Explore Tanzania

Explore Tanzaniahttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/africa/tanzaniaExplore TanzaniaVideo: Football, The Universal Languagehttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/football-the-universal-language-on-kilimanjaroVideo: Football, The Universal LanguageFri, 20 Sep 2019 18:26:12 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/football-the-universal-language-on-kilimanjarohttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/africa/tanzania/amazing-nomads-mile-rowlandIn this episode we meet filmmaker Miles Rowland who stumbled across an ancient Maasai ceremony in which boys become men and the celebratory banquet where drinking blood is part of the ritual.2019-08-06T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/africa/tanzania/amazing-nomads-mile-rowlandhttps://www.worldnomads.com<h2>Amazing Nomads: Miles Rowland</h2> Miles' passion for film making and travel collided in the documentary space, where he found his true calling: telling stories, gathering images, and seeing the world all at once. <h2>What’s in the Episode</h2> 00:46 How did Miles end up in the middle if a circumscion ceremony? 01:20 Hitting the glaciers with Tim Jarvis 02:11 Stoves and Solar project 04:42 Arriving at the village 08:14 Using cold water as anaesthetic 09:51 Banquet ceremony 14:06 The future of protien 14:50 Visitng Mount Kenya 15:28 Following three girls traveling around the world 16:03 Taking Holy Water to Christchurch 17:22 Next week <h2>Quotes from the Episode</h2> "The Maasai are very interesting because they're a very old culture and been doing certain things in a certain way for a very, very long time." I suppose you'd come back from that and go, "Jeez, that's intense." But you have a respect for other people's way of living. I wouldn't go in there and start saying, "Oh, jeez, guys. Have you got any local anesthetic? Is that knife sharp? Is it sterilized?"  "...the older boys, who had been through this, take a lot of pride in leading this chant and this celebration." <h2>Who is in the Episode</h2> <a href="https://www.milesrowland.com/home">Miles Rowland</a> is an award-winning cinematographer and director. “I have had a long history in cinematography starting from an early interest in 35mm photography as a young teenager.” His credits include Hotel Mumbai (starring Armie Hammer and Dev Patel) and Nicholas Verso’s Boys in the Trees. “I've always been fascinated by stories and have had a knack for telling them since I was a young child. This has wonderfully translated to film making and I love using this medium for sharing great stories.” Miles has recently finished filming the <a href="https://www.25zero.com/">25zero</a> documentary with Environmental Explorer Tim Jarvis who climbed 25 mountains at the equator to highlight the plight of our planet’s climate crisis. It was during filming for this he stumbled across an ancient Maasai ceremony. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/podcast/Glacier.jpg" /> <figcaption> Miles recently filmed with environmentalist Tim Jarvis on the 25zero Project.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Resources & Links</h2> Scholarships Newsletter: <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/create">Sign up for scholarships news and see what opportunities are live here</a>. Tim Jarvis has recreated the steps of two Antarctic explorers, Douglas Mawson and Ernest Shackleton. And as an environmentalist is about to bring climate change to our attention by filming a documentary titled 25zero. <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/africa/tanzania/amazing-nomads-tim-jarvis">Listen</a> to our podcast episode with Tim. <a href="https://www.exodus.co.uk/responsible-travel/our-projects/tanzania-smokeless-stove-project">Read</a> about Tanzania’s Smokeless Stoves Project. <h2>Want to Republish This Episode</h2>  <iframe src="https://webplayer.whooshkaa.com/episode/404085?theme=light" height="190" width="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay"></iframe> Next Episode: Belize. <h2>About World Nomads & the Podcast</h2> Explore your boundaries and discover your next adventure with The World Nomads Podcast. Hosted by Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads Phil Sylvester, each episode will take you around the world with insights into destinations from travelers and experts. They’ll share the latest in travel news, answer your travel questions and fill you in on what World Nomads is up to, including the latest scholarships and guides. <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank">World Nomads</a> is a fast-growing online travel company that provides inspiration, advice, safety tips and specialized travel insurance for independent, volunteer and student travelers traveling and studying most anywhere in the world. Our online global travel insurance covers travelers from more than 135 countries and allows you to buy and claim online, 24/7, even while already traveling. The World Nomads Podcast is not your usual travel Podcast. It’s everything for the adventurous, independent traveler. Don’t miss out. Subscribe today. You can get in touch with us by emailing <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">podcast@worldnomads.com</a>. We use the <a href="https://www.rode.com/rodecasterpro">Rodecaster Pro</a> to record our episodes and interviews when in the studio, made possible with the kind support of Rode. <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full Transcript of the Episode</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner"> Speaker 1: The World Nomads Podcast, bonus episode. Hear amazing nomads sharing their knowledge, stories and experience of world travel. Speaker 2: Thanks for tuning into this episode featuring an amazing nomad, and this time it's an Australian filmmaker. His name is Miles Rowland, and his passion for filmmaking and travel led him into the documentary space field, where he says he found his true calling: telling stories, gathering images and seeing the world all at the same time. Phil: Yeah, look, and he's picked up a few awards for that, which is great, because we're also thrilled that he captures some stories for World Nomads. Phil: He was recently filming with environmentalist Tim Jarvis on the 25zero Project, which you'll hear about in this episode. So how, then, did he find himself in Tanzania in the middle of a Maasai circumcision ceremony? Miles Rowland: Well, we were doing a documentary and a project with a guy called Tim Jarvis, polar explorer, environmental scientist, bit of a legend. His latest project is looking at equatorial glaciers. Miles Rowland: Basically he's looked at the 25 mountains around the equator that have glaciers, and, of course, due to climate change, they're vanishing fairly quickly. And it's a documentary that's going and looking at them, documenting, raising awareness and sort of putting it [inaudible 00:01:15], you know, showcasing these things that are literally drying out and about to die. Miles Rowland: We just got back from Mount Kenya earlier in the year, and that mountain, the glaciers on that mountain, there's only a few left and they're very sorry looking things. Miles Rowland: So we went to Uganda, the beautiful Rwenzori Mountains of Western Uganda on the Congo border, and then after that we went to Kilimanjaro and climbed Kilimanjaro to look at the glaciers on Kilimanjaro. So that's why we were there. Miles Rowland: But then, just as much about the looking at the glaciers is looking at the surrounding region, some of the impacts, some of the things that the people in the region are struggling with due to climate change, whether it's directly or indirectly from the lack of glaciers or the retreat and decline of the glaciers, but also looking at solutions and adaptation. Miles Rowland: And then we found ourselves with this Maasai group that have set up a Stoves & Solar Project. The Maasai are very interesting because they're a very old culture and been doing certain things in a certain way for a very, very long time. Fairly incredible that they've avoided being too swayed by technology and just how society has taken every other culture around the world. Miles Rowland: They live very simply in a very traditional way, and that means that they've been cooking and lighting their homes in the same way for a long time, which is to burn wood on an open fire in their closed huts, and of course that's catastrophic for lung health and for child mortality and adult mortality, especially amongst the women. Miles Rowland: And so this group looked at introducing better technology with stoves so that the smoke is taken out of the huts and they feed the fire with smaller pieces of wood. You need a tiny amount of wood to make these things burn and heat, and then they use solar for lighting their homes so that they're getting the same outcome that they're getting and they're needing less wood. Miles Rowland: Deforestation in Tanzania is pretty incredible, and the deforestation rates are very high, and so projects like this that are solving multiple outcomes are very interesting. That's why we went into this village to go and look at that. Phil: And look, you say they live simply, but I think we studied the Maasai in my anthropology 101 classes all the way back. Yes, no technology, but it's a very complex society and very complex culture. Miles Rowland: Oh, absolutely. It's so complex, and when you sort of parachute into that scenario just after coming off the mountain, it is just staggering and you really just feel like you've got no idea how it all works and that our simple ways of our societal functions just don't really apply. Miles Rowland: I would have loved to spend more time there and attend the ceremony with an anthropologist because it was so intriguing and intricate. I couldn't even begin to understand the complexities of the structures in that culture. Speaker 2: Now that ceremony you talking about was a circumcision ceremony, marking the young guys maturity into manhood. Miles Rowland: Yeah. Because we were there to film the stoves and have a tour of this village that had a lot of stoves operating in that place. But then when we arrived, they were doing that very iconic Maasai dance as we were driving into the village. Miles Rowland: It was a bit cliche almost. We were thinking, "Oh, gosh. This is a fairly standard routine. Is it?" And he said, "No, no, no. There's a circumcision ceremony happening." We're thinking, "What?" He's like, "Yeah, your timing's great. There's three boys are getting circumsized tonight." And you think, "Oh my God. Wow. What are the chances? How lucky are we? We get to be part of this amazing tradition and ceremony." Miles Rowland: We asked if we could start filming and document that as a side project, and they said, "Yeah, go for it." So we just witnessed and sat back and watched the whole thing play out. Miles Rowland: And so started with sort of the older boys in their 18, 19-year-old guys were leading the ceremony at sunset, which is just a lot of dancing and chanting, and they're sort of, in a way, riling the boys up, getting them a bit agitated. They were sort of teasing them and slapping them in the face gently, and it's just a bit of a pre-game hustle, for lack of a better description. Miles Rowland: And the boys, they are so young-looking. I mean, they're sort of somewhere 11, 12, 13 years old, and they were very nervous-looking. But the older boys, who had been through this, take a lot of pride in leading this chant and this celebration. Phil: That is a way of sort of getting into a bit of a trance state for them? Miles Rowland: I think they're agitating them to rile them up to get sort of- Phil: [crosstalk 00:06:33]- Miles Rowland: ... motivated. Yeah. And get the blood flowing and get them sort of, yeah, like in a pre-game hustle so that you march out onto the field ready to go. Phil: Can I say, we don't actually see anything too gruesome in the film, but, from our standard, it must have been a pretty gruesome experience. Miles Rowland: Yeah. For us insular Australians, it is pretty confronting, because the whole way of life for a Maasai is just steps ahead of where we think of what hardship is in terms of day-to-day living. Miles Rowland: They're living in really simple accommodation in a very hot and dry and fairly in what we would call inhospitable part of the world, and in ceremonies like this where it's a rite of passage and it's pretty painful and intense, but it's something that's sacred to that culture. Miles Rowland: I mean, during that dance, the older chaps were just having some goat. They cooked up goat that evening for us for the elder gentlemen, and that's when we got there, and just at sunset there was this sort of goat leg being handed around, and then sun set and then I think at about 1:00 AM that's when they go down to the river and the circumcision was performed, then, in the river with the cold water, I think, is perhaps somewhat of an anesthetic. And then the boys get a few days to recover in their huts. Phil: Well, you say it's confronting then, okay? But did you get a different attitude about something? What did you take away from that? It must have had some sort of effect on you. Miles Rowland: I suppose you'd come back from that and go, "Jeez, that's intense." But you have a respect for other people's way of living. I wouldn't go in there and start saying, "Oh, jeez, guys. Have you got any local anesthetic? Is that knife sharp? Is it sterilized?" Miles Rowland: You just sort of go, you know what, I'm not going to start calling shots on how it should be done or how I would have it done if it were me. I just think it was one of those things that all I could do was witness and just sit back and watch it and feel privileged that I could see something so incredible in a incredible part of the world with a unique group of people. Miles Rowland: I don't think I was applying too much to my own life, because the maths wouldn't work out as to how it would go for us, because we're just completely living in a different part of the world with different rules in our society in a completely different culture. Speaker 2: Now, Phil, I know you said that we don't get to see the circumcision ceremony in this film, and earlier, Miles, you mentioned the word getting the blood running. There is, though, a scene that is quite confronting and that is how to slaughter a cow. Miles Rowland: Yeah. No, that was the following day. So we went back again the next day because that's when the next ceremony was happening, which was a big feast for the whole village. Miles Rowland: One of the gentlemen, one of the fathers of the boys donated a cow to the tribe. It was a real difference in pace of the day because it was after the event, and so, again, some of the same boys, sort of the older teenagers and some of the younger adults were being shown by the elders on the process of sacrificing a cow and preparing it for a big dinner that afternoon. Miles Rowland: What was interesting about that is that it's, again, something that we're just so unfamiliar with that process of what it's like, you know, how you kill a cow, physically what do you do, but then all the bits you do along the way to ensure the best delivery of that meat and also capturing some of the prizes along the way. Miles Rowland: The key one, which was pretty confronting, was the drinking of the blood. It's not necessarily part of the ceremony, it's just like if you're going to kill a cow, you drink the blood because it's awesome. That's kind of what I took from it. It wasn't sort of like everyone come round and have a sip of this. It's like, "Who's thirsty? Get on, get on, jump on in." And so the process was [inaudible 00:11:21] ... Miles Rowland: You know, we didn't really know what was going on, but you could see that they were taking huge care after they killed the cow to separate the hide from the neck, and then they found this blood vessel, the big key artery that runs through across the neck, and they sort of cut one end and then tie that off and then the other end is then running into this loose bit of hide, which, for lack of better description again, forms a bit of a drinking fountain. And so the blood fills up the hide and then everyone tucks in and they just drink it. And it's warm and it's fresh and it's one of the best bits, apparently. Miles Rowland: Being a vegetarian, I didn't try it. I thought about it, but it seems, again, something to witness and just be part of it and just watch it all go down. But it was pretty interesting. Miles Rowland: And then as they cut the bits up and they sort of start cooking it out on the fire, they start. But as they go, they take some of the bones off and they take marrow out and then they get a little stick, and you can see that in the film with a stick poking the marrow out through the middle of the bones and eating that, and apparently that's also quite a delicacy. Phil: Total nose to tail consumption of an animal. Miles Rowland: Yeah. And in terms of, you know, it always feels difficult when you're working in a climate change space too. Meat obviously is a big one for the health of the planet because of methane and that sort of stuff, but you can't help but see when someone responsibly grows a cow ethically, and I would say that from what I saw there was a fairly ethical slaughtering as well. It was like there wasn't much trauma and pain towards the animal. Miles Rowland: Everyone in the village knows how to do it, and I think that is a much more