Bonjour à tous,
J'étais à Hanoi dans un hotel , une vietnamienne vient à ma rencontre , et me demande si j'étais toute seule ?
Je lui réponds oui , elle me demande pour quelle raison ? alors je lui dit je m'offre ce voyage pour mes 60 ans
Elle était toute surprise , elle me dit vous êtes courageuse surtout pour la première fois.On discute.....
Elle réfléchit un instant , et me dit ce soir je vous envoie un taxi devant la porte ;soyez prête à 19h...
à 19H j'étais devant la porte de l'Hotel , une moto s'arrête devant moi , me dit :avec la moto c'est mieux on a pas de problème de bouchons , aller montez derrière moi .
Il m'emmene dans le plus ancien restaurant de la ville , magnifique tout en bois, si vous voulez y aller il faut
deux mois pour réserver.Il me dépose devant ce restaurant, j'enlève mes chaussures , je monte à l'étage
et là que vois-je ?
6 personnes étaient assisent devant une table basse , et elles me chantent joyeux anniversaire., elles m'embrassent;.et me présente un gros gâteau d'anniversaire , avec mon prénom inscrit dessus.
C'était magnifique , que de gentillesses , que de générosités , c'est gravé dans ma mémoire.
Bonjour à tous,
J'étais à Hanoi dans un hotel , une vietnamienne vient à ma rencontre , et me demande si j'étais toute seule ?
Je lui réponds oui , elle me demande pour quelle raison ? alors je lui dit je m'offre ce voyage pour mes 60 ans
Elle était toute surprise , elle me dit vous êtes courageuse surtout pour la première fois.On discute.....
Elle réfléchit un instant , et me dit ce soir je vous envoie un taxi devant la porte ;soyez prête à 19h...
à 19H j'étais devant la porte de l'Hotel , une moto s'arrête devant moi , me dit :avec la moto c'est mieux on a pas de problème de bouchons , aller montez derrière moi .
Il m'emmene dans le plus ancien restaurant de la ville , magnifique tout en bois, si vous voulez y aller il faut
deux mois pour réserver.Il me dépose devant ce restaurant, j'enlève mes chaussures , je monte à l'étage
et là que vois-je ?
6 personnes étaient assisent devant une table basse , et elles me chantent joyeux anniversaire., elles m'embrassent;.et me présente un gros gâteau d'anniversaire , avec mon prénom inscrit dessus.
C'était magnifique , que de gentillesses , que de générosités , c'est gravé dans ma mémoire.
mamie routard
Bonjour,
Comme je suis contente pour vous, mais le fait n'est pas exceptionnel et lorsque je dis que ma chambre d'hôtel est fleurie pendant des mois lorsque j'y séjourne... sans connaitre exactement l'expéditeur......je ne dis que la vérité...
La gentillesse et l'empathie sont beaucoup plus courantes qu'on ne croit au Vietnam... et surtout qu'on ne le dit - Je ferai remarquer qu'il s'agit d'Hanoi, région ô combien décriée... ce qui me vaut assez souvent des remarques et autres mots amers et acerbes lorsque j'essaie de le dire.... - on est au moins deux à l'avoir appréciée cette province....
Cordialement - Kimtwo
Le vent et les turbulences sont l'oeuvre de Dieu, mais la voile et le gouvernail nous appartiennent..
Voyager c'est aller de soi à soi, en passant par les autres (proverbe touareg)
ce soir je vous envoie un taxi devant la porte ;soyez prête à 19h...
à 19H j'étais devant la porte de l'Hotel , une moto s'arrête devant moi , me dit :avec la moto c'est mieux on a pas de problème de bouchons , aller montez derrière moi .
Combien de personnes, devant cette situation, auraient tourné le dos, se disant : arnaque à éviter, danger...
Bravo pour ça et merci beaucoup pour cette charmante histoire.
bonjour à tous,
oui c'est une trés belle histoire que j'ai vécu là ....S'en est une parmi tant d'autres ...Et je vais vous en raconter une autre...
c'était en Birmanie , je me promenais autour du Lac Inlé en vélo , et j'entends de la musique , je me dirige vers elle
c'était dans une maison sur pilotis , un homme me fait de grands signes et m'invite à monter dans sa maison où il y avait cette musique.
Et oh! surprise c'était un mariage , c'était magnifique des couleurs chatoyantes....
Les femmes viennent à ma rencontre avec un sourire radieux .Elles m'invitent à m'assoire et à prendre le repas avec elles , comme dans un rêve ...mais j'étais éveillee.. cette gentillesse envers les étrangers , cette pureté dans leur regard .
C'est le seul pays d'Asie où j'ai rencontré des gens avec une telle générosité ;malgré leur pauvreté , et avec une gentillesse inégalable..
