Stena line,  London – Amsterdam all in one ticket

The deal “Train&Sail”: Starting Friday evening from Liverpool St Station and take the train to Harwich international. From there you catch the ferry and will arrive in Amsterdam the next morning. On Monday we will take the daytime ferry back to London.

We decided to travel in luxury! : )
I booked the captains cabin on the way over, which is £52 extra (for two people). Which brings the all-over fare for two people return up to £250.
My review:

The captains cabin is very much to recommend! We had the most stunning view, as the cabin is placed at the very front of the ship (under the captains Bridge)- where you find the most stable condition. At night, you can see the lights of other ships passing by under a sky full of stars.

We had lots of space (for a boat) and even the bathroom was so functional designed that 2 people could clean there teeth at the same time.

The Beds are adjustable, so if you want a double, you simply pull them together with comfortable foam mattresses. Oh, and the best thing, you get a whole fridge of drinks, snakes and fruit complimentary! We hardly could believe it and went out twice to ask if that is really true – it was! 2 little bottles red wine, 2x  white wine, 2x champagne, Orange juice, water, coke… nice!!!

On the way back, we took the daytime ship, and it really is a looonnng time (6,5h). So take something to do and take some food with you (it is quite pricey and not as good as one might have hoped for) -or simply take a cabin and relax.

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Were we stayed:

We decided to go for something small and hopefully cosy, with the real Amsterdam feel! I booked a double room with Bath and garden view (canal view was taken) for €115 per night.

Hotel Keizershof
Keizersgracht 618
1017 ER Amsterdam
tel:+31.20.6222855
fax:+31.20.6248412
just 4 rooms, closed between 1pm to 4pm
Directions: tram line 16, 24 and 25. Stop at Keizersgracht.
Prices from € 65,- to € 115,- per night
and incl. a Dutch breakfast and VAT.

My review:

I can’t recommend this Hotel, even the women who run the place are very friendly and it was clean enough. The breakfast was very good two, with pancakes on Sunday and scrambled eggs all the other days, lots of different kinds of cheeses and bread, good location…. BUT … fist of all the standard of the rooms is simply very low. One wallpaper type stops in the middle of the wall an other one starts, the mattresses are very uncomfortable, the carpet is ancient as well as the furniture (sadly not in a good way). The worst thing was that our room had so much mould on one wall, that a big piece was broken out of it. My husband couldn’t breath properly for the whole next week as he suffers from asthma. (mould can course serious health problems) I am not sure if the Mosquitos really came in through the mould whole in the wall, but all the windows had a fly screen. Anyhow, I had to kill 12 Mosquitos the first night and we both got stung a lot.

Best time to go:

June-August (dry&cooler 28°C)
January- February (dry but very hot) & more expensive

Serengeti National Park: all year around (wildebeest, zebras, antelopes, gazelles, lions)
Katavi National Park: June to mid-October
Tarangire National Park: June to mid-October

Mount Kilimanjaro: best months for climbing are August to October and from January to March.

See the official website of “Tanzania National Parks”

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General information:

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Name: United Republic of Tanzania

Area: 945,000m²

Capital: nominal Dodoma (population of approx. 300,000), factual: Daressalam (population of approx. 3 million)

Population: in 2005: 38,3 million (World bank), in Zanzibar: approx 1 million foreign nationals: approx. 20.000 Indian, 5.000 other nationality’s; compound <a annual growth growth rate: approx 1,8% (World bank)

Climate: tropical, all year wet and hot

open Borders: Kenya,Malawi, Mozambique,Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia
unsafe Borders: Congo (Zaire) and Burundi are not advised

Languages: Kiswahili, English

Religion: approx. 40% Christians, ca. 30% Moslem’s, ca. 30% other; Zanzibar ca. 95% Moslem’s

Head of government: Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, CCM, President of United Republic of Tanzania, since Dec. 2005 (premiership 5 years)

Picture: President of the United Republic of Tanzania – Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. pic 2006

Gross domestic product (GDP): 2007: US$ 14,2 billion

GDP/person: US£ 355 in 2007

Expectancy of life: Men 46years/Women 47years (see “Brot fuer die Welt”)

Infant death: 7,6 %

National holiday:

1 January – New Year
12 January – Zanzibar Revolution Day
25 March – Good Friday
28 March – Easter Monday
26 April – Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar)
29* April – Maulid
1 May – Labour Day
7 July – International Trade Fair
8 August – Farmers’ Day
14 October – Mwalimu Nyerere Day and Climax of “uhuru Torch Race”
3* & 4 * November – Idd – El Fitr
9 December – Indepedence Day
25 December – Christmas Day
26 December – Boxing Day

Tel: international code 000, country code 255

The supply is generally 220-240v and plugs are three-pin square or round. If you have a video or digital camera, make sure your battery charger is of the same voltage.

Visa: US$50 for 30 days issued at the borders.