sustainable way of consuming meat and keeping it for special occasions. Phil: That's right, because meat's not part of their normal diet. I mean, there's no way that you can ... Miles Rowland: Yeah, because they have sort of 15 cows in that village and they're worth a lot to them, so it's not like they're having it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Phil: Can I just say, this is why they eat guinea pig in South America, in Peru in particular, because it takes a lot of effort to grow a cow and they live in smaller family groups there. Phil: When you slaughter a cow, there's a lot of meat that you need to dispose of to eat and it's too much for them, whereas a guinea pig is kind of exactly the ... Well, the [inaudible 00:13:58] guinea pigs will feed a family. Miles Rowland: And next in line is insects, as we think that the future of protein should be from insects. Speaker 2: I've had ants before. Phil: You have to eat a lot of ants to get some ... Speaker 2: I know. It's a good way to diet. Speaker 2: But, Miles, you are a fabulous storyteller, and we'll share your personal site in show notes and some of the work that you've been doing. What have you been capturing lately outside of what you did for World Nomads? Miles Rowland: We most recently did a story. We've been continuing the 25zero journey, so we went to Mount Kenya in February this year and went up Mount Kenya, which was an amazing trip and putting more effort into that storytelling for that film, but also coming up with lots of little tidbits on the side and learning a bit more about the impacts on climate change in Mount Kenya in that region, which is unique to that area. Miles Rowland: Been working doing Discovery Channel series. We've got a Nat-Geo series coming up called [Extreme China 2 00:15:04], which is quite exciting. It's all about following my photographer going into China with the help of some locals doing some pretty cool challenges. Miles Rowland: I did a very interesting project with NBC, which is a Saudi Arabian channel. It's following three girls traveling around the world, and it's one of its kind for certainly Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, but [inaudible 00:15:32] travel show, especially coming out of Saudi Arabia. Miles Rowland: And the final of the episode was, the finale of the episode. Sorry, the finale of the season was going to Christchurch because the mosque attacks happened just towards the end of the season. There was quite a lot of outrage and sympathy and support coming from the Middle East, and so they went to Mecca and brought some Holy water and some Qurans in the names of some of the victims and brought them out to give them to some of the families. So I was working on that final episode and we went to some of the mosques about a week after the attacks. Miles Rowland: It was a heavy episode, but it was also, at the same time, it was incredible. The level of defiance and sympathy and warmth that the community and that some of the victims were showing to the attacker and to all those that have sort of vilified Muslims in the past is the complete opposite of what you expect, and it was really incredible. Miles Rowland: This year has been a pretty awesome one, and there's a few other cool series coming up. Speaker 2: Well keep us in the loop and enjoy your time resting there in Adelaide. Miles Rowland: Thank you. Speaker 2: You are more than welcome, Miles. Links in show notes. Phil: Plus we'll share a podcast link to the episode in which we chatted to Tim Jarvis about 25zero. Speaker 2: And we've got some pigs, too. Miles gave them to us. Speaker 2: To get in touch with this email podcast at World Nomads and listen to our episodes by grabbing them from wherever you get your favorite podcasts, do subscribe so that way you don't miss an episode, and then we encourage you to rate and share. Speaker 2: So what's next, Phil? Phil: Yes, it's another destination. We're off to Belize. Speaker 2: We'll see you then. Phil: Belize. Navidad. Speaker 2: Bye. Speaker 1: Amazing nomads. Be inspired.   </div> </div> </div>Romain Levrault 0

The Hardest Thing I Have Ever Done | Travel Storyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/fear/the-hardest-thing-i-have-ever-doneThe Hardest Thing I Have Ever Done | Travel StoryMon, 17 Jun 2019 22:43:41 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/fear/the-hardest-thing-i-have-ever-doneVideo: A Maasai Ceremony | Tanzania Travelhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/a-maasai-ceremonyVideo: A Maasai Ceremony | Tanzania TravelFri, 31 May 2019 23:45:42 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/a-maasai-ceremonyPaddling the Nile, Part 1: Paddles Hit the Waterhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/paddle-the-nile-1Paddling the Nile, Part 1: Paddles Hit the WaterMon, 21 Jan 2019 18:27:09 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/paddle-the-nile-1https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/africa/tanzania/amazing-nomads-tim-jarvisTim Jarvis is preparing to climb 25 equatorial mountains with disappearing glacial ice to highlight the plight of our planet’s climate crisis.2018-07-03T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/africa/tanzania/amazing-nomads-tim-jarvishttps://www.worldnomads.com<div><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2V9BgOBKU7Mu64Jii8i9DY?si=ucNEpy2dQ_GZeHkenEK_UQ"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/spotify%20logo%20green.png" style="width: 60px; height: 60px;" alt="“Listen" on="" spotify="" /></a>   <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=154934&refid=stpr"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/stitcher-logo-120x46.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 46px;" alt="Listen on Stitcher" /></a></div> Alongside delivering our fortnightly World Nomads destination podcast, we can now share bonus episodes shining the spotlight on amazing people doing amazing things. <h2>What's in the Episode</h2> Podcast co-host Phil chats with explorer and environmentalist Tim Jarvis. 00:46 Introducing Tim Jarvis 01:16 Recreating the steps of Mawson and Shackleton 04:09 “…Those guys in that period, they weren't very good at talking about their emotions, or their loved ones, or deep innermost thoughts about anything really, but they were very good at itemizing the gear, and which way the wind was blowing and all this sort of stuff.“ 06:05 Did Tim ever think he wouldn’t make it? 08:54 Retracing Shackleton’s trek in 2010 10:08 The Ghost Ship stuck in pack ice 14:23 Raising awareness of climate change 15:59 Tim explains 25zero <h2>Who's On the Show</h2> Tim Jarvis has recreated the steps of two Antarctic explorers, Douglas Mawson and Ernest Shackleton. And as an environmentalist is about to bring climate change to our attention by filming a documentary titled 25zero. Tim will climb the 25 equatorial mountains that still have glacial ice in an effort to highlight the plight of our planet’s climate crisis. “The reason I chose mountains of the equator to go and climb and highlight glacier melt, is because you need a sort a proxy for climate change. You can't see greenhouse gas, you need something else, so melting glaciers is a good way of showing climate change.” You can follow 25zero <a href="https://www.25zero.com">here</a> which also has details on how you can get involved. On Instagram @timjarvisam and his <a href="https://www.timjarvis.org/">website</a> with details of events, projects, and expeditions. <h2>Resources & Links </h2> Shackleton's ship stuck in ice. We can't show any of the pictures here because of copyright, but you can <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/picture/2013/dec/30/shackleton-endurance-antarctica-pack-ice-photography">go here</a> to see a picture essay published with permission in The Guardian. This is Tim Jarvis and his crew re-enacting Shackleton's epic rescue voyage. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/Tim%20Jarvis/jarvis%20boat%20storm.jpg" /></figure> Scholarship Newsletter: <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/create">Sign up for scholarships news and see what opportunities are live here</a>. <h2 class="p1">Want to Re-publish This Episode?</h2> Copy this code onto your web page or blog: <iframe width="100%" height="200" src="https://player.whooshkaa.com/player/episode/id/250490?visual=true&sharing=true" frameborder="0" style="width: 100%; height: 200px"></iframe> <h2>Want to Talk to us?</h2> We want to hear from you! If you have any travel insurance questions to <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">Ask Phil</a>, want to give us feedback on the episode, or have suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover, email us at <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">podcast@worldnomads.com</a> <h2>Sign up for Podcast News</h2> Explore your boundaries and discover your next adventure with The World Nomads Podcast. Hosted by Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads Phil Sylvester, each episode will take you around the world with insights into destinations from travelers and experts. They’ll share the latest in travel news, answer your travel questions and fill you in on what World Nomads is up to, including the latest scholarships and guides. The World Nomads Podcast is not your usual travel Podcast. It’s everything for the adventurous, independent traveler. Don’t miss out. Subscribe today. Next Episode: The World Nomads Podcast: Chile <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full Transcript of the Episode</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner"> Speaker 1: The World Nomads podcast bonus episode. Hear amazing nomads sharing their knowledge, stories, and experience of world travel. Speaker 2: Well, in this great big community of ours we know the best part of travel is often the challenge the lifestyle throws at us. There's a catchphrase that we use here at World Nomads, explore your boundaries. You will have heard it a million times in our podcast. Well, not a million times, because we haven't got a million episodes [crosstalk 00:00:24] Phil: About 50. Tim Jarvis: Yeah, exactly. Push yourself to the edge of discovery, learn, and then push some more. Phil: [00:00:30] But it's explore your boundaries, not explore the boundaries, so it's a personal journey egging you on from wherever you are, be that a first-time travel or a seasoned globetrotter. No doubt something or someone has inspired you to be a nomad, which brings me to the guest we have in the studio now. His journeys transcend travel and adventure as we know it. To sit in the realm of exploration he's crossed deserts, oceans, and mountain ranges, and has twice recreated the epic efforts [00:01:00] of heroic Antarctic explorers. Tim Jarvis, welcome. Tim Jarvis: Thank you, Phil. Nice to be here. Phil: Look, that was a bit of a throwaway line in my introduction there, recreated the epic journeys of two Antarctic explorers. We're talking about Douglas Mawson and Ernest Shackleton. They are superheroes really. Tell us, for people who don't know, tell us more about what they did. Tim Jarvis: Yeah, they really were. I think polar exploration back in what they call the heroic era of basically 100 years ago, just before the First World War, was [00:01:30] the space exploration of the period. People went out there and they didn't know whether they were going to make it, there were no maps, they didn't know what they were going to find, the equipment was all very primitive, and they were out there with no possibility of any kind of backup. Mawson and Shackleton, along with Scott and the Norwegian Amundsen, were the lead figures of the period. Mawson undertook an expedition where both his colleagues died, first one fell in a crevasse along with, unfortunately, the dog team pulling the sled with most of the food. Phil: [00:02:00] Oops. Tim Jarvis: Yeah. That left Mawson and the other guy with only 20 percent of the food they needed to survive and 520Ks to go to get back to the base. The second guy died in Mawson's arms halfway home with what he described at the time as fever, which was probably malnutrition and avitaminosis through eating the livers of the sled dogs, and you name it. Everything that you can imagine went wrong with them and Mawson was the only guy to survive that incredible journey. As regards [00:02:30] Shackleton, he went on a big expedition south to try and cross Antarctica from one side to the other, to eclipse what Scott and Amundsen did by reaching the pole [crosstalk 00:02:40] Phil: To go right over the pole. Tim Jarvis: Yeah, all the way over pole halfway point, all the way to the other side and it all basically went wrong. Ship got crushed in the pack of ice, he never set foot on Antarctica, and the rest of the journey was all about saving him and the 27 men he was with, and he did it against the most brutal conditions [00:03:00] and almost impossible odds. Took one of the expedition lifeboats, just a little seven-meter long surf boat essentially, took it from Antarctica to the sub-Antarctic and raised the alarm, and saved everyone. It was just an epic, epic journey. Phil: You thought, that looks fun, I'll go and do that. Tim Jarvis: Well, you know the history of it is I moved from the old mother country to Adelaide as a scientist, and Mawson is Adelaide's number one son, and guess what? He's from, we were talking earlier, he's [00:03:30] from the [inaudible 00:03:31], too. He' from [crosstalk 00:03:31] originally by birth. He's six foot four, he went to work as a scientist at Adelaide Uni, and his birthday's one day apart from mine, albeit 50 or 60 years adrift. Next thing somebody said, you know, you're similar to Mawson, why don't you prove that he didn't have to cannibalize the second guy that died in his arms to make it. So a plan was hatched and I decided to do it with the food that he said he had without the need to eat, in my case, an increasingly nervous Russian bloat with whom I travel [00:04:00] just to see if it could be done the way he said that it could. Phil: You did it with the same equipment as well? Tim Jarvis: Yeah, so I mean, those guys in that period, they weren't very good at talking about their emotions, or their loved ones, or deep innermost thoughts about anything really, but they were very good at itemizing the gear, and which way the wind was blowing and all this sort of stuff. Actually, their diaries give you a really good accurate account of what they took, so you could replicate exactly what they had down to kind of the nail [00:04:30] and the sled biscuit. I replicated all the food, the sled weights, the traditional navigation, the clothing, everything, and did it the same as Mawson, to see what would happen. Phil: How'd you go? Tim Jarvis: Well, you know [crosstalk 00:04:47] Phil: Well, you're here for a start, [crosstalk 00:04:48] and your Russian bloat is still alive. Tim Jarvis: I didn't need to eat the Russian, and I'm alive. I lost 32 kilos, I lost teeth, the metal in the fillings contracted in the extreme cold. I was [00:05:00] kind of a physical wreck by the end. I would never do that again. It was basically organized starvation to see what would happen. I had some backups, but not, you know, there were plenty of gaps and plenty of opportunities to kill yourself, frankly, on that trip. I finished in 47 days, ironically, exactly the same time as Mawson took even though I didn't try and contrive the time I was out there or anything else, I was trying to get through it as fast as I could. Phil: Yeah. Tim Jarvis: [00:05:30] A whole new level of respect for Mawson, but I don't think he ate the other guy, basically is what I would say. Phil: What was going through your mind while you were undertaking this journey? Tim Jarvis: Yeah well, the support was we got taken to the start and picked up at the end by a film crew who did a bit of filming, and they extracted the Russian guy who was kind of playing the role, I guess, of the guy who died halfway home in Mawson's original trip, and so I had a little bit of human contact in the middle. The rest of the 47 days, I was either with him, [00:06:00] we were on our own, or I was on my own, but at least they kind of knew where I was. I had a beacon that tracked where I was, but they couldn't get to me in the event of say a storm, or if I fell in a crevasse or something like that. You're a long way from any real help. I think every step of the way, you're just breaking down the total journey into small pieces, and working towards the achievement of those. You never really consider triumphantly reaching the hut and [00:06:30] walking through the door like Mawson did a hundred years before you, and proving his innocence or anything like that. You're thinking if I can just get through the next hour and then I'll have a break, have a look at the compass again, adjust the clothes, have a bit of kangaroo jerky, and then just try and keep moving. That's all you can possibly think of. Phil: Did you ever think you weren't going to make it? Tim Jarvis: There were plenty of times during that trip that I thought I wouldn't make it, big storms, [00:07:00] self-doubt, physical injury, bad frostbite, just running out of energy. I was on 2,100 calories a day, which is less than a third of what you really need for a guy my size to pull a sled in sub-zero temperatures, 150-kilo sled, 10 hours a day. I found I'd used all my food up by 10 in the morning, had to wait until the next day until I could eat again. You just feel the weight dropping