South America or Africa

Undertow

Hey guys,

Im currently planning on taking 3 months out travelling in April/May of next year and am torn between going to Africa or through South America. I'm in my early 30's and have a keen sense of adventure. I feel like Im running out of time in a lot of ways to 'get down and dirty', so bussing it through Bolivia or camping through Africa isn't going to be a realistic option for me for much longer. The time is approaching where I might need to consider 'settling down' ha! :eek:

So with that in mind, I have to choose one trip or the other next year. Both will probably cost the same- my budget is around $15K. The Africa is trip starts in South Africa and ends in Kenya- an idea of the itinery can be found here: http://www.gadventures.com/trips/ultimate-africa/DAUA/2014/

With regard to South America, my plan would be to start in Argentina and make my way up through Bolivia, Peru and possibly finish it off doing the Galapogos Islands.

Both have been lifelong dreams of mine. Im thinking I should probably choose whats most challenging. Scenery, wildlife, photography are what rock my boat. Both seem to offer up incredible experiences!

This is a cruel decision to have to make, but which would you choose??

shrapnel222

did south america a good few years ago and between the 2 you mention i'd definitely do south america. breathtaking scenery, very little danger, so much to see and do.

Africa is a pretty unpredictable place these days. that trip would be great, but i don't think as varied as the south america one, and you'd be watching over your shoulder a good bit.

sarkozy

Lived for a year and a half in southern Africa (Lesotho) and travelled to some of those destinations (Swakopmund, Sossusvlei, Namib Desert, Windhoek and a week in Dar es Salaam, but not Zanzibar).

The tour passes, generally speaking, through many of the more stable and safe countries, and on a tour, you're bound to be well chaperoned. The Namib Desert is remarkable, Namibia is a curious country and Swakopmund an interesting town with excellent oysters and swordfish steak. Sossusvlei is a very special place, and Windhoek is fine, if a bit boring. I do still wish we could have made it to Etosha and Okavango. It's still a county with a strong sense of culture and history (the native peoples, I mean). I still wish I could have also travelled the stretch between Windhoek and Dar es Salaam; travelling by road that way would really give you a perspective on the diversity of southern and east Africa's natural habitat and national cultures.

I've also done most of your South America route. While I do think a lot of the southern Africa route could actually be done solo, with planning, South America definitely lends itself to easier solo travel. It's also a long route through an equally varied variety of climates, landscapes, people and histories. Argentina is pleasant and interesting and vital; Bolívia is poorer, more difficult, more spit-and-sawdust, even more adventurous (at least it still feels so on the 'gringo trail'; Perú is possibly a mix of both, but we never made it to Ecuador or the Amazon due to time limitations.

I do agree: it's a tough choice. Both options have sublime and lonely deserts, soaring mountains, baking sun, lush tropical jungles, sun, sea, sand, good food in places, good beer. The main difference would be the people. In some parts, South America can feel quite 'European' (if a version of Europe trapped in a past parallel universe) but in others very ancient, rooted in Incan Aymara sensibilities. Southern and east Africa varies from very westernised Cape Town and Swakopmund (even though Swakop is essentially a nineteenth century Bavarian town in the desert) while leaving urban centres would really get you into the ancient, rooted cultures in Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania. But also how, in both continents, local cultures and foreign cultures have negotiated each other, which is very interesting.

It's just both continents have different flavours of a similar dynamic.

I would say: pick one now and promise yourself to visit the other continent within 15 years.

I might hazard a guess that if one would be tougher to do, and the time to do it is now, I'd plump for Africa because sometimes you need stamina for that. You need it, too, for South America, but even including Bolívia, that continent is just easier all-round.

And you can still easily visit South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, Swaziland, Argentina, Perú, Uruguay with kids.

desperate housewife

I did that Africa trip last year and I would highly recommend it! It is so safe and you will meet great people on the trip. I go away for two months every summer for the past 9 years and this wasthe best trip I've done! Any questions just ask.

Innervision

Exact same as desperate housewife, I did that Africa trip and it was unbelievable. My best travelling experience by far to date!

Also, just a recommendation, you can do that Africa trip in reverse, seeing as you have 3 months you could do what we did and finish up in Cape Town giving you a bit of time to explore South Africa yourself if you fancied.

