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Nairo2Rio - Around The WorldNairo2Rio - Around The World
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Nairo2Rio - Around The World

October 2023 - April 2024
Solo backpacking the world, visiting 6 continents and 20+ countries over the next 16 months Read more
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  • 11countries
  • 197days
  • 550photos
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  • TravelerNairo2Rio - Around The World
    Day 1

    The Adventure Begins - 14 October 2023

    October 14, 2023 in Germany ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    The moment of truth has finally arrived. Years of dreaming about travelling the world, months of planning and too many goodbyes over the last 1.5 months to amazing people and London, the city I called home for 9 years.

    As I sit here writing this, reality of what I am about to do - 16 months of travelling across 6 continents - really has not sunk in yet. It still feels weird and quite distant at the moment - more like a normal holiday. I am very excited of what lies ahead of me, but at the same time a bit like "what the fuck am I doing here" and "will this mess up my life?" I know it won't, but it still feels this way, at least for now.

    I am wondering at what point the mindset really shifts to "hey, I am actually doing this crazy travel thing". Let's see.

    Anyway, for now, I am off to Nairobi to start my trip with a a 4-week safari around Lake Victoria. After a brief layover in, I kid you not - London - the first 'real' stop is Nairobi, Kenya.    Read more

  • TravelerNairo2Rio - Around The World
    1
    Day 2

    Nairobi - TikTok Capital Of The World

    October 15, 2023 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Nairobi on a Sunday is filled with so much life. Lots of groups of young people dancing on the streets, pavements and parks to record TikTok performances with sometimes the same dress code. I even took part in one ;-)

    Spending half a day exploring the city, its fascinating but short history (only exists since 1899 and basically built around a railway station) and interesting bits of architecture makes for a fun little city trip.

    It has lots of activities including animals (giraffe park, elephant orphanage, and even a national park - the only capital in the world that has one), but I skipped those for now, as tomorrow I am starting my 4 week safari with Absolute Africa around Lake Victoria.    Read more

  • TravelerNairo2Rio - Around The World
    2
    Day 3

    The Safari Starts - A First Glimps

    October 16, 2023 in Kenya ⋅ 🌩️ 25 °C

    Today, the Safari officially starts. I use Absolute Africa as the tour operator and the tour called “Simba Sounds” will last 38/29 days and runs around Lake Victoria from Nairobi to Nairobi.

    The first stop today was the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi. It was a great opportunity to get a first glimpse of the majestic animal and we could feed them with a little snack - only a little one, as they were officially on a diet.

    I have also met the group today and it looks as if it will be quite a fun and great safari. Most fellow travellers in the group opted for the 77 day tour that after my tour finishes continues on all the way down to Cape Town.

    In short, all systems GO before we head into the Masai country tomorrow.    Read more

  • TravelerNairo2Rio - Around The World
    Day 4

    A Night With The Masai

    October 17, 2023 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    This afternoon/evening, we spent the night at a Masai camp ground, incl a camp fire and learned about their culture, way of life, food/medicine, progress, use of technology, etc. I did not expect it to be as informative, fascinating and, frankly, inspiring. A few interesting customs/traditions:

    - The Masai do not name their children until they are 2 years old. Only given nick names until then
    - As the Masai do not keep records, the exact age of a person is not known, instead they are asked "which age group do you belong to"? (age groups are in 10 years, i.e. 15-25, 25-35, etc.
    - Women cannot be with their husbands for 2 years after giving birth
    - Men can have multiple wives
    - The men pay a dowry, typically in the form of cattle
    - The Masai eat only cow and sheep/goat meet (no chicken, no fish)
    - The boys go through 3 distinct stages: children/youth, warriorship (from age 14-16) and eldership
    - The dead are not burried, but laid out in the desert, facing west towards the sunset and will be eaten by Hyenas
    - Masai use 3 weapons: Spear, sword and bow & arrow
    - Greeting children respectfully is by touching their heads
    - Christian missionaries tried to convert them. The Masai are happy when the missionaries bring stuff and then go to church, but once they leave, the churches are empty and even used as shelter for cattle

    Most importantly, however, is the progress (or lack thereof). Female Genital Mutilation is still widespread and the norm, so is arranged marriages with no regard for the girl's/man's age (a 12 year old girl can be married to a 70 year old man). Helen, a Masai woman, is trying to change those customs for the better, but it is an uphill battle.

