My Travels – East Africa

Adventure, friendly locals and good food awaits, as these four travellers testify

Refiloe Kobeli, 38

Travel curator and travel-preneur who got bit by the travel bug in 2008, while working as a marketing specialist for a major cruise company.

What I loved about Ethiopia… I felt the citizens’ dedication to faith the moment I arrived. There were many prayer rooms at the airport, and I also noticed men and women pray in separate rooms. And, oh, Ethiopian women are just too beautiful!

I recommend… The Merkato, the largest outdoor market in Africa and one of my favourite spaces. I also recommend going up Mount Entoto for some great views. You cannot leave without indulging in Ethiopian food and coffee. The latter is a long-standing tradition of theirs.

Katchie Nzama, 30

Pan-Africanist travel blogger who was part of the Top 100 Women in Tourism in Africa by the Akwaaba African Travel Market in Nigeria, as well as Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans in 2016.

What I loved about Uganda… I immediately fell in love with the fertile vegetation and red soil the second I landed — it reminded me of Venda.The Ugandan party scene is something we don’t discuss enough – Ugandans know how to party! They do it so effortlessly and will literally change your perceptions about partying. The city Jinja has been rightfully dubbed ‘the adventure capital of East Africa’. Don’t leave without… Visiting Jinja, said to be the source of the river Nile. I also recommend watching the sun rise over the Nile and swimming in the river.

Ouma Tema, 34

Creative and founding director of clothing label Plus-Fab, and a huge fan of solo travelling.

What I loved about Kenya... East African hospitality is not a myth — I love how genuinely friendly and helpful Kenyans are. Scooters are their predominant mode of transport, and there isn’t a culture of flaunting opulence. I stayed mostly in Watamu, a town three hours outside of Mombasa. I enjoyed that there was no VIP section in the club — we were all equal beings, there to have fun.

I recommend… Going on a man-made canoe around the nearby river, where you’ll find a restaurant called Shack Place, which sells amazing seafood.

Realeboga Makhokolo, 31

Content specialist who’s always dreamt of visiting every country on the African continent. Her mission is to explore at least two a year.

What I loved about Rwanda… The first thing that sticks out about Kigali is how clean the city is, and how friendly and polite the people are. I also love how the country is the perfect combination of developing and advanced. Rwanda’s a forward-thinking country.

I would definitely go back for… The night life (which I didn’t experience at all) and to explore more of the city. I went for the infamous gorilla trekking at the Virunga National Park, in Gisenyi, which was a surreal experience. Their honey and coffee were quite something else, and I loved that a lot of their initiatives benefit local communities.