Virtual Adventure Travel
A college pal of mine is off on a 3-month African safari and emails a group of us every couple of weeks with stories from the field. While I'm living vicariously through his travels, he's out in the wild with his girlfriend on group tours, then traveling independently as a couple, then meeting up with friends. Basically, he rocks.
Here's what my friend recently did in Namibia, Africa while I scrolled on my phone:
- "Fish River Canyon - the oldest, and second largest, canyon in the world"
- "...hiking up a huge red dune at sunrise surrounded by miles of the same as far as the eye could see..."
- "...visiting a cheetah farm and petting tame cheetahs..."
- "...visiting a village of the Himba tribe - one of the few tribes left in Africa living completely in their traditional ways..."
- "...visiting Etosha National Park (some animals seen: 2 elephants; 6 lions; 4 or 5 warthogs; tons of giraffes; tons of zebra; tons of wildebeest; tons of antelope; all kinds of birds including a bunch of ostrich, vultures, a stork, a goshawk, some kory bustards - the largest flying bird in Africa, and lots more)."
He surfs, too. But I admire his ability to plan, save money, and pick up and travel adventurously. Don't we all have at least one friend we live vicariously through? The guy or gal who one-ups us on adventure. We plan a multi-day hike while they zip through tree canopies and scuba dive with sharks. The travel bug is everywhere.
If you don't have a friend like this, here are a few websites that may speak to your adventurous spirit:
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The Planet D: Run by Canadian couple Dave and Deb, this blog who live by the motto “Adventure is for Everyone” because, as they say, "we believe that you don’t have to be an uber-athlete, adrenaline junkie, or a part of the ultra-rich to be an adventurer." They have traveled to over 115 countries and provide detailed city guides, personal travel tips, and inspiring stories. Their adventures began with a cycling race across Africa and have since evolved into a full-time travel lifestyle.
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The Adventure Junkies: This website is a great resource for outdoor adventure info that aims to make the outdoors accessible to all and inspire people to value, understand, and protect the planet's ecosystems. Articles are well-organized into sections like "Climbing," "Kayaking," and "Skiing."
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Expert Vagabond: Managed by a professional adventure travel photographer and digital nomad, this blog shares travel tips and experiences from around the world. It's a great resource for anyone interested in combining adventure travel with photography.
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Alastair Humphreys: Known for coining the term 'micro adventure,' Alastair's blog encourages finding adventure close to home. He has an impressive record of global explorations, including crossing Iceland, rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, and cycling around the world.
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Wild Junket: Nellie Huang, a professional adventure traveler, has been exploring the world since 2003. Her blog covers a wide range of adventures, from climbing active volcanoes in Guatemala to scuba diving in Borneo and exploring the Silk Road.