28 replies to this topic

[dlambert]

hey everyone,

My sister and I are going to Africa in just about a years time. Because everyone on this forum are from so many different places maybe some body would have some suggestions.

We have no idea how to go about planning a trip to a separate continent, so any advice would be awesome.

thanks =]

[lab rat]

Make sure all your documentation is in order and all information on your identification matches your passport.

[casandra]

Africa, eh....nice.....

first, you have to decide where you wanna go and you’ve to check each country out-- you'll get a better idea about the route, the time, your budget, the weather, mode of transpo, what to expect etc....you can compare prices, group tour vs going off on your own… check the US travel advisories….

…and then you've to consult your GP or the health department- which shots you have to take, which medications you need to bring…

have all the emergency numbers and impt addresses: nearest embassies or consulates…family or friends who can easily be reached in case of emergencies….Western Union branches (just in case…)

and more importantly- be very careful with the food and drinks…..esp the drinks….as much as possible drink only bottled or boiled water or canned ones (softdrinks..beer etc) and no ice cubes……and try to avoid fresh rabbit food too…better be paranoid than sick…

and take pics or videos....lots and lots of them....

[dlambert]

thanks guys for the advice =]

and good call casandra for checking the US travel advisories, maybe this will help ease my parents minds about us traveling.
thanks again =]

[casandra]

you're welcome, dlambert. And we have THIS...quite comprehensive and useful. You probably also have the registration service for those travelling or living abroad, so you might as well make use of it.

Would it be the first time you'd be travelling/touring abroad? Esp if it is, then you can't blame your parents for being apprehensive. Goodluck with your planning.....

[dlambert]

kind of. I am hoping to go to Ecuador with my friend's school over spring break, but haven't really told my parents that yet
but yeah I haven't travelled abroad without my family yet. I guess what it comes down too is that I have no interest in staying in America lol

[casandra]

dlambert, on Jan 12 2010, 11:25 AM, said:

kind of. I am hoping to go to Ecuador with my friend's school over spring break, but haven't really told my parents that yet
but yeah I haven't travelled abroad without my family yet. I guess what it comes down too is that I have no interest in staying in America lol

oh, you're gonna plan behind their backs....good for you......I guess you won't hit them for cash....South america will be a good dry run...that's staring off near and then you can think of going off to somewhere really far...just to escape the US of A eh?....so you'd be doing the whole of the african continent?

[dlambert]

casandra, on Jan 12 2010, 09:36 AM, said:

dlambert, on Jan 12 2010, 11:25 AM, said:

kind of. I am hoping to go to Ecuador with my friend's school over spring break, but haven't really told my parents that yet
but yeah I haven't travelled abroad without my family yet. I guess what it comes down too is that I have no interest in staying in America lol

oh, you're gonna plan behind their backs....good for you......I guess you won't hit them for cash....South america will be a good dry run...that's staring off near and then you can think of going off to somewhere really far...just to escape the US of A eh?....so you'd be doing the whole of the african continent?

Nah, I'm just a college student, I don't have enough cash for traveling the whole continent. Thankfully that south american trip might be covered, yeah scholarships =]. But in africa I think we are going to go to South Africa. idk it is something about the south thing that seems enticing, south america, south africa.

haha is there a south canada I can go to?

[casandra]

dlambert, on Jan 12 2010, 12:08 PM, said:

Nah, I'm just a college student, I don't have enough cash for traveling the whole continent. Thankfully that south american trip might be covered, yeah scholarships =]. But in africa I think we are going to go to South Africa. idk it is something about the south thing that seems enticing, south america, south africa.

haha is there a south canada I can go to?

Of course we’ve got everything….there’s the Bas-Canada (lower) and the Haut-Canada (upper) and South Canada, which we also call the New England States….

And South Africa is a very good choice…. to have the “real” Lion King African savannah dancing experience, do a safari tour of the Kruger and the Limpopo Transfrontier Parks, get wet in the St Lucia wetlands and of course, gawk at the Little Five…..keep us informed then…and we wanna see photos here…...

[LostintheLab]

Oh you jammy dlambert heading off to all these exotic locations! I've heard very good things about Kruger national park, should be a priority and Cape Town too- see the penguins and sea lions, or how about great white shark cage (or clear plastic "cage") diving...maybe best not to tell your parents about that
We expect pictures from you...there's even a whole thread where you can put them!

[casandra]

LostintheLab, on Jan 12 2010, 07:48 PM, said:

Oh you jammy dlambert heading off to all these exotic locations! I've heard very good things about Kruger national park, should be a priority and Cape Town too- see the penguins and sea lions, or how about great white shark cage (or clear plastic "cage") diving...maybe best not to tell your parents about that
We expect pictures from you...there's even a whole thread where you can put them!

Perhaps we shld move the bioforum conference over there, Lost-san...what d'ya think? swimming with the great whites would be nice or feeding the giraffes with your hat.......

[LostintheLab]

We could have the conference in SA...nice central location (as in far from all our various locations)...
I like my hats, they're not getting fed to any giraffe.
As to great whites- what would you choose- sea through cage or the usual metal option? or it could be a dare?

[casandra]

LostintheLab, on Jan 12 2010, 11:43 PM, said:

We could have the conference in SA...nice central location (as in far from all our various locations)...
I like my hats, they're not getting fed to any giraffe.
As to great whites- what would you choose- sea through cage or the usual metal option? or it could be a dare?

a dare of course....otoh, can we just have one of those CGI sharks...safer that way cos I kinda like my skin ...and these giraffes are viciously hat-obsessed...even ate one of my favourite Canadiens ones...how about an elephant ride? without a saddle (as a double dare?)

[LostintheLab]

I like my skin too- so no barebacked elephant riding for me (anyway, I'm planning on doing that in Thailand in March)
I vote for the CGI shark too, since I'm a complete wimp.
How come a giraffe ate your hat- they're better be a good story here

[casandra]

Oh not really the best story ever...it's just that a family of giraffes started poking their heads in our car and ate everything their long wet tongues can snare...including our hats....spat them out later- the barbaric beasts... ....and Lost-san...enjoy the elephant ride...they smell a bit funny tho....