If you've backpacked some foreign bullshit come here

*simba*

*simba*

Active member
So I arrived home from Africa about two weeks ago. I was living out there for a bit doing work at a small(ish) wildlife centre. Such a cool experience and learned a ton. Was doing integration and orphan work and shit like that but THAT'S ANOTHER STORY ALL TOGETHER PRETTY MUCH.

I got home and ever since have been just aching to go back...like, now. Well really as soon as possible because money. I really want to go back and see more, though, because my month and a half over there was pretty much spent in Lilongwe working 6am-5pm every day...I did however get a long weekend that I spend on a safari in Zambia, though. That was rad.

I want to see more, though. more of the people...the places...EVERYTHING. SO what better way to do that than backpacking? My start will be Maputo in Mozambique. Met a girl while I was over there that has an apartment there and offered me a place to live for a bit. So from Mozambique I want to South in the west, stopping off in Malawi, Zambia, etc... and then spending some time in Capetown. From there, I'll make my way up north, my focus really being on Namibia, the Serengeti, and the Congo. Before I get the jackass comments, yeah, I know Africa is big, douchebag.

So really, though, the point here is for me to ask anyone with experience backpacking...What's the best way to do it? How should I go about budgeting my money? Any horror stories you've got to share? Successes?

I've been researching for a bit now (started while I was still in Africa), but really I just want to talk with people who've done it. Get at me.
 
What you plan is not feasible. Sorry. Time to step out of the storybook and realize that in the real world, Africa is not a place one can backpack around as one can backpack around Europe. To do this in a safe (or even possible) way would cost an untold amount of money.
 
lol ok

But I think I'll spend a little more time in my storybook, because you're talking straight out of your ass. Come back after you've done some research about Africa.
 
I was thinking of this as i was reading the OP. Sounds like a pretty killer through hike to me, would be super impressive! Were you thinking of doing it alone, or with a group or what? Safe or not, it would be the experience of a lifetime!!
 
The girl I met in Malawi that lives in Maputo is from Scotland and has actually done a lot of traveling/backpacking. In fact, when she's done at the centre, she's hitchhiking/minibus-ing her way back to Mozambique.

She told me that if I find myself in Maputo, she'd love to do some backpacking with me, so I'd probably end up doing it with a partner or group. Really, though, I'd love to just meet people along the way and join and leave new people as I go.
 
It's really weird how people have it embedded in their head that Africa is such an unsafe place. When I was over there, I actually felt no more or less safe than I did here in the states...of course don't be stupid and travel at night or get yourself into trouble...but it's not some awful place.

If you're safe, I've heard you'll be fine. Shit happens everywhere.
 
My Friend backpacked around Africa for about 6 months. He had an amazing time and said it really was a cultural trip of a lifetime but he was a dumbass and drank out of a stagnant lake when he couldn't get any drinking water for a couple hours.

Basically his lips swell up really big and his eyes get puffy and he has some type of worms/bacteria in his poo. The doctors havn't been able to figure out what it is even 2 years after coming back but it seems to only affected him for 1-2 days every 4-6 months so it isn't terrible. Although its not really something he wanted to bring back with him.
 
James has probably backpacked more miles on his own two feet than what you've flown in a plane, don't get butthurt when someone shits on your fairytale dickweed. You're never going to see that dumb african bitch again in your life, this thread is stupid
 
Why not east asia? Spend the summer/fall in indonesia-thailand-vietnam-india-china and go skiing in japan for the winter! The living costs are ridicolusly low and Im sure that it is safer than to backpack in Africa.

And to that jackass that posted the link; freak accidents do happend.
 
I would not recommend attempting to backpack around Africa.

However, if you get the opportunity, the sands of the Sahara dessert in southern Morocco are absolutely amazing. I would suggest going on an overnight outing with nomads. They'll take you out on camels in to the desert and you can camp there overnight, they usually make some dank food too.

sand%20dune.jpg


the burnt orange color is really one of a kind, made sure to fill a fanta bottle with it in order to take some home. Also found a rock with a dozen of fossils on it, including some pretty cool ones.
 
lolk

Still don't give a rat's ass. Made a thread asking for experiences, not someone telling me that I'm living in a storybook. You can continue with your dead-end life now :)
 
That's the kind of stuff I like to hear!

