I did the Golden Monkey Trek in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park which costs 75 USD.

It is an easy trek that lasts between 3 to 5 hours depending on the movement of the Golden Monkeys.

I was very lucky that both groups of Golden Monkeys gathered together so we had at least 50 of them running around, swinging through bamboo trees, wrestling, digging for bamboo shoots, eating, playing, and doing their usual day to day activities.

Here are some photos from my trip.

I hope it will inspire you to visit this endangered golden monkey and help the local community to increase its population.

Check out the video below!

PS: It’s my first time putting a video together and taking one. It was quite challenging due to the vegetations around and the hyperactive golden monkeys that continuously move around and being their cute and notorious self that my eyes can’t set on one. I kept moving around not wanting to miss a sight.

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Did you know that Sudan has pyramids? They have nearly 200 pyramids, giving them the country with the biggest number of pyramids in the world!

I had a chance to visit Pyramids of Meroe, about 400km from Khartoum on the east bank of River Nile.

These ancient pyramids are not commercialized so you get to admire the entire place without any other tourists around or persuasive sellers!

Despite the many severely damaged pyramids due to treasure hunts in the past, they remain a spectacular sight.

The pyramids were not the only highlight of my trip. I have listed below other things to do while in Sudan.

Hamad An Nil – Every Friday around 4 p.m. until sunset, the Sufi perform a ritual ceremony which includes the dervish whirls.

It is recommended for females to wear a scarf out of respect but not mandatory. The Sufi form a large circle and as visitors, you are not allowed to be standing amongst them.

Males are allowed to enter the circle given that he goes barefoot while females are not allowed at all.

The Confluence of White & Blue River Nile – Many have visited River Nile in Egypt but they forget the junction of White & Blue river Nile which contributes to River Nile.

There is an abandoned park “Mogran Family Park” located by a bridge for a great view. However, It was closed upon my visit and I had to go under the bridge by asking permission from the military guard on the bridge.

Tuti Island – It is a crescent-shaped island where the Blue & White Nile meet. Visit the top floor of Corinthia Hotel for a 360 view of Tuti Island as well as the confluence of Blue & White Nile.

Tea Lady – Sudanese love their hot tea and coffee even if the weather is 40 degrees. These hot drinks are served by Tea Ladies which are found in almost every corner.

Jabal Awliya – A small village 40km south of Khartoum great to watch local fishermen and you could pick the freshly caught fish to be fried by a park nearby for a great meal.

Buy a local popsicle to beat the heat!

Visit a Farm – My host drove me up to the family-owned farm for a change of scenery to Khartoum.

Crash a Wedding – And wear the traditional dress! Only married women wear the traditional dress but since I didn’t have any dress and wanted to try the local attire, I borrowed one from my host.

Mango King ملك المنقه

Do not miss out on the best mango juice you will ever taste! It’s not as thick and heavy as the usual mango juice. It is also made differently by straining the juice after blending it.

Got more time to spend in Sudan? Consider the following places to visit; Wadi Halfa, Jabal Berkal, Port Sudan, Soleb, Musawarat, Jabal Marra, Dinder National Park, Dongola, El Kurru  Tombs, Arkawit, Sanganeb and so much more!

Transport:

The best way to explore Sudan is to rent a 4×4. There is a lack of transportation and the places to visit are located far from the main areas.

Travel Permit:

Travelers are required to acquire a Travel and Photo permit to move outside Khartoum. Hand in one passport photo and visa copy to the Ministry of Tourism, Antiquities, and Wildlife and they will provide the permit free of charge. They are closed on Fridays and Saturdays.

I had wonderful hosts in Sudan, feel free to contact them for any inquiries.

Mahdi Omar +249 91 233 2328

Mohammad Sawahly +249 91 226 0874

*Photos were taken by Mohammad Sawahly

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So here was my 5 days itinerary and I will be writing my very honest feedback on each as usual.

Day 1: Tarangire National Park

Right after breakfast, the guide picked me up from Torch Inn B&B in Arusha and start to pick up other travelers. We were a group of six which was the perfect number of the group.

The drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park is about 150 km. It was a comfortable journey on the well-paved road.

Keep your eyes open along the way to see some well decorated Maasai warriors, wildlife passing by and even crossing the street. We saw an unpleasing sight of fresh dead zebra on the side of the road which our guide said that it was most likely ran over by a truck.

Once we drove in Tarangire, it was very easy to spot wildlife. The park’s ecosystem consists of large baobab trees, acacia, swamps, and woodlands. We encountered a herd of elephants, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, baboons and many others.

We watched elephants wallow in mud, splash each other, scrape dried mud against baobab and acacia trees, pregnant elephants, nursing baby elephants and these are just a few of what we viewed. It was endless and satisfying to watch these gentle giants carry on their day.

