Climbing Kilimanjaro: What It Really Takes to Reach Africa’s Highest Summit

Climbing Kilimanjaro: What It Really Takes to Reach Africa’s Highest Summit

Episode Number: 79   Property / Guest Name: Climbing Kilimanjaro – Tanzania Brian Raffio – Senior Account Manager Episode Summary: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is one of Africa’s great adventure travel experiences. It is not a technical climb, yet it asks something real from every traveller who takes it on. In this episode of Keep Travelling: Your African Story, Rael Zieve speaks with Brian Raffio, Senior Account Manager at Climbing Kilimanjaro. Brian shares the story of a company that began with a porter on the mountain, grew through guiding, and has now become one of the larger operators helping travellers reach the summit each year. This is a practical and motivating conversation for anyone who has ever wondered whether they could climb Kilimanjaro. Brian explains how to get there, how fit travellers need to be, what training helps, what the different climb lengths mean, and why altitude acclimatisation is so important. He also gives a clear look at life on the mountain, from food and camps to porters, toilets, summit night, emergency support, oxygen, helicopter rescue, weather, wildlife, and the feeling of standing above the clouds at around 19,000 feet. In this episode, you’ll discover: • How Climbing Kilimanjaro started and grew from humble beginnings • The best travel routes into Kilimanjaro International Airport or via Nairobi • How much training is needed before attempting the climb • Why 6-day and 9-day routes offer very different acclimatisation experiences • What food, camp life, porters, toilets, and summit night are really like • How altitude sickness, emergency oxygen, and rescue support are managed Guest Information: Brian Raffio is the Senior Account Manager at Climbing Kilimanjaro. In this conversation, he shares practical advice from inside one of the mountain’s established operators, covering routes, costs, preparation, group dynamics, summit conditions, porter support, safety, and what travellers should know before taking on Africa’s highest mountain. Key Takeaways: • Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb, but travellers should train properly and prepare for long hiking days at altitude. • Longer routes can improve acclimatisation, which may give travellers a better chance of feeling strong near the summit. • Summit night is tough, emotional, and unforgettable, with many climbers reaching the top as the sun rises above the clouds. Contact Information: Should you want to contact me directly, please email: rael@keeptravelling.africa [rael@keeptravelling.africa] Blog Post: https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/climbing-kilimanjaro/ [https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/climbing-kilimanjaro/]

Morocco Travel Organizer: A Luxury Morocco Journey

Episode Number: 78 Property / Guest Name: Morocco Travel Organizer – Morocco Siham Lahmin – Owner and Curator Episode Summary: Morocco is often spoken about as if it is one simple destination. Yet, as Siham Lahmin explains in this episode, it is much more layered than that. In this episode of Keep Travelling: Your African Story, Rael Zieve speaks with Siham Lahmin, owner and curator of Morocco Travel Organizer. Together, they explore the real rhythm of Morocco, from ancient cities and mountain communities to the Sahara Desert, coastal life, food traditions, local safety tips, and the value of planning the country properly. Siham explains why travellers should not try to rush Morocco. Instead, she describes the country as a journey best experienced chapter by chapter, with time for land, mountains, desert, beach, culture, and food. She also shares why local knowledge is so important when navigating medinas, understanding traditions, and avoiding missed experiences. In this episode, you’ll discover: • The main international entry points into Morocco, including Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangier, Fez, and Rabat • Why the Sahara Desert, High Atlas Mountains, and Fez are three powerful places to include • How the Amazigh roots of Morocco shape the mountain experience • Why Fez is one of Morocco’s great cultural, spiritual, food, and craft centres • What dishes travellers should try, including tangia, medfouna, and pastilla • Practical advice on safety, women’s travel, local help, language, timing, and trip length Guest Information: Siham Lahmin is the owner and curator of Morocco Travel Organizer. Born in Fez and deeply connected to Moroccan culture, food, and local travel planning, Siham helps travellers experience Morocco with more depth and less stress. In this conversation, she shares honest advice on how to plan a meaningful Morocco journey, why local expertise matters, and how visitors can better understand the country through its cities, mountains, desert, coastline, cuisine, and people. Key Takeaways: • Morocco is best explored slowly, with around 15 days giving travellers time to experience cities, mountains, desert, beach, culture, and food. • Local guidance can make a major difference, especially in medinas, remote regions, and cultural spaces where travellers may miss important details alone. • Siham recommends experiencing the Sahara Desert, High Atlas Mountains, and Fez, while also tasting local dishes in the places where they truly belong. Contact Information: Should you want to contact me directly, please email: rael@keeptravelling.africa [rael@keeptravelling.africa] Blog Post: https://www.keeptravelling.africa/blog/morocco_insights [https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/morocco-insights/]

