The Ten Commandments of tourists in Africa

For: Ricardo Coarasa (text and photos)
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Travelling to Africa for the first time is not easy. Some are tempted to rush out and tumble as myths and darken the horizons idyllic. But those who resist that fleeting impulse remain forever tainted by the evil of Africa, that passion for the continent, stripped of prejudice, it forces you to return again and again and, the most daring, to stay.

1º Africa is not cheap

The first myth is crumbling tourists traveling to the mainland for the first time. Travel to Africa is expensive and, sometimes, very expensive. Leaving aside the cheap, put a car on the road can cost 100 per day and comfortable accommodation for tourists, often surrounded by those doomed to have to live on less than one dollar a day, paid. One can, course, go backpacking and staying in "hotels" local, but even in that case the budget is low. A is always a mzungu mzungu.

2No "Out of Africa" ​​is just a movie

Is, certainly, film history that has brought more tourists to Africa. Looking these emotions sunsets suspended, those unforgettable landscapes of the highlands of Kenya and, why not, to himself Robert Redford. With a single sentence in the suitcase, "I had a farm in Africa…”, Thousands of tourists have headed to East Africa for years. The house Karen Blixen, actually a small museum, is one of the most visited places in Kenya. The sunsets are so gorgeous and the film, Ngong Hills have not moved from there, but at the end of the credits a note footnotes should be noted that, although any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental, Africa is much more, much less, that those postcards idyllic.

3º A safari is not an "all inclusive"

Inevitable reach Africa with the obsession to see the "big five" (lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino and leopard) savannas. Go ahead: safari is not an "all inclusive". No one can guarantee anything because the natural parks of Africa, fortunately, are not yet theme parks. I remember a safari Ishasha (Uganda on the border with Congo) as one of the most pleasant although I did not see animals and we hit just a couple of hours searching the branches of acacia trees in search of a lion napping. Obviously underline but, in light of the comments sometimes hear other tourists, much needed: Look closely at the big five can take hours… or days. Yes, should not lose hope; at the least expected moment can arise from the undergrowth, wearily, the leopard who resisted for months. I attest.

4° Beware the "discoverers": they were not the first

Western literature on Africa, epic brimming, is full of courageous explorers and adventurers. Average one landing in Africa with its share of myths in tow. But keep in mind that talk with admiration of the "discoverers" can move to hilarity many Africans: them, course, came first. Not to mention the exploits "heroic" in living memory there as terrible massacres, escabechinas with thousands of deaths sustained by the superior firepower and discipline of armies more numerous.

5No Time is an elastic concept

Buses and trains leave when full and tomorrow may be within a week. In Africa, tend not to take a pulse every day while, and Western, and sometimes they openly despise, not a few causing anger among tourists accustomed to schedules and punctual first world, that where,nevertheless, always arrived late to something. It seems a minor issue, but it is essential to understand not bitter (Tanzania perhaps the exponent of this particular nihilistic philosophy where "now" is banned). Best left the watch at home.

6No. Welcome to the club eaters powder

The safaris are always (regardless of their being few or many animals) pleasurable experiences, but getting to these parks postcard has its price. Often they pay our kidneys or those vertebrae too accustomed to comfort swing seat. Travelling by jeep along the roads of Africa is lost, sometimes, the closest thing to get a few minutes in a washing machine with full spin. And, especially, travel those infamous tracks in dry season, and with the top up, is an honorary income group in addictive eaters powder.

7No. There is no need explorer dress

He climbed unsteadily rock. Once there, Nile amid, prestanza recovered and stood with the solemnity that the time required. With Falls Murchison behind and uniformed scout deliriously XIX, adopted the pose of adventurer, finally, has reached the goal. It was the very Speke revived. It is the most obvious exponent I came across modern browser, but without stalling a pith helmet, Africa is well nourished new-style adventurers who practice with clothing line. It is not necessary, real.

8º The route of souvenirs

"I'm so tits up shop!”. The rotunda of the tourist phrase pissed me still comes to mind when I remember my first African trip eight years ago and the many stops on the "Gift shop" turn road with guides who tormented us (Always commission). The Catalan tourist broke down and said aloud what most thought. We must also be prepared for this if one chooses to debut on African soil with a package tour. The hardest part of this trip was poking around the shops with a diligent employee behind, hand basket, waiting to see how we filled with our purchases.

9º The mosquito repellent is not a sunscreen

The smell inevitably accompanies Relec (Larian pads as malaria) the first African experiences of hundreds of thousands of tourists. For many of them, Insect repellent smells Africa. Should clarify: its effect lasts for hours. Smear is not necessary all the time (Typical symptoms of manic-obsessive debutante) like we were at the beach with her back in pepitoria. Your fellow travelers will thank you.

10No. Never Walk Alone

It is inevitable. At some point in your baptism African'll feel like you're the first target in a given landscape hollar remote. Throw in the word "forgotten" and you have the perfect cocktail adventurer. Now, you can rest with the satisfaction of accomplishment. Of course, feel alone. Sorry: not true. It takes just a few minutes to check. However arid landscape that is, however wilderness that seems unreachable horizon or the environment, sure of nothing will break without warning (even under a rock if necessary) a civilian alerted by the presence of the white man.

These ten commandments are enclosed in two: Africa shall love above all things and will continue to love her despite inconsistent prejudices and myths elusive.

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Comments (8)

  • Ann

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    Very useful, Ricardo.. I can not stop laughing! (fricassee backs.. jajajaj)

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  • Mayte

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    Ricardo Buenííísimo, and very true the 10 commandments!!!! I also laughed a lot…

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  • Juan Antonio Portillo

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    Good morning to your lordship…… No offense, but the guy in the photo that comes disguised explorer is….. how to define??? … words do not come out….. those white socks to the knees. As VaP. organizes trips to Africa and Fray Ricardo forth to fulfill the commandments is unclear who will travel to Africa.
    Amen, Ricardo. Thanks

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  • ricardo Coarasa

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    Thanks to the three. There is a closed list, course, but they are all that are. Juan Antonio, in the white hunter story, which we christened Speke, what to say… Here yes, a picture is worth a million words. There can be no better picture to illustrate this Decalogue. Abz

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  • Lydia Peiró

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    It looks like an advertisement for "clothes for intrepid travelers".

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  • diego

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    Toured South Africa, from Cape Town to Maputo, passing Swaziland. I am aware that it is not the deepest Africa, which I want to know and will know, but I looked so bello, full of life and joy, wonderful percussion…
    Closings eyes and I imagine in the basket through the Africa of Jules Verne 5 weeks in a balloon.
    Walk in soil. I love.

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  • Rosa

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    I love!

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