The southern tip of Zanzibar Island
After leaving Michamvi Sunset Bay on the east coast of Zanzibar, JJ and I travelled one hour by taxi to Kizimkazi via Jozani Forest. At the southern tip of Unguja Island, Kizimkazi is popular with tourists because of its bottlenose dolphins. Despite being a well-known destination on the archipelago’s main island, we found the perfect secluded lodge to stay at. (more…)
Visiting Zanzibar’s only national park
After spending New Year’s in Michamvi Sunset Bay, JJ and I headed to the quiet fishing village of Kizimkazi. En-route to the south of Unguja Island, our taxi driver dropped us off at Jozani-Chawka Bay National Park. The national park is home to the endangered Zanzibar red colobus monkeys which are endemic to the archipelago’s main island. (more…)
Welcoming 2018 from the Michamvi peninsular on the southeast coast of Zanzibar
In my search for that picture-perfect white and turquoise beach escape on Zanzibar, I came across Michamvi Sunset Bay. Set on tranquil Chwaka Bay, this laid-back resort surrounded by palm trees is 65km east of Stone Town. (more…)
Exploring old Zanzibar City on Unguja Island
Stone Town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, due to its East African historical importance. I thought Stone Town would be the perfect first stop on Zanzibar’s Unguja Island as we’d get to explore the archipelago’s past and experience Swahili culture. Following our 8-day tour of Rwanda and an evening flight from Kigali, JJ and I arrived in Zanzibar early in the morning. (more…)
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains
Located in northwestern Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The area became Africa’s first-ever national park in 1925 to protect endangered mountain gorillas and was made famous by American primatologist Dian Fossey. Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes NP was the last stop on our 8-day tour of Rwanda and the ultimate highlight. (more…)
Rwanda’s largest and most scenic lake
At the country’s western border with the DRC, Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake and Africa’s sixth-largest lake. After a two hour journey from Nyungwe National Park, JJ and I checked in at Moriah Hill Resort in Kibuye. The resort lies on the western shore of Lake Kivu and is a lovely place to relax, swim and go for nature walks. (more…)
Rwanda’s untouched tropical rainforest
Almost 200km from Kigali in the southwestern corner of the country, Nyungwe Forest National Park covers over 1020km². Nyungwe became a National Park in 2004 and has the largest remaining swathe of montane forest in Eastern/Central Africa. It’s home to about 310 bird species, hundreds of butterflies and over 75 species of mammals, including 13 different primates. (more…)
The beginning of an 8-day journey
After our time in Abu Dhabi and the Liwa Desert, JJ and I flew to Kigali to start another bucket list adventure. Our safari with Kazinga Tours was called ‘Primates of Rwanda’. Highlights of the itinerary included seeing mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in the wild. (more…)
A luxury stay in Abu Dhabi’s ‘Empty Quarter’
Although we were short on time in Abu Dhabi, JJ and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to go on our first ever desert safari. Where better for this experience than an oasis in the largest uninterrupted sand desert in the world? (more…)
A stopover in the UAE’s capital and largest Emirate
Because of the crazy number of flights required to get from Sydney to Kigali, JJ and I made the decision to stopover in Abu Dhabi on the way to Rwanda. We were very glad we did! Our stay in Abu Dhabi was actually 3 days in total, but one of those days was spent in the Liwa desert and has its own write-up
Here’s how we spent 2 days in Abu Dhabi city…..