Quirky Traveller's Tales

What’s the view like from your office window? I work from home so it’s usually the road outside, semi-detached house opposite and if I stand up tall, the tips of Cumbria fells.  For World Travel Blogger Natalie Morawietz it’s a different view every day.  Since beginning of 2011 she’s been travelling around the world in a truck. She’s a tour leader, a driver and mechanic, driving overland trucks from Cairo to Capetown and Rio de Janeiro to Quito. 

I’ve always loved travelling.  Being from Germany I was blessed with almost seven weeks holidays a year. But after a while three weeks holiday trips weren’t enough. I was bored with my office job, not challenged anymore and had seen almost all of Europe on my business trips. I knew there had to be something more out there.  However, I wasn’t quite sure what it was. Backpacking? Volunteering? Getting a job with an NGO? I decided to take my time …

During a half year sabbatical I went backpacking in West Africa, a place I’d always wanted to see but which is too difficult to travel for a short holiday. And as soon I was out there I knew I couldn’t go back to my old office job. I felt the freedom of the road … and it magically dragged me away. I decided to take a job which would allow me to travel while working.

Driving a truck around the world enables you to see the world in a very different perspective. I have been working in the craziest places, workshops and industrial areas in Nairobi, Addis Ababa or Cusco. I have met so many friendly locals always happy to help out to jump start the truck or direct you the right way. An overland truck makes you independent and it withstands the worst road conditions – well, most of the time.  Not so funny to change a spring in the middle of the Sudan desert!

You can stop pretty much anywhere and enjoy nature and the outdoors to its full extend. I have seen the most amazing wildlife in Africa driving my truck through such wonderful places as the Etosha National Park in the heart of  Namibia.

I’ve never regretted swapping my business costume for dirty trousers. I absolutely love what I do and although it can be pretty hard from time to time, no other “office window” can give you these amazing views. Who else can say that the view from their office window changes every day?  I’ve seen everything out there from elephants, lions and zebras to hundreds of waving people, 4000 m high peaks in Ethiopia, Bolivia and Peru, oceans and deserts.

Coming up soon – glaciers, volcanoes and, hopefully, big bears in Alaska!  I am taking a break from travelling – in a way. Because I love the idea of having my own overland vehicle so much, I decided to go a step further and start my own company together with Dave Patrick, who I met whilst working in Africa.  We have set up Infinite Adventures, offering overland adventure trips in a remodelled school bus in Alaska. I can’t wait to see my first bear – maybe hanging out on the viewing platform we’ve put on the top of our bus.

Natalie Morawietz loves to travel and drive big trucks around the world. After Africa and South America she is now in the United States remodelling an old yellow school bus into her own overland vehicle – ready to take like-minded people up to Alaska to have an amazing outdoor and wildlife adventure.  You can discover more about Natalie on her blog, follow her on Twitter @InfiniteAdv and on her Face Book Page InfiniteAdventures

For more quirky adventures in Alaska check out cycling enthusiast Ken Roberts article on another converted school bus – this time one you can stay in!

Any seasoned traveller will tell you that Morocco is famous for its confusing medinas (the older area of a city) and even the most confident of visitors are likely to get lost wandering around these wonderfully perplexing places.

Have no fear though, losing your way is all part of the fun on a trip to Morocco and with a number of ways to get yourself back on track again, why not embrace the unknown and take the opportunity to really immerse yourself in North African life?

Here are some top tips from Audley Travel for finding your way if you get lost in one of Morocco’s medinas:

1.  In each city, make sure you know how to get back to your hotel from a main tourist site, then ask for directions to this area if you get lost. In Marrakesh, for example, ask for directions back to the Djemaa El Fna.

2.  Take a photo of easily identifiable landmarks near to your hotel and use these as a guide if you get lost. Taller buildings that can be clearly spotted throughout the city are best.

3.  Keep your hotel address handy when out and about. As Arabic is the official language of Morocco, ask your hotel to write the address in Arabic for you before you leave. It is also worth writing it down in French as this too is widely spoken.

4.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help, there are always plenty of friendly people around. But perhaps ask a stall owner – someone behind a counter is less likely to accompany you on your onward journey!

5.  Don’t panic!  The sprawling alleyways and seemingly endless twists and turns of Morocco’s medinas can seem a bit intimidating and overwhelming if you do find yourself lost, but never fear, we haven’t heard of anyone not making it back to their hotel yet!

