It was a rough flight heading down to Dakar, Senegal this morning. I was seated next to a mother with two children - she was having trouble getting them buckled in so a flight attendant came over - leaned over me and when she straightened out, mashed her elbow into my face. Then after we were in the air, the mother called the same flight attendant over to open the overhead compartment and when she did so my laptop immediately fell down, with one … [Read more...]
Planning a Trip to Africa to see the Gorillas
I have been to Africa a number of times and always gravitate towards the sub-Saharan eastern part of the continent. One of the greatest thrills on the planet is to be on a big game safari in Africa. The wildlife is prolific at times from parts of Kenya down through South Africa but especially in the Serengeti - with herds of wildebeest, plenty of giraffe, elephants and other rarer sightings. But until now, a visit to see gorillas in the wild … [Read more...]
A Dream of Mine, To Take a Gorilla Safari in Uganda
My bucket list of countries high on my list to still visit is dwindling in number - this shorlist focuses on either memorable experiences or unique natural outdoor natural attractions. Long on my list has been a visit to parts of eastern Africa to see the gorillas in the wild. My interest was rekindled after talking to a good friend of mine who is on a mission to see every country in the world. He recently returned from parts of eastern Africa … [Read more...]
Banjul to Varela: Where?
As I stepped into the Range Rover under the dusty skies of Banjul in the early AM I was greeted by the familiar sounds of Don Williams. Fortunately he is my favorite singer so I was able to easily absorb about 6 hours of one of his cd's cycling through the same songs over what ultimately would turn into a 10.5 hour adventure before we reached our final destination in northern Guinea Bissau. Our journey involved several border crossing - going … [Read more...]
Wine Tasting in Thies Senegal
With only two wineries in the country, our wine tasting options during our visit were somewhat limited. I reached out to both producers – one a grape producer with a small vineyard outside of Dakar (Le Clos des Baobabs) and the other a fruit wine producer (Vin du Sahel Winery) in Thies, the “second city” of Senegal – about 90 mins by car from Dakar. The founders of Vin du Sahel Winery, Joe Sambou (along with his wife Kim) have multicultural … [Read more...]
This is Africa
We left Varela on the coast in Guinea Bissau at 5am - determined to make it back to Dakar in time for our 145am flight that evening. No small feat since it took us more then 20 hours to get to Varela from Dakar. Unfortunately the border between Guinea Bissau and Senegal is not open all night; in the morning it opens at 8am. We arrived at the border at 630am - avoiding all the corrupt police on the road as they had not yet reached their posts. … [Read more...]
Moments on the Road, Guinea Bissau
Look once and you see the dustiness of West Africa - it all blends together - the orange grime that covers everything in the dry season and the equally faded and dirty skies above. Sahel + Harmattan. Look closer and the details transition into focus. Trash everywhere - most of it is plastic crap. Notice the stillness; rusted motorbikes half buried in the sand will never run again. A truck's cabin has been gutted by people and by the weather. … [Read more...]
How tough is Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and How Prepared should you be?
Gorilla trekking to Volcanoes National park Rwanda one of the most remarkable and unforgettable experiences a person can have for an entire lifetime, meeting eye to eye with these amazing creatures is an opportunity that anyone should never miss. Several questions usually linger in the minds of tourists wishing to take part in gorilla trekking. These questions include what gorilla group is the most desired, how long does it take to track the … [Read more...]
Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and a Crazy Taxi Driver
Today we left Tunis in search of some urban relief which we found in the much smaller communities of Carthage, Sidi Bou Said and La Marsa. Our first stop was the UNESCO World Heritage site of Carthage - originally settled in 814 BC and at one time it supposedly rivaled Alexandria for being the largest city in the Roman Empire. We visited the old baths - there is not much left here but some of the archways and columns have been restored. The … [Read more...]
My Time Exploring Tunis, Tunisia
I did not think twice of going to Tunisia for holiday. But then I had to wade through the thick flotsam of fear about the warped realities of travel to Tunisia I encountered when I informed people I was going to this country. Ultimately this fear messed with my psyche and did so until I was on my final flight to Tunis when I finally was able to relax. But such was my luck the night I arrived - a suicide bomber killed himself and 12 other … [Read more...]
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