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Top 8 Hiking Trails in Africa in 2021

Published on January 19, 2021April 2, 2021

Travel

Traveling to Africa should be a priority. That is for every enthusiastic explorer. The continent has beautiful sceneries. It is an ideal trekking destination. The terrain varies a lot. There are semi-desert jeep tracks. You will find soaring mountains. Besides, paths meander through the thriving rain forests. Volcanoes and coastal regions are plenty. There are gorges and canyons too.

Importance of Africa and Places

It is the second-largest continent in the world. Africa has a rich geography. The history is exciting. The flora and fauna is inspiring. Besides, the equator passes through the middle of the continent. Due to that, you find plenty of time to visit most of the places. It is an excellent trekking. The continent is a great escape for winter. Follow this website, for more information on other hiking trails, destinations, and hiking tips.

Below are the eight best hiking trails in Africa:

Mount Kilimanjaro
Fish River Canyon
Mount Kenya
Simien Mountains
Ruwenzori Mountains
Bylade River Canyon
Mount Mulanje
Atlas Mountains

1. Mount Kilimanjaro

It is a snow-covered dormant volcano. It is located on the northeastern side of Tanzania. The highest point is 5895 meters. The mountain is so huge that you won’t see it while at the bottom. The best time for trekking is between July and October.

No need for special equipment to climb. However, you need to be physically fit. Besides, be aware of the effect of high altitudes. There are several routes to reach the summit. The shortest will take you around four nights.

2. Fish River Canyon

It is the largest canyon in Africa with a 160 km stretch. It’s a dramatic canyon with valleys. They cut through the feature. It allows you to trek through a foundation laid millions of years back. It is the second-largest in the world. It is only beaten by The Grand Canyon in the United States. Some exciting features include the Ai-Ais natural hot springs. It is ideal for enjoyment of the healing

waters. They are present on the southern end of the canyon. You can take your trail between May and September. The rest of the year experience high temperatures.

3. Mount Kenya

It is the tallest mountain in Kenya. It ranks second in Africa. It attracts skilled climbers from all over the world. In addition, it is a challenging technical climb. Therefore, it requires expert guides and equipment. The mountain has three peaks.

You will find Lenana, Nelion, and Batian. Hikers can reach the Lenana which is at 4985m high. Nelion is the second highest summit at 5188m. The tallest peak is Batian at 5199m. However, for the two, you need to be a technical mountain climber. The best time to climb is generally between July and October. You can use 30 technical trails to reach the mountain. In all these, you will enjoy animal encounters. You come across spectacular granite peaks. The track passes through thick forests.

4. Simien Mountains

The mountains are present in the northern part of Ethiopia. It is a habitat for some wild species. You will see the Walia ibex. It is is a rare animal found nowhere else in the world. Besides, there are mountain goats. The cliff climbing species oversaw the rise of the range to a national park level. It offers an enjoyable trek for you. It does not matter about your fitness. Inexperienced hikers are okay for the walk too.

You will come across coarse mountain peaks. There are thrilling cliffs going up to 1000m deep. You will also come across the Jinbar waterfall. The 533m high feature dries up to a trickle during the dry periods. You can trek the simian mountains any time throughout the year. However, every season has its experience.

5. Ruwenzori Mountains

The mountain is located in Uganda. It is near the border with Congo. The Ruwenzori Mountains National Park will give you a stunning view of high glaciers. It is a safe environment. The trail is easily accessible. It’s thus among the best treks you will come across.

You will come across a beautiful valley with lakes snow-capped peaks. You will come across diverse vegetative zones. That makes your walk more enjoyable. You can take your excursion at any time of the year. However, the best times are January and February. Besides, July to September is also suitable.

6. Bylade River Canyon

Bylade River Canyon is the largest canyon in the world. It has vast green vegetation. That makes it one of the coolest natural wonder of the continent. It is 25 kilometers long. The depth is 750m. Besides, the highest summit is 1944m long.

Bylade River Canyon is a section of the Drakensberg escarpment. Three Rondavels are notable features of the canyon. Those are round glass-topped peaks resembling the traditional houses of the locals. A famous mark is God’s window. It is likened with God’s view of the Garden of Eden.

7. Mount Mulanje

The mountain is located in Malawi. It is locally known as the ‘island in the sky’. That is due to how it rises abruptly from a plain. There are several gorges containing rivers. As you trek along them, you will view spectacular waterfalls. Besides, you will walk across a forest with large cedar trees. The best time to trek is from April to August. During this time, the region is dry. On the other hand, the temperatures moderate.