off you and your mood is bad, [00:07:30] and your ability to keep warm is compromised because you're not eating enough, and all of the things you might anticipate. Yeah, there were plenty of occasions where I thought I wouldn't make it, crevasse falls, getting lost, all good fun. Phil: But you did, and what was that feeling like, when you ... Tim Jarvis: Well, you know the funny thing is when you finish, the irony is that you become so good at breaking down the total thing into small pieces, [00:08:00] you finish and it feels like just the end of the last shift. You've become so focused on giving structure to your world. Don't forget you're traveling in 24 hour light, you've got an endless white horizon, there's no one around, and everything is in your own head, so you become very focused, so when you do finish and you meet people and that's it, you don't have to pull the sled anymore, you take a long time before you realize you actually finished. Then there's a feeling of [00:08:30] relief, and then a gradual slow burn excitement builds that you done it, and you've hopefully defended Mawson's honor and all that kind of thing, but it's slow. It takes a while to come to terms with it. Phil: That was 2007, yeah? Tim Jarvis: That was, yeah. Phil: Three years later, you've gone, that was fun. Let's do Shackleton's trip. Tim Jarvis: Well, you know, I mean as I say, Mawson and Shackleton had traveled together in 1907 on a trip when Shackleton tried to reach the [00:09:00] south geographic poles at 90 south, and he didn't quite make it on that expedition, a different expedition. Mawson had gone on if you like, a side trip to the magnetic pole because the magnetic pole and the geographic 90 south are nowhere near one another, a couple of thousand Ks apart. He went off and Mawson made it to south magnetic, so they were known to one another. The Shackleton family, specifically his granddaughter, who's a woman in her 70s, lovely lady, had been [00:09:30] closely monitoring what I was doing on Mawson. I get back to civilization, I receive a call. She said congratulations, well done, you ever thought about doing the expedition of my grandfather? That's the big one because I would like someone on the 100th anniversary to celebrate what he stood for, and all that kind of thing and that's where the seed was sown and she said will you, she really meant you will. She was pretty forceful, rhetorical question. Phil: Yep. [00:10:00] That journey is across open southern ocean to Elephant Island, is that right? Tim Jarvis: Yeah, that's right. They sailed down originally in the big ship. Phil: Yep. Tim Jarvis: First World War has just broken out, they leave and they sail the full length of the Atlantic, and then they encounter pack ice, the ship gets stuck, pack ice closes in around the hull, breaches the hull. [crosstalk 00:10:25] Phil: Very famous photographs. Tim Jarvis: Famous, famous Frank Hurley shots of the stricken ship in pack ice. [00:10:30] Really spectacular shots, ghost ship in pack ice. Phil: Yep, I'll put some of those in the show notes for people to have a look at it, by the way, if I can. [crosstalk 00:10:37] Tim Jarvis: Just amazing that he did it, especially under duress with the technology at the time and everything else. The ship goes down and they're basically just left on pack ice, no one knows where they are, they don't have enough food. They're never going to make it, they've got three lifeboats from the ship, and they shelter under those, and they kill seals and penguins to sustain themselves, eat their dogs, the normal story. Shackleton's leadership kind of gets them through and they're out on that pack [00:11:00] ice for a total of over a year after, you know, so the ship goes down, another four or five months on the pack ice after being stuck on the stricken ship and then finally the pack ice breaks up. They have to put the boats the right way up and paddle for their lives, to reach this place Elephant Island just off the Antarctic Peninsula. That in itself is a pretty Godforsaken spot, it's just glaciers and vertical rock faces. The only running water is [00:11:30] glacial meltwater and the only food is the odd seal you can catch, that's basically it. Phil: Even reaching the island isn't rescue in itself. There was a trek involved, as well. Tim Jarvis: Yeah, well I mean, so they reach Elephant Island, Shackleton knows that they're about to, don't forget there were 28 of these guys, Shackleton, plus 27, and he knows they're just not going to make it through the winter which is now only a few months away. He decides the only thing forward is to get into the most seaworthy of those three [00:12:00] small boats and undertake this incredible journey across the southern ocean from Elephant Island, to a place called South Georgia, 1500 Ks away and he knows there's a whaling station there. He thinks if I can reach that I can get a bigger ship and send it south and that's what he manages, but three big storms, mountainous seas. They almost sink many times, almost capsize many times, frostbite, just the most dreadful journey you can imagine [00:12:30] and they do reach South Georgia against all odds and it's just a dot in the South Atlantic. If had they missed it, next place is [inaudible 00:12:37], another 4000 Ks further on, so there's nothing else down there. Phil: Yeah. Tim Jarvis: They arrive on the southern side of the island and they can't get around the coast to the north where all the whaling stations are, so they have to go through the middle, climbing the mountains with no maps and no equipment and no ropes and no tent, no climbing experience and they do it in a time that even Reinhold Messner hasn't been able to replicate. [00:13:00] Reinhold Messner, the greatest mountaineer in the world saying it's an amazing, amazing journey. Phil: That's what you recreated, you did that with a team as well? Tim Jarvis: Yeah, well I mean, saying yes when you get asked to do it is, I was very flattered that the Shackleton family should ask me, especially his granddaughter who's kind of the center of the whole Shackleton world now, and so I said yes. Have to say there are many times late at night when you're alone with your thoughts where you think, I don't know how sensible [00:13:30] this is going to be. We're going to rebuild the small surf boat with a little toy mast and ores and wear cotton smocks and woolens and leather boots. Not take [inaudible 00:13:43], or neoprene, or life jackets and use a chronometer and a compass, and Sexton to see the sun, and eat lard. Didn't eat seal, okay, I'm an environmental guy, right, I can't go around eating seal meat obviously. We took the equivalent [00:14:00] stuff and it was a pretty unpalatable diet. Phil: I know people listening to this right now, well why would you do all this? I know it's because of your belief in the environment and you want to raise awareness about the danger of climate change as well. That was a part of both of those expeditions? Tim Jarvis: It was. Look, I mean, I think you definitely do it. There's a whole bunch of other things, too. I mean there's ego, and there's the physical challenge, and there's the mental challenge and at the end of the day, you want your life to amount [00:14:30] to what you expected of yourself. You don't want to let yourself down, and as soon as you get the bargain you start understanding what you're capable of and you can only do that by really embarking on a journey, whatever that journey happens to be. It becomes very empowering, and you think well, let's just see how far we can push this and that's human nature, really. I'm sure many listeners will have the same experiences, they embark on their first journey and they'll find it doesn't get it out of their system, they just want to do more. It's the same with this. [00:15:00] I found myself just trying the next thing, but bigger than the last. In terms of the environment piece, I realized very early on that you don't get anywhere talking to people about hockey stick curves of carbon dioxide emissions. I think it's just too, it's just not interesting to a lot of people. If you can talk about melting glaciers, and polar adventure, and leadership and things like that, and you can get in front of politicians and the corporate [00:15:30] world, when you're there you have a captive audience, and you can pitch your environmentalism by stealth on the back of your leadership lessons, and it's proven to be a very effective thing. I even tell the corporate audiences that and they have a laugh about it, but they still expect to hear the leadership based stuff, but then they're prepared to listen to the environmental messages. Phil: Which brings us to the 25 Zero Project. 25 Zero, what does that stand for? Tim Jarvis: Well, there are 25 mountains in the [00:16:00] equator that have a glacier and in a quarter of a century the ice will be gone due to climate change, so the 25 Zero name is a play on those two sets of numbers. The reason I chose mountains of the equator to go and climb and highlight glacier melt, is because you need a sort of a proxy for climate change. You can't see greenhouse gas, you need something else, so melting glaciers is a good way of showing climate change. Trouble with the Antarctic, all the Arctic, is that they're too big. [00:16:30] Antarctica is twice the size of Australia, covered in 2Ks average thickness of ice. You can't just point to a piece of ice, and it doesn't have a human population, so no interesting stories about people. That's what really engages you. But at the tropics, lots of people being badly impacted by glaciers in places like Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Carstensz Pyramid in Papua, mountains in Ecuador, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, and they're really fascinating stories and incredible places. [00:17:00] The project's about climbing those mountains with glaciers at the equator and highlighting the change, telling people what they can do, and using the human interest stories to get people engaged. Phil: Every picture tells plenty of stories. There are some pictures I've seen on the 25 Zero Project showing very early photographs of the glaciers on some of the mountains that you've climbed, [00:17:30] and you've gone up and you've recreated those. You've taken them and it's quite obvious what's going on. Tim Jarvis: One of the most spectacular ones I think is in the Ruwenzori Mountains, which is the mountain range between Kongo and Uganda, the Mountains of the Moon, they call them. If people, listeners get the opportunity, that's one place that's really worth going, Mountains of the Moon. Really spectacular. The Duke of Abruzzi went there in 1906 to try and find the source of the Nile. That's what it was all about, climb mountains while he was there [00:18:00] and he took shots of those mountains and they were, they still are, home to Africa's largest icecap, bigger than Mount Kenya and Kili combined, in fact. I thought if I can get to the same spot as he took that shot in 1906 and show the change, so that's what we did and 85 percent reduction from when he took it to when I took it. I ran a little seven or eight-second transition showing the change from the old black and white picture with lots of ice to the color one with not much. Phil: [00:18:30] Tim, it's been a great pleasure meeting you. Tim Jarvis: You too. Phil: You're an inspiration, mate. Fantastic stuff. Tim Jarvis: I really enjoyed it. Phil: Good on you, cheers. Tim Jarvis: Thanks, Phil. Speaker 2: He is indeed an amazing nomad. You can follow 25 Zero online where you can also subscribe to updates on the project, which is ongoing. You can find our bonus episodes alongside the World Nomads podcast on iTunes. Speaker 1: Amazing Nomads. Be inspired. <h2> </h2> </div> </div> </div>Timjarvisam 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/africa/tanzania/the-world-nomads-podcast-episode-14-tanzaniaListen to Episode 14 of The World Nomads Podcast. The cacophony of the wildebeest migration, what a feathered egg on your doorstep reveals, and the challenges of traveling with a disability.2018-04-17T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/africa/tanzania/the-world-nomads-podcast-episode-14-tanzaniahttps://www.worldnomads.com<div> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2V9BgOBKU7Mu64Jii8i9DY?si=ucNEpy2dQ_GZeHkenEK_UQ"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/spotify%20logo%20green.png" style="width: 46px; height: 46px;" alt="“Listen" on="" spotify="" /></a>   <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=154934&refid=stpr"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/stitcher-logo-120x46.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 46px;" alt="Listen on Stitcher" /></a></div> <h3 class="p1">Episode 14 Tanzania</h3> Tanzania is an East African country known for its vast wilderness areas, including the plains of Serengeti National Park, and is the home of Mount Kilimanjaro <h3 class="p2">Want to know more about Tanzania? Head over to our <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/africa/tanzania/where-is-the-wiki">Stories</a> section to delve a little deeper.</h3> <h3 class="p2">What's in the Episode</h3> 00:13 - Welcome 02:10 - Quiz Question 02:34 – Anne-Marie Soulsby is a travel writer, blogger and coach who has lived in Tanzania - “… I wanted to improve my Kiswahili skills, so I was looking to have an immersive style experience.” 08:30 – Mark Smeltz is a photographer and writer who has witnessed the Wildebeest migration – “… It's just absolutely amazing. The cacophony of noise and the dust and the sounds of the wildebeest grunting and shuffling. 17:15 – Blogger Cory Lee on the difficulties traveling with a disability. 23:13 – Checking in with our World Nomads in Chile 25:17 – Travel News 29:25 - World traveler, photographer and writer Jessica Nabongo shares her  Top 10 favourite ‘Shithole Countries’ 36:23 – Be a fly on the wall when our writing scholarship winners get the good news 38:43 – Quiz question answer <h3 class="p2">Who's on the Show?</h3> Anne-Marie Soulsby is a travel writer, blogger, and coach. With more than 18 years of independent globetrotting and seven years as an expat in Tanzania, she's become a travel sage and has experienced many trials and triumphs. Follow her at <a href="https://soulfultravels.co.uk/">soulfultravels.co.uk</a>, on Twitter @soulfultravels and Instagram @soulfultravelsuk Mark Smeltz is a writer and photographer, you can check out his portfolio <a href="https://marksmeltz.portfoliobox.net/">here</a>. Mark is always looking to contribute articles and photos to blogs and magazines if you want to hit him up. His contact is in his portfolio. Corey Lee runs a blog, <a href="https://www.curbfreewithcorylee.com/">Curb Free with Cory Lee</a>, exploring world travel in a wheelchair. <img width="750" height="490" alt="" src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/Tanzania/Hippo%20pic%202-1.jpg" /> Image: Here’s the pic of Corey and his narrow escape from the jaws of Jessica the hungry Hippo featured on his blog. World Nomads Sebastion is ‘working’ remotely from South America and recently trekked with fellow World Nomads in Chile. <img width="750" height="490" alt="" src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/Tanzania/Chile.jpg" /> Image:(from left to right Seb, Drew, Yvonne, and Cory) Jessica Nabongo is aiming to be the first black woman to travel to every country in the world. Follow her blog <a href="https://thecatchmeifyoucan.com/">Catch Me If You Can</a> and read her article, discussed in the podcast, on her <a href="https://thecatchmeifyoucan.com/2018/01/10-favorite-shithole-countries.html">Top 10 Favourite “Shithole Countries”</a> Congratulations to the winners of the World Nomads Travel Writing Scholarship Claudia Crook, Madeline Russo, and Máté Földi. <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships/writing/2018/results">Read their winning entries</a>. Madeline still can’t quite believe our World Nomads mentor Tim Neville loved her story <h3 class="p2">Resources & Links</h3> <img width="750" height="490" alt="" src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/Tanzania/Norway%20toilet%202.jpg" /> Check out Norway’s $2 million highway toilet stop mentioned in Travel News. Scholarships Newsletter: <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/create">Sign up for scholarships news and see what opportunities are live here</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/worldnomads/">Follow World Nomads on Instagram</a> for the latest stories, and #WorldNomads for your chance to be featured. <h3 class="p2">Want to Talk to us?