If you use these tips, you will get back on track eventually and, in the meantime, enjoy your surroundings –  it’s all part of a trip to Morocco!

This post is brought to you by Audley Travel, an award–winning tour operator specialising in tailor-made trips and small group tours for the discerning traveller, to over 80 countries around the world.

You can go on a road trip pretty much anywhere, but what about an off-road adventure? There are few places in the world with enough available wildernesses for you to go careering off into the distance, fingers revving on the handles of your quad bike. But in Namibia, that’s exactly what’s on offer: a quirky off-road trip, to be sure.

For the kind of journey we’re talking about, you’ll need a couple of weeks spare. But it will be worth it: a way of involving yourself first-hand with the nature and culture, really getting under the skin of this fascinating African nation. You’ll be able to drive through dramatic mountain scenery, skid over giant sand dunes whilst nibbling on biltong, and appreciate the vastness of the apparent infinity of the Etosha Pan.

Not just a road trip, this is also a kind of safari, but with you behind the wheel. During your journey, you’ll probably be lucky enough to spot African game such as leopards, giraffes, impala, zebras and elephants.

Starting from Windhoek, you’ll soon head to the desert camp of Sossusvlei in Namibia’s Sand Sea. Stay awake to watch the sun rise and set over the dunes, turning them to fire. Look out for shooting stars after dark and pay a visit to the eerie, petrified forest at Dead Vlei. But you don’t have to rough it on this trip. Stay at a luxurious desert camp and you’ll get to experience the sandy wilderness in style and comfort, and with fantastic food and drink.

From seaside Swakopmund, you can leave the road behind for a while in favour of a vehicle without a motor. Flex your arm muscles and settle into a kayak for a maritime exploration of the coastline. Here, you are likely to spot seals at the resident colony as well as other friendly sea-life.

After driving through the rough and ready beauty of Damaraland – where you might spot a desert elephant – it’s worth stopping for a while in the Etosha Pan. This is the best place in the country for spotting wildlife and big game. Radio-track reclusive leopards and head out on some game drives to find the best the area has to offer.

Further south, the Okonjima animal rescue project is an inspirational place to wrap up your adventure. The staff here at the AfriCat headquarters care for all species of big cats which have been hurt or are unable to fend for themselves. None other than Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie brought their children here for an up-close experience with the resident hyenas, cheetahs and leopards.

Your ultimate off-road adventure in Namibia is brought to you by the experts over at Exsus Luxury Safaris

“You. Come.”

“Me?”

“You.”

It wasn’t the most appealing invitation. The Berber guide who had spent the last five minutes frantically trying to calm down a decidedly unhappy and not-too-pleasant smelling camel was now beckoning to me to get on it, even though it was clearly (and loudly) still working through some unresolved camel-issues. Uncertainly I detached myself from the rest of the group, which had shrunk back towards the minibus. Here goes… 

It had all seemed like such a good idea just one day ago when we booked the two-day Sahara excursion through our riad. We had spent the previous four days raptly manoeuvring through the chaos and colour of the ancient city of Marrakech, taking in the steaming night market, the labyrinthine souks, the crumbling palaces and the stunning landscaped gardens. Having had all our senses assaulted, we felt it was time to explore beyond the city, into the mountains and desert that surrounded us.

So at 7am the next day we delivered ourselves into the hands of our skilled Moroccan driver and sped away from dusty Marrakech and into the lush countryside, overtaking everything that moved along the way. We had considered car hire in Marrakech, which you can do fairly cheaply, and making the journey ourselves – an Italian couple we had spoken to at our riad had done it – but as we climbed higher and higher into the Atlas mountains on unmarked roads with sheer drops and not a barrier to be seen, it became clear that we had made the right choice. Plus, this way we could sit back, (sort of) relax, and take in the staggeringly beautiful scenery. The one thousand year old UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou made a great place to stop for lunch on the first day and gave us a real sense of just how ancient the path which we were now treading was. 

 After eight hours of fiendish driving, we arrived in Zagora, ‘the gateway to the Sahara’, and were now faced with the herd of camels that were to take us on the final leg of the day’s journey. The only problem (apart from my camel, which looked as though it was about to spit or bolt at any second) was that we were late. Very late. The promised ‘romantic sunset trek’ took on a rather more urgent, forbidding quality as our camel train was hastily dragged along by our anxious guides, pulling us deeper into the almost-total blackness of the desert.