Tip: This is where a little knowledge of Kiswahili can cause some inconveniences. Tanzanians don’t function on the same time as Westerners. For Tanzanians, it’s illogical that the day would start in the middle of the night. Since sunrise and sunset happen pretty much at the same time all year round, 6am and 6pm, the day starts at 6am which is 0 hour. So when telling time in Kiswahili, Tanzanians always subtracted 6 hours for western time. 11am is 5am to a Tanzanian. To avoid any confusion, a Tanzanian will tell time in English if they want to use the western standard and in Kiswahili if they use local standard. If you want to practice your Kiswahili, just keep this in mind if you discuss appointment times with a Tanzanian. If you say Saa kumi na moja asabuhi (11:00am), instead of Saa tano asabuhi (5:00am), you’ll end up waiting for 6 hours for the person to arrive, that’s if they are on time!Tanzani

Newquay Reef Surf Lodge
10 – 12 Berry Road
Newquay
TR7 1AR
01637 879 058

http://www.reefsurflodge.co.uk/

My review: I stayed there twice. In April 2008, everything seemed well controlled, brand new, quiet and a good place to stay (room with double bed). Now August 2008 I went down there again and it was an absolute mess-maybe as the loge was fully booked?! My bed cloth went just sandy, it had hairs and stuff all over it. the mattress (old and you could feel every feather ) was full breadcrumbs, sand and I don’t want to know what else. I asked the reception for fresh bed cloth and to hover my mattress. She came up and told me to leave the room until she had finished. When I came back nothing had changed. I have no idea what she had done in there. So I complained again and stayed in the room this time. She was shouting “why do I have to clean the mattress at all, it will be covered by the sheet anyway” I really didn’t know what to say to that. Then she got the fresh bed cloth and the first thing she did was to through it on the floor!!! I rushed to pick it up and got a very disturbed look from here. Is I had booked our accommodation late we had to share the room and where 6 people (2 women, 4 men). But the room and bathroom wasn’t just tiny, both room and bathroom didn’t have any hook at all, no cupboard, no shelf, no bed lights … so when the other people came back to the room drunk in the middle of the night, they fell over all the bags on the floor, turned the lights on…not nice if you are there for surfing and fancy a bit of sleep at night. (From what I could tell, the people up there where all in Newquay to party, incl. lots of hen and stag groups)

Venice, Roma, Florenza, Nice/Monaco, Paris, London

02.04.2008
we started early from London Stansted – Venice by plane “ryanair”
spending the 1. day in Venice
Zecchini Hotel** – Venice

03.04.2008
spending the 2. day in Venice
Venice – Rome by night train

04.04.2008
spending the 1. day in Rom
Hotel Mimosa – Roma

05.04.2008
spending the 2. day in Roma
Rome – Florence by train in evening
Hotel Liana*** – Florenza

06.04.2008
spending one day in Florence
Florence – Nice by night train

07.04.2008
spending one day in Nice and Monaco
Nice – Paris by night train

08.04.2008
spending one day in Paris
Paris – London by bus
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Italy – as always grand, especially at spring-season!

Our first destination is Venice
As we arrived by plain, we took the bus (about 1hour to Venice-it’s all perfectly organized at the airport) which arrives at Piazzale Roma, next to the train station (Staz. Ferroviaria S. Lucia) in Venice. If you stay in an other hotel you will find all the “water-buses” living from there as well (cheap, and very convenient-buy a day pass if it’s likely you use it again).
As probably most people know, Venice is always beautiful, but can transform into a foul-smelling place under the hot summer sun and in autumn it is famous for its high tights when the water bubbles through the floor plates of San Marco’s square…So, try spring it’s most likely that you shall have a fabulous time.

Venice is expensive! Accommodation for less than 100€ is difficult to find (be careful with the youth hostel, I heard lots of bad stuff about it, like a 11pm curfew-all lights go off!!!) I found this one:
Zecchini Hotel**
Lista di Spagna
152 – VENEZIA
Tel. +39 041715066
Fax +39 041715611
We paid 80€ double room per night incl. Breakfast (bath in corridor)

My review: They where very friendly and helpful (left our luggage with them the hole day) , the rooms were perfectly clean incl. the brand new bathroom with hairdryer (good if you have long hair). The location is close to the Main station, so you don’t have to carry your luggage all over the place – but be careful they don’t have a lift (but 4 story’s)! It’s a good place if you want to explore the city, rather then your hotel… so it’s a good, cheap place to stay, but don’t expect anything spectacular.
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Night train to Roma
Via a very busy old second class train (sitting, if the train would have been less packed you can lower the seats so that you get it into a perfect horizontal position-which is very comfortable)
but it was dirt-cheap! :)

Our Hotel in Roma:
Hotel Mimosa
Via di Santa Chiara, 61
00186 Roma, Italy
Tel. +39 06.68801753
Fax +39 06.6833557
VAT 03429880580
info@hotelmimosa.ne
We paid 80€ double room per night incl. Breakfast (with our own bath)