</h3> We want to hear from you! If you have any travel insurance questions to <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">Ask Phil</a>, want to give us feedback on the episode, or have suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover, email us at <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">podcast@worldnomads.com</a> <h3 class="p2">Sign up for Podcast News</h3> Explore your boundaries and discover your next adventure with The World Nomads Podcast. Hosted by Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads Phil Sylvester, each episode will take you around the world with insights into destinations from travelers and experts. They’ll share the latest in travel news, answer your travel questions and fill you in on what World Nomads is up to, including the latest scholarships and guides. The World Nomads Podcast is not your usual travel Podcast. It’s everything for the adventurous, independent traveler. Don’t miss out. Subscribe today. <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full Transcript of the Episode</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner"> Speaker 1:  Welcome to the World Nomads podcast delivered by World Nomads, the travel lifestyle, and insurance brand. It's not your usual travel podcast, it's everything for the adventurous, independent traveler. Kim: [Foreign Language 00:00:13] everyone. Phil:  Are you speaking Swahili woman? Kim:   I actually am. That is hello in Swahili. I've done some research and a bit of a hint as to which destination we're featuring in this podcast, Phil, which is number 14. Phil:  We are off to Tanzania. Kim: [00:00:30] No, we're off to Tanzania. Phil:  Tanzania. I was going to get to that in a minute. Kim:  Yeah, get to that in a minute. This is not to be confused with Tasmania, which is my home state and there are quite often mix-ups like a Pakistani cricketer who flew to Tanzania, when he was supposed to be in Hobart, Tasmania. To make it clear, Tasmania is Australia's southern island state. Tanzania or Tanzania, however you want to say it is in Africa and Tasmania has kangaroos [00:01:00] and devils and Tanzania has zebra’s lions. Phil: But you don't say Tasmania, so it's Tasmania. Why isn't it Tanzania? Kim: It's growing on me since we've been doing this podcast. Phil: I'm trying to change the world. Kim: You'll do it one pronunciation at a time. It is Tanzania. Phil:  All right, it's in Africa. Well known for Mount Kilimanjaro, of course, and the plains of the Serengeti National Park. Kim: In this episode, Mark is going to tell us about the wildebeest [00:01:30] migration which is described as one of the world's most spectacular natural events. Phil: Wouldn't that amazing to see that live? I've seen the film, but ... Kim: Oh, he goes back. Phil:  All the time, I know. Kim:  It's like, "It's wildebeest time." Phil:  Wildebeest time, let's go. Kim:  Off we go. Jessica reacts to US president Donald Trump's recent reference shithole countries, which included her home country in Africa so she wrote the top 10 shithole countries and we'll touch on those. Tanzania or Tanzania being one of them and we'll [00:02:00] explore traveling with a disability and feature one of the winners of our traveling writing scholarship. That is all coming up, but of course, by now you know the drill, Phil. We start off the episode with your quiz question. Phil: Okay. Tasmania, Tasmania, a part of Australia that's close to your heart as you've said Kim, we think of it as being a little island, but it's actually not that little. Guess the question I'm going to ask you? How big is Tasmania? I'm going to give you a multiple choice, all right? Kim: Yep. Phil:  Is Tasmania about the same size as A, Ireland, B, Costa [00:02:30] Rica, or C, Sri Lanka? Kim:  We'll find out at the end of the episode. Our first guest is Anne-Marie Soulsby. She's a World Nomads contributor and she spent a month doing a homestay in Tanzania, but she also gives us an insight, got to whisper this, into witchcraft. Phil: Woo-hoo, spooky. Anne-Marie S: I wanted to improve my key Swahili skills so I was looking to have an immersive style experience [00:03:00] and I contacted a friend of a friend who said, "Oh, yes, my family live just outside of Iringa." Which was where the school was located, so that I would be able to not only have someone to stay with, but also to have a chance to practice my new language skills in the evening and weekends. I jumped on the bus and 10 hours later, there I was being picked up by [00:03:30] somebody and we had very little ability to converse apart from sign language a few words here and there, but I was able to make my way back with him to his family's home where he had his wife and three children. Kim: I'm interested in learning how to master Japanese cooking, but Swahili? Learning Swahili, it's not anything that's really crossed my mind. How did you [00:04:00] get to this point, Anne-Marie? Anne-Marie S: Interestingly Tanzania, they have 120 different tribes who all have their own language, however, the president who came into power following independence Julius Nyere, he wanted to unify the tribes and interestingly, his tribal language was Kiswahili, so kind of made it the national language, as well as English. Kim: What's your proficiency level [00:04:30] if you're asked that question? Which I have clearly just asked you? Anne-Marie S: It's like when you go anywhere and if you try and if you manage to get a bit of a conversation going with somebody and you know that you can get the gist of what's going on and you can have a fairly simple conversation, especially in Tanzania, they love that. They love the fact that you can have a bit of a chat and a joke and there's always something going on to [00:05:00] discuss. It's one of the national pastimes to sit down on a spare log with a cup of coffee and some peanut brittle and politics or what's going on in the neighborhood, all those things are fervently discussed, especially sports as well. All the football teams are very important. Kim: We cannot let you go without telling us a little bit about witchcraft. Anne-Marie S: Well, yes, it's one of those subjects where it's obviously been [00:05:30] around for a long time and it is a form of religion. You can understand that if people have got very little in their lives, that if the rain hasn't come for their crops, that could be a serious situation. They may not have enough food to survive and there are diseases and there's not so many good hospitals and all of those life concerning situations, so people do tend [00:06:00] to turn to what is termed as witchcraft to be able to give themselves some form of reassurance or to be able to help them feel confident that they will overcome these incidents and these events. Kim: First of all, I'm thinking very cliché voodoo dolls. Anne-Marie S: It kind of depends on where you are and what's happening. I mean, there could be very subtle little things like I've [00:06:30] heard of before if there's an egg placed under a doorway and it's got feathers on the egg, then that's a symbol to know that there's a thief around. It can be used in an interesting way. It can be used for political reasons. It's used a lot during elections to help MPs become confident in their campaigns and that they will win a lot of votes. [00:07:00] It used for not so good circumstances where sometimes bad things that happened are blamed on the older ladies in the village because they tend to get red eyes from constantly being over open fires and cooking and boiling water and all those things. Their physical appearance makes them look like they have some kind of spirits or evil possession about them. This can then affect [00:07:30] their lives. People have been killed for that reason and the suspicion that they're causing bad things to happen to the area. In terms of comparison, Christians have done bad things. Muslims have done bad things. All these people have also done good things with their religion, so it's how you interpret it, how you use it. And it can [00:08:00] be from simple things like my friend says that there's a big important soccer match coming up for his team, he might go to church, he might go to the mosque, but he might also go to the witch doctor. Kim: Well, a great insight. I think you can probably take the duvet off and come up for air now. Anne-Marie S: Thank you. Kim: Anne-Marie had so much more to share about the different tribes of Tanzania and local customs, but you can get all that in her article in show notes and a link to her blog. [00:08:30] Next, Mark Smeltz, he's another one of our contributors and as we said at the top of the episode, he witnessed the wildebeest migration, loves it. Goes back routinely and as mentioned- Phil: The wildebeest know him by name now. Kim: Oh, Mark. Phil: Mark, Good day. Kim: As mentioned also at the top of the show, that I meant, that migration is described as one of the world's most spectacular natural events. Mark Smeltz: I have been fortunate enough to encounter the migration at a couple different times in [00:09:00] both the Masai Mara in Kenya, as of course the Serengeti in Tanzania. Depending on where you are and at what time of year, and of course all the safari lodges track the migration throughout the course of the year, see where it is. You can get live updates from anywhere in the world from where it is and according to, I think, some estimates there can be well over one million wildebeests. I think higher estimates are almost approaching two, but of course, it varies with you're talking to. [00:09:30] At any given point in time, you can drive out and you can just surround yourself in these herds and it's just absolutely amazing. The cacophony of noise and the dust and the sounds of the wildebeests grunting and shuffling and then, of course, you have all the hangers-on. You have in addition to the wildebeest, you have a large number of zebra that accompany the migration and they're interspersed all throughout the herds and they're just as compelling to watch as any of the wildebeest, and of course, a little more visually dynamic, as well. The two of them mixed together, it's just [00:10:00] a fantastic spectacle. Kim: Absolutely. You were handed to us as an expert on national parks and safaris. Mark, why are you this expert? Mark Smeltz: Expert is a high accolade, enthusiast for sure. At least every year I try to go to a new destination in Africa, money willing, so so far I've visited the Kruger National Park in South Africa and the adjoining Sabi Sand Reserve, which is a world-famous destination [00:10:30] for leopards, who especially habituated to tourist vehicles. As I said, I've had the privilege of- Phil: I've been there, seen the leopard. Yep, done that. Kim: He's done that. Phil:  Yeah. Mark Smeltz: It's fantastic, right? Phil: Yeah, unbelievable. Mark Smeltz: The Masai Mara in Kenya which, of course, is primarily famous for its migration, but also all of the attendant predators like the cheetah and the lion, a little harder to see the leopard there, but certainly not impossible. The Serengeti National Park and Tarangire National Park, also [00:11:00] in Tanzania. One of my favorite destinations is South Luangwa National Park in Zambia which just has the most spectacular variation in the scenery with enormous baobabs and sausage trees and then, of course, the Luangwa River itself, which is seasonally very different depending on when you go. In the dry season, it's very low, very wide open and in the wet season it's just lush and full of I think the highest concentration of hippos of anywhere I've ever seen possibly, out of most of the national parks. [00:11:30] Another thing that I would say is especially interesting, you know a lot of the destinations I've mentioned so far are some of the big ticket, highest, most popular safari destinations in the world. Everybody has heard of them. Some of the ones that are the most exciting to me are the ones that are right next to the cities, because it's just incredible that these countries have allowed pristine wilderness areas to be preserved right alongside, in some cases, capital cities. For example, in Nairobi, Kenya, you have Nairobi National Park which is just sectioned off [00:12:00] right near the city and you can see plenty of legitimately wild animals, including major predators such as lion and cheetah.  When you get the right shot, it's just incredible, because you can see the rolling hills and the landscape and your animals framed up against what is essentially the city skyline of Nairobi and it's unlike anything I've ever seen in the world. There's also Arusha National Park- Phil: Wait a minute, wait a minute. Now I'm nervous about going to Nairobi. How far away- Kim: [00:12:30] That was my next question. Phil: Wait a minute [crosstalk 00:12:33], because if you can see the city, the lions can see it as well, right? Kim: Exactly. Mark Smeltz: In fact, you do hear an occasional story every once in a while of an animal wandering outside of the fence line or getting into traffic or something like that. I think they're pretty responsive in containing them. Phil: That is a point, obviously I mean, from my very limited experience in South Africa, there are fenced reserves and then there are open range areas, as well. Mark Smeltz: In fact, [00:13:00] that's kind of a point of contention in conservation circles, because the Southern African model, which is largely fenced reserves including Kruger, has been enormously successful and they have been one of the few countries that have been able to maintain populations of animals like white rhino, because of private game owners who have private game farms and it's all in privately controlled hands, and then you have Kruger National Park, which is largely fenced and this model of conservation has allowed these species to recover and increase their population. [00:13:30] In other countries like in East Africa, like Tanzania, Kenya, you see the more popular parks like Serengeti, Masai Mara, they're completely unfenced, so the animals ... In one sense, it's best for the animal because they're able to maintain their historical migration routes so they can for eons the elephants in Tarangire National Park have passed into the park and then out of the park into the dispersal zones into the Kilimanjaro area and even north of the border into Kenya. These historic routes have been preserved for that [00:14:00] reason. On the flip side, you, of course, have pastoralists, small-scale farmers, subsistence farmers, even villages that are built in between national parks, so when the animal leaves a national park they often come into conflict with these villages. That introduces problems between man and animal. Usually, animals come off worse in those scenarios in the long run. Kim: Just on mobile camping, you mentioned being able to [00:14:30] see animals from the city of Nairobi. I don't think that I'd be comfortable camping. Phil: I'm banging on about my Sabi Sands experience, but it was really one of the most fantastic trips I've ever done in my life. It's an amazing thing to do. Kim: Do we need to play Toto's Africa again? Phil: We start off with rubbing hands and all that. The camp that we were in was almost the most expensive place I've ever stayed and I'm going to ask you about that in a second as well, mates. It was an open camp so [00:15:00] you had to be escorted from your room back to the main building, administration area by somebody carrying a rifle. We also had a meal one night, we had a boma, a braai, a barbecue, whatever you want to call it in an outdoor area, which was elevated over the river bank and halfway through the meal the guide goes, "There's a leopard underneath there." And we're going, "How do you know?" He said, "Because I can smell it and it smells like popcorn." Leopard urine smelled like popcorn. I [00:15:30] mean, there is lots of precautions being taken and that's sounds kind of dangerous, but it was also thrilling. Kim: Oh, totally, totally. [crosstalk 00:15:40] Are you talking about free camping Mark, where you just sort of pitch your tents? Mark Smeltz:Yes, so in lots of the national parks, depending on where you're going and where you're staying, they will have public campsites so there is some very basic facilities provided like a blockhouse of showers and toilets and maybe like a little [00:16:00] kitchen or dining room, eating area under thatch and then there will just be a little field or campground area where you can pitch your tent, make a campfire at night and these are unfenced campsites. Phil, just like you said in your Sabi Sands experience, a lot of the tented camps and lodges across various parks in Africa are also totally unfenced. Whether you're in a little rondoval or a luxury tent or a little pup tent in the Serengeti on a public campground, [00:16:30] regardless of your accommodation, the animals can be passing through your camp and they don't necessarily care what you're in. I will say that one difference I've experienced with the small public campsites is that there's certainly no bathroom attached to your accommodation, so you do have to leave in the middle of the night, so there is an added element of precaution and excitement as well. Kim: We've learned a lot from you. We've also learned that Phil's got bucket loads of money and if you go to Africa and [00:17:00] you smell popcorn run. Mark, thank you so much for the chat. Mark Smeltz: Yes, thank you very much for having me. Kim: Phil, we touched on safaris in an earlier podcast exploring South Africa and as part of the research, we found safaris for disabled travelers or those with limited mobility is a rapidly growing market and it sparked our interest, actually. What it might like to travel- Phil: Travel when you're in a wheelchair. Kim: Yeah. Phil: Right. Kim: As an example. Phil: Super challenging. Kim: Yep. We came across a blog Curb Free with Cory Lee [00:17:30] and got in touch to gauge his experience and some of the challenges and we caught Cory just before, believe it or not, now this is a guy in a wheelchair, travels the world, just before he headed off on a camel trek and this is through the Sahara and he explained preparation is the key. Cory Lee: Whenever I'm traveling I really start planning any trip six to 12 months in advance. Really far in advance and that just gives me more time to kind of figure out is [00:18:00] the destination