8. Atlas Mountains

It is a range of mountains. They stretch for 2500 kilometers. The mountains are present in Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria. Toubkal is the highest peak. It is found in Morocco. The second and third highest summits are found in the same country too.

It is the country where the most luxuriant vegetation lies. Suitable times for trekking are between April and September. You can use mount Toubkal trail. Besides, you can also walk through Ait Bouguemez or Jebel Sarhro treks.

Conclusion

The features along the Bylade River Canyon of South Africa will keep coming into mind days after your trek. You now know the most exciting hiking trails in Africa. It’s your time to pick the best for you and enjoy the excursion.

5 Things to do if you Get Lost Hiking

Published on June 16, 2020

Hobby

Physical activity is associated with many healthy benefits , needed for everyone regardless of their health issues .We don’t have to be diagnosed with something that obligates us to change our habits and be forced to increase our physical activity.

Hiking/walking is a perfect way of improving and enhancing our wellbeing.

It helps to reduce stress, lowers blood pressure, improves control over healthy weight and it can lead to increasing our flexibility and coordination.

Practicing hiking with family and friends will enrich our relationships and maintain a better quality life!

No one ever wants and intends to get lost. However , it could happen and it is in our hands to take all of the necessary precautions to avoid it.

Before you start your journey ,make sure to inform someone about where exactly you will be hiking ,what time should you start and all of the details of your trip plan.

There are a few things that you can do if your ever find yourself in a situation like this:

1. Call for help

Reaching to first responders is the first thing you should do. Trying to find out where your exact location is on the map, will be helpful as well.

This website offers a quick solution for similar situations. You can easily check your current location and the correct coordinates .

The authorities always check and rely on the coordinates, in order to act fast and to arrive at the right destination where they are needed.

In this kind of situation, it is good if you can keep your phone on airplane mode , just to save your remaining battery in case you need to use it several times more.

Once you reach for help, you should remain in the same place you reported and wait patiently. If you move, researchers will have to search for a moving target and it will definitely prolong the rescue for quite some time.

2. Be noticeable

Staying in the same place will help, but you should also make sure to make yourself visible and easy to notice. Another thing that helps here is to be audible and detectable.

Wearing bright clothes, making different whistle sounds and trying to make yourself look bigger and easy to notice, will definitely shorten the time of you being lost .

3. Look and listen

The important thing here is to be observant of everything around you.

You should check the surrounding area. Look for near campsites ,food wrappers or bottles and look for the trail. It could lead you to the way where they went.

That can also mean that you are near to a road that can lead you out or a logging camp which can provide you emergency shelter.

Try to listen very carefully! Stop for a second and listen to every sound. A well traveled road can be nearby, so try to catch as much as you can.

Look for trails. They are very often marked with signs at intersections.

4. Take care of yourself

Find a place that is going to be a shelter for the time being.

If cold , start a small fire to warm up. This will also be a smoke signal which is easily detectable. Wear extra clothes to prevent hypothermia.

Make sure to take the time for rest.

Save your energy and don’t wait for the tiredness to kick in. If you ignore your body, your pain can get worse and you will feel exhausted even more.

While resting, take something to eat to maintain some level of energy.

Try to stay hydrated as well and drink water. If you don’t have plenty of water, drink enough to avoid dehydration.

5. Stay calm

Our mind and thoughts can be controlling a lot , especially in tough situations like being lost.

Make sure to take deep breaths and try to remain calm. Yes, it will be difficult but it will save you both nerves and energy.

You might experience anxiety and panic attacks, but it is normal to feel like that when you get stuck in such moments. Try not to let anxiety cloud your thinking, as you will need a clear mind to overcome that obstacle.

Remember , it all depends from our thoughts what kind of a life we will lead.

Think positively and believe that in the end, everything will turn out just fine.

Getting lost while hiking can be overwhelming and scary, but it is up to us how to prevent that from happening or how to act if it happens.

Pre-planning before going on a hike is a must. Informing others where the hike is, no matter if you are hiking on your own or with someone else, is definitely a good precaution.

Try to print them the trail you will be following and make sure to leave one copy in your vehicle , just in case .

Make sure to leave prepared .That means that you should have enough food and beverages , a proper gear specifically for hiking and make sure to dress for the conditions.

