Post: #26

Maybe not as adventurous or desolate as some of the places you guys are mentioning, but the mountains and rock formations at Red Rock Canyon just outside of Vegas are pretty stunning.

This is my drive home (not Red Rock):


The picture doesn't do it justice. It looks like entire plates of earth are jutting out violently.

Red Rock:




It can get very crowded, especially on weekends, but there are quite a few trails and once you get further in there's hardly any people. I'd say 80% of visitors don't stray far from the main road.

My favorite trail so far is Icebox canyon. It starts out like this:


And after a few miles of climbing and scrambling you get to a secluded waterfall with a pool at the end:


Hard to tell but the pool is actually in the middle of this photo. You have to scramble up the left side which people normally don't do because there's not much footing and if you fall, you die (which does happen every year apparently)

Post: #27

I second St. Petersburg, Russia from a cultural and historical standpoint.

And it sounds cliche, but Banff is simply stunning.

Post: #28

^Agree. Piter is truly amazing.
It's never ending of cool things.

Post: #29

1. Dragon's/Reed Flute Cave in Guilin, China

This place will give boners to nature-lovers, geologists and adventurers. It's pitch black/damp, but the most stunning sedimentary formations are artificially lit. It's like pollution and modernity never touched this part of China. During the boat ride to the caves, you can request that the oarsmen scoop shrimp right out of the river, and cook it in front of you while you relax. Don't go if you have a phobia of getting impaled by falling icicles or stalagmites, like those in Indiana Jones movies.




2. Hualien "East Taiwan" Toroko Gorges and Indigenous Tribes Preservation Areas, Taiwan

Go hiking here, seriously. Imagine skyscrapers of marble, it makes you feel so powerless, but so masculine. Just check to see if summer typhoons are headed your way, because the humidity and mosquitoes will eat you alive. Their pineapples, watermelons, passionfruit and mangoes during the summertime are like the nectar of the gods. Be sure to stay overnight for hot springs, massages, indigenous acrobatics and sweet, slim Asian women.





3. Bryce Canyon National. Park, Utah, USA

My favorite in the good ol' USA.

Post: #30

Na pali coast, west-side of the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

Simply the most stunningly beautiful place I've ever been.

We took a catamaran along the whole west coast, and camped on the beach there for 3 days. Awesome!

   

   

Post: #31

When I went, I went from Buenos Aires. I got a good deal at one of the travel agencies around Calle Florida where my hotel was in downtown BA. The deal I got was a bus ticket from BA to Iguacu Falls on the Brasilian side, one of those nice buses with recliner seats that goes flat with meals included, 3 nights at a decent 3* hotel with a semi pension meal plan (basically one meal a day included, which for me, was buffet dinner as I was out during the day exploring the falls as well as breakfast) on the Brasilian side of Iguacu Town for about 550 or 580 Arg Pesos. Very good deal in other words.

As a rule of thumb, the Argentinian side is best to be based at as it's way cheaper than the Brasilian side and the town of Iguacu in the Argentinian side is more lively, more night life and all. The Brasilian side, while still had decent infrastructures, is kinda lame compared to other Brasilian cities.

However, talent wise, there's a stark contrast between the Argie and Brasilian side. The girls on the Brasilian side are sexier, dress sexier and overall, found them better looking than the Argie side. Not to mention, friendlier in general. They walk with the typical Brasilian super sexy swag of hips swaying from side to side, wearing sexy shorts or mini skirts. The Argie girls, appear and dress like typical gringas, that is t-shirts, jeans and flat shoes and are not as sexy as the Brasileiras. At least from what I noticed when I was there.

Now, regarding visiting the actual falls, your hotel should take care of all the rides from the hotel to both the Brasilian and Argie side. I remember, upon entering back into Brasil inland from Argentina as that was part of a 3 months trip around Brasil at the time, I don't recall having to fill any form at immigration, nor did my passport got stamped by the Brasilian customs. My guess is that the Brasilian Custom guy was too sleepy or didn't care. However, the next day, coming back from a tour as part of the package deal I had gotten, my driver, a cool Argie guy, told me that it'd be wiser to have my passport stamped and took me to the Brasilian customs upon returning to Brasil from Argentina and I had to fill an immigration form. Nothing special, just basic administrative stuff that didn't take more than 5 minutes tops.