My review: I hardly could believe the location of the hotel. It is really 100 meters from the Pantheon!!! and 5 minutes from piazza Navona, the heart of the historic center of the city and is ideal for visiting Rome conveniently on foot! It is located in a quiet site street – watch out for the little sign on the House wall. Go up the stairs one flight (no lift) where the Hotel is located. It’s again nothing special, but clean and our room was spaces (with high ceilings and tall windows with wooden clatters), friendly and modern decorated… the Hotel Mimosa offers 11 spacious rooms, breakfast and 24 hr. reception
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After two fabulous days in Rome we took the evening train to Florence (about 2,5hours). As it was our last night in Italy we wanted to spend it in a Hotel which could give you all that Italy flair

HOTEL VILLA LIANA
Via V. Alfieri 18
50121 Firenze
Tel. 055245303/4
Fax 0552344596
e mail: info@hotelliana.com
We paid 110€ for our double room per night incl. a huge Breakfast (with our own bath)

my review:
All our expectations where for filled! Beautiful house and interior – all of the 19th century…elegant rooms with high ceilings, very comfortable bed (you even get slippers, hair dryer…) and comfortable all the way. The stuff was friendly and what an amazing breakfast! All kind of bread, cheeses, meat…even 4 different cakes where on the buffet. I felt quite predestined and very happy to stay there and just can recommend it!.
But it is good to knoe that it took us 20min. by food from the main Station, you might want to invest into a taxi?! The Dome (7min.), Fortezza da Basso, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria are all in walking distance.

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We left Florence on the nighttrain to Nice. When we woke up the train offered the most stunning view of the Cote d’Azur. We visited Monaco and found a them park- the place didn’t seam to have any soul. Thats what you call “high-density living”, a very aggressive construction industry had burryed all nature under concrete. So, I just recommend it if you are a lover of polished theme parks/yachts/or came to watch the grand prix.
Nice (Nizza) is livelier with some great historic buildings, but just a small corner of it contains “old town charm” and is worth a visit.
The rest of Nice is built very quickly after the second world war and is mostly face and soul-less.
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We are so use to our train nights, we properly can’t sleep anywhere else anymore.
We wake up in Paris, and have a romantic breakfast on the Seine.

The worst thing of our travel tour is going to happen now, we are taking the bus.
If you can help it don’t take the bus!!! It takes ages, it is expensive (if you didn’t book way in advance) and is uncomfortable. We should have booked the eurostar from Paris- but (as so often, we where late and all the cheap tickets where gone) But I am sure you can take the “normal train” to the ferry and get on a train on the English side again as well.

My trip is planned for Friday evening (after work) 22th of August 2008 till Monday evening 25th of August 2008. (a long bank holiday weekend in england)

I found three ways of getting to Amsterdam.

1. by plain- approx.costs: £200 return for two people
2. by train - approx.costs: £318 return for two people
3. by ferry - approx.costs: £198 return for two people

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Getting there:

1. by plain

The last budget airlines leave already early on Friday! To find the cheapest fair try:

http://flightchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/

Flight+Tax+Luggage fare+Airport transfare return for two people
approx.costs: £200

2. by train

Take the late Eurostar train from St Pancreas to Brussels (just under 2h). If you are lucky you could get a connection train to Amsterdam (just under 3h.).
Eurostar deals
Train/Netherlands

costs:
£118 Eurostar return London/Brussels for two people
£100 approx. price for Hotel in Brussels (budget Hotel) for two people
£100 approx. price for return train Brussels to Amsterdam for two people
on the way back you take an earlier train to avoid a extra night in Brussels
approx.costs: £318

3. by ferry

Try the Stenaline deal “Train&Sail”:

You can start Friday evening from Liverpool St Station and take the train to Harwich international. From there you catch the ferry and will arrive in Amsterdam the next morning.

Overnight travel from £198 for two people return daytime
Daytime travel from £116 for two people return

stenaline
seat61

click to enlarge

the “captains” cabin is the most luxury one

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Accommodation:

All Hotels are recommended by friends, very central and around 100€ for a double (I built a link in the Hotel name!!!):

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Hotel Résidence Le Coin***
Nieuwe Doelenstraat 5
1012 CP AMSTERDAM
Nederland
Telephon:31 (0)20 524 6800
Fax:31 (0)20 524 6801
Price’s from 132€ -147€
very much to recommend!

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Hotel Prinsenhof**
PRINSENGRACHT 810
1017 JL AMSTERDAM
HOLLAND
Phone : +31-20-6231772
Fax : +31-20-6383368
Accommodation between € 69 and 149

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Hotel Acacia
Lindengracht 251
1015 KH Amsterdam
Telephone 00 31 20 6221460
Fax 00 31 20 6380748
14 rooms in the shape of an iron.

