Travel safely tips.

Safety and security when travelling is important!

Fact:- On holiday, the biggest risks is 'you'.

- Over 50% of injuries/ problems when travelling are self-inflicted
   and could be totally avoided.

 -Ignorance is dangerous
 -On holiday one tends to do silly things
 -Taking part in risky activities

Please don't go for a hike on the Iran/ Iraq border and try not plan a
hike on the North Korea/South Korea border.
-Be sensible and stay clear of war zones.

Safety Tips during travel:
- Be sensible
- Know your limits
- Hide your camera
- Dress plainly
- Lock what you can in the safe
- No jewelery
- Don't attract attention
- Use a money belt

While travelling, be aware of:
-Fellow travellers (70% of theft in hostels are your fellow travelers.)
-Spiked drinks
-Bogus cop's

Check the book:  'Around the world in 80 Scams' by Peter John

World facts.(Blog post no.2) Build your general knowledge.

Build your general knowledge.




Mt Everest

- Highest mountain in the world?  Mt Everest
- The number of corpses found on Mt Everest?  120 bodies
- The tallest mountain in the world, (base to summit)?
    Mt Mauna Kea, Hawaii

- The worlds highest international airport?  La Paz, Bolivia
- Highest country in the world?    Lesotho
- Lowest country in the world?     Holland
- Largest Continent in the world?   Asia
- Largest country in Africa?     Algeria
- The USA is larger in size, than China.
- Brazil is larger in size, than Australia.
- Most isolated, secretive country in the world?    North Korea
- Least densely populated country in the world?  Mongolia

- Largest spectator sport in the world?  NASCAR, USA
- The warmest sea in the world?   Persian Gulf
- The Ave human eats 35 tons of food in their lifetime.
- The worlds largest wine producer?    Italy
- The worlds largest gold producer?    China
- China is the worlds largest 'trading' nation, 2014, the USA dropped
   to No2 position.

Add a fact or comment if you like.

Modern adventurers inspire.

yarets.com

I bumped into Vladimir Yarets (Russian) in Cape Town 2010.
Being both 'deaf and mute', he was on his record RTW trip
with his motorbike.

Interesting sites to check:
- www.talesfromthesaddle.com
- www.maxadventure.co.uk
  The London to Cape Town world record by car was set in 1963
  in a Ford Cortina. It took 13 days, 8hrs.
  This world record stood for 50 years.

- Old world wandering.facebook

- www.alastairhumphery.com
  He cycled for 4 years round the world.

- www.11000km.nl
  Robert Knol (Dutch) Cycled from Cairo to Cape Town in
  a world record 71 days.

Africa overland

You don't need a 4x4.
I drove though 6 countries in Africa in a old 84' Ford Escort.
Don't forget that an 'old VW Beetle' has
driven from Cape Town to Cairo, with no GPS!
It's now generally tared roads from Nairobi to Cape town.




Augrabies falls, N. Cape, South Africa

Social birds nest, Kalahari

- Plan your route.
- Get used to the local 'rules of the road'.
- Fill up your tank at every opportunity.
- You can 'selfdrive' in many major Nat. Parks.
  (e.g: the Kruger Park has 2300km's of road you can use.)
- Border crossings can be tough/challenging
  (Ave 2 hours at border crossings)


Must have: - Correct car papers
                   - Good maps + extra water
                   - Jumper cables
                   - Tow rope (extra strong and long)
                   - First Aid kit
                   - Basic tools + Spares
                   - 2 x Red triangles
       
Check out: www.cape2cairo in a beach buggy.

Make tracks to explore Africa.

Before going somewhere, do research! Read up. 

Djenne, Mali.

Thinking of exploring Africa?
Well it's ever changing and definitely not a boring Continent.
The picture above is great, but sorry, Mali is a complete
no go area for now (so not recommended).

There are many good books and web sites around.
 Here are some of the great modern explorers
 to google/read up on:-

- Phil Harwood - Canoeing the Congo
- Kingsley Holgate
- www.riaanmanser.com - Around Africa on my bicycle
- Mike Copeland - Just add dust, Cape to Cairo
- And a useful site: www.getaway.co.za

Make tracks, road trip idea.

Be adventurous, plan a road trip.
An overland road trip is the 'best' way to see a country
and one of the most rewarding ways to travel.
When staying in a country for a while, one option is to buy an
old a car and be really 'independent'.
Drive across the country for 2/4 months and sell it again.
The trip will be unique.

Check, roadtripamerica.com 

Eg: In the USA its possible to buy a 'classic runner' for
       less than +- $2500USD.

Travel challange: - try drive the whole 'Route 66'.
End of the trip, sell the car back to the dealer, or scrap yard.
One can even give the car to charity.

It can cost +- $1000.00USD just to rent a car for one week.
The USA is just an example.
It can be South Africa, Australia,etc.
Use hostel notice boards, offer rides and they pay for the gas.

Make Track - Backpacker travel kit idea's. Rule No 5...

Travel rule No 5:
- "Never travel with stuff you can't afford to lose".

Your backpack is your home, so a good backpack is important.
Your kit must never be to flashy, you don't want to attract attention.

My backpack is a 70L Backpacker Co, Columbia.
Made in South Africa. 20 years old, still strong and used on every trip.




Some stuff you don't really need on a round the world trip:
- A GPS
- Electric shaver
- Leave the make up and jewellery at home
- Beach towel (A sarong is best, light and dries quick.)
- Shaving foam/cream (Normal soap works just as well.)
- Water filter (Generally, I boiled the water.)
- Small propane stove

Important to have a 'Home Base'.

Travel is a journey of self discovery.
Learning what you what in life and where you what to settle down.
Where do you want to settle down/ put in your roots?
Every traveller needs a 'Home Base'. A place to call home.

Small cottage, cost R70,000 to build.

Putting in 'roots' does not mean its the end of the world.
Try not be a Renter your whole life, living in someone
else's house. Owning your 'own place' does not mean you are
stuck, its actually the opposite. You are free and not out like a
renter who could be out on the street tomorrow.
Having your 'own place' means you are still free to travel
and have a place to come back to that's yours.
Invest first - travel will always be there.

Independant/ Budget travel now easy.

'The magic of travel is, it takes you out of your comfort zone'

Small clothing shop with Internet café

There are many reason and factors that make independant travel easier now
than ever before...

For example:


- Money changing offices and banks very accessible
- ATM/ Cash machines in most places
- Debit cards/ Visa accepted almost everywhere
- Local buses and shuttles to every attraction
- Internet access and WiFi almost everywhere
- Hostels/ Backpacker accommodation now more prevalent than before
- Day trips are booked by hostels to anywhere
- There are 'Hop on, hop off' buses in many countries
- Most major airports around the world offer cheap shuttles/buses to and
  from the airport

What to pack? - Travel kit post 4.

You are what you carry. Being prepared is important.

There are some things backpackers can never be without.
An espresso coffee maker like this, is a luxury.
You don't really need, but: - Its small, 2 cups
        - Not heavy and goes on an open fire or stove
        - Carrying your own tea/coffee can save you alot.


Stuff which comes in handy when on the road:
- A sense of humor
- Plastic passport cover
- Travel, neck pillow(blow-up type), for planes and buses
- Duck tape
- Toothbrush cover
- A wash line and 10 pegs
- Travel plug