Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas


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Flight Reviews | Lounge Reviews | Destinations | Short Breaks | World Trip 1986 | World Trip 1998 | World Trip 1999-2000 | World Trip 2006 | World Trip 2009 | World Trip 2009-10 | World Trip 2010 | World Trip 2011 | World Trip 2012-13 | World Trip 2015 | World Trip 2016 | World Trip 2017 | World Trip 2017-18 | World Trip 2018 | World Trip 2019 | Australia 2022 | World Trip 2023 | World Trip 2024 | World Trip 2024-25 | World Trip 2026-27

  • Destination: Botswana

    Official Name: Republic of Botswana
    Established: 30 September 1966
    Population: 2,254,068 (2018 estimate)
    Religion: 73% Christianity, 20% No religion, 6% Traditional faiths
    Language(s): English, Setswana 
    Capital: Gaborone
    Order of Visit: Sixty Sixth     
    First Visit: 28 December 2017
    Last Visit: 07 January 2018
    Duration: 9 Days
    Visit Highlights: Chobe National Park; Water Safari, Dusk Game Drives, Bush Camping under the stars, Morning Game Drives, surviving elephant charge and a lion chasing my vehicle, observing massive pride  of lions. Okavango Delta; Mokoro Canoe Ride, Walking Safari, Bush Camp, flight over the Delta, Bushman experience.   
    Places Visited: Chobe National Park, Ghanzi, Maun, Okavango Delta
    Botswana Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Zambia

    Official Name: Republic of Zambia
    Established: 24 October 1964 (Leaving Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland)
    Population: 17,351,708 (2018 estimate)
    Religion: 95.5% Christianity
    Language(s): English 
    Capital: Lusaka
    Order of Visit: Sixty Fifth     
    First Visit: 24 December 2017
    Last Visit: 28 December 2017
    Duration: 5 Days
    Visit Highlights: Elephants and baboons a South Luangwa campsite, Amazing game drive South Luangwa National Park, colourful and skilled wild dogs hunting, Victoria Falls (Zambia side), sunset on the Zambezi river 
    Places Visited: Livingstone, Lusaka, Petuake, South Luangwa
    Zambia Journal Entry

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  • Destination: Malawi

    Official Name: Republic of Malawi
    Established: 6 July 1964 (Independence from the United Kingdom)
    Population: 19,129,952 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 77.3% Christianity, 13.8% Islam
    Language(s): English, Chewa
    Capital: Lilongwe
    Order of Visit: Sixty Four     
    First Visit: 21 December 2017
    Last Visit: 24 December 2017
    Duration: 4 Days
    Visit Highlights: Lake Malawi coast, Sunrise over Chitimba Beach, Kande Beach Village visit, relaxing around Kande Beach
    Places Visited: Chitimba Beach, Kande Beach
    Malawi Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Zanzibar

    Official Name: Republic of Zanzibar
    Established: 10 December 1963 (Constitutional monarchy)
    Population: 1,303,569 (2012 census)
    Religion: 99% Islam
    Language(s): Swahili, Arabic, English
    Capital: Zanzibar City
    Order of Visit: Sixty Third     
    First Visit: 19 December 2017
    Last Visit: 16 December 2017
    Duration: 4 Days
    Visit Highlights: Spice Farm Tour, Slave Market, Exploring historic Stone Town and watching the sunset, Night Market, Swimming in Indian Ocean, Exploring Nungwi Beach
    Places Visited: Nungwi Beach, Stone Town
    Zanzibar Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Tanzania

    Official Name: United Republic of Tanzania
    Established: 9 December 1961 (Independence from the United Kingdom)
    Population: 56,313,438 (2018 estimate)
    Religion: 61.4% Christianity, 35.2% Islam
    Language(s): Swahili, English
    Capital: Dodoma
    Order of Visit: Sixty Two     
    First Visit: 10 December 2017
    Last Visit: 21 December 2017
    Duration: 10 Days
    Visit Highlights: The landscape of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha Culture Museum, Mikumi National Park, the stunning wildlife (hippos, lions, leopards, antelopes, elephants, rhinos, zebras and wildebeests).
    Places Visited: Arusha, Dar Es Salaam, Iringa, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tanga
    Tanzania Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Rwanda