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Hotel Asterisk**
Den Texstraat 16
1017 ZA Amsterdam
Tel: (+31) 20 6241768
Fax: (+31) 20 6382790
mailto:hotelasterisk@planet.nl
Prices between € 89 and 129 incl.Breakfast and Tax

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Budget Hotel Clemens Amsterdam
Raadhuisstraat 39
1016 DC Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)20 624 60 89
Fax: +31 (0)20 626 96 58
up to 20 guests

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Villa Borgmann***
Koningslaan 48
1075 AE
Amsterdam
Tel.: +31 (0)20 – 673 52 52
Fax : +31 (0)20 – 676 25 80
direct on the park, nice quiet area
Prices between € 135 and € 175 Prices include
breakfast; city tax not included

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Hotel Museumzicht

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Hotel Keizershof -I can’t recommend that hotel anymore! See my review above!
Keizersgracht 618
1017 ER Amsterdam
tel:+31.20.6222855
fax:+31.20.6248412
just 4 rooms, closed between 1pm to 4pm
Directions: tram line 16, 24 and 25. Stop at Keizersgracht.
Prices from € 65,- to € 115,- per night
and incl. a Dutch breakfast and VAT.

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Hotel Heemskerk Amsterdam
Jan Willem Brouwersstraat 25
1071 LH Amsterdam
Tel: (+31) 020-6794980
Fax: (+31) 084-7486802
Skype: hotelheemskerk

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Rent

RENT A BIKE
Damstraat 20-22
Amsterdam
tel ++ – 31 (0)20 – 625 50 29
Monday-Sunday 9.00 am – 6.00 pm
price for a day: 12.50

http://www.bikes.nl/

For a very detailed map of Tanzania try Tanzania map

Accommodation:

What can one expect to pay for accommodation in Tanzania?

Average Room Prices – see “lonely planet”
Low US$10-30
Mid US$40-80
High US$90-150
Deluxe US$150+

This varies drastically depending on where you are staying and the level of luxury you are looking for. For lodge accommodation, one can expect to pay anything from $250 (US Dollars) per person per night upwards. The cost of accommodation generally includes all meals. At certain lodges it will include various activities and certain drinks as well.

Accommodation in East Africa has lower quality standards than lodges in Southern Africa and internationally. A 5 star in East Africa is often similar to a 4 star in Southern Africa.

There is varied accommodation in Tanzania. The safari lodges differ in size and style, and are often built to blend in with the environment.

Accommodation in Tanzania tends to be of rondavel or banda type, with a lounge, central dining area and bar in single unit hotels.

Do not be misled by the term “tented accommodation” – this usually refers to luxurious tents with en suite bathrooms and flush toilets. This style of accommodation is very popular and gives the visitor the true experience of being close to nature without the inconvenience and discomfort that can be associated with camping in the open.

Note that the word hotel (or in Swahili, hoteli) means food and drink only, rather than lodging. It would be better to use the word guest house (or in Swahili, guesti).

National Parks offer ‘ordinary’ campsites that provide toilets, fireplaces and usually water taps. ‘Special’ campsites usually only have a pit toilet. It is necessary to pre-book campsites. Camping is limited outside the national parks. Due to the distances traveled in Tanzania it is strongly recommended that you make all your arrangements in advance.

Serengety National Park

click to enlarge
For more information about migration in the Serengeti: Serengeti map and migration

Some Camps/Hotels around US$100:

Ngome Camp (US$100 pppn) There are five tents, all with twin beds. Tents are spacious with en suite bathroom. Ngome Camp in the western Serengeti. The camp is a few kilometres from the Ikoma Gate of Serengeti National Park. There are resident animals throughout the year. During the migration period, large herds of gnu and zebra pass by the camp.
Ikoma Bush Camp (US$115pppn) Good value. North-West central Serengeti. Night game drives and walks.
Kijereshi Camp (US$120) West Serengeti. Near to the road to Mwanza.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge (US$120pppn) North Serengeti. Architecturally impressive. Recommended: July-October.
Seronera Wildlife Lodge (US$120pppn) Central Serengeti. Recommended: May-June and December.
Serena Lodge (High US$145. Peak US$160pppn) West Central Serengeti. Recommended: May-June and December.
Sopa Lodge (High US$130. Peak US$140pppn). South central Serengeti. Recommended January to June and December.

Balloon Safari (from US$400), If you have a Balloon Safari in mind it is recommended to stay at one of the central Serengeti lodges.

To find more information about accommodation go to the
Tanzania Tourist Board Official Website

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getting there

by plain:
Flying into one of Tanzania’s three international airports – Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro (situated between Arusha and Moshi), and Zanzibar, near Stone Town is the fastest and most expedient way to enter the country. All three offer world class service and a warm welcome to the country. Recent security upgrades now also make travelling even safer than before.