So yeah, hotels right by the falls are, unsurprisingly, big tourist trap rip offs. Stay in the city, in either side of the border and your hotel should arrange for day tours to the Falls. From the Brasilian side, it's a short ride (say 10-15 minutes to the Falls by cab/car). Not sure about the Argie side as I only stayed in the Brasilian side.

You'd need one full day for each side as they are massive. It's not like Niagara for example where you can see both at the same time in 5 minutes (at least from the Canadian side that is as the US side as very limited exposure to the best part, the Canadian one).

If you're adventurous, I'd recommend flying into Buenos Aires, simply a gorgeous city, with some of the best food, specially meats in the entire world, fantastic wines and great cultural things to do, especially if you're into football, don't miss going to a live Boca match! Truly unforgettable and unmissable thing in BA! Once in BA, just walk into any travel agency and tell them you want to go to Iguacu Falls (Cataractas de Iguazu in Spanish). You could fly in about an hour, but it's much more fun taking the overnight bus (14 hours). It's very comfy, think first class plane type of seats which fully reclines. If you're lucky, you could end up seated beside a cute Argie girl as I did.

Once you arrive in Iguacu, a driver from the tour company will pick you up and take you to your hotel. And the following 2 days, at 9am, he'd pick you up to take you to each side each day.

Of if you'd rather do it yourself without a tour, just get a hotel in either side of the border and have your hotel arrange the visits to each side of the falls.

Another thing worth visiting while in Iguacu, is the massive dam, which is one of the biggest in the world. It is quite impressive as far as human engineering feat and how they managed to tame the massive power of the mighty Parana river!

Oh and you could easily arrange from your hotel a day trip to Ciudad del Este, in Paraguay, just a few minutes drive from either side of the border. CDE is a major duty free shopping city where you can buy all kinds of things dirt cheap. I remember my argie driver, once we got to the border, simply parked his car and we walked past the bridge border between Brasil and Paraguay. People were walking, riding bikes and just driving without any passport check/control. It was surreal! CDE does have a vibe of a frontier town, so exercise caution there. But very well worth the visit!

Also, from what my Argie driver told me there, most guys go to CDE to party as the Paraguayan girls are crazy hot. I didn't make it to party there (one thing I really regret!) but the guy was constantly telling me about how hot they were there and that they can't hold a candle to girls on either side of the border in Iguacu.

I can't comment on how true that is, but the guy was very passionate and super convincing when he was talking about the Paraguayan girls! So if you do go there, I'd recommend you spend a day or 2 in CDE to party with the hot Guarani girls!

I'm sure you and anyone that goes to Iguacu, one of the true natural wonders of the world, will have a blast and will be blown away!

Edit: forgot to answer your question about queues and whether you can walk down to the actual gorge.
Yeah there are queues, but nothing crazy. I was in and out within 5-10 minutes tops. Once you get inside the actual Falls national park, in the Argie side, you pay an entrance fee (less than 10$), then you get on a jeep to drive into the woods all the way to the river, about 5-10 minutes ride. Then, you get on a speed boat that takes you all way inside the falls. After a nice and long tour around the river, they bring you back on shore and take you on a tour around the numerous falls with a small group. In the Argie side, you're very very close to the falls, you can even touch them. On the Brasilian side, you can walk right inside some of the falls, but most of it, you get a very nice scenic and panoramic view of most of the bigger falls. Both sides are simply mesmerizing to say the least.

From the Argie side, there's a narrow bridge that goes almost all the way to facing the top of the Devil's Throat. On the Brasilian side, there are bridge paths that go almost to the mouth of the Devil's Throat. Either way, you'll get very close to it. And in both occasions, you'll be in total awe of the sheer power and size of it and the entire Falls system.

Sorry for the long post, as I started typing, memories started coming back and wanted to share them here.

(07-07-2015 09:25 AM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  

(07-06-2015 04:16 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  - Iguazu/Iguacu Falls, border between Argentina, Brasil and Paraguay.

If you think that Niagara Falls is mighty and awe inspiring, then Iguacu will blow your mind. 273 or so falls spread over a large natural park between those 3 countries. It takes you 2 days minimum to get a glimpse of its sheer size. One day to get a tour and view of the falls on the Argentinian side and another day for the Brasilian one.

