ERRATUM: there is no "once in a lifetime tour to Africa" - official view of Fodorites
Apr 22nd, 2006, 03:11 PM
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ERRATUM: there is no "once in a lifetime tour to Africa" - official view of Fodorites
The official view of this forum is that there does not exist such thing as "Once in a lifetime tour to Africa" even if someone defines so...
It will certainly evolve into "Twice in a lifetime tour to Africa". then convert into
"Thrice in a lifetime tour to Africa" & so forth (4th / fourth)...
It will certainly evolve into "Twice in a lifetime tour to Africa". then convert into
"Thrice in a lifetime tour to Africa" & so forth (4th / fourth)...
Apr 22nd, 2006, 03:19 PM
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Yes, this is true. Mr. Ericka and I returned from our "once in a lifetime" trip to Africa last fall. All the way through the planning process, we were using such phrases as "we'll only do this once, so...".
We are now discussing our 2nd "once in a lifetime" trip to Africa. It may not be for a few years - we've got a few trips to Asia coming up - but it will happen, that is for sure.
We are now discussing our 2nd "once in a lifetime" trip to Africa. It may not be for a few years - we've got a few trips to Asia coming up - but it will happen, that is for sure.
Apr 22nd, 2006, 07:02 PM
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You hit right on the button.....to me it's always like, when's my next africa trip.....and to where....
It is so addictive...not just the safari part, but the camps/lodges, the ambience, the service, the ppl we meet.....everything!!! and yes, the wines too...
Hari
It is so addictive...not just the safari part, but the camps/lodges, the ambience, the service, the ppl we meet.....everything!!! and yes, the wines too...
Hari
Apr 22nd, 2006, 07:34 PM
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It's NOT possible to have a "once in a lifetime" trip to Africa! It's just too overwhelming and addictive, and before even leaving Africa, you're planning your next trip or even the next 3 trips. It's like those Mastercard ads. Airfare to Africa: $1800.00. Lodges in Africa: $5000.00. Necessities for safari: $1500.00. Seeing your first (or 2,567th) elephant, lion, hippo, giraffe, puku, leopard: PRICELESS!
Apr 22nd, 2006, 11:56 PM
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Having taken one "once in a lifetime" trip, I may not always make the contributions I plan to my private retirement fund but I never miss the minimum monthly contributions to the Africa Travel Tax account. ;-)
(I really do have a separate account just for this)
(I really do have a separate account just for this)
Apr 23rd, 2006, 12:23 AM
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Africa's in my blood what else can I say. And the good thing is, I don't miss any of the modern commodities when I am there. For me, for example it's luxury not knowing what's going on in the rest of the world.
It's actually that addictive at the moment that I don't find time to visit other continents at the moment.
So if you really fall in love with the continent, than there is no such thing as "once in a lifetime".
It's actually that addictive at the moment that I don't find time to visit other continents at the moment.
So if you really fall in love with the continent, than there is no such thing as "once in a lifetime".
Apr 23rd, 2006, 05:34 AM
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I agree wholeheartedly and suffer from the addiction. But I'd love to see a more balanced view of the continent from others who have gone but don't feel the need to return. I have met only one or two such people.
Perhaps the lack of their views is due to this being the Africa forum or maybe very few escape Africa "unbitten."
Perhaps the lack of their views is due to this being the Africa forum or maybe very few escape Africa "unbitten."
Apr 23rd, 2006, 07:49 AM
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I disagree, a bit. I have been to Africa many times (most recently to Tunisia in December 2005 and Madagascar in May 2005), and will visit again this July (Lesotho, Kwazulu-Natal and Northern Cape), and its my most favorite destination by continent.
But, I find that many seem to do the same trip over and over, and limit their exposure to Africa to guided safaris, probably the least adventurous and simplest trip to Africa, and the one that, to me at least, is most removed from Africa. Its a very "soft" trip, with many lodges now with TVs, Internet, spas, gyms, etc. If that was the extent of my trips, I wouldn't feel as compelled to return.
