Reader Story: How Helen successful course and volunteered Around Africa
But there are a lot of people are traveling the continent alone, people like Helen. Helen is a 33-year-old Englishwoman who spent months trying volunteering and traveling in Africa on her own. Today she shares how she did it and how to do it
Nomadic Matt: .. Tell everyone about yourself
Helen: My name is Helen, I'm 33 and originally from Liverpool in the UK. In 09 I made a life changing decision in the world backpack, starting in Africa. It was one of the best years of my life, and since then have some fantastic opportunities come my way - but then I believe you make your own destiny! I now divide my time between my travel blog Helen to assist in Wonderland and my work social entrepreneurs in the economy. Last year I was working as a tour guide in Zambia and Malawi.
What inspired your trip?
I'm a big fan of the TV documentary, I was with David Attenborough and Tribe with Bruce Parry. The program Bruce lives with remote tribes for a month at a time. I grew up also watching to movies like The Goonies Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone , but I was always a bit scared actually adventuring go of my own. Then my grandmother, who I really admired for her adventurous spirit, was really sick. It really destroyed me and made me think about what I had done with my life. So I started to save, and then I was made redundant by the work, so I decided, it is the ideal time was responsible for my future to take over and continue the adventures I had always dreamed of.
Did you feel overwhelmed when you were planning?
There were so many times when I was so overwhelmed! By deciding where to decide to go which companies to choose, at first seemed daunting everything! I have as much research as I could and applied a basic route and then booked a few things, so I had a basic structure, especially for the first leg of my trip. Once I had done that I felt a whole lot better and it all started to fall into place. Once you're actually in motion, things are getting usually a bit easier, and relax in your journey.
Where did you go on your trip?
I started a volunteer project in Zambia called from the book bus. I spent a month before the Tazara train over get to Tanzania, where I spent one month at an orphanage volunteer who runs a lot of outreach programs in the Bagamoyo region on the east coast. Then I took the bus to the north Kilimanjaro climb. Then I took an overland truck by Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and from South Africa, where I did a self-drive along the Garden Route.
What you went to explore Africa?
Everyone thought I was crazy my trip to Africa to start from. I think it is not the obvious target for your first solo venture. But I found fascinating Africa; there was a bit of a mystery. The media portrayal of Africa is rarely positive, and the history of the place is just mind blowing, so I wanted it for me to go and see. A few of my friends had explore their post-graduate days Europe, Thailand and Australia spent, but I did not know that someone who had to Africa Backpacking. I also love animals and sunsets, so Africa seemed the most obvious choice.
To be honest, no. There are tons of preconceived notions about what is traveling in Africa as, and in about Africa generally. But in reality, it's actually not that scary at all. Do not get me wrong - there are places I might not necessarily to go, but that's not because I am a woman, or that I am alone. There is more to do with the fact that it might be as the political unrest in the area or something. Africa is big and there are many ways, like a woman easy and safe to travel.
What security advice would you give others?
Africa can be a very safe place to travel if you take a few basic precautions. First, take your malaria medication and receive all relevant vaccinations. Drinking bottled water, carry antibacterial hand gel and wash your hands. The most common cause of a disease is to wash their hands, people not really about the food.
to make While most Africans very gentle, honest and respectful, as usual be careful with anywhere in the world where there is a lot of poverty, you need your belongings and yourself a target. Do not store huge amounts of money into your main wallet. I always pay most of my money on my person, either in your pocket or a hidden money belt, and then hold a small amount of cash in my wallet for basic things.
Do not go alone after dark: try to stay with a group or take a taxi. Your hotel or hostel in a position to recommend a reputable taxi driver to take the city. I often get a few taxi numbers while I'm in one place and use it exclusively. On another note transport, the safety belt when available!
was difficult to handle it on the local transportation?