...

Great write up Vacancier. Which side would you suggest one stays, the Brazilian or Argentinian? If I go there would prefer a nature type experience, rather than saying in one of the nearby towns. The two hotels right by the falls cost more than I'd want to pay since a visit would be part of a broader trip. Was looking at this place:
http://iguassuecohostel.com/
It's right by the entrance to the National Park on the Brazilian side. Near the airport.

Also, is it possible to walk down into the gorge? Not right by the falls obviously, but maybe a bit downstream. And how difficult is it to travel between the Brazilian and Argentinian side? Have a passport that would eliminate the visa cost, but I mean in practical terms. Long bus ride and queues by the border?

Post: #32

Whoever started this thread is a genius.

Post: #33

It's not off the beaten path but the Croatian destinations of Split, Vis, and Hvar are absolutely beautiful. I just did a Yacht week there recently and it was an awesome time. The combination of the rolling hills and the small mountains right next to the crystal blue sea was stunning. Plus the cities also have a small charm to them.

Post: #34

What places must to see before you die? This is an excellent and provocative thread, indeed!

I’ll begin with my European “must sees,” first; then the USA. The four-point countdown:

Fourth - Salzburg, Austria. Home of Mozart, an old university, and the "Sound of Music" - castles, lakes, and walks or drives with rewarding scenic vistas abound here! Friends say the mountains here are more beautiful than anything in the Rockies! (Well, it’s first-rate competition, at least.)

It is pricey, however. Visit in shoulder season to get your fill. Or just flit in when you can. You won’t regret it.

Third - Durham, England - the Norman Cathedral, “just go!”

When I was only teenager, these words were heard by my older Dutch GF in grad school from her professor in English literature at the University of Amsterdam. She heeded them - and so did I.





Durham reminds me of Salzburg - but in a thoroughly English way, highlighting a
Thousand years of living and history, and more.

The Cathedral was fine enough for the bio-pic “Elizabeth” (1998). The Castle on the hill turned England’s third oldest university is close by. And the town edging gracefully down to the ox-bow river - than almost surrounds it like a natural moat - makes strolling around a deep and daily pleasure.

I’ve always felt inspired to spend a month of summer living there in a room with a view to write. (Although I’ve not done it, yet - I may, still.)

Two - Dead Horse State Park, Utah. Which state has state parks that can rival National Parks the most? Utah.

This one proves the point, lying between two of them. Dead Horse State Park is the smallest of the three, lying only 30 minutes South of I-70.

The Park is a flat gooseneck, jutting into the vast, exotic expanse of Canyonlands National Park. Much of the Park is primitive, and best accessed, like Grand Canyon, by river.

Dead Horse is the big Park in miniature, and most magnificent at sunrise or sunset, when the colors of the rocks glitter, and the sky compliments the unfathomed expanse of vertiginous rocks, rivers, and air. Nearly 2,000 foot drops on three sides:



The above is the view at sunrise towards the “Island in the Sky” portion of Canyonlands.

Dead Horse State Park celebrates indian history, because they used it as a natural horse corale. Without water, however, the horses left there inevitably died - in sight of water, but unable to drink it. Eminently practical of them, but wasteful - and a vivid, educational counter-narrative the overly-romantic veneration of indian life.

One - Crested Butte, Colorado. I’ve explored almost all areas of the Rocky Mountains (and parts of the Pacific ranges) - but not the Northern Rockies, deep into Canada.

While every Mountain state has its standouts, “CB” is without close peer.



John Fielder is a photographer who made shooting Colorado his life’s work - and it is is very favorite Colorado town. Me? I’m more modest - I always arrive with a smile, and leave with a more stupid fucking grin!

CB anchors but one corner of the Elk Range - a sedimentary and granite sub-range, with a handful of peaks reaching 14,000 feet high, like Mount Snowmass and The Maroon Belles - justly the second most photographed mountain in the Rockies, only after the Grand Tetons.

Marble, Aspen, and Carbondale are - besides CB - the other area anchors of civilization that surround the Elk Range..

