Yes, you read that right—too many elephants. Perhaps you’re like me and just assumed that all elephants were facing extinction, especially from poaching. Until I began reading more and working more in conservation, I learned that that’s not always the case.

Sometimes it’s common for wildlife that is being brought back from the brink to become “too abundant.” That’s right. There is a generation of elephants at the southern tip of Africa, which are experiencing a very “humanized” problem.

There are just too many elephants.

12 surprising things I learned while in Botswana

South Africa: what happens when you have too many elephants?

The Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve (VLNR ) rests on the border of South Africa, and Zimbabwe is vast and enormous. It was established in the early 1990s, home to some incredible and diverse wildlife. From hundreds of species of birds to ancient baobab trees, and lush riverine forests, it’s incredible. Part of the De Beers Group Diamond Route*, the VLNR is home to these thriving ecosystems, where its fertile lands and safe conditions created a unique challenge – too many elephants crowding the landscape.

Must have been all those romantic African sunsets.

Jokes aside, you can have too much of a good thing. Too many elephants in a “small” area can wreak havoc on the delicate ecosystems that are also recovering and flourishing too. As a result, other species are suffering. Let’s not forget to mention the poor dry earth itself. Resources are running thin, and there are lots of mouths to feed. Sound familiar? 

*The Diamond Route is a collection of biodiversity conservation sites and nature reserves, owned and managed by De Beers Group and Debswana, that span 200,000 hectares across southern Africa.

Mozambique: when you’re trying to bring back the elephants

Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 kilometers away in Mozambique, the elephant population is struggling big time.

From 1977 to 1992, the country suffered a brutal civil war. More than a million people lost their lives. Almost all the elephants were killed as well. Without this keystone species, the ecosystem of the national parks there hasn’t been in balance since.

There are just too few elephants in Mozambique, a place desperate to revive its native elephant population.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

De Beers Group’s VLNR in South Africa has an overpopulation of elephants. In contrast, Zinave National Park in Mozambique lost much of its wildlife as a result of civil war in the ’80s.

So what if excess elephants from SA, could be rehomed in Mozambique?

Could this happen? Is this possible? How on earth do you move some of the biggest (and heftiest) creatures on earth, which I’m guessing, really don’t want to be moved. A complex problem requires a complex solution, and we all know those don’t come cheap.

Luckily De Beers Group was up for the challenge and has invested millions in funding anti-poaching efforts and translocating the elephants from the VLNR to Zinave in collaboration with Peace Parks Foundation and Moving Giants. 

The UN has asked for the private sector to help support the planet, and De Beers Group answered. By also providing funding for the ongoing training and employment of experts to protect translocated elephants, they are putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to looking after our environments. It’s a shining example of a company making a real difference.

What is so important about elephants? Why do we need to move these giants?

Good question. Elephants play a massive role in trampling flourishing grasslands. This is good because it makes room for other species even to exist. Additionally, they dig dry riverbeds with their tusks when rainfall is low, creating waterholes for everyone. The little dudes of the nature reserves need these massive plodders just like us humans need plants.

Need I mention they also disperse seeds in their poop. They carry it miles before depositing and generating new green growth? The impact of elephants is far-reaching and vast.

Now, thanks to De Beers and Peace Parks Foundation, a particular, daring, exciting project is underway: the longest elephant translocation ever attempted.

This remarkable De Beers Group collaboration, Moving Giants is translocating hundreds of elephants 1,000 miles across Africa – and with great success – so far, 101 elephants have arrived at their new home, and some already have babies!

With plans to move more of these magnificent creatures once restrictions ease next year, it’s powerful to see a big company show up and make a real difference towards protecting the wildlife we cherish.

The translocations have been successful, with the elephants successfully adapting and prospering in Zinave. Since the elephants have arrived, the park has also seen a marked change. Now there are numerous ‘elephant highways’ crossing the sanctuary. This enables thicket-loving species such as nyala, kudu, and bushbuck to flourish. Even some species of birds not seen in recent years have returned.

Happy World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day was created on 12th August 2012, by Canadian Patricia Sims in collaboration with the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand. It aims to spread awareness about the diverse threats elephants are facing as a species. Also, they share how to create a safer environment in which to nurture them.

As Patricia puts it, “World Elephant Day is a rallying call for people to support organizations that are working to stop the illegal poaching and trade of elephant ivory and other wildlife products, protect wild elephant habitat, and provide sanctuaries and alternative habitats for domestic elephants to live freely.”

World Elephant Day is all about having the conversation and learning and growing. Look at what Moving Giants has achieved! Anything is possible. It’s also a good time to mention this too. The only way we should interact with elephants is from a safe and respectable distance while viewing them in the wild. 

What does that mean? No elephant demonstrations, no elephant/human interaction, no riding elephants, no buying elephant trophies, and no elephant cuddles.

Going to Southeast Asia? Please be kind and don’t ride elephants

Recently, The Elephant Reintroduction Foundation has found that formerly captive elephants released back into the wild have successfully mated with each other. Now they roam free, protected from *cringe* tourism schemes. While riding an elephant in Thailand seems like a classic bucket list thing to do, there are far better ways you can interact and support elephants. 

Be a responsible tourist and look for conservation parks that have legitimate interests. If the company’s primary interest is in taking your money, you can assume they aren’t treating the elephants well.

As the world comes to grip with the new normal, my mind can’t help but drift towards the animal kingdom. I worry about what will happen to the endangered wildlife initiatives I support.

Between the drop in tourism and government funding and private philanthropic efforts diverted towards healthcare, who is left looking after our most threatened creatures on the planet? It’s never been more critical not to lose sight of the conservation milestones we have achieved.

I was stoked to recently hear from De Beers Group that they’re continuing to commit to their conservation work in Africa, including through the Moving Giants initiative, my favorite of their Building Forever efforts.

De Beers Group and I share the core belief of protecting the natural world we’ve benefited from – to recover nature’s treasure, we have to treasure nature.

Who could have ever guessed that the natural diamonds buried deep beneath the red earth elephants tread on, would help save them?

What do you think of the Moving Giants project? Have you seen an elephant in the wild before? How do you think companies can work to protect the natural world?

The post Moving Giants: the story of translocating 200 elephants across Africa appeared first on Young Adventuress.

The closest thing to an Eden left on earth, the Okavango Delta, sits at the heart of Southern Africa, and it is one of the most significant inland deltas in the world. In a time when wetlands are shrinking into obscurity, the Okavango still holds its place at the top as one of the most unique and magical places to travel to.

As rain waters trickle down through Africa over several months, from the highlands of Angola into Botswana towards the Kalahari desert, it breathes life into the Okavango Delta. The world’s most renowned wetland, the Okavango Delta, is unquestionably one of the greatest places on earth to go on safari.

Whether you’re falling asleep in a canvas safari tent listening to unfamiliar birdsong or spending hours bumping along in a safari truck tracking lions on the hunt, the Okavango Delta is an exclusive and extraordinary place on earth.

Nothing beats going on a safari holiday here in Botswana, and you’re guaranteed to have a lifechanging experience here. There’s no doubt about it, planning a safari in the Okavango Delta can be intimidating – where do you even start? How do you begin to prepare, and more importantly, how do you stay safe?

Here are my best tips for going on safari in Botswana, with everything you need to know to enjoy your African dream holiday.

1. Where to go 

Spoiler alert – a safari in Botswana is expensive, and for a good reason. They try to limit the number of people visiting to protect the delta, which makes the prices a lot higher than what you might expect.

Luckily for you, going on safari is probably one of the most organized holidays you can ever indulge in. While you can certainly do it on your own, like self-driving, most people decide to choose a safari lodge or camp, which often sits in a private national park, and includes their own personal game drives.

Think of it as an all-inclusive experience, usually meals, accommodation, and game drives are included. Be prepared to drop thousands.

The gateway into the Okavango Delta is Maun, where you can fly into from various cities in Africa and Botswana. It’s also where a lot of the small chartered flights to the safari lodges in the delta depart from.

The lodges of the Eastern Delta, Inner Delta, and Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana are some of the most luxurious spots you can choose for safari. I ended up staying at Tubu Tree Camp in the Moremi Game Reserve, which is run by Wilderness Safaris, one of the premier safari providers in Africa. Often people will choose to stay at a few different camps while on holiday to take it all in, flying in between them over a week or two.

Do your research into the camps to see what kinds of activities are available along with what type of wildlife to expect. For example, you will likely see a whole heap of elephants here, but no rhino.

