Thebigdrive is over. Many have asked thebigquestions: what was the best, the worst, was it dangerous, were you scared…
So we thought we would put together a list. And it was fun, bringing back the good (and in a few cases not so good) memories. If you have the time, there is a country-by-country review below.
Answers to the Big Questions
What was the best thing? Unanswerable, we have tried below.
Was it every unsafe? Never, ever, anywhere.
Was it scary? Only Sam’s 104-degree fever in Moshi, before the diagnosis.
Was it the trip of a lifetime? Nope. Absolutely amazing, but we have many other plans!
Any regrets?
Missed Niassa Reserve (northern Mozambique) way too slow
Missed Lake Turkana in northern Kenya because we had to wait for Ethiopian visas
Once again we saw no leopards
Our Recommendations for YOUR to do list:
Spend a month in Namibia, maybe more
Go to Ethiopia for Lalibela and Simian Mountains... but not in rainy season
Go see Egypt (and Sudan)... but not in the hot season
Do the Durban rope swing - more than once
See an elephant - up close - from a canoe
Avoid the most dangerous animal in Africa - the mosquito!
Travel with audiobooks - we suggest the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (a trilogy in five parts)
Take a four-month family holiday – more than once
Travel overland in Africa in a 4x4 with a roof top tent (very cool)
Visit Mozambique for Tofo beach, Gorongosa park, and the great vibe and great people of Maputo
And that is all. It has been a pleasure writing for you these last few months. I hope that you have enjoyed experiencing the awesomeness of Africa with us.
Peace out, SGMH
Country-by-Country: Best, Worst and Other Highlights
South Africa: The Best
Sam: the rope swing at the Durban stadium (see the video)
Morag: visiting Qunu – Nelson Mandela’s home town
Don: the hike at Cape Point on a glorious day
South Africa: The Worst
Sam – no space at his favorite hotel (Breakers) in Durban
Morag – third failure attempting to visit Robben Island (Mandela prison)
Don – failure of new heavy-duty rear spring failure three days into the trip
South Africa: Other Highlights
Visiting Cape Argulas – the true southern tip of Africa
Staying with Jesper Morch and his amazing tuna and avocado salad
Namibia: The Best
Balloon ride over sand dunes of Sossusvlei to celebrate Sam’s birthday
Namibia: The Worst
Sam – No water in the pool in Etosha Park and a long drive on his birthday
Morag – The “second” flat tire
Don – Salt spray from the Skeleton Coast that looked like a major oil leak
Namibia: Other Highlights
The sounds and smells of the 10s of thousands of seals at Cape Cross
Sand boarding down the desert dunes & Sam landing his first ever jump
The vastness of the landscape in Etosha National Park
The ghost town and Kolmanskop & standing right where Brian Cox (physicist) did
Zambia: The Best
Sam – The tandem rope swing with Dad at Victoria Falls
Morag and Don – 4 days canoeing on the Zambezi river (dodging hippos)
Zambia: The Worst
Sam and Don – A tough drive from Lusaka to Lilongwe (after replacing tires)
Morag – Skipping South Luangua Park because we were behind schedule
Zambia: Other Highlights
Seeing the movie X-Men: Days of Future Past in Lusaka
Walking the knife-edge bridge in heavy mist to see Vic falls from Zambia side
Malawi: The Best
Our night at Mumbo Island, an amazing Robinson Crusoe-like eco lodge
Malawi: The Worst
Sam – Having to leave fun kids at Monkey Bay
Morag – The sore backside from our “butt wrenching” adventure
Don – A disappointing lodge on lake Malawi after the Nyika Plateau
Malawi: Other Highlights
The mountain bike ride on the Nyika plateau – Sam’s longest
Dinner with Stuart Lane who happened to be in Lilongwe on our first night
Tanzania: The Best
The wildebeest migration – many tens of thousands, stunning
Tanzania: The Worst
Sam – amoebic dysentery AND giardia in Moshi
Morag – the terrible road, traffic, driving on road from Lusaka to Dar
Don – standing traffic in the capital, Dar
Tanzania: Other Highlights
A medical clinic with good doctor and efficient lab on a Sunday in Moshi
Seeing an amazing number of predators – particularly hyena
Camping at Lobo in the northern Serengeti
A Scottish pub and good camping in Lushoto (including a World Cup match)
The doors of Zanzibar – see Morag’s amazing pictures
Seeing Kilimanjaro
Kenya: The Best
Sam – Staying with Lisa and Johnson while we sorted out Ethiopian visas
Morag – Tracing family history in Nakuru, where her parents were married
Don – A glorious afternoon at the Naivasha Yacht Club with Meagan & family
Kenya: The Worst
The ten day wait to send passports back to Canada for Ethiopian visas
Kenya: Other Highlights
The bleak, almost lunar landscape north of Isiolo to Ethiopia
Seeing the movie Transformers: Age of Extinction on the day it was released
Dinner (seared tuna!) with Lisa and Johnson at Village Market
Hanging for a couple days (including a sleepover) with Dylan
A great afternoon at a rock climbing gym - thanks Johnson!