Aspen is undeniably the most famous one. But it’s underwhelming, in my opinion.
If Aspen is where the Hollywood rich go to play, CB is is like Jackson, Wyoming - “where billionaire’s go to hide” (I know a demi-billionaire who does so, most weekends!) - in that CB hides ostentation, too! It is undeniably upper middle class, however, lacking the attitude and snob-factor of Aspen. It has Colorado’s largest historic district, oozing Victorian charm straight away on elk Avenue.

CB is at about around 9,000 feet elevation. The nearby 14-ers go up about a mile; and not many miles to the West, you can see down nearly another mile into a vast, wide, meandering valley, whose river empties into Canyonlands NP.
CB co-invented the mountain bike (the SF Bay Area), and singlehandedly revived Telemark skiing, the original q9th century downhill style from Norway.

While CB is a first-class place to stay, with a complete range of restaurants - gourmet, ethnic, and not - and lodging, the point of it is really lost if one doesn’t venture well-beyond it and into the scenery



But CB, via East Fork - basically the West or back side of the Maroon Belles (SEE bottom Left in map at above link), near Schofield Pass, is most varied way in.

How can that be? Well, Elk range has an almost North to South spine. And it is the West side of it that reveals the most scenic diversity (Aspen is on the East side)

What makes this possible? Two words: geological diversity. The types of rocks on this side are more varied than any place I’ve seen in the Rockies, with the greatest vertical relief over the shortest distances.

How can one know without seeing it? The names of the smaller and smaller sub-ranges have received are one indicator: from the Elks going West, from Teocali to Red Lady (prostitute), you get to Purple Mountain, then the Ruby range, then the darker Anthracite Range, and the whitish-gray granite Ragged Range. These increasingly colorful assortment of names are your clue to the glories to be found! It repays adventures.

What if you prefer car-camping (or roughing it) to motels and hotels? There are at least a dozen great sites with more spectacular views!

Here’s one of the most exclusive (as in “small” - literally!): Paradise Divide:



A tarn (or glacial pond), a singular site so grand, a Colorado bakery chain was named after it. But look out!



That’s an 1500 foot drop off close to the water, there....

I long to live in CB for at least a year out of my life. There a small state university only 30 miles away in Gunnison. The rotating labor force and youthful energy it provides adds vibrancy, keeping the town affordable for all who are lucky enough to visit, year round, as well as creativity and adventure tested comerradery.

The Interior Secretary under President Clinton (and UN Ambassador) - Senator Tim Worth - has a home there in CB. After public service under Clinton, he said his greatest regret was NOT turning the Elk Range into a another National Park.

This would have meant that the few hundred thousands of people visiting each year would have become a couple million or more.

Tell me - which CB and Elk Range would you rather visit?

REFERENCE - Ann Poe has written the full color day hiking guide to what’s found close to CB: Crested Butte Colorado: 65 Scenic Day Hike
But, but there’s aways more....

Post: #35

It seems the quasi-commercial source won't post; try this
LINK Durham Cathedral and town

Post: #36

Hasley Basin - the next valley North from East Fork (ie, Maroon Belles Southside):



I have camped here (foreground) - with the bright grey granite of Mount Snowmass on the horizon: I've also camped along its base at least a handful of times.

So much to see there, to witness at different times, in different mountain moods. It seems inexhaustably photogenic.

Post: #37

Africa seems to have been largely ignored on this thread so far (however this thread still is really good)

The pictures I'll post with the locations are just generic, if you want to see the pictures that I took of these places, like this post and I'll PM them to you, or just send me a PM asking for them.

Marrakech (Morocco)
Culturally, this is one of the best places I have been to. I wouldn't recommend you go there for gaming women, but as a city culture it's really worth exploring. The people are very welcoming too.

On to the aesthetic beauty of the place. Whilst there are fabulously designed mosques and palaces, not every building is exactly beautifully designed. However, I love this random messiness, to me it is wild and beautiful. You can stand on the rooftop of a building and look out over a portion of the city, seeing all the different streets, souks, rooftop restaurants and everything going on. It is far nicer than the predictable, uniformly built western cities.

If you look closely, you can even see the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains in the background. It is truly stunning, pictures don't do it credit. Just look at it.