accessible or what attractions can I do, what restaurants can I eat at and how can I get around the city ultimately and everything like that. It does take a lot of preparation, but in the end, it's always worth it. Kim: Despite all the preparation that goes into it, you still have some pretty crazy experiences. I'd love for you to share them with us. Cory Lee: Yeah. I had a lot of crazy experiences and I think that just comes with the traveling as a wheelchair user, but [00:18:30] some that are just on the top of my head, I was on my first night ever in Europe, we actually got to the hotel and I had a converter and an adapter and so went to plug my wheelchair in with the converter and adapter and as soon as we plugged the wheelchair charger into the wall in Germany it blew up and sparks were flying the power in our entire hotel actually went out for about 15 minutes. Kim: Oh, no. How did they solve that issue? Cory Lee: [00:19:00] Luckily the never found out that it was me that caused it. Kim: You got trapped on a burning bus, that's a crazy experience, but that sounds like a super dangerous experience. Cory Lee: Yeah, I was in Washington, D.C. and we were trying to take the bus from Chinatown over to the zoo and as soon as I got onto the bus, the lift actually caught on fire and it started smoking. I was literally trapped on the bus until the firefighters [00:19:30] got there and the firefighters, they had to carry me and the wheelchair off the bus to safety and so luckily, they saved the day. Phil: Do you get to meet lots of other travelers whilst you're doing it and what is their reaction? What sort of interaction do you have with them? Cory Lee:  Yeah, whenever I'm traveling I definitely meet other travelers and talk with them and they always kind of ask me ... I mean, they'll ask about the blog or what's my favorite destination or what's the most [00:20:00] accessible destination. They always kind of want to know about accessibility around the world, just because I think that's something that a lot of people maybe don't think about when they're traveling, so they always want to hear that unique perspective from a wheelchair traveler. It's really fun to meet others and kind of teach them about accessibility and hopefully they learn something from it as well. Phil: What about accessing aircraft and other modes of transport? Do you get cooperation from the companies? Cory Lee: [00:20:30] We could talk for hours about accessing the aircraft. Phil: Yeah, yeah. Cory Lee: Every time I fly, it's a huge debacle and just a big hassle and it's really the whole process of actually transferring onto the plane that's such a hassle, because I have to go from my wheelchair to a little aisle chair, which is just a thin wheelchair that squeezes down the aisle of the plane and so in that process of transferring, because I can't transfer myself, [00:21:00] I have to be manually lifted by the workers and they've nearly dropped me a lot of times. I've been literally thrown into the seat and hurt. It's always just a big hassle and always worry, will my wheelchair actually make it to the destination? Phil: Oh, yeah, you don't want to be losing that. Kim: That's not good. That's not good. None of this deters you. Cory Lee: Whenever I'm traveling I always kind of [00:21:30] just try to think well, no matter what happens, once I get to the destination it'll be worth it. I'll have fun. I always just try to keep that in the back of my mind whenever I'm flying or doing anything like that that's stressful and luckily, it always works out in the end. We'll have a link to your blog Curb Free in our show notes, but there's a photo there of you where you've been wheeled up say hello to a hippo, but it doesn't look like things went well. Before we let you go, you've got to share that story. Cory Lee:[00:22:00] Yeah, it's probably my craziest travel experience overall. I was in South Africa about a year and a half ago and we went to meet this hippo named Jessica and she has actually been raised by humans and they feed her with a bottle and they feed her sweet potatoes and all kinds of stuff that's like really weird, but it's a cool experience. They gave me a sweet potato [00:22:30] and I went to feed her, but as soon as she saw the sweet potato, she lunged out of the water and grabbed the whole side of my wheelchair in her jaws and started pulling me in the water. She was literally pulling my wheelchair into the water and her human dad came over and he was like, "Stop, Jessica. Stop." Kim: It was a hungry hippo. Cory Lee: Right. Yeah, luckily she wasn't [00:23:00] too mad and she stopped finally, but it was a really close encounter. Kim: We will put that pic in our show notes and by the way, there is plenty of material on accessible travel, which is online and right World Nomad's Sebastian who's living and working in South America. How did he get to do this in South America for six months? Phil: I don't know. Yes, I've got to speak to the boss here. I think we should take this on the road somewhere. Where are we going to go? Kim: I think you're wrangling with the boss for a ticket to Melbourne. Phil: [00:23:30] Yeah. Kim: Which is an hour flight here in Australia. He's checked in with some of the World Nomads trekking with him at the moment in Chile. Yvonne: Hey guys, I am Yvonne. We are here at Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. We are in the Valley of Frances and have just climbed up to the Britannica Lookout. Drew: My name's Drew. I'm from San Francisco. I'm here on a two-week trip, just take two weeks off from work and wanted to check out [00:24:00] Torres del Paine for my entire life, so here I am. Love it so far. Corey: I'm Corey, I'm also from the San Francisco Bay area. We're here like Yvonne said in Torres del Paine in Patagonia. It's been an awesome time so far. It's very, very cold. Drew: It's hot then it's cold then it's hot. Corey: You get really sweaty and you have to take a breather and immediately throw a jacket on. It's been awesome. Sebastian: Drew, we know you're heading back to the States in a few days. Yvonne [00:24:30] and Corey, why don't you tell us where you're heading to next. Yvonne: After this, we're going to be heading up to El Chalten in Argentina, still in Patagonia. We'll be traveling that region for maybe a month or so, not sure and then be traveling up through Chile into Bolivia and be going up north through South America from there. Sebastian: What would guys say is the best thing about travel? Yvonne: The more you travel, the more you find that people around the world are all just people. We all kind of want the same things. We all just want to [00:25:00] connect with each other. We all want love. We all want to see beautiful things. We all want security and it doesn't matter where in the world you go, we're all just people. Kim: Thanks Seb. We'll have a great photo of him trekking with guys in show notes. But Phil, before we get to shithole countries, what's travel news? Phil: World Nomads has announced the winners of the travel writing scholarship and we'll have more details of that in a moment. 7,000 entries they had to go through, travel writing, unbelievable and three lucky winners are going [00:25:30] to be going to Argentina. Before you know it, the travel film scholarship will be launching. Yes, there's hardly time to take a breath. Check the World Nomads create section to learn more. That's coming up in the next week or two, we're not quite finalized the date just yet. In the next episode of this podcast, it will be all about the film scholarship and travel filmmaking and we'll speak to one of the judges and things like that. Kim: Yep, exactly. Phil: Right, then on with the rest of the news. The Philippines government has ordered the closure of Boracay Island for six months [00:26:00] starting later this month, in April. Shut it down, that's it. Kim: Completely shut? Phil: That's it, you're gone for six months. There's like two million people a year go there, so that's a million people. I've read somewhere that something like 700,000 already paid bookings for hotels on the islands. Sorry, no, it's closed. Kim: Phil, they've done this in Thailand. Phil: Well, they shut down Maya beach, the place where they filmed The Beach for environmental reasons there, as well and the same in Boracay, [00:26:30] the Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said he's taken a recommendation from the environmental authorities and he says it's turned into a cesspool. He's not wrong. There's untreated sewage going into the water there, as well. Kim: That's just not an issue for tourists, that's the infrastructure. Phil: That's the whole point, the infrastructure doesn't allow for the influx of two million people a year. Kim: They've outgrown the infrastructure. Phil: Outgrown the infrastructure so they've closed it down for six months and in the same week approved the building of a new casino on [00:27:00] the island. I love the Filipino government, they're really on it, aren't they? Could this be the world's most beautiful and expensive public toilet? Norway has spent over $2 million building a convenience along the scenic Helgelandskysten highway. The frosted glass loo in a building shaped like a wave overlooks the Norwegian Sea and is framed by the snow-capped [inaudible 00:27:28] Mountains. Kim: Is it one toilet or a block? An amenities block? Phil: [00:27:30] It's an amenities block. The highway we're talking about, the Helgelandskysten highway, do you like that? Is- Kim: Surprisingly, it's rolling off your tongue this episode. Phil: Tip [inaudible 00:27:44] phonetically. Look, it's a 250 mile, that's 400 kilometer long scenic route all up the west coast of Norway and you need something like six different ferries to connect to the bits of the road as you go. Just [00:28:00] in Helgaland itself, there's something like 14,000 island because Norway, it's all fjords and what have you. The occasional whiz stop is probably required on that road when you're doing it. Kim: Please don't tell me you're going to share a pic of it. Phil: Oh, yeah, let's put the pictures on. It looks fantastic. It's a really beautiful building. Kim: I'm sure it would be, actually. Phil: Snow-capped mountains in the background, sitting there contemplating. Richard Branson has purchased the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It'll be rebranded as a Virgin Hotel after extensive [00:28:30] renovations and why am I telling you this you may be asking. Well, the blond head billionaire says he can't guarantee that the guitar-shaped swimming pool will be retained. Last episode I told you about the Qantas 17-hour long haul flight from London to Perth, Australia. Apparently, Qantas and some other airlines around the world, are planning more long, long-haul flights.  Is it the end of the stopover? Is one question. What they're doing to help make these globe-spanning trips [00:29:00] without refueling more comfortable is ... Well, first of all, they need to lower the weight on the aircraft so they've got to ditch most of the cargo that goes on board. They're thinking what do we do with the empty cargo space underneath the floor? They're talking about putting in like train style sleeping compartments. You don't have to cough up for a business class seat to lie flat, you can pay a couple hundred bucks more to reserve one of the sleeping bunks. That's it. That's travel news. Kim: Well, you may or may not have heard when the president [00:29:30] of the United States, Donald Trump mentioned some countries being shitholes. In fact, he said, "Why do we want all these people from Africa here?" He went on to refer to Haiti and El Salvador and not just, he didn't actually mention the names of the countries, he actually called them shitholes. Jessica Nabongo is a nomad, a photographer, a writer, and a dreamer and you immediately reacted to that, Jessica. Jessica: Yes, yes I did because my parents are from a shithole [00:30:00] country. Kim: Which country would that be? Jessica: Uganda. Phil: Uganda, what a really interesting shithole, though. Jessica: Yes, it's lovely. Kim: You sat down and you wrote my 10 favorite shithole countries in a blog, but before you got into that, you did do a little bit of research, didn't you? Jessica: Yeah, I mean, my life, I guess is my real research. I've traveled to probably around 25 shithole countries including El Salvador and Haiti. Phil: [00:30:30] What do you know about Uganda and what should we know about Uganda? Jessica:  I know a lot about Uganda. Uganda is an absolutely amazing country. It's nicknamed the Pearl of Africa. It has safaris. It has a few of the world's last remaining mountain gorillas in the west. It sits on the Equator. The source of the Nile River is there and Jinja Bujagali Falls and yeah, Uganda has tons of wildlife, [00:31:00] amazing cultures, there are so many tribes. There's so much to learn about the country. I mean, it's endless. Kim:  But it's not a shithole by the sounds of it. Jessica: No, no, not at all, not at all. I love going home because the weather is always perfect, because it's on the Equator it's temperate, so it's never too hot, never too cold. Phil: That was interesting, you say you're born in America, but you just referred to Uganda as home. Is that how you feel about it? Jessica: Yeah, absolutely. [00:31:30] Of course, I was born in the US, but the majority of my family is there. I only have around 15 blood relatives in the US, but to put that in perspective, I have about 105 first cousins and three are in the US, two are in the UK, and the rest are in Uganda, so the vast majority of my family is still there. Phil: When you heard President Trump refer to your country and other countries as shitholes, how did that make [00:32:00] you feel as an American? Jessica: For me, it didn't really make me feel a kind of way, it's just like, oh, it's just one more stupid thing. I know the beauty of Uganda. I know the beauty of Africa as a whole. I love Haiti. I've been a number of times. I recently visited El Salvador in October. For me, his words are meaningless. Kim: Speaking of Haiti, it was the first black republic and you've mentioned that you've been there several times. You also say in the [00:32:30] article that we'll share show notes that you volunteer in Haiti, but when you travel to Paris, you wouldn't think of volunteering. What's the difference? Jessica: I actually don't volunteer in Haiti. My article speaks to the fact that I would not volunteer in Haiti in the same way that I would not volunteer in Paris. Kim: Why not? Phil:  Why not? Jessica: I think that there's this idea for a lot of people from the Western world that we want to go to mostly brown and black countries [00:33:00] and we want to volunteer. We want to go to orphanages, but people don't think to do that when they go to Paris or when they go to London or when they go to New York City. There is certainly orphanages in these places as well, so for me, in the same I wouldn't do that in Paris, I wouldn't do it in Haiti. I also don't encourage other people to do that. I run my own company called Jet Black and we focus on travel and tourism in Africa, Central and South America and the Caribbean [00:33:30] and a lot of people ask me, "Oh, well can we do volunteering on your trip?" And I say, "No, because we're just going for tourism."  