'The roads we've traveled (so far)' in pictures

How to get accommodation right

Recently I had the opportunity to stay at Gibbs Farm near the Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania and was blown away from the second I arrived…every single detail had been attended to in the most perfect way. Nothing was ostentatious, but it all felt special and you could tell that everything about the working farm is geared towards the guests’ needs.  From the car wash for your dust-ridden vehicle as you arrive and the pre-dinner canapés served to guests while the resident bush babies are also being fed,  to the in-room post safari massages to ensure no amount of game viewing results in a stiff neck, Gibbs Farm has got it all right! What was most striking, however, was the ways they showed that ensuring your guests’ stay is an unforgettable experience is not complicated nor needs to cost the earth.  So, based on my incredible break from reality at Gibbs Farm, here are 5 simple guidelines that can help you do the same…

1) Great food from fresh produce – sounds simple but too often the focus is on variety of food rather than quality. The number of ingredients required to offer this variety means the quality and freshness suffers – there’s just no way around this, and that’s regardless of the skills of your chef.  Rather stick to a few dishes you do fantastically well and with great ingredients, this means your food costs will fall even though guest satisfaction will improve. Gibbs Farm, as already mentioned, is a working farm and 90% of all food served – the cheese, meat, vegetables and even the coffee – is grown or made on the premises. And you can tell with every bite. The lunch buffet I just sampled only featured 8 dishes, but each was mouth-watering and so much more enjoyable than a typical 30 meal buffet filled with 27 bad dishes that must be suffered through to find the 3 decent ones. To ensure you really feel spoilt Gibbs Farm have added a cake & coffee buffet in the afternoons, again not massive in variety but to die for in taste…so still far from the 30 meal buffet in quantity but also far more enjoyable, luxurious and unforgettable. This learning applies to more than just the buffet but even the size of your menu – nobody likes being faced with a 20 page menu anyway, guests and chefs alike!

First: Matt helping with the daily harvest. Second: Pre-dinner snacks as only Gibbs Farm can do! Third: Ishtar taking the freshly harvested produce up to the Gibbs Farm Kitchens to be cooked 

2) Put yourself in the shoes of your guest                                                                                          

Think about where they’ve had to come from, how they get to your accommodation and what needs arise from the specific conditions related to these questions and your establishment. So if getting to you means a long dusty road offering a car wash as guests arrive, and get whisked off to their rooms, shows that you not only understand their journey but care about making it as comfortable as possible. If you know they have traveled through a particularly cold region ensure the hand towels waiting to greet them are heated. Think about what facilities they are most likely to require as they arrive and ensure they are immediately accessible: for example if the warm water in rooms needs to be switched on and requires time to heat up ensure this is done before your guest arrives. Make sure that the number of guests per room is accommodated for – in terms of the number of towels, glasses for water etc.  Little things like this easily convert a mundane experience into something luxurious, and each little special touch may not specifically be remembered but will contribute to an unforgettable overall experience.

3) Think of alternative ways to meet guests’ needs, think of local ways to meet guests’ needs

Too often establishments rush to look and be exactly the same as millions of others around the world forgetting that by looking to solve challenges with local solutions they can not only save money but develop a point of differentiation and interest. This can be as simple as the alternatives to non-drinkable tap water that don’t need to mean costly bottled water! At Gibbs Farm water filters are used, and the water served in beautiful hand crafted glass jugs – much classier, environmentally friendly and best of all for proprietors, cheaper.  Even better these jugs are made locally using glass bottles recycled from the farm - proof that a really simple solution can have a positive impact, not only for the establishment and guests but for the surrounding community too. They take this a step further and even the lamp shades for the wall lights in the rooms are made locally from the farm’s recycled glass, resulting in décor that is note-worthy, unique and cheaper, even though this is in no way visible in the end product.

