Africa

Siwa — A Magical Oasis in Egypt’s Western Desert

There was once a straight road from Cairo to the Siwa Oasis, but the desert had other ideas. Wind and sand wiped away any hopes of such convenient travel and that road is closed off today. The only way to Siwa now is up to the port of Marsa Matruh, and then down again...

Hwange Safari Tour: Zimbabwe

I visited Hwange as part of an organized safari tour. When they told me that I was heading to this park, I was unsure about what was to come. I had never heard about Hwange National Park before and most of what I had seen in Zimbabwe previously, had been a...

Rwanda – A Hilly Paradise

Over and over, I had heard, ?Rwanda is the safest, cleanest country in Africa?. Skeptical, I often thought to myself, how big of a difference could there be from where I have traveled around the continent? Turns out I was spectacularly wrong. A work trip brought me to...

At Play in the Algerian Sahara

Trekking the Algerian Sahara Taghit's finest had agreed to supply a camel caravan to take me and my three traveling companions out into the depths of the Grand Erg Occidental "? the portion of the Sahara Desert that most resembles an ocean "? and come back...

Popcorn and coffee: a Tunisian morning

I watch a man set up his popcorn booth. It is January second, but I barely notice that a new year has started. Between going to the International Airport in Cairo at 23h00 on December 31st, then crossing numerous x-ray machines until finally arriving in Tunis, only to...

Visit The Souk ? Don?t Be Afraid!

The cross-hatched trellis drew me in to the Egyptian market area in front of me. Entering the wooden arch of the souk, I was engulfed in the banter of the storekeepers. I was immediately intimidated, averting my eyes from everyone other than my husband. I didn?t want...

A Tasty Journey Thru Johannesburg

?Have you ever tried sweet paan?? My tour guide asked me this question as we walked along one of many busy Johannesburg streets, in search of local treats. We had parked in Fordsburg, the Indian quarter of Johannesburg, South Africa. Fordsburg is a neighborhood with a...

African Motorcycle Road Trip, Part 3

I'm out of bed early and packing the motorcycle to head further south from Springbok. My next destination is Cape Agulhas, which means a longer day of riding. About 700 kilometres (460 miles). There was a time when I'd think twice about doing a ride of this...

African Motorcycle Road Trip, Part 2

The old Afrikaans gentleman says to me - "Ah, so you're going up into Africa". I'm intrigued by what he's just said. I reply, half-jokingly - "Aren't we in Africa; right here, right now?" He said nothing, just smiled back. Back on...

African Motorcycle Road Trip, Part 1

My African Journey Begins, and I'm Feeling Rather Sick I've just been to the nearest travellers' medical centre and started a round of vaccinations in preparation for a road trip across southern Africa. The vaccination program covers Rabies, Typhoid,...

Camping With Elephants at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

They appeared as shadows through the trees, one at first, then a second and a third, until the whole herd was illuminated by the glow of the full moon above. I scarcely dared to breathe for fear of alerting them to our presence. It was not the first time I had seen...

Responsible Tourism in Nairobi

Responsible Tourism I woke up in Nairobi, Kenya, fully rested after 13 hours on a bus to arrive there. I had been living in Tanzania doing aid work, and was eager for a long weekend in a new country. However, with tourism being one of the leading economic sectors in...