We went to a picnic site for lunch which had an amazing panoramic view of a stream with zebras, elephants, and other wildlife surrounding the water source.

Beware of the monkeys! They’re cute yet notorious! Our guide told us to finish our meal or else the monkeys will finish it for us.

Our guide spotted a thick python curled on a tree which took us about 15 minutes to spot. Try to spot it if you can!

Visitors aren’t allowed to get out of the vehicle during a game drive, but our guide allowed us after 8 hours of game drives. Apparently, visitors camp in this spot! I’d love to do that someday.

The game drive in Tarangire was very comfortable, easy and we got very close to all animals. We saw 3 out of the big 5; a few lions, buffaloes, and at least 200 herds of elephants.

I highly recommend a full day of game drive in Tarangire.

Accommodation: Zion Campsite

The tent was probably the most comfortable one I had. It’s a pre-set tent with 2 beds in each tent. There is a shared toilet with hot water not far from the campsite.

During the evening, the local community performs a show but it was not cultural, it was rather provocative. If you do watch the folk dance by the bar, beware of the bugs flying around your head. So many were caught in between my messy curly hair.

Day 2: Serengeti

After a delicious breakfast of sausages, pancakes, and omelets, our journey to Serengeti via Ngorongoro crater began.

I was blown away by the amount of wildlife just wandering around and crossing the road even before getting to the national park. The drive via the crater was definitely a plus! We got to see male elephants among the forests, loads of zebras, and Thomson’s  Gazelles.

We passed by Simba campsite to pick up some tents, fold-able chairs, mattresses, and sleeping bags for our night in Serengeti.

We drove in Serengeti at about 4 p.m., it was indeed a long journey but a well worth one as we got to see wildlife and great views along the way.

As we got closer to Serengeti, the dirt road begins. I would recommend using a face mask. But once you drive in Serengeti, the landscape and vegetation are completely different!

The ecosystem is very diverse with large boulders, palm trees, ponds, swamps, and beautiful Savannah.

Serengeti is a large park that would take weeks or months to cover the entire area. Our game drives were mainly in the center of Serengeti called Seronera where the hot air balloon is located.

As we arrived pretty close to dusk, most of the animals we saw were asleep or lounging. Nevertheless, the landscape is spectacular!

Accommodation: Campsite

The campsite is literally in the middle of the wild. There is a set boundary that visitors can’t cross which isn’t far away from where we pitched our tents.

I pitched my tent by the kitchen and on the edge of the borderline so I had hyenas come by my tent and snoop in for leftover meals.

Our group decided to sit outside slightly across from the borderline and look out for more interesting wildlife and noises.

There was a lion roar which I was about to make a run but our guide told us to stay put and so I did with my heart in my pants and tears close to drip.

Plug-in your earphones and listen closely to the 10th second.

It was a great experience! I highly recommend to sit out and enjoy the wildlife.

Make sure to keep a flashlight and randomly flash around to check for animals around, if you see a red light, you know that’s dangerous but stay put.

Day 3: Serengeti

We had to leave by 5:30 a.m. to catch lions on the move. The lions we saw on previous days were either lounging or sleeping.

We watched the sunrise that created a mystical pink hue on the sky, and we spotted 3 large male lions walking past our vehicle. It was a perfect scene. It almost felt like right out of a movie.

We spotted a couple of leopards but they were all asleep on a tree which didn’t make it to my 16-50 camera lens. A binocular is a must during a game drive!

We drove out of Serengeti in the evening and headed towards Simba camp in Ngorongoro Crater.

On our way there, we visited a Maasai village where they performed some dances for us and showed their way of life.

I would recommend at least 2 nights in Serengeti and have an early game drive on both days.

By this time, we saw 4 of the big 5; leopards, elephants, lions, and buffaloes.

Accommodation: Simba Camp

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!! I would recommend pitching your tent by the kitchen as the zebras tend to come through that area. There were so many zebras coming by at night and early in the morning. You could hear them graze and walk around the tent while sleeping in the tent.

Make sure to bring warm clothes because it gets pretty cold when you’re 7,500 feet above sea level and

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater

We left for a game drive at 7 a.m. and drove down to the center of the crater.

Ngorongoro is a conservation and protected area. It is said to be the best place to visit all of the big 5. Unfortunately, we did not spot any rhinos while other visitors managed to spot one from far away. It’s really unpredictable. It depends on the animal’s movement which cannot be easily tracked.

One of the major sights was the pond filled with hippos.

I would recommend visiting Ngorongoro Crater during the wet season instead of the dry season when it’s filled with water. I could imagine a congregation of many wildlife around the water source.

Accommodation: Since I was the only one with a 5-day itinerary, they dropped me off at a fantastic lodge while the others continue their journey back to Arusha.

The lodge is called Panorama only a few minutes away from Lake Manyara. They have a campsite with tents and these cute and cozy African bungalows.

