Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Drifting up in the canoes to within, what seemed to be, a few feet of a family of elephants and feeling that I could reach out and touch them. The majesty of these wonderful creatures is breathtaking.

Thoughts on Group Leader

TK was amazing. He was very knowledgable and made sure you felt safe and comfortable during the trip. His knowledge on all things related to Zambia, the people and wildlife and fauna, was second to none and he sure had some good cooking skills.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not worry to much if you think that you need to be super fit to do this trip. As long as you have a reasonable level of fitness this should not tax you too much. There is no pressure to go steaming up the river working yourself to the bone each day, rather there is some mild paddling as you cruise along with the river current. So as long as you do some regular excercise and can handle wild camping for a few nights then you will enjoy this trip. Also on a final note please remember to change any Kwacha before you head through the security at the airport. There are no places to change your money in the departure lounge in Lusaka.

Most Inspirational Moment

Obviously the final day trek (on my 70th birthday ! ) to the Sun Gate and the first view of Machu Picchu on a beautiful sunny day after the rain and wind getting to the top of Dead Woman's Pass the day before

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ollie was absolutely excellent with his knowledge,encouragement and actual helping hand at any possible difficult point on the trail.His friendly manner and sunny disposition gave a good atmosphere to the whole trip 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Follow the advice given as to what to take and dont worry about being slow in walking at altitude - set your own pace as the leader says and you will enjoy it

Most Inspirational Moment

Can't decide - it was all fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was Ian Fleming and I couldn't recommend him highly enough. He had the great mix of being thoroughly professional and at the same time, great fun. 100% prepared in everything he did and clearly knew the area very very well. Made the trekking brilliant. Top guy. Mixed in well with the whole chalet style of living.

Most Inspirational Moment

How to choose one inspirational moment?  Seeing two prides of lions at close quarters?  A pair of lions mating within yards of our truck (twice!)?  A leopard guarding its kill (a gazelle) and then dragging it off to its hiding place?  A mother elephant suckling her baby?  The glimpse of Kilimanjaro amongst the clouds?  Great coffee!  

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader, Rose, was a gem.  Together with Ken the cook and Boniface our driver, they made a fantastic team.  Rose's knowledge was astounding and there wasn't a question she couldn't answer about local customs, flora and fauna.  She was up two hours before us in the morning, and last to go to bed at night making sure everybody and everything was perfect.  With Ken and Boniface they were the hardest-working, dedicated and good-natured crew I have ever encountered.  Ken came up with something special every day - the meals were varied, tasty and very healthy.  His banana fritters were to die for, as were his aubergines!  Our driver, Boniface, was a true star.  His driving was excellent - we all felt very safe in his hands.  Some of the roads particularly in Kenya were dreadful, but Boniface negotiated them with astounding skill and stamina.  He and Rose would also help us with pitching and taking down tents, and with kitchen duties.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel extremely light - only 15kg of hold luggage is allowed on internal flight to Zanzibar so make allowances for souvenirs (soapstone figures can be heavy!)Use very high sunblock (at least SPF50) if on doxycycline anti-malarials.Use insect repellent day and night - I found RID Tropical Strength worked best for mossies and tse tse flies. The roll-on is better value for money than spray.  Get it from the Safari Store  http://www.thesafaristore.co.uk/products/Accessories/RID-Insect-Repellent/RID-Insect-Repellent/Don't replace fluid loss with alcohol!  Heatstroke is possible so drink plenty of water and it does no harm to have some electrolytes every day.Take spare batteries for camera as it is not always possible to re-charge en route.  (The charger on our truck developed an electrical fault.)A wind-up torch as back-up for your head torch is handy.There is rarely any toilet roll so take your own! 

Most Inspirational Moment

Enjoyed the penultimate walk especially winding up through several lakes over snow to peak. Surprised by good quality of hotels. Also managed to see the final set of Wimbledon after walk(avoiding the stress of the first two sets!) in hotel restaurant. The Bulgarians were accomodating of our enthusiasm.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Competent,organised ,charismatic and likeable. Introduced us to Bulgarian culture in imaginative way. Won`t spoil it for others by telling his stories!

Advice for Potential Travellers

I was anticipating searing hot temperatures but the mountain walks were reasonably cool(some snow about) which was a blessing for ascent. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Being able to complete the summit as an entire group.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was a local guide from Tanzania. He was patient, knowledgable and exceptionally friendly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take a mixture of warm and cold weather clothing and book this trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

When we realized how much we did in just 24 hours.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Aziz was great.  Kept a good pace and made sure everyone was enjoying the trip. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Definitely plan a pool day when you get back to the hotel.  It was the perfect way to relax (We climbed in July, so it was easily 35c mid-afternoon)

Most Inspirational Moment

Canoeing on the Zambizi early in the morning g is just magical. We were lucky to see a leopard,however for me the close encounters with elephants were the best.

Thoughts on Group Leader

TK and Best were simply amazing! They could not do enough for us, they made you feel safe and somehow every night they cooked the most incredible food!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't take too much stuff as everything goes on the canoe!!! I would recommend a few days at the end staying at Eureka camp and in Lusaka, or even longer and travel more in Zambia??

Most Inspirational Moment

The best moment was seeing those in the group for whom this was their first trip reaching the summit of Toubkal.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are an experienced walker hoping to do the optional treks as well as Toubkal, inquire as to the abilities of the rest of the group. Sometimes new walkers are much slower and with only 1 guide to 16 trekkers preventing a splitting of the group, the walking pace can be painfully slow. As a result insufficient time is available for the optional walks.

Most Inspirational Moment

The beautiful villages of the Czech Republic; field upon field of happy sunflowers; Bratislava Castle; chasing down a roller skater at 37kph; David getting 'Man of the Mountain' for being the only one to bike it up 'The Tower' hill; Lorna plundering ripe juicy apricots after 'The Tower'; David shedding blood to get us all fresh cherries from up a spiky tree; trying to keep up with Dan and failing miserably (every time); Megan not washing her hair for the whole trip :-) and meeting a great group of people and having a laugh.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Anna was exceptional; she enabled the trip to flow smoothly and without a hitch. She allowed the faster cyclists to go on ahead informing of places to meet whilst she stayed with the slower ones of the group to make sure they didn't get lost. She socialised very well within the group, an immediately likeable lady who was easy to get on with. Her knowledge of all the places we visited was very interesting and her willingness to join the group in the evenings and arrange restaurants/dinners plus a tour of the surroundings was always appreciated. Overall, one of the best leaders we have had the pleasure to meet.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A reasonable level of fitness is required but the cycling really isn't difficult. You need stamina more than anything for the 70k days. Book an extra day before and at the end for extra sightseeing time in Prague and Budapest respectively if you can.