Undertow

Thanks a million for the replies folks. I’ve weighed up your opinions quite a lot and I’ve come up with a masterplan!

I plan on heading to Africa to do Capetown- Johannesbug Route here: https://www.gadventures.com/trips/cape-town-to-joburg-adventure/DATJ/2014/, and then fly to Beunos Aires from Johannesburg and tear up through Bolivia, Peru solo and then back home!

Might be a bit ambitious, but you only live once eh! I reckon I can complete this within my budget.

I’d love to hear more about that section of the African Route though, taking in Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Originally I was thinking of doing the East Africa section, but I wasn’t convinced that the scenery/landscapes would be as diverse and down South. Id love to hear more opinions about comparisons. The Section Im doing seems to have the best of both worlds from what I can tell- bizarre landscapes and wildlife galore!! How much spending money do you guys think I realistically need, without scrimping and scraping?

DonnaDarko09

What about India?!

Undertow

DonnaDarko09 wrote: »

What about India?!

No thanks! Maybe down the line sometime. Africa and South America have been on top of my wishlist for many years!

sarkozy

It's a shame that CT-Jo'burg tour doesn't bring you to Sossusvlei, but I can see why. Still, you'll see enough desert. And I never made it to Fish River canyon, so that'll be a bonus.

I'd recommend the dune quad-biking in Swakopmund, if you have time, and a tour of the 'Moon Landscape' is fascinating - it's where some of the world's oldest trees grow. The unusual Welwitschia Mirabilis. And if there's ever a suggestion of visiting Walvis Bay because theyre's time, don't. It's boring. The only interesting thing is the flamingos who migrate through there, but you'll see these around Swakop, too.

One thing to remember: you'll be travelling during the southern hemisphere's wintertime. Weather in Western Cape, SA might be unpredictable and a bit 'Irish', you won't be crossing SA's interior, so at least you won't be cold there (days are usually around 12c, nights can drop to below zero), and as you go into Namibia and cross the Tropic of Capricorn, things will vastly improve, until you begin swinging back down towards Jo'burg where it'll get cold again.

Then you'll be travelling to South America where, depending on your route, the weather can be pleasant to cold and rainy to dry and freezing.

It's just that you'll be backing for two climates, and this might weigh you down. My advice would be to pack lightly for Africa (day and night clothes) and then discard what you won't need for South America in order to leave room to stock up on thermals, etc. which you can pick up cheaper in Buenos Aires and generally along the way.

Todd Gack

sarkozy wrote: »

It's a shame that CT-Jo'burg tour doesn't bring you to Sossusvlei, but I can see why. Still, you'll see enough desert. And I never made it to Fish River canyon, so that'll be a bonus

It does visit Sossusvlei - Day 6 of the full itinerary, beautiful place to see the sun rise

Best of both worlds OP, in my opinion I think the scenery and photo ops are better on that section of the trip. Plenty wildlife too but not as good as East Africa, that's the compromise I suppose.

South America, in particular BA, Peru and Bolivia are fantastic. Better off trying to squeeze as much as you can in if you don't see yourself as getting that much time off again.

Undertow

Cheers guys- sound advice! Yeah that's the thing- I don't know when I’ll be able to get as much time off again in the future so I’d like t try and accomplish as much “rough” travel as I can, while I can. And I think that's about as good a plan as I can muster up for now! Is it necessary to apply for Visas for those African countries before I arrive?

Good point about the weather aspect though Sarkozy- hadn't thought of that! I’ve heard its the best time of the year to see Wildlife in South Africa though! I guess the wildlife is better in East Africa, but you’d still see the big 5 down south yeah? Plus I heard you can do a Lion encounter somewhere along the way and get VERY close up to the animals in those national parks?!

sarkozy

Yeah, I mean, the Namib Desert is special. And the time it takes to get places is the destination itself.

Equally so for Bolívia. Lots of the altiplano actually reminded me of the scenery in Lesotho.

And I do agree, if you know you'll never have the chance to see these places again, do it when you can. I'm lucky to have done so much by 30, and now being a dad, who knows if I'll get the chance to visit far-flung places again.

The OP will have the trip of a lifetime.