Day 5: Lake Manyara

Since I was the only one left, the guide gave me the freedom to choose how I wanted to spend the day so I told him that I want to see some leopards, cheetah, climbing lions and arrive in Arusha by 5 p.m. so I could visit the Maasai Market.

I started my day with an early sunrise viewing. It was a cloudy day, yet it was beautiful as I sat and watched the sunrise with a family of baboons.

Lake Manyara is most popular and known for the large flamboyance of flamingos along with many other bird species. It is also known for climbing lions but I did not get to see one.

I had a different guide on my last day which did not seem very experienced and he did not have a walkie-talkie either which guides usually use to communicate with each other when they spot any wildlife.

The flamingos, bird watching, and hippos were great! Other than that, I did not see anything much. Perhaps if I had a better guide I would’ve had a better experience.

Having an experienced guide is ESSENTIAL! Your game drive experience is in his hands.

I would recommend a visit to Lake Manyara during the wet season, and if you are crunched on time, skip it.

Food:

There is a cooker per tour group who cooks each and every meal and packs your lunchbox.

There isn’t any other meal option, we ate what is served. It was not bad.

Tour Company:

I went with Climbing Africa Expeditions. They gave the cheapest and most reasonable price compared to other tour operators. They were very accommodating to my needs and provided complimentary services as part of their hospitality.

They checked on me daily to ensure that I am having a great time and receive what I paid for until I safely left Tanzania.

Tour Company: Climbing Africa Expeditions

Contact Person: Ahmad Mahdi +255624848585 / Musa +255787334647

Instagram: Climbing_Africa_Expeditions

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I was stunned by pleasant surprises when I arrived in Rwanda.

1. Eco Friendly – Did you know that Rwanda is one the first African countries to enforce plastic ban? It’s not just a title, this is enforced diligently.

When I arrived in Kigali Airport, I had 2 donation bags that was safe wrapped. I was called to open the bag assuming that it was a security check. Then the lady shook her head and said ‘No I don’t need to check, I just need to dispose the plastic wrap”. I was surprised and lightly asked “But why?” She gave me an answer that I did not expect to hear “Plastic is not allowed to enter our country. We are Eco friendly”

Surely I was happy to hear that but I had doubts. Is this only implemented in the airport but individuals and rural areas still use plastic bags? NOPE! Country wide. Not a single plastic bag. This is evident once I was on the road and driving around the city, villages, and visiting some shops. Paper bags only and not a single trash being littered on the streets.

Is Rwanda the Singapore of Africa? I believe so!

2. Education System – I was driven around the city of Kigali towards Nyungwe Forest. The streets were empty. I asked my guide “Why are the streets so empty? Where are the children?” I thought this is another country with a low demographic of children like Armenia where I only saw a handful of children.

By noon, the streets were swarmed with children in bright blue, beige, and yellow school uniforms walking together and having a laugh. It was a sight to hold on.

3. Banana Everything – Expect a lot of banana meals while in Rwanda. They surely love their bananas that they also have banana beer!

4. Eucalyptus Tree & Tea Plantations Everywhere – Rwanda is surrounded by these fast and easy growing tall trees. Believe it or not, Eucalyptus is not native to Rwanda. In fact, it was brought from Australia. The trees serve many purposes which helps the agriculture and economy of the country.

5. Volcanoes National Park – This is the main reason for tourists to visit Rwanda where the park arranges a trek for mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkey,s and many other activities.

I did two of the activities; Golden Monkey Trek and Mount Bisoke Climb. 

The park is extremely organized with many well-experienced guides, rangers, and wonderful porters.

6. Nyungwe Forest – Nyungwe is a vast rain forest and also one of the oldest in Africa. The narrow canopy walks 60 meters above the forest floor is not to be missed! Don’t forget to stop, look around and look below you. 😀

7. Iby’iwacu Cultural Village – It’s a great place to learn about history, culture, and traditional life.

The cultural village was designed to eradicate poachers and change them into conservationists.  Barora Leonidas who poached for 40 years showed and talked about how he used to poach to earn money and survive; following the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and generations before.

Thank to Edwin Sabuhoro’s initiative to eradicate poachers by addressing the prime problem; money. Hence the cultural village was born where ex-poachers show visitors traditional medicine, dance, royal palace, arts & crafts, and other entertaining yet authentic shows.

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Did you know that they are habituated only in the Virunga mountains?

Virunga mountains are shared between DR Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Mountain gorillas have been declared endangered. There are only about 700 of them left in the world. These peaceful and intelligent creatures are victims of civil war, destruction of forests, and poaching.

They aren’t the target but they are caught in between bullets and snares.

I chose to do the gorilla trekking in Uganda because it is a lot cheaper than Rwanda and a lot easier to access than DRC.