I think what I want to push as an idea is that you should travel to countries in the Caribbean and countries in Central and South America and Africa just for tourism in the same way that you would go to Europe. If we really focus on getting more people to go and spend their tourism dollars in these countries, then we can start to see more money flowing into the countries. To me, it's about, I always tell my guests, [00:34:00] tip your drivers very well. Make sure you're going to shop in local markets. Where I can, I try to stay at properties that are owned by local entrepreneurs. I make sure that all of my tour guides are working for companies that are owned by local entrepreneurs. To me, that's really how we can give back, by sort of helping to inject funds into the private sector. Kim: You've traveled to 22 of Africa's 54 countries, what's your favorite shithole? Jessica Nabongo: Oh my gosh, that's so hard. [00:34:30] I really love Kenya and Tanzania. I recently fell in love with Namibia and Zambia, but Namibia, I mean the landscapes are just out of this world. Sossusvlei, the desert with all of these red sand dunes. The sand is so beautiful and fine. There's literally no pollution when you're out there, so it was the first time that I was able to see the Milky Way in the evening. [00:35:00] The landscapes are incredible. Zambia I loved it because I got to do Devil's Pool at Victoria Falls, so- Phil: Oh yes. Jessica: It was- Phil: Not covered by insurance, I'm sorry. Kim: Yeah, it's not covered by insurance. We've talked about this on previous podcasts. Tell me, you know how you sort of jump in and then all of a sudden you stop. It doesn't look like- Phil: Kim doesn't understand how you don't go over the edge. Kim: How do you not just plunge? Jessica: It's literally a [00:35:30] pool. It's a natural pool and there's a little wall of sorts that blocks you. You can lean over the wall. I leaned over the wall, but you know what? It wasn't even scary. What I didn't like about the experience is there's little fish in the pool that are biting you and that's actually, to me, the worst part. It isn't feeling like you're going to fall over, it's those little fish biting you. Phil: [00:36:00] You're not bothered about plummeting 300 meters to your death, but you're worried about fish. You need to get a proper perspective on life, Jessica. Kim: Even the fact, Jessica said there's a small wall of sorts. Phil:  It's a little wall, she said. Now I want a great big fat wall. Kim:  It's been absolutely great chatting to you. We will share your article which includes some beautiful photos, including those landscapes you were talking about in Namibia. Jessica: Thank you. Kim: You are very welcome. We've just announced the winners of the travel writing scholarship to Argentina and we were there when two of the lucky winners [00:36:30] were told. Claudia: Hello. Speaker 13: Hey, Claudia, how are you? Claudia: You're about to tell me how I'm doing, I feel like. Speaker 13: I've got my colleague Beck here on the line as well. Beck: Hi. Speaker 13: Beck actually had one final question to ask you before we make our announcements. Beck: We just wanted to know whether you wanted to go to Argentina/ Claudia: Girl, you know I do. I saw that [inaudible 00:36:56] and my heart just started going. I was like, "No, this is it. [00:37:00] What is going on." I'm so excited. You don't even know. Beck:  Would you like to go to Argentina as winner of the scholarship? Claudia: Oh my God. Sorry, I don't know why I'm crying. Beck: That's okay, we'll give you ... We'll give you the time. Claudia: Oh my gosh, really? Beck: Yeah, really. Speaker 13:  We loved your story. It was one of our favorites. Tim Neville has really enjoyed it. He can't wait to see you in Argentina. Claudia: Wow, thank [00:37:30] you so much. I cannot tell you how much that means. Wow. Kim: That was Claudia and Madeline receiving the news. Marte was our third winner and the winning entries will be in show notes. With such a teary reaction, we had to check in with Madeline to see if the news had actually sunk in. Madeline: It's just starting to sink in right now, but it still doesn't feel real. We're just starting to plan our trip to Argentina and stuff. I don't think it's ever really going to sink in until I arrive there, honestly. [00:38:00] I didn't think writing could ever be a real thing for me. I was kind of set on the psychology track back in college and then last semester I kind of realized that's not what I wanted to do and so I declared English as a major too and then I just kind of spur of the moment, came to Dublin this semester to do a writing program. I never really thought that a writing career might be possible for me. When they told me that I won, it suddenly became a possibility and [00:38:30] just having the opportunity to be mentored by someone like Tim Neville. That's definitely a money can't buy opportunity. Kim: Congratulations all and as you said, the next podcast episode is all about the film scholarship. Phil:  Yep, all the details. Everything you need to know. Kim: Before we wrap the answer to your quiz question. Phil: Is Tasmania about the same size as A, Ireland, B, Costa Rica, C, Sri Lanka. Kim? Kim: I'm going to say Costa Rica. Phil:  All right, the answer's all three. Kim: All right, okay. Phil: All of the above. [00:39:00] No, seriously. It's closest to Ireland. Tasmania is 68,000 square kilometers and Ireland is 70,000 square kilometers. Tasmania is a little bit bigger than Costa Rica, it's about 1.3 times bigger than Costa Rica and Sri Lanka is about 1.2 times bigger than Tasmania, so they're all around about the same size. I was really surprised. I've always thought of Tasmania as quite small. Kim:  I [00:39:30] think what gives it away as being possibly a small island is the fact it's only half a million people. Phil:  That's right. It's empty. Kim:  Yeah. It is, like pretty much of Australia really. Phil:  Pretty much. Kim: That wraps up our episode on Tanzania, Tanzania, please subscribe. Phil: Tanzania. Kim: Right. Share on iTunes, however you like to say it. Google Play, Stitcher, find us on Spotify and iHeart radio and contact us too by emailing podcast@worldnomads.com Speaker 1: The World Nomads podcast, explore your boundaries. </div> </div> </div>iStock/Kenneth Canning 0625219324 iStock

Where Is the Wiki?! | Preparing to Paddle the Nilehttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/where-is-the-wikiWhere Is the Wiki?! | Preparing to Paddle the NileFri, 30 Mar 2018 18:57:12 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/where-is-the-wikihttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/africa/tanzania/tribes-in-tanzaniaTanzania has more than 120 tribes, all with their own traditions and customs. The best way to experience their culture is to stay in a tribal village where you will be joyfully welcomed. 2018-03-29T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/africa/tanzania/tribes-in-tanzaniahttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#wasukuma">Wasukuma Tribe</a></li> <li><a href="#wandamba">Wandamba Tribe</a></li> <li><a href="#wahehe">Wahehe Tribe</a></li> </ul> Village stays with these East African tribes are authentic, local experiences of Tanzanian culture. They’re much more immersive and engaging for travelers than the traditional tourist tours, and present an opportunity for visitors to really partake in everyday life as well as true Tanzanian customs. Village stays can be arranged through Udzungwa Forest Camp, Hondo Hondo, in southern Tanzania. Make your way here by driving or catching the local bus from Dar es Salaam, or travel to the nearby city, Ifakara, and then travel to Hondo Hondo the next day. The places listed below are specific village stays and guided trips, and can’t be made independently.  The monies raised from your visits go towards schooling for the Wasukuma tribe’s children, and the Wandamba tribe’s village funds for emergencies, such as hospital treatments. Accommodation is either in huts made from grasses on the edge of the village or in one of the villager’s mud huts; you will need strong insect repellent. You will get to try foods that are typically Tanzanian, sourced according to the seasonal and availability, including fresh fruits, fish, cereals, rice, meats, and vegetables.  <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/village-in-tanzania.jpg" /> <figcaption>A traditional village in Tanzania. Photo credit: iStock.com/Adrian Wojcik</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="wasukuma">Wasukuma Tribe</h2> The Wasukuma tribe are the ‘cowboys’ of Tanzania, rich in livestock of cows, sheep, and goats. This flamboyantly dressed migrant tribe have historically traversed the country to provide grazing land for their cattle. They're the largest ethnic group, statuesque in height and visually stunning with their statement body jewelry. Often dressed in their traditional blue and purple cloth robes, the tribespeople also <g class="gr_ gr_93 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="93" data-gr-id="93">carry</g> hip knives and walking sticks to herd their cattle, whilst wearing Stetson hats and wellington boots. One of the villages that welcome visitors is Madabadaba in the Kilombero Valley, southern Tanzania, on the banks of the beautiful Mafinji River.  As a guest, you’ll be able to shop for bargains at the vibrant local market that sells herbal medicines, foodstuffs, and brightly colored patterned cloths. The highlight of the stay is joining the tribe in catching supper (a goat). This involves driving out onto the floodplain to the bomas, circles of thorn tree bushes that protect sheep and goats from lion attacks. This is followed by trying to grab the dish of the day. I've seen British rugby players totally fail to catch the goat, just to have the chief's five-year-old daughter snatch one in seconds! One of the male tribe members then slaughters the animal, and the meat is roasted slowly over an open wood fire and is eaten while the tribespeople <g class="gr_ gr_67 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="67" data-gr-id="67">tell</g> stories. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/hiking-in-tanzania-tribes.jpg" /> <figcaption>Hiking with locals in Tanzania. Photo credit: iStock.com/Dave Parsons</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="wandamba">Wandamba Tribe</h2> Travelers can also stay with the Wandamba Tribe, traditional rice farmers, and fishermen known as the ‘People of the Valley’, due to their origins in Tanzania’s Kilombero Valley area.  it's a four to five-hour canoe ride along the Kilombero River to the village, and you might get to spot a hippo en route. You'll arrive at Mikeregembe, the last village before the Selous Game Reserve, known as one of the largest faunal reserves in the world.  After a warm welcome from the villagers, and a fresh fish supper, you’ll be encouraged to sample the local brews at the pub – a wooden thatched kiosk encircled by benches and chairs. Run by jovial resident barman Mensa, the pub stocks a range of local tipples: from the gin Machozi Ya Simba (which translates to ‘the lion’s tears’) to the palm wine Pombe Mnazi. Only the brave try and survive Teka – an alcoholic maize-based porridge. You’ll also be taught the national board game of Bao.  On the second day of the tour, there's time to explore the village, including watching how fishing nets are made and how the early morning catch, including the funky razor-toothed tigerfish, is prepared for smoking and drying. There's a guided walk into the surrounding Miombo forest, populated with thin trees with umbrella-shaped crowns and shrubs and grasses growing below. The village guide will point out tracks and signs of wildlife, whilst keeping a careful eye out for marauding elephants.  The late afternoon is spent participating in the locals versus visitors fishing competition. You’ll be shown how to make traditional fishing lines and enlist the Wandamba children to help you find worms for bait. Out on canoes on the river, it's a race to see who gets the catch of the day. As you gently float, waiting for the fish to bite, you can sip a beer against a backdrop of a superb sunset behind the mountains. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/village-in-tanzania-annie.jpg" /> <figcaption>A traditional village in Tanzania. Photo credit: Annie Soulsby</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="wahehe">Wahehe Tribe</h2> To experience Swahili culture, try a homestay in central Tanzania, with the Wahehe tribe on the outskirts of Iringa town. Regarded as a great warrior tribe, they rebelled against the German colonial rulers during the late 19th century. Today, although many Wahehe are regular mosque or churchgoers, they may tell you stories of witchcraft. A visit to the witchdoctor can be part of everyday life in Tanzania, akin with daily horoscopes, with even the outcome of an important soccer match being sought after.iStock.com/Sohadiszno 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/africa/tanzania/guide-to-zanzibarZanzibar, the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean archipelago, is a melting pot of African and Indian influences. Discover what makes this destination unique.2018-03-29T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/africa/tanzania/guide-to-zanzibarhttps://www.worldnomads.comZanzibar’s epic history of maritime trade, royal ruins, and political intrigue continues to draw travelers to its shores. Made up of many small islands and two larger, main islands, Unguja and Pemba, Zanzibar is the heart of Swahili culture in Tanzania. As a writer who specializes in East Africa, here are my tips for what to see and do here.  <ul> <li><a href="#culture">Swahili culture and tradition</a></li> <li><a href="#unguja">Getting to and around Unguja</a></li> <li><a href="#food">Food and nightlife in Zanzibar</a></li> <li><a href="#locals">Connect with the locals</a></li> <li><a href="#stone">Explore historic Stone Town</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="culture">Embrace Swahili culture and tradition</h2> Zanzibar prides itself on its pole-pole (which translates to slowly-slowly) philosophy, so slow your pace and get on island time. Respect the ubiquitous call to prayer from mosques that dot the predominantly Muslim archipelago. Learn about Zanzibar’s fascinating history, from the 10th-century Shirazi settlers to the Royal Sultans of Oman who ruled from 1698 to 1913, when the British took over administrative rule. Honor Islamic traditions and values by wrapping yourself up in a colorful kanga (traditional dress) or wearing a hand-embroidered <g class="gr_ gr_73 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="73" data-gr-id="73">kofia</g> (hat). Learning to greet playfully in Swahili, by using slang like mambo (which translates directly to 'things', but is slang for 'what's up?' or 'hello') and poa (which translates to 'cool'), can make you lifelong friends. <h2 id="unguja">Getting to and around Unguja</h2> Unguja, the main tourist island, is home to Zanzibar’s evocative capital Stone Town, a World Heritage city. Hop on a fast ferry from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s bustling cultural capital, and take in Stone Town’s stunning cityscape of Omani and Indian architecture, with its dramatic tea houses and grand verandas, as you approach Unguja’s shores. Or fly over turquoise waters, onboard a propeller plane, to Abeid Karume International Airport, Zanzibar’s own airport with major airlines making frequent stops. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/beach-in-stonetown.jpg" /> <figcaption>Beach in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Photo credit: iStock.com/KucherAV</figcaption></figure> Explore Zanzibar the local way, by squeezing inside a packed dala (minivan) – it’s the cheapest adventure, riding along with babies, buckets, and chickens. Or rent a piki-piki (scooter) to roam off the beaten path. There’s also a range of taxis, but Bluebikes Zanzibar, a social enterprise of Kawa Training Center in Stone Town, makes exploration by bike a breeze. <h2 id="food">Enjoy Zanzibari food and nightlife</h2> From fresh-grilled fish to savory-spiced coconut curries, Zanzibari food is an eclectic mix of Arabic, Indian, Asian and African flavors. Nightlife often centers around the joy of eating and socializing, never too far from a sea breeze. Catch a spectacular sunset by rooftop-hopping from Emerson Spice, a historic, 19th-century townhouse, formerly the home of Mwenyi Mkuu (the last Swahili ruler of Zanzibar) and now a hotel with rooftop restaurant, to the ornate Emerson on Hurumzi with its Rooftop Tea House restaurant, high above Stone Town, amongst the mosque minarets, temple towers, and church spires. Wander to Forodhani Park on the seafront to try something special at the nightly food market. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/street-food-stonetown-istock.jpg" /> <figcaption>Setting up street food stalls in Forodhani Park. Photo credit: iStock.com/JordiStock</figcaption></figure> Slurp on a bowl of the ubiquitous spicy <g class="gr_ gr_76 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="76" data-gr-id="76">urojo</g> (a flavorful soup with origins in India), an island favorite, or indulge in mouth-watering <g class="gr_ gr_77 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="77" data-gr-id="77">mishakaki</g> (beef kebabs cooked over charcoal) and chips slathered with mango hot sauce. Wash it down with a glass of fresh sugarcane juice, with a dash of lime. For a great night out, stroll along the new palm-lined promenade to the Dhow Countries Music Academy for a weekly concert showcasing the local musical styles of Taarab, Kidumbak, and Swahili fusion. At Mustapha’s Place in Bwejuu, on the island’s southeast coast, sit around a communal fire under a star-filled sky, sip on a cold Kilimanjaro beer, and listen to old-school reggae beats. <h2 id="locals">Connect with the locals</h2> In Kizimkazi-Dimbani, at the southern tip of Zanzibar, visit the 12th-century mosque with its Kufic engravings, and explore the bay to glimpse traditional fishing dhows docked while fishermen untangle their nets. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of majestic dolphins in Kizimkazi-Mkunguni near Menai Bay, but avoid predatory, unethical dolphin tours. The Paje Seaweed Center runs tours to connect visitors with local women who rule the seaweed farming industry. Hang out at Mr. Kahawa Cafe and chill with kite-surfers while sipping iced espresso. Sail through the Blue Lagoon near Dongwe to snorkel in pristine waters, while your captain entertains you with local lore. <h2 id="stone">Explore historic Stone Town</h2> All roads lead to Jaw’s Corner, the city’s heartbeat, where locals lounge on the <g class="gr_ gr_72 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="72" data-gr-id="72">baraza</g> (stone benches) to sip coffee, play bao (a popular East African board game) and talk politics. Bustling Darajani market spills over with medicinal herbs, fresh spices, heavenly halwa (dessert), colorful textiles and scarves. For antiques, head to Al-Tamimi Curio Shop on Sokomuhugo. Check out local merchants Inaya Zanzibar for natural beauty remedies or Surti & Sons for handmade leather sandals and bags. