South Africa to Uganda

[rimasg]

Im leaving April 15th for a crazy trip starting in Cape Town and most likely ending in Uganda. I'll have 2 months to get as far as I can, any which way.

I'm excited as hell and scared out of my wits. Does anyone have any consoling words or advice? Anyone wanna join for a part of the trip?

SA-Namibia-Botswana-Zambia-Mozambique-Malawi-Tanzania-Uganda

[pinknic38]

hey, that sounds amazing! I m dying to go to Uganda (and several other countries in Africa). Are you going to see the gorillas in Uganda?

[mbo108]

That sounds like a ridiculously awesome trip. You might wanna read Paul Theroux's "Dark Star Safari" where he does most of that same trip, albeit in reverse (North to South) and I don't believe he gets to Uganda.

Good luck and I would love to hear more about it.

[worldwidemike]

I would say do your reading...guidebooks and other traveler's online blog, reports and so on. Just start googling and when you find someone's blog who's been there, sit down and read it through.

Hearing from others who've done it should calm you down.

And I agree...sounds awesome! My only advice: Get out of Johannesburg as quickly as possible. Last thing you need is to get robbed at the start of your trip...! It has a real "street crime" problem. My other advice would be that if you're going to do a lot of walking around town, try not to look like a tourist. Stash the pack at wherever you're staying. No need being a walking billboard. I say that because of the 60-plus countries I've been to, someone has attempted to mug me in only one: South Africa.

Then again, I don't want to scare you. I walked around the town of Ladysmith all day long and had no problems. I walked around Nelspruit (biggest town closets to Kruger National Park) and 3 teenagers tried to grab my camera bag in the first 30 minutes I was on the streets. They didn't succeed -- I shouted for help and they ran off.

Good luck, and keep us posted on the details! Sounds like a blast!!!

worldwidemike

[simply_angelic]

Hey! I'm actually on a similar trip at the moment (writing this from Maun, Botswana...next major stop: Livingston, Zambia in a couple of days), and it is bloody awesome! Absolutely loving it so far and very excited to hit Vic falls...I don't really know how much advice I have for you right now except for individual places and to be smart (if you're a female don't carry your purse around anywhere in Jo'berg...unnecessary). So far I've only really been to Jo'berg, Musina, Polokwane, Mpungubwe Nat Park, Kruger, Tzanine & Hoedspruit in South Africa and only Gaborone & Maun/surrounding area in Botswana. In Jo'berg Diamond diggers is by far the best hostel to stay at (amazing: Jacuzzi, bar, free shuttle from airport, wicked tours: must do Soweto tour if you can, 80Rand/night for dorm, great people...etc.etc.etc). In Gaborone standard taxi price is 20P anywhere....30P if you travel like from one side of town to the other...dont ;let taxi's say anything else.

Are you travelling alone? I would try to hook on to people or take an overlander (even though they're ridiculously expensive IMO) if this is the case, just purely price-wise/safety-wise. Botswana doesn't really have hostels at all so it's mostly small lodges and if you can share a room with someone it'll really save on cost.