Atlas Mountains (Morocco)
This is the natural beauty side of North Africa. I would really recommend hiking all the way from the bottom of the mountain ranges to one of the highest peaks (Toubkal is the highest I think). On your way up, not only will you see stunning cliff, mountain and valley views, but you will see what simple berber moroccan life is like. You will pass through their villages, and you can just watch their simple, humble lifestyle. Furthermore, the views when you get very high up into the mountains are just incredible.

View from the top. This doesn't do it justice. The summit would definitely be one of the few places to use the panorama camera feature on your phone.

Typical settlement in the mountains.

French Countryside
For some reason i just love the southern French countryside. It's a combination of the natural scenery and the pretty, yet full of culture and vibrancy, towns and villages. I'll just let the pictures do the talking.



Remember to PM if you're interested in going to any of these places, I can tell you places to stay and other tips, and send you my own photography.

Post: #38

Åland and the surrounding Archipelago Sea in Finland is one of those truly undisturbed areas in the world which is relatively accessible. Two years ago, while on exchange, I was blessed by the ability to stay in a Finnish cottage for a week or so out in the middle of the Archipelago Sea in late May, with a boat and about 10 of my very close companions.

It was incredible. Clear, bone chilling water, accessible saunas everywhere, and the lack of total darkness was mind bending. Sleep only became an option when necessary, as the light illuminated every corner of the open cottage.

I remember taking the boat out to a deserted island covered in pines, and coming across a gigantic spider colony hidden under a giant rock. Instead of being afraid, I went up and observed the millions of spiders congregating to breed and nest. At that point, I realized that there was more to life than what I was taught, and that every man should cultivate a sense of adventure in their lives, or else they will lack a masculine component to their lives.

Also, the fishing is great, seal hunting is still allowed and in the winter there are more stars than you can possibly imagine.

Some photos:

A more developed area


Nature

Post: #39

Bump. Anyone got anymore?

Post: #40

The Valley of Kings, Egypt

The graveyard for the divine Emperors of one of h
Man's cradles. Awe inspiring catacombs with a gravity that just let's you know that the place carries immense weight in the history of human civilization. Went there almost 20 years ago, today it's mostly closed off for tourists. I've read that you can get private tours for major $$$ but only for the really affluent and connected.


Auschwitz, Poland

Description is superfluous.
If you go here, don't get a selfie for your Instagram.

Post: #41

Iceland - most beautiful place i've been

Lofoten, Norway - great for hiking and rock climbing

Grand Canyon- Hike into the middle of it, don't just look at it from the rim.

Post: #42

Nantucket, MA

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Post: #43

So many new places I'd like to go and visit now

Post: #44

(07-07-2015 04:55 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  However, talent wise, there's a stark contrast between the Argie and Brasilian side. The girls on the Brasilian side are sexier, dress sexier and overall, found them better looking than the Argie side. Not to mention, friendlier in general. They walk with the typical Brasilian super sexy swag of hips swaying from side to side, wearing sexy shorts or mini skirts. The Argie girls, appear and dress like typical gringas, that is t-shirts, jeans and flat shoes and are not as sexy as the Brasileiras. At least from what I noticed when I was there.

Though the travel info regards to entering and lodging is more useful, this piece =

(07-07-2015 04:55 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  Also, from what my Argie driver told me there, most guys go to CDE to party as the Paraguayan girls are crazy hot. I didn't make it to party there (one thing I really regret!) but the guy was constantly telling me about how hot they were there and that they can't hold a candle to girls on either side of the border in Iguacu.

I can't comment on how true that is, but the guy was very passionate and super convincing when he was talking about the Paraguayan girls! So if you do go there, I'd recommend you spend a day or 2 in CDE to party with the hot Guarani girls!

Never been to Paraguay...but as a guy in Paraná state of Brazil now, there are some really hot Paraguayan chicks in Curitiba and other parts of the country. They all either have Brazilian bfs or are complete social climbers & gold diggers haha. All I know is they weren't impressed by an American who could speak Spanish to them...

Edit - Sorry to only offer input on chicks when this is more relevant to the realm of actual traveling.

Post: #45

I finally accomplished a childhood dream in November of 2013, hitting up an African safari - Kruger National Park in South Africa. It was everything I dreamed of and more. My buddy and I rented a car in Joburg and made the 5 hour haul out there. We spent the next three days driving that little rental car through the park.

