Dan's Adventure

Today I present to you the top ten highlights of the first four months of my around the world adventure, August through to the end of November. Narrowing it down to just these ten has been tough, there have been so many great experiences and unforgetable moments. We begin back in Kenya with my first encounter with the big five in the Masai Mara and continue in chronological order.

Masai Mara

Even before we reached the Masai Mara, elephants, giraffes and zebra had been spotted by the side of road. On every sighting everyone on the Acacia Africa truck would lean over to take photos, excited by every sighting – behind a tree? hidden by a bush? it didn’t matter, they were still there! The excitement grew as we actually entered the Masai Mara and witnessed vultures and a hiena fighting over the scraps of a lion’s kill which he closely guarded. I did enjoy the game drives in Etosha a lot more, but Masai Mara was the first time of seeing any of these animals out with the confines of a zoo.

Okavango Delta

One of the last true wildernesses left in the world, the Okavango Delta is incredibly vast and full of life. We were poled through the delta in makoros to an island where we bush camped for the night. Knowing that elephants and other animals were wandering around nearby made it all that more exciting to camp out on the beach night.

Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls themselves weren’t that spectacular as they weren’t in full flow when I visited them, but they did provide the setting for an adrenaline packed couple of days. I tried to conquer my fear of heights by jumping off the Victoria Falls bridge and I went white water rafting on the Zambezi river on a raft filled entirely by people from my Acacia Africa tour group.

Sunrise on Dune 45

After a long climb up Dune 45 we sat along the top and watched as the sun rose, changing the colour on each side of Dune 45 dramatically.

Taj Mahal

Nothing can prepare you for the magnificence of the Taj Mahal. Watching it change colour night after night at sunset from a rooftop in Agra made staying in Agra worthwhile.

Udaipur

Udaipur is a beautiful city and was made a lot of fun by the Indian that befriended myself and the American girl I met there. He took drove us about on his motorbike, took us out for dinner for an awesome thali and took us to the wedding of one of his relatives.

Camel Safari in the Thar Desert

I spent two days and two nights in the Thar Desert with a bunch of other travellers and some camels. Sleeping on top of sand dunes, having nothing to do but watch the stars and drink whisky was a fantastic change of pace. Camel safaris are painful, but definitely worth it.

Great Wall of China

Crumbling, sprinkled in snow and stretching up and over hills, the Great Wall of China was a real sight to behold. Seeing it in its unrestored form as I walked from Jinshanling to Simatai was great. Apart from those that I was with, I didn’t see another tourist until we reached the Simatai end. A far cry from the more popular points on the Great Wall that people visit from Beijing.

Yangshuo

Yangshuo may be a tourist trap of the highest degree, but the surrounds are absolutely beautiful. I walked from Yande to Xing Ping along the Li River, marvelling at the limestone hills and bargaining with the boat men that knew two words “Hello, Bamboo?”. The walk is a highly recommended alternative to taking the boat all the way down the river to Yangshuo.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

After several weeks in Chinese cities, escaping to Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge was just what I needed. The trek itself wasn’t too challenging, easily done in just two days, but well worth it. The scenery is stunning. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain provides the backdrop for most of the first day and a climb down into the gorge to the middle rock fills the second. Definitely the best thing I did in China.