    I hope she achieves that. Culture must progress if human beings are being harmed, no matter the customs, At least in my view.    Read more

  • TravelerNairo2Rio - Around The World
    12
    Day 6

    Exploring The Masai Mara (Part 1)

    October 19, 2023 in Kenya ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Today was a full day in the Masai Mara after an evening game drive yesterday. For three of us in the group, the day started very early at 4.45am, as we were going for a Hot Air Ballon ride over the Mara followed by a champagne breakfast. Afterwards, we headed back on 4x4 for a full 9 hours of game driving. But first things first:

    The Hot Air Ballon Ride: Unfortunately, it was cloudy, so the sunrise was difficult to see. However, we were not disappointed with game viewing from high and low up. We saw lions (from a distance), a hippo, herds of zebras, impalas and topees. The highlight, though, was a short hunt of a warthog by a hyena (the warthog could escape).

    Champagne breakfast: On the way to the champagne breakfast, we stopped to watch a lion have a little snack eating what was left of a buffalo. The set-up of the breakfast was in the middle of the Masai Mara in the wild and finished off a brilliant morning.

    Afterwards, it was off to a 9-hour game drive, where we saw pretty much all of the animals (i.e. lions, cheetahs, elephants, rhino, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, zebras, all sorts of antelopes, warthogs, wildebeests, etc).

    The hunt for the elusive leopard - the last of the big five that I have not seen on my first safari 8 years ago - continues, however. Bloody animal!    Read more

  • TravelerNairo2Rio - Around The World
    11
    Day 7

    Exploring The Masai Mara (Part 2)

    October 20, 2023 in Kenya ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Today, we said goodbye to the Masai Mara, but not before going on a final game drive - and what a game drive it was.

    After not having seen the leopard on my safari 8 years ago, we finally saw it. It was only brief as it was running through the bushes, but we were up close to it. It was a bit of a mission, as it was a very shy one and very difficult to spot.

    In addition, the morning's game drive was spectacular as we saw a pride of lion (male, female, cubs) up close after a successful hunt and a female cheetah chilling with cubs, too. So all three big cats on one morning.

    So finally, my mission of spotting the famous Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant) has finally been completed.

    Also sneakily crossed the border to Tanzania for a few minutes.

    Thank you Masai Mara, you were absolutely spectacular!    Read more

  • TravelerNairo2Rio - Around The World
    11122
    Day 8

    Hell's Gate National Park

    October 21, 2023 in Kenya ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Yesterday we arrived at Lake Naivasha and after a short, but somewhat disappointing Hippo cruise, it was off to Hell's Gate National Park - the inspiration of Lion King, which was partly filmed here.

    6 of us hired bikes and we cycled 10km each way through the park, which was a nice change of scenery, after having spent lots of time sitting on the truck or 4x4 during the game drives. On the way, we saw some wildlife, such as zebras, a herd of buffaloes, monkeys, and giraffes.

    Once we arrived at the Rangers' station, we hired a guide and then explored the park for 1.5h and went to the Lion King movie location where Mufasa was thrown into the gorge by Scar. Tomb Raider was also partly filmed here.    Read more

  • TravelerNairo2Rio - Around The World
    122
    Day 10

    Lake Nakuru - A Special Safari Encounter

    October 23, 2023 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    For the next two nights we set up camp at Lake Nakuru, which is still on the Maasai land.
    After an afternoon of recharging our batteries, it was off for a, what would turn out to be an absolutely spectacular, full day game drive in the Nakuru National Park.