2.When to go

Before going on safari in Botswana, it’s essential to check out the seasons. In the Okavango Delta, high season (with matching price tags) runs from July to October, while the low season is from November to June.

Because the Okavango Delta is a wetland, the floodwaters from Africa begin to arrive in the main channels around May, and with it bring migratory herds of elephants, hippos, crocs, all kinds of fish and many more animals.

Your safari experience in Botswana likely will vary wildly from the wet and the dry season.

During the wet season, the delta turns into an island of channels where many of the safaris operate from a mokoro (wooden canoes) on the water. Between July and September, hundreds of thousands of animals migrate to this Eden.

For example, if you visit the delta during the dry season, you likely won’t be on safari by mokoro, a unique and quintessentially Okavango experience, so take that into account when booking dates.

In May and June, when the floodwaters arrive, the grasses are the tallest, making it harder to view wildlife.

Prepping for safari is pretty straightforward. In an ideal world, plan to be there for two weeks, spending at least three nights at different safari camps in different areas; that way, you can see almost everything. Generally, you’ll go on an early morning game drive and a late afternoon game drive each day when the animals are most active (a nap midday is recommended).

3. Be prepared

Botswana is likely one of the easiest and safest places to visit in Africa, especially on safari. For a first time visitor to the African continent, it’s a fantastic place to start.

First things first, buy travel insurance. Often it’s required with adventure companies anyways, and in a place where you are up close and very personal with a lot of wildlife, it’d be dumb not too. As someone who is a magnet for misadventures and why-me moments, travel insurance is non-negotiable.

You guys know I buy an annual policy every year with Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI), my now go-to provider for all things insurance-related on all my travels around the world. They also offer individual policies for trips too, which are really affordable.

Also, make sure you’re up to date on your travel vaccinations, especially Hep A, Hep B and Typhus.

The Okavango Delta lies in a malaria zone, which is at its riskiest in the wet season. Preventative malaria medication also isn’t fun. It can cost a fortune and comes with psychedelic dreams, but it’s worth it!

Whenever I go off the grid in places like Botswana on safari, I make sure to bring a kit in case I get ill, especially of the stomach variety. Nothing can ruin a trip more.

4. What to pack

Packing for safari can be a pain. Often the charter flights to the lodges are super strict about weight and baggage. They also usually require you to travel with a soft duffel bag too.

During the high peak season in the Okavango Delta, temperatures are mild, ranging from 20°C to 30°C, which is lovely. The rest of the year is usually hotter and with more humidity. When I was there, it was extraordinarily hot and dry, making light clothing essential.

The stereotype of khaki-colored clothing is mostly a thing of the past. However, there are plenty of safari-goers that are my parent’s age who love to rock zip-off trousers and hideous vests. I ended up wearing the same light green flowy dress on safari. It covered me where needed but was super airy and lightweight, keeping me fresh.

I also tended to cover up at dawn and dusk to avoid bug bites, as I am a magnet for mozzies.

The key is comfort and layers.

5. Photography tips

The vast majority of my shots from Africa are shot on a telephoto zoom lens.

On this trip, I decided to travel light and fast with my new Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II camera. Before heading back to Africa, I knew I wanted to bring a big and proper telephoto lens to shoot wildlife. After seeing all of my good friend Lauren Bath’s amazing animal shots from Zimbabwe, where she runs photo tours, I was ready.

Using the lighter Olympus OM-D system this year, I knew I had to get my hands on their 300mm telephoto for Africa (the equivalent of a 600mm focal length). A manageable lens and weight, I was able to capture photos of the most amazing creatures in Botswana without being bogged down by cumbersome gear.

I would recommend investing or renting a telephoto lens (with a focal length above 200) if you’re a keen photographer heading on safari.

Also, make sure to bring a couple of extra batteries and memory cards. Don’t forget extra hard drives or chargers for your camera gear too.

The last thing you want is a dead battery or a full memory card in the middle of a game drive.

But also remember that the best memories aren’t photographs, rather the experiences. Be sure to sit back and enjoy what you’re witnessing too.

6. Anything can happen, be flexible

Travel is nothing if not unpredictable. You can plan and plan and plan some more, but things can always change or go wrong. It’s essential to be flexible and be prepared for changes, especially on a safari holiday in Botswana.

This is another main reason I’ve learned to invest in travel insurance with SCTI.

From canceled flights and unexpected illness to losing your passport and breaking gear, travel is messy and complicated, even for the most organized of souls, of which I am not.

For example, while I thought we would be in the peak season of travel in Botswana, Southern Africa was experiencing one of the worst droughts in years. Most of the floodplains and waterways that would have been filled with life-giving water were high and dry.

This meant that we could only safari by vehicle. The ordinarily lush green landscape had shifted hues towards brown and gold.

Instead of paddling by islands, we were following temporary dusty roads, an experience I know many weren’t expecting. That being said, Mother Nature is always the boss, and my experience in the delta was extraordinary, and I would return in a heartbeat.

Is going on safari in Botswana on your travel bucket list? Do you dream of visiting the Okavango Delta too? Have any tips to add? Spill!

Buy an SCTI TravelCare policy before 29 February 2020 and you’ll go in the draw for a chance to win $5,000 to go in your travel pocket! T&Cs apply.

Many thanks to SCTI for sponsoring this post. Like always, I’m keeping it real. All opinions are my own like you can expect less from me!

The post On safari in Botswana – what you need to know about exploring the Okavango Delta appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Ever since I was a little girl, I would rip out pages from my parent’s National Geographics depicting lions on the hunt or Jane Goodall with the chimps, my curiosity piqued; even then, I had the desire to travel to these places and experience their wonders for myself. A few years ago, I visited South Africa for the first time, and I was hooked.

I have been counting down until I could return to Africa.

My curiosity was and is immense for Africa, and was fizzing with excitement to return, this time traveling to Botswana with De Beers Group. Yes, those De Beers. The diamond ones.

While going on safari in the Okavango Delta in Botswana had been a dream of mine since I was little, deep down, I knew there was much more to learn about this unique part of Africa. I’ve been itching to dig deeper on my travels, and share stories and cover beyond the expected.

We all know that Africa is so much more than lions and gazelle. A complex and profound part of the world, I was eager to explore it through an entirely new lens – community, people, economics.

Almost as soon as I stepped off the plane in Gaborone, I realized that nearly all of my preconceptions about Botswana were off-base. But that’s why we travel, and I never forget that.

Botswana is special. Really special. And its uniqueness comes directly from something you might not expect – diamonds.

The cradle of humankind, the ancestral home of humanity, is right here in Botswana, and it is the people here who have made all the difference. Kind and welcoming, they have moved me tremendously. As I listened to their stories of how many opportunities they’ve had (thanks, in part, to De Beers Group and its partnership with the government of Botswana), I could feel the sand shifting beneath my feet of everything I thought I knew.

Botswana taught me so many things, and now it’ll sit firmly in my psyche as a place of exceptional education for me. Here are some of the most surprising things I learned while exploring Botswana – enjoy!

1.  Botswana is one of the world’s biggest producers of diamonds

While diamonds have been discovered all over the world, from South Africa to Russia, Botswana is undoubtedly at the heart of the diamond world. In fact, Botswana is one of the world’s largest producer of diamonds by value, contributing around 20% of the total world production of diamonds.

Botswana also contributes 60-70% of De Beers Group’s total diamonds, and diamonds count for nearly half of the government’s value.

Did you know that diamond revenues enable every child in Botswana to receive free education up to the age of 13?

2. The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world.

The Okavango Delta has topped the bucket lists of most travelers enamored with wildlife who dream of safaris in Africa.

Perched at the geographical heart of southern Africa, Botswana’s Okavango Delta is the closest thing to Eden left on the planet.

As crystal clear waters trickle down thousands of kilometers from wet highlands of Angola, they disperse almost finger-like out into the hot sands of the famous Kalahari desert. Here, classic Africa wildlife thrives in the largest wetland in the world.

Though right now the Delta is sitting in a drought, which is why it looks so dry.

3. The growing economy of Botswana is powerful

Fifty years ago, Botswana was one of the poorest places on the planet.

With only a couple of kilometers of paved roads, three secondary schools nationwide, and only one doctor for every 48,000 people, you don’t need me to tell you that the future seemed tough, and the outlook for many was bleak.

Then in 1967, a year after gaining independence, the first diamonds were discovered in Botswana, and everything changed. Instead of descending into chaos like you might have imagined (me), Botswana flourished.

