Helen Davies

I already own a few Maasai shukas (blankets) that the Maasai wear and generally buy a different one each time I go to the Maasai Mara as they’re great for keeping warm on a cold safari morning. I ended up buying two cotton shukas like the Maasai women wear, a pink one and a green one, as well as two lesos (the shawl I am wearing in the below picture) and a beaded belt. In this video, Travel Blogger and TV Host, Oneika Raymond says: “Cultural appropriation occurs when a dominant culture adopts elements of a minority culture not because they’re genuinely interested or connected to it, but because it’s fun, cool, edgy or even profitable.” I have the utmost respect and admiration for African cultures and in my (humble) opinion, wearing something you’ve bought in Africa, such as a dress or a bag or a pair of earrings, to show your respect for the culture, in a tasteful manner, without it being a costume, is generally ok.

Located in the southeast of Malawi, Liwonde National Park isn’t that well-known compared to the likes of the Kruger or the Serengeti, but it is an amazing place to see elephants and one of the most tranquil parks I’ve ever visited. How to Go on Safari in Addo Elephant Park, South Africa Kruger National Park or The Kruger, is one of the most well known national parks in all of Africa. The park is next to Lake Manyara National Park which is also a great place to see elephants, and tree climbing lions! Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest, oldest, and most famous safari destination and home to around 45,000 elephants.

How To Visit the Devil’s Pool Victoria Falls, Zambia Heard about the Devil’s Pool Victoria Falls, on the Zambia side? We took a shuttle from our hotel to the boat launch site, which lies between Livingstone town and the Royal Livingstone Hotel, my favourite place for afternoon tea in Livingstone. Livingstone Island is the place where David Livingstone first set eyes on Victoria Falls, so is of great significance in the history of Zambia. By November the falls are just a trickle on the Zambian side so you won’t see much water at all, so if you want to see gushing water, you’ll either have to go to the Zimbabwean side or take a trip to the Devil’s Pool.

I’d also suggest reading my post on Arusha day trips and activities too, as there’s only a couple of hours between the cities, so you can stay in one and experience some of the things on offer in or near to the other city. It’s generally quite busy all the time, as it’s one of the most popular day trips from Moshi, but mostly during the weekends when the volunteers and locals head there to enjoy their time off. Lake Chala is a crater lake, straddling the border between Tanzania and Kenya, known for it’s beautiful colour (which changes depending on the time of year), about 1.5 hours away from Moshi. It’s a modern hotel with a nice pool, good food and most importantly, comfy beds and a good, hot shower – exactly what you need after your climb.