Shit I can't remember what that's called at the moment. I went up to Lake Malawi with some friends and some came back with it. It's some sort of parasite like you said...I just can't for the life of me remember what it was called! I pretty much stayed away from all bodies of water, though. Managed to get through with not a single illness, and I was eating streetfood and drinking tapwater a lot of the time haha.

And my god the malaria! So many of my friends came down with it haha

@Catz: To be honest, I have no desire to go to Asia and never had...other than Tibet. Do want Tibet. I'm not really sure why. I mean, I know it's beautiful and all, but the culture never really intrigued me like other places. Maybe I'll end up there one day, but for now I really want to just do more of Africa. It really is a lot safer than people seem to think.

@Phil6x: I appreciate the recommendation, but the thread isn't about whether or not I should do it, it's asking about experiences and how I should go about doing it. There is absolutely no way in hell I'd listen to a member from THIS forum telling me not to do something lol.

But that does sound awesome! I'm pretty much going to stay away from up north, though. That, I know is extremely dangerous currently and I'm not about that life. My dad backpacked Europe/Northern Africa when he was my age, though, and he said seeing the Sahara for the first time was an absolutely incredible site.

 
I did a solo backpacking trip in Asia for 8 months when I was 20.

Went from Indonesia all the way to China.

If you have any specific question, feel free to ask. If not I'll you one thing: GO. Traveling is the best thing anyone can do to expend their world view and grow as a person. It can be dead cheap to do so as well. So no excuse, just take that first step, it's the hardest one.

Remember one thing, focus on the journey, not the destination.

Oh start the journey alone. You'll meet people along the way.

I'll shut up now.
 
Thats not necessarily true. I know people who have hiked/backpacked through africa. You just need to inform youreself which places you should rather not go to. Of course its not 100% safe, but most of the people there are decent people who will invite you to their houses and so on. The guy I know did that for a total of 3 years (he went from hamburg all the way down to south africa, without using planes) and I don't think anything too bad happend to him...
 
I took the opportunity to post you're pm and my answers here as well. Some other people might be interested in traveling as well. I know that on this site, many people have done the same and more they can help as well.

What did you start with? Just a general list of all possessions on your body at the time.

A big back pack with a small one attached to it, around 16 kg if I recall correctly, which was too heavy. I ditched stuff along the way. You should aim at something around 12 14kg max. Inside was the usual stuff, few clothing stuff (not a lot), 1 pair of walking shoes, 1 pair of flip flop. mosquito net, head lamp, knife.. the usual. Don't forget your vaccine tho. There are many site that list down what you could take. But always take something if YOU KNOW you will need it or that you won't find it there. Trust me. For example, I never used my mosquito net. Be light. BE LIGHT. :)

Were most of your nights in hostels/indoor or camping/outdoor?

I traveled in South East Asia. Camping is mostly forbidden and hostel are dead cheap. 90% of the time was hostel, they are everywhere, easy to find. Just follow your Lonely planet guide. The the bible. Nothing comes close to Lonely planet, there's everything in it. Hostels are good to meet other traveler as well. You meet SO MANY different it's the best part of it. That's why traveling alone is better, if you are constantly with a friend or a GF, you tend to stick together and miss opportunities to meet other people.

I slept in people's home when I could. It's the best way to meet the local and discover stuff that even backpacker on the tourist trail will not come across. I went fishing with 2 10 yo kids in the middle of Laos. And those 2 kiddo knew more about life than me. They started a fire with scrap, got fishes and shells, they cooked them for me, they made a small wooden boat to cross the river... In like 3h. I was in awe.

What was your average budget per day? Was it easy to keep to it?

Average budget a day was 15/20$ a day which was MORE THAN ENOUGH in SE Asia. I would have been fine with half that. But then I spent more sometimes on activities (rafting, trekking, elephants trip, scooters and so on) as well as buses, trains, temples visits etc etc. Total budget of my trip was around 13'000$ I think. Including a few flights. Just be careful not to blow it on alcohol and hookers in Thailand...Trust me........

