Hello everyone,

Reading the news over the past few weeks about Zimbabwe, and reading hundreds of posts on this forum about SA, i wanted to know if there was anywhere in Africa that was still 'good' to live?

Any advice for someone who has always thought of traveling to Africa? I might not ever move there, but I did want to travel there. I have to say, from the forums and the news, moving to SA with children seems...unwise.

thanks!

Lots of South Africans, Zimbeans ;-) & Zambians are enjoying life in Tanzania. Botswana is fairly peaceful too. Just understand that standard of living is vastly different from western standards.

Was having this exact discussion with some friends over a few beers.
Initially, it was all negative till we realised it was age related.
so we changed it. we ordered a round of Ponce de Leons Fountain of youth, drank it and went straight back to if I was low thirty something and no kids....
Everyone knows how negative I am about SA, and the four of us had spent time in a lot of Countries in Africa, SA still came out tops, followed by Mocambique, Kenya and Malawi.
so we changed it again and the new rule was Hippy years.
but Africa off the beaten track, a wetsuit rather than a 3 piece, an ancient Landy rather than a new BM , a grass beach hut rather than a condo.
Zanzibar and Mocambique came out tops,
one of the sites for reference on the west coast was africansurfer.com.
3 CT guys doing a surfing safari from Cape to Camden UK ,overland in a beat up old Landcruiser. good read.
Now, any chance I can get this body back to being 30 something and sell the wife and Child?

Wow Daxk, maybe it's all jealousy for me. That's what I got reading your post. A restrospective introspection if you will. Those pictures of Rhodesia I saw growing up, the yellow golds of the sun. Then followed the news of murder and mayhem. Timing and jealousy..

To this day, I still have opportunities every once in awhile, the latest being Chad and Port Harcourt for rice cakes!! One of our guys was taken hostage twice in Nigeria. He says they fed and treated him well while he was out. Ironically some accuse him of being lazy; they think he enjoyed it; well hell I bet he did, it probably beats baking out on the platform!! Whatever.

Ok, I'll take the child; I know polygamy is making a comeback, but I never was interested in being a dissappointment to more than one woman at a time!!

Your perspectives are priceless

Hey Daxk. Why is it Mozambique keeps rating up there ?

Hey Melaniee, Once you get past the LimpopoRiver, the people change and get better.
I guess part of the attraction is that if things go pear shaped its a fast 5 hour car trip back to a Doctor in SA.
But it is still pretty unspoilt the further North you up the Coast.

Hi, help please. I am taking my son around the world next year alone, husband to stay at home and earn money! Seriously I have had a few health scares and want to see the world before I get older and my son enters senior school sept 09. I want to see Africa but am confused and a little scared about where to go that is safe both personal and health wise. Please can you advise me some places to go and see. I would like to see the big 5 obviously, I am not fit enough for walking tours, I know my limits!
Thanks.

We did a short holiday (all we could afford) to Namibia. I have always wanted to go there so it was a dream come true for me.

We sorted out tour companies when we got there and were not disappointed - and there are plenty of companies that cater for those who for one reason or another do not want to do or who are not up to doing the walking tours.

For me, going to Africa (Namibia) was the best experience of my life, gave me a taste of something so special, and I will never rest until I can get there again and I still get goosebumps purely from the memories. I truly believed that once I had been to Namibia 'the itch would be scratched' so to speak - how wrong I was, it is like malaria - it gets into your blood.

Get to Africa, South Africa/South West - you choose the part of Africa and the country to visit but do it and experience it all for yourself, there will be tours that you can do, you can enjoy the hospitality from the people, experience the colours, the smells/sounds, the feeling that if you shut your eyes you will miss something.

You lucky thing having that chance, keep us posted if you get there and may you have the time of your life - I am sure you will, but don't be surprised if it leaves you wanting more.

Unfortunately, the big 5 in Africa these days, are: Murder, Rape, AIDS, Corruption and Hijacking.

Perhaps its best to stay at home and send hubby.

Horizon,

I can't undrstand what you are saying - do you want to move with children or go on a holiday?

The places offered are lovely and the comment about N Moz is just right.

In fact a nice trip is to Durban then Maputo. then up north to Beira and connect to Dar, boat to Zanzibar then fly to Mombasa and connect back to the world via Dubai or Nairobi.

Or go to West Africa - Gambia - the Smiling Coast and Beautiful Sierra Leonne. But the latter is not for the faint hearted.

Have a nice one.

Melanie, here is thread on another website I have been running. It is an account of a few places I have worked in.

I worked in Mozambique during 2000-1 and........I have never really left the place since. Skip past my current location to page 8 and you will find pages & pages of Mozambique photos. Maybe it can help you can understand why I love the place...I will admit there is a romantic attachment:http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/59234-employment-opportunities-8.html

Hope you enjoy, and eventually get to Mozambique.

Regards,

John

Sunnylady, although I am supposedly to be "Belligerently Negative" about South Africa, I would suggest the following:
African Winter time is best, less Mosquito's easier Game viewing,manageable heat for Colder Climes blood thickness.

You can fly into OR Tambo at Johannesburg and be fetched , I would suggest you overnight in a good hotel rather than a B&B, arrange to be fetched or catch a Tour bus to the Kruger National Park, once there they can arrange a car or tours within the Park, That will give you your big 5.
You mentioned health Scares so that rules out Northern Mocambique if you are in anyway vulnerable as they cant Casevac by air in less than about 3 days

If you are not that Fragile then BJ's route is the one to follow from there,Tanzania,Dar,Mombasa ,.... Heaven !!if you can get from there to Kenya, The Rift Valley and the Masai Mara is also something else, especially a Balloon Safari!
That is a once in a lifetime big addition to a bucket list.

Alternatively, PP's suggestion about Namibia has huge merit, the Desert Elephants are amazing, they only pick so much from each branch and leave enough for the plants to recover, their feet have adapted smaller so as not to crush to much vegetation.

Etosha and if you can get into a makoro (Wooden dugout Canoe) safari throgh the Okavango swamps, it is also beyond compare!
If you were able to fit all that in, you will probably postpone the rest of your life to get back there.

Safety?? If you are part of Tour groups with someone with local knowledge to guide and advise, you would be 98% safe.
If not, TIA.

We lived in Namibia from 1999-2001 and loved it. My OH would go back tomorrow if he could. He was based at Windhoek and Hentjies Bay.
There is lots to see, and it is relatively safe compared to other African countries. Ethosha is a good place to go to see wildlife. Would also recommend the cheetah park at Harnas as well as Dune 7 by Walvis Bay. The seal colony at Cape Cross is something you will never forget - just be prepared for the smell If you can manage a 7 hour drive through the desert, then Luderitz and the ghost town at Kolmanskop are worth visiting too. The wild horses are a common sight in the desert and you can fit in a trip to Sossesvlei there or back.
We also used to like to visit Swaziland, again much safer than some African countries and spectacular scenery, and easy to get to from South Africa. Haven't been for a few years though so not sure what it's like now.

If I may, my best travel advise is to take your time; spend enough time in an area to meet the people, taste their food, enjoy their hospitality and forge relationships. Connecting with people can, in my mind outlast the effects of geographic and architectural beauty; it has for me.

That being said, Val50, Dieppe is my favorite beach inthe world, Something about the rocks perhaps....

Thank you, I shall be busy googling the names you have given me. not sure what TIA means!
Money, do you have to exchange your money for local currency or dollars/Eu/£ do just as well? Depends where you are?
I am reasonably fit, but could be a lot better. will be having all the jabs but do not want to expose ourselves to unnecessary risks.
Any more suggestions will be gratefully received.