If you could visit one country/place before you expire, what would it be ?

[canabiz]

So here i'm chillin' in South Korea, too hot to go outside at the moment, surfing the web for my latest travel ideas LOL and a question comes to my mind:

What country/place that you would absolutely have to visit (at least once) in your lifetime ? Why is that and have you had a chance to make it a reality ?

For me, I am working hard towards a trip to South Africa (or actually any African country in the South with a game reserve) I have always been fascinated with wild animals and jungles and all of their beauties and i definitely have to go see those animals in the wild at least once, lions, giraffe, hyenas, rhinos, so on and so forth.

I guess you can say that I just need to go to the zoo but it's not the same LOL.

I don't know when i can make this happen, hopefully sooner rather than later but trust me, it will happen!

How about you ?

[purple_rabbit]

I would probably say Egypt or Antarctica

[MkmBandit]

Hey Canabiz, you'll love the game reserves in Africa. You should try the Gombe Game reserve in Kigoma, Tanzania. Theres also the Serengeti close by, and the Ngorogoro serena, and the Ngorogoro Crater which are definately worth visiting. If you end up in Ngorogoro, kilimanjari is right there. If you talk to some of the Masai, they'll show you all around. Its definately worth it. And to finish the trip you can always spend a few days in Zanzibar just loungin in luxury ;)

Notable Game Reserves worth visiting:

Gombe
Serengeti
Ngorogoro
Mikumi
Selous

I personally would go to Singapore if I was on my deathbed, that place is growing at an astonishing rate

[orangegreen]

Australia
Thailand
Africa
Egypt
Germany
Spain
Brazil

...in that order

[poedua]

So here i'm chillin' in South Korea, too hot to go outside at the moment, surfing the web for my latest travel ideas LOL and a question comes to my mind:

What country/place that you would absolutely have to visit (at least once) in your lifetime ? Why is that and have you had a chance to make it a reality ?

For me, I am working hard towards a trip to South Africa (or actually any African country in the South with a game reserve) I have always been fascinated with wild animals and jungles and all of their beauties and i definitely have to go see those animals in the wild at least once, lions, giraffe, hyenas, rhinos, so on and so forth.

I guess you can say that I just need to go to the zoo but it's not the same LOL.

I don't know when i can make this happen, hopefully sooner rather than later but trust me, it will happen!

How about you ?

Machu Picchu.

[canabiz]

Hey Canabiz, you'll love the game reserves in Africa. You should try the Gombe Game reserve in Kigoma, Tanzania. Theres also the Serengeti close by, and the Ngorogoro serena, and the Ngorogoro Crater which are definately worth visiting. If you end up in Ngorogoro, kilimanjari is right there. If you talk to some of the Masai, they'll show you all around. Its definately worth it. And to finish the trip you can always spend a few days in Zanzibar just loungin in luxury ;)

Notable Game Reserves worth visiting:

Gombe
Serengeti
Ngorogoro
Mikumi
Selous

I personally would go to Singapore if I was on my deathbed, that place is growing at an astonishing rate


Mkm, how much did you guys pay for your trip to the Dark Continent if you don't mind me asking ? Did you go with a tour group for a package deal or did you do it independently a la backpacking ?

[MkmBandit]

Mkm, how much did you guys pay for your trip to the Dark Continent if you don't mind me asking ? Did you go with a tour group for a package deal or did you do it independently a la backpacking ?

Well I have family there, so it was just a matter of the $1700 round trip. When I did my 4 day safari to Kilimanjaro, my expenses went like this

Mitsubishi Pajero: free from a friend
Diesel: $120
2 Masai's escorting us: $15 each per day
3 nights in cottages: $8 each night
Food: dont remember, but half a flame cooked road runner costs $1

In total it would be less then $270-280 for 4 days. There are tours and groups you can go with down there, the serengeti tour is very popular. The best thing to do is just to talk to one of the hotel employees. They can have 2 masai's there to escort you in a matter if minutes.

Everything is extremely cheap, and no prices are really written in stone. You can make it for at least 1 full day at one of the game reserves for $50 if you want to backpack it

These are the rough prices if you start your touring from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

EDIT: Just thought i'd add, since you mentioned you were interested in wildlife, the Gombe Game Reserve has the most dence populations of wild chimapzees in the world. Ive never been to that particular reserve, but everyone i know has told me to go. Ive seen pics of 20-30 chimps climbing all over a Range Rover. Thats something i'd like to experience one day.

Here's a few pics of my safari to the serengeti reserve and kilimanjaro

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/5861/gazelle1fc7.jpg
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/6161/lion1xc1.jpg
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/2312/lion3dx5.jpg
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/2607/lion2wd4.jpg
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/6656/lion4zw5.jpg
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4392/zebra2yf0.jpg
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/7006/kiliaq9.jpg

[Talamasca]

Gorgeous pics!

