South Africa: The Rainbow Nation

South Africa is the southernmost country of Africa and is often referred to as the "Rainbow Nation" to describe the country's multicultural diversity, especially in the wake of apartheid, in fact it has 11 different languages. With the help of travel experts, Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads' Phil Sylvester set out to discover if it's possible to do a safari on a budget and what happens when you go cage diving with sharks.

Hear the amazing story of the global photographer who earned a mention in Wikipedia after surviving a bite from of one of the world's most deadly snakes.

What do you do when something goes wrong when you are traveling? From illness to natural disasters we check in with World Nomads' Lisa Fryar from Emergency Assistance.

And sitting alongside South African locals for a Braai, which is claimed rivals the Aussie backyard barbeque.

What's in the Episode

00:08 - Welcome

01:48 - Travel Quiz: What has this question got to do with Phil's own trip to South Africa?

02:08 - Kim Whitaker runs a hybrid accommodation model in South Africa. It's a vibrant youth hub option in old hotel buildings.

05:50 - Can you do a safari on a budget?

 "...Once you go into these wildlife areas, it's imperative that you listen to the guides and take on-board what they say. People tend to get a little too excited when they see the wildlife" - Terry from African Budget Safaris

11:30 - Ask Phil

12:45 - Catching up with our World Nomads

13: 50 - Brian McFarlane from Great White Shark Tours

"I have been a diver all my life. The biggest fear of any diver, surfer, or swimmer is a shark. So, he was an enemy as far as I was concerned..." - Brian

23:19 - Travel News with the World Nomad stuck in Bali.

28:00 - What happens when something goes wrong when traveling?

32:44 - The man who survived a bite from one of the world's deadliest snakes.

38:54 - Quiz answer

39:42 - What's next in Episode 6?

Who's on the Show?

Kim Whitaker is a World Nomads' affiliate and operates Once in Cape Town and Once in Joburg, a hybrid accommodation model in South Africa that also runs free local guided tours.

Terry from African Budget Safaris. We know you can pay thousands to do a safari but can you pay hundreds?

Brain McFarlane from Great White Shark Tours. Brian went from culling sharks to conserving them.

World Nomads customer Bob Hazell who was stuck in Bali after the eruption of Mount Agung.

Lisa Fryar Head of Emergency Assistance. You can find Lisa on Twitter @lisafryar and @WeAssistAus

Photographer Mark Laita shares the incredible story of being bitten by a Black Mamba and surviving. Check out the incredible pic

Resources & Links

Scholarships Newsletter: Sign up for scholarships news and see what opportunities are live here.

Follow World Nomads on Instagram for the latest stories, and #WorldNomads for your chance to be featured.

Want to Talk to us?

We want to hear from you! If you have any travel insurance questions to Ask Phil, want to give us feedback on the episode, or have suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover, email us at podcast@worldnomads.com

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About World Nomads & The Podcast

Explore your boundaries and discover your next adventure with The World Nomads Podcast. Hosted by Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads Phil Sylvester, each episode will take you around the world with insights into destinations from travelers and experts. They'll share the latest in travel news, answer your travel questions and fill you in on what World Nomads is up to, including the latest scholarships and guides.

World Nomads is a fast-growing online travel company that provides inspiration, advice, safety tips and specialized travel insurance for independent, volunteer and student travelers traveling and studying most anywhere in the world. Our online global travel insurance covers travelers from more than 135 countries and allows you to buy and claim online, 24/7, even while already traveling.

The World Nomads Podcast is not your usual travel Podcast. It's everything for the adventurous, independent traveler. Don't miss out. Subscribe today.