Solo to Africa – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Tanzania and Zanzibar Island

Solo to Africa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Tanzania and Zanzibar Island

I went to Africa as I wanted to use all airline points I had amassed. I could go as far as Addis Ababa, business class on Lufthansa, so said: why not?! Seeing Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge has always been a dream of mine, so I made it come true! And Zanzibar also was a place I have always wanted to see. No one I knew would go with me: husband happy to stay at home! Everyone else said “Africa, why the hell would you want to go to Africa?!” Everyone who hadn’t been there told me how unsafe it was, it only made me want to go more!

True to my A-type personality, I turned the six month prep time into a job! A pleasant one, mind you!

Total trip: 22 days. Two of those days were travel, so 19 days. First trip in five years. I researched well, got all my shots, got visas here in Canada, took only drip-dry, sensible clothes, only packed a carry on. You never need what you think you do. I used a Nikon Coolpix 5200 camera with spare battery and two 512mb memory cards. Took 950 pictures.

Drank only bottled water, peeled everything, was careful what I ate. Did not get sick. Had no problems with anything, really.

I took $1,500 US cash, and used my Mastercard for hotels in Arusha and Addis, as well as for the safari and my Addis-Arusha airline ticket. Everything else I used cash. Literally used every last cent, last $20 used at airport at Addis to pay exit tax on flight home! I bought nothing really: a $5 sarong, some $5 copies of masks, a couple of trinkets.

40 degrees, and Me in Oldupai Gorge, Tanzania, at site where Mary Leakey’s major archaeological find “Zinjanthropus” early man skullMy humble opinion: The saddest thing is the corruption on the whole continent. 90% of governments and staff are pocketing 90% of the aid money. Yes, the people are very poor, yet aid groups are more detached than have ever been – money is being thrown at the people (hence the “African Malaise” as I call it – they now expect money, and, as a result, don’t expect to work for the money!) or the money is handed over to corrupt officials – suddenly schools initially funded by aid money are closed due to “lack of funds”. Africans need education if they are going to help themselves. There are so many bright youngsters, but they need education and guidance, not good intentions. It appears that schools run by Rotary clubs and associated volunteers are the best: they are being run by people who are there because they want to be, not because they feel they should be, or for the prestige, or just want to “help out for a month”. By the way, I have sent a local kid there for school for several years to School of St. Jude, run by an Australian Rotary Club. I also visited her and her family: her English is so good, she has now been teaching her parents. Her father, who couldn’t get a job, as he couldn’t read a word of English, now works full time. The mother also works part-time, her English skills have given her confidence in doing housework for all the “muzungus” (Swahili for whitey!) Yes, they still live with no electricity or running water, but they have so many more opportunities and knowledge: They know not to drink the local water unless boiled, they know how to keep clean and therefore not get sick. Basic things we take for granted.

I never think there’s any big deal to be made that I am helping educate those less fortunate than myself, I just think it’s my duty to help as directly as I can, my duty a result of my luck that I was born in Canada and that little girl was born in Africa. “But there for the grace of God go I”.
I also feel we can all help in our own little touristy way: my rules to myself were: Don’t try to bargain down a beachfront room from $10 to $5. Don’t haggle a $2 taxi ride to 80 cents. Yes it’s cheap there, but don’t insult by not paying more than $1 for anything. Gasoline costs the same there as it does in Canada. The people still spend an hour of their time making something…how is their time worth 1/10th of ours? African economy must be allowed to get up at least to half of what ours is. So, that is my humble opinion!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with comments or questions. Next trip…Cambodia? Vietnam?! Can I drag my husband along this time?! If not, again I will not hesitate to go on my own! I truly think having a nice hotel room is one of the more important requirements for a enjoyable trip. I’m 44 and have earned it!