I spent the night before the trek in Kabale which is only 2 hours drive from the forest. The drive was a spectacular view of terraces.

To be honest, I didn’t know about them until I was looking at things to do in Rwanda. And now I want to share with everyone about the largest primate that shares 98% of human DNA.

Here’s what happens during a gorilla trek.

I arrived at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest by 7.45 a.m.; just in time for the briefing.

After that, I was assigned to a group with a guide where we had an orientation about the trek and the family to be visited. The family has already been tracked by the rangers which make the trek a lot easier for visitors.

There isn’t a specific trail in the wild. The trek could last from 1 hour to 7 hours. The chance of seeing a family is 98%. At times, the family gets into an argument and separates which will make it difficult to track them.

But don’t worry because they will allow another trek for free in case you didn’t see them. It would be best to have an extra 1 or 2 days in Uganda for such cases which is rare.

I was pretty lucky that the family I visited was coming down so it took us only 45 minutes until we first spotted them. The trail was 90% on flat ground.

I visited a family of 13 members; a silverback, a couple of females, and several babies.

I honestly did not know what to expect. The guide informed us to maintain a distance of at least 7 meters, however, we cannot control the movements of the gorillas, especially the juveniles! The guide says they are quite naughty and like to interact with visitors 😀

I hoped for some interaction but it’s probably best for them to not interact with us to avoid the chances of transmitting any human virus. 😀

Once we got within the perimeter of the gorillas, we had to cut through bushes, crawl, and slither through vegetation around us. This was the hardest part because our movement was based on the gorilla’s movement.

The guide tried his best to make a path by cutting down foliage with a machete, but I still got stuck between twigs, branches and tripped countless times.

Here is the first mountain gorilla we encountered. I was stunned with my first sight of a mountain gorilla only a few meters away from me.

The projection I had based on movies is nothing close to what I witnessed. Those ferocious look, chest pounds, roars, and charges are far from how they actually behave in their day to day activity.

Surely they pose that behavior but that’s only when they feel like they are in danger to protect the family.

They were very peaceful, gentle, timid yet social.

Watching the little ones were just like watching kids on the playground. This juvenile gorilla at the back was rolling around the pile of vegetation and he kept on falling right through 😀 It’s just like watching a human child.

This guy was flipping himself in all sorts of ways on the tree. He looked like a spinning fur ball from afar. 😛

Then this little one kept on climbing the tree and slid his way down for the fun of it 😀

And then we saw a teensy tiny newborn baby clinging on her mama. This sight melted my heart. I was poured with contentment. The sight of a baby shows that they are repopulating. The growth rate is slow but certain. I hope the rate continues to increase. <3

Mama gorilla maintained eye contact with us the whole time. It’s almost like she is always ready for a photograph.

Then comes the silver-back! My oh my. It’s GORGEOUS!

We only get one hour to spend with them and it went by so fast! I could literally just watch them all day.

It is indeed a lifetime experience that I would relive again in a heartbeat!

The vegetation is pretty much everywhere. The guide tried as much as he could to chop them off for a better view but sometimes it’s just how it’s going to be in a jungle-like forest.

If you think 600 USD is way too much for a trek. Let me put it for you this way.

Watching an endangered subspecies carry their day without disrupting them is a lifetime experience. I pray that the future generations get to see and learn about mountain gorillas instead of only reading them from a book of extinct animals.

600 USD does not only go for your pleasure and experience, you are contributing to the conservation and welfare of these primates.

We are well aware that those 3 countries; home of mountain gorillas are 3rd world countries and in need of our support.

Think of the hardworking rangers who spend all day of the year tracking the movement of each family, protect them from any harm, and ensuring that they remain healthy and live up to their life span.

I urge you to please visit any of the 3 countries, experience the gorilla trek, and help in conserving mountain gorillas.

Here are few things to keep in mind:

1. It is important to acquire a permit in advance as they only allow a certain number of people per day to avoid disrupting the daily life of those habituated mountain gorillas.

2. Make sure that you are not carrying any contagious virus. Mountain gorillas do not have the same immune system as us; they are a lot weaker and sensitive to viruses.

3. Carry some snacks and water. You could be trekking for 2 or 7 hours. It all depends on the movement of the animal.

4. Hiking shoes are mandatory. You will be walking in the forest and cutting through branches.

5. Keep your camera protected. I didn’t have my camera bag which resulted in so many scratches on my camera from the vegetation.

Permit Fee: 600 USD

Porter: 15 USD

Check how you can access 3 African countries with 1 visa here

Climbing Mount Bisoke in Rwanda

7 Things about Rwanda

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18th September 2015.

My friend and I landed in Casablanca and the first thing I told her was ‘So, this is how it feels to be in a foreign country!’ 😀

Morocco has a rep of not female-friendly.

