Anyone with East Africa experience?

[motion]

Contemplating a new trip... possibly flying into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and renting a car to see as much as the surrounding countryside as possible, then flying to Nairobi, renting a car and driving down to Tanzania to Mount Kilamanjaro. This would be a solo trip.

Wondering about the quality of infrastructure? Roads, fuel stations, safety, etc.

I've driven extensively in somewhat sketchy areas of South Africa and am comfortable with that. Wondering if this is similar or a whole 'nother level?

Maybe you guys can also talk me out of this

[Willem Fick]

Ethiopia I wouldn't do myself, but I know a guy that has spent substantial time there doing contract work, and he didn't seem to mind much - could try to get you in touch with him if you are interested. Tanzania etc., not too dissimilar to what you saw in the sticks here in South Africa, and probably about the same levels of safety. I know a couple of guys that have traveled extensively to these parts (I am not sure how much recently), and can try and get more info for you.

[Ayles]

My wife has been to Addis a couple times for work. I guess they have a lot of Italian food (she was excited as she's a very picky eater) and both times she said the accommodations were pretty good. They do a lot of driving but always have security teams with them. Not sure if that's standard procedure or specific to the area.

[Bill Douglas]

It's a bit dangerous. Boko Haram (?) etc is in these areas.

[MRM]

A law school classmate of mine was a travel agency director in her previous life and lead tours throughout the world. She always maintained that if she had the chance to return to just one of the places she had been it would be a safari in Kenya.

On the other hand, I know that the multinational companies that are local to me and do business in East Africa no longer allow their employees to travel there. If they do they have armed escorts. Kenya is now the playground of Somali warlords, and that is the most stable country in the region. I wouldn't risk the trip, but I wouldn't have gone into the parts of South Africa you went, either, so what do I know?

Do take safety seriously, though. Somali rebels come north across the Kenyan border and now control a lot of commerce. The huge shopping mass massacre in Kenya a year or so ago came from Somali terror groups.

[tevake]

Did a fun family trip from Nairobi to Mombasa Kenya to catch a ship for the Seychelles . Way back in the early 70s. Just as the revolution for Independence was winding down there in Kenya. It was a bit uncomfortable for whites there at the time.

Our trip took us thru the Tsavo national park. Where we took a day to drive around the park. Really beautiful countryside with snow capped Mt Kilimanjaro to the south, and wildlife everywhere.

Mombasa was an old port city at the end of the Arab Dhow route from antiquity. So it is something of a cultural crossroads.

Seems like things may be a bit more dicey there now. Not sure.

Cheers Richard

[motion]

Thanks, everyone. Digging around today, I've learned that Ethiopia is extremely safe. 15th safest country in the world, actually. Many people also feel very safe in Nairobi, compared to say, Atlanta. There are no self drive rental cars in Addis Ababa, so that idea is out. If I can get a car in Kenya, I can't cross the border with it into Tanzania. A motorcycle rental is an option in Ethiopia, but technically, its illegal to operate a bike without an Ethiopian drivers license. I guess the cops can be pretty uptight there, so it doesn't seem like a good option. I'm not much for tours, buses or trains, so this idea seems to have fallen off the tracks already. I really don't have much interest in visiting just the cities... I prefer to rack up the miles and take in everything.

I'm getting desperate for new locations to check out... tough problem, I know.

[Jeff Alton]

Spent some time growing up in Kenya, living in Nairobi. We vacationed in Kenya for 3 weeks in Feb, planning again for Feb 2017...

Kenya is safe, never felt any issues.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by motion

I'm getting desperate for new locations to check out... tough problem, I know.

Rarotonga.

And Aitutaki, which is also part of the Cook Islands. Google pics.

[imcarthur]

You seem to like to consume countries rather than savor them.

Have you driven Morocco yet? It has a bit of everything & it is safe although the highways are known for accidents & cops that may require bribes. There’s a poster on Trip Advisor‘s Morocco Forum – Tim Cullis - who is an expert on Moroccan routes, especially the off-piste roads via motorcycle. I am sure he would happily share an interesting itinerary.

Ian

[recycled sixtie]

Motion are you travelling alone? I hope not. There are too many opportunities out there to be held hostage for ransom, beaten up and left for dead amongst other things. Stay safe and have a good time. I see you are leaving your gf at home which is a good thing. There is a fine line between feeling secure and having to look over your shoulder all the time....

[sc_rufctr]

Motion... I envy you because I wont be able to travel the way I want to for over a decade.

Not sure about Africa though. Lots of people just want to get out so that's never a good sign.

Have you been to India?

[motion]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

You seem to like to consume countries rather than savor them.

Have you driven Morocco yet? It has a bit of everything & it is safe although the highways are known for accidents & cops that may require bribes. There’s a poster on Trip Advisor‘s Morocco Forum – Tim Cullis - who is an expert on Moroccan routes, especially the off-piste roads via motorcycle. I am sure he would happily share an interesting itinerary.

Ian

Morocco is on my list! I figure if I'm going to go to a country, I want to see every square inch of it. I am on a mission to devour them.... and I'm in a hurry. Things are changing very quickly in our world!

[motion]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Motion are you travelling alone? I hope not. There are too many opportunities out there to be held hostage for ransom, beaten up and left for dead amongst other things. Stay safe and have a good time. I see you are leaving your gf at home which is a good thing. There is a fine line between feeling secure and having to look over your shoulder all the time....

I've taken the wife everywhere. She's really good with being in uncomfortable situations, even when she doesn't fit in very well. As far as dangerous situations... ANY place in the world can be safe one second, then dangerous the next. You can't get away from it.

[motion]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Motion... I envy you because I wont be able to travel the way I want to for over a decade.

Not sure about Africa though. Lots of people just want to get out so that's never a good sign.

Have you been to India?

Africa is an amazing place!

I have been to Mumbai, New Delhi, Agra and Sri Lanka. Mumbai has its charms, but I really have no desire to go back to that continent.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by motion

Morocco is on my list! I figure if I'm going to go to a country, I want to see every square inch of it. I am on a mission to devour them.... and I'm in a hurry. Things are changing very quickly in our world!

Concentrate on Marrakech, Essaouira & the area south of the High Atlas Mountains. Mountain passes, palmeries on the Draa, a taste of the Sahara, mud brick towns. Stunning. I wimped out & had a driver but it is very doable on your own. Here’s a drive for you:



M’Hamid to Foum Zquid. That map is painted on a sign at a hotel near M’Hamid. About 6 hours without a road – just tracks through sand & stone desert. There are tent accomodations in the middle at the Chigaga dunes. Part of this drive is the route of the Paris-Dakar race before it left Africa.



Ian

[motion]

I don't see a road there, Ian! Is the driving doable in a small car or would you need a 4x4?

[Captain Ahab Jr]

a question for you Motion, what countries have you not been to yet?

[motion]

I'm only at 91 countries... There are lots of countries in Africa and small island countries spread around that are kind of hard to get to. Not to mention the ME and the 'stan countries. I'm getting near the end of the 'self-driving' countries. The remaining seem to be more for group tours and backpackers.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Jordan is great, we did a family driving holiday last year, great place and very welcoming country.

I'd the same again in Oman, Lebonan and Iran if I could.

Have you tried Cuba yet, get in there before it opens up, went 20yrs ago to Havanna for a long weekend and it will be the first place I will ship my 4x4 wagon to when I slow down work.