4) Keep your guests busy                                                                                                                    

The more remote your establishment the more important this becomes – and while remoteness can be a major pull factor, unless it is coupled with something to do the visit will never be for more than a few days. Gibbs Farm offers a range of daily activities for almost every hour of the day – starting with bread-baking classes, wildlife censuses and coffee roasting in the morning; to vegetable harvesting and volleyball during the day, all finished off with Bush Baby feeding and sometimes even live music in the evenings. It is impossible to get bored at Gibbs Farm regardless how long your stay. So if you want to encourage guests to stay longer all you need to do is offer an incentive to do this – and free or low-cost activities are much more likely to do this! 

First: Coffee Roasting with guests first thing in the morning. Second: The Rhythm of the Farm - & how guests can get involved. Third: Matt & Ishtar taking a tour of the studio of the Gibbs Farm artist in-resident, Athumani Katongo.

5) Offer free Wi-Fi

The fact that this still needs to be offered as advice to accommodation establishments astounds me, especially with the large number of very reasonable uncapped data packages available on the market.  Yet even some of the biggest hotel chains in the world do not offer this, or even worse do offer Wi-Fi but at an additional cost to guests. This has become a non-negotiable factor, like clean rooms, for many travellers and I know I am not alone in actively boycotting places that do not offer free Wi-Fi. Gibbs Farm is in an incredibly remote location – part of its charm – and if they can get fast and reliable Wi-Fi out at the edge of the Ngorongoro crater you have no excuse!

Words by Tracy Angus-Hammond (@T2T_Trace)

A Photo Essay...

Travel Tips for Southern Namibia

Having just spent a magical few days exploring southern Namibia we learnt a couple of things we thought were worth sharing - from how to drive, where to stay and what to see. Here's our top 8 tips: 

Draw cash before you cross the border from SA, or before you head south from Windhoek.  There are ATMs in most towns but they often seem to have run dry!  The first working ATM we found was in Keetmanshoop, and you’re likely to need fuel before then.  Petrol stations accept garage cards but not credit cards for fuel purchases.    

     
 Refuel regularly.  The distances are vast, and most of southern Namibia has a landscape that looks like the surface of Mars – desolate, rocky and searingly hot – the sort of place you really don’t want to run out of fuel in.  The people are exceptionally helpful, friendly and welcoming, but there are very few of them around.  Pick up a couple of five litre water bottles and keep them full, just in case.

     Take regular stops or change drivers frequently.  The roads are in very good condition, even the dirt tracks, but they are so long and straight and the landscape can get monotonous, making it much easier for the driver to lose concentration.  After 200km without a single village or even a bend in the road, a goat or gemsbok can appear out of nowhere and catch you completely off guard.

        Ideally, find a place to rest up around lunchtime when the heat is fiercest.  One of the best places to do this is the Canon Roadhouse, at the northern edge of the Fish River Canyon.  After miles of dusty nothing you stumble upon an oasis of retro quirkiness – a restaurant filled with beautiful old cars, classic old signs, good food, cold drinks and excellent hospitality.  Hippies must enter through the side door, as per the sign:)  You can spend the night if you like, or just take a couple of hours to absorb the ambience, refresh and recharge before pushing on.

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The other great place to stay in the Canyon area is the Ai-Ais Hot Springs Resort.  It is well serviced and well run and the starting point for some great hikes up the canyon.  There is a large swimming pool which is incredibly inviting after a long day through the desert, but you’ll get a bit of a shock when you jump in and find its actually a warm spa pool fed by the Ai-Ais hot spring nearby!  Getting out is the refreshing part, but the water is great for tired and sore muscles.  The restaurant is excellent.  Secure your tent/room well – the baboons are a bit of a nuisance.  It is a much better bet than the Hobas camp further north (near the Fish River Canyon viewsite) which is near this spectacular location but not as well run as Ai-Ais.

      As you get further north, Namibia begins to get busier.  Rehoboth, a town about an hour south of Windhoek, is the first place that shows signs of recent development.  Its quite a bustling little place and has a fascinating history.  Rehoboth was founded in the 19^th century by a group of Griqua trekkers from the Cape Colony.  They founded a de facto independent state, much like Stellaland near where Kimberley is today, and became known as the Rehoboth Basters.  Their descendants still live there today, but it has also become something of a commuter town for people working in Windhoek.  Watch out for the sudden increase in traffic between Rehoboth and Windhoek, especially in the evenings.

