Africa Travel Podcasts

Podcasts covering travel in Africa are an incredibly useful tool for those planning a trip to the continent. I've recently been listening to podcasts (or travelcasts) about a safari in the Serengeti (Tanzania), a tour through Egypt, and a trip to Marrakech. I've learned that it's not possible to rent a car and drive from Cairo to Luxor without joining a convoy for security. And I've found out why much of the meat you see in the souqs of Morocco has huge testicles still attached. Apparently many Moroccan men prefer their meat this way to make sure it contains no female hormones.

I'm not too savvy with my iPod, but downloading a podcast was extremely simple even for me, and I was running on my treadmill enjoying a Tanzanian safari within a few minutes. If you don't own an iPod, then you can always listen to the podcasts on your computer. The sites listed below have all the information about how to get started.

My Favorite Africa Travel Podcasts ...

• The Amateur Traveler Podcast is my favorite show so far. Chris Christensen's Africa related podcasts include: Mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda; Safari in Tanzania; Egypt; Marrakech; Tanzania as a tourist; Ethiopia and more.

• Lonely Planet podcasts are excellent (like their guide books) although their Africa coverage is still a bit slim. I've listened to their podcasts on Nigeria and Ethiopia. But I'm sure there will be plenty more to come and this service is worth subscribing to.

• Rick Steves, (better known for his European travel) has several podcasts about Africa. A particularly interesting one to download is "Meeting the Maasai in East Africa". Others include "Touring South Africa" and Egypt (2006). Rick's podcasts are free, just note that his show begins with callers questions and they don't always relate to the main topic being discussed.

• Tourcaster sells their podcasts and currently just cover South Africa. These podcasts are designed for people who want to enjoy their own personal audio tour as they see the sights. There is a free "Getting to Know Cape Town" podcast which has useful information.