Travel advice for backpacking in the Developing World [written here in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa]. These rules are the somewhat-obvious ones but hey, they are your opening to an easier journey.
- Get interested in a country or region, read, surf the web but don’t plan too intensely; better to have plenty of time and see what happens … be flexible; go with the flow. Plans change.
- Travel as light as possible: a heavy, bulky backpack will be your worse enemy … Besides: you can always buy cheaply and discard as you travel.
- BUT: bring all important items from home before you leave: EG: prescriptions/medicines, specialized camera / electronic items, guidebook, personal essentials …
- Buy quality footwear – hiking boots or x-country-sandals – if you want to get the miles without pain (but for about-the-town or beach then cheap sandals /thongs are okay). Likewise make sure your backpack is good – so zips or seams won’t bust within months.
- NEVER save money avoiding vaccinations – get all that are necessary. And travel insurance is good for piece of mind but not essential (if you are on a tight budget; take ya chances).
- Buying your flight via the internet is often the cheapest; but not always! Research.
- In most cases smile, wave, or say Hello / greet all people who meet your eye (unless avoiding touts or hustlers; or you’re a woman avoiding sexual harassment).
- Never carry the bulk of your money, credit card, passport in an obvious money-belt but rather one hidden beneath your clothes, and also use additional secret emergency stashes in a zipper-belt, in a shoe, or in a bag, etc. For daily transactions rather than a wallet have small money in a plastic bag stuffed into a front pocket.
- Don’t wear a watch or expensive-looking bling; ethnic jewelery is okay.
- Best to avoid tap water unless purified or otherwise told its okay. Likewise salads washed in the same water – but peeled fruits are fine.
- Street food is cheap, yummy and essential to the experience – just chose carefully – busy means good, fresh, high turn-over; but all the same you may get a stomach upset simply from the change of diet.
- Rest assured you’re not alone: internet cafes are across the world – in most major cities towns – and usually cheap, often with reasonable speeds.
- NEVER – no matter how convincing – get involved in get-rich-quick schemes or other great proposals – they are always scams.
- ALWAYS negotiate a price before using a taxi, rickshaw or motorcycle-taxi.
- It’s always good to learn at least Hello & Thank You in the local language.
- Don’t have fear about what might happen – unless it happens, which most-often, it doesn’t. Have confidence and fun, and get out there!
EXPLORE ...
