“I’ve traveled to more than 70 countries on five continents, but even that couldn’t prepare me for much of what I experienced in Africa.”
Eli Solidum, traveler and TikTok blogger (@elisolidum), from the Philippines, tells MailOnline Travel about his incredible four-month odyssey across Africa, a trip that had “a lot” of challenges but also included “surreal” and “otherworldly” experiences.
The 28-year-old reveals which is the best country on the continent for beginners, why wildlife is a shock to the system and the common mistakes people make when planning a trip to Africa.
But first, what were the “heaps” of challenges you faced?
Eli traveled to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, and reveals: ‘Logistically, it may be the most difficult trip I have ever taken. Between infrequent and unreliable public transportation, a lack of affordable accommodation options in certain parts, outdated and inaccurate maps, fewer online resources covering my destinations, I had to do a lot of things my way and adapt on the fly.
‘I didn’t meet many travelers with whom to exchange advice and plans. It was also a mental challenge being a foreigner because you stood out no matter what. It was impossible to keep a low profile and I simply wasn’t used to the constant attention, even if most of it was harmless curiosity.’
The 29-year-old traveler explains that there is a “sweet spot” when it comes to planning a trip to Africa. Eli says: “I didn’t have it written down which countries I would visit, so spontaneous detours to Uganda and Rwanda required visas that I had to wait for.”
The wait meant Eli had to stay in Kenya “longer than planned” and “re-adjust” his visa in “a 10-day mess limping around Nairobi to sort everything out.”
Eli Solidum spent four months traveling through Africa. He tells MailOnline about his odyssey and the best countries he visited. He is pictured above at Victoria Falls, which he describes as “stunning.”
LEFT: Eli faced a breakdown on the train between Tanzania and Zambia. He is seen boarding the train in the first one. RIGHT: Describes Soussusvlei in Namibia as “surreal” and “otherworldly”
He reveals: “Even if you don’t like planning your trips, which I don’t really like, I would recommend researching the visa requirements for each country you might visit, checking what vaccinations and medications are required or recommended, and calculating” Find out where the major transportation hubs and airports are and then go from there.”
But on the other hand, Eli warns that it’s easy to make the common mistake of over-planning a trip to the mainland.
The traveler says: ‘If you plan too much and have strict reservations and flights for each leg of the trip, that plan will fall apart in no time.
“Things tend to go slowly here, like the three-day train journey from Dar-es-Salaam to Lusaka. It had been there for about three days when it broke down less than halfway to the destination. I later met some people in Lusaka who were planning to take the same train and arrive in Dar-es-Salaam in time to catch a flight exactly three days later. I didn’t keep in touch with them, but I bet they missed their flight.
Then there are the buses. They generally make it easier to get from one place to another, but there is always the danger of making a mistake.
Eli explains: ‘In East Africa there was no shortage of shared buses or minibuses called matatus and it was easy to get from one place to another. But bus stations were often chaotic or overwhelming and showing up as a foreigner with two backpacks strapped to either side usually meant people dragging me around trying to get me on their bus, which wasn’t always the case. the right bus.
“Things are bound to happen, and a simple domino toppling can demolish your entire itinerary.”
Fortunately, no planning is required to enjoy Africa’s spectacular wildlife, and Eli revealed that he was surprised by how ubiquitous it was.
LEFT: Eli says reaching the summit of Mount Kenya was “unforgettable.” RIGHT: Pictured in the Makgadikgadi Pan salt pans in Botswana.
Eli says he “had to stop on the road for half an hour” in Botswana “because a huge herd of zebras (above) and elephants were taking turns drinking from a water trough on the side of the road.”
Botswana (above) is where Eli had one of the “most peaceful experiences” of his life: in a mokoro (a flat canoe).
He explains: ‘You don’t even need to go on safaris to see wildlife. I was riding my bike and had to stop to let a giraffe pass. I’m walking to lunch and a baboon opens a trash can in front of me, while a wild boar grabs some trash and runs away with it. I hitchhiked in Botswana and we had to stop on the road for half an hour because a huge herd of zebras and elephants were taking turns drinking at a waterhole on the side of the road. It was stunning and never went out of style.’