At the time of writing, international airlines that fly to Dar es Salaam include Air India, British Airways, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Gulf Air, Kenya Airways, South African Airways and KLM.
There is a departure tax of US$30 (US$25 from Zanzibar) on all international flights leaving Tanzanian airports but is usually included in the price of the ticket.

Tanzania is served Internationally from Europa by

• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) , +255 22 213 9790 (Dar) & +255 27 223 8355 (Arusha), daily flights with stopover in Kilimanjaro.
• British Airways (London-Heathrow) , +255 22 211 3820, flights on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
• Swiss International Air Lines (Zuerich) , +255 22 211 8870, 5 flights a week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) with a stopover in Nairobi, Kenya

Picture: Coastal Activities

getting around

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by plain:

• Air Tanzania , +255 22 211 8411, email:bookings@airtanzania.com.
• Precision Air , +255 22 212 1718, Along Nyerere/Pugu Road, P.O Box 70770, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, email:info@precisionairtz.com or pwreservations@precisionairtz.com also flights to/from Kenya
• Coastal Aviation , +255 22 211 7959, P. O. Box 3052, 107 Upanga Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, email: safari@coastal.cc
• ZanAir , +255 24 223 3670, P.O.Box 2113, Zanzibar, Tanzania, email:reservations@zanair.com.
• Regional Tanzania , which provide almost daily service to all major cities, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Mbeya, Zanzibar, and most national parks.

Warning: Domestic flights are often late but generally reliable.

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by train:

Travelling by rail through Tanzania, in the style of the last century, is a romantic and unforgettable way to experience the country. In the last few years, rail travel through Tanzania has improved both in quality and service. The chance to relax and enjoy the scenery at a leisurely pace and see local villages up-close on the way. If you like to sit back and enjoy the journey, travelling by train through Tanzania can be a fantastic experience.

The journey takes days, but is more comfortable and only slightly longer than travelling by road. 1st and 2nd class cabins are quite comfortable and bedding is provided by stewards on the train.

You may want to self-cater at least part of the way, so be sure to stop off at a supermarket before you leave. Don’t leave luggage unattended and close your windows at night.

I don’t think the Tanzanian Trainline has any websites, no information to be found about it on web or in travel books…sorry!
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tip: As the train goes through the “Selous game reserve”, you can see animals, giraffes and the like.
Be aware that the “express” train that goes from Tanzania through to Zambia leaves Dar at 3pm on Tuesday and you will be going through Selous at night!
If you would like to see Selous during the day, take the ordinary train to mbeya, which leaves Dar at 9am monday morning, so you should be going through Selous for much of the afternoon.
You’ll arrive in Mbeya on Tuesday morning, and can stay there the night
and get the express train that comes though Mbeya on Wednesday on its way to Zambia.
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by car:
The biggest safety risks while traveling in Tanzania are properly road accidents! The conditions are poor and buses are very speedy. It’s not advised to drive in Tanzania, or throughout most of Africa, unless you have already experienced the driving conditions in developing countries. Nonetheless, here is some useful information for those thinking to undertake the challenge.

Tanzanians drive on the left!

Choice of vehicle

• If you’re hiring a car when you get here, your best option is a 4×4 sport utility vehicle with good road clearance, especially if you plan on going to a safari trip. Look for the Land Cruiser, Hilux Surf (4Runner), and Range Rover vehicles. Avoid mini-SUVs, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV, because they can’t always negotiate the poor road conditions in most of Tanzania’s national parks.

Navigation

• Nelles Maps of Tanzania, Rwanda & Burundi is the best map. They’ve taken the time to locate the smallest of villages along the routes, which is great for navigating places where landmarks are scarce.

• There are markers and white concrete pillions along the main roads. They identify the next major city or town along the route and how many kilometers remain.

Driving in the city

• This only applies to Dar es Salaam, since all other cities and towns are relatively small and easy to get around in. The city center is extremely congested from 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday. There are few traffic lights, and the streets are very narrow. It’s a dog-eat-dog kind of place, so offensive driving skills are a must, as no one will let you pass if you just sit and wait at stops signs. Streets are crowded with parked and moving cars, SUVs, lorries, scooters, and very muscular men pulling insanely overloaded carts. People can spend hours stuck in traffic jams, especially around Kariakoo Market.

• There are a few roundabouts in downtown, which the locals call “keeplefties” because they thought that the sign advising drivers to “Keep Left” when entering the roundabouts named this fascinating Mzungu invention. Mzungu is the Swahili word for “white” foreigners. It is not derogatory, and it’s more along the lines of calling a white person a Caucasian.

• When parking on the street in Dar, find a spot to park, then lock your doors and leave. When you return, a parking attendant wearing a yellow fluorescent vest will approach you for payment. The fee is 300 Tsh for two hours. The attendant should either hand you a ticket, or the ticked will already be on your windshield. DO NOT leave without paying if there is a ticket on your windshield. The attendant will most likely be forced to make up for the missing money, as he probably earns, at best, a mere 3000 Tsh a day

Dangers and annoyances

• Tanzanians drive very fast and won’t hesitate to overtake in a blind curve. Also, most commercial vehicles are poorly maintained and overloaded, and you’ll see many of them broken-down along the main highways. NEVER assume their brakes are working or that the drivers have fully thought through the dangerous maneuver they are undertaking.

