), Kenya, Tanzania and Eritrea (2002) and Libya (2006).
It is a fascinating and incredibly diverse continent, not only on a sub continental basis which one would probably expect but just by crossing a border. Contrasts between neighbouring countries like Ghana and Togo or Uganda and Rwanda are huge.
Many countries have natual beauty that will exceed your wildest expectations. Paul Simon once sang a song about being African skies and I have to say that they are amazing. The starts in the desert or the sunrise and sunset in a remote countryside setting against the background of an arcacia tree take your breath away. Then of course there are the animals, birds and for those who like diving the sea life. There are also some fairly serious insects, I once made the mistake of camping on a next of biting red ants.
Above all though are the poeple. I have made many wonderful African friends and enjoyed superb hospitality, been taken to the most amazing music venues in little more than tin shacks and coversely had intense political discussions long into the night over a few cold beers. African people (and I do not mean to generalise) are immensely proud not only of their country but their continent and rightly so.
Would I go again, I have just come back from my latest trip and if I did not have responsibilities to tie me here I would be back there at a drop of a hat, there is so much more to discover.
If you are thinking of going, stop thinging and go but do your homework first - many places are very safe but some are sadly less so.

Answer 2

yes, I've been a few times for work, and a few times for a holiday. I've worked in Zambia and Madagascar. I've been on holiday to Malawi and Tunisia. I liked all the countries I visited there. Madagascar is not at all similar to mainland Africa and I found that the most interesting country, but also the most difficult to live in. I was ill the whole time I was there and for 6 months after I got back! I would go back again given the chance but I'm afraid that I much prefer South American and the Far-east and given the choice, I would go to east Asia. The appalling levels of poverty in Africa mean there is much begging and hastle. having said that, I made some true friends amongst the people I worked with in Zambia and Madagascar and have allways been well treated by the African people, so maybe I should go back and give it a second (fifth) chance!!

Answer 3

I lived and worked in Tanzania for a couple of years and I have been many times to Kenya, three times to Madagascar, twice to Ethiopia and twice to Mauritius. Some of my most treasured memories are bound up with those countries and when I see travel brochures I can hardly believe my good fortune to have seen so many wonderful things and met such extraordinary people. When I see Tanzanite for sale in duty free jewellery shops in the Caribbean, I think with wonder of how I knew its discoverer and visited the mine . When I see wildlife films I recall the many wonderful trips which it was my privilege to take. On leaving Madagascar for the second time I felt that I would return and indeed years later I won, in quick succession, a return ticket there with Air Madagascar and a cash prize in a travel competition with the London Times, which helped fund the trip. How utterly wonderful it was to explore the south of the country and get to know the lemurs! But I don't have any premonition of returning to Africa in future. It was all so wonderful before that perhaps I am apprehensive of it never being the same again! However, I need to get a proper look at Reunion Island. And I've always wanted to see Egypt. And there was that time when I turned down a job in Algiers....

Answer 4

I've been to Morroco and Kenya. Marrakesh was very interesting, the culture was an eye opener and the shopping was amazing. I would probably not go back as I was very ill with food poisoning and really I would only recommend a long weekend unless you are going out to the Atlas Mountains (absolutely stunning) and other places.
Kenya was a real eye opener and I think that everyone should go out there and see how they live in the real world. Don't stay in your hotel and sit by the beach, go on a trip. The poverty was beyond belief...... we visited typical villages where they lived in small wooden huts with no electricity, the kids had no shoes and their clothes were raggedy. I wish I had known had bad it was as I would have taken loads of my old clothes that I do not wear. It certainly made me realise how absolutely lucky all of us in the western world are.
The most amazing thing about these people is that they are so humble and gracious and welcoming. The children sang us songs and it bought tears to my eyes. None of them were rude and they were incredibly proud....... I would certainly go back to Kenya, not just for the culture but the scenery was stunning. I would definately love to go on a safari - I would like to go to the Ngongoro Crater, Zambia, Botswana etc. I think we can learn a lot from the African nations and if we are willing to give, they can learn a lot from us.

Answer 5

Been to Cape Town - well worth it. Table mountain, the island where Mandella was held prisoner and the townships. A bit of an eye opener however were the Cash Security vans with openly armed guards with them even in the main city centre high street although felt quite safe sitting at a payment cafe opposite. Not so safe when we ventured, accidentally, off the beaten track and down some side streets, felt a little vulnerable! Definatley go back again though.

Answer 6

I travelled to Kenya & Tanzania in 1991 for a holiday & ended up staying there for 18 months.

I married a local Tanzanian man (who I met back home in Australia) & became a citizen. We now have a 14yr old daughter!

East Africa is amazing - particularly the coastal regions & in the mountainous areas (careful of cobras & mambas though). The culture is rich, the language is the purest form (Tanzania) of Swahilli & the pride of the people never ceased to amaze me.

My time in Africa also opened my eyes to oppression (particularly in Nairobi under the then rule of President Moi) and poverty of which I had never seen before - but at the same time I experienced so much warmth, love & companionship... its a world of extremes.

Its hard to put into words my experiences whilst there... but it taught me to be humble & accepting of other cultures, beliefs & family traditions.

I most definately would like to return to Africa, this time I would be more prepared (I fell extremely ill whilst there) and I would also like to contribute in some way to improving my extended families way of living & thier immediate community.

I also wish to say that my reason for travelling to Africa was not as a tourist, rather to meet my intended in-laws & to experience first hand my partners culture.

Karibuni wote bwana :-)))

Answer 7

I've been to Ghana and Liberia and in 4 days I will be on my way to Cape Town, South Africa and then on to Zambia for a couple of months.
Yes, after this trip is over, I am sure I would go again. Life is very different and more challenging in an underdeveloped or devleloping country,so you expect problems and learn to deal with them.
But it is a growth experience. There is more to Africa than crime, poverty HIV/AIDS, war, famine and sightseeing but you would never know from the scant news we get.

Answer 8

I've been in Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho,Swaziland traveled alone and I worked in the last 6 country's as a tour leader. Saw to many things to write down here and would love to go there again if I could find the money.

Answer 9

My dad was a civil engineer and we went where he went: Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, Senegal, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Pemba, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Cameroon,Malawi, Lesotho, Botswana. 14 schools later and a number of languages, zebras and giraffes to last me a lifetime, Kilimanjaro with more snow and the Skeleton Coast with its desert elephants! I would go back to Cape Town, Mombasa, Sinai, and Swakopmund (to a little place just outside called Kollmannskuppe).
The people are wonderful !

Answer 10

Egypt....maybe go down the Nile aways, but saw enough of Cairo not to bother again...pyramids, Egyptian Museum, sphinx, worst traffic jams I've seen ever anywhere in the world, lots of people with their hands out looking for baksheesh
Morocco...fantastic....2nd largest mosque in the world in Casablanca, Fez, Rabat, Marrakech...lots of countryside in between....definitely go back, maybe try to see a bit of the Sahara next time!

On my list: South Africa, Capetown, Kruger Nat'l. Park, etc.