Bucket List for Africa

Posted on May 11, 2012 by MichaelaSGuzy

Photos by: Chris Chesa
The more I travel, the more I realize I have so much more of the world to see, taste and experience the local culture.  My parents think I am never coming home and while I have added hiking Kilimanjaro, a life-long dream of mine and a few days in Zanzibar to relax post-hike, I will return to NYC on June 20th.  It goes without saying that there are so many other places to visit on the African continent alone.  I’ve included a couple that I am absolutely itching to go to and I am sure I will add a few more before the end of the weekend while I learn about all that Africa has to offer at Indaba, Africa’s largest travel trade show.  And yes, only I am a big enough nerd to attend a trade show on vacation!

1.  Omo Valley, Ethiopia

2.  Crater, Virunga National Park, Congo

3.  Kunene River, Namibia

1.  Omo Valley, Ethiopia:  For more information, check out:  robertsafaris.com.  Photographs compliments of Richard Roberts, owner of Richard’s Camp in Kenya.

The stretching of the lip is a tradition in this area of the world.
A celebration, believe it or not. Notice the welts on the women’s backs.  It is a tribal tradition for the women to hand the man a whip during a dance and for him to hit her with it.
Man with a whip.
As a part of his becoming a man, this warrior must run naked across a row of cows. If he falls, he must wait another year to marry. This young lad made it back and forth several times.

 

2.  Crater, Virunga National Park, Congo:  For more information, check out:  robertsafaris.com.  Photographs compliments of Richard Roberts, owner of Richard’s Camp in Kenya.

Volcano erupting.
Heli needed to get in and out of the Congo.  Which unfortunately makes this trip quite pricey.

3.  Kunene River, Namibia

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A Himba tribal chief and an Afrikaans Namibian pause during a drive to a camp along the Kunene River along Namibia’s northern border.

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Above, a nomadic Himba girl sits holding her little sister, the current location for their home in the background, near the Kunene River.

Photos are compliments of Chris Chesak, Adventure Travel Trade Association.  For more information, check out:  Skeleton Coast Safaris.