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Coutry editors: Africa

Shane Hodges - South Africa Editor
Basically I am a fun loving Bush Baby. I am most happy when I am out of the city, in the bush, on a mountain or at the beach. I love the outdoors and anything that that will take me there, hiking, rowing, camping, swimming etc. I am a pretty determined person, I know what I want out of life and I try to work hard to make those things happen. Here is something to think about: "Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money can’t be eaten." Cree Indian Prophesy.

Countries visited

England, Mauritius, Mozambique, Thailand, Zimbabwe.

Unusual experiences

1. I’ve completed the Trek (a hike, cycle and canoe of 360km over 28 days).
2. Abseiled and rap jumped the Knysna Heads.
3. Ridden an elephant in Thailand.
4. Helped capture lion and cheetah. Injected a lion and camped with leopard. I’ve witnessed a cheetah chase.
5. I’ve learnt to make string from bark and to water-ski in crocodile, hippo and bilhazia infested water.

Top five tips

1. A camera is the most precious equipment when travelling.
2. Wherever you go, go with a smile and a positive attitude, that way you will meet a lot more people and make a lot more friends.
3. Don't take anything that is sentimental or of great value, you will end up losing it.
4. When going to a new place, organise the first 36 to 48 hours before hand, you don't want to be wandering around a strange place a night, looking for accommodation.
5. Have Fun!!!!!

Chloe Day - Kenya Editor
I’m a 2nd year biology student at Durham Uni. My pre-occupation with Africa began in my gap year, when I spent four months teaching and travelling in Kenya. I like good comedy, eating, writing travel stuff, playing football, netball and squash, being sarcastic, reading, laughing at people who dress like colonial explorers on safari, sleeping, getting proper letters. I dislike African wasps, people waiting until I’m drunk then take really bad/embarrassing photos of me, over-use of candles, plastic cutlery that snaps, Malibu (the drink) and the fact that Huw Edwards (newsreader) always wears ties with pink in them.

Countries visited

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Hercegovina, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Greek Islands, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Tanzania, Uganda, UK.

Unusual experiences

1. Rafting the Source of the Nile (and almost drowning 3 times.)
2. Dancing 'the Twist' and playing rounders with Kenyan nuns.
3. Eating ostrich, gazelle meatballs, crocodile (yuck), warthog, zebra and hartebeest
4. Witnessing my ill friend vomit on the Equator
5. Getting to keep a chest x-ray I had (to confirm a subcutaneous emphysema) and making it all the way home from Kenya with it in one piece only to cleverly display it in my bedroom window, to which it promptly adhered due to the overwhelming heat of the Yorkshire sun.

Top five tips

1. If roads are bad don’t sit at the back of the bus.
2. Photocopy useful maps from your guidebook so you don’t have to carry the whole book around with you in big cities.
3. Money belts under trousers are a good safe way to carry your valuables, but don’t get lazy and stick it in your day-sack because someone can whip the whole thing out without you even knowing and you’ll have lost everything.
4. Always carry tissues; you never know when you’ll need them.
5. Make the effort to learn some of the local language; it’s only polite and helps you haggle.