BootsnAll Travel Community

Wherever you are, take a risk and get out of your comfort zone. Leave the hotel/hostel/overland group and make friends with locals. The experience will be so much more interesting!

I hspent three years living and working in Africa while many countries have a lot to offer ZAMBIA is one of the best.
Victoria Falls - Beautiful and alluring also for the more adventerous of heart there is bungis jumping 111 meters or 365 feet fo a bridge spanning the gorge.

Kuamboka Ceromony held in May(check with the Zambia Tourism Board for the exact date). This ceromony is when the villages officially move from the islands out in swampy country to the mainland and the drum music must be heard live to be believed.

Copperbelt - This part of Zambia is just worth the trip. No matter what time of year it is always beautiful there.

Take a train trip. The TAZARA Railway system runs from Livingston by Victoria Falls and extends to Tanzania. I took the trip from Kapiri Imposhi to Kasama and back and it was wonderful.you meet great people on the train the Sceenery is spectacular and you have the oppurtunity to sample some great food on the way(if you are not seasoned to the food bring immodium or lomotil but this is true in travelling anywhere).

There are plenty of inexpensive and very expensive hotels in all of the major cities. To be honest some of my best nights were spent in someones home or sleeping on the buys waiting for it to get full. There are markets in every twon where you can buy everything from food stuffs to souveniers.

A none about Munkoyo. A local homebrew that I developed a taste for. Great stuff but depending on how long it ahs been fermenting it can knock you for a loop.

As an RPCV of Mauritania I would recommend for only the bravest to travel through this land. Travel to Atar then venture, to one of their distant oasis. Absolutely amazing. The people are friendly and would likely take you in for the night. Go in the summer when the date season is in full swing. One could manage speaking French. Eat dates all day and night in the desert. Ah, the life. Beware that travel agencies in the country are sparse. I also second Dogon Country.

i want to visit Africa but i dont know which is the best places to visit any one have any suggestions? wat part are good and waht areas should i visit?

Lamu in Kenya!! The town is so relaxed and beautiful and not as touristy as Stone town in Zanzibar, Tanzania (although can't beat the Zanzibari beaches). We found this little cafe which was hidden in amongst the alleyways and it was empty every time we went but the owner was such a nice man and he taught us how to play Bao (like an african board game) and he made the best Mango, pineapple and lime juice in the entire world!!!

i would recommend www.desertcameltrips.com for morocco desert trips as the best and cheap services on a local style .
i have been to morocco and tried the local services after i foudn my self ina hotel that was king of stress....
also vilage kouki in essaouira it's a lonely place far from essaouira where you can get a locals ervices too and have a peac and quite moments way from the groups of tourists...

all the best

Any place where you can meet local people is a good place :-)

Will be travelling through eastern and northern Africa (as well as western/central Europe later on) and am looking for any options regarding cell phones or blackberrys for calling North America or emailing. I get tired of always looking for internet cafes or figuring out how to call out of foreign countries while travelling.

Any advice on something not ridiculously expensive?

Hi i used a weblink to call from morocco to northafrica for free - but you'll need a conecting computer- you can call (to cell-fixed fons-computers) and for free they gave 2500 minut to call and it's just for free .
let me know if you'll need that and and let your email to contact you .
remember this is just available to call from evrywhere to -canada and usa.

sorry ( i mean to call from northafrica to northamerica.

I can vouch for Benin, West Africa! If you want something "off the beaten track" this country is for you! In the 3 months I lived there, I saw in total, about 15 yovos (the Fon word for tourists). Mind you I stayed with a host-family and the village we lived in wasn't a touristy one to start with, but we did go to tourist sites and could still have the place to ourselves. The people are amazing. You can get around the country with French (no english!). Voodoo is still practiced by a large part of the population, and this is evident as you walk through Fetish markets and hear the drums of voodoo ceremonies at night. Some nights locals warn you not to go outside because of the fetishes! Very interesting place. Huge history in the slavetrade with museums and Ouidah has the door of no return. Up north is even more barren and to the most northern parts are two safari parks, which have elephants, lions, buffalo, hippos, and quite a variety for West Africa. It's an amazing country which definitely hasn't been discovered by mass tourism, so get there while you still can have it to yourself!