It was the first foreign country I visited and it wasn’t anything like what the media projects it. Sure, there were some catcalls but that can happen in any country. Heck, it happens almost on a daily basis in where I live.

This is how my first traveling experience went by! 😀

First stop, LUNCH! The driver insisted to take us to Hassan II Mosque en route to the restaurant which was great!

We had our first Moroccan dish in a restaurant made famous by the classic movie Casablanca; Rick’s Café. The restaurant had a cozy rustic feel and the food was delicious!

Next stop was the train station to begin our journey to the most northern part of Morocco, Tangier. The railway system is extensive, extremely easy, and very comfortable for only pennies.

The sun was about to set by the time we settled in our hotel in Tangier, and we took a petit taxi to the souk Petit Socco. It was quite dim, lots and lots of shops selling all sort of leather products, pretty crowded and all we wanted to do were to grab some dinner and leave.

We were 2 females in a foreign city, the first rule of thumb; don’t wander around late at night. We went back to our hotel and got in bed by 9:00 p.m.

Tangier is definitely not the place to wander around at night, especially if you are a female.

We experienced some catcalls and as an Arab, I understood what they said and yelled back. The men were very persistent in following around.

On the 2^nd day, we wanted to go to the Cave of Hercules; unfortunately, it was closed for some work by the king of Morocco. So we took a very early train to Asilah and got there before life began. The streets were empty and we hardly saw anyone on the streets.

As we stepped into the medina, it has a resemblance look with Santorini in Greece. We were the only ones there, different Arabic style doors were shut tight, empty yet colorful narrow alleys, and we continued to stroll and enjoyed the emptiness.

We left to see Ancient Lixus before the shops opened so we did not experience it being busy.

As we got to Ancient Lixus, we were again the only ones there, several tour guides were at the gate ready to offer his service in exchange for money which we refused to take. We told them we just want to hike up on our own, nevertheless, one of them guided us cause we were quite puzzled about where to go. 😛

I wouldn’t recommend visiting Ancient Lixus. I’ve been to many other ruins that are much more intact than Ancient Lixus.

It was quite a long day from Tangier-Asilah-Lixus-Asilah-Tangier that we just wanted to unwind. So we went to a popular café on a hilltop; Café Hafa.

It was exactly what we needed. It is a hilltop café, with pretty mosaic tables, overlooking the Bay of Tangier and perfect weather. We couldn’t ask for a better way to end our day.

After that, we still had some time on our hands so we went to parc perdicaris.

It’s a great place to unwind. You will find many locals exercising on the wooden equipment and running through the forest.

On our 3^rd Day, we wanted to visit the blue city; Chefchaouen.

There are several options to get there, we were advised by the locals on the fastest way which is cramming in a Grand Taxi from Tangier to Tetouan and then cram in another taxi from Tetouan to Tangier. My friend and I sat on the front seat and there were 4 other passengers in the back seat. It might not be comfortable but it was indeed the fastest and best way to reach Chefchaouen.

As we got to Chefchaouen, we took a petit taxi to the blue city. When we got there, it looked just like any other medina. There were lots of vendors along the path, stalls and crowded with tourists. But once we stepped into the alleys between the buildings; we were awestricken.

Our first sight was a bright blue door right in front of our view and many other shades of blue along the beautifully decorated alleys with colorful flower pots. There were many different Arabic style doors and families live behind these beautiful doors among the busy shops.

On the 4^th Day, we needed to catch an early train to Casablanca, or else we would have to wait for the later train which means arriving in Casablanca almost dark.

We woke up late and decided to rush our way to make it to the early train. I got on the train with my PJs! I couldn’t care less, my mission was to arrive early in Casa and spend the day there.

We arrived in Casa as planned and got settled in our hotel right by the beach on Ain Diab. We headed out to Anfa Place which was only a few minutes’ walks and had our lunch there. We actually didn’t know what else to do in the city so we ended up having a spa day.

The next day, we took the train to Marrakech. The long-awaited city since our arrival. Unfortunately, the schedule was delayed 2 hours behind which kind of messed our plan for the day.

We wanted to see a couple of things before dark but it got too late. We ended up only visiting Djemaa al Fna and Menara Gardens Market.

Menara Gardens was a huge disappointment! The photo below can clearly explain my disappointment. Expectation vs Reality 😀

We could’ve visited one more place but we were sun-stroked that we just wanted to go back to Casa. The heat was unexpected after having such pleasant and cool weather in other parts of Morocco. It was too hot for us and we came from Saudi where we are used to 35-40C.

Even the famous fresh orange juice couldn’t help us beat the heat stroke! 😀

Morocco was a great first-time experience to be outside my comfort zone. It’s extremely affordable and easy to go around.  It is also safe for females despite what the internet and warnings tell you. 😀

Suggestions!