        Always stop at the police roadblocks, even if it doesn't seem like there is anyone around. The police just want to check your driver’s licence and ask if you’re carrying any drugs.  It also seems to be illegal to transport fresh meat from the south to the north (probably to control livestock diseases), so finish your stock before you head out or you might have it confiscated.

        Enjoy!  The landscape may be empty but it is hauntingly beautiful, and it will help you appreciate the relatively lush terrain further north.

Words by Matt Angus-Hammond (@T2T_Matt) & photos by Tracy Angus-Hammond (@T2T_Trace)

What's in the box?

We've been packing for a while now and the newest addition to the packing table is this box. Ishtar & Matt have no idea what is in it or when it will be opened...Tracy's keeping mum. Any guesses from your side? Check out the discussion on Facebook for more hints & clues!

T2T Visa Requirements

T2T & Thundafund Crowdfunding Round-up

443 seedling trays and 45 hose pipes funded by 88 people to create 45 school food gardens in 24 African countries! Who knew 88 people had the power to make such a massive difference! That's all it took to raise R63000 in only 60 days with Thundafund Crowdfunding Cafe. And while we have truly been astounded by the power of the people and what they can achieve when working together, that's not what this is about. This is a plain and simple heart-felt thank you. 

Thank you to Andrea & Patrick at Thundafund who ensured our campaign had the largest chance of success as well as offered endless patience and support. We literally could not have done this without you and really appreciate the time you took to engage with us (and we know every other project on your books too!)

Thank you to all friends and family from all across the globe who constantly shared our project in every way possible and truly were better PR agents than any money could buy.

Finally thank you to every single financial supporter. We were truly humbled by your willingness to support our project but also to support us as individuals. Your contribution will make a lasting difference and what we show below is just the beginning!

Words and Infographic by Tracy Angus-Hammond (@T2T_Trace)

A little known tourist gem in Gauteng: The Krugersdorp Game Reserve

My Sunday morning started like many others, with coffee on the balcony at home listening to the birds. Except on this particular morning 30 minutes later I was driving between Black Wildebeests, Gemsbok, Eland, Springboks and even jackal! Who knew that such an authentic slice of African bush could be found so close to home at the Krugersdorp Game Reserve? Not me that's for sure! Now let's be clear this is no Kruger Park but considering the other options within the same distance of Jozi, it is a welcome escape I definitely will be taking advantage of again!

    Ground Squirrel 

The 1500 hectare reserve is home to at least 28 mammal species and over 200 bird species. Some are rare, like the endangered Black Wildebeest, some roam the reserve in massive herds, like the Red Hartebees, and some are just plain entertaining, like the hippos or hundreds of ground squirrels that inhabit the reserve. There are also lions! They are in a separate 200 hectare enclosure within the reserve but at least live in their natural environment - and in fact do so, so well we were only able to spot 5 of  the 14 lions despite driving around their section at least 5 times. It is a much more realistic experience, than for instance The Lion Park, and since there is no petting of the lions it's also much more animal-friendly and sustainable tourist activity.

    Male mature lion 

As if it's size and proximity to Johannesburg were not enough there are also all sorts of activities for the adventurous. You can learn to 4x4, stay over, mountain bike through almost all of the reserve - the main non-entry area of course being the lion area - as well as take a guided horse back tour through the park (again skipping the lions!) On Sundays at midday you can watch the lions be fed and there are plenty of great picnic spots to wile the hours away in. Again let's be clear you're not going to get a full on big 5 game experience, but it's much better than a zoo and a really great way to spend a day, especially if you don't have the time to get out of the city. Many parts and roads in the Reserve are currently being renovated and one can only imagine what could be done if they had some earnest support. There have been claims of mismanagement of this Reserve in the past but hopefully these are signs that things are changing - the facilities, based on my experience this past Sunday, were old but all well maintained. So who knows maybe one day Jozi, just like Nairobi, will have it's own big five game reserve with a cityscape backdrop...