Find hiking lovers as buddies. It will be much funnier and safer, that being on your own.

Do your research on the trail you chose for the day. How far is it, how much time you will need to get to a certain point or to finish it and at the end , try to pick an easier hike according to your abilities .

Check the weather conditions. You will be sure what kind of clothes to bring and to be prepared. It would be a shame if you get to the middle and not be able to continue if there is snow.

To sum up, hiking can be one hell of an adventure so make sure to be prepared.

Pack your essentials, prepare a plan, choose your hike friends and try to avoid getting lost.

In the end if it happens , you will be able to see what you are capable of and how to handle tough situations!

The Way of St. James’ Routes: Which One to Choose?

Published on June 28, 2019

Travel

Although the name is not plural, the Way of St. James does not refer to a single way, but to the many routes traveled by pilgrims who go to Santiago de Compostela. Given that each pilgrimage begins at every pilgrim’s front door, it could be said that there are as many Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago as there are pilgrims. However, in order for pilgrims to have access to accommodation and signposting, there are several official routes -more than fifty in Spain, and hundreds throughout Europe- to make the way easier

But what makes a route an official Way of St. James route? The main requirements are a documented history of pilgrims’ passing through that particular way, and the presence of hospitals or shelters along the way. The main route is the “French Way“, followed by two out of every three pilgrims. The Northern Ways are a set of routes that were declared a World Heritage Site in 2015. They are the Coastal Way, which goes from Irún to Santiago; the Primitive Way -from Oviedo to Santiago; the Lebaniego Way -to Santo Toribio de Liébana; and the Basque Inland Way -which links the Coastal Way and the French Way at the height of the Basque Country and La Rioja.

The Portuguese Way has also very variants and it is crossed by many pilgrims. There are also the Silver Route, the English Way, the Madrid Way, the Jacobean Way of the Ebro, the Salvador Way or the Baztán Way which do not reach Santiago but end in other bigger routes.

Which Way of Saint James route should I choose?

Most pilgrims choose the French Way to Santiago, but there are more options. Each itinerary is different: the number of days, the people you can meet, the landscapes and the climate… But they all have their charm. To choose your route, study and compare the different options, take your time and then decide which one to follow and from which starting point. You will choose the right one and make a great memory.

If you need help preparing your route, you can use an online agency like Santiago Ways to make the process easier. Santiago Ways is the leading agency on the Camino de Santiago, with a score of 4.9 according to Google Reviews and 5.0 according to Tripadvisor. Each year thousands of pilgrims rely on Santiago Ways to organize their trips to the Camino de Santiago due to the availability of skilled labor with a high level of languages since they offer their services to more than 50 countries around the world.

The “Camino Francés” (French Way)

The French Way is the most used route and it has the greatest load of history and art along the way. It enters Spain from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles, in Navarre, and through Somport in Aragon. The two roads become one in Puente la Reina and continue the journey to Compostela. At the end of the 20th century, it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco and a European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe.

The Northern – Coastal Way

The Northern Way or Camino del Norte usually refers to the Camino de la Costa. It starts at the French-Spanish border and runs along the entire coast of northern Spain. When it reaches Galicia, in Ribadeo, it descends southwest towards Santiago de Compostela. It is a very pleasant route even in the cold months.

The Camino Primitivo

This is the other great route of the Caminos del Norte. It starts in Oviedo, the ancient capital of the Asturian kingdom, and continues west towards Santiago de Compostela. The current name is due to the fact that it is the oldest route according to documentation, It was used by the Asturian king Alfonso II the Chaste.

The Camino Portugués

The Portuguese Way is a set of routes that pick up pilgrims who start anywhere in Portugal to enter Spain through Tui, heading to Santiago de Compostela. It is the second most used route -and the one that is growing at the highest rate.

The English Way

It is the small route of barely one hundred kilometers that the pilgrims who arrived by boat to the coast of A Coruña used to travel.

The Vía de la Plata (Silver Route)

As Via de la Plata is known historically to the Roman road that linked Merida and Astorga. However, today the “Ruta de la Plata” extends from south to Seville and north is divided into several branches to enter Galicia or join the French Way in Leon. It is a very little-traveled route, mainly due to the summer heat and the great distance between the towns, with barely intermediate services.

General objectives that guide the activities and relationships of one state in its interactions with other states.

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