Ils vont vers nous sans savoir à qui ils ont à faire ! je ne refuse jamais leur invitation , je ne voudrais surtout pas les
peiner.
bonne journée mamie-routard
Moi aussi j 'ai eu mon anniversaire souhaité à Hué dans une petite guest house...il y a 10 ans.Avec mon passeport ils étaient renseignés pour ce jour là ..Dans ma chambre m'attendait un bouquet de fleurs et une carte avec une phrase qu'ils avaient du faire traduire par un francophone... et j'ai gardé cette carte d'anniversaire et ce souvenir reste gravé dans ma mémoire.
C'est là des petits gestes que l 'on oublie pas...;en France un tel jour passe souvent inaperçu !!!
Il est vrai que nous avons tous de magnifiques souvenirs lorsque nous voyageons dans ces pays lointains.
Mais il faut aussi aller vers les autres sans hésitation , savoir recevoir avec la même gentillesse et savoir donner
sans les offusquer ;c'est trés important.
merci de m'avoir échanger vos petits moments de bonheur.
Mamieroutard
Elle était toute surprise , elle me dit vous êtes courageuse surtout pour la première fois.On discute.....
me dit :avec la moto c'est mieux on a pas de problème de bouchons , aller montez derrière moi
ces vietnamiens parlaient francais? ou parliez vous vietnamien?
si vous n'aimez pas mes informations, ne les lisez pas, lisez autre chose, mais respectez les car elles serviront a d'autres
J’essaye de faire la même chose en retour en invitant pour manger, dormir les visiteurs étrangers que je rencontre parfois près de chez moi. Une sorte d’entraide. En espérant qu’ils gardent un souvenir aussi fabuleux que les mieux lors de mes rencontres fortuites.
Plus que les hébergements et facilités, c’est pour ce genre de choses que je cherche, l’impression d’avoir partagé un petit moment de vie.
bonjour Emil,
Je cite mes bons souvenirs comme on me l'a demandé, les autres et oui il y en a , je les garde pour moi , sauf si
on me le demande en particulier.
Mais même échaudée comme vous le dites((et pourtant je l'ai été)) je continue à serrer la main
que l'on me tend , c'est dans ma nature.
bonne journée Emil
Bon anniversaire! sympa cette histoire, il m'est arrivé souvent lors de mes voyages d'être invité à des mariages ! à part une gueule de bois c'était toujours un honneur et trés sympa !!
Bonjour à tous,
J'étais à Hanoi dans un hotel , une vietnamienne vient à ma rencontre , et me demande si j'étais toute seule ?
Je lui réponds oui , elle me demande pour quelle raison ? alors je lui dit je m'offre ce voyage pour mes 60 ans
Elle était toute surprise , elle me dit vous êtes courageuse surtout pour la première fois.On discute.....
Elle réfléchit un instant , et me dit ce soir je vous envoie un taxi devant la porte ;soyez prête à 19h...
à 19H j'étais devant la porte de l'Hotel , une moto s'arrête devant moi , me dit :avec la moto c'est mieux on a pas de problème de bouchons , aller montez derrière moi .
Il m'emmene dans le plus ancien restaurant de la ville , magnifique tout en bois, si vous voulez y aller il faut
deux mois pour réserver.Il me dépose devant ce restaurant, j'enlève mes chaussures , je monte à l'étage
et là que vois-je ?
6 personnes étaient assisent devant une table basse , et elles me chantent joyeux anniversaire., elles m'embrassent;.et me présente un gros gâteau d'anniversaire , avec mon prénom inscrit dessus.
C'était magnifique , que de gentillesses , que de générosités , c'est gravé dans ma mémoire.
mamie routard
Bonjour Guilene,
Super et bravo pour... cette surprise...
J'ai eu moi-même 60 ans, juste 1 semaine avant toi (le 25 septembre) et c'est ... mon ex-femme qui m'a invité (avec notre fils, notre seul enfant) chez elle... mais c'était à Montreuil en région parisienne... (rires).
Dans moisn de 3 semaines, je ne serai pas très loin d'où tu as été, car en Thaïlande pour presque... 3 mois ; lorsque l'on est retraité et que l'on a un peu plus de temps....
En tout cas, désolé pour ce retard, mais joyeux Anniversaire quand même.
Daniel.
"Si je marche plus droit qu'un autre, c'est que je boîte des 2 pieds."
(Gustave NADAUD).
Il y a 3 semaines j'étais à Tam Coc chez Loan pour quelques jours.
L'avant dernier soir de notre arrivée c'était mon anniversaire.Nous décidons ma compagne et moi de nous offrir une bouteille de vin en mangeant pour cette occasion.
Le repas (et la bouteille) terminé les lumières s'éteignent d'un coup..... Loan, sa fille et Martine ( une amie de Loan) arrivent dans le noir en portant un énorme gateau sur lequel brulaient des bougies et marqué "Bon anniversaire Michel"....