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/stone-town-zanzibar-istock.jpg" /> <figcaption>Typical, narrow street in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Photo credit: iStock.com/miroslav_1</figcaption></figure> Take a walking tour <g class="gr_ gr_82 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="82" data-gr-id="82">with</g> Kawa Training Center or get lost on your own. Pop into Capital Art Studio to see Zanzibar’s history in pictures and ask Rohit, the owner, to glimpse that special baby photo of Farrokh Bulsara, (Freddie Mercury) who was born in Stone Town in 1946. <h4></h4>iStock.com/asmithers 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/africa/tanzania/food-and-festivals-tanzaniaDiscover the foods and festivals that Tanzania is famous for; from spice farms and savory Swahili food to soul-stirring cultural events.2018-03-29T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/africa/tanzania/food-and-festivals-tanzaniahttps://www.worldnomads.comWith more than 120 ethnic groups in 31 regions, Swahili is the lingua-franca of Tanzania, a country which takes immense pride in its food and cultural traditions. <ul> <li><a href="#coffee">Coffee and Spices</a></li> <li><a href="#savory">Savory Swahili Food</a></li> <li><a href="#festival">Festival Fever</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="coffee">The Aromatic Wonder of Coffee and Spices</h2> Tanzania runs on <g class="gr_ gr_54 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="54" data-gr-id="54">kahawa</g> (coffee in Swahili). As the nation’s largest export crop, it’s always brewing at bus stations, cafes and on street corners. Don’t hesitate to sit with locals and sip the strong black coffee which is served in small porcelain cups. Union Cafe in Moshi serves up fresh coffee grown by the Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union, a collective of small-share farmers. Coffee curious? Book a walking tour through Chagga country, on the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro with Kahawa Shambani Coffee Tours, and learn about coffee production from seed to simmer. Follow your nose to the so-called spice islands of Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast of mainland Tanzania. An array of alluring spices and herbs, appreciated for their culinary and medicinal value, awaits. Take an intoxicating walk through Kidichi Spice Farms and wander through the ruins of the nearby royal Persian Baths, which date back to the 1850s. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/vegetable-market-zanzibar-istock.jpg" /> <figcaption>Vegetable market in Zanzibar. Photo credit: iStock.com/borchee</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="savory">Savory Swahili Food</h2> Dig your hand into a steamy heap of ugali (cornflour) before dipping it into <g class="gr_ gr_52 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="52" data-gr-id="52">mchuzi</g> <g class="gr_ gr_50 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="50" data-gr-id="50">wa</g> rosti ya <g class="gr_ gr_51 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="51" data-gr-id="51">maini</g> (roasted liver stew). Eating the ubiquitous staple, that keeps East African bellies full, feels like a warm hug. Tanzanians fiercely debate the best <g class="gr_ gr_61 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="61" data-gr-id="61">nyama</g> <g class="gr_ gr_60 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="60" data-gr-id="60">choma</g> (grilled meat); goat, cow, or chicken – the secret is in the pili-pili (hot sauce). Find out more at the quarterly Nyama Choma Festival, a celebration of barbecuing, held in Dar es Salaam. In October, the Stone Town Food Festival, in Zanzibar’s UNESCO World Heritage city, features the best of Swahili coastal food in a celebration of food and culture. While in the islands, don’t miss culinary classics including <g class="gr_ gr_55 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="55" data-gr-id="55">mzuchi</g> <g class="gr_ gr_56 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="56" data-gr-id="56">wa</g> <g class="gr_ gr_57 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="57" data-gr-id="57">pweza</g> (octopus stewed in coconut sauce), cardamom-infused, vitamin-rich <g class="gr_ gr_58 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="58" data-gr-id="58">kisamvu</g> (cassava leaves), and <g class="gr_ gr_59 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="59" data-gr-id="59">urojo</g>, a bowl of crispy, fried goodness served with a tangy mango broth and spicy coconut chutney. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/women-fishing-zanzibar-istock.jpg" /> <figcaption>Women fishing in Zanzibar. Photo credit: iStock.com/Nicole Moraira</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="festival">Festival Fever: Mwaka Kogwa to Sauti za Busara</h2> Tanzania is home to many festivals to stir the soul. In Zanzibar, there are many festivals including Sauti za Busara (Voices of Wisdom) which bring thousands of visitors to Stone Town every February for four days of live African music. In July, the Zanzibar International Film Festival screens compelling films and holds workshops celebrating African filmmakers. July's Mwaka Kogwa (Year’s Cleanse), is a traditional Persian new year celebration held in the rural village of Makunduchi, Zanzibar. With communal ritual battles and a hut-burning, this festival dates back to Shirazi settlers who arrived on Zanzibar’s shores in the 10th century. On the mainland, head to Bagamoyo, home of the Bagamoyo Arts and Culture Institute, an hour north of Dar es Salaam. Soulful Bagamoyo hosts the Bagamoyo Festival of Arts and Culture every September, and the Karibu Music Festival held every November. In Dar es Salaam, the Nafasi Art Space hosts <g class="gr_ gr_53 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="53" data-gr-id="53">Wikiendi</g> Live, a series highlighting traditional beats and fusion is held bi-monthly at the sprawling art space. Check out MUDA Africa, in residence at Nafasi, presenting Time 2 Dance, a once-a-year contemporary dance festival. <h4>Want to find out more about Tanzania? Listen to the World Nomads <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/africa/tanzania/the-world-nomads-podcast-episode-14-tanzania">podcast</a>. Hear about the wildebeest migration, rated as one of the world's most spectacular natural events, what it means to smell popcorn on safari, and traveling with a disability.</h4>iStock.com/EirikE 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/africa/tanzania/etiquette-in-tanzaniaLearn the do’s and don’ts of Tanzania. Find out how to dress, why you shouldn’t eat food with your left hand, and a few other etiquette tips before your trip.2018-03-28T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/africa/tanzania/etiquette-in-tanzaniahttps://www.worldnomads.comTanzanians are a polite people and probably won’t point out when you make a cultural misstep, but that doesn’t stop them silently tsk-tsking when they see mzungu (foreign visitors) wearing inappropriate clothes, kissing in public, or committing other etiquette blunders. Here are some cultural norms to be aware of, so you can show respect and win friends. <ul> <li><a href="#dress">Tanzania dress code</a></li> <li><a href="#villages">Visiting villages</a></li> <li><a href="#greetings">Greetings in Tanzania</a></li> <li><a href="#photos">Taking photos</a></li> <li><a href="#not">What not to do</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="dress">Tanzania dress code</h2> Tanzania is deeply conservative, so both men and women should cover their knees and shoulders in public. Traditionally, women only wear skirts, but it’s fine for foreign women to wear jeans or trousers – as long as they aren’t too form-fitting. In <a href="/explore/africa/tanzania/guide-to-zanzibar">Zanzibar</a>, you might be tempted to stroll around in shorts and swimwear, but remember the island is predominantly Muslim. On the beach, you can get away with skimpy attire, but as soon as you set foot in a village, be sure to cover up. I’ve seen locals stop girls walking through Stone Town (Zanzibar’s Old Town) in bikini tops, and ask them to put clothes on, so people do notice if you flaunt the dress code. You might be inspired to buy a kanga – a colorfully printed wrap that local women use as skirts, headwraps, and baby slings. When wearing one, keep modesty in mind and don’t tie it tightly around your waist; it’s better if your curves aren’t clearly outlined. <h2 id="villages">Etiquette when visiting villages</h2> Tourists are an important source of income for Tanzania, so when <a href="/explore/africa/tanzania/tribes-in-tanzania">visiting villages</a> expect locals to try to sell you jewelry, carvings, and other souvenirs. Haggling is fine, as the vendors typically name an inflated price for foreigners. Just smile, be friendly and start negotiating. Tanzanians appreciate charm and don’t take kindly to aggressive tourists. Avoid handing out sweets or other small gifts to the children you meet, as it can encourage them to drop out of school to beg full-time. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/maasai-tribe-village.jpg" /> <figcaption>Maasai village. Photo Credit: iStock.com/Karen Foley </figcaption></figure> <h2 id="greetings">Greetings in Tanzania</h2> Greetings are important and take time. Culturally, there’s an emphasis on people and relationships, and it’s considered rude to jump straight into a conversation without asking after the other person’s day, work, children, and so on. Sometimes people will shake your hand and continue holding it for a while. Don’t freak out – it’s just a gesture of companionship. Elders are cherished and greeted respectfully. Always say shikamoo to anyone older than you, which literally translates to ‘I hold your feet’ and the response, marahaba (literally translates to ‘I accept your respect’), recognizes your respect. When you shake hands with an elder, you can also bow slightly and hold your right elbow with your left hand; these gestures signify deeper respect and are well received. <h2 id="photos">Taking photos</h2> It’s tempting to raise your camera as soon as you see tribespeople in traditional dress, but it’s <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/people/how-to-take-photos-responsibly">bad manners to take photos without asking</a>. You should also be aware that Maasai people usually expect a small tip in exchange for photos.  <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/traveler-with-maasai-tribe-istock.jpg" /> <figcaption>Photographer with people from the Maasai tribe. Photo Credit: iStock.com/Karen Foley</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="not">What not to do in Tanzania</h2> Touching other people, or food, with your left hand, is a no-no. Don’t shake hands, eat, or give money and gifts with this hand as it’s reserved for toilet business. Use the right hand instead. If you’re invited to eat with a local family, don’t sniff your food or decline to taste a dish, or you risk insulting the chef. You should also remember that Tanzania is a conservative country, so resist kissing or touching your significant other in public – even if you’re on your honeymoon in Zanzibar!iStock.com/cinoby 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/africa/tanzania/hikes-in-tanzania-beyond-kilimanjaroBeyond Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania has incredible, lesser-known hiking and trekking possibilities that are all worth strapping your boots on for.2018-03-28T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/africa/tanzania/hikes-in-tanzania-beyond-kilimanjarohttps://www.worldnomads.comFrom the depths of a crater to the top of a volcano, Tanzania has a variety of hiking and trekking possibilities for hikers of all levels. Here, we've highlighted some of the best. Before setting off on your <a href="/travel-insurance/destinations/tanzania">Tanzania</a> adventure, keep in mind that all of the hikes will require a good level of fitness, and plenty of water to keep you hydrated in the hot, dry climate. All <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/hiking-travel-insurance">treks and hikes</a> should be done with a guide and armed ranger. <ul> <li><a href="#olmoti">Olmoti Crater</a></li> <li><a href="#empakai">Empakai Crater</a></li> <li><a href="#lengai">Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano</a></li> <li><a href="#volcano">Empakai to Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano</a></li> <li><a href="#meru">Mount Meru</a></li> <li><a href="#mountains">Udzungwa Mountains</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="olmoti">Olmoti Crater - Beginners</h2> Olmoti Crater is an hour’s drive from the wildlife-filled Ngorongoro Crater, one of the best places in the world to see the so-called ‘Big 5’ wildlife encounters (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo). Yet, just a fraction of the travelers that visit the crater delve deeper into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to explore the other volcanic landscapes. Olmoti is a pleasant, short hike into an ancient caldera. It takes around 40 minutes on a steadily climbing path, up to an elevation of 9,800ft (2,987m), to reach a view of the vibrant river valley below. You won’t see as much wildlife here as you will in the Ngorongoro Crater, but it’s likely you’ll see zebra and wildebeest grazing in the distance. The path stops above the Olmoti waterfall, but it’s possible to walk (with your armed ranger) further across the grassy plains of the caldera, talking or singing to warn any sleeping lions or buffaloes that you’re coming their way. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/maasai-warrior-graeme-green.jpg" alt="A Maasai warrior looks out over the river valley inside the caldera of Olmoti volcano." /> <figcaption>A red-robed Maasai warrior looks out over the river valley inside the caldera of Olmoti volcano. Photo credit: Graeme Green</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="empakai">Empakai Crater - Beginners</h2> Located even deeper into Ngorongoro Conservation Area, part of the fun of hiking down into the Empakai Crater is the journey. It’s about a two-hour drive from Ngorongoro Crater, but you’ll see plenty of zebra, antelope, wildebeest, and birdlife, as well as local people guiding animals across remote, wild landscapes. The view from Empakai’s 9,000ft-high (2,743m) rim can sometimes be blocked by cloud, but, on a clear day, it’s an impressive sight, with Empakai Lake set far below, framed by the crater walls. The quick, steep descent to the lake takes around 25 minutes through a forest, that has a pleasant soundtrack of birdsong. Occasionally, in the sandy path, you might see the footprints of some of the big cats who live around here. Around the salt-crusted edges of the lake, you have a good chance of seeing flamingos, blacksmith lapwings, and other birds. The hike back up to the crater rim is tougher, especially at hot times of the day, and can take up to an hour. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/flamingos-tanzania-istock.jpg" alt="Flamingos in the Empakai Lake in Tanzania." /> <figcaption>Flamingos in the Empakai Lake. Photo Credit: iStock.com/aghezzi</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="lengai">Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano - Advanced</h2> Climbing Lengai Volcano is not for the fainthearted. Known as the ‘Mountain of God’ (because local people heard rumbling from within, and thought it was the sound of God), the still-active volcano is accessed from camps around the edges of Lake Natron. Check the cloud and weather conditions with your guide the evening before to make sure there’s a good chance of clear skies in the morning. The hike usually starts around midnight, with a plan to climb with head torches and be at the summit in time to watch an epic sunrise. The five to six-hour hike is heavy going and is almost solidly uphill, climbing on a path of sometimes deep sand, and other times loose rock. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/hiking-down-Lengai-volcano-istock.jpg" alt="Hiking down from Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano in Tanzania." /> <figcaption>Hiking down from Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano. Photo Credit: iStock.com/Guenterguni </figcaption></figure> <h2 id="volcano">Empakai to Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano - Advanced</h2> You can climb Lengai and Empakai in isolation from around the Lake Natron area, or you can combine them on a two or three-day trek. Starting from the rim of Empakai, you’ll trek through rolling hills, surrounded at times by forest and other times with plains that stretch to volcanic peaks. You’ll also walk through remote <a href="/explore/africa/tanzania/tribes-in-tanzania">Tanzanian villages</a>, with simple wooden houses, where friendly and curious locals will come to say hello, and women in colorful robes lead their bell-clanging cows across fields to graze. If you choose a multi-day trek, you’ll be camping out overnight (this can be arranged through tour operators, who provide the camping equipment and set up a camp ahead of your arrival), before making your way to Natron and Lengai the next day. The walk starts early, to make the most of the cool morning, and will take most of the day. This trek requires a good level of fitness and plenty of water. The testing climb up Lengai is exhausting, so consider at least one night of rest around Lake Natron first. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/africa/hiking-towards-lengai-volcano-graeme-green.jpg" alt="Hiking guides, including an armed ranger and a local Maasai, approach Lengai volcano in Tanzania." /> <figcaption>Hiking guides, including an armed ranger and a local Maasai, head towards the daunting cone of Lengai volcano. Photo Credit: Graeme Green</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="meru">Mount Meru - Advanced</h2> At 14,980ft (4566m), Mount Meru is the second-highest peak in Tanzania. It’s a fine trekking experience in its own right, as well as a good way to acclimatize before conquering <a href="/explore/africa/tanzania/climbing-mt-kilimanjaro-or-attempting-to">Mount Kilimanjaro</a>. Located in Arusha National Park, around 50 miles (80km) west of Kili, Mt Meru is a challenging ascent that’s best completed over three to four days. Lower down, on the surrounding slopes, you have a good chance of seeing giraffes, elephants, buffalo, and warthogs, with the volcanic landscapes becoming more dramatic as you climb higher. Accommodation comes in the form of mountain huts along the trail.  Hitting the summit for sunrise is rewarded with unforgettable views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Mount Meru Crater. <h2 id="mountains">Udzungwa Mountains - Intermediate</h2> Sometimes referred to as ‘the Galapagos of Africa,’ Udzungwa Mountains National Park in southern Tanzania has an incredible diversity of tropical flora and protected wildlife, including leopards, lions, elephants, African wild dogs, and primates, including the endemic Iringa red colobus monkey. It’s also a top destination for hikers, with trails across the vast national park. The trails range from short, scenic walks to challenging climbs up Mwanihana Peak; a 23-mile (37km) one or two-night trek, or the even longer 40-mile (64km) Lumemo Trail which takes approximately five days. The most popular hike, is the two to three-hour walk to Sanje Waterfall, with its spectacular 600-ft (183m) cascade. Not only do hikers get the reward of the falls and a cooling dip in pools at the end, but there’s also a chance to see the endemic Sanje Crested Mangabey monkeys, squirrels, and red duiker along the way.Graeme Green 0