    Horse back tour of the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, Sunday 28 July 2013


FYI: From Krugersdorp, travel towards Rustenberg on the R24 and you can contact the Reserve on + 27 (0) 11 950 9900. Entrance is R80 and self-drive hours are 08:00 to 17:00, but earlier hours are available to mountain bikers. 

Words and photos by Tracy Angus-Hammond (@T2T_Trace)

T2T & Thundafund Crowdfunding Update 2

By Tracy Angus-Hammond (@T2T_Trace)

T2T & Thundafund Crowdfunding Update

By Tracy Angus-Hammond (@T2T_Trace)

A Proven Track Record

The primary goals of the T2T expedition are to 1) expose people to information that will make them #SeeAfricaDifferently 2) make a sustainable difference by planting 45 school food gardens along the way and 3) explore and offer alternative measure of poverty.                               

Food security was what we chose to focus on in terms of making a difference because we believe that all other efforts relating to education, health care, economic development and even democracy are futile without this. Inadequate nutrition is linked to delayed brain development, an impaired ability to learn and a lack of academic achievement. Attaching a means of addressing this issue in a long-term and sustainable way to institutions of education thus seemed a logical link. Achieving a successful and sustainable garden is not as easy as simply arriving one day, planting some seeds and leaving...we know because we've done it before.

In 2005 the T2T team became involved with the Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre for children with multiple disabilities in Soweto (South Africa). The centre's major issue was a lack of funding and this affected everything from the crafts that could be done, state of the buildings, adaptive equipment available and even quality and quantity of  food served. We started where we could with what we had available which was land, a few seedling donors and some willing hands. After consultation with the staff, parents & volunteers we established which space would be best to use (so as not to impact on any of the centre's other activities  as well as what sorts of fruit and vegetables would be most desirable. We then spent some time doing a bit of research and speaking to a few experts to establish which of these would grow in the environment we were in. Once this list was created we took a Saturday to clear the ground, a Saturday to prepare the ground and another Saturday to plant the seedlings. These pics are from the seedling planting day in 2005:

Once the garden was planted the easy bit was done! Now that seedlings were in the ground we needed to set up a network of volunteers, a task list and then match the volunteers to the task list. We then had to add timelines so everyone knew when they had to do what and here's where the secret ingredient was added: love. The group of dedicated volunteers - young, old and from all walks of life -  tend to the garden daily, water it and carefully watch for any changes before then educating themselves on what these could mean and how to best deal with them.

Fast-forward to 2013 and the garden has flourished! It is now 4 times the size of the one first created in 2005, has a Green House (kindly donated by the City of Johannesburg) and creates enough produce to provide food to the centre on a daily basis . The garden yields peas, onions, cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkins, lettuce, beetroot, spinach, potatoes to name a few!

So why am I telling you this? In October this year we will be heading off from the southernmost to northernmost points of the African continent and as we pass through the 24 countries en route, create 45 more gardens like this. To this end we are currently crowdfunding for seedlings, hosepipes and organic fertilizer on Africa's very first crowdfunding platform Thundafund (www.thundafund.com/t2tafrica). Since we're asking strangers to back our venture we thought it only fair to provide a little more background to prove our credentials. If you would like anymore information or even to visit the first garden featured give us a shout! We'd love to hear from you

By Tracy Angus-Hammond (@T2T_Trace)

Crowdfunding

Let’s start with a definition: the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.

What started out as a 17^th century Subscription business model has now taken the fund-raising world by storm. In the current economic climate the more traditional funding sources are tightening up and potential investors drying out. This age-old model combined with the internet has revolutionized the way in which people attempt to realise their dreams. Crowdfunding creates a platform where the public has the power to decide which ideas will come to life without the fiery hoops of traditional funding models. People can help fund ideas and projects that they believe in whether it be it to make a movie, start a business, save an endangered sturgeon, or in our case drive across 24 countries in Africa planting school food gardens along the way (45 gardens in total).