    Official Name: Republic of Rwanda
    Established: 1 July 1962 (Independence from Belgium)
    Population: 12,374,397 (2019 estimate)
    Religion: 43.7% Catholic, 37.7% Protestant, 11.8% Seventh-day Adventists, 2% Muslim
    Language(s): English, French, Kinyarwanda, Swahili
    Capital: Kigali
    Order of Visit: Sixty-First     
    First Visit: 04 December 2017
    Last Visit: 04 December 2017
    Duration: 1 Day
    Visit Highlights: Kigali Genocide Memorial, visiting the ‘Hotel Rwanda’, Belgian Soldier Memorial
    Places Visited: Kigali  
    Rwanda Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Uganda

    Official Name: Republic of Uganda
    Established: 1894 (Protectorate), 1962 (Independence)
    Population: 42,729,036 (2018 estimate)
    Religion: 84.4% Christianity, 13.7% Islam
    Language(s): English, Swahili
    Capital: Kampala
    Order of Visit: Sixtieth    
    First Visit: 29 November 2017
    Last Visit: 06 December 2017
    Duration: 8 Days
    Visit Highlights: Rafting on the Nile, visiting and watching Mountain Gorillas in the wild, standing on the Equator, visiting Little Angels School, hiking around and enjoying a boat ride across Lake Bunyoni
    Places Visited: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Jinja, Kampala, Lake Bunyoni  
    Uganda Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Kenya

    Official Name: Republic of Kenya
    Established: 12 December 1963 (Independence from United Kingdom) 
    Population: 47,564,296 (2019 census)
    Religion: 85% Christian, 11% Muslim 
    Language(s): English, Swahili
    Capital: Nairobi
    Order of Visit: Fifty-Nine    
    First Visit: 23 November 2017
    Last Visit: 10 December 2017
    Duration: 12 Days
    Visit Highlights: David Sheldrick Elephant Refuge, Giraffe Centre Experience (Nairobi), Masai Mara culture experience, Balloon Safari across Masai Mara, Green mountain ranges of Kenya, Lake Nakuru Game Drive, East Africa Mission Orphanage visit, interacting with locals at Lake Naivasha, the wildlife, camping under the stars.
    Places Visited: Eldoret, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara, Nairobi, Nakuru 
    Kenya Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: United Arab Emirates

    Official Name: United Arab Emirates
    Established: 1971 
    Population: 9,890,400 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: Islam
    Language: Arabic
    Capital: Abu Dhabi
    Order of Visit: Fifty-Eighth    
    First Visit: 23 November 2017
    Last Visit: 23 November 2017
    Duration: 1 Day
    Visit Highlights: Chauffeur drive in a Mercedes Benz, the luxurious Dubai International Airport and Roda al Bustan Hotel.
    Places Visited: Dubai 
    United Arab Emirates Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Namibia

    Official Name: Republic of Namibia
    Established: 21 March 1990 
    Population: 2,746,745 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 87.9% Christian 
    Language: English
    Capital: Windhoek
    Order of Visit: Sixty-Eighth    
    First Visit: 17 January 2018
    Last Visit: 07 January 2018
    Duration: 11 Days
    Visit Highlights:  Climbing Dune 45, hiking to the dead valley (Deadvlei), Luna Rock formations, interacting with seals on a ‘dolphin’ cruise, ancient rock paintings (Spitzkoppe), the cycle of life and amazing animals like cheetahs, giraffes, lions, jackals in the very hot Estosha National Park
    Places Visited: Brandberg, Deadvlei, Estosha National Park, Fish River Canyon, Sesriem, Spitzkoppe, Swapokmund, Windhoek 
    Namibia Journal Entries  

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