• Most roads in Tanzania are poorly maintained and littered with potholes and dangerous grooves formed by overloaded transport vehicles. All main roads cut through towns and villages, and often traffic calming tools (a.k.a. speed or road humps) ensure vehicles reduce their speed when passing through. Unfortunately, few are clearly marked while most are hard to see until you are right upon them, and if you are coming too fast, you could be thrown off the road. SLOW DOWN when entering any town, or you might not be able to avoid these and other hazards. This defensive driving attitude is also prudent because animals and children often bolt out into the street.

Note: If you are involved in an accident with a pedestrian, drive to the nearest police station to advise them. DO NOT exit your vehicle and attempt to resolve the situation, even if you are sure it was not your fault. Tanzanians are some of the nicest people you will ever meet in Africa, but they have been known to take matters into their own hands. This is largely due to their mistrust of the police and the belief that anyone with money, e.g. rich foreigners, can buy their way out of a problem.

• If you encounter a convoy of government vehicles, move out of the way. They have priority, although this is debatable, and will not hesitate to run you off the road if you don’t give way. You could also be fined by the police for your failure to give way.

Note: Carjacking is uncommon but opening doors or jumping through open windows to steal valuables is not. Keep your windows closed and the doors locked. When stopped at traffic lights or parked on unattended locations, thieves have been known to steal mirrors, paneling, spare tires, and anything that is not either engraved with the license plate number of bolted into the vehicle’s body. Choose your parking spots carefully and don’t leave valuables in plain sight. You can either offer the parking attendant a small tip to watch your vehicle, 500 to 1000 Tsh, or find a secured parking lot, especially if you are leaving your vehicle overnight.

Passing Etiquette

• Drivers following you will activate their right turn signal light to indicate they wish to pass you. If the road is clear, activate your left turn signal; if not, activate your right turn signal. Look for this when attempting to pass.

What to bring

• • A large jerry can (20 liters) with emergency fuel. (FYI – Don’t enter a national park without a full tank of gas.)
  • A shovel, a machete (“panga” in Swahili), and tow rope
  • Good road maps
  • First-aid kit
  • Drinking water, at least 5 liters, and non-perishable emergency food supplies.

by bus: Recommended bus company:

Scandinavian Express

Dar-es-Salaam

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What to see:

Tanzania is a country with great national parks, where you can see some of the finest African flora and fauna. Tanzania is home to several national parks and game reserves. Safaris in Tanzania can be put into two categories, the Northern Circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara and Tarangire) and the Southern Circuit (Selous, Mikumi and Ruaha). This is certainly an oversimplification and does not include other interesting but harder to reach parks such as Katavi and Gombe, just to name two. For tourist, the two first groupings are more accessible as several tour companies offer a variety a packages for these.

Price

The cost of a safari can range from the basics (fly-tents, self-catering and guides with vehicles) to smaller parks like Manyara and Tarangire, to luxury lodges and tented camps in the Serengeti which can cost anywhere from US$250 to US$1,500 per person per night. You can use your own vehicle, provided it’s a 4×4 with adequate clearance. There is a benefit to hiring a guide and a vehicle as safari vehicles are equipped with open rooftops which provide a much better vantage point for anumal viewing. Also, many park will require that you hire a certified guide before you enter the park, even if you’re using your own vehicle. Guides can cost around US$35 a day plus tip. Guides are good to have since they know the park and can help you locate some of the more sought after animals such as lions, leopards, rhinos, cheetahs and hyenas.

Park fees for Manyara and Tarangire are as of July 2008 US$80 per vehicle. For Ngorongoro there is a US$200 vehicle fee as well as a $50 per person park fee. For the Serengeti it’s US$50 per person with no vehicle fee. These fees are valid for 24 hours. If you arrive in the afternoon, you can return in the morning the next day and not pay again.

Some of the more popular safari companies are Ranger tours and Leopards tours. Serena and Sopa are popular lodging spots and have facilities throughout the Northern Circuit. However, don’t discount using smaller tours and lesser known lodging facilities which are just as good if not better than the larger tours and lodges.

Wildlife Viewing:

• Serengeti National Park, made famous by numerous Discovery Channel specials, hosts a wide range of wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, hippopotamuses, elephants, zebra, buffalo, water buck, crocodiles, gazelle, warthogs, and wildebeest. One major attraction is the wildebeest migration, which occurs continuously between the Serengeti and Masai Mara (Kenya). Park fees are $50/person/day as of July 2008, and a guide with a 4-wheel drive vehicle is required. If the migration is your main purpose for visiting the Serengeti, you should advise your tour company as this may require travel much further afield and could be more costly.

