Africa Archives - PBG Travel & Lifestyle

Egypt

Travelling to Egypt

I was set to fly to Egypt two days later and didn’t want to leave Africa without going on a safari, so I had booked a tour for the next day. Dragging myself out of bed before daybreak was tough after being jostled around in a jeep for 5 hours the previous day but knowing what was in store spurred me to be at the vehicle with minutes to spare. We left as soon as the sun began to rise and it wasn’t long before we reached the reserve. I was hoping that during the safari tour I would get to see ‘the big five’ and I was not disappointed, although the glimpse of the rhino was brief, so much so that had the tour guide not pointed it out to us we would have missed it. It was a long day but one that was exciting and definitely worthwhile. That being said I was glad to finally get to lay my head down that night.

The Pyramids

Arriving in Egypt around midday the first thing on my mind was booking a tour to the Pyramids. Having secured my ticket I grabbed a bowl of Falafel at a sidewalk café before heading to The Grand Egyptian Museum where I spent all afternoon exploring and learning. What an amazing place Egypt is with an even more amazing history! After leaving the museum I wandered briefly through the Pyramids Gardens and then headed back to the hotel.

Wow, what can I say about the Pyramids? I spent most of the time allowed at the Pyramid of Giza, which is the largest, and I have to say the most impressive, although it completely floors me that the Pyramids were built by hand. It is incredible to think that men somehow heaved those blocks of stone into place. Of course many lives were lost in the process, which is naturally very sad.

One word of advice to anyone planning on seeing the Pyramids: do not forget the sound and light show! If you think the Pyramids are amazing during the day you ‘ain’t seen nothin’ yet’ until you see the show. It is incredible! What a fantastic note to end my Africa/Egypt trip on! Something I will never forget!

Africa

Kenya

Real People

If you have read some of my other posts you know that I like to experience the ‘real’ people and places in a country and not just stay within the tourist’s boundaries. I had made a special arrangement to visit a Maasai village so that I could try and get a sense of what life must be like in one of the driest and hottest places in the world. I love the sun, fortunately, but it still didn’t take long for me to start struggling with the heat. Excellent sunscreen, applied often, is not only advised but a MUST if you want to survive outdoors there. And a hat!

Maasai Village

The Maasai are a fascinating people who for the most part seemed happy despite the challenges the rugged, arid land presents them with. Like many villages around the world it is a community in which everyone contributes to the good of the community. Children are watched by all adults regardless of whether they are their parents or not, which is just as well as it seemed to me that little ones and animals were running everywhere.

Tradition and ceremony are incredibly important to the Maasai. I spent two nights in the village and on both nights I was treated to a display of traditional dancing and music which was exciting to watch and listen to even though I didn’t fully understand the meaning of it all. My guide, Simel, was born in the same village so knew everyone well. His English was understandable but I had to listen very carefully due to his thick accent. He told me that not every dance or song was performed for a reason and that the village was celebrating and performing for me, which I found very touching. Simel also told me that they had given me a Maasai name – Nalangu – which means “came from another tribe”.

I’m not very adventurous when it comes to trying new foods I admit. When presented with a bowl I had absolutely no idea what I was being offered, but fortunately upon seeing my wary look Simel explained that it was primarily locally-grown vegetables mixed with a little animal fat that had been mashed into a pulp. While it didn’t sound particularly appetizing I was surprised to find that it didn’t taste bad at all, and knowing the people of the village would have been offended if I had refused their kind offering I ate it all. I suspect it was nutritious; I love vegetables but typically do not eat them mashed.

I was sad to leave the village and spent about 30 minutes saying my goodbyes and thanking everyone in the worst Maasai accent they had probably ever heard…lol. I left with a beautiful red tunic that I purchased from one of the villagers as a way of repaying their kindness and hospitality. Being a fiercely proud people they would not accept money from me. Don’t get me wrong; I love the tunic and have worn it several times since returning, and every time I do it reminds me of the wonderful people I met there.

Africa

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls…Left Me Speachless

Nature’s Power

Victoria Falls was one of the highlights of my African trip. If you have seen photos of the falls let me tell you that there is no way that the photos can prepare you for the immense power of the water that tumbles down over the edge. The sound alone is almost deafening but I could have sat and watched it for hours. I spent several hours there so was able to watch as the sun began to set. The Falls appear to change as the light change, which was beautiful to see, but the thing that impressed me most was how big they are! Huge!