Do you feel there was anything you could've done to be more prepared?

Quite the opposite I think. I was over prepared if anything. I had my route planned out but I ended going something completely different. That's the beauty of backpacking. YOU ARE FREE. You do whatever you want. Want to fellow that guy on top of the volcano? Go for it. Rent a car with that chick to go around Bali? Sure why not. I have never felt as FREE as when I was traveling. It's addicting. Sure sometimes shit happens, that thing is 12h late, you have a small crash on scooter, you lost you passport etc.. It happens and there are always solutions. Stay positive, look in front of you and march on. People are nice, they will help. Be open, try to learn about the country you're in, eat locally, speak some local words as well. Don't be afraid to try new/weird stuff. I ate tarantula and cockroaches, disgusting but a great story. So don't over think it. Just take that 1st step, open your eyes wide and prepare to absorb as much as possible march on. Everything will follow.

Be ready to have the most amazing experience of your life.

Peace dude.

 
though though though though though though it's a bad though habit though.

And Gato, worded that wrong...no way I'd change plans because someone on here told me not to do it because I'm living in a storybook. Rather not take advice from someone just coming in here to tell me that something (that I've learned is possible) is impossible.
 
obviously there are sketchier and less sketchier places. in EVERY country. or would you guys recommend me to go walk through all these neighborhoods in the US where even the police is not willing to set a foot in?

i saw a travel blog of a white lady who traveled alone through pakistan and northern india. lot of problems up there but its not like mass murders on every other corner.

are there safer countries? no doubt. but its not like there is no way he could survive. furthermore, he already was in africa for quite some time. yes he wasnt all over the continent and didnt do much stuff due to working, but dont be all so negative.

noone gives shit when someone quotes CR with "the joy i get from skiing is worth dying for", so dont fuck with a guy who dearly wants to spend more time in a continent where he already was and most of us havent been
 
I've backpacked in Africa, South-America, Asia and Europe, so I sorta know what I'm talking about by now.

Africa is great. I haven't been to southern Africa yet, so it's probably a different story there, travel-wise, but there's few things that are true for almost every (hot) third world country:

- Only buy bottles of water or get sachets of water.

- Don't buy ANYTHING that's frozen. Most likely it's warmed up before it was frozen. Very likely to make you sick.

- No dairy products. Powdered milk is ok, the rest is a no-go.

- No salad. Period. If you need vitamins, buy (whole) fruit/vegetables on the streets. No pre-cut stuff there either. Just prepare it yourself.

- If you're buying food on the streets, always stand next to it when they're cooking/preparing it. If they offer you something they 'just' warmed up, don't buy it. Say you want somethig freshly cooked so you know all bacteria are dead. All above pointers pretty much have the same message: don't get food-poisoning. It's a bitch - especially when the only place to do your thang is a cockroach-infested shack with a 'toilet' (read: whole in ground) inside.

- Bring bleach. Or any other water desinfectant (Hadex and the likes). 1 drop per 100ml's (3 oz) of fluid kills pretty much anything inside (in 20 mins). Just in case you can't buy bottled water.

- When swimming, check with the locals where you can - they'll know. Most places aren't safe for swimming. Parasites and the likes are a bitch. Avoid them. Make sure to only swim in running water too.

- Don't use soap in rivers/ponds/lakes/natural water sources. Locals highly likely use the water for irrigation or even drinking water. You don't want to contaminate their freshwater source.

- Deet. Have it and plenty of it. Malaria is a big threat. And so are Tsetse flies. Both are extremely dangerous.

- This is probably unncesary to say, but you need Malaria medication. Malarone and Lariam are both good. Malarone must be taken every day. Malarone is very expensive, but most US health insurance policies cover it. Lariam, the other pill, is dirt cheap and has to be taken only once a week. Negative side to the Lariam is that some people get symptoms of insomnia/nightmares and feel 'down', I've never experienced this though.

- Get a travel-mosquito net. It's tiny, weighs nothing and makes your trip a lot more enjoyable.