 

Crowdfunding success stories are countless for example Matthew Inman's $1.4m people-powered crowdfunding campaign to build a Tesla museum convinced the New York state government of public interest in the project to the tune of $850,000 in matching government funds. As we speak James Franco is using crowdfunding to raise money for his next movie. Hopefully the Tsitsikamma to Tatouine Expedition will be one of these success stories.

  

Their now exists over 450 different crowdfunding platforms. With choice aplenty, it was important for us to find a platform that speaks to our philosophy and shares our beliefs. We then heard about the launch of Africa’s very first crowd-funding platform and knew we’d found our people! As such our Tsitsikamma to Tataouine Campaign has chosen the Thundafund (www. thundafund.com) platform as our crowdfunding home. It is an online crowdfunding cafe for creative and innovative projects that will have a strong, positive social and economic impact – “Together; we can make great things happen”. 

Through their support we aim to raise R225 000 to plant 45 school food gardens, across 24 countries in 165 days. Each milestone that we reach will allow us to better equip each school with the range of seeds, tools and fertilizer that they will need to make this venture truly sustainable.

Check out our campaign where for as little as R50 (or as much as R5000), you can be apart of this incredible journey: 

www.thundafund.com/t2tafrica

By Ishtar Lakhani (T2T_Ishtar)

(Images courtesy of http://thechrisvossshow.com/how-crowdfunding-works-infographic/)

Our new route – out of the CAR, into the Congo!

Those of you who have been following our expedition for a while might have noticed that the planned route has been taking us from South Sudan, through the Central African Republic (CAR) to Cameroon.  But in recent months there has been a coup d’etat in the CAR, and a detachment of South African soldiers was involved in a fierce gun battle with rebels as the former president fled the country.  As South Africans, the team members have now found it very difficult to get visas for the CAR, which when added to the lawlessness and instability the country is now experiencing would make it almost impossible to pass through.

So where does that leave us?  In the old days of African overland expeditions there were not many options for getting across central Africa.  One route went northwards and through Chad, northern Cameroon and northeastern Nigeria, but that route is also not advisable for us for security reasons.  So the only real option remaining to us is to go through the Democratic Republic of Congo.

From Juba we’ll head southwest to Yei (Yay!) before crossing over into the DRC, where the first stop is Garamba National Park, now running again after many years of war.  Then we head south to the Ituri forest and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, which is back up to full strength after a rebel attack last year.  The chance to see one of these incredible animals in their natural habitat is a fantastic fringe benefit of what is going to be a very tough route.

(Photo courtesy Chicago Zoological Society)

From Ituri we make haste for Kisangani, the great inland port on the mighty Congo river.  Our plan is to put the vehicle on a barge heading downriver, before spending at least two weeks on what is essentially a floating town drifting slowly down a river that is a mile deep in places.  The trip has been described as life changing, rather than pleasant, but we can’t wait!  Our destination is Brazzaville, where we rest briefly before heading towards the Congo Republic’s second city, Dolisie.  Running parallel to the coast we head up through Gabon and into Cameroon, where we rejoin our original route.

This route is about 7,000km longer than the other one, and it will take us a bit longer, but most of that extra distance will be spent on the river.  It adds two extra countries to our total, as you might have noticed on our social media profiles and website.  The chance to see the Congo river in so much of its raw glory is something that makes us feel privileged, if slightly nervous!  There is so much to see and experience in the Congos and Gabon, look out for Tracy’s Travelers’ Tuesday infographic tomorrow!

By Matthew Angus-Hammond (@T2T_Matt)

What does $1.25 a day mean to you?

Living under $1.25, isn’t that the definition of poverty? Yes, according to the World Bank this is the definition of ‘extreme poverty’ with under $2 a day being defined as ‘moderate poverty’. This is a definition that is held by the majority of states, private, educational and civil institutions around the world. This statistic informs global policies (such as the Millennium Development Goals), national priorities all the way down to civil society interventions. But what does this statistic actually mean?

