Florida

One place to get your heart racing is on some of the world’s most impressive rollercoasters and rides, and there is no better place to find such rides than Florida. Not only is Florida home to the magical kingdom of Disneyworld, with features Tomorrowland, the Indy Speedway and Splash Mountain, it’s also home of Universal Studios and the 335-acre Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens has several stomach-wrenching rides, such as the monster inverted steel rollercoaster Montu, and the fastest wooden double rollercoaster in the world, Gwazi. There are several water rides in the park too, including the Congo River Rapids, Stanley Falls, and the Tanganyiki Tidal Wave. After Busch Gardens you can head to the newest addition to Universal Studios, the Islands of Adventure. Described as the most high-tech theme park in the world, the Islands of Adventure gives you the chance to defy gravity and to experience the world’s first inverted dual rollercoaster.

Bolivia

A holiday in Bolivia may sound harmless, and in most cases it is, that is unless you plan to take your hire car from the Bolivian capital of La Paz to the town of Coroico via The Road of Death. This 38-mile stretch is the most dangerous road in the world, and has held that title since 1995. The road follows the equatorial forest zone and is comprised of just one lane that rarelly exceeds 3.5 metres in width. The road is especially treacherous on rainy days. Even though it is paved, after some rain the road just becomes a muddy mess. The route is seldom travelled by vehicle these days. It’s best experienced by foot or cycle.

Kenya

Kenya is home to a variety of animals, from the cute and cuddly to those that will cause you to ponder your position on the food chain. Kenya is a beautiful country, considered by many to be the ‘Jewel of East Africa’. If you visit, you’ll see why. The country is awash with some of the most outstanding beaches that Africa has to offer. Pure white sands and coral reefs are common. It’s aso home to over 50 reserves and parks. From desert and mountains to forests and marine parks, each has a selection of safaris to choose from. It’s not only Kenya’s wildlife that’s diverse; its population consists of over 40 different tribes, each with it’s own unique lifestyle. If its adventure you’re after, then Kenya is a destination worth considering.

Nepal

Asia is home to the Himalayas and with that the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. The peak offers extreme mountain climbing opportunities as well as intense ski slopes. However, at 8,848 metres high, you’ll have to be well prepared and be willing to use your survival skills. The mother of all mountains has been both kind and treacherous throughout the years. If you’re looking to conquer the summit, make sure you’re up for the challenge by properly preparing yourself with the correct training and equipment.

Brazil

From large mountains to one of the longest rivers in the world, the Amazon has its fair share of perils, as well as astonishing beauty that attracts adventurers from around the globe. At just over 4,000 miles in length, the Amazon River is the fastest flowing river in the world, accounting for around one fifth of the planet’s total river flow. For those looking to enjoy the wildlife, the river, along with the Amazon rainforest, is home to more than a third of the world’s species. Just watch out for the alligators. Plenty of jungle adventure tour companies operate out of Manaus, the main city in the Amazon with a surprisingly large population of 2 million people.

Photos courtesy of  Raphael Goetter, Szymon Kochanski, frederic.salein,  Se7en Summits, and Juan Ferr Alvarez (in that order) on Flickr.

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Kenya

Location

Kenya is an equatorial country in East Africa that borders on Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania, and has a coast on the Indian Ocean.

Major Cities

The largest cities in Kenya are the capital Nairobi, and the port city of Mombasa.

Climate and Geography

Kenya is a large country of extraordinary geographical and ecological diversity. At 580,367 km², Kenya straddles the equator, has shoreline on the Indian Ocean in the east and Lake Victoria in the west, and is home to the second tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kenya, as well as the famous Maasai Mara and Tsavo National Parks. The eastern part of the country is comprised of low-lying plains and hills, which rise into the central highlands (with many peaks over or near 5000 m). The central highlands are divided by the Great Rift Valley, which crosses western Kenya from North to South.

Kenya’s ecology is too diverse to be described briefly, but some highlights include: the Kakamega Forest, which, located in the west of the country, is one of the last remnants of the ancient Guinea-Congolian Rainforest that used to span Africa; Maasai Mara National Park, where one can find all of the ‘Big Five’ (lions, leopards, African elephants, African buffalo, and Black Rhinoceros), as well as hippopotami, Nile crocodiles, leopards, hyenas, jackals, wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelles, zebras, antelopes, and Masai giraffes; and Mount Kenya, the second tallest mountain in Africa with a height of 5199 m.

Kenya’s geographic diversity creates climactic diversity. The highest temperature of the day at high altitudes in Kenya is about the same as the lowest temperature at the lowest altitudes. The difference between the low and high temperature of a day is usually about 12 °C, and the average temperature year round fluctuates between 24 and 28 °C. The temperature in Kenya only varies seasonally by just 4 °C, with winter being the hottest season, and summer the coolest.

Description

Tourism is the largest contributor to the service sector in Kenya, which comprises 63% of the country’s GDP. Attracted by the wildlife and geography, travelers come from around the world come to Kenya, the largest numbers coming from Germany and the United Kingdom.

Although the majority of tourists visit the coast, in Kenya safaris are by far the most common adventure travel activity. With over 40 national parks and wildlife preserves there is no shortage of options. The most popular places for safaris include: Maasai Mara National Park, Tsavo National Park (East and West), Ambroseli National Park, and Samburu National Reserve.

Although the majority of people visit Kenya to see nature and wildlife, there is a variety of other adventure sporting activities to add some excitement to the natural beauty. Kenya’s 536 km coastline offers opportunities for surfing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, and ocean kayaking. Kenya’s central mountain range has many that rise to around 5000 m, so trekking, climbing, abseiling, paragliding, and hang gliding there are all epic. The Tana River is a popular destination for whitewater rafting and kayaking.

Activities

• Scuba diving (wreck, reef, shark)
• Snorkeling
• Surfing (all levels)
• Sailing
• Kitesurfing
• Windsurfing
• Parasailing
• Paragliding
• Hang gliding
• Hot air ballooning
• Whitewater rafting
• Kayaking (river, lake, and sea)
• Hiking/trekking (all levels)
• Mountain climbing (all levels)
• Abseiling
• Bungee jumping
• Mountain Biking (novice to expert)
• Horseback Riding

On a Budget?

• Prices in Kenya vary greatly by location. In the cheapest areas, beds can be found for around $5 USD per night. Two of the lower-priced hostels in Nairobi are the Book Bush House & Camp and the YHA Kenya.
  You can find more information about Kenya hostels here.
• In rural areas homestays, which can be found for around $20 USD per night for room and board, are great way to experience local culture and keep your expenses down. For long-term visitors furnished apartments are good option; they can be found for $50 – $150 per month.
• If you stick to local restaurants and groceries Kenya is an inexpensive place to eat. Cheap local restaurants in rural areas will serve meals for $1 USD or even cheaper. In the cities expect to pay a little more. Local markets are also a great place to purchase fresh produce local products.

Travel Insurance

I like to use World Nomads. It’s not too expensive and signing up is fast and straightforward. They also have pretty good coverage for sports equipment like surf and snowboards, but it varies depending on your country of origin, so be sure double check. You can get a free quote on their website.

Photos

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Images (in order) courtesy of frederic.salein, Ai@ce, PhotoBobil, 5lab, Ai@ce, Ai@ce, chris.murphy, Bitterjug, Tambako the Jaguar, anoldent, Zoom Zoom, meaduva, and alaina.buzas on Flickr.

Suggested Reading

Click on an image for more information.

Map

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