jared7777

Hello travel guru's,

We are planning a trip in January or February of 2008 and we are wide open to suggestions. Some info.

We are 27, Canadian, have no kids and no budget

We are looking for a unique place anywhere in the world that has:
tropical weather
great beaches
interesting culture (edgey is ok)
somewhere a little off the beaten track
adventure activities
plenty of fun

we have loved:
Mal Pais Costa Rica
Rio de Janeiro and Ila Bella Brazil
kerela and goa india
on previous vacations at this time of year.

Where should we go?

Nyamera

Hello Jared,

Lamu fits your description, but I think you should go to the Mara and some other parks as well. I suppose "no budget" means you're not on a budget.

atravelynn

<b>Gorilla tracking in Rwanda, then Lamu</b>

Tropical weather-The gorillas live in a rainforest jungle.

Great Beaches-No, but that's why you include Lamu.

Interesting culture-The goodwill and positive spirit of the Rwandan people after the genocide is amazing. The memorials in Kigali and elsewhere are captivating.

Off beaten path-Depends where the animals are, they can be nearby right on the path or hours into the jungle where there is no path.

Adventure-The drive to Parc National des Volcans where the gorillas live is a bit of an adventure. The climb is a bigger one.

Plenty of fun-Absolutely. Even the gorillas sometimes appear momentarily amused.

Good luck in your search for early 2008.

waxwing

I would recommend Morocco- very interesting for that time of year

jared7777

Thanks atravelynn!
How long does one typically track gorillas for?
Also, how do you get from Rwanda to Lamu and how long does it take?

thanks,Jared

atravelynn

Jared,
How long one tracks is a good question with no good answer. It can be 15 minutes or many hours. I've always been on the many hours trips. Typically 2-3 hours to find the gorillas, next you spend exactly 1 hour with them, then 1-2 hours back down the mountain. No gear or special climbing skills are needed.

Visiting 2 gorilla groups 2 days in a row is a good idea to make the most of the 2 to 3 hour drive from Kigali to the national park.

Good thing you have no budget because gorilla visits in Rwanda have gone up to $500 each. It's worth it though.

Rwanda to Lamu:
First fly Kigali, Rwanda to Nairobi, Kenya. There are a couple flights per day and it is an hour and a half flight. The stop in Nairobi would let you do Nyamera's other suggestion of the Maasai Mara, which is Kenya' most famous game reserve with accommodations catering to all budgets. After 3-4 days here, then take the 1-2 hour flight to Lamu. I don't know much about Lamu.

That would be a cool holiday that could be done in about 2 weeks.