De Beers Group partnered with the people of Botswana, setting up a 50/50 partnership called Debswana to mine diamonds. Not only that, but 15% of the whole company is now owned by the government of Botswana too – wow! So for the past 50 years, billions of dollars have been invested back into the economy here.

81 cents of every dollar from the partnership with De Beers Group in Botswana goes straight back to the country’s economy. In effect, the people of Botswana own part of De Beers Group. Let that sink in for a second.

Now, Botswana is considered to be an upper-middle-income country with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Its GDP has grown 500 times since 1960, and Botswana is in the top 5 countries with the highest increasing GDPs per capita. 

4. Botswana’s currency means rain

When 84% of a country is covered in a sandy desert, there is one word that reigns above the rest – rain or pula.

Pula is so significant to the people of Botswana that it also is the currency. After all, what is more critical here than rain?

Pula is also used as a greeting that means welcome, farewell, blessings, and cheers, among other uses. 

5. Botswana is home to the world’s largest African elephant population

Honestly, is there anything better than watching elephants in the wild? Especially babies?

Nope, didn’t think so.

6. It’s not a cheap tourist destination

Botswana is by far the most expensive country to go on safari in Africa.

Botswana is not the cheapest tourist destination to travel to. However, their policy is “High quality, low impact,” reducing visitor numbers by bringing in those willing to shell out for it. Appealing to those who want to enjoy a wildlife safari without the tourist crowds that are so common in many other national parks, Botswana is worth every dollar.

Conservation is vital in Botswana, and it’s been a global leader in a national commitment to protecting wild spaces. Approximately 38% of Botswana’s territory is protected as national parks, sanctuaries, reserves, and wildlife management areas.

Botswana has one of the highest conservation land ratios in Africa, with more than 25% of the land area set aside for parks and reserves to conserve the national heritage.

7. Botswana is the least corrupt country in Africa

Botswana is the least corrupt country in Africa, according to the findings of the annual Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Ranking 34 out of 180 countries, Botswana has consistently ranked high in terms of least corruption, outpacing even countries in Europe.

8. The value of diamonds in Botswana is both ethical and priceless

Diamonds represent up to a third of Botswana’s GDP and are an inevitable fact of life here. Botswana is peaceful, and all diamonds mined here are conflict-free.

Around 13,000 people in Botswana are employed directly through the partnership between De Beers Group and the Government of Botswana. With tens of thousands more supported through the supply chain of diamonds, and through the spending on employees and suppliers within the economy. In fact, around one in every 20 jobs in Botswana stem back to De Beers Group’s partnership with the government.

Even the first lady of Botswana was once an employee of Debswana, De Beers Group’s mining partnership with the government.

9. Zebras are Botswana’s national animal

Zebras were chosen as the national animal of Botswana for the most beautiful reasons. Seemingly harmless and lovable, they’re popular with the people of Botswana and are full of symbols for this unique country.

Zebras, with their iconic black and white stripes, signify the racial harmony in Botswana. These stripes join on the face of the zebra to form a diamond shape – remarkable given the role diamonds have played in Botswana’s development.

When Botswana became independent in 1966, the black and white stripes on the new flag were primarily influenced by the zebra, and the stripes were meant to represent the harmony between people of different races and ethnicities in Botswana.

10. Though maybe termites should be the national animal

Back in the ‘60s and ’70s, scientists discovered minerals from kimberlite, a type of rock that hosts diamonds, on the surface of the Kalahari Desert. But how did diamond minerals that dwell 40 meters below the surface of the earth come to see the light of day?

Termites dug them up while looking for water, building large mounds they call home. Termites led to the discovery of the Jwaneng mine – considered to be the richest diamond mine in the world.

Team Termite!

11. There’s no room for tribalism in Botswana

As I was flying from Botswana, editing photos, and listening to podcasts, This American Life started to share the most exciting story about Botswana’s progressive democracy. To combat tribalism, Botswana requires all civil servants to move to a different tribal area from their own for a few years. Holy crap! I’ve never heard anything like this.

While I’m far from educated enough to A. have an opinion on this and B. fully understand the nuances of something so complicated as tribalism in Africa, here’s the gist of what I’ve learned.

Post-colonial Africa is complicated, and a standard narrative is that after independence, ethnic violence ensues. When Botswana became independent 50 years ago, they were afraid that tribalism would rip the new nation apart so they did everything they could to create a feeling of one country and to avoid the patriotism of tribes, even forcing civil servants and teachers to live outside of their “tribal” areas.

12. Botswana is home to some of the kindest people

While in Botswana, I was always impressed by the kindness and friendliness of locals.

I saw and heard firsthand so many compelling stories from the people that live there. I learned so much about how diamonds have changed lives here. I could really see how De Beers Group has spent decades working on building a long-term positive legacy and creating a future for the people of Botswana.

The story of Botswana is fascinating, and the people are amazing. Now, when can I come back?

Did you know any of this about Botswana? What did you know about diamonds before? Are you Team Termite too? Spill!

Many thanks to De Beers Group for hosting me in Botswana, like always I’m keeping it real. All opinions are my own like you could expect less from me!

The post 12 surprising things I learned while in Botswana appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Somehow I missed the memo that Cape Town is the coolest city ever!

So when I stumbled off the plane from Durban, hungover as hell, I was pleasantly surprised and immediately blown away by this sprawling metropolis at the edge of the world. Holy shit Cape Town, South Africa is all kinds of pretty!

A country girl at heart, I am not usually a fan of big cities but when there are plenty of green places and designed in a way that makes me feel like I’m not in a city, I’m a fan. Cape Town luckily ticks all those boxes, and even reminded me a bit of Wellington, New Zealand where I used to live. Just with more crazy wildlife.

It spreads out all along a wild and beautiful coastline with sandy white beaches, cute little surf suburbs with the iconic Table Mountain looming above you in the background.

Downtown Cape Town is beautiful, and the harbor area is one of the nicest I’ve seen with amazing shopping OOPS. It doesn’t take a lot to understand why the most expensive real estate in Africa is here.

On my first trip over to South Africa, Cape Town was the first stop after a long conference in Durban. And trust me, I was basically sobbing when we had to leave after only 3 days. Couldn’t I just stay here the whole time?

As my time in Africa was drawing to a close, I made a hasty decision outside a market in Joburg. I wasn’t ready to leave. Have you guys ever felt that way about a place?

So I did the only sensible thing, rang the agent that booked my tickets and changed my flights giving myself an extra week and a half in Africa. First I headed out to Phinda, an amazing safari reserve, and then booked myself a ticket back to Cape Town.

Sometimes you have to listen to that inner voice when you love a place so much and can’t bear to leave. And ok, I’ll admit I’m lucky in that I had a pretty flexible schedule at the time and was able to do this. Wahoo internet jobs!

Luckily I was able to time my return to Cape Town when my friends Hecktic Travels were in town on a stopover on their way to Namibia.

Cue long dinners, cocktails in Camps Bay, road trips and photo sessions, plus lots and lots of coffee and catch ups. While Cape Town certainly has heaps of things to do, I found myself just enjoying being there, going for walks and exploring. It’s a great city just to be in, not necessarily be busy in.

Here is my little introduction to this glorious city with 10 things that helped make me fall in love with Cape Town.

1. Table Mountain

It’s no secret, I love mountains so to be a really cool and fun hip city with an amazing mountain backdrop, is definitely the best of both worlds. With straight cliffs and a long flat summit, it didn’t take long to understand its name.

We headed up first thing in the morning back through the winding streets leading to the base of the cableway, the easiest way to get to the top. There was beautiful mist layering over the town giving a great ephemeral feel to the start of the day.

As we walked out on top, I promptly lost my shit when I spotted a dassie for the first time. A fat little groundhog looking animal, it is adorable and I spent the next 20 minutes taking photos of them instead of admiring the view. Typical.

2. Dinner with a local family

For me, this was probably one of my favorite parts of our time in Cape Town.

Hosted dinners with local families is now a popular way to get to know the city.  When you are visiting a place for only a few days, it’s often quite hard to find opportunities to get to know the locals and get a glimpse into what life is really like there.

We were kindly invited to the home of a local musician who not only treated us to an amazing traditional dinner with his wife, but also rocked out with us all evening to the most beautiful music.

3. Staying at the One & Only Cape Town

It’s not every day that I get to stay in a 6 star hotel! Holy moley! If they only knew what I was really like, would they have let me in?

The One & Only Cape Town is part of the One & Only resort chain, and their South Africa property doesn’t fail to impress.