Local traffic is not set up as well as in other parts of the world such as Southeast Asia, but it's still pretty easy to get from A to B, there are a number of large bus companies that run between many of the major goals be, but they are not so often, so be prepared that the bus on certain days or full runs just want to get to be so that for allow in your plans. The train I took from Zambia to Tanzania only runs on a Tuesday in this direction, and the train came 24 hours later than expected. But there is a saying: "TIA: This is Africa". And if you are prepared, it can be a real adventure
Local minibuses can also be a good way to get around if you do not to be crammed into a small space not mind. At the end of my recent trip to Africa, I had a few days spare in Lilongwe, Malawi, so I decided to take a trip to South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, which is located about eight hours by car. The safari companies ran only four day trips, and I had only three days. So I negotiated a discount, and told them I would make my own way to make back. When I arrived [back] in the camp, I made my way to the bar and asked for public transport around. The bar man, he said something would sort from me and sure enough, the day I left, I was picked up by a local minibus, which took place down at the Malawi border nearby. From there I have a taxi, went through customs, got another taxi to leave the next minibus and then every other minivan out for Lilongwe back. It took a little longer - maybe 12 hours and was not quite as comfortable - but it was cheap and I had absolutely no problems. Where there is a will, there's a way.
you volunteer a lot in Africa. How did you find reputable companies with volunteers?
I really actually been with the company lucky that I have with voluntary, they have been great all. I had two months conserve to do before my Kilimanjaro Trek, so I began to search for ad placement. I saw on a construction site an ad for the book bus, and they are a UK based company. numerous emails After replacing, I knew she would be great for voluntarily. I also sponsor a little girl in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, so I wanted to find somewhere close to their volunteers so I could visit, and through a little research on the Internet, I came across the Baobab Home. The home is run by Terri Place, an American and her husband Caito who is Tanzanian. I loved the look of the work they were doing, and asked if I could come to help! My third task was volunteering to help out in 2011 at Soft Power Education in Uganda, with whom I had spent a day in 09, so I knew they were a good company.
My best advice would be to contact previous volunteers, which is easily done by Facebook these days, or to search for recommendations from bloggers or online forums. I recommend a lot of good volunteer projects that I have encountered in my travels.
What advice would you have for people who are trying to backpack alone to Africa?
If you go for the first time that accession are concerned about an overland truck, is a good way to see the continent. You will not have as much freedom as you would if you were completely independent way, but transport and Catered, and there are many ways to get out and about and see the real Africa.
a volunteer project Joining can be a great way to get used to it, solely for the backpack. Spending a month in Livingstone, Zambia, working with the local people and an active member of the community has really helped me in Africa settle, and I was well prepared for all solo journey I have.
If you decide to go it alone, I recommend accommodation for your first few nights had. Most good pensions will be able to help you book your onward journey.
Check the visa requirements for the countries you want. The most you can get at the borders, but it is best to check in advance. You are a yellow fever certificate for many African countries.
always play a mix of dollars in various denominations which are dated after of 02. Some currencies are only in country, but Visa can be purchased with dollars. Traveller's checks can be difficult to change, so I'll leave it to you whether you take them. A Visa card is more widely accepted than any other card.
be flexible, make sure that your schedule is not too tight, and expect the unexpected. If you can embrace, then you will have an unforgettable adventure.
Oh, and be prepared that you will fall in love with this continent.
Helens history (as well as my friend Zach experience) shows that although there might tugs, fraud and petty crime (my friend was robbed at knifepoint in Malawi), if you keep your wits about you and some common sense use, you can be assured around the African continent backpack.
Just like in any other place in the world.
If you want to read more about Helen adventure, check out her blog, Helen in Wonderlust from.
to the next success story
to hear one of my favorite parts about this job is people Travelogues. You inspire me, but more importantly, they also inspire you. I travel in a certain way, but there are many ways to finance your trips and travel around the world. I hope these stories that show that your trip to reach more than one way to travel, and that it is within your reach goals. Here other examples of people who gave a typical life, to explore the world:
- Two San Diegans conquer their fears and go around the world
- Why Trish everything sold in owned travel
- Olivia and Manny leave the cabin her passion
we come to follow all from different places, but we all have one thing in common: we all want to travel more.
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