Love and the Road | Tanzania Travel Storyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/love/love-and-the-roadLove and the Road | Tanzania Travel StoryFri, 26 Jan 2018 19:37:22 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/love/love-and-the-roadhttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/africa/tanzania/tanzania-two-hills-one-goalFind out about the Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge, a community development project with a tourism component.2011-04-13T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/africa/tanzania/tanzania-two-hills-one-goalhttps://www.worldnomads.comOnly a piece of canvas and screen separate you and the great outdoors (which in <a href="/travel-safety/southern-africa/south-africa/wild-weather-wild-animals-south-africa" target="_blank">Africa may mean wild and dangerous animals</a>). I've had the opportunity to visit nearly a dozen such camps during my travels on on this continent, and I've seen some pretty impressive eco-initiatives associated with these properties. But nothing impressed me more than my final tented camp experience, the first to use a community development project as the basis for their tented lodge.  <ul> <li><a href="#rhotia-valley"> Rhotia Valley </a></li> <li><a href="#lodge"> Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge </a></li> <li><a href="#community-development"> Community Development Projects </a></li> <li><a href="#serengeti"> Heading to the Serengeti? </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="rhotia-valley">Rhotia Valley</h2> Rhotia Valley is a property perched atop two adjacent hills, overlooking the rural village of Rhotia, along Tanzania's famed Northern Safari Circuit. On one hill sits the Rhotia Valley Children's Home, a safe home and school for local children in need. Due to a very high rate of HIV/AIDS in the region, many children are orphans, and along with issues such as malnourishment and family breakdown, the Children's Home has become a key piece of the village's social support network.  <h2 id="lodge">Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge</h2> Atop the second hill is the Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge, an eco-focused property with 15 spacious tents. Environmental initiatives abound – from solar thermal and photo-voltaic installations to an organic garden providing most of the veggies for the on-site restaurant. Most importantly though, the lodge exists primarily as a funding mechanism for the Children's Home, with a minimum of 20% of lodge revenues going towards operating costs for the home.  <h2 id="community-development">Community Development Projects</h2> What impressed me the most about Rhotia Valley is that the owners set out to create a community development project, with a tourism component. Most of the time, the opposite is true. As a result, the focus on all aspects of Rhotia Valley's operation are geared toward the Children's Home and the local community. It is the community's support for the project that has made it a success. Children chosen to stay at the Home – those most in need – are determined by the community council and village elders.  All staff for operations on both hills come from the surrounding communities, and all of the children boarded at the school are only from Rhotia. Village elders participate on the board of the Children's home, and the owners are actively engaged in community discussions and decisions. In their words: Our aim is to give support to the people - and especially the children - of the Rhotia area - in such a way that the entire village is committed and the villagers feel part of the project and embrace it. Two Hills, One Goal.  <h2 id="serengeti">Heading to the Serengeti?</h2> You can be part of the Rhotia project - guests to the lodge are encouraged to interact with the community on guided walks, as well as visit or volunteer in the Children's Home.  Even a night's stay at the lodge provides direct financial benefits to the children. Learn more at <a href="http://www.rhotiavalley.com/" target="_blank">www.rhotiavalley.com</a>. iStock/Onnes 0485704450 iStock Luxury Tented safari camp Serengeti during sunset

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/africa/tanzania/climbing-mt-kilimanjaro-or-attempting-toMt Kilimanjaro is the world's largest freestanding mountain, attracting thousands of climbers annually. How hard is it to climb? And is it worth it? Here's what you need to know.2024-01-03T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/africa/tanzania/climbing-mt-kilimanjaro-or-attempting-tohttps://www.worldnomads.comSnow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro is a beacon of East Africa and a major draw for adventure travelers. I’d dreamed about summiting its sky-high, 19,341ft (5,895m) Uhuru Peak throughout my childhood. My dad trekked the mountain in the 1970s, then spent his life inspiring me to do the same. I’m so glad he did. From jaw-dropping sunsets above the clouds and <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/stories/connection/football-the-universal-language-on-kilimanjaro">soccer matches with our porters and guides</a> to that starlit (and successful) clamber to the roof of Africa, my one-week climb up Mount Kilimanjaro did exactly what my dad predicted: It changed my life. In this guide, I’ll help you plan and prepare for that long-dreamed-of Kilimanjaro climb so it can change your life, too. <ul> <li><a href="#experience">The Kilimanjaro experience</a></li> <li><a href="#tour">What to look for in a tour operator</a></li> <li><a href="#altitude">What to know about altitude sickness</a></li> <li><a href="#prepare">Preparing for your Kilimanjaro hike</a></li> <li><a href="#summit">What to expect on summit night</a></li> <li><a href="#porters">How to ensure fair and responsible guide and porter treatment</a></li> <li><a href="#insurance">Travel insurance for Kilimanjaro</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="experience">The Kilimanjaro experience</h2> Most climbers fantasize about those 20-odd minutes on Uhuru peak but trust me: the week-long journey that bookends summit night – and crosses through multiple climate zones – is just as mind-blowing. A lush, jungle-like start with colobus monkeys and colorful flowers leads to scrubby moorlands and dusty alpine desert before topping off at the snow-flecked Arctic zone peak. Days leading up to summit night are also more pleasant; most non-summit-night hikes range from three to six hours with about 2,000ft to 3,000ft (600m to 900m) of gradual elevation gain. Of the mountain’s seven established routes, I picked the seven-day, 49mi (79km) Rongai trail for its remoteness and fewer crowds. It snakes up the northern side of the mountain, straddling Tanzania and Kenya. My hiking buddies (my husband and brother-in-law) and I trekked between 5-7mi (8-11km) each day, and spent downtime feasting on warm porridge (breakfast) and soups and stews (lunch and dinner), then playing cards, journaling, and kicking a mini soccer ball with our guides and porters. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/kilimanjaro/camping-above-the-clouds.jpg" alt="Camping above the clouds." /> <figcaption>Camping above the clouds. Image credit: Stephanie Vermillion</figcaption></figure> Since we’re all former athletes and runners, we had a good base of fitness going into the climb – especially once we increased our uphill training (more on that below). That said, you don’t need to play sports or run marathons to ascend Kilimanjaro. You need adequate fitness and, equally important, adequate time for acclimatization. Depending on the route, it takes between five and nine days to climb Kili up and back. The longer the climb – such as eight or nine days instead of six or seven – the better your odds of avoiding altitude sickness and reaching the summit. Weather also plays a key role in your experience. Generally, December to March and June to late October offer the best climbing climate. We trekked in early October and enjoyed mild weather, with only one afternoon of precipitation, the entire trip. <h2 id="tour">What to look for in a tour operator</h2> Choosing a reliable and experienced tour operator for your Kilimanjaro climb is critical. Was it tempting to go with the least expensive option? Of course. But having learned my lesson trekking Tanzania’s Mt. Meru (14,967ft/ 4,562m) on the cheap during college – at a way-too-quick pace, and in ill-fitting rental gear – I knew investing in a reputable Kilimanjaro company (roughly US $3,000/ TSh7,545,000) was worth it. First, I browsed review sites, such as TripAdvisor, to gather intel. Once I selected my top outfitter – <a href="https://amaniafrika.com/" target="_blank">Amani Afrika</a>, a boutique, family-owned Tanzanian company founded by a former guide and porter – I scheduled a call to ask important questions: What precautions do you have in place for emergencies? What’s your experience with climbing the mountain? How do you ensure porters are treated fairly? Between reviews, recommendations, and an informational call, you’ll have a hunch on whether or not the company is a good fit. Additionally, you can find more than 100 operators that prioritize their climbing staff via the <a href="https://mountainexplorers.org/climb-with-a-partner-for-responsible-travel-company/" target="_blank">Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project</a>, which vets companies based on responsible treatment of porters and guides. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/kilimanjaro/mawenzi-peak.jpg" alt="Mawenzi Peak from the Kilimanjaro Rongai Route." /> <figcaption>Mawenzi Peak from the Kilimanjaro Rongai Route. Image credit: Stephanie Vermillion</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="altitude">What to know about altitude sickness</h2> Many consider Mount Kilimanjaro the easiest of the seven summits (the tallest peak on each continent) because it doesn’t require technical climbing – but don’t underestimate it. A Kilimanjaro climb will take you up to 19,341ft (5,895m). At this height, you breathe in only half the amount of oxygen you would at sea level. The effects of altitude often plague climbers well before this. You could begin to feel its effects as soon as 6,000ft (1,829m), which is roughly the first or second day. Early altitude sickness symptoms include nausea, headaches, cough, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Tell your guide immediately if you begin to feel these symptoms, as this condition can be deadly. <a href="/travel-wiser/wellness/how-to-deal-with-altitude-sickness">Learn more about altitude sickness and how to prepare for it here</a>. <h2 id="prepare">Preparing for your Kilimanjaro hike</h2> Fitness and gear are foundational to your Mount Kilimanjaro preparation. For fitness, many tour operators provide a suggested training plan, or will refer you to one, such as <a href="https://mtntactical.com/shop/kilimanjaro-training-plan/" target="_blank">Mountain Tactical Institute’s Training Program</a>. I ran four to six miles several days per week, supplemented with cross-training and weight workouts, and added hill repeats (running up and down a hill) to the mix. To prepare for brutal elevation gains, I swapped my gym’s elliptical for the Stair Master and took longer hikes (five to six hours) every weekend I had free. Getting comfortable with your gear is key, so I used those hikes to break in my new boots, backpack, and hiking pants. With multiple climate zones, Kilimanjaro gets toasty at the bottom and near or below freezing at the peak. It’s tempting to pack for every possible condition, but you need to keep your gear light. I used a soft-sided 90-liter duffel with back straps (carried by the porters) and my day pack. Your operator will provide a packing list, but in general, you’ll want layers, extra socks, and quick-dry clothing, as well as a cozy pair of sandals for lounging around camp. Most climbing teams handle tents and sleeping bags. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/kilimanjaro/nights-on-kilimanjaro.jpg" alt="Nights on Kilimanjaro." /> <figcaption>Nights on Kilimanjaro. Image credit: Stephanie Vermillion</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="summit">What to expect on summit night</h2> The final Kilimanjaro ascent begins at midnight, often on the fifth or sixth night, with the goal to reach Uhuru peak around sunrise. This stretch is all about mental toughness. You’ll sip a quick twilight coffee, bundle up, then follow a zig-zag of headlamp-adorned hikers for nearly 4,000ft (1,220m) of elevation gain up the steep switchbacks. Most summit nights take between six to eight hours of high-altitude huffing and puffing, with multiple stops for water, snacks, and trailside bathroom breaks. The slog from basecamp to Gilman’s Point at 18,652ft (5,685m) is summit night’s hardest stretch. After that, it’s only about two hours or less to Uhuru. At this point, the elevation gain becomes slightly less extreme, and the slowly rising sun will begin to spotlight your surroundings, from the snow-speckled ash trail to the sea of clouds – and, on your left, tiny Mount Meru peeking above them. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/kilimanjaro/stephanie-at-the-summit.jpg" alt="A woman stands at the summit of Kilimanjaro." /> <figcaption>The author at Uhuru Peak. Image credit: Stephanie Vermillion</figcaption></figure> You’ll have about 20 minutes to enjoy your summit success atop Uhuru; any longer increases your chance of altitude sickness. Wait in line for your photos by the mountaintop sign, have a celebratory dance party with your guides and porters, and, while you’ll want to photograph every second, remember to put down your camera to admire the stratovolcano’s humbling views with your own two eyes. <h2 id="porters">How to ensure fair and responsible guide and porter treatment</h2> Guides, chefs, and porters are the backbone of your climb. They carry gear, set up camp, keep you fed, and ensure your safety. They’ve also been historically mistreated, from unfair payment to lugging back-breaking loads. According to the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project, porters should carry no more than 44lbs (20kg), so be sure to pack light. Also, prepare to tip. Your operator should provide a breakdown of tipping recommendations per team member but expect to pay a total of at least US $400 (TSh 2,515) per climber – tip via cash in US dollars or local currency. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/kilimanjaro/porters-climbing-kili.jpg" alt="Porters climbing Kilimanjaro." /> <figcaption>Porters climbing Kilimanjaro. Image credit: Stephanie Vermillion</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="insurance">Travel insurance for Kilimanjaro</h2> Climbing Kilimanjaro certainly has its risks, so it’s wise to consider <a href="/travel-insurance">travel insurance</a> for your trip. Not only is the threat of altitude sickness very real, but there’s also the possibility of a twisted ankle or some other injury. When choosing travel insurance, it’s up to you to choose a plan with right level of coverage. All World Nomads plans <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/hiking-travel-insurance">offer cover for hiking</a> to 13,123ft (4,000m), some of the plans offer cover for hiking to 19,685ft (6,000m), and none of the plans offer cover for hiking over 19,685ft (6,000m). Be sure to check the policy and what is and isn’t covered for hiking and trekking.Stephanie Vermillion 1 Views of Mount Kilimanjaro from Rongai Route camp.