6 + GHANA?

I've never thought about it seriously until I was having a chat with Uzoh yesterday. Airline connectivity within Africa is tricky matter. The day before, Rizwan pointed out that to get to South Africa from West Africa, one may have to fly via Dubai. There's also news that a slight change of plans is inevitable due to issues surrounding Visa requirements, resulting in him postponing his trip to Ghana. The initial plan is for Rizwan to spend a few weeks in Ghana before catching up with me in South Africa in March. I realized then that it's something worth looking into ahead of time.

- image from http://www.infrastructureafrica.org/

There's definitely a bright side to this, I get to tag along to Ghana later. Another one for the books!

TABLETS OF THE COOL KIND

Unlike the tablets that you painfully down on headache stricken days, I wonder why these tablets don't come in a plethora of colours. Sidekicks are there to spice things up. That's the only way.

Speaking of Spice, here's a review on CSL Droidpad Spice Mi700, Part 1 and Part 2. The Spice runs on Android 2.2.

The iPad currently takes the top spot in the Top Ten list followed by the Samsung Galaxy and the HP Slate 500. Perhaps the aptly named Toshiba Tablet will give the iPad a run for its money.

- image from http://www.geek.com/

DELORME, GARMIN, GARMIN, GARMIN, GARMIN, MAGELLAN

Say it repeatedly, has a melody to it hasn't it?

I'm actually doing a research on GPS systems, particularly used for travelling, to show me how to get to the nearest waterhole, if I get lost in the desert. Certainly in my case, I need help in the food department i.e. find the best eating places.

On a serious note (!), I'm planning to use this to lock and upload the coordinates online and record my route. If anybody has any insight on this, I'll appreciate the information. For the time being, I'm looking at the review for best GPS for 2011 on Top Ten Reviews. A much more competitive market out there compared to 5 years back as the technology is picking up among outdoor enthusiasts and addicts, I'm hoping to get a good deal.

Now where in Kuala Lumpur is another good question.

- the Delorme Earthmate PN-40, rated #1 on Top Ten Reviews, I'll be happy if I can get around the fact that it has 'complete U.S. and Canada topographic details' because it sounds like there's a subscription fee of some sort involved. Image from tripleblaze.com

TANZANIA - RESEARCH PART 1

Capital: Dodoma
Population: 39 million (over 120 ethnic groups)
Official Language: Swahili
Currency: Tanzanian shilling

- image from skyviewofafrica.com

The other day I told Yao Jung about this trip. In Skype mode excitement, the first thing he blurted was "Serengeti!"

Yes, the stuff of the National Geographic Channel. The great migration.


1. The Serengeti

There's just too many National Parks and Game Reserves to choose from, such diverse habitats, but supposedly the untamed Katavi National Park is one of the few that allows visitors to jump off the jeep and walk on the plains. The only complication is to get there, land transport may take days. My eyes open wide when I read "all flights will require landing on a grass airstrip" and "bush-compatible light aircraft". Bush-compatible. Cute.


2. Zanzibar

'Nuff said :)

- image from come-to-africa.com


3. Kilimanjaro

Standing at 5891m, the climb up to the Uhuru Peak at Kilimanjaro needs a week, possibly a bit more costly too. Scientists posited the year 2014 as the date for disappearance of the mountain's ice cap due to global warming.

- image from 7summits.com


4. The Maasai

The world is fascinated by them.

Lions are afraid of them.

Everybody else wants to dance the adumu with them.

- image from masai-mara.net

This may be one of the highlights of the trip, especially for Riz. I leave it at that, I'm sure he'll divulge the story.    

ZAMBIA - RESEARCH PART 1

Capital: Lusaka
Population: 13 million
Official Language: English (other languages include Bemba and Nyanja)
Currency: (Zambian) kwacha


Truthfully there's little that I knew about Zambia until I started to seriously think about this trip. The only reason why I knew it existed is because it's the other country that starts with the letter 'Z' (the other one is not New Zealand by the way).

I've heard so much about Victoria Falls that is 'somewhere in Africa'.