Before I die, I HAVE to visit Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

[rayesyn]

Adam's Peak and the Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka

http://www.hal.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~pasqual/pictures.html

http://www.tuttomaldive.it/Sri%20Lanka%20viaggio%202/Foto%20racconto%20Sri%20lanka/adam's%20peak%202.JPG

[MkmBandit]

Gorgeous pics!

Before I die, I HAVE to visit Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

Id highly recommend it. Alot of people refrain from going to Africa thinking its dangerous, and it is. However Tanzanians are like the Canadians of Africa. Very liberal, free, and polite. Of the 2 million people in Dar, including the homeless, I didnt see anyone who didnt smile when you look at them. Great place to be. Cross the line into Kenya though.. thats a different story :cheesygri

rayesyn, thats an amazing pic. Ive never been somewhere more beautiful then Sri Lanka. Paradise on earth.

[alv077]

US.

NYC. Again.

I <3 big cities.

[red_roses101]

Just a nice romantic picnic with my crush on the hillside in France...*sigh*

[Rocketo]

maldives followed by bora bora and tahiti

[raptorfan]

Ireland
Wales
Scotland
England

I don't know why, I've always felt compelled to go there (especially the first 2) since I was a kid...my friend jokes and says I was from somewhere there in a past life.. :)

My ultimate trip would be a tour of Europe with unlimited money & time...it's on my lottery win wish list.

[Talamasca]

Ireland
Wales
Scotland
England

I don't know why, I've always felt compelled to go there (especially the first 2) since I was a kid...my friend jokes and says I was from somewhere there in a past life.. :)

My ultimate trip would be a tour of Europe with unlimited money & time...it's on my lottery win wish list.

Haven't been to Ireland but I've been to the other three. Really amazing places to visit with some incredible sites. Obviously not as exotic as Tahiti or East Africa but still an awesome place to visit.

Cross the line into Kenya though.. thats a different story

Oh? What's Kenya like? They have some amazing game parks as well. Is it dangerous there? I remember their US embassy was bombed a few years ago but wasn't Tanzania's bombed as well?

[MkmBandit]

Haven't been to Ireland but I've been to the other three. Really amazing places to visit with some incredible sites. Obviously not as exotic as Tahiti or East Africa but still an awesome place to visit.



Oh? What's Kenya like? They have some amazing game parks as well. Is it dangerous there? I remember their US embassy was bombed a few years ago but wasn't Tanzania's bombed as well?


Ireland is gorgeous, ive been wanting to go since I was a little kid.. Thats definately on my list of places to visit before I die

Kenya eh.. Well put it like this. There has been a mass breakout in gun holdups at beaureau du exchange's all over Tanzania. The cops there wont arrest you for robbery. They shoot on site. Over the past year, dozens have died trying to rob stores, and almost always they're found with Kenyan passports. Its a big problem whitch President Jakaya Kikwete addresses on a Daily Basis. Thats one reason.

The minute you get into a taxi outside the kenyan airport, the driver will tell you, lock the door and dont open the window. You'll be sitting at a red light, one kid will knock on the passanger window. When the driver looks over, some other kid will jump out on the drivers side and steal the rear view mirror. When the driver looks left, the other kid will take the other rear view mirror. Its quite hilarious actually. People there are also known for threatening to dump fetus's all over you if you dont give them your money. Thats right, a back of fetus's. I guess if you cant afford a weapon you have to create your own.. Scary that is though..

I dont truly believe Kenyans are meaner, but poverty is a son-of-a-bit. It is extremely dangerous to walk around at night, and pickpocketers wont bother being discrete. They'll just reach in your pocket and take what you have. That being said though, theres no reason to NOT visit Kenya. Its spectacular there. Just be careful, especially if you stand out as a tourist, because someone is ALWAYS following you there.

Tanzania is different. The only people who follow you around are little 5 year old kids who hold their hands out saying "PESA" which means 'money'. Buy them a coke from a bodega for 30 cents and they'll leave you alone :D

[canabiz]

Thank you Mkm for painting another picture of Africa

I have to be honest with you, the only images of Africa that I usually see on CNN is of war, poverty, diseases, drought etc basically human suffering

But i did read some National Geographic magazines and boy oh boy there's another side of Africa that needs to be discovered.

$1700 for a round-trip ticket over there ain't too bad. For you, it helps to have families there but i would imagine the hostels/inns shouldn't break my bank, should they ? What about Botswana or Swaziland or even South Africa ? Is it easy to contract disease there ? maybe I'll have to get some shots before i go

Is it safe to sleep in the game reserve at nights ? I mean will hyenas or lions break into tents and i would be breakfast for them ?

What's the best time to go to Africa ? I guess I'll get my hand on a Lonely Planet guide and start reading!

THanks again bro

[MkmBandit]

Well, those images you see on TV are what its really like there. The continent will always be poverty stricken. But I guess people there understand their reality. I mean, despite the famine and poverty, people there still know how to smile, which is amazing to me. There are rich area's there too. Like a suburb just north of Dar es Salaam, called Oyster Bay, have multi million dollar houses, comparable to what you'd find in Cali. Thats also where most of the embassy's are, including the same United States Embassy that was bombed a few years back.