The biggest coziest bed ever complete with a pillow menu, great internet, a huge bathtub and an espresso machine – what more could I want?

I pretty much live in hotels with my job, and getting to stay in places like this is definitely a perk that comes with being a professional travel blogger.

At the risk of sounding snobby, while it was an amazing property, I didn’t feel like 6 stars to me until the first breakfast when I discovered not only champagne and oysters, order off the menu, any coffee you want, and oh, the crispy bacon or grilled bacon station.

Yes, 6 stars or sure!

4. Penguins on the beach!

My oh my! You guys know how much of a #BirdNerd I am, so when I first started researching Cape Town and realized there was a beach nearby home to a colony of penguins, I knew I had to make it happen!

Boulders Beach is near Simon’s Town is home to a colony of Africa Penguins, and they are adorable!

And luck was on my side because not only was the beautiful beach covered in penguins, there were fluffy molting babies everywhere! There is a god and he heard my prayers!

Show me the penguin babies!

I’m not going to lie, I loved it so much I went twice!

5. Seaside

All the amazing seafood, all the time, nuff said.

6. Saturday Market

Another reason I was so happy to come back to Cape Town was that it gave me the opportunity to meet up with a few of you guys. I got an email from a kiwi expat living over in Cape Town who had spent a lot of time in Wanaka so it was a great opportunity to see the side of the city I probably wouldn’t have known about and hang out with a local.

The Oranjezicht City Farmer’s Market is super cute and in a beautiful part of town. Even though it drizzled the whole time, there were tents everywhere and so much delicious food and coffee, you hardly noticed.

This market has an amazing story – it was meant to be shut down before it was saved at the last minute and now takes place on the premier’s own gardens in Cape Town, which means its setting couldn’t be more picturesque.

7. Cape of Good Hope

I met up with the Hecks who rented a car and we hit the road for the day. First stop – back to the penguins obviously.

From there we headed to the Cape of Good Hope to live out our elementary school geography dreams. Nothing like finally laying eyes on a place you’ve heard about your whole lives, right guys?

Did I mention there are wild ostriches there? And baboons.

Run for your lives!

8. Chapman’s Peak Drive

On the way back to the city from the Cape Peninsula in the moody late afternoon light, we decided to take in the beautiful Chapman’s Peak Drive on the west coast.

I love a good road trip with friends!

And holy crap did this road not disappoint!

The 9km of road connecting Noordhoek and Hout Bay is pretty stunning.

Picture huge cliffs dropping down to the turquoise sea and crazy bends and turns with more lookouts and views than you could ever hope for. Don’t forget your camera.

As we turned the corner to head back to Cape Town, the sun began to shine through the peaks lighting up the houses below and creating those beams of light that I am obsessed with. What a way to close the trip!

9. Sunsquare Cape Town

I also wanted to mention on my second trip back to Cape Town I had to forgo the 6 star hotel for something more in my range and budget, the Sunsquare Cape Town.

Near the Gardens area of Cape Town, it’s in a really cool part of town with an amazing breakfast.

10. Sunset cruise

The perfect introduction to Cape Town is a sunset cruise in the harbor accompanied by a few breaching whales and champagne.

Sigh, Cape Town, you rock!

Have you ever felt this way about a place? Ever been to Cape Town? Ever changed your flights so that you didn’t have to leave a place?

Many thanks to Visit South Africa and Cape Town Tourism for hosting me in Cape Town. Like always, I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own, like you could expect anything less from me. 

The post I loved Cape Town so much I couldn’t leave appeared first on Young Adventuress.

45 minutes inland from Cape Town, is a little corner of South Africa called Stellenbosch, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever clapped eyes on. Never heard of it? No worries, me neither.

After Cape Town, it’s the oldest settlement in South Africa, and not longer after people arrived, grapes were planted, making it one of the main wine growing regions in the country, meaning I was likely already going to like it.

Personally, when I think of South Africa, I had never thought of wine. Or even mountainous countryside. My images were more animal-oriented. Lions. Sharks. Gazelle. So my mind was reeling by the time we got out of the car in Stellenbosch for a day trip from Cape Town. To me it could be New Zealand or even La Rioja, Spain; the wine-growing region in the north where I used to live.

But the best part?

It was May when we visited and since I was still in the Southern Hemisphere, which you guessed it, meant beautiful red, yellow and gold vineyards for as far as you could see. Pinch me, I had died and gone to Cabernet heaven!

As you guys already probably know, I am mildly obsessed with autumn. It’s one of my favorite seasons, and I think it’s the absolute best time of year to visit wine countries around the world. I have the most amazing memories of autumn amongst the vines in northern Spain where I used to live, when the whole countryside changes color. The days get crisper and the skies are clearer – I love it!

I briefly mentioned Stellenbosch when I first introduced you guys to South Africa here, but now I thought I’d dig a little deeper and share what really tugged at my heart about this place.

I didn’t really get a touristy vibe when I was in South Africa. It is such a big and diverse country, and there is so much to do and see, I think it’s relatively easy to get off the beaten tourist track, if there is much of one at all.

Visa asked me to be a part of a project called #notatourist, and over the next few months I’ll be sharing some of my best travel secrets for exploring beyond the usual landmarks. All of my cards are Visa which is a bonus if you travel as much as I do! They have great benefits for travel and different card types to suit your needs. Also, if your card is ever lost or stolen, you can also get a replacement, wherever you are in the world.

When I think of places in South Africa to travel not like a tourist, the Cape Winelands immediately sprang to mind. South Africa is much more than safaris and up-and-coming cities, and it’s definitely much safer than we are led to believe. And there is nowhere that makes you truly feel at home than heading out and exploring Stellenbosch and its surrounds.

Our first stop was lunch out at one of the prettiest wineries I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying something because WINE.

Delaire Graff Estate is a must on any trip in South Africa and May is the perfect time of year to visit. It’s still warm enough to sit outside in a t-shirt and drink chardonnay on the patio and the colors of the vineyard are at their finest.

In between courses I snuck away from our table to explore the gardens and property. It’s not fair to ask me to sit still in such a beautiful spot. I roved between the vines, took about a million photos and had more than my fair share of wine, obviously. When in Rome, right? And when you aren’t driving, double right?

It was definitely a highlight for me on my trip in South Africa, and my only complaint is that we weren’t there for longer. I am already thinking of how I can come back and stay the night and maybe bring my parents because I know they would love it.

As they dragged me kicking and screaming from the estate (just kidding, I am classier than that) we headed over to explore the nearby town of Franschhoek in the late afternoon.

A small colonial French village bursting with adorable shops and cute cafes and delicious eateries, I realized this was the kind of place I would enjoy on a mellow vacation. Meandering through the shops I picked up trinkets like local candles and jewelry to take back with me. What can I say? I’ve become a nester. Who would have thought?

As the sun started to dip towards the horizon and the fall colors grew even more stunning, we made our way back to Cape Town, which to be honest, could be worse. While I was sad to say goodbye to a little region that tugged at my heart and felt undiscovered, Cape Town is pretty freaking awesome. It’s a great place to be based to explore the Cape Winelands.

We did make one last quick stop at the Drakenstein Correctional Centre, for a photo and a brief history review. While a prison might not seem like your average stop on a wine tour, it’s actually an important place. It’s where Nelson Mandela spent his last few years in prison for campaigning against apartheid.

The complex depth of history and culture in South Africa never ceased to amaze me. It’s a country that no matter how much you think you have it figured out, it will continue to surprise you. You just have to go with it and stick along for the ride.

Have you been to South Africa? Do you think of it as a wine destination? Is it on your travel list?

Many thanks to Visit South Africa and Visa for hosting me in South Africa – like always I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own, like you could expect less from me!

For more tips from Visa on exploring the world like #notatourist, visit Travel with Visa.

The post Autumn in the Cape Winelands, South Africa appeared first on Young Adventuress.

One of the things I have been looking forward to sharing with you guys the most from my time in South Africa has been the wildlife.

My first week there I went on a safari near Kruger National Park, and while I got to see some amazing animals, 2 days wasn’t nearly long enough. So I did the only logically thing possible – I rang the airline and rescheduled my flight to Spain so I could go back and have the full safari experience I had always imagined.

As a little girl, I used to eagerly flip through my parent’s copies of National Geographic, my curiosity in the world insatiable. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the Lion King was one of the first movies I ever saw. Who knows!

I wanted to trek through the Andes in Peru, climb Everest, float down the canals of Venice, be a war correspondent in the Middle East, and of course, track lions in Africa. Not to mention Out of Africa has always been one of my favorite movies. Robert Redford, swoon!

