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General advice and some information

General Advice

  • Go through borders at weekends or late in the afternoon
  • Check border opening times locally – do not believe maps
  • Take a carnet from the AA if you are driving your own vehicle or insist on one from your car hire company
  • Obtain COMESA third party insurance
  • Do not drive at night. It is lethal.
  • Pay a car-guard half before and promise him the same again when you return
  • Get your visas in advance or allow time for your country’s embassy to process your applications for you. They have more clout than you do and can vouch for you.
  • When entering a country always stipulate your departure date at a week beyond the length of time you expect to stay. There’s nothing worse than trying to extend a visa
  • For East African visas, ask for the full 3 months. This will allow you multiple entries to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania until such time as you leave the EAU (East African Union)
  • Buy maps and guidebooks in advance and at every opportunity. They are hard to come by on the spot
  • Carry light gifts such as pens, footballs, small radios.
  • Avoid big towns and cities on Saturday mornings. It’s the only rush hour of the week in most places.

Botswana

  • Population: 1.6m (2.7 per Sq.km)
  • Independence date and previous name: 30/09/1966, Bechuanaland
  • Capital: Gaborone
  • Favourite Place: Tsodilo Hills
  • Best Geological feature: Chobe
  • Best Value: Tsodilo Hills
  • Favourite person: Kagiso at Shell
  • Biggest rip-off: Maun

Namibia

  • Population: 2.1m (2.2 per Sq.km)
  • Independence date and previous name: 21/03/1990, (German) South West Africa
  • Capital: Windhoek
  • Favourite Place: Swakopmund
  • Best Geological feature: Ethosha
  • Best Value: ://Garas Park
  • Favourite person: The Brewer
  • Biggest rip-off: Kucki's Restaurant

Zambia

  • Population: 11.2m (13 per Sq.km)
  • Independence date and previous name: 24/10/1964 Northern Rhodesia
  • Capital: Lusaka
  • Favourite Place: Kapishya Springs
  • Best Geological feature: Kafue
  • Best Value: Forest Inn
  • Favourite person: Davies at Kafue
  • Biggest rip-off: Eureka

Tanzania

  • Population: 36.7m (39 per Sq.km)
  • Independence date and previous name: 09/12/1961 Tanganyika
  • Capital: Dodoma
  • Favourite Place: Marangu Hotel
  • Best Geological feature: Lake Manyara
  • Best Value: Maweni
  • Favourite person: Margie at Marangu
  • Biggest rip-off: The Serengeti

Uganda

  • Population: 27.2m (105 per Sq.km)
  • Independence date and previous name: 09/10/1962 Uganda/British East Africa
  • Capital: Kampala
  • Favourite Place: Red Chilli
  • Best Geological feature: Murchison Falls
  • Best Value: Barclays Bank
  • Favourite person: Moses at Mburo
  • Biggest rip-off: Cost of National Parks

Kenya

  • Population: 33.8m (53 per Sq.km)
  • Independence date and previous name: 12/12/1963 Kenya/British East Africa
  • Capital: Nairobi
  • Favourite Place: Mombasa
  • Best Geological feature: Mt Elgon
  • Best Value: Toyota Mombasa
  • Favourite person: Steve at Stilts
  • Biggest rip-off: Arabuko Soroke

Malawi

  • Population: 12.1m (90 per Sq.km)
  • Independence date and previous name: 06/07/1964 Nyasaland
  • Capital: Lilongwe
  • Favourite Place: Livingstonia Beach
  • Best Geological feature: Lake Malawi
  • Best Value: Red Zebra
  • Favourite person: Sarah at Bohemian Café
  • Biggest rip-off: Nkhotakota

South Africa

  • Population: 44.5m (36 per Sq.km)
  • Independence date and previous name: 27/04/1994 Apartheid System
  • Capital: Pretoria
  • Favourite Place: Rissington Inn
  • Best Geological feature: The Karoo
  • Best Value: Rissington Inn
  • Favourite person: Reception/Masonic
  • Biggest rip-off: Bottled Wine