Royal Mara Safari Lodge Kenya

Episode Number: 77 Property / Guest Name: Royal Mara Safari Lodge – Mara North Conservancy, Kenya Martin Ndamwe – Marketing Manager Episode Summary: There are some safari lodges where the experience begins on the game drive. Then there are places where the wild feeling starts before you have even left your room. In this episode of Keep Travelling: Your African Story, Rael Zieve speaks with Martin Ndamwe, Marketing Manager at Royal Mara Safari Lodge in Kenya’s Mara North Conservancy. Martin shares what makes this intimate riverfront lodge so special, from its peaceful setting beside the river to its small lodge feel, strong wildlife access, and close connection to the surrounding landscape. Royal Mara Safari Lodge offers just eight rooms and a family cottage, making it a quieter and more personal safari option in the Masai Mara region. Guests can enjoy river-facing views, hippos, crocodiles, birds, antelope, zebra, game drives, walking safaris, nature walks, bush meals, and the chance to experience the Big Five in a carefully managed conservancy setting. In this episode, you’ll discover: • How guests can reach Royal Mara Safari Lodge by road or air from Nairobi • What arrival, check-in, butler service, and lodge safety look like • Why the lodge’s riverfront rooms make the safari feel close from the start • How the food, bush meals, picnic breakfasts, and all-inclusive options work • Why Mara North Conservancy offers a quieter safari experience than busier areas • Why Martin believes the low season may be one of the best times to visit Guest Information: Martin Ndamwe is the Marketing Manager at Royal Mara Safari Lodge in Kenya. In this conversation, he shares a clear and practical look at the guest experience, from getting to the lodge and settling into the rooms, to enjoying meals, wildlife, walking safaris, and the peaceful rhythm of Mara North Conservancy. He also explains why the lodge’s small size, riverfront position, solar-powered systems, organic garden, and private conservancy location help create a more personal Kenya safari experience. Key Takeaways: • Royal Mara Safari Lodge is an intimate riverfront lodge in Mara North Conservancy, with eight rooms and a family cottage. • The lodge offers game drives, walking safaris, nature walks, bush meals, strong wildlife viewing, and a quieter conservancy setting. • Royal Mara Safari Lodge is giving one lucky listener a two-night stay to experience the lodge for themselves. Contact Information: Should you want to contact me directly, please email: rael@keeptravelling.africa [rael@keeptravelling.africa] Blog Post: https://www.keeptravelling.africa/blog/royal_mara [https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/royal-mara/]

