Exit To Africa began as an idea to return to Africa after studying in Tanzania for a college semester.  I had already traveled to East Africa three years earlier when I went on a photographic safari in Tanzania and Kenya.  I had fallen in love with the scenic landscapes, the magnificent animals, and the charm of East African culture and people.  I knew that in order to really appreciate the region I had to come back and learn the language.  I returned with the School for International Training and studied ecology, anthropology, history, ecological surveying, biology, and most notably language, Swahili.  I left Africa for the second time with knowledge of the National Parks and Wildlife. But also with a comprehensive understanding on the land and peoples of East Africa and most importantly I could communicate with the people in their language.

The idea to return to Africa began while Jon and I passed our afternoons, after class in the New Luxury Bar, in Iringa, Tanzania.  We just tossed the idea in the air and decided to get serious about it about a year after we returned from our semester abroad in Tanzania.

During the year of 1999 Jon and I, and shortly after Ryan, began our pre-departure preparations.  We decided to independently develop ideas for a route to travel and each of us would be responsible to intensely study three of the nine countries that we roughly sketched would be on our trip.  We wanted to be "experts" on where we were going, at least in theory that is.  Jamani and I met for the first time in over a year in Boston. We shared a few Tuskers and watched RENEGADE AFRICA, a film by a Michael Davie who road-tripped from Cape Town to Cairo.  We then met again over our senior year thanksgiving break to seriously hash out the trip, everything from what were the current wars and economic trends to what kind and how much underwear to bring.  We discussed:

• Current political, social, environmental, and cultural conditions of countries
• Medical & health issues
• Budgets & total cost
• Map direction & routes
• Length of travel in regions
• The most interesting places to see
• Legalities of specific countries & attitudes toward foreigners
• Methods of transportation
• The theme of our trip
• Insurance
• Communication tothe United States

Perhaps the best things we brought with us to the meeting were itineraries of our three countries that we were to become experts on. For example, my countries were South Africa (as I had traveled there alone one year prior for the month of my winter break), Mozambique (I was learning Portuguese, the official/only language of Mozambique), and Malawi.  We all left the meeting feeling pretty good about being together for the first time since our semester abroad.  We felt that we were really doing this and that we were becoming extremely knowledgeable about southern and East Africa.

We all woke up a little soar headed the next day though, as after we had discussed Africa we sat in the hot-tub for 6 hours and drank with Megan and Ryan's friend.

In a big way for me, this trip was a way to become so familiar with regions in Africa that it would seem almost like home.  I read books (ex: In The Shadow Of Kilimanjaro, Africa: A Biography of a continent, Lonely Planet: Southern Africa, Africa Solo, History of Africa, Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, etc); practiced Swahili & Portuguese; scoured the web for information on safaris, hostels, and plane tickets; read newspapers and internet news on African issues; called embassies and the state department. All in order to learn everything I could about the areas we would be traveling to.

While I was in Africa I took every opportunity to meet and talk with people whom I thought would be helpful in my return again or to do business with.  I even found areas that I plan on buying land in Africa.

The point of this website is for travelers is to download information that I have gathered on traveling to Africa.  Whether you would like to go for a week or a year I have put together information that is crucial for independent travelers.  Travelers who want to go on the beaten path and off, when you choose to.  Travelers who want to know who they can ask for a safari and know that a friend (me) has used or knows personally the owner and workers of the company.  Travelers who would like to know where the alternative attitude hostels are or where the sterile, quiet hostel is.  I have many friends, hired many people for services, and have stayed at many places in Africa.  Some of the places I have stayed at are only made of mud and sticks, but they are the only places open and available when you roll in at 12:45 AM from hitching for 8 hours (that are comfortable and with meals too).  I know prices for goods and services Africa.  One of the most important purposes of Exit To Africa is to provide a dialogue for travelers on anything desired; for the traveler to ask any question that comes across your path or to just let someone know who has been there what your stress is.

On this website you will find:

• Information on how to budget your money or I will budget for you
• What precautions to take, medical issues you need to deal with, or health issues
• Contacts in Africa such as safari companies, hostels, friends, etc
• Itinerary workshops with me (download an example)
• Useful maps, phone numbers, address, websites, business, etc
• The scoop on local cuisine, bars, clubs, restaurants, beaches, activities, scenic areas, hiking, alternative lifestyles, etc
• Dangers, warnings, annoyances, and safe zones
• Access to me whenever I am online or next to a phone, and a whole lot more