Ethiopia: The Best
Sam - Myles and Caleb (at Lake Langano, in Addis, and at Lalibela)!!
Morag – the hike to Hudad lodge on the plateau above Lalibela
Don – the rock hewn churches of Lalibela, still in active use
Ethiopia: The Worst
Sam - saying goodbye to Myles and Caleb
Morag – getting side-swiped by tuk tuk in the rain and the mud north of Moyales
Don - worst tar road of the entire 20k drive on two day drive north of Moyales
Ethiopia: Other Highlights
Lake Langano - great people - great location (thanks for letting us join!)
Gondar – a cool town to hang in, though regret we did not meet Gandalf
Seeing the Blue Nile falls - the start of one branch of the Nile river
The amazing altitude, most of Africa over 2,000 meters is in Ethiopia
Sudan: The Best
Sam – The pool at the Greek Club in Khartoum – important when it is 45C
Morag – The pyramids of Meroe and Jebel Barkal in Karima
Don - Successfully getting the car onto the ferry from Sudan to Egypt
Sudan: The Worst
Sam – the 19th century damage to the pyramids and the old graffiti
Morag - not finding sushi restaurant in Khartoum (despite hours of trying)
Don: the stress of waiting for the vehicle barge and people ferry to Egypt
Sudan: Other Highlights
Meeting Muammer (and his wonderful family) in Karima
Meeting the guide in who accompanied the British guy walking the Nile
Seeing the confluence of the Blue and White Nile in Khartoum
Overcoming the challenges of summer heat and Ramadan / Eid holidays
Egypt: The Best
Sam – the pyramids and the amazing water park in Hurgada
Morag – the temples and treasures of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings
Don – seeing the ancient temples of Philae and the amazing museum in Cairo
Egypt: The Worst
Sam and Don – The staggering heat – 45c and above!
Morag – The taxi driver who would not stop and nearly suffered an injury!
Egypt: Other Highlights
Seeing Abu Simbel from the ferry at dusk
Getting the car into Egypt / and out of Egypt
Swimming in the cool water by the old Aswan dam & jumping off the boat
Snorkelling in the Red Sea
Sushi in Cairo
So we thought we would put together a list. And it was fun, bringing back the good (and in a few cases not so good) memories. If you have the time, there is a country-by-country review below.
Answers to the Big Questions
What was the best thing? Unanswerable, we have tried below.
Was it every unsafe? Never, ever, anywhere.
Was it scary? Only Sam’s 104-degree fever in Moshi, before the diagnosis.
Was it the trip of a lifetime? Nope. Absolutely amazing, but we have many other plans!
Any regrets?
Missed Niassa Reserve (northern Mozambique) way too slow
Missed Lake Turkana in northern Kenya because we had to wait for Ethiopian visas
Once again we saw no leopards
Our Recommendations for YOUR to do list:
Spend a month in Namibia, maybe more
Go to Ethiopia for Lalibela and Simian Mountains... but not in rainy season
Go see Egypt (and Sudan)... but not in the hot season
Do the Durban rope swing - more than once
See an elephant - up close - from a canoe
Avoid the most dangerous animal in Africa - the mosquito!
Travel with audiobooks - we suggest the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (a trilogy in five parts)
Take a four-month family holiday – more than once
Travel overland in Africa in a 4x4 with a roof top tent (very cool)
Visit Mozambique for Tofo beach, Gorongosa park, and the great vibe and great people of Maputo
And that is all. It has been a pleasure writing for you these last few months. I hope that you have enjoyed experiencing the awesomeness of Africa with us.
