Hey Chris,

Ive decided to impart some of my pearls of wisdom on you even though you not a biker...

Firstly, I must warn you that this is likely to become another hot thread with people getting very worked up about what seems to be a touchy subject for some reason. Search budget on Hubb and see previous battles of the buck...

Im a real cheapskte traveller, because I am an African I have less cash to throw around than most travellers and also because I really think that if you are going to travel on the poorest continent you will get the most "real" experience by living as closely as possibly to the people and that also happens to be the cheapest way to do things. There- Ive justified myself in advance.

I did Cape To Cairo and back to Ethiopia by bike in 2004. I did not go to any game parks, do any bungee jumping, river rafting, canned lion shooting or Sheraton pool lounging in the 6 months that I was on the road. I did stay in cheap local resthouses and hotels, I camped when i could and ate local food everywhere I went (Im a vegetarian and had no trouble finding good food for cheap), sometimes I cooked and I often made my own coffee and simple meals. I saw amazing places that the safari crew will never see and I feel that I had a pretty real and (to me) meaningful experience. I bargained for prices where I saw fit and paid in full where it seemed the right thing to do. I did this on an average of less than US$ 30 an day including fuel. Fuel is now a lot more expensive, but that doesnt effect you as much. Id say you should be fine on that now if you go public. I did have money in reserve in case of emergency as i trevelled without insurance.

As for anti Malarials; dont take my advice as law. What works for me is this: I take Larium in tropical places in the wet season only. Larium is cheap, easy to get and you only take it once a week. When not taking Larium I carry Malaria test kits (expensive in Africa unless bought in SA) and Coartem (spell?) as an emergency treatment. I also know what to look for in terms of the symptoms of Malaria as my system is not foolproof and I have contracted it once... Also some people get nasty side effect off Larium so test it out a month before you leave, lots of people dont get any effects.

"Is it subsidised in places with decent health care systems like Kenya and Tunisia?" Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.... sorry thats rude, Im just really jaded.

Hope you have a fantastic trip man!

One more thing; Dont start in Joberg man, Cape Town is where its at, ask all the Jobergers who are here now on holiday!

Jim

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"If we don't find something good at least we will find something new." Voltaire