Adventures of The German Backpacker in Kenya!

 

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams~ Oprah Winfrey

 

Hello there my friends! 😀 Today’s blog post features Patrick Muntzinger, a German backpacker, who is undoubtedly living the life of his dreams! At only 24 years old, he has been to 45 countries, and Yes Kenya made that list! 😀

 

I met Patrick via Instagram, where his stunning pictures of Kenya swept me off my feet! I was nearly drooling as I went through his Instagram profile, that features all the amazing places he’s visited. It screams ‘Ultimate Goals’ for anyone who loves to travel!

 

 

Yet, what captivated me the most was his Kenyan adventure… So, I reached out to him about a blog feature, a request that he graciously and most enthusiastically obliged! 😀

And so here we are! 😉 Join me on this epic journey, as we discover more about the German backpacker and his Kenyan adventures!

 

Fun Facts About Patrick the German Backpacker

 

When and where did your epic adventures begin?

I’m from Germany…. I had some family holidays as a teenager, in Italy and the US, but my real travels probably started in 2013, when I had a semester abroad in San Diego California. It was the first time I left my home for such a long time.

During that time, I managed to travel a lot around Canada, the US and Mexico. Soon after, I ventured out on my first solo backpacking trip to Asia.

 

How do you manage to travel to so many beautiful places?

A good combination of work, studying and traveling gives me enough time and the (low) budget to travel. For instance, I did a business internship in South Korea, and I’m currently doing a semester abroad at a Business School in Mexico City.

Long semester breaks allow me to travel a lot. (Let’s hope I’ll find a way to keep that after finishing my studies next year!) 😀

 

What does the life of a backpacker look like?

For me, backpacking means traveling cheap and easy – no suitcase, no fancy hotels- just me and a light backpack with the most essential stuff.

Oh, and really important no fixed schedule– being spontaneous makes traveling much more fun! 😉

I’ve traveled a lot by myself, but also with good friends–this usually depends on the country. Some places are great for solo-travel because you meet so many awesome people, (e.g. in Southeast Asia), while it’s easier to be with a friend in others. (e.g. during my Trans-Siberian Railway trip last summer)

 

3 favorite destinations so far?

Hey, that’s a difficult one, but let’s try! 😀

1. Hawaii: Because it’s so beautiful and has it all: jungle, beaches, sport, hiking, volcanoes, action activities like skydiving – and a super relaxed lifestyle.
2. Japan: It has a lot to offer – from huge cities to beautiful temples and nature. The food is great, people are extremely polite and helpful, and it’s super safe!
3. India: It’s incredible, almost like another world… So many different colors, smells, emotions, cultures and places. It has everything, and I could travel this country for months without getting bored.
4. Okay, I got my three already, but what should definitely be on my list as well: Kenya (more about that later), 🙂 Mexico and Thailand. 😀

 

How do you choose your travel destinations…?

It depends, but I mostly go for places that I’ve heard many good and exciting things about, and that are not too expensive. I also like to go to places that are not commonly visited.

 

The Kenyan Adventure

Drum rolls please…… 😉 And now, the questions we have all been waiting for! Always wanted to write that. Haha 😀

 

How did you end up in Kenya?

I have a friend (Kenyan with British roots) with the same passion for traveling, adventure and photography as I do. He had a few weeks off from his work last ‘autumn’ and  he invited me to come over and travel around the country with him. 😀

 

 

 

What was your experience in Kenya like? Any mishaps…challenges you care to share?

My experience was great! Majorly because I have a friend there, which made my trip much easier. We were able to get around via a personal car, stay at his friends’ and family’s places and could go camping at safe costs (especially in the National parks).

 

 

I had a wonderful time, although I also observed that Kenya may not be an easy country for backpackers or low budget travelers. Tourism is mostly focused on the high-end luxury part, with expensive hotels. I wish there more opportunities for regular people to travel around Kenya who would e.g. prefer to sleep in hostels. I know so many friends who would love to do that!

 

Me: Ahem! I hope my Tourism industry counterparts are reading this! Challenge to find more low-budget options in Kenya accepted! 😀

 

Best Highlights of Your Time in Kenya?

Camping in the Maasai Mara was definitely an incredible experience! I enjoyed sleeping in the tent while hearing the lions roaring right outside.

At one point, we were surprised by a confused hippo who’d wandered right to the middle of our camping spot! Luckily we hid in the car until it was gone.

 

 

Climbing Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu country was also one of my best highlights! This area of Kenya seemed to be so different, rural and so real.

 

We had two Samburu warriors guiding and protecting us, up the mountain, from White Elephants (and probably rival tribes), this was both scary and exciting.

 

The view from the mountain top was stunning! It definitely felt like my own little ‘Lion King’ moment! *inserts Lion King soundtrack*

 

Watching a Cheetah make his kill, was yet another amazing highlight of my trip. 😀

 

I felt that Kenya is super diverse and I’m happy that I got the chance to see such a big part of the country –from busy and chaotic Nairobi, wild Samburu, stunning National Parks to beautiful Watamu beaches and a journey back in time on Lamu Island. So many experiences!

I got the impression that Kenyans are very proud of their culture and it was great to get to know them!

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: PATRICK MUNTZINGER

LOCATION: VARIOUS KENYAN DESTINATIONS

 

The food was fine! I didn’t get sick at all, and it was funny to see how international Kenyan food is, at least in most places; the burgers, pizza and pasta almost felt like I was back in Europe! In Samburu, some warriors actually slaughtered a goat to feed us!

 

What Backpacking Hacks/Tips Have You Picked Up On Your Travels?

• Take advantage of cheap flights (I mostly use Skyscanner)
• Stay in hostels (great way to meet people and it’s cheap)
• Be open to everyone and make friends with the locals (I often use Couchsurfing to get to know locals)
• Eat street food
• In countries that’re a bit unsafe, ask your hostel/hotel for areas where you shouldn’t go
• Don’t over-plan, just go with the flow!

 

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Many, many, many thanks to Patrick for taking us along on his journey! I feel so honored for having had the opportunity to work with him on this collaboration post. 🙂

I hope this post has inspired you to get out there and make your dreams of travel a reality… Honestly, this experience has me feeling like packing my bags and taking off to wherever the winds may lead! 🙂

More so, I am inspired by the beauty and richness of our country-there’s still so much to see and discover! Let us make it happen- one destination at a time.

I love hearing from you, do leave your comments, questions and feedback in the Comments’ section below. 🙂

 

P.S. <Stay Inspired Always>

P.S.s. Watch Patrick’s amazing video ‘Discovering Kenya here>>