Of course, my obsession with the world, as we all know thanks to this blog, only grew over the years, and my desire to visit Africa has been lingering in the back of my mind since as far back as I can remember.

While I have been to Morocco and Egypt, I knew I needed to get to sub-Sahara Africa, but I wasn’t sure where to begin. So many amazing corners and spots to visit!

So when I got invited to South Africa, obviously I said yes about as fast as humanly possible. Show me some lions!

Before I begin I’d thought I’d also share a few photography tips for those interested. Recently I’ve been partnering with Canon Australia trying out some new gear, and truly working on taking my photography to the next level, something I’ve always dreamed of.

And trust me on this one, if there is one place you want to take photos, it’s on safari in Africa, as you are almost always guaranteed to see something mindblowingly awesome.

My standard kit is a pretty simple one, I shoot mostly on a Canon 70D (and upgrade from my 60D) with a 17-55mm lens. But when are you shooting wildlife, you need a good telephoto zoom, trust me on this one. The majority of the shots below were taken on a Canon 70-300mm lens which I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT.

If you want to know more about photography and my kit, head over to my post What’s In My Camera Bag!

I had heard great things about Phinda Mountain Lodge, an amazing And Beyond property located on the northeast coast of South Africa, and knew this was where I needed to go. Not to mention it is a Big Five reserve so I would finally be able to tick off seeing some of Africa’s greatest creatures (the hardest animals to hunt on foot historically:

Lion – Elephant – Leopard – Rhino – Cape Buffalo

I am happy to say I saw them all, though the leopard was the hardest and most elusive and I didn’t take any photos – I was too caught up in the moment.

A safari lodge on a game reserve is one of the best ways to experience African wildlife, though it’s important to do your research about which places are passionate about conservation and maintain high standards about wildlife.

As soon as I heard about And Beyond’s Rhinos without Borders program, I was hooked! Relocating 100 rhinos from South Africa to neighboring Botswana, which has a much smaller poaching risk, it was a huge step towards protecting rhinos, which are in rapid endanger of extinction.

I’ve always had strong feelings about protecting animals around the world, and unless you’ve been living under a rock this week, there’s no way you could have missed what’s been happening in Zimbabwe with the death of Cecil the lion being killed by a trophy hunter, taking the world by storm and loudly condemning the practice.

While I hardly think I am qualified to weigh in on the matter, besides the usual grumblings of “fuck that guy” and “lock him up for life,” I thought I would take the time to do something more positive, and show all of you guys just how amazing Africa’s wildlife can be, especially the lions.

I had but a taste on my recent trip to South Africa, and was luckily enough to spend a week at Phinda, and went out on safari every day, quietly following, observing and watching these amazing animals. Oh and taking about a million photos along the way.

Enjoy!

Zebras

The first zebra I spotted at Phinda I squealed so loudly I freaked everyone in the jeep. Couldn’t help it, especially as there was a baby in the herd!

Impala

Impala are the like the squirrels of Africa – there are so many by the end of the first day you are likely to ask your ranger to stop pointing them out. They are still such beautiful creatures though.

Lions

I’ve got a bigger post coming up soon about my experience with lions at Phinda because it was truly phenomenal. But in the meantime I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite snaps.

Warthogs

Logically it only makes sense to follow up Simba with Pumba.

Giraffes

Giraffes have to be the weirdest, most beautiful and most iconic creatures I saw in Africa. I only saw a handful of them when I was there, but perhaps the most memorable was this mamma, who stood in the same spot every day for a week when we were there, guarding over her baby who had died. It was the first time I felt like I could see empathy among these animals.

Hippos

I don’t know why hippos aren’t included as a big 5 animal, they are freaking scary. Until I saw a newborn baby next to his mom one night. Then I lost my shit – cuteness overload!

Cape Buffalo

Probably the least known of the Big 5, the Cape Buffalo is the only buffalo that hasn’t never been domesticated, mostly because they are pretty wild and dangerous and will gore you without a second thought.

Cheetah

We tracked these two cheetah brothers for half a day before we finally found them, and even now I am amazed that our tracker was able to spot them (see what I did there?) because they blend in so well.

Monkeys

I hate monkeys probably more than any other animals. They are naughty, terrible creatures who know no fear. Guard your breakfast because they will steal it along with anything else they can get their mitts on.

Elephants

My god do I love elephants! Between their herd mentality, watching the babies trip over their own feet to seeing them use their trunks like a snorkel, I find them to be some of the most fascinating animals I’ve ever seen. They were also the only ones that are truly scary, mostly because they are much much bigger than the safari jeep and you know they could flip it.

Wildebeest

Crocodiles

Run for your lives!

Other animals whose names I can’t remember (help!)

Actually, I think these are vultures (but don’t quote me) – how creepy are they perched in that tree?

Rhino

I saved the rhinos for last because for me they are the most special of all the animals I was lucky enough to see at Phinda. One rhino is poached every 8 hours (fact) for its horn, mostly for traditional asian medicine, and within the next year or two, their population will decline faster than their births, meaning they will go extinct very soon.

Luckily reserves have strong anti-poaching teams who watch the animals and do their best to keep poachers out. For me, rhinos were the most special animals to see, both black and white rhinos, because they were quiet and elusive, and just a joy to watch, especially the babies. How people could hack their faces off and leave them to die, I can’t even imagine.

I feel very privileged to see them in the wild, knowing that one day, if I ever had kids (jesus, what a thought!), they might not get to see them. SAVE RHINOS!

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Phinda for hosting me on safari, aand this post contains some affiliate links (I gotta pay the bills!) – like always I’m keeping it real, all opinions are my own, like you could expect less from me! Also this post contains affiliate links.

The post On Safari at Phinda, South Africa appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Visual overload forthcoming! I hope you guys are ready!

It’s been a week since I left South Africa and I still can’t believe it. It was more than I could ever dream of in a country to visit, and I loved it so much I couldn’t leave so I changed my flights to stay longer. Twice.

If that doesn’t give you any indication that South Africa is a freaking awesome destination, I don’t know what will.

From the hustle and bustle of hip Joburg to the crashing waves around Cape Town to the hot dry sands on safari, it’s really really hard for me to pick a favorite moment from my couple of weeks in Africa. Once I wrap my head around all of the experiences, I will start sharing in-depth tips and ideas for you guys on my blog.

Though if you are headed there soon, be sure to check out my guide on Trover here.

In the meantime I just wanted to give you a little teaser and photographic introduction to this rocking country at the bottom of the world. If you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen some of these shots already!

I have been trying out some new gear on a little collaboration with Canon Australia – all of these were shot on either a Canon 60D or Canon’s new mirrorless EOS M3 series.

Enjoy!

Durban

I was in Durban for a conference (Indaba – African’s biggest travel trade show) and didn’t really have much time to experience all it had to offer.

I was able to escape the meetings and hotels for half a day and got to visit the Moses Mabhida Stadium and watch a few of my friends jump off the roof swing – yes, I totally chickened out. Sue me.

Here you can see my friend Inma from A World to Travel screaming like a banshee. Spot her? Props girl.

After a final absolutely crazy night in Durban in which many tables were danced upon and I don’t even know how I got home, we headed to Cape Town the next day. And that is a morning of serious pain and suffering I would prefer to forget. Onwards.

Cape Town

I was so incredibly excited to finally visit Cape Town – this was a buzzy place I had heard a lot about and let me just say, it definitely lives up to its fabulous reputation.

We kicked things off with a bang with a sunset cruise around the harbor – there is nothing like hitting the high seas like the pirates we all are on the inside to really get a feel for a place, and truly understand the amazing location of a city.

And then because I was there as a part of a media trip from Australia, we got put up at the One & Only Cape Town, which is Africa’s only 6 star hotel – hellllloooo job perk!

Seriously, how will I go back to sleeping in my car and pitching tents in New Zealand? HOW?

First world problems, guys. Don’t hate me!

Bongani Mountain Lodge

I celebrated my 27th birthday on safari at Bongani Mountain Lodge, which was pretty epic, I am not going to lie.

Rhinos? Check. Baby elephants? Check. Zebra and giraffes? Double check.

It was also great because two friends of mine were also with me on this trip – Michael and Matt. Who wants to celebrate their birthdays alone? Nope, not me!

Stellenbosch

Oh my giddy god, how have I not heard of Stellenbosch before now? Where have you been hiding all these years?! This is South Africa’s wine-growing region and it is all kinds of amazing.

