[Closed] anyone been to Botswana, Sudan or Ethiopia?

I read a book called "Jupiters travels" years ago by Ted Simon who went round the world on a Triumph 500. He said the only thing to say about Sudan was F*cked up and it sounds like nothing has improved in the area in the intervening years. Good book though.

I have just finished a book by Al Humphreys of his round-the-world trip and he really liked Sudan but didn't like Ethiopia. See Moods of Future Joys.

I've been to Botswana but not in a business context. Game parks generally well maintained and Okavango Delta is fabulous. I've been on business to a variety of different African countries - each has quite distinct cultures

Botswana yes including the Okavango Delta. Awesome, a proper "big sky" country and the delta is pretty impressive. Would have like to visit the Makgadikgadi salt pan, we were very close to it but didn't stop.

it would be as part of a medical elective so 6 weeks working in a hospital and 3 weeks to travel. Got links to hospitals in each country, uni might stop us from going to sudan which was my first choice so trying to get an idea of what each country is like from people's first hand experiences if possible

Just back from living in Ethiopia for 18 months-drop me a line...

will do, cheers!

I've been to to the a reasonable chunk of Africa (I think) and the SW (Botswana, Namibia etc) is in a different league to the rest - economically and culture shock wise. TBF it only adds up to 6 months or so.

What have you got planned?

Spent a while in Botswana when I was younger, and I gather it has been very stable for a while now.
The Okavango delta is wonderful and the salt pans are impressive. I remember digging a latrine pit in the middle of the delta when I was 7 and a pack of wild dogs came splashing through the water frighteningly close. Wonderful 🙂
I gather its drying up due to increased pressures on the water because of agriculture. Not sure how accurate that is though.

I went to Zambia as an orthopaedic surgeon a few months ago on a charity mission with Beit Cure Hospital.
Left very disappointed with what I was able to acheive due to the inherent corruption and politics in the system.
I will go back but more than likely as a tourist.

Know nothing about Ethiopia and Sudan, but Botswana is magnificent, the most life affirming place I have ever been.

I went to Sudan a few months ago to escort my sister home (aid worker who needed to be escorted home due to medical reasons). Oppressive air over the whole place, tho I only saw khartoum. Can't say id recommend it at all.

They are all shite places.

chewkw obviously has never been out of his own asshole. Or Birmingham. Just ignore him.

I enjoyed Botswana and would certainly go back. Nice people and interesting architecture in the villages. Sadly I never managed to learn the San click.

Be careful. I did one of those industrial placement things in 1998 and it got permanent.

Spent a while in Botswana when I was younger, and I gather it has been very stable for a while now.

Since 1966, I believe, and before that it was called Bechuanaland 😀

Can't speak for Sudan and Ethiopia, but Botswana is, as has been said above, pretty magnificent. That ianpinder fellow is [url= http://tda2012.com/ ]passing through Sudan and Ethiopia[/url] now.

Well worth reading Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux - he really captures the essence of Africa.

To Botswana:

I've known a few medical types working in government hospitals: generally good experience but some frustrations with resources overcrowding, drug shortages. What you experience will depend on your field: HIV/AIDS related illness is probably the main reason for hospitalisation, and a lot of patients will be in terminal decline.

It's difficult to do things like Makgadikgadi, Okavango, Moremi, Chobe, Kalahari on the cheap, but public transport is very reasonable - a tenner takes you 500km (Gaborone -> Francistown (hourlyish), Francistown -> Maun (4-5 buses per day), Francistown -> Kasane (3-4 buses per day)), less than a quid for a taxi or combi within a town or city. Once you're in Gweta (Makgadikgadi), Maun (Okavango, Moremi) or Kasane (Chobe, stepping stone to Vic Falls) you can arrange day trips, overnights and things in the bush (sleeping out on the Makgadikgadi is magnificent).

In 3 weeks you could do a leisurely circuit round Victoria Falls, Maun, Windhoek, Swakopmund and into South Africa. Either independently using public transport or join one of the overlander routes (hateful things...) with Gap Adventures, Drifters, or a dozen other companies.

Drop me a line michael@<username>.com for more info.

Got a friend who co-owns a game reserve in Tuli, Botswana.

He's lived there on and off for a few years running educational and research projects on the reserve. He absolutely loved living there for the people, the landscape, the wildlife and the pace of life.

A real blight on Botswana from talking to him is HIV/Aids. It's shocking the number of the trackers and rangers who have contracted it since he's been there.

As above Namibia is definitely worth a visit, blown away by that place. Skeleton coast, Sossusvlei, Fish River canyon (2nd largest to Grand Canyon), Etosha. Good campsites too 🙂

Did crocodile research in the Delta, amazing place. Didn't come into contact with too many local people though. Tsodilo hills is worth checking out, as are the salt pans. Ive not been to either the Sudan or Ethiopia, but Botswana had the best "vibe" about it compared to all the other places i have been to in Africa.

Botswana is superb, spend some time in the Okavango Delta, completely amazing. Crossed the Kazungula Ferry over the Zambezi and that was an interesting experience. Lovely people, fantastic country.

Keeping vaguely on-forum: Mashatu in Tuli Block apparently has some good mountain bike trails, and there are mountain bikers based in most urban areas - Gaborone, Francistown, Maun - who know the local trails.

cheers, loads of responses and I'll be in touch with a couple of you