What a rush! There is nothing like being in a small rental car and coming face to face with 100 Water Buffalo on a solitary dirt road. Or turning another corner and being five feet away from ten huge elephants. Just the fact that you can be killed if shit went wrong is a rush. There is nothing that compares to seeing large animals in the wild.

Here are some photos.





Another world class trip is the Patagonian 1-2 punch: Moreno Glacier and Torres Del Paine. Even though one is in Chile and the other is in Argentina, they are very close. Everybody who makes it down there ends up seeing both places.

You can walk on Moreno Glacier, which is a serious rush. I was there on Christmas Day of 2005, and some guy was dressed up as Santa Claus. We drank some champagne with him, which was pretty cool. Torres Del Paine has a rugged beauty that is breathtaking - it's the most beautiful National Park I have ever visited. There is something about those unliveable terrains (similar to Alaska) that fosters an unparalleled natural beauty.

Post: #46

Stunning pics MajorStyles!
Those pics of the giant elephants and the pack of Lions laying down on that road are incredible. Did you guys have a gun or rifle with you just in case? Imagine your car breaking down in the middle of the wilderness? Scary stuff! That's one thing I'd be very interested!

Ditto for Patagonia and the ultimate journey, Antarctica! That would truly be THE trip of a lifetime!

The other day on TV5 (international French tv), I saw a documentary on the French Polynesian islands and man, I was blown away. I don't think there's anywhere on this beautiful little planet of ours, a more stunning place as there. This is the kind of place you'd want to retire, and live a very basic life. No stress, cut off from the world, where you'd be living off the land/ocean living in a small house that you'd be building and or renting a cheap beach bungalow and with your exotic Polynesian princess! That's the kind of stuff dreams are made of! At least mine!

Post: #47

Great question.

1. If your goal is growth and learning then no excuse about money or perceived inability to travel far should keep you from traveling near and exploring your backyard. Let's take Miami for example purposes where for the total cost of a half tank of gas you can see the largest collection of Moorish architecture in the world outside Morocco, explore the restored home of one of the most important aviation pioneers who was also the man who held the world motorcycle speed record of 137 mph for about a quarter century, and go to a museum staffed daily by actual living participants in the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961. Most zombie city dwellers would have no idea what I was talking about if I mentioned such places in the so called backyard.

2. Your travel will be in a context of your life, at a particular time and place and with particular people or alone. You may find that your life circumstances at the time magnifies the meaning of some place or conversely you might not be able to learn much while in a new place if your mind is elsewhere.

That being said here are some places worth mentioning in no particular order.

Alaska Highway
If you like road trips this is not to be missed. Built for WWII, it is now completely paved. Not for irresponsible or unprepared motorists as there are long stretches you will need to be a competent driver with reliable equipment and proper planning. I have plenty of pics I will have to host then post the link.

Hawaii
I agree with the writer above about Kauai. Also all 4 major islands are different and worth visiting. The perfect place for a vacation. For PUA look for Asians on vacation.

Motorcycling in Japan
Japan is wonderful and if you can get off the train lines you are in for a treat. If you can find locals who will show you different places to ride to view Mt Fuji you wont regret it. Delightful women.

Portugal
It's still old world Europe. Inexpensive, friendly, superior food and wine and many places to explore. Don't forget Madeira.

Chile
The most stable *for now* place in South America. Get out of Santiago there are many cities and landscapes to explore. Honorable mention to Uruguay, very cool place.

Puerto Rico
May Americans don't think of this Island but it is amazing to explore. For a small island there is tremendous variety, and girls are very friendly. One warning though, because of socialist policies for decades, agriculture was almost destroyed and replaced with imported garbage food and welfare stamps. 80% of all food is imported However if you can find true "local" food it can be amazing. Just ask, local fish can be great. The island is at a low point but will come back. Hundreds of Americans are moving there for tax deals

This is "off the top of my head." I think you can not go wrong also if you have not seen France and Italy.

Join mosttraveledpeople.com and start your list for inspiration, and dont forget to do your U N world heritage site count.

