Being stuck in a plane for 8 hours is no fun, but it's part of traveling!! My flight from Montreal to Tanzania went well, althought there is a short delay because of the snow in Amsterdam. After waiting maybe an hour, I hopped on my flight to Nairobi but as the plane was moving from the gate, it just stopped. And we were stopped for 8 hours because the wheels got stuck in the snow! Since there is only so mu ...

Today is the big day! I'm Tanzania-bound. I managed to fit all my stuff in one backpack so that's awesome news! I have my passport, my yellow fever certificate, my visa to enter the country so I do not predict any issues with entering the country. Once I arrive, a representative of my tour operator will pick me up. I'm arriving late and would need to hop on a taxi for an hour by myself before arriving to th ...

[caption id="attachment_3648" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Ngorongoro Crater"][/caption] With one week away from departure, yes, one week, 7 days or 168 hours, I'm excited!! Does it show? My trip preparation to Tanzania has come along well... or so I think. Trying to juggle work, training and trip preparation has not been easy, but it's got to be done. What's left to do? Fortunately, not much. T ...

With two weeks away 'til my departure, things are getting rather hectic. Between the Holiday rush at work, maintaining my training program and prepping for my trip, I've been going absolutely nuts. There is one thing keeping me sane however. I'm leaving in 2 weeks!! I can't wait to be on the long haul flight to Tanzania, forced time on a plane to relax! Looking forward to catching up on some sleep, reading ...

Less than a month away Tanya, is flying off to Africa!!! Off-Track Backpacking is so excited for her and to hear all about this amazing travel adventure. However, about a month ago, my brother and parents took the challenge to see a little of Africa too. I wanted to share a few pictures of their adventure, but also to give you a little a pre-view of what Tanya will be experiencing very shortly!! Take a gand ...

With less than 5 weeks from departure, I hope that my current training plan will help me reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. So what have I been up to anyway? Training, training, and yes, more training!! While the hike itself is not the most extraneous, hiking in high altitude is difficult. Although I'm always fairly in shape because I workout regularly, hiking to Kilimanjaro motivated me to take my workout to ...

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="320" caption="Photo Credit: orvis.com"][/caption] Other than paying for the 7-day tour itself, the next most expensive part of hiking Kilimanjaro is purchasing the right gear for the hike. During the 7 days on the mountain, I'll be hiking through various climates, from hot, to cold, to windy, to rainy and to snowy. The key to successfully cross these different climate ...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Source: http://www.top-things-to-do.com/africa/zanzibar.jpg"][/caption] As I prepare myself physically and mentally for my Kilimanjaro hike, part of me is really excited to get that out-of-the-way so I can then enjoy 4 days in Zanzibar, also known as the Spice Island due to the abundant spice plantations on the island. Besides the fact that Zanzibar is ...

Prior to my trip to Brazil last winter, I made a quick stop to the Travel Clinic to get important shots for Yellow Fever, Typhoid and Hepatitis A. The doctor also recommended I take Malaria pills since I was spending 6 days in the Brazilian Amazon. There are several types of Malaria pills: Mefloquine, Malarone, Doxycycline and Fansidar. My doctor recommended the Malarone pills, which I believe are the most ...

If you ask me if I'm scared of the Kilimanjaro climb, my answer is no. Sleeping in a tent for 6 nights, no available bathrooms on the mountain, hiking every day for 7 days or being exposed to the cold  doesn't bother me. I know I can deal with the uncomfort I may be facing. But if you wonder what my biggest fear is. Here it goes: I'm worried about experiencing altitude sickness once I reach a certain altitu ...