Percentage of population living on less than $1.25 per day, 2009

Using the purchasing power parity can only take us so far. The poverty line of an individual shifts depending on the country, area, cost of living, their family circumstance, cultural practices and access to social capital. For example survival in rural South Africa cannot be equated to survival in urban South Africa. Also, this statistic hinges on the idea of monetary income as the universal indicator of wealth and subsequent well being, this is not always the case.
I spent a year living in India, surviving on what would be defined as ‘moderate poverty’. This was extremely challenging in the city, having to negotiate transport, ration water, hustle the cheapest food (note the cheapest, not necessarily the most nutritious or balanced) and overhauling completely what I thought to be my priorities (little did I know that I could in fact survive without cheese). However, I also spent time in a rural village where I did not spend a cent in a week. I lived in a communal family dwelling, spent the day working in the rice paddies which earned me a meal from greens harvested in the community garden. The river was used for water, washing and ablutions (I recommend you research the uses of neem, it will change your life), dried cow dung for fire and the local drunk uncle was the entertainment. Needless to say if I had $1.25, I wouldn’t have known what to spend it on. 
Choosing a definition for poverty is tricky. Is poverty an absolute or relative condition? What is a decent standard of living? Is income the most important factor to take into account? How is it that individuals, families and communities ‘make a plan’? These are some of the questions we are hoping to explore and make real for ourselves by living on $1.25 a day in various major cities in Africa. How do we construct a definition that can speak to the reality experienced by millions?  

                                                                  Urban Ahmedabad

Rural Panchgani

By Ishtar Lakhani (@T2T_Ishtar)

Where it all began...

Remember when you were young?  I do.  I remember a time of dreams and expectations, and above all, a time of promises to myself to live a life less ordinary.  To achieve something truly exceptional before its all over.  One moment that has remained lodged in my memory was from a cold winter night in Grahamstown in the nineties, when I was a brash young first year student at Rhodes University.  I was having coffee with one of my residence mates, it was about 2am and we had been talking shit for several hours.  It was then that I noticed, for the first time, that my friend had a large map of Africa on his wall.  I had seen maps of Africa before, but this one was different.  In addition to the usual basic national borders this map featured a level of detail that I had never seen before.  This map had roads, and these roads led directly from places I knew all the way to places I had only read about and even to places I had always thought were fictional, like Timbuktu.

I was hooked.  I returned to that map many times that year, following the thin, winding tendrils of road from the Johannesburg I knew to places that became the growth points of my dreams.  Places like Ouagadougou.  Tambacounda.  Bangui.  Morogoro.  Tataouine.  Yes, Tataouine – where Luke Skywalker grew up.  But more on that later.  I resolved during those bold, dreamtime days that I would venture up those winding roads, explore those mysterious places for myself and live the exceptional life I had been craving for so long.

Rhodes was a great university for honing my newfound interest in the glorious continent to the north, as it was a popular choice for students from places like Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana and Malawi.  I got to know many of them and never tired of asking them about the places they came from.  In time I started going to visit, and I’ve been discovering Africa ever since.  By 2006 I was engaged to an irresistible force of nature named Tracy Hammond, and we were looking for wedding venues in Malawi and Mozambique by driving there in our Honda Jazz.  It turned into an epic three week adventure that I will write about next week.

By Matthew Angus-Hammond (@T2T_Matt)

African Events & Festivals

Click to enlarge:

By Tracy Angus -Hammond (@T2T_Trace)

5 Things to do in Nairobi, Kenya

From 2008 to the end of 2009 Matt & I lived in Ngong just outside of Nairobi, Kenya. On our very first weekend in Nairobi we excitedly got out our guidebooks to find our very first adventure in our new city. We were a bit baffled to find that all of the various brands of guidebooks not only had very little information on the city but in fact were rather disparaging of it! One said, and I’m paraphrasing here, that there is no point visiting Nairobi other than as a stop off point to get somewhere else in Kenya, but if you do get stuck there’s nothing to do so go to the mall and watch a movie! Having spent as much time as we did in Nairobi I can say with absolute confidence that this is complete nonsense – the city is packed with all sorts of historical, cultural and wildlife experiences. Here are my favourite 5:  