Botswana is also where Eli had one of the “most peaceful experiences” of his life, despite the appearance of a scary uninvited guest. He reveals: ‘Standing in the mokoro (a type of narrow, flat canoe) and gliding through the waters of the (Okavango Delta) in the morning light was one of the most peaceful experiences of my life. It was serene, the stillness of the water, the singing of the birds, it seemed like a dream.
‘At the same time, you are on this small, defenseless slab of wood in waters inhabited by countless hippos and elephants. A hippo charged us on the way back to our starting point, and those few seconds seemed like an eternity. Luckily, it was a bluff charge and he backed away, but it was a huge adrenaline rush that was in contrast to how calm the morning had been so far. “It really brought home the reality of how wild, untamed and untouched some of the places I was visiting still were.”
So apart from Botswana, what are the bucket list places?
Eli recommends Sossusvlei in Namibia, a salt pan surrounded by desert dunes, which he describes as “the most surreal, otherworldly place I’ve ever visited.” Mount Kenya was also a highlight. Eli reveals: “Reaching the summit of Mount Kenya was unforgettable because it was such a challenge, fighting the altitude and starting our climb to the summit at two in the morning.”
He adds that Mosi-oa-Tunya, Zambia’s National Park that is home to half of Victoria Falls, is “stunning, lives up to the hype and then some.”
And don’t miss Uganda.
Eli explains: ‘It wasn’t even on my radar when I landed in Kenya, but I met a lot of Ugandans in Kenya and they were always smiling and laughing. I was curious and wanted to see why everyone in the country was so happy all the time. I was only there 10 days but I loved it.
‘It has a little bit of everything. Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, Murchison Falls, the source of the Nile River, crater lakes and the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, home to some of the highest peaks in Africa. It is one of the most lush countries I have ever been to and the people there were some of the friendliest and funniest. The nightlife is incredible and probably the best in East Africa.’
This aerial shot shows the stunning Okavango Delta in Botswana, a place that Eli says “looked like a dream.”
For anyone visiting Africa for the first time, Eli recommends South Africa as the “best introduction.” He explains: ‘Cape Town and the Garden Route are a great place to find balance, because they are a good mix of Western and African cultures. It seemed like a good introduction to me, like gently letting yourself into the continent before immersing yourself in the more remote and culturally different regions.
‘If I hadn’t visited Cape Town five years ago, I think it would have been harder for me to travel around the rest of the continent. It’s also a great place to meet other travelers, so you can get advice from them or even meet them along the way.’
While Africa isn’t a well-traveled route on the backpacking circuit, that can have unexpected benefits. Eli reveals: “There weren’t many backpackers traveling around the continent while I was there. Sometimes it would be good because you would pay $10 (£7.88) for a shared dormitory in a hostel and you would have the whole room, sometimes even the whole hostel, to you alone.’
Eli “loved” Uganda, which he describes as “one of the most lush countries I’ve ever been to.” Pictured above is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the home of Uganda’s mountain gorillas.
Eli said that some of the “fancy, several-hundred-dollar-a-night” accommodations offer camping spots for a fraction of the price, and that he sometimes stayed in a hotel or apartment when he “needed a break after a big adventure.” ‘ – but that for the most part their budget was $20 (£15.76) or less per night.
So what would Eli say to someone reluctant to visit Africa?
He says: ‘I think it’s good to have a little bit of indecision and anxiety before you go. It is not your typical travel destination and there will be challenges. Backpacking in Africa isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for adventure, there are few places in the world that can offer what Africa offers.
‘Most travelers I’ve met have said the same. It’s not easy, but it is an immensely rewarding experience and perhaps the most satisfying trip I have ever taken. If you want to end your trip with countless stories and memories to last a lifetime, Africa will provide it in abundance. It’s unlike any trip I’ve ever taken before.