Who has been to Africa? Where would you travel if you were going to go?

[applegrove]

I've always wanted to visit but am too intimidated.

[undeterred]

1. I spent a summer in Central African Republic

but I wouldn't go there now. I think its rather dangerous.
A person I know just came back from two weeks in Tanzania and she loved it. She had planned the trip for a very long time and did a lot of sightseeing of wildlife and scenery. East Africa has some real treasures, even if you just stay in Kenya.

[applegrove]

2. I've always thought I'd end up in east africa because I like the outdoors and anthropology. And

beaches!

[sarge43]

3. Been to Egypt

Definitely go again. The Valley of the Kings and the Temples of Karnak are amazing.

[mnhtnbb]

4. Hubby is leaving Sunday on a 2 week trip to Africa.

He has been fascinated/interested in the development of early man for years and years and will
be on a National Geographic trip devoted to that concept.

His itinerary: Depart for Kilimanjaro airport and arrive the following evening. Tonight, gather for a welcome reception with our expert.
Arusha Coffee Lodge
Day 3 — Lake Manyara National Park/ Ngoronogoro Crater

After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park—famous for its elephants, hippos, giraffes, and lions—and enjoy a picnic lunch. Continue to the Ngorongoro Crater and settle into our luxury ecolodge, perched high on the edge of the escarpment. Close to some of the earliest dwellings of man in Olduvai Gorge, the lodge’s décor is inspired by the early cave paintings.
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 4 — Ngoronogoro Crater

Embark on an all-day game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater, where the slopes shelter almost 30,000 animals. Keep an eye out for elephants, lions, rhinoceroses, cheetahs, wildebeests, buffalo, and much more. Return to the lodge for dinner this evening.
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 5 — Ngoronogoro Crater/Olduvai Gorge

Return to the Ngorongoro Crater for an early morning game drive. Then spend the afternoon at Olduvai Gorge, known as the “cradle of mankind.” Dr. Fidelis Masao, co-director of research at Olduvai Gorge, joins us on our visit here. Visit the precise spot where Zinjanthropus was found and where stone tools and remains of Homo habilis (the handy man) were excavated in 1960. Spend time in the Olduvai Gorge Museum, established by the renowned Leakey family to exhibit their important paleoanthropological discoveries.
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Kigoma

Fly by private charter to Kigoma and visit Ujiji, where Henry Stanley met the renowned explorer and inquired, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Visit the fishing village of Katonga. Later, browse Kigoma’s market for traditional cloth and spices.
Kigoma Hilltop Hotel (B,L,D)
Days 7 & 8 — Gombe National Park

Travel by boat into the heart of Gombe National Park, where legendary primatologist Jane Goodall recorded the remarkable parallels between chimpanzees and humans. Spend two days in the park, tracking down our closest living animal relatives in their natural habitat and observe their humanlike behavior. Hike back through the deep mountain forest to the rangers’ camp before returning to Kigoma by boat.
Kigoma Hilltop Hotel (B,L,D)
Day 9 — Dar es Salaam/Johannesburg, South Africa

After breakfast, fly by private charter to Dar es Salaam and connect to a commercial flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. Transfer to our lodgings, a quiet country hotel and spa set in the magnificent Magaliesberg mountains.
Mount Grace Country House & Spa (B,L,D)
Day 10 — Johannesburg

Spend today exploring the Sterkfontein caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site of more than 550 hominid fossils that have helped paleoanthropologists decode the span of human evolution stretching back some 3.5 million years. Our host, paleoanthropologist Ron Clarke, guides us through this vast history on-site and shares his current excavation of an Australopithecus—remains that may prove to be the oldest, most complete hominid ever found.
Mount Grace Country House & Spa (B,L,D)
Day 11 — Johannesburg/George/Mossel Bay

This morning, enjoy a private viewing of the world-famous Taung Child, the fossilized skull of an Australopithecus africanus youth. Meet with National Geographic grantee Lee Berger to discuss this important recent find, which may help unlock our understanding of the genus Homo. After lunch, take a commercial flight to the town of George, nestled at the edge of the Outeniqua Mountains. Drive to our hotel nestled on the Mossel Bay shoreline. Tonight we are joined by a local archaeologist for dinner.
Protea Hotel Mossel Bay (D)
Day 12 — Mossel Bay

Today, take a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the active excavation sites of nearby Pinnacle Point, where early man subsisted on life from the sea. Step into a 164,000-year-old cave home furnished with advanced Stone Age tools and artifacts. Enjoy a barbecue dinner overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Protea Hotel Mossel Bay (B,L,D)
Days 13 & 14 — Mossel Bay/Johannesburg/U.S.

Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore Mossel Bay. After lunch, transfer to the airport for a commercial flight to Johannesburg to connect with your return flight home.
(B)
Optional Extensions


Donald Johanson

Donald JohansonPaleoanthropologist Donald Johanson is best known as the man who discovered “Lucy,” the 3.2-million-year-old partial skeleton and hominin ancestor to Homo sapiens. An accomplished scientist, scholar, and National Geographic grantee, Donald has helped piece together the puzzle of human evolution. He is the founder of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University and the author of the book Lucy’s Legacy: The Quest for Human Origins. His work has been featured many times in National Geographic magazine and television documentaries.

Donald will join the following departures:
Oct 02 - 16, 2011 • Jun 15 - 28, 2012

[applegrove]

13. I'm definitely gvoing to do something like the trip your husband is on. Sounds wonderful.

[geardaddy]

5. I'd go to Kenya, Tanzania, and SA

[dawg]

6. If safety were not an issue, I'd love to visit Sudan and Ethiopia.

I'm fascinated by history (and pseudo-history), and I would love to take in the ruins of the Nubian civilization as well as the many fascinating historical sites in Ethiopia.

Even if you don't believe they have the Ark of the Covenant, there are huge obelisks and ancient churches and other structures in Axum that attest to the early spread of Judaism, and later Christianity, to Ethiopia. There are lots of mysteries to contemplate in those ancient lands, some of which supported complicated civilizations before Rome was even a village.

[pitohui]

9. is safety an issue in ethiopia?

thinking of traveling there

[dawg]

10. I don't really know how it is right now.

Back in the 90's it was pretty unstable.

[pitohui]

11. was thinking of doing some hikes

will have to check around, i thought it was pretty safe but really i know nothing about it other than a particular species i want to see and photograph and some great photos i've seen from others

[bikebloke]

7. I've been to North Africa.

Morocco - ten years ago.

In a couple weeks, I'm going to South Africa.

[pitohui]

8. i've been, no reason to be intimidated

what is your purpose in travel? i have been more to south/east because i go for the wildlife

there are also well established tourist trails in western africa and northern africa but i know little about them, maybe one day

returning to south africa soon

some of the british oriented travel sites like lonely planet should have tons of information about traveling in all parts of africa, these kids go everywhere and sometimes with no money, and they're fine

[ohiosmith]

12. Been to Egypt, Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia.

My favorite is Namibia.