 One hour… two. Was this the end?

Relief flooded over the group as eventually the lights of the Berber camp burned into view up ahead. Safely and gratefully dismounted, we were at last free to marvel at the millions of stars twinkling into life above us, enjoy the delicious tagine that was cooked for us, and warm our cockles by the large open fire before hitting the sack. 

Stiff-jointed but oddly energized, the next morning we (somewhat reluctantly) got back in the saddle to begin the camel trek back to the main road, the one that would lead us once again into the rough and tumble of Marrakech. Memorable and spectacular – it’s what all travel should be …

This post is brought to you by Zopica – ‘The easy road to car hire’. Search today to find your perfect car at the cheapest possible price.

With hype building up around the island of Cape Verde the media has focused its eye upon the archipelago just off the coast of Senegal. The islands have been dubbed the new Caribbean and you can certainly see why.  Holidays to Cape Verde have become increasingly popular over the last few years with people looking to get away to luxurious new locations.

There are a surprising number of things for tourists to do and with towering mountains terraced in greens and a volcano reaching towards the sky, you will be astounded at the amazing scenery.  There are also world class water sports on offer and vibrant festivals titillating the senses. The island appears to be a mix between the Sahara and the Canary Islands and one of the most stunning destinations in the world.

The most famous inhabitant, who certainly brought the island to the world stage, was singer Cesaria Evora. Her songs are filled with a longing for the island, which she yearns to return to. The island is certainly diverse and has every type of landscape possible on offer: from Maio’s dry flats to the lush valleys of Santo Antão.

Diving is also a huge attraction and with many shipwrecks scattered along the shore there are certainly many exciting places to explore. You can see an example of the gigantic ships scattered along the cost on Santa Maria beach. The coastline is littered with similar ships that have become stranded in the shallow waters.

Cape Verde Underwater by Dive World

There are many destinations around the world, but Cape Verde is certainly worth adding to your bucket list for a number of quirky reasons.

This post is brought to you by Holiday Hypermarket

Having travelled through the southern part of Africa extensively in the last few years, I felt as though I had managed to see it all. I have showered mere metres away from a waterhole with elephants splashing around and have eaten a meal of Mopane worms, a delicacy, with a local chief. Never did I think I would experience anywhere more special.

Recently I tried something different from my usual game viewing experience in the famous Kruger National Park in South Africa. I packed my suitcase, took out all the necessary travel essentials and headed for the mountains in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal. I was hardly prepared for the immense beauty my eyes were lucky to be treated to. Kwa-Zulu Natal spans the east coast of South Africa, and is also home to the Drakensberg Mountains – one of the most ancient mountain ranges in the world, and a treat for every one of your five senses.

Sight - On your way to the Drakensberg, you will need to drive through rather monotonous farmlands, which in my experience look the same no matter where in the world you are. Looking ahead to the horizon, however, you will suddenly see the most spectacular mountains which will fill your very soul with a sense of awe.

Smell - If you are lucky to arrive on a day of one of the incredible thunderstorms which often happen in the summer months, close your eyes and take a deep breath. I’ve been to many different countries throughout the world, but nowhere else have I been able to experience fresh air. The valleys between the mountains, with their lush green vegetation, produce the most fantastic fresh smells you will ever experience.

Touch – The Drakensberg mountains are made of tough granite and softer sandstone. You will feel these different textures on the soles of your feet, but you would do yourself a disservice not to go on one of the many day-hikes available in the area and let one of the locals acting as a guide introduce you to all the plants and rocks and mosses – known as grandfather’s beard – which grow on the trees. Feel the textures with your hands and you can almost feel as if you’ve become a part of the earth.

Sound – The Drakensberg is home to the famous Drakensberg Boy’s Choir School. These boys, from the ages of 9 to 15, spend their days learning some of the most famous musical works ever produced. You won’t believe that you are in one of the toughest parts of Africa when you are in their state-of-the art auditorium listening to angelic voices singing Mozart’s Requiem and other famous works.

Taste – Experience warm farm-style meals all freshly made at the local restaurants, which are really farm kitchens, with amazingly fresh ingredients straight from their land, and cap off the delight of the Drakensberg with a sherry, watching the sun set.

Author Matthew Wilke works for EssentialTravel as a writer and product specialist.

Sponsor Essential Travel offers a wide range of travel essentials which are easily and securely booked online, including travel insurance, airport hotels, airport lounges and airport parking.