Travel Advice #2

Make a budget and set goals for how much you'll have left at different parts of your trip. Make a separate budgets for necessities and for fun stuff. In necessities, there's a lot to consider: lodging, meals, internet, phone. (In fun, there's plenty too! - safari, gifts, etc.) If you're lucky, the hotel might include breakfast or internet in the price. Ask! Books like Lonely Planet give good estimations of prices and list multiple options.

My host told me she saw a pair of travelers getting a hotel once. The management told them one price, and they pulled out their Lonely Planet book and pointed to the real price there, which made the management back down.

Don't be afraid to research things ahead of time, and don't expect to be getting the best price the first time someone says something. A lot of people will sell you something for less than the first price and don't be afraid to walk away. Learning the Swahili numbers helps a lot, because when you can name your price in Swahili, they will give you a better one.