Peace out, SGMH
Country-by-Country: Best, Worst and Other Highlights
South Africa: The Best
Sam: the rope swing at the Durban stadium (see the video)
Morag: visiting Qunu – Nelson Mandela’s home town
Don: the hike at Cape Point on a glorious day
South Africa: The Worst
Sam – no space at his favorite hotel (Breakers) in Durban
Morag – third failure attempting to visit Robben Island (Mandela prison)
Don – failure of new heavy-duty rear spring failure three days into the trip
South Africa: Other Highlights
Visiting Cape Argulas – the true southern tip of Africa
Staying with Jesper Morch and his amazing tuna and avocado salad
Namibia: The Best
Balloon ride over sand dunes of Sossusvlei to celebrate Sam’s birthday
Namibia: The Worst
Sam – No water in the pool in Etosha Park and a long drive on his birthday
Morag – The “second” flat tire
Don – Salt spray from the Skeleton Coast that looked like a major oil leak
Namibia: Other Highlights
The sounds and smells of the 10s of thousands of seals at Cape Cross
Sand boarding down the desert dunes & Sam landing his first ever jump
The vastness of the landscape in Etosha National Park
The ghost town and Kolmanskop & standing right where Brian Cox (physicist) did
Zambia: The Best
Sam – The tandem rope swing with Dad at Victoria Falls
Morag and Don – 4 days canoeing on the Zambezi river (dodging hippos)
Zambia: The Worst
Sam and Don – A tough drive from Lusaka to Lilongwe (after replacing tires)
Morag – Skipping South Luangua Park because we were behind schedule
Zambia: Other Highlights
Seeing the movie X-Men: Days of Future Past in Lusaka
Walking the knife-edge bridge in heavy mist to see Vic falls from Zambia side
Malawi: The Best
Our night at Mumbo Island, an amazing Robinson Crusoe-like eco lodge
Malawi: The Worst
Sam – Having to leave fun kids at Monkey Bay
Morag – The sore backside from our “butt wrenching” adventure
Don – A disappointing lodge on lake Malawi after the Nyika Plateau
Malawi: Other Highlights
The mountain bike ride on the Nyika plateau – Sam’s longest
Dinner with Stuart Lane who happened to be in Lilongwe on our first night
Tanzania: The Best
The wildebeest migration – many tens of thousands, stunning
Tanzania: The Worst
Sam – amoebic dysentery AND giardia in Moshi
Morag – the terrible road, traffic, driving on road from Lusaka to Dar
Don – standing traffic in the capital, Dar
Tanzania: Other Highlights
A medical clinic with good doctor and efficient lab on a Sunday in Moshi
Seeing an amazing number of predators – particularly hyena
Camping at Lobo in the northern Serengeti
A Scottish pub and good camping in Lushoto (including a World Cup match)
The doors of Zanzibar – see Morag’s amazing pictures
Seeing Kilimanjaro
Kenya: The Best
Sam – Staying with Lisa and Johnson while we sorted out Ethiopian visas
Morag – Tracing family history in Nakuru, where her parents were married
Don – A glorious afternoon at the Naivasha Yacht Club with Meagan & family
Kenya: The Worst
The ten day wait to send passports back to Canada for Ethiopian visas
Kenya: Other Highlights
The bleak, almost lunar landscape north of Isiolo to Ethiopia
Seeing the movie Transformers: Age of Extinction on the day it was released
Dinner (seared tuna!) with Lisa and Johnson at Village Market
Hanging for a couple days (including a sleepover) with Dylan
A great afternoon at a rock climbing gym - thanks Johnson!
Ethiopia: The Best
Sam - Myles and Caleb (at Lake Langano, in Addis, and at Lalibela)!!
Morag – the hike to Hudad lodge on the plateau above Lalibela
Don – the rock hewn churches of Lalibela, still in active use
Ethiopia: The Worst
Sam - saying goodbye to Myles and Caleb
Morag – getting side-swiped by tuk tuk in the rain and the mud north of Moyales
Don - worst tar road of the entire 20k drive on two day drive north of Moyales
Ethiopia: Other Highlights
Lake Langano - great people - great location (thanks for letting us join!)
Gondar – a cool town to hang in, though regret we did not meet Gandalf
Seeing the Blue Nile falls - the start of one branch of the Nile river
The amazing altitude, most of Africa over 2,000 meters is in Ethiopia
Sudan: The Best
Sam – The pool at the Greek Club in Khartoum – important when it is 45C
Morag – The pyramids of Meroe and Jebel Barkal in Karima
Don - Successfully getting the car onto the ferry from Sudan to Egypt
Sudan: The Worst
Sam – the 19th century damage to the pyramids and the old graffiti
Morag - not finding sushi restaurant in Khartoum (despite hours of trying)
Don: the stress of waiting for the vehicle barge and people ferry to Egypt
Sudan: Other Highlights
Meeting Muammer (and his wonderful family) in Karima
Meeting the guide in who accompanied the British guy walking the Nile
Seeing the confluence of the Blue and White Nile in Khartoum
Overcoming the challenges of summer heat and Ramadan / Eid holidays
Egypt: The Best
Sam – the pyramids and the amazing water park in Hurgada
Morag – the temples and treasures of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings
Don – seeing the ancient temples of Philae and the amazing museum in Cairo
Egypt: The Worst
Sam and Don – The staggering heat – 45c and above!
Morag – The taxi driver who would not stop and nearly suffered an injury!
Egypt: Other Highlights
Seeing Abu Simbel from the ferry at dusk
Getting the car into Egypt / and out of Egypt
Swimming in the cool water by the old Aswan dam & jumping off the boat
Snorkelling in the Red Sea
Sushi in Cairo