• Ngorongoro Conservation Area also hosts an abundance of wildlife, particularly in the Ngorongoro crater. Formed by the same volcanic activity that generated Kilimanjaro and the Great Rift Valley, Ngorongoro consists of the highlands around the crater (rich in elephants) and the crater itself (similar animals to Serengeti, but at higher densities and with a small population of black rhino). Park fees are $50/day/person as of July 2007, plus $200 per vehicle for a six-hour game drive in the crater.

• Ruaha National Park and Selous Game Reserve are far less popular but very enjoyable. You won’t find quite the volume of wildlife that you would in the Serengeti but, if you’re looking for a destination with fewer tourists and a greater range of wildlife, these parks are for you. Additionally, Selous is the only other place besides Ngorongoro where you may see a rhino. You can also visit the Uduzungwa Mountains Park for a truly wilderness hike through unspoiled and spectacular scenery. There are few places left in the world like this one.

• Tarangire National Park is in the northern circuit of Tanzania and was named after the Tarangire river flowing within the park. The park area is approximately 2,600sq km. Similar to Serengeti, the park has a high concentrations of wildlife during the dry seasons as well as the only safari destinations in Tanzania with the highest number of elephants. Also, over 570 bird species have been identified, and the place is surely a birdwatchers’ paradise. Safari accommodation is available in quality safari lodges and campsites.

*When visiting wildlife parks be sure to stay as close to the viewing areas (center of the parks) as possible and leave as soon as you can in the morning as animals are typically most active soon after sunrise.

• Islands

• Zanzibar is an island off the coast of Tanzania; it includes both Zanzibar and Pemba. Zanzibar has beautiful beaches and a historical Stone Town. Zanzibar is great for scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming with dolphins. Other attractions include spice tours and the Jozani Forest, which shelters a small population of red Colobus monkeys

• Mafia Island Marine Park is south of Zanzibar and boasts some fantastic scuba diving and snorkeling. You may also get to swim with whale sharks, as this is one of the few areas in the world where they congregate annually.

• Mountains:

• Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and one of the highest freestanding mountains in the world. Many people travel to Tanzania just to climb this mountain. You can either organize your trek up the mountain from your home country through a travel agency, but you’ll pay a lot more for this convenience, or, if you’ve got a bit of time, hop on plane and save some money by organizing it in Arusha or in Dar. Be advised that there are as many incompetent and dishonest trek organizers as there are good ones. Ask around to make sure your guide will deliver on his promises.

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Respect:

In general, tourists should wear modest or conservative attire, especially in Zanzibar, which is a conservative Muslim society. Western women should not wear clothing that reveals too much skin. ‘Kangas’, brightly-colored wrap-around cloth, are affordable, available throughout the country, and can serve as a discreet covering.

The Masai people, with their colorful clothing, are tempting targets for any tourist with a camera. However, they expect to be paid for it, and you should always ask before taking pictures.

It is common practice among Swahili-speakers to use ‘shikamoo’ (prounounced ‘she ka moe’ and literally meaning, ‘I hold your feet’) when greeting elders or superiors. The usual response from an elder will be ‘marahaba’. In Zanzibar, the equivalent of ‘shikamoo’ is ‘chei chei’. The traveler will get along very well when using these verbal expressions of respect. In addition, a title after the ‘shikamoo’ is also a useful indicator that you are not just a dumb tourist — ‘shikamoo bwana’ for the gents, and, when addressing a female elder, ‘shikamoo mama’.

Tanzanians will also comment if you are doing any work while they are not, with the phrase “pole na kazi”. It literally means “I’m sorry you have to work”. A simple “asante”, or “thanks”, will suffice in reply.

Many Tanzanian sellers are persistent and, ordinarily, a simple head shake, accompanied by “asante sana”, should settle it. However, as a last resort, a firm “hapana”, meaning “no”, will do the trick. Tanzanians find the word “hapana” quite rude, so please don’t use it casually — only as a last resort. Whatever you plan to do, do not tell someone you will come back to buy from them later when you have no such intention; better to be honest and say ‘no’ than having to avoid someone for days. They somehow have a funny way of finding you when you promised to visit their stall or shop!

The most polite way to refuse something is to say “sihitaji” (pronounced see-hih-tah-jee)- “I don’t need it”.

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What to bring:

Packing for a trip to East Africa can be an anxiety-filled experience for first-time travellers, especially with the range of gear on offer at outdoor outfitters. When it comes down to it, packing for a trip to Tanzania is much like preparing for any adventure destination – bring sturdy shoes, bathing suits, and comfortable clothes. Don’t worry if you happen to forget necessities like sunscreen and insect repellent – they’re easily purchased in the supermarkets and pharmacies of most towns.