A Luxury Safari won at Dulini Leadwood: Johan’s Sabi Sands Story

Episode Number: 76 Property / Guest Name: Dulini Leadwood – Sabi Sands, South Africa Johan Adriaanse – Keep Travelling Prize Giveaway Winner Episode Summary: Every now and then, a travel story feels different. Not because it is louder or more dramatic, but because it comes from someone who has actually lived the experience. In this episode of Keep Travelling: Your African Story, Rael Zieve sits down with Johan Adriaanse, the recent winner of the Keep Travelling prize giveaway to Dulini Leadwood. Together with his wife, Nicola, Johan travelled to the Sabi Sands for a stay that became far more than just a luxury safari escape. It was a birthday break, a wildlife experience, a chance to slow down, and a reminder of why Africa stays with people long after they return home. From the moment they entered the reserve, the experience began. A rhino sighting just minutes after arrival set the tone, followed by warm hospitality, beautiful river-facing accommodation, exceptional food, and game drives filled with leopard, lion, elephant, rhino, and those smaller, quieter safari moments that often become the most memorable. In this episode, you’ll discover: • What it felt like to win and enjoy a Keep Travelling prize giveaway  • How easy the journey to Dulini Leadwood was from Tzaneen  • Why Johan and Nicola found the lodge setting, room, food, and staff so impressive  • The special leopard and lion sightings that made the safari unforgettable  • Why Sabi Sands felt quiet, well-managed, and deeply personal  • How guides, trackers, and lodge teams help protect the true spirit of African tourism Guest Information: Johan Adriaanse joins the podcast as a recent Keep Travelling prize giveaway winner. After travelling with his wife, Nicola, to Dulini Leadwood in the Sabi Sands, Johan shares an honest guest perspective on the lodge, the wildlife, the food, the service, and the feeling of being properly looked after in one of South Africa’s most iconic safari regions. He also gives special mention to Nathan, their guide, whose respect for nature and knowledge of the area stood out during their stay. Key Takeaways: • The Keep Travelling prize giveaway gave Johan and Nicola the chance to experience Dulini Leadwood for themselves, not just dream about it. • Dulini Leadwood delivered a powerful mix of luxury, warm service, excellent food, and quiet, unhurried safari moments. • The wildlife experience was exceptional, with rhino on arrival, memorable leopard encounters, lions with cubs, elephants, antelope, birds, and even a chameleon sighting. Contact Information: Should you want to contact me directly, please email: rael@keeptravelling.africa [rael@keeptravelling.africa] Blog Post: https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/dulini-prize-winner/ [https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/dulini-prize-winner/]

Tripoli Libya Travel Guide: A Refreshing Look At Africa’s Most Misunderstood City

Episode Number: 75 Guest Name: Diana Yu, Publisher of Just Wanderlust https://justwanderlustblog.com/ Episode Summary: Some destinations arrive with a story already written for them. Libya is one of those places. For many travellers, the country is still linked to old headlines, uncertainty, and questions about whether it belongs on a serious travel wish list. But in this episode of Keep Travelling: Your African Story, host Rael Zieve speaks with travel blogger and publisher Diana Yu about a very different side of Libya. Her journey through Tripoli reveals a city shaped by Mediterranean light, ancient history, generous people, fresh seafood, and a travel experience that feels far more personal than polished. This is not the usual African travel story. There are no luxury safari lodges or Big Five game drives here. Instead, there is the old medina, the Red Castle, Roman ruins, palm-lined streets, local markets, and the quiet surprise of discovering a city that is not performing for tourists. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why Tripoli, Libya surprised Diana Yu as a travel destination What guided tourism and safety support looks like for visitors in Libya How local culture shapes the experience, especially for female travellers Why Tripoli’s medina feels raw, real, and untouched by mass tourism The Roman history of Leptis Magna and Sabratha Why Libyan seafood, especially the shrimp, left such a lasting memory Guest Information: Diana Yu is the publisher of the Just Wanderlust blog and a widely travelled storyteller who has visited more than 100 countries. In this conversation, she brings a calm, honest, and curious view of Tripoli, Libya, sharing what she experienced first-hand rather than what many travellers may assume from the outside. Her story opens up a lesser-known corner of North Africa through culture, food, history, and human connection. Key Takeaways: Tripoli offers a very different kind of African travel experience, built around history, culture, food, and everyday local life rather than traditional safari travel. Diana explains that travel in Libya is structured through guides, tourist support, and controlled tourism, which helped shape her experience on the ground. The episode challenges common perceptions of Libya by highlighting hospitality, Mediterranean beauty, Roman ruins, and a city that still feels refreshingly authentic. Contact Information: rael@keeptravelling.africa [rael@keeptravelling.africa] Blog: https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/tripoli-libya/ [https://keeptravelling.africa/blog/tripoli-libya/]