The next step is almost as long as my journey are going to be.. at least if we look at the period of time. My journey to Africa will last for 4,5 month. The planning started in mid October and the journey will start in the very beginning of March. For a person who enjoys to coordinate, this step was exciting, but at times it could also be challenging.
When I got accepted to join the youth organization in Arusha, the whole coordinating of the trip started inside my head. I am a big planner. So I looked into flight options. To begin with, I would also add Egypt to my itinerary, but decided that from Denmark it is so easy to go visit Egypt. So I ended up with Madagascar instead and I really look forward towards this visit. The flight ticket was purchased and I was half my way to Africa, except I had to wait for three month ;)
I am that kind of person that loves structure and when I am travelling solo to a country far away, I would like to know that some things already are planned. Also so that I can get the most out of my time :) For my trip to Madagascar, I contacted Baobab & Tsingy Tour, which have an itinerary planned for me. After one week on Zanzibar I will be arriving to Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, June 30 and until July 9, and with a private driver I will be experiencing some of the best of nature that Madagascar has to offer. After the tour, I will be heading back to the capital to catch a flight to Nosy Be, an island with the most beautiful beaches. For the next 5 days, which will also be the last days of my trip, you will see pictures of me sipping drinks, enjoying the nature, swimming in the sea and enjoying life. On July 15, I will be back in Denmark in the arms of my family and friends, if there are no delays.
But before the adventure even can get started, I need vaccinations. And indeed it is vaccinations in the plural. If you want all the necessary vaccinations, you have to start early. I already started with my first vaccinations in August. As you know by now, I didn't had any agreement at that point, I only knew I wanted to enrich my life with new experiences. Anyways, back to the vaccinations. It is a jungle of which ones you need and which ones you don't. I have one advice for you. Do not try to find out yourself on the internet. Search medical knowledge, either from your own doctor or another health travel institution, which can guide you depending on which area or country, you are going to visit. In Copenhagen Rigshospitalet have a department which guides in travel vaccinations. Otherwise you can also find information on www.sikkerejse.dk.
Another step on the journey, before it even got started. What do you need to pack for such a journey? For those of you who doesn't know me, I am a young woman, who loves to dress very colorful. I dress how I want depending on which mood I am in. My mood is rarely in a practical mood. I once broke my ancle, and I was still wearing heels, because I didn't own any flat shoes. At the age of 34, I do owe flat shoes now, which I also will be bringing with me. In Tanzania the women has to cover their knees and shoulders. I mostly wear dresses and they don't cover my knees. I mostly wear tops, and they don't cover my shoulders. I am not really an outdoor person. I have spend so much money on gear; one large bag pack to be checked-in, a smaller one for my hand luggage, a sleeping bag, quick drying towels, headlight, shampoos and conditioning bars and things i didn't even know existed like a sheet bag. I have shopped a little, so I have some clothes to start with when I arrive, but the rest I will purchase in Arusha. You also have to remember I have to carry all my belongings, primarily on my bag.
When I was buying the backpack, one of my friends, Rikke, helped me to choose the right one. She asked me how many sets of clothes I expected to bring with me. I replied 10 sets and she laughed at me. At that point, I found it annoying. After packing, it is completely unrealistic with 10 sets of clothes, when you need to carry everything else that you will be in need of for the 4,5 next month in one bag. It was naive of me to think so. This trip is going to be very different from what I am used to from my previous solo trips, but I am looking forward to experience the development that I will be going through, especially the one in cooperation with the youth center. I am going to reinvent myself.
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