1. Spend at least 2 days in Marrakech

2. Do not miss out on Chefchaouene

3. Get your souvenirs from the medina in Casablanca for better quality and cheaper!

4. Do not wander around late at night in Tangier.

5. Try Babboush on the street of Ain Diab in Casablanca

6. Use the railway to go between cities and it is widely covered. You can check the trip schedule from here and they are pretty much on time except for that one ride to Marrakech.

7. Don’t be surprised if someone jumps in the taxi you’re in. The taxis are shared 😀

8. Skip Casablanca and trade it for another city if you had to choose between them.

The post Female Travellers in Morocco appeared first on Nada Al Nahdi.

So I decided to give it a try. I mean, you never know until you try right?!

After reading BeMyTravelMuse’s post on Rwanda, she recommends climbing Mount Bisoke. I thought that this would be a perfect trial, a day climb, and the permit is reasonably priced at 75USD.

Mount Bisoke is one of the eight Virunga mountain ranges and shared between Rwanda and Congo. In the photo below, Bisoke is the second from the left.

It stands at a height of 12,175 ft (3,711m) above sea level.

To be honest, I doubted my stamina and strength considering I haven’t worked out in over a year.

I read so many reviews of visitors turning back around and not reaching the peak due to the difficult terrain. I just stopped reading because it only built up more worries. I did not have the proper gears. The only thing I had was hiking shoes. I didn’t have any gaiters, warm jacket, or gloves as what other reviewers have mentioned as a must-have!

I was dressed pretty casually as you can see.

How it went

I got to Volcanoes National Park at around 7 am where they serve complimentary coffee and tea.

The park organizes a briefing with all their guides and then they allocate the visitors to the assigned guide for each activity.

After that, our guide briefed us on what to expect, what we need to do and shouldn’t do. Then we got back into our 4×4 for a 45 minutes bumpy drive to the starting point.

Once we reached the starting point, there was a line of porters ready to be hired if you need one. I HIGHLY recommend one. It costs 10USD.  He will pull and push you when needed, especially when there’s a slush of mud.

Then we set off to begin the climb with our guide, porters, and rangers equipped with their AK47.

We walked for about 10 minutes past a farm and into the jungle. I thought we had begun our trek as we walked through the jungle, but nope! We needed to get to the base of the volcano.

There is a break spot with benches at about 2,700m above sea level. Only 1! Other than that we get only water breaks that last about a minute or less. Of course, I had to take so many of them and mine would last at least 3 minutes.  😛

The ascent is an unrelenting uphill with slushy and slippery mud. It had rained just the day before the climb.

The others went way ahead of me with a guide while my porter and 3 rangers stayed back with me.

They were very understanding and advised me to take it slow, POLE POLE as they like to say 😀 It means slowly-slowly in Swahili.

The climb is very steep and muddy. As we got higher, the terrain changed to a rocky one which only means bigger steps and pull-ups.

I took more breaks but I found a weird trick that helped me push myself through. Smile! I tried to keep a positive mind, think happy thoughts, and just smile as wide as I can. I probably looked so weird but it distracted me from panting and taking breaks. It kept me going. 😀

Once you start to see these vegetations, know that you are almost there!

I read a lot of reviews where those who climbed Bisoke couldn’t see the lake. I went on a pretty sunny day but the clouds were coming in. The rangers kept pushing me to go faster so I could see the lake.  I climbed to see the lake, I MUST SEE THE LAKE!

I made it just in time to see the lake. Once I saw the lake; shortness of breathing, increased heart rate, and what not disappeared. I was happy; the kind of happiness that blooms from within.

I quickly asked the porter to take some photos as the clouds were coming in. A few minutes later, the lake was covered. We sat down and had some snacks while celebrating our accomplishments.

It’s a breathtaking view once you’re at the top and overlooking the lush green province of Musanze.

It’s pretty chilly up there but not too chilly. When it was time to descend, I ran my way down. Descending? No problem! I didn’t need a single break to descend.

The trek must be escorted with rangers as it is the habitat of wildlife animals and the endangered mountain gorillas. Don’t expect to see any wildlife so when you do see them, it’s a great plus to the climb!

Some have seen mountain gorillas while I encountered a bushbuck. Don’t worry guys, animals are afraid of humans. They won’t attack you for climbing up Bisoke.

What you need

1. 2 Liter of water

2. Snacks

3. A jacket – This is only needed when you are on the peak. Other than that, it’s not needed at all.

4. Walking stick (optional) – I ditched mine. It was weighing me down. I used the trees and vegetation around me to assist me if needed.

5. Gloves (optional) – There are nettle leaves which sting for about 5 to 10 minutes but then you’ll be fine. I didn’t use any, got stung twice but it’s all good!

Fee

Permit: 75 USD

Porter: 10 USD

Time Required

Experienced: 3 – 4 hours

Inexperienced: 6 – 7 hours – I completed in 6 hours and a half.