Seriously, they had to drag me back on the tour bus. DRAG!

Also since it was May and in the southern hemisphere, it also means it was autumn, my absolute favoritest of seasons. I can barely look at my pictures because I am so sad I only had one day there.

Stellenbosch, I’ll be back for you!

Johannesburg

To be honest, I wasn’t exactly stoked to head to Joburg – I am NOT a city girl and I was too preoccupied with thoughts of lion cubs and great white sharks running through my head.

Lucky for me, Joburg was actually all kinds of awesome! It has such a strong history and is a real cultural, thriving, complicated hub, I was enthralled as soon as we arrived. I like complicated.

A lot of my love for Joburg has to be credited to Meruschka, the fabulous lady behind Mzansi Girl – a local travel blogger from South Africa. I met her at Indaba and hung out again in Joburg, and seriously, I would follow her anywhere.

Phinda Mountain Lodge

Of course the hands-down absolute highlight of my time in South Africa was spending almost a week at Phinda, a game reserve.

Trying to pick a place to see wildlife in South Africa is the hardest thing ever. There are SO MANY! And which ones are reputable? Which ones have the best game spotting? I’ve always been a fan of the lesser-known spots, so as soon as a friend told me about Phinda, I was like I’M THERE.

Staying at Phinda Mountain Lodge with And Beyond was also something I’ll never forget. But more on that later. Til then, cheetahs and lion sex – yes, you read that right.

Cape of Good Hope

My last day in South Africa was a winner – I returned to Cape Town because who wouldn’t? I changed my flights and everything to stay a little longer.

Luckily my visit coincided with Hecktic Travels, good friends of mine – who BTW will be living in Wanaka this winter wahoo! We basically just hung out for a few days drinking margaritas, shopping, interneting and talking travel blogs. Sometimes you just need that!

But the last day we got our act together and rented a car (and by “we” I mean them) and drove out to the Cape of Good Hope for some coastal explorations.

Obviously it was ridiculously awesome.

Many thanks to Visit South Africa, Cape Town Tourism, And Beyond, and Canon Australia for hosting me in South Africa – like always I’m keeping it real – all opinions are my own, like you could expect less from me!

The post Postcards from South Africa appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Hi, my name’s Liz, and I’m a dreamer. I’m also a closet romantic.

I’m completely unrealistic about crucial things in life like money, employment and love. Forget about my massive student loan payments and leave me with my blog and Jane Austen, and I’ll be happy forever.

I’m sure you can imagine this drives my family and close friends insane.

I use this blog as a space to talk about travel and dreams. Never succinct and overly verbose, I spend far too much time rambling away on here about travel stories, advice and goals distinctly; but just the other day I realized I’ve hardly ever talked about destination travel goals. I get asked this a lot, if I could go anywhere in the world, where would I go?

Um, everywhere! Duh.

I don’t do bucket-lists (elaborative post forthcoming) but I have an extensive list of places, activities, and adventures running through my head 24/7. And since I am borderline OCD, I have that list, color-coded and divided into sublists and categories based on probability, distance, cost and time-frame required.

I also have an even bigger list in my heart, places that I dream about, no, yearn for and have such a longing to go to I have shoved them up on a pedestal and built them into unattainable goal. These are places so secret and special to me that I rarely even talk about them, let alone blog about them. This means that I haven’t tried to make them a possibility (yet) because I’m so afraid that reality won’t live up to my expectations, if that makes any sense at all. What the hell does that say about my warped personality? Someone please go all therapist on me, I’d love it.

Step 1: let’s talk about it!

I’m going to share 5 destinations that are at the top of my emotional, girly heart’s travel list. These are my travel dreams, the places I would go if I never had to work again, places I would go on my dream honeymoon with Turquoise Holidays, if I can ever find a guy who will put up with me, places I would go if I had a year of freedom without any time commitments.

Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world? Where would your heart send you?

1. New Zealand

New Zealand has been number 1 in my heart since I was a fawning over the Lord of the Rings and Legolas in high school. Constantly ranked one of the most beautiful places in the world, I have my eyes firmly set on the South Island for the coming year, not announcing anything yet. It’s always been physically and mentally so far from me. From secluded beaches to snow-capped mountains, to comfortable cabins to extreme adventure sports, New Zealand has everything. I’ve yet to meet someone who hasn’t gushed about the beautiful landscape, so I can’t wait to see it myself one day.

Is New Zealand on your radar?

Queenstown, Source Flickr Creative Commons

2. Tanzania

Out of Africa, anyone? I’ve had dreams about Africa since I was a little girl. From staying in tents on the Serengeti to trekking around on a safari to lolling around on a beach in Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, I want to take it all in. Africa has always seemed so remote and unattainable to me, probably because it’s so far, and most of my knowledge comes from National Geographic and the Lion King. This year, South Africa has become popular with bloggers, but I am hoping to dive even further into this diverse continent and check out Tanzania one day.

Do you want to go to Africa one day?

Serengeti, Source Flickr Creative Commons

3. The Seychelles

These islands, I pronounce like a true American, seashells, are so remote I don’t know anyone who has ever been there. Actually, let’s start with where are the Seychelles. According to Google Maps, they are in the Indian Ocean north of Madagascar. Sounds frightfully exotic. I don’t plan to many ocean or beach trips, which is strange because I love both the ocean and the beach. Growing up visiting the Outer Banks on the east coast USA, my life was sadly deprived on bright blue clear water until I moved to Spain. Since then, I’m hooked and I love traveling to places with impressive beaches, especially remote places. Visiting the Seychelles would be at the top of my island getaway list.

Have you ever imagined going to these remote islands?

Source, Flickr Creative Commons

4. Vietnam

‘Nam as I’ve come to refer to it in my head, holds a special place for me since my grandfather died there during the Vietnam War. Unpopular on Southeast Asia trips for a while, it’s getting it’s reputation back this year, owing a lot to it’s amazing cuisine. I am a big fan of cultural travel and getting to know the nitty gritty side of a country, and Vietnam is a place I would love to explore more and get to know better. From the beautiful coastline to the green countrysides to the bustling cities full of history, I know I would love Vietnam.

Would you visit Vietnam on a trip to Southeast Asia?

Halong Bay, Source Flickr Creative Commons

5. Tahiti

You know those bungalows hiked up on poles over crystal clear blue waters? I want to go there! The most exotic place I can think of, Tahiti, Bora Bora and French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean, has always been an inner girly dream of mine. Beyond romantic, I need a hot guy to go with me, or at least a gaggle of girlfriends to enjoy this paradise. The closes I’ve ever gotten are the Tahiti cocktails and my college bar’s happy hour on a Saturday night, but fear not, a girl can dream, right?

What’s your dream honeymoon? Would you go to Tahiti? 

Bora Bora, Source Flickr Creative Commons

The post Let’s Talk about Travel Dreams appeared first on Young Adventuress.

2012 was a damn good year. In fact, I think it might have been one of the best years of my life. I thought 2011 was great, but man, things have only gone up! Not only was I living abroad in my favorite city in Spain, Logroño, but it was without a doubt the happiest year of my life. So many great things happened, I met so many wonderful people, traveled to new and exciting places, and realized a secret dream I had of one day become a long term traveler and writer. 2012 was also year of great personal reflection, where I spent a lot of time thinking back and working on self improvement, something I believe is inherently linked to world travel.

I am going to try to keep this simple and sweet, sharing only a sentence or two and one photo for the 12 best moments of 2012. Brevity and self-restraint not really my strong suit, but I am working on it. New Year’s resolutions here we come! All I can say is how will 2013 top my amazing 2012?

I also wanted to personally thank each and every one of you guys for following my adventures, leaving me comments, sending me emails, tweeting me or liking what I post. It means the world to me and makes every day a little bit more special. So thanks a million!

How was your 2012? Any great moments? Travel anywhere fun?

1. Ringing in the New Year in Zaragoza, Spain with friends

Last year I decided to stick around Logroño, Spain for Christmas and New Years to relax and save money. By Christmas I was lonely, missing home and mildly regretting my decision to stay in Spain. Luckily one of my amazing students, M, invited me to spent New Years Eve with her family in Zaragoza! We feasted all day, played games, sang songs, and ate the traditional 12 Spanish grapes at midnight to ring in the new year. It was unforgettable!

