I met someone who visited Namibia, and I looked at her photos, which were very cool. She was on a sort of tour, but it was camping all the way, and not very fancy camping at that. Her pictures of wildlife (she is a future vet) were incredible.

Do you know if she did it with a Tour or on her own?

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I met someone who visited Namibia, and I looked at her photos, which were very cool. She was on a sort of tour, but it was camping all the way, and not very fancy camping at that. Her pictures of wildlife (she is a future vet) were incredible.

It was arranged through her vet school, but I think anyone could do it.
I can’t remember how much it cost, but I remember thinking that it sounded pretty reasonable for the amount of time she was gone.
They slept in tents; could hear lions roaring at night.

First off, only the very brave or the very foolish will attempt a backpacking trip in Africa. I am originally from South Africa and have backpacked quite a bit. South Africa is one place you can atleast get around, but Africa is very different. There probably is some sites online that can give you addresses for places to stay etc when you go on your trip and participate in tours, but I would advise its safer to go in a tour group.

Reason being is that Africa isn’t just a great place for wildlife but also a great place for getting killed and robbed of your belongings. Tourists are the easiest to prey on and I should know since its happened to a few overseas visitors in some areas. So just be careful.

If you go in a group tour then you will be fine and nothing will happen. On your own you are a target. Simple as that.

But otherwise its a great place.

OH, Jesus Christ. Give me a break. Yes, Africa has it’s dangerous spots, but it is completely possible to back pack Africa w/out getting killed, raped, diseased, etc. You just need to know what you’re doing. You’re obviously not getting information on this site. Go to www.lonelyplanet.com. They are the gods of guidebooks and information. Lonely Planet. They have dozens of people there who have in fact backpacked across Africa. I have a friend who went across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimabwe, Mozambique, and Malawi over a 9 month period. He loved it. He was backpacking and camping. Just go to Lonely Planet. It’ll be your new Bible.

I do not think backpacking is that bad in Africa specially in the Western Africa region.
Of course, I didn’t go backpacking but more on a business trip but I took occassional trips and had a fairly decent time.

However, I have to admit, venturing out without the normal business entourage was a challenge.
Hotels were quite filthy, food is definetly unhealthy and deep fried, corrupt officials every nook and cornor, even the taxi stopping me in the middle of nowhere and doubling up the fare, the weather and heat was a killer and someone really needs to work out and doing a lot of research before taking the trip.

My experience may not be applicable or the norms for everyone but this was my few trips to Western Africa.

read the book Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux, its a wonderful narrative (sounds more like fiction at points) where he travels overland with a backpack from Egypt to South Africa. Its wonderful..it would be a good book to read while traveling!