The Masai Mara immediately conjures up images of being a kid watching your first David Attenborough wildlife documentary, with lions, leopards and cheetahs chasing gazelles, impalas and wildebeest . . . and indeed that is the immediate thought. But the Masai Mara is also home of the Masai who run all things around here and who, themselves, are one of the highlights. Spending the time with them in their bright red and black shukasas as they take you for a wander around the plains and through their villages is a magical experience and, if in Kenya, unmissable.
What was particularly interesting / funny for me was how the traditional living still bumps into the modern world – I remember distinctly being woken up one morning very early in my tent by one of the Masai Warriors to then be taken on a walk to see the animals in their morning routines. We started off the conversation about how he lived, how he wants to be one of the leaders of the village so needs to learn how to jump high, and how he killed a lion when he was younger in his brutal initiation. Felt full blown colonial adventurer with world’s colliding. By the time I came back, we were discussing Manchester United’s preferred midfield and he was showing me his fantasy football team on his smart phone! Amazing stuff.
One of the classic overland routes across Africa is from the thunderous Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe to the big hitting wildlife meccas of the Masai Mara and Serengeti in Kenya and Tanzania, with the paradise island of Zanzibar and the tranquil Lake Malawi en route. Each of those destinations are world-class experiences that are must sees in their own right. Combined, you have one of the world’s great travel experiences with the added benefit of seeing the wonderful African landscape in-between. A maximum Wow-factor score experience – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .
That being said, the experience isn’t for everyone. These overland tours are often done in an overland truck which is fantastic for the elevated views with its large windows and their ability to go off-road, but they are not a luxury, comfortable coach or a private 4×4. There is a lot of driving – roughly 80 hours in the truck in total, which also means that you’re hoping that you get a good group of people to enjoy the trip with (typically 20 or so will be on the tour). And of course there is the camping which will form the majority of your evenings.
Looking back, it is a truly amazing experience, and I’d highly recommend it for those with heaps of energy for an adventure and maybe a little tight on money . . . dare I say a younger traveler? But I think it all really depends on the individual – we saw a couple in their 70s who embraced it and loved the experience, in comparison there were a group in their 20s who struggled. I did it in my late 20s and, it was fantastic
To shorten, I’d consider flying from Tanzania to Victoria Falls. The major highlights are really in Kenya (the Masai Mara), Tanzania (The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar) and Victoria Falls. You’ll be doing a lot of driving, so the big stretch between Tanzania / Lake Malawi to Victoria Falls you could maybe skip.
Serengeti National Park is one of the world’s premier wildlife destinations, hosting some of the largest terrestrial animals in the world across a vast 15,000 square km / 6,000 square mile area. The name alone conjures up memories of being a kid watching your first wildlife documentary on TV, and the reality doesn’t disappoint.
The “Big 5” of lions, leopards, elephant, rhinos and buffalo are in abundance, along with thousands and thousands of wildebeest, gazelle and impala that form part of the world famous “Great Migration”. And, to top it all, the Ngorongoro Crater offers the world’s largest unbroken crater for sensational views. All combined, its a sensational safari and one of the world’s best animal travel experiences.
Doesn’t get the top Wow-factor score just because of the intense number of fellow tourists sometimes. But, if included as part of 3 week overland trip camping from Victoria Falls to Nairobi, you’ve got one of the best travel experiences anywhere in the world and comfortably ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .
The world’s longest and most famous train journey. Crossing all of Russia, the route takes you through a landscape that was previously so impenetrable that it used to be quicker to cross the Atlantic, America and the Pacific than it was to make the overland from Moscow to Vladivostok. Considering there are unlikely to be any other ways you will get to see this vast expanse of territory, this feels like a must for an adventurous traveler.
But two things to bear in mind:
Firstly, the route is not one single train journey, rather it is a series of trains and with various stops. This gives you variety but also has implications for tickets (see tips below).
Secondly, there are three final destinations – Vladivostok, Beijing or Zabaikalsk. The classic is Vladivostok, but the most wow is ending in Beijing via Mongolia.
I first experienced this travelling from Omsk to Beijing – via Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk & Lake Baikal, Ulan Ude, Ulan Bator & its surrounding national parks – and it is a stellar journey for any adventurer. Plus it can easily tag on a Central Asia trip.
Lake Baikal tears up the geographical statistics – at a depth of 1,637m / 5,315ft it is the world’s deepest lake, holding nearly one fifth of the world’s unfrozen fresh water, its catchment area is enormous with 300+ rivers flowing into it, and it is the geological feature that is slowly splitting the Asia continent in two.
To top it all, the winters here get so brutal – temperature can drop down to minus 50 Celsius / 57 Fahrenheit – that in January to April even this vast lake freezes to the point that trucks use it as a highway. A key feature in the centre of the world’s largest land mass.
It is vast and a stay on Olkhon Island – the serene jewel halfway up the west side of the lake – is by far the highlight of a Trans-Siberian railway trip.
Hiking in the Ak-Suu mountain region of Kyrgyzstan is one of the highlights of Central Asia. Snow capped mountains, remote lakes, thermal springs, great hiking routes, and a feeling of being in a place that the modern world has largely untouched. You still see farmers moving their animals to markets on the same routes you are hiking and people generally being open and friendly to help you. Also, without the usual hoards of tourists for a place so beautiful . . . I mean, how many people have Kyrgyzstan on their summer holiday list?
As with all places in Kyrgyzstan, there isn’t really an established infrastructure to make things easy for you when you arrive, but this is all part of the charm and giving you that feeling of adventure. So, I’ve added some tips below for how to get the most out of the trip.
A road trip up the Queensland coast is one of the classic Australia trips and includes some of the best beach and ocean experiences in the world.
You’ve got 4WDing on Fraser Island, sailing the Whitsunday Islands, diving the Great Barrier Reef, tropical rainforest, giant waterfalls, and a string of beach towns and islands all the way up the coast. Add in the glitzy, hedonistic Gold Coast and the random giant roadside “Big Things”, and it becomes a very varied and very Australian road trip.
One of the best roadtrips in the world and a must for Australia.
In a nutshell:
Australia’s classic road trip and one of the best in the world
Fraser Island and sailing in the Whitsundays are the mega wow experiences
Great for beaches, sailing, diving and warm weather
Very varied: beaches, rainforest, waterfalls, islands and cities
Best done as a self-drive trip from Brisbane to Cairns either supercharged in 10 days or more civilised in 3 weeks
Go in the Australian winter (dry season in the north)