1) Kitengela Glass

It's a long and rather rough road to get to this magical wonderland but worth every second of the trip! You know you're getting close when strange but beautiful statues made of glass, metal, wire, tyres and more start appearing in the landscape. The first thing that makes the trip worth while are the spectacular views of the Nairobi skyline en route and then you arrive in a make believe surreal world ideally set in the Kenyan bush...

Here you can wonder around the property filled with quaint, straight out of a story book sort buildings -  some filled with shops, other workrooms and even some accommodation; visit the actual hot glass workshop as well as get some fabulous deals at the factory shop. For more visit Kitengela's website or follow them on Facebook.

2) Tradestar Exim Agencies

Not only an amazing empowerment project completely locally run but also the place that offers the best variety and quality sisal woven handbags in the entire city. Located on Mbono road, parallel to Thika road near Muthaiga, it can be a little tricky to find but the weaving women usually sitting outside working in the sun should help. The best part of supporting this initiative is that you can pick your own handles, style, colours etc. for your bag and have it made while you wait! You will also find beaded belts, sisal & beaded wine holders, beaded necklaces, sisal place mats among many other unique gems not available in the local markets. Contact Charles at tradexim4@yahoo.com for more.

3) Olorgesailie Pre-Historic Site

A 90 minute drive from Nairobi straight down to the bottom of the Rift Valley is this prehistoric site with fossil findings still in their original spots, excavations in progress open for viewing and wide, open, quiet spaces in one of Kenya's most unique landscapes.  Located on Magadi road, Olorgesailie has excellently preserved biological and cultural evidence about the evolution of man and human tools are the most prominent of all fossils found here. In fact it is currently on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites tentative list and so will soon be considered for full status.  It is very hot on the Rift Valley floor and there is no shop at the museum so be sure to take plenty of cold drinks and water. There are camping facilities available too, but again be sure to bring everything you may need with you. A great lunch stop 20 minutes away from Olorgesailie is Ribs Village, a local spot with the best Nyama Choma of any we tasted in Kenya! For more information visit the National Museums of Kenya website or the UNESCO site

4) David Sheldrick Rhino & Elephant Orphanage

This incredible centre on the outskirts of Nairobi looks after orphan elephants and rhinos, ensuring that they are able to be re-introduced into Kenya's national parks. Each elephant or rhino is assigned a keeper who stays with them for the duration of their stay at the centre. Their role is to hand rear their charges, even sleep next to them and most importantly accompany the orphans into the Nairobi National park each day, thus ensuring they spend as much time in their natural environment as possible. Once a day for only an hour the public are allowed to witness feeding time and get up close and personal with these sweet personality filled creatures. For more visit their website or follow the centre on Twitter

5) Giraffe Centre

A 15-20 minute drive from the David Sheldrick Rhino & Elephant Orphanage, here you can interact with, feed and even kiss a giraffe at eye level on raised platforms. This very special and rare experience is enhanced by excellently informed and multilingual staff always close at hand to teach you something or put nervous visitors at ease. The centre also has a great restaurant right next to the raised platforms, nature trails, accommodation, one of Nairobi's best priced and greatest variety gift stores and some very entertaining, very fat warthogs to boot! Best of all every cent of profits goes towards conservation and education so not only fun but sustainable & responsible tourism too! For more information visit their website or find them on Facebook. 

By Tracy Angus -Hammond (@T2T_Trace)

Our Expedition: Some facts

On the 5th of August 2013 we will be driving from Tsitsikamma (South Africa) to Tataouine (Tunisia) over a 153 days. Here's a infographic made by T2T team member Tracy Angus-Hammond with some of the juicy details!

By Tracy Angus -Hammond (@T2T_Trace)