Recommendation

1. Check the weather! – Make sure it’s a clear day

2. Get to the peak before the clouds come in. The best time would be around 12 noon.

Will I climb again? Maybe. Is climbing my thing? I don’t think so haha!

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Untouched nature, raw wilderness, and genuinely happy people

I wish I have the photos to show all of Kenya, unfortunately, the memory will remain forever treasured in me. I lost all of my photos while transferring them to my laptop by accidentally deleting them.

I have bits and pieces that were saved on my Snapchat memory which I hope could inspire you to visit Kenya.

The first place I wanted to visit was Kibera. The driver refused to take me there because of the danger that I would expose for myself and the driver but I wanted to see it with my own eyes. He shared horrifying stories and anyone would speed off driving if they have to pass through the neighborhood.

The driver then agreed to take me with a condition that I can only see it from a viewpoint without taking any photos and to stay in the car with my windows up and locked doors. I discreetly took a few photos.

It was heartbreaking to see the poverty and the driver shared even more heartbreaking stories of what goes on within the neighborhood. I wish there was something I could do to help them but it’s something that the world needs to combat together.

Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and 3rd largest in the world.

After the disturbing visit to Kibera, the driver took me to an amazing restaurant called Carnivores where they serve all kinds of meat to take my mind off it before we start the day.

From crocodile, ostrich, ox, rabbit, ducks, and other exotic meat; Carnivores Restaurant has them all!

Kenya is a perfect place to get up close and personal with wildlife.

Not only terrestrial animals, but also aquatic ones.

And of course the wild ones in the untouched wilderness of Maasai Mara! 😀

I believe everyone should experience a wild and raw safari trip for a minimum of 4 days. It’s got to be the real deal, not the developed and constructed safari!

It was beautiful driving through the plains and observing how different wildlife interact with one another in their own habitat; where they belong.

I watched a lioness and her baby cubs play around and all I wanted to do is to get in between and cuddle with them. They were the cutest thing ever!

The cubs were very playful after a big meal!

This was taken shortly after the sunrise. The sunrise over a vast plain of shrubs and naked trees with different wildlife animals grazing as the sun rises was the most picturesque thing ever.

Sunrise in Maasai Mara is something you should not miss!

I recommend going during the great migration of 2 million wildebeest so you can witness the incredible movement of wildebeest from Tanzania to Kenya.

The wildebeests have to risk crossing over a crocodile-filled river in Maasai Mara to go on to the other side.

And one of my favorite parts of the trip was visiting the Maasai Mara village and getting acquainted with their culture and tradition.

Did you know that a Maasai has to kill a lion with a spear to be considered as a true warrior in order to be eligible for marriage!? 

I learned so much about the Maasai when I met them and they are the nicest and most welcoming people ever. They lead a very simple life filled with harmony.

Need some refreshment after hot days on a wild safari? Go to Mombasa for some breathtaking clear blue beach and pure white sand! Kilifi beach was my favorite! 

There were loads of monkeys swinging and colorful lizards crawling around the beach 😀

It was not easy to capture those bright colored lizards. This is the best shot I got. They are everywhere but they crawl around the bushes so fast that I kept on losing sight of them!

The photos shared are the only ones I have taken on Snapchat while 99% of the photos were taken from a rented DSLR camera, unfortunately, it all got deleted. Oh well! As the Kenyans like to say it; Hakuna Matata 😀

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I know a lot of females who are curious to try traveling solo yet they are afraid to take the first step. I think it would help a lot by starting with going to a foreign country that is not so foreign.

My first solo trip was to Egypt.  Coming from Saudi, it felt like I traveled to another city in Saudi but without abayas.

I landed at midnight in Cairo. The airport was dim; it wasn’t crowded, rather empty.

As soon as I passed all the regular procedures in the airport, I asked a taxi driver to take me to the hotel I booked. I did not have a Google map to track my way, it was past midnight, I had no idea where I was heading but I was at ease. Everything was familiar. It felt very much like my own hometown…

So here’s a throwback to my first solo trip!

I did not do much because I only had a few days due to visa problems. Story of my life. I was meant to get my visa on a particular date, then it got delayed and I had to delay my flight, and there goes my trip.

Anyways! Not only that I had only a couple of days, but I also did not plan many things to do.

My favorite part of the trip was, of course, visiting the Great Pyramid of Giza! It is so beautiful!

It’s so sad to see the rubbish along the way, and the endless tour guides trying to rip you off for a large number of tips by doing absolutely nothing but bugs and annoys you.

Nevertheless,  the Pyramids are a masterpiece! It took my breath away from afar and it amazed me even more as I get closer. How crazy is it for a man to build these huge pyramids! Even modern technology can’t do that!

If you haven’t visited it yet, go for it! Perhaps, Egypt could be your first solo trip if you haven’t tried it yet! 😀

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Traveling around Ethiopia may not come easy and may cost more if you travel by air. Traveling by land around Ethiopia is cost-efficient but time-consuming.