That said, what do you bring? Here are just a few suggestions – above and beyond the obvious – to make sure you’ll be prepared:

• A camera and telephoto lens if you’ve got one – it’s better for wildlife shots
• Insect repellent
• A good sun hat and waterproof sunscreen
• Sunglasses with a cord
• A photocopy of your passport, important phone numbers, credit cards, driver’s license, medical insurance, and tickets
• Good walking shoes and a pair of sandals for relaxing at the end of the day
• A bathing suit and beach or pool wear
• Any prescription medication you are taking, and anti-malarial prophylactics
• An extra bag to bring shopping home in

Try to travel light – weight restrictions on charter aircraft can be quite low, and bags can become quite heavy under the African sun…

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Tanzania map
for a much more accurate map try Safarilands Tanzania-info

Helpful websites:

Tanzania Tourist board

Tanzania/Zambia Train lines

Serengeti

Wikitravel Tanzania

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Please note that the publisher doesn’t take the resposebility for the content of the site. Information might not be wrong or incomplete!

Where: from London to Amsterdam and return

When: 22th of August – the evening 25th of August 2008 (long bank holiday weekend in england)

Who: My husband and me

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16.th July 2008:

How to get there: We decided to go by ferry
With the Stenaline deal “Train&Sail”: Starting Friday evening from Liverpool St Station and take the train to Harwich international. From there you catch the ferry and will arrive in Amsterdam the next morning. On Monday we will take the daytime ferry back to London.

We decided to travel in luxury! : )
I booked the captains cabin on the way over, which is £52 extra (for two people). Which brings the all-over fare for two people return up to £250.
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Were we stay:

We decided to go for something small and hopefully cosy, with the real Amsterdam feel! I booked a double room with Bath and garden view (canal view was taken) for €115 per night.

Hotel Keizershof
Keizersgracht 618
1017 ER Amsterdam
tel:+31.20.6222855
fax:+31.20.6248412
just 4 rooms, closed between 1pm to 4pm
Directions: tram line 16, 24 and 25. Stop at Keizersgracht.
Prices from € 65,- to € 115,- per night
and incl. a Dutch breakfast and VAT.

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We have to think about what we want to see in the short time of 2 days… to be continued!!!

I am exited and hope we will be luck with the weather!

To Corfu:
Easyjet is the quickest and cheapest way. The departure will be from London Gatwick (north terminal-so you will have to account at least for 10min extra) is very early at 6:35am.
The most convenient but expensive way to the airport at that time is “ Gatwick express ” from Victoria station.

To the harbour in Kerkyra/Corfu town:
You will land (with the most beautiful views) at Corfu’s international airport I.Kapodistrias.
It is located approx 3km south of the Corfu Town city centre. If you want to spend more time on Corfu have a look here “ Corfu guide “. If you want to travel to the mainland straight away you best take a taxi (ask the driver how much the fare is before you sit down!!! 2008 it was €10) ask them to bring you to the harbour where the ships leave to Igoumentisa. Don’t worry they understand English-at least that much!

To Igoumentisa:
You will get your ferry ticket at the little hut’s on the harbour. The friendly lady’s speak English and the fare for pedestrians is €7. The ferry’s I have seen take car’s as well. There is a little kiosk on board were you can buy drinks and snacks. Enjoy the great view from the ferry! (don’t forget to pick up a leaflet with the ferry timetable for your return!)

double click to enlarge!

Some pictures:

Corfu town from the ferry

A very nice restaurant in Corfu town, which we tryed on our way back. As it is not unlikely that you might have to pay €5 for a cup of cafe and €15 for a budget main course. Strangely this restaurant was not more expensive than average but had the most stunning views and good food. I is on the street corner of Arseniou/Kapodistriou. But you will notice it from the ferry already.

Try Newquay

Flanked by sandy beaches, with some of the UK’s best swell, it’s not hard to see why Newquay’s such a sought-after spot to stay whatever the season. Famous for having hosted international surf contests, it’s the ideal location to see what it’s all about.
The waves which pound the Cornish coastline are created by deep Atlantic low pressure systems which unleash their powerful swells eastwards creating some of the best surfing conditions in Europe.
And more than anywhere else, Newquay’s Fistral Beach has been the arena where champions are made. European number one and WCT contender Russell Winter, British number two Spencer Hargraves and former English champion Alan Stokes are just three surfers from the town who have fine-tuned their wave dance at the powerful beach break.

How to get there?
1. by plain
look up the buget airlines from London Stansted to Newquay, very cheap!

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/?culture=GB

2. by train (5h from station to station)
from London Paddington to Newquay by train you will past very beautiful scenery.
(and don’t forget to take your bike on the train-for free!)
connections are e.g.:
Depart Paddington: 10:06
Arrive Parr: 13:57
Depart Parr: 14:02
Arrive Newquay: 14:52
I paid less then £60return. Try to book a little in advance to get a good deal

3. by bus
national express will bring you to Newquay (from London) in 7hours. If you get a good deak you can go from £20 return