    It started off with a bang, as after spotting some rhinos, we drove straight to a leopard sighting. When we arrived, it was still resting on a branch for a short while, before jumping down and continue resting in the grass after taking a short stroll. So, two leopard sighting within a few days, after spotting none on my previous 3.5 week safari 8 years ago.

    Anyway, post some more wildlife spotting, we got up very close to a giraffe and zebras (less shy than in the Mara), before relaxing by a lodge pool for a bit.

    Lastly, the highlight of the trip: we saw a lion very up close making its way on top of a tree branch - Lions in Nakuru do climb on trees, so no place to hide. It was a special moment being up and close with the majestic animal! The highlight of the trip so far.    Read more

  • TravelerNairo2Rio - Around The World
    Day 15

    Jinja - A Fight For Survival

    October 28, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Three days ago, we made our first border crossing, leaving Kenya and heading into Uganda - the pearl of Africa. Our first stop was the action town of Jinja, which sits right at the source of the Nile and Lake Victoria.

    The thing to do here is water sports on the Nile and I decided to try white water tandem kayaking on grade IV and V rapids. Some in our group did rafting, but I never did white water kayaking, and so thought, yeap, let's try something new. It was one hell of a ride.

    At the start, the guide asks how we should tackle the rapids (easy, medium and hardcore) and of course, we went full on, which a chance of flipping over at 95%. The first few rapids were already challenging, but the kayak did not flip. Then came a grade V rapid, called "A Bad Place" (every rapid has a name).

    Finding ourselves in the middle of the rapid after making a solid start, we flipped upside down with the guide and me under water. We received a safety briefing before, but when flipping in a grade V rapid, survival instintict kicked in first. The guide was supposed to flip the kayak back up, but my position did not allow him to do just that. After being under water for what felt like an eternity (it was in fact 'just' about 15 seconds), my brain started to go through the safety process of how to get out of a kayak via the 'ejection handle' that we were taught before. Once I felt it, I immediately pulled it. By the time I was out of the kayak and floating above water with fresh air in my lungs, I was surrounded by 5-6 safety kayaks that would have flipped our kayak back up or gotten us out of there within the next few seconds. I guess the key learning is, do not panic, stay rational, go through the process step-by-step and you'll be fine. Easier said than done in a grade V rapid.

    After that little adventure, there was still a few grade IV rapid, called 'Vengence', to tackle and we went again full on straight through the middle - not flipping this time!
    What a crazy, adrenaline-fuelled, fun, and great experience - what do again in a heartbeat.

    Anyway, the following day, we explored the local village for a bit and ended our three days in Jinja with a sunset booze cruise on the Nile river, before falling asleep in our tents to the sound of the African rain.    Read more

  • TravelerNairo2Rio - Around The World
    Day 18

    Lake Mburo - A Pleasant Change of Plans

    October 31, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Initially, the tour was scheduled to stop in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.
    However, few days ago, a terrorist attack killed three people in the park, which is why alternative arrangements were made and we headed to Lake Mburo instead. On the way, we also made a pit stop at the Equator.

    The following afternoon, we hopped on 4x4s and headed into the Lake Mburo National Park for yet another interesting game drive. It was the only park so far, that we could step out of the vehicle and have a short walk among a tower of giraffs (that what you call a group of giraffs), spotting bushbacks, pumbas (i.e. warthogs), impalas, etc. Our driver/tour guide was talking non-stop, but was quite funny, giving the giraffs names like Jenny and imitating their noises. Afterwards, it was off to a boat safari on the lake, where we saw loads of hippos, a few crocodiles and countless beautiful birds.

    In short, it was yet another fantastic safari day in a national park.

    Next stop, Kisoro, home of volcanos, mountain gorillas and a landscape that I would never associated with Uganda.    Read more

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