Africa

Visit The Souk – Don’t Be Afraid!

The cross-hatched trellis drew me in to the Egyptian market area in front of me. Entering the wooden arch of the souk, I was engulfed in the banter of the storekeepers. I was immediately intimidated, averting my eyes from everyone other than my husband. I didn’t want...

A Traffic Signal in Praslin, Seychelles

The island of Praslin is an unspoiled tropical paradise boasting some of the best beaches in the world. I could spend hours admiring the crystal-clear waters of varying shades of blue. I also spent hours driving in Praslin though I usually do not like to drive. But...

Ile Goree Island, Senegal

When I was in Dakar for a work meeting, I had the chance to take a cultural excursion with my colleagues and the natural choice was Ile Gorée. As a small island just 3.5 km from the mainland, it had been used as a hub for the competing European powers during the...

A Different Life, Lobamba Swaziland

The paved highway provided a stark contrast to what I anticipated when I entered the small country of Swaziland, on the southeastern corner of the African continent. While I had expected some modern amenities and hotels, I had read intriguing stories about visits to...

Living Quite Local in Mbale, Uganda

Before I was set to start a new job in Morocco, I had just enough time to find a meaningful way to spend two months. Determined to explore more of sub-Saharan Africa, I found a small Ugandan NGO advertising for volunteers in exchange for “free room and board”....

Mauritania – Rail Journey to Atar

A blazing blue sky that is so far above you can see into the universe's soul. Not a cloud for miles. I'm standing at the window of a small white cement hut with a bakery sign painted on its side, it stands alone alongside my dusty road, in the middle of a wide-open...

The Fabled Island of La Digue

Gorgeous beaches and relaxing vibes are two things that an ideal Island holiday is comprised of. This is exactly what I anticipated before visiting the Indian Ocean gem, Seychelles, a couple of years back. And what the island of Mahe gave me was at par with my...

Things My Masai Safari Guide Taught Me

The vast savannah and prolific wildlife in Masai Mara were breath-taking and I brought so many unforgettable memories back home. The feeling is truly something to be experienced than to be expressed. The national reserve offers much more than the famous Big 5. While...

Siwa â€“ A Magical Oasis in Egypt’s Western Desert

There was once a straight road from Cairo to the Siwa Oasis, but the desert had other ideas. Wind and sand wiped away any hopes of such convenient travel and that road is closed off today. The only way to Siwa now is up to the port of Marsa Matruh, and then down again...

Camping With Elephants at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

They appeared as shadows through the trees, one at first, then a second and a third, until the whole herd was illuminated by the glow of the full moon above. I scarcely dared to breathe for fear of alerting them to our presence. It was not the first time I had seen...

Hwange Safari Tour â€“ Zimbabwe

I visited Hwange as part of an organized safari tour. When they told me that I was heading to this park, I was unsure about what was to come. I had never heard about Hwange National Park before and most of what I had seen in Zimbabwe previously, had been a...

African Motorcycle Road Trip, Part 3

I'm out of bed early and packing the motorcycle to head further south from Springbok. My next destination is Cape Agulhas, which means a longer day of riding. About 700 kilometres (460 miles). There was a time when I'd think twice about doing a ride of this...