Post: #48

(07-12-2015 11:41 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  Stunning pics MajorStyles!
Those pics of the giant elephants and the pack of Lions laying down on that road are incredible. Did you guys have a gun or rifle with you just in case? Imagine your car breaking down in the middle of the wilderness? Scary stuff! That's one thing I'd be very interested!

When I was there, I saw a car that was overturned on the side of the road; the driver and crew were not in there. Then about five minutes up the road, we came across a pack of lions. I thought, fuck...did those guys walk back to camp? I don't know what happened, but I hope the Park Rangers got to them first!

They tell you never to get out of your car in Kruger. There are always a few jokers though who think they are in the San Diego Zoo. I saw a video once of a guy who tried to get out at Kruger and pet the tigers. As you can imagine, they chomped on his ass.

Post: #49

(07-12-2015 11:27 PM)MajorStyles Wrote:  I finally accomplished a childhood dream in November of 2013, hitting up an African safari - Kruger National Park in South Africa. It was everything I dreamed of and more. My buddy and I rented a car in Joburg and made the 5 hour haul out there. We spent the next three days driving that little rental car through the park.

What a rush! There is nothing like being in a small rental car and coming face to face with 100 Water Buffalo on a solitary dirt road. Or turning another corner and being five feet away from ten huge elephants. Just the fact that you can be killed if shit went wrong is a rush. There is nothing that compares to seeing large animals in the wild.

...

Well done MajorStyles.

Unless you have a LOT of money to burn that is exactly the way to do a South African safari. The Kruger Park isn't that far from Joburg Airport. Maybe 6 hour drive. You can also fly into the park, and to other airfields close by, from Joburg Airport. But those flights tend to be very expensive. A lot of foreign visitors think they must book in at a private lodge to get the best wildlife experience, which is total hogwash. Especially considering the really good private lodges charge US$1,000 per person per night sharing...

At Kruger you can book a little hut in one of the many "Rest Camps". The huts are nothing special, but also not very expensive. And the catering is now top notch since they "fired" their previous contractors (Compass Group) and moved to a different scheme by bringing in professional mid-market restaurant franchises. Once in Kruger you are free to drive around on tar and gravel public roads to view animals during daylight. No off road allowed. No self driving in the dark allowed. You can book separate night game drives on Parks Board vehicles if you want to see the nocturnal world.

Kruger is huge. Just the park itself is the size of Wales or Israel. And there's a lot of private land in the West and public land in Zimbabwe (North) and Mozambique (East) that is incorporated into a bigger single fence free protected zone that triples the size. There are many "Rest Camps" throughout the park. For anybody interested I can recommend Olifants camp. It's on a ridge overlooking the Olifants River. You can sit on one of the viewing decks with binoculars and watch elephant troops on the river flood plain below for hours. They really are fascinating animals. Certainly much more interesting than Lions, which seem to be #1 on most tourists lists. View from Olifants Camp deck:

Post: #50

Unless they've been imported, there are no tigers in the Kruger. Tigers are from Asia.

I spent time at the Idube lodge (three days) doing day and night photo safari via a convertible land rover. The thing fords rivers. We saw all of the big five save buffalo, and also got charged by an elephant who thought we wanted to bang his breeding herd. They pretty much see u and the vehicle as a single unit and lions don't attack the individuals as they don't see them distinct from the vehicle unless they stand up.

Kruger should be on everyone's short list (unless you want real blood, then you should visit Tanzania in the dry season, when the animals have no choice to gather around the watering holes and be part of the crocodile and lion buffet.

(07-13-2015 07:43 AM)MajorStyles Wrote:  

(07-12-2015 11:41 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:  Stunning pics MajorStyles!
Those pics of the giant elephants and the pack of Lions laying down on that road are incredible. Did you guys have a gun or rifle with you just in case? Imagine your car breaking down in the middle of the wilderness? Scary stuff! That's one thing I'd be very interested!

When I was there, I saw a car that was overturned on the side of the road; the driver and crew were not in there. Then about five minutes up the road, we came across a pack of lions. I thought, fuck...did those guys walk back to camp? I don't know what happened, but I hope the Park Rangers got to them first!

They tell you never to get out of your car in Kruger. There are always a few jokers though who think they are in the San Diego Zoo. I saw a video once of a guy who tried to get out at Kruger and pet the tigers. As you can imagine, they chomped on his ass.