1. Victoria Falls a.k.a. Mosi-oa-Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders) ~ I like how cool the names are like the Dragon Mountains in South Africa

Located on the Zambezi River, southern Zambia near Livingstone, it is the largest waterfall in the world. Don't be confused, it is not the highest nor the widest waterfall but the combination of the two make it the largest sheet of falling water.

A visit is a must and so is a photograph. The challenge may just be finding the right spot to capture it at its best.

A more adventurous option is to bungee jump from the bridge. Mind you, if you ask me 5 years ago I'd say yes in a heartbeat. But I'm well past that stage and now I opt for, hmmmm....white water rafting.

Knowing my fickle mind, that may change.

I think I'll die at the monstrous rapids THEN die with a rope around my ankles.

- images from lonelyplanet.com and amazingplaces.onsugar.com respectively

....this piece of info doesn't seem much but I'm feeling a bit lost without the books I left in Kuala Lumpur.

KENYA - RESEARCH PART 1....OK, I CHEATED!

Thanks to Mr. McGregor and Mr. Boorman, I now have a mission in Kenya.

CROSS THE EQUATOR!

There are 6 countries that the Equator passes through in Africa - Somalia, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of The Congo, Uganda and Kenya.

A sign from the Jedi Master ignore you must not....

Note: Ewan and Charley crossed the Equator riding from Lewa to Nakuru in Kenya.

OBI WAN DOES AFRICA!

In the spirit of all things African, I was down at Kino and bought this.

Coincidently, Ewan and his best mate Charley journeyed around every single African country I'm planning to cover, albeit going the opposite direction. Awesome! :)

Hoping to pick up tips from the Master.

The evening ended with a fun catch up dinner with Billy talking about the possibilities of things to come in the 6 months I'm away.

BOTSWANA - RESEARCH PART 1

Time to be moving on to the next country.


Botswana.

Capital: Gaborone
Population: 1.5 million, majority 'Batswana'
Official Language: English (Setswana more widely spoken)
Currency: Pula

1. Xai-Xai (West of Botswana, bordering Namibia)

Described as 'a community-based tourism among Bushmen and Herero herders', this seems to be a promising start to getting myself acquainted with 'the culture'. Alas I found very limited references online, a visit also come in a package. Hmmmm....not my ideal way to getting to know the locals so I'll leave this one until I'm actually there to find out more. Besides, it came with a warning, "If you decide to come, don't do so expecting to meet 'traditional' hunter-gatherers; these days the Basarwa or San (that's Bushmen for you) only dress up for the benefit of visitors."

Looking forward to discovering what's not mentioned in the guide books.



Other than that, it's just a long list of National Parks and Nature Reserves, thanks to the charm of the Kalahari wildlife. One that interests me is the Khama Rhino Sanctuary.

2. Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Serowe

Established in 1992, it's another community-run project to preserve Botswana's rhinos, poached almost to extinction in the 1980s.

Activities range from camping to rhino trails to bird watching.

More research needed.

SOUTH AFRICA - RESEARCH PART I

Capital: Pretoria (Tshwane)
Population: 47 million, main groups Zulu and Xhosa
Language: Zulu, Xhosa, English, Afrikaans
Currency: South African Rand

The two destinations to explore in South Africa: -


1. Table Mountain, Cape Town
 It's quite apparent how Table Mountain got its name. It's a flat-topped mountain stunningly overlooking Cape Town. There are several trails for hikers, the other option is to hop on the cable car.


Mission: Photography - Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain; trekkers up Table Mountain

- image from wayfaring.info




2. Drakensberg a.k.a the Dragon Mountains (border of South Africa - Lesotho)
 Another nature walk is to Drakensberg, bordering Lesotho in the West. It's the highest mountain range in South Africa. Frankly, I'm not so sure if we're going to make it to that corner of South Africa but I'm adamant not to miss this if I do.


Mission: Photography - Ancient Bushmen rock paintings; most peculiar life form encountered in Drakensberg

- image from 100destinos.com

FIRST-TIME AFRICA

Well, you have to start somewhere....