But, Africa offers much more diverse experiences, with interesting cities and villages, ancient sites, lots of UNESCO World Heritage sites, great hikes and treks, local cuisine, etc.
I have done the Wilderness Safaris-style trip to the Okavango, and the high-end trip to the Sabi Sands, and frankly, those are my least prominent memories. I had much better times doing a self-drive trip through Etosha, trekking to gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda, riding camels after hours among the pyramids at the Giza plateau, visiting fetish markets in Togo, traveling by small boat through the stilted fishing villages in Benin, hiking to see lemurs in Madagascar, visiting the UNESCO sites in Tunisia...
If I was limited to five-star, high-end safaris, where the focus was as much, if not more, on lodge and cuisine quality than the game viewing, and where I was limited to being chauffered around for a few morning and afternoon hours, I wouldn't be as excited to return.
But, I find that many seem to do the same trip over and over, and limit their exposure to Africa to guided safaris, probably the least adventurous and simplest trip to Africa, and the one that, to me at least, is most removed from Africa. Its a very "soft" trip, with many lodges now with TVs, Internet, spas, gyms, etc. If that was the extent of my trips, I wouldn't feel as compelled to return.
But, Africa offers much more diverse experiences, with interesting cities and villages, ancient sites, lots of UNESCO World Heritage sites, great hikes and treks, local cuisine, etc.
I have done the Wilderness Safaris-style trip to the Okavango, and the high-end trip to the Sabi Sands, and frankly, those are my least prominent memories. I had much better times doing a self-drive trip through Etosha, trekking to gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda, riding camels after hours among the pyramids at the Giza plateau, visiting fetish markets in Togo, traveling by small boat through the stilted fishing villages in Benin, hiking to see lemurs in Madagascar, visiting the UNESCO sites in Tunisia...
If I was limited to five-star, high-end safaris, where the focus was as much, if not more, on lodge and cuisine quality than the game viewing, and where I was limited to being chauffered around for a few morning and afternoon hours, I wouldn't be as excited to return.
Apr 23rd, 2006, 11:36 AM
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I have to say I agree with Thit cho.
Sometimes I feel like the discussion of "Africa" as a singular destination, speaks to the fact that for many on Fodors "Africa" is essentially a safari destination.
Of course I agree with aby you can't encompass an entire continent on a single trip!
I love the game too. I've enjoyed various safaris including several in Zimbabwe and Zambia ranging from the basic a self drive trip in Zim, the active, a canoe safari on the Zambezi, to the luxurious, a fly in safari in Zambia. I agree that it is magical to experience the "wild" close up and that there's nothing quite like waking up to another day in the bush.
However, when I think of travel throughout Africa I also think of the music and energy of Senegal, the mud mosques and Muslim culture of Djenne in Mali, a journey up the Niger to Timbuktu, Egypt and Nigeria where I lived as a child, Namibia where I spent a year and Harare where I did research.
I agree with Thit cho it is surprising how little we hear about the historical, cultural and natural places beyond the safaris ...like Great Zimbabwe which I enjoyed or the Roman ruins in Libya or Eithiopia both of which are on our short list to visit.
Recently we've been focusing our trips on SE Asia (India, Bali, Java, Thailand etc )and I'm heading to see some of Vietnam, Cambodia and Angkor Wat soon.
However, what will draw us back to Africa will be the people, the markets, the diversity of natural cultural and historical sites. Though I must admit it never hurts to throw in some time on safari or some great South African wines!
Sometimes I feel like the discussion of "Africa" as a singular destination, speaks to the fact that for many on Fodors "Africa" is essentially a safari destination.
Of course I agree with aby you can't encompass an entire continent on a single trip!
I love the game too. I've enjoyed various safaris including several in Zimbabwe and Zambia ranging from the basic a self drive trip in Zim, the active, a canoe safari on the Zambezi, to the luxurious, a fly in safari in Zambia. I agree that it is magical to experience the "wild" close up and that there's nothing quite like waking up to another day in the bush.