2. Driving around Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

By February I was sick of freezing Logroño and hopped on the cheapest flight I could to the beautiful Canary Islands! With temperatures in the 80’s and the sun shining, I rented a car and zipped my way all over the island, from beach to beach. Did I mention that when I showed up to the car rental agency to pick up a cheap little Fiat they upgraded me to a Saab convertible? One of the best parts of the trip!

3. Watching the sun rise over the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt from a hot air balloon

One of my travel dreams came true this April when I spent two weeks in Egypt. Years ago I had heard about hot air balloon rides in Luxor, something I had always wished to do one day. Finally that magical day happened and I got to watch the yellow sun burst through the morning mists over the desert in lower Egypt high in the air. Not something I’ll likely soon forget. Read more here.

4. Visiting Monet’s house and gardens in France 

I am a big Impressionist art fan, and I had been dying to go to Paris and take a day trip to Giverny, where Monet lived and painted. I heard a rumor that you could rent bicycles and cycle out to his house instead of taking a bus. After several days of constant rain, the sun finally came out and we had perfect weather. We wandered around the famous lily pad strewn pond and posed for photos on the Japanse bridge. It was a perfect day.

5. Wine Battle

I was so excited to spend the summer in northern Spain, especially in La Rioja, the beautiful wine region I called home. One of the biggest festivals there is the famous Batalla del Vino (Wine Battle) in Haro. Picture a giant food fight but with red wine. Only in Spain! Garbed all in white, we filled our super soakers with red wine and ran screaming into the battle only to be drenched immediately. It was complete pandemonium and by far my favorite Spanish festival I have ever been to! Read more here.

6. Spain winning the Eurocup

If Spain is famous for one thing, it has to be for it’s amazing soccer culture. People watch local matches here with a Superbowl level of intensity. Everyone has their favorite team and favorite player, but all come together when the national team, La Roja, battle it on on the international arena. I was in the US when Spain won the Euro Cup in 2008, and the World Cup in 201o, I wasn’t going to miss being in Spain when they were slotted to be champions for the 2012 Euro Cup. I was not disappointed. The level of excitement in Logroño was INSANE! People were in the fountains, hanging off balconies, setting up foam machines, throwing fireworks in the crowd all night long, everyone wearing the Spanish colors of red and yellow. It was a night I will never, ever forget.

7. Watching the bulls run in Pamplona, Spain

Do I even need to elaborate on this one? I was lucky enough to visit Pamplona not once, but twice for the running of the bulls this July. The first day of San Fermín I was not on top blogging form and I passed out in a field an hour before the bulls ran. Oops. But I went back the following weekend, danced and partied all night long in time to watch the bulls run at 8am sharp! It was incredible to be part of such a world-renowned festival!

8. Discovering Porto, Portugal

I traveled back to Portugal for the first time in years this September to attend TBU’s travel blogging conference. Porto is an amazing European destination and I was so happy to get to know it better.

9. Discovering a career path at the Blog House in Besalú, Spain

Besalú is high on my list of the cutest villages I have visited in Spain. Straight from a fairytale, this medieval town is definitely worth a visit on any trip to Barcelona. I spent 3 days here in September at a villa dubbed, the Blog House, with some of the best travel bloggers in the business learning all I could about the business side of travel blogging. It was an eye opening experience and it gave me the encouragement to pursue travel writing as a future career.

10. Falling in Love with the Costa Brava at TBEX in Girona

Over the years I neglected Barcelona and Cataluña when traveling around Spain, feeling it to be overrated and too touristy. Luckily, I spent some time around the Costa Brava and Girona for the TBEX travel blogging conference in September and definitely reevaluated my feelings for this region! So unique from the rest of Spain and so much more than just Barcelona, Girona and the Costa Brava definitely deserve to be visited all on their own.

11. Trying every coffee imaginable in Seattle

In October I flew home to the US for the first time in over a year, and headed directly out to Portland and Seattle on the west coast for a wedding. Little known fact about me, I am the world’s biggest coffee addict, so visiting Seattle was almost like a Mecca pilgrimage for me, with several meals a day revolving around coffee. I frequented as many coffee shops as I could in my few days in Seattle, even making the ultimate coffee lovers pilgrimage to the the original Starbucks. Amazeballs. I was on a caffeine high for days.

12. Celebrating a white Christmas at home with my family

This year was my first time home for Christmas in ages. I had 5 days at home with my mom in Virginia, relaxing by the fire, wrapping presents, trimming the tree and cooking up a storm! And the best part? On Christmas Eve it started snowing all day! I woke up on December 25 to a white Christmas! I haven’t had one in years. It made for the perfect end to a wonderful year!

The post A Look Back: 12 Best Moments of 2012 appeared first on Young Adventuress.

No country has tested my patience quite like Egypt did.

It was a balmy 115 degrees in Egypt when we stepped off the overnight train in downtown Luxor. M and I were both very excited to be away from Cairo and to get to see the exotic Egypt of our dreams, the Valley of the Kings, the mummies, and the Nile river. After checking in to our hotel, we decided to head over to the famous Karnak Temple for the afternoon. Hearing that it was close by and really wanting to avoid dealing with the pushy cabbies, we decided to walk.

Worst. Decision. Ever.

Knowing that Luxor was like an ancient Egyptian theme park, and the fact that it was so hot it felt like my face was going to melt off, I decided to break all the rules and wear a dress. Rule number 1 when traveling in Egypt as a women, don’t wear a dress that doesn’t cover you from wrist to ankle and looks like a burlap sack.

I thought it we be more ok since we were sticking to the major tourist sites and I picked a dress that covered my shoulders and my knees. Also, the thought of putting on the same pants I’d been wearing for days made me want to cry a little. Egypt was so damn hot that even when I wore light linen pants, I could feel the sweat trickle down my legs and if I were to sit down, I would sweat through the back of my pants in approximately 1.5 minutes offering that nice, “I just wet my pants” look. Too damn hot.

My people are Polish. I have a semi-arctic tolerance for cold in my blood. I wear shorts in winter and I down half a bottle of vodka and still stand. I was not meant for this weather.

A day’s worth of water

Shade hunting in Luxor

By the time we arrived at Karnak, we were so sweaty, hot, sunburned and tired, we were willing to pay 5 dollars for a bottle of water and all we wanted to do was pass out in the shade. It didn’t help that we were harassed constantly by cabbies and calèche drivers (horse-drawn carriages) offering cheap rides for “the pretty ladies;” our moods were tense. We were stared at so much I kept having to check to make sure I hadn’t tucked the back of my dress in my underwear.

In my defense, I don’t think we were harassed solely for the fact that you could see my elbows and shins. M and I were two girls alone traveling in Egypt at a time when tourism had dropped over 80% because of the revolution. People were desperate because so many jobs relied heavily on tourism, especially in places like Luxor. This meant that westerners and tourists were targeted much more strongly to buy things from scarves to water to horse rides.

It may not seem like a big deal, but for two young American women who literally could not walk 1 minute down the street without being called out to about something, it made things challenging, to put it lightly. Inside, I wanted to punch the teeth out of the next chauvinistic jerk who dared to call me Barbie and offering camels for my hand in marriage.

The dress that started it all at Karnak Temple

By the time we got back downtown, both of us were hot, sticky and in really foul moods. As we turned on a narrow street looking for the entrance to Luxor temple, a guy on a horse drawn carriage started following us. He kept calling out to us, trying to hawk a ride on his caleche. After we repeatedly told him no and tried to ignore him, he started saying provocative things to us. This went on for a good five minutes and we had no where to turn off to on this street. As we literally tried to run from him, I heard him yell to me, “hey blondie, nice ass!” Oh, no he didn’t!

At this point I lost it; I was sick and tired of being made to feel cheap and dirty 24/7. Imagine 5 days of constantly being stared at, propositioned and proposed to, and being swindled out of every dime I had. It was ruining our trip! It didn’t help that it was so hot sweat was pouring in my eyes, ruining my make-up and making me look like some crazed panda on steroids. All I wanted to do was visit some temples in peace, is that asking too much? I was done with these touts!

“F*** you, who do you think you are to talk to me like that?” I screamed at him. “No means no! I am not getting in your damn caleche, go harass some other tourists you misogynistic pig!” I then proceeded to go on a mini-tirade about how just because I’m wearing a dress doesn’t mean men can speak like that to women no matter where in the world I was, full-on all feminist women’s college rant, Mount Holyoke would be proud. Who knew my damp blonde hair and perspiring calves were so irresistible and sexy? Stupefied at my squawking and flinging arm motions, he yelled at me in indiscernable Arabic before galloping off.