My trip to Ethiopia had loads of ups and downs. There were times where I had horrible experiences but now that I look back, it is what makes the trip memorable! Ethiopia surprised me in many ways. It is a lot greener than I thought!

Here are the highlights of my trip!

1. Without a doubt, feeding wild hyenas in the middle of a barren, deserted, and pitch-black area without anyone around comes on top of my list!

Harar in Ethiopia is the only place in the world where you could feed wild hyenas by giving raw meat on a twig between your lips! It is 1000% at your own risk.

The sight of their shining sharp eyes from afar in the dark was terrifying as it is!

Now picture those starry eyes look straight into your soul, with only a distance of a short twig between your precious face and the beast’s strong jaw that could finish you up clean without any traces! And it’s not only the guy in front of me that I had to worry about, there were at least 5 other ones walking around me waiting for their turn to be fed.

I kept cringing the whole time!

When the beast finally approached to take his bite, I shut my eyes immediately to not show fear. I mean, I’ve heard a lot of stories that animals can sense fear and take it to their advantage! That’s what kept running through my head. I don’t know how true that theory is.

I thought that it was over and I could finally leave, but then the hyena man held the raw meat right above me then this heavy beast weighing at least 50kg jumped on my back which the hyena man likes to call “a massage”.

He asked me if I wanted to feed the others with my mouth again but I did not have the courage, there were too many of them around me! So I decided to just give them the basket and it wasn’t any less terrifying! So many thoughts went through my head within split seconds! What if it’s not enough? What if the other beasts don’t get their share? What if they want more? What if more of them appear out of nowhere and surround me expecting more food?!

Like I wasn’t terrified enough, the hyena man suddenly got up and left me alone, surrounded by wild hungry hyenas.

These scavengers are always hungry, always on the lookout for fresh raw meat to indulge and stuff their belly.

Would you take your chances?! It is 1000% at your own risk, yet it is 10000% worth the trip!

If you’re interested to do it or at least witness someone else do it, fly to Dire Dawa then take a tuk-tuk to the bus station. From there, hop on the minibus to Harar which takes about 2 hours. Bear in mind that you are in Africa, so a 12 seat minivan would turn into 24 seats. Be ready to be squished among kids, nursing mothers, babies, and bags of ghat leaves.

2. Walking around the walled city of Harar and wander around the Christian & Muslim Market.

It was dark, the rain was pouring hard and the electricity kept going off. It didn’t stop me from exploring the busy and crowded market.

The walled city is a maze with more than 300 alleyways. I recommend getting there early during day time and get lost within the great and colorful maze.

To witness such diverse religion, culture, nationality, origin, and whatnot, yet they won the title of the most peaceful and tolerant city in the world by UNESCO. Did you know that Harar is the 4th holiest city of Islam?

Co-existence is indeed a beauty that is yet to be understood by many of us. Harar is a city of peace, love, and harmony.

3. A visit to the Rasta town; Shashamane. It was definitely an experience to learn about Rastafari and interacting with them. They are very hospitable and kind people who love to share their beliefs.

In a world that I’m in, once given a piece of cloth, I presume it’s to cover the head. I was completely wrong, as I was supposed to cover my pants! The Rastas decided to tell me that as I was leaving.

It is about 4 hours drive from Addis Ababa. I highly recommend leaving as early as possible so you can get back to Addis Ababa before it gets dark since there won’t be any street lights and of course the nonstop heavy rain just makes it so dangerous to be driving in the dark.

4. Celebrated the New Year 2009 in 2016! I had not known that Ethiopia has their own calendar! They’re 7 years behind the Gregorian calendar. Do you wish to go back in time and be young!? Fly away to Ethiopia!

5. The last highlight was an unexpected one! I met so many friends from Jeddah in Ethiopia and on top of that I met my very old friend from 3^rd grade to 9^th grade! It was then that I realized that I have a huge community of African friends! PS: It took 4 hours and 2 hairdressers to do my long braids!

Perks of living in Saudi is you get exposed to many different cultures, nationalities and backgrounds.

So, would I recommend a trip to Ethiopia?! YES. How long should one stay there? I would say a minimum of 2 weeks because the road and transportation system is really poor so it takes a very long time to go from one city to another and explore the marvelous beauty.

Is it safe for solo female travelers? Yes, I did not encounter any danger. I felt safe even during late nights.

There were a lot of gems that I didn’t get to explore due to the great distance and my time limit, to name a few; Lalibela, Danakil Depression, and Erta Ale.

PS: I had to use my old iphone5 because my phone broke just before the trip. Sorry for the bad quality guys!

If you need any help in Harar, I recommend these two; Ghirmay and Rasta.

Contact Number: +251943020549

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