- When peeing, don't do it in rivers or pools. There's parasites that swim up your urine streem and get into your dick (no joke).

- Get a big garbage bag and put it inside your backpack. There's nothing more annoying than having wet clothes and the probability of it raining when you're in sub-Saharan Africa is very big. Your backpack is probably not waterproof. You can also stash all your dirty clothes/underwear outside of the garbage bag; easy seperation of what's clean and what's dirty. Get a raincover for you backpack too. Stay dry.

- Get a first-aid kit. Might seem obvious, but chances are there's no medical care around and a scratch/cut can easily infect. Betadine/Iodine (disinfectant) is what you want for sure. Rehyrdration salts: Depending on the length of your stay, chances you'll get diarrhea are almost guaranteed (even when taking above security measures). If this happens: keep drinking water and add those salts. Dehydration is always a threat. 99.9% of tropical diarrhea causers are bacteria. Eventually they'll be worked out of your system. In general you don't want to take anti-diarrheal stuff (carbon based, or heavier), unless you absolutely have to be somewhere. Work it out of your system, don't rely on medication to get better, it won't happen and the agony will only last longer.

Now that's all the pointers related to being in awesome condition. Then there's the 'general' stuff:

- People are AWESOME. 99% of the people are genuinely nice and want to be your friend. Avoid the 1% who are out to rob/mug/kill/rape you. Not much advice here. Judge accordinly and have common sense.

- Public transport is king (and cheap). Meet people, make friends, have crazy (and sometimes awful) experiences. Backpacking (especially in Africa) isn't (and shouldn't) be 'fun'. It should be an adventure. Stranding in a little village because the bus has broken down? That's what makes it great (#adventure). Also: if you keep an eye on your stuff, public transport is really safe.

- When travelling with public transport, your backpack will probably end up on the roof of the bus/van (or whatever you're travelling with). KEEP AN EYE ON IT. At every stop, check to see if they're no taking it off, either intentionally or unintentionally, your luggage can come off when you're not.

- Never go out alone after 6pm. Most countries around the equator are pitch-black by this point. The bigger the group, the better.

- Do everything you want to do. Money is probably the biggest restraint. This is my general rule: if I want to do something, I do it - but the cheapest way possible. Don't go to luxirious hotels to feel like a king. Do as much different stuff you can do.

- No itinerary. Book a plain ticket there and a plane ticket back (same destination you came to - MUCH cheaper this way) You have no idea of what's gonna come your way.

- Immerse yourself in local culture, learn their language (Hi/How are you/Thank you/My name is ... - you'll make instant friends and get respect) and do what the locals do.

- Keep your most valuable personal belongings on you (passport being the most important one). Camera, wallet, phone are things you also want to take.

- I can highly recommend getting a 'cash pasport'. It's basically a travelers cheque that only works when you're showing your ID. When it gets stolen, no biggie. It uses the MasterCard (you can also opt Visa, not recommended) network and can be used at ANY bank. I once made the mistake of taking traveller's cheque. Never doing that again.

- Leave your smartphone and credit card at home. Smartphones have shitty battery life and if your credit card get's stolen you're in deep shit (like said above: get a cash passport). Buy a Nokia with 7-day battery life (especially since power black-outs are really common).

That's all I got for now. I'm sure there's more but this is all I can think of right now.

Have fun. I'm going on a big trip too after I finish my bachelors in a couple months. Can't wait. You can always send me a personal message if you feel like it.

 
with all due respect, based on those warnings it doesnt sound like anything i would want to do. at least not there.

i would however like to spend time at a remote monastery, if i can find one that is safe.
 
It's not anything you constantly have to worry about. It's just a couple inconveniences from our normal way-too-smooth life. Sure, the first couple days can be a little stressing because it isn't what you're used to, but after that you don't even have to think about it anymore. Time of your life.
 
ive actually never left North America. the rest of the world freaks me out. i know i will some day, the only thing stopping me now is money. but i will definitely be nervous on that day
 
You should be. Life's different in other parts of the world, but trust me: it'll be amazing. Besides you're a smart dude (from what I've picked up by your posts). You'll be fine.
 