However, when I think of travel throughout Africa I also think of the music and energy of Senegal, the mud mosques and Muslim culture of Djenne in Mali, a journey up the Niger to Timbuktu, Egypt and Nigeria where I lived as a child, Namibia where I spent a year and Harare where I did research.
I agree with Thit cho it is surprising how little we hear about the historical, cultural and natural places beyond the safaris ...like Great Zimbabwe which I enjoyed or the Roman ruins in Libya or Eithiopia both of which are on our short list to visit.
Recently we've been focusing our trips on SE Asia (India, Bali, Java, Thailand etc )and I'm heading to see some of Vietnam, Cambodia and Angkor Wat soon.
However, what will draw us back to Africa will be the people, the markets, the diversity of natural cultural and historical sites. Though I must admit it never hurts to throw in some time on safari or some great South African wines!
Apr 23rd, 2006, 12:29 PM
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I have to react to what Thit-cho wrote.
I've been in many different countries in Africa and not always on safari.
I agree with you that Africa is far more than going on a luxury safari. But most people associate Africa with its wildlife and that's the way it's promoted in our countries. Maybe some of you have read "dark star Africa" from Paul Theroux. If not I would definitely recommend to read this book.
Some of the most beautiful parts of Africa are confronted with huge humanitarian crises and mass starvation like the Congo, Sudan, Ehtiopia and Eritrea, Zimbabwe,...
they are worth visiting but in my opinion not always safe and visiting such countries is far more than going on holiday. So normal not everyone's cup of tea.
At the moment I spent most of my time in Botswana where I am taking pictures which will figure in a book about the delta. I do this because I strongly believe that such places should be preserved for mankind. And for instance in Belgium, most of the people don't know of the existence of Botswana or the Okavango delta so they should be made aware of it.
Greetings,
Johan
I've been in many different countries in Africa and not always on safari.
I agree with you that Africa is far more than going on a luxury safari. But most people associate Africa with its wildlife and that's the way it's promoted in our countries. Maybe some of you have read "dark star Africa" from Paul Theroux. If not I would definitely recommend to read this book.
Some of the most beautiful parts of Africa are confronted with huge humanitarian crises and mass starvation like the Congo, Sudan, Ehtiopia and Eritrea, Zimbabwe,...
they are worth visiting but in my opinion not always safe and visiting such countries is far more than going on holiday. So normal not everyone's cup of tea.
At the moment I spent most of my time in Botswana where I am taking pictures which will figure in a book about the delta. I do this because I strongly believe that such places should be preserved for mankind. And for instance in Belgium, most of the people don't know of the existence of Botswana or the Okavango delta so they should be made aware of it.
Greetings,
Johan
Apr 23rd, 2006, 02:38 PM
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I wholeheartedly agree with you tith cho; safaris are only a small part of what makes Africa so great.
Johan, you're right: many people just travel to Africa for safais because that is how Africa is advertised in the west. But for the people on this forum who have seemingly travelled to Africa several times, one would expect less of a one-dimensional view of the continent. There is far more to Africa than the delta... and I don't mean the winelands, Victoria Falls, etc.
Johan, you're right: many people just travel to Africa for safais because that is how Africa is advertised in the west. But for the people on this forum who have seemingly travelled to Africa several times, one would expect less of a one-dimensional view of the continent. There is far more to Africa than the delta... and I don't mean the winelands, Victoria Falls, etc.
Apr 23rd, 2006, 07:56 PM
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Hey this is two threads in one - anyone really disagree with aby's statement? Don't think so....
By the way, as a contribution to the second-thread-in-one, I am pretty sure you are in the vast majority here thit-cho and there's no need to write like you are in the minority!! What we need is retrospective trip reports with photos from you to encourage us to try these places .. ;-)
In my case I also need to have as much holiday as you do
By the way, as a contribution to the second-thread-in-one, I am pretty sure you are in the vast majority here thit-cho and there's no need to write like you are in the minority!! What we need is retrospective trip reports with photos from you to encourage us to try these places .. ;-)
In my case I also need to have as much holiday as you do
