Know a travel secret about africa?
Nigeria
Surreal Sunsets Along the Lekki Peninsula
Rush hour traffic in Lagos is brutal, and one must slip into a "certain" frame of mind to survive it. A
one-way 25-minute drive takes three hours to complete, and Nigerians handle it with style. Sitting in
traffic along a barrier island separating the lagoon from the ocean as the sun dips for the night means
you get to witness some of the most spectacular, mist-like sunsets West Africa has to offer. Mist-like
because the mix of emissions and humidity with the natural colors produces a wondrous, hazy effect
Rwanda
Akagera National Park Safari
An offbeat, cheaper alternative to the traditional African safari. From Kigali, Rwanda's capital city,
Akagera National Park is only a few hours away. Why pay $700 or more to see Silverback gorillas when,
for a third of the cost, you can hire a private driver and guide for a personal safari? Last February, I
found a hotel employee in Kigali that had access to a four-wheel drive vehicle and negotiated a $200 day
trip to Akagera. We left at 6am, and upon arrival at Akagera learned that the $30 entrance fee included a
complimentary guide. SWEET. The safari was amazing. We drove around for around five hours and saw
a herd of elephants, a Masai giraffe, several Cape Buffalo, Reedbuck, and an Olive Baboon that tried to
climb into our car! If you have more time, you can arrange to stay overnight too. Lion spotting anyone?
South Africa
Penguin Beach
A 45-minute drive from Cape Town, South Africa, this beach may be one of the few places where you
can interact with wild animals on their own ground...without adult supervision and without worrying about
being mauled or eaten. Isn't that nice? Watch out for the beaks though! It's the code of Penguin Beach:
You don't bother me, I don't bother you. That means no attempted petting or picking them up. The colony
of African penguins are lounging around and living life as if you weren't there. The water on the beach is
cold given the relative proximity to Antarctica. EX-tremely cold. I heard the stories, but when I dived into
the water I shivered for a good 10 minutes, my teeth chattering so loud you could send an SOS
message. Eventually your body adjusts and you enjoy the cold water, especially when the summer sun
is bearing down on you.
About the only thing you have to avoid is the penguin waste on the beach. They are not cute and cuddly stuffed animals so they have to do their
business somewhere. Just tiptoe around it and enjoy the sights.
One thing that can be creepy/fun: If you stand in a spot and don't move, you could hear a pin drop. You see all these penguins around you and
they are not making a single solitary sound. You feel like you've landed on an alien planet.
Posts by kamal payy
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