I understand why the OP and others are eager to dispel my thoughts as idle and without experience. Reality is just not as fun as the imagination. A little perspective:

I have backpacked thousands upon thousands of miles on foot.

I have lived out of my backpack (no car) for significant periods of time, both with a fair amount of money and with next to no money.

I have traveled extensively.

I have spent significant time in Africa. This includes both the bush and more urban areas. I've walked barefoot through a mall with a large knife on my side, as I had disavowed shoes and wanted to believe that I was an authentic Afrikaaner. I scaled the border fence between Botswana and South Africa, then was confronted by an armed guide with an AK-47. I've been up close with the elephants, with the crocodiles, and with the cobras. I've been on a real safari (not the sissy photography type, but the type that Teddy Roosevelt went on, which ends up with an expensive taxidermy bill). I'm familiar with some of the local customs, certainly familiar enough to know that I could never completely familiarize myself with them.

Understand that racism is alive and well in Africa. This goes both ways. There are hotels, restaurants, where no black people are permitted. Equally so many of the natives strongly dislike caucasians. This is understandable. Parts of Africa are in absolute poverty. Poverty like you couldn't imagine. We blame Africans for poaching rhinos to sell their horns on the black market for a few bucks. Yes, this is absolutely wrong. However, when faced with the fact that your sons, your daughters, your wife, and you are going to starve to death, can you blame them? In a similar light, do you really think your life, a young Westerner clearly out of his element, will mean anything to these people other than a few bucks for your possessions and currency?

The US, for the most part, is extremely tame. We do not have the wealth disparity that Africa has. Almost no one is in such poverty that their family is going to die from lack of protein. Botswana has the highest HIV rate in the world. In many parts of Africa the HIV rate is 25% or more, of everyone. These sick people really have nothing to live for, and access to no health care. They will not hesitate to relieve you of your possessions, and possibly your life. You cannot simply hitchhike, backpack, or camp. It is not possible.

Yes, Africa is very poor in general. There are exceptions. However, to be safe and in some comfort, you will have to pay for "white people" accomodations. These are geared toward the wealthy traveler. There are few to no poor white people in Africa, and certainly no poor white travelers. It costs money to conduct yourself, especially if travel is a primary concern.

I hope I am effectively painting the picture that the true Africa is far removed from whatever pay-to-volunteer project you were based on, surrounded by other similarly doe-eyed Westerners. I love Africa, absolutely love it. I have done a tremendous amount of research on it, as well as have spent a considerable amount of time there. I can name every animal by sight, throughout the expanse of the entire continent, from the tiny forest duikers to the magnificent sable, to the diminutive rock hyraxes. I know the subtle differences in the different calls of the lion, how to recognize if an elephant means business or is simply inquisitive. I know how to handle a gun in the bush and how to handle myself among the people. You do not.
 
I'd first like to clarify that this is false.

I had applied for a position with serval integration and got in, but integrating vervets instead. I did not pay to be there, I was given a place to stay and food in exchange for my time.

This post was a lot more helpful, though. you could have just said something like this instead of your condescending "I know so much about this and am so much better than you, you shouldn't even attempt because I know more." attitude. However, I think you're forgetting that I did live there for a bit. I know that's not the same as traveling throughout the country, but you really seem to only want to mention the worst of the worst. Whenever I went out on my own into town or the neighboring towns/villages, I always stayed on my tows. Sure, there were times when I caught people attempting to steal things from my person, but I never actually let it happen. That being said, a few of the other volunteers did get things stolen frequently, so I know it happens. I'm aware that there are the chances of really bad shit happened, but there are also the chances of bad shit not happening. I honestly felt safer my whole time in Africa than I did my few times walking the streets of Detroit or Syracuse.

Sure I'm not experienced and don't know everything about anything that you seem to know, but if I'm not mistaken, you were in my shoes at one point. You didn't automatically know how to travel everywhere on your own...did you? What if someone had told you that you don't know what you're doing, you don't know how to conduct yourself, you'll get mugged and killed? You just have a really arrogant tone in your posts that really make you try to seem like you're just trying to let everyone know that you're some hardass and you can do everything and no one else can. I'm not an idiot. I've been there, I've done tons of research, I personally know people who've done things like this and have talked for hours about this stuff. I just want to learn as much as I can before I embark on a journey such as this.