Fuming, I stomped off looking for the entrance to the temple. If only it ended there. Why does it never end there with me?

As we wandering around lost looking for the entrance to the temple, more and more people kept coming up to us trying to hawk something. I suddenly realized M was quiet and looking surly. M only gets quiet and surly for two reasons. She needs to eat or something is bothering her. Since neither of us could keep any food down thanks to the ever present third world stomach bug owing to our penchant for eating street food in Egypt, I had to assume something was on her mind. M is not always one to eloquently express her feelings. So smack in the main square in front of Luxor Temple, grumpy and hot, I asked her to just spill it.

“It’s. Um. Well. I dunno….WHY DID YOU HAVE TO WEAR THAT DRESS? YOU CAN’T SAY THE ‘F’ WORD IN EGYPT!” She blurted out at me.

Oh God. Really? Really? Were we going to have that discussion there? A screaming fight ensued between me and one of my best friends in quite possibly the most central location in all of Luxor. Neither of us had slept in days, we were both so hot and uncomfortable, violently nauseous to boot and in really bad moods. M thoroughly chastised me for not respecting the culture enough to wear pants 24/7 while I tried to defend myself saying we were in tourist city and it was only one afternoon, and I just couldn’t put on a pair of pants. Even looking back now I don’t think I could have worn pants again. It was ungodly hot, and I’ve lived in southern Spain in the summer, and that was nothing compared to this.

We all have our limits but that day in Luxor, I reached mine. I can put up with so much when I am traveling but that hot afternoon in Egypt, I couldn’t take another minute of the hassling.

Sunset at Luxor Temple

And the best part?

Let’s not forget the happy go lucky, ever-present Egyptians who are more than willing to put in their two cents. In the midst of our fight, we realized a circle literally had been formed around us of all the local caleche drivers and touts, and at about every 30 seconds or so, someone would interject something into our argument, like “don’t be angry, you’re in Egypt, be happy!” or the constant “want to ride my donkey? I give you good price.” Eventually, we cried, we hugged, we made up and even let 9 year old Ali let us drive us around the block in his carriage for five bucks for god measure.

And the even better part?

Did I mention that there were virtually no tourists in Egypt when we were there because everyone was afraid they would get tear gassed and caught up in another revolution? This meant that for the next 4 days we were in Luxor, everyone remembered us and knew who we were and weren’t afraid to yell out “hey Barbie, you look happier now, no crying! Want to see my papyrus collection? For you I give special price!” as we walked downtown and around the souks. It definitely made Luxor unforgettable for me.

Please notice how M is holding her purse. No one is wringing that out of her hands!

What to take away from this?

Ladies, suck it up and wear pants in Egypt or toughen up to the harrasing. Don’t be afraid to make a big old scene because I can tell you ignoring does NOT always work. Maybe not drop the f-bomb. Also, be careful with the street food and don’t walk to Karnak temple. It’s a lot farther than it looks on the map.

In all seriousness, it’s important to respect the culture of the country you are traveling too, and the day women wear a dress like mine in Egypt will be the day King Tut’s mummy comes back alive. HOWEVER, the harassment of women in Egypt is a hot topic in the news. It’s a big problem, and it’s not only something foreign women are subject to. I will add that I was just as harassed wearing khaki pants and long sleeve botton-ups as I was when I wore a dress.

Times need to change, and Egyptian women will be the first to say it. I was disgusted by the way I was spoken to in my two weeks I was there, and it negatively impacted my opinion of a country that I otherwise loved. Just mentally prepare yourself for this before going, and if your dream is to visit this beautiful country and you are a woman, it shouldn’t keep you from traveling to Egypt. I will also add I never truly felt threatened when I was in Egypt. Will this experience keep me from traveling back to Egypt or to other similar countries? Not in the least. Will I invest in a portable fan and pay double for air conditioned rooms? You bet I will.

Have you ever traveled to Egypt as a woman? What was your experience like there? Would you be able to travel to a country like Egypt? Have you ever reached your limit when traveling?

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Ancient and modern graffiti

Spot the water buffalo!

  

 

Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan, where Agatha Christie used to stay

Women singing and dancing on the boat bus

The post Sailing the Nile appeared first on Young Adventuress.

Visiting Egypt nowadays is can be both incredibly rewarding and giant pain in the ass, usually a combination of the two. Trying to pick out the ancient sights to visit on famous Luxor’s West Bank? Even trickier!

When I finally plucked up the courage to tell my mother that I was going to Egypt in April, she yelled at me for a good 15 minutes. “Was I crazy? Did I have a death wish, was I asking to be kidnapped and why would I want to punish her” were among some of the more colorful chastisements I received. Although Egypt has it’s problems (among them filth, abject poverty, and constant hustling and hassling), I never actually felt scared in the 2 weeks I was there. Unless you count fear of dying from the ever-present 3rd world stomach virus or from heatstroke.  

Even before the revolution in Egypt, most people stuck to traveling to sites with tour groups or on cruises. Rarely would someone dare to step off the beaten tourist track in this “dangerous Arab country” (quote from you know who).

However, I’m not like most people and if I’ve learned anything while traveling, if you dare to look beyond guidebooks, beyond what’s “safe,” and beyond the typical image of a country, what you will find might surprise you.

This was definitely the case in Egypt. I found that my favorite parts of the trip were the ones that weren’t planned or expected, and my favorite places I visited were not the crowded pyramids or the Valley of the Kings, but the small unknown tombs, empty of touts and tourists alike.

As soon as we left the crowds at the Valley of the Kings, we realized just how much more Egypt had to offer. The hieroglyphics and colors in  the tombs in the Valley of the Queens are much brighter than any we had seen before, and the carvings on the walls of the other temples on the West Bank were much more detailed and much better preserved than those at Karnak and Luxor.

And one of the best parts? As soon as we left the Valley of the Kings, we hardly saw another tourist. We were almost completely alone apart from our hired driver and guide and security at the tombs and temples. This of course meant that we spent our days pretending we were mummies, pharaohs  and great adventurers, like Indiana Jones, sliding down claustrophobic tunnels to the tombs below with borrowed flashlights.  

Here are my 6 favorite ancient sights on Luxor’s West Bank. Have you ever dared to step off the traditional tourist trails in a country like Egypt? Have you ever been to one of these temples? Are you an Egyptology nut like me?

1. Hatshepsut Temple

This was the morturary temple of the famous Pharaoh, queen Hatshepsut. Few images survive of her today since her son erased her from everywhere he could. Few can also pronounce her name; our guide nicknamed her “hot chicken soup”, sounds about right, no? Supposedly designed by one of her lovers, Hatshepsut was only used for the weeks it took to embalm and mummify her, creepy. This temple is one of the hottest places on the planet, so don’t be an idiot like me and go at high noon. 

Tip: bring a flashlight and backsheesh (tips) for the guards. Check out the tomb of Amunherkhepshef (NO 55), he was the son of Ramses III who died young, the colors are incredible here. There is also a mummy of a fetus. Random but kinda cool.

4. Tombs of the Workers

Deir al-Medina or the workmen’s village. The houses and tombs of the workmen who made the royal tombs have been excavated and uncovered. It’s really cool to see the flip side of ancient life, and some of these little tombs have more splendid and better preserved wall art than those of their bosses. If you are naughty like me you can bribe the guards to let you take photos.

Tip: Check out the ancient greek graffiti on the walls and bring a camera. You can take pics around here. Don’t forget to see the tomb of Sennedjem (No 1), the walls are completely covered with paintings and colors. Really impressive.

5. Tombs of the Nobles

Hardly anyone goes to visit the Tombs of the Nobles on Luxor’s West Bank. The tombs are divided into groups each with a separate ticket, so pick one or two groups to see. It is really worth visiting these tombs, there is so much more to see than in the picked over and empty tombs in the Valley of the Kings.

Source

Tip: Check out the tombs of Ramose, Userhet and Khaemhet, all close together. Pair visiting the tombs of the nobles with the tombs of the workers. And even finish at the Ramesseum. Makes for a perfect half day trip. Go in the morning unless you want to die of heatstroke. 

6. The Ramesseum

This is Medinat Habu or Ramses II’s enormous memorial temple on the West Bank. If you haven’t gotten it by now, Ramses II was one of the most famous and important pharaoh. Now his temple is mostly in ruins, unlike those at Karnak and Abu Simbel. There are huge statues scattered on the ground and there is classical and 19th century graffiti carved around the place. This place inspired Shelley’s famous poem ‘Ozymandias’ the classical name for Ramses:

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