24th April 2014 – 6th August 2014 : Our journey in Africa

During more than 3 months, we wandered on the roads between Nairobi – Kenya and Cape Town –South Africa. We had a great time there, and it’s time to make few conclusions :

-         East Africa is a very astonishing region with plenty of various landscapes : (Tropical forest, mountain, step, semi-desert areas…), different cultures (from the traditional Massaïs to the high tech business men and working girls), a warm welcome and a very interesting fauna and flora.

-        East Africa is relatively touristic (maybe less for Mozambique) but it remains an expensive destination for tourism. We were very surprised when we saw the prices on arrival!

-        But the gap between black and white people is still existing. This inequality is more visible in South Africa but you can feel it everywhere. Unfortunately the conducts to unsafety in some areas. But please stop being paranoiac: if you respect some evident safety rules (such as do not walk with your expensive camera in front of you, or don’t go out alone at night) everything will be fine and you’ll have a good time. People are very friendly!

-        This social contrast brings an « interesting » and different way of life. While white people are travelling in car with A/C, black people take buses where they are 2 per seat ! We took these same buses and even if it’s not comfi at all, people are almost always very friendly with us!!!

-        We were disappointed about the gastronomy. In contrary to West Africa, East Africa doesn’t have a lot of specialities. The most eaten meal is chicken and chips. But it’s not a good grilled tasty chicken, it’s a skinny chicken cooked in oil… (Romain liked it)… In South Africa we find all types of food because of the high number of communities in the country.

-        In East Africa there is something for everybody : claer blue water in Zanzibar, Mountains in Tanzania and South Africa, amazing diving sites, modern cities (especially in SA), rural and traditional places, natural parks with a lot of wildlife… but be careful, Africa not always means hot temperatures. In winter in Cape Town (July-August) it can be between 5 and 10 degrees only!

-        About games, the poorest children are the ones with the most of group games. They play in dancing and singing, with a ball or a skipping rope. One of the most popular game for the youngest is the wheel game: they take a car or bicycle wheel and a stick and play many hours with it. Another famous game is football of course (for girls and boys) and is some poor village they make their own ball with plastic bags, newspaper and rope. They also create their own toys with everything they can find: old metal and plastic packaging, caps, rope, metal…Adults also spend time on playing: they play chess or dames with can caps and Bao: it’s an African strategic game made of wood and played with beans!

-        School in these countries is almost always free but parents have to pay for the books and sometimes for the school furniture (bench, tables…). That’s why a lot of kids don’t go to school. In cities, there are a lot of street kids. They live in the streets because they don’t have a family anymore or because they escape from home or they were told to go by their parents… but those kids are not criminals. If you know them (why we did in Mwanza – Tanzania) they are like a huge family and protect you.

-        One thing is chocking, especially for me as a woman : the place of the woman in the society. She is obedient, doesn’t talk. It happened that some guys only talk to Romain and not to me !!!! It’s very frustrating and revolting ! When we entered some bars or restaurants, there were only men inside (because women have to work at home, take care of children, do the grocery shopping, etc, etc….) It’s so weird!!! But maybe I shouldn’t judge them because it’s another culture. The only question is, can a culture refrain women to have the same rights as men ??? I don’t have any answer….

-        We recommend East Africa for people who like traveling out of the touristic routes. Sometimes it can be rude but it worth it!

There is still a lot to say about East Africa but we let you discover by yourself… We spent 3 fabulous months there and if we had to do it again, we would do it the same !!! And I am (almost) sure that one day we will go back to Africa to discover other places!!!!