While I appreciate and am listening to the other side of things that you're giving me, you're really making yourself out to be a hypocrite.

@exile & Tijmen: Thanks a ton for your posts! I really appreciate you guys taking the time to list that stuff down, and while I already had known about a bit of it, some stuff was actually super helpful! I love getting first hand info and tips from people who've been to the places I dream of going!
 
I see this is one of those "Give me advice only if you think I'll agree with it because I already know everything from my tiny sliver of experience" threads.
 
When traveling in Africa, be sure to tell everyone you meet that you have AIDS. It might not be true but everyone will leave you the fuck alone if you have AIDS. Some may even take you in and nourish you with native foods, as if you were one of their own.
 
Hey man, I have been looking into a month long backpacking course through IWLS in tanzania. Looks rad, i would put a link if I wasnt on mobile but look up iwls tanzania.
 
"While I appreciate and am listening to the other side of things that you're giving me, you're really making yourself out to be a hypocrite."

I'm listening to what he's saying, but are you reading any of his posts? He's pretty much just saying that he knows everything there is to know about all of this and I know nothing, therefor I shouldn't even attempt it. If someone was to legitimately come in here and make a long post about the pros and cons (like what has already been done), instead of just spitting in my face telling me I'm living in a storybook, I'd take to it a lot better.
 
I was only vaccinated for everything about 2.5 months ago, so if I recall correctly, I should be good for a bit now. All I need is my rabies booster to keep it in my system and I'm golden.

I've heard pretty bad things about the weekly med, so it's good to hear it reiterated here. Going to just stick with my doxy! Kept me healthy once, already! But question, since you're an expat living there, are you taking meds for malaria, or do you just go with it? A lot of the expats I met in Malawi weren't taking anything and just bit the pillow whenever they got malaria. I was speaking to a guy originally from Cali and as casual as possible he told me how usually him and his family get it maybe 3-4 times a year haha.

Thanks for the tips!!
 
Glad you figured that out. In your previous reply to my post you stated that I was in your shoes at one time. I was not. I knew enough not to be. I certainly did not travel Africa on the cheap. For example, the first month I was there I spent $7,500. A good amount of that money went to the safari, to killing poor innocent animals to make my dick bigger. However, I never lived "on the cheap" in Africa.

When you went into town and felt "safe" that is because you were in areas that tourists frequent, at times when tourists are known to be around. The locals understood that if they harmed or harassed you that it would negatively impact the tourist trade (however small, but infinitely valuable) in their town. Try taking a bus long distance (which is not even possible in most places) and stopping off in small rural bumfuck Africa. You will see a much different version of "friendly."

The streets of Detroit comment you made is odd. There are parts of Detroit that are beautiful and nice. There are also parts where any walking white kid will be stabbed, robbed, and left dead. You felt unsafe there because you KNEW it was unsafe there. Try not having any feeling for what is "safe" or "unsafe" plus a language barrier and the obvious rich-white-westerner thing going for you. In rural Africa any western white male is perceived as being from Hollywood. You may not consider yourself rich, but by the very fact that you are there on leisure, that you have leisure, instantly makes you among the 1% in Africa.

It's not so much that I "automatically knew how to travel everywhere on my own," it's that I knew how NOT to travel everywhere on my own. I accepted the fact very early on that life is not a storybook, and there are many people in this world who are desperate and will do anything they can to feed their family and themselves, or even just help themselves to a quick buck. Many of these people live in Africa.

To finish my thoughts on the subject, what you said struck a chord with me: "you're just trying to let everyone know that you're some hardass and you can do everything and no one else can." Excellent perceptive qualities. I am a hardass and I can do everything that no one else can.
 
hahahaha

p.s. but on a serious note if you do end up going it sounds like you got some feelings for this girl which is rad, tons of people want something like that to happen like it does in movies, except it actually happened for you, i myself am jealous :| Godspeed

 
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