Hotels range from $30 a night for something like bestwestern, up to $300 a night for something like the Golden Tulip, Kilimanjaro hotel, Seacliff Hotel and the Movenpick, which are all 5 star resorts. My suggestion would be the Holiday Inn, its a 5 star resort, and goes for $70-80 a night. Plus its right in the middle of the city by the beach.

Ive never been to Botswana, but i'm sure its more of a 'Bush' then Tanzania is. Tanz is actually quite refined, and alot of Africans go there for the 'Big City' experience. I guess if you TRULY want to be out in the wild where no one can hear you cry, then Swaziland and Botswana might be your best bet.

You'll definately need your Hepatitis shots before you go, thats mandatory and up until a couple of years back they wouldnt let you into the country unless you had proof you've taken the shots. You'll also need a prescription pill called "LARIUM", thats for Malaria. The pills will cost you about $90. I know you're not planning to go anytime soon, but I still have a 2 month supply of Larium which will save you some cash if you want. Just send me a PM.

Is it safe to sleep in the game reserve at nights ? I mean will hyenas or lions break into tents and i would be breakfast for them ?

Yes its safe, as long as you have Masai Warrior's as your guides. The animals will get close. Very close. But it would be the contrary, in that if animals did attack you, the masai's would attack them. You're safe.

As for the best time to go, anytime between March until October would be your best bet, as those are the winter months there. Around this time of year, it would be roughly 28-35 celcius avg, with rainfall every now and then. If you go around December, you're looking at temps between 37-45 celcius, with minimal rain. I guess it all depends on your comfort level.

No matter where you go in the Dark Continent you'll have a good time. Just be safe and dont let your guard down, and bring tons of Bug Spray with at least 50% DEET ;)

[equanimity]

Places I would love to go to in no specific order after the first:
Australia
New Zealand
Egypt
UAE
Iraq
Israel
Spain
Brazil
Peru

My favourite places in no specific order:
South Africa
Namibia
Zanzibar
Mauritius
Tanzania
Italy
Venezuela
Japan
Kenya
Zimbabwe
Botswana
Thailand
Hong Kong

[JulieH]

I have family in Zimbabwe and South Africa and really want to go see them sometime soon. Obviously things are a little less stable in Zim, but with locals it couldn't be too bad.

[canabiz]

That's great to hear Julie, is your relatives in South Africa and Zim white by any chance ?

What's the situation there like for the Caucasians ? Maybe i can tag along with you since i'm from Ottawa as well LOL

[denyed]

I feel the same way raptor. In regards to Europe that is. Unlimited money and time and just enjoy myself. Wow, it's almost kind of depressing thinking about it and how much I want it. haha

Ireland
Wales
Scotland
England

I don't know why, I've always felt compelled to go there (especially the first 2) since I was a kid...my friend jokes and says I was from somewhere there in a past life.. :)

My ultimate trip would be a tour of Europe with unlimited money & time...it's on my lottery win wish list.

[skibaroo]

Despite all of he potential dangers, my first choice would be to go on safari in East Africa.

Second would be visiting Bora Bora again.

[joshmxpx]

I would say rome or greece, so much history there, hard to imagine that those buildings and roads have been there for so long! can't find anything man made that old in canada

[Moonstone]

I've never been one to travel to the "usual" places. That's why my list would go something like this:

Tuvalu
Greenland
Kiribati
Nauru
Bhutan
Antarctica
Falkland Islands
Cornwall----okay, now we're a little more civilized!

Anybody done any of these places? Would love to hear from you.

[twotterdhc6]

I've never been one to travel to the "usual" places. That's why my list would go something like this:

Tuvalu
Greenland
Kiribati
Nauru
Bhutan
Antarctica
Falkland Islands
Cornwall----okay, now we're a little more civilized!

Anybody done any of these places? Would love to hear from you.
Cool, I'm glad someone else likes to travel on the less travelled path.

Greenland, Antartica, Nauru, Falkland are definitely on my list.
I'd like to add
Isle of Man
Guernsey
Stewart Island (New Zealand)
Faroe
Iceland
South Africa
Lesotho

but also more popular destinations such as
Czech Republic
Poland
Slovakia
Ukraine
Hungary
Sweden
Denmark
Finland
France
Britain
Germany
Spain
Portugal
Austria
Italy
Greece

but, I really only care about their historically significant landmarks though.

[ericw]

I consider myself very lucky that I've been able to travel quite a bit at a young age. I've been to roughly 30 countries in 6 continents so far. However, most places I've been to are popular tourist spots. Honestly, I really start to feel bored by those destinations, especially major cities in the developed world. My best experiences were always at those places less travelled.

My most exciting trip this year was actually a weekend up north to NWT to see the aurora back in Feb. The 2nd most exciting one would be watching the milkyway in the middle of nowhere in Southern New Zealand.

I would definitely love to visit the Antarctica some day.

[tempperm]

i d love to climb mount everest one day....test of my limits....