La petite fille de Loan me tend un cadeau (un "batik" vietnamien ), Loan nous pose sur la table une bouteille de sa "médecine" ( alcool de riz et racines macérées ) et nous invitons à notre table tout les gens présents c'est à dire 2 autres couples de français qui venaient d'arriver à l'hotel.
Nous avons passés une grande partie de la nuit à parler voyages et tours du monde , à boire et plus pour les plus solides.
Merci de nous l'avoir rapporté.... cela confirme, s'il en était besoin, que cette petite Loan, par-dessus son courage, sa gentillesse et son comportement habituel, est réellement quelqu'un nanti de beaucoup de qualités de coeur - et uniquement de coeur.
Je crois que je vais peut-être aller flâner dans son hôtel aux alentours du mien d'anniversaire...... sait-on jamais : 😏
Cordialement - Kimtwo
Le vent et les turbulences sont l'oeuvre de Dieu, mais la voile et le gouvernail nous appartiennent..
Voyager c'est aller de soi à soi, en passant par les autres (proverbe touareg)
Hello everyone! 🙂🙂,
A BIG thank you to all the travelers who sent us postcards this year—my students are becoming real geography whizzes!!!!!!!! I’m renewing my call for your kindness this year! We’re also working on food, so if your postcards can make our mouths water with local dishes, traditional meals, or typical recipes, that’d be amazing!!
Here’s a quick recap of the project:
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globetrotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse, working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m starting a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of the journal will focus on opening up to the world, diversity, travel, countries, culture...
I’m launching a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a little postcard (from France or anywhere in the world!) to take us on a journey and help us discover new places, countries, and horizons—much more fun and exciting than a regular geography textbook! One section of our journal could be called "We received mail from " and would be an opportunity to research that location and share what we learn with our readers (a super enriching activity in class).
The project starts in September 2025 but has no real end date, as this journal and world discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in my ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! (The kids will find them when they return.)
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow traveler friends. Make us dream, take us on a journey!!!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!!
Thank you in advance for your participation(s)! Below is our address. Feel free to leave your own address on a corner of the postcard if you’d like us to write back! 😊
The ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and see you soon, I hope! 😁
Julien
Many of us have noticed that bugs have been making it difficult to navigate the forum lately.
I’ll let Kate and Ticapi explain the issue:
I went to your profile to check out the Thailand travel journal, and when I clicked on it, it brought me back here again. All week, I’ve been dealing with bugs like this—it’s really discouraging from continuing on VF.🙁
I had the same thing happen, and multiple times. For me, it was Montagnard’s latest journal that kept coming up no matter which discussion I clicked on.
BOLIVIA: THE COUNTRY ON THE BRINK (What's Really Happening)
A dramatic saga is unfolding before our eyes in the Andes. Between suffocating blockades, clashes, an international airlift, and historic political decisions, Bolivia has just experienced 48 hours of rare intensity.
Here’s the full breakdown (economic, social, and political) of the last 48 hours:
For travelers and tourists: the article also includes an important note about the upcoming publication (starting tomorrow) of the precise status of roadblocks, route by route.
I’ll post the full update here on Voyage Forum!
Don’t miss this in-depth analysis. History is being written before our eyes! https://www.petitherge.com/bolivie-paralysie-et-ultimatum
I just discovered a great show on Arte.
It's called "7 en route": seven young European journalists travel around Europe in a fully converted bus, making reports on every city they visit. It's amazing! 🙂
Yesterday, for example, they were in Rome, Italy, and the reports included things like the world's smallest restaurant—a super romantic spot for two. There was also a report on the king of paparazzi in Italy.
They have to pick topics that let us discover the little quirks of each country. And at the end of each episode, we get to see the finished report.
It's such a great show, mixing journalism, travel, and discovery—basically, a must-watch!
It airs in the evening starting at 6:50 PM (I think), and it started this past Monday, July 14th.
If you watch it, let me know—we can chat about it!
I left my heart’s country eight days ago and returned to my adopted one—or was it the other way around? Scotland-Morvan, Morvan-Scotland, I’m not quite sure anymore.
After a quarter without dragging my slippers around here, even though I’d loudly declared I had no interest left in this site, here I am again!
My imagination never stays fallow for long. Just enough time for my inner land to rest. It gets overgrown with fresh nettles, the kind you can pick without getting stung. Then, it’s time to till the fragrant earth and let the story grow.
I hesitated over where to set this story.
Maybe the Highlands, maybe the Hebrides, maybe the Orkney Islands, maybe the Shetland Islands. All of Scotland is myth—easy to embroider.
But in the end, no. I’d almost be too afraid to bare my soul.
The story will take place at home. Simple, practical.
1)
This morning, I was up well before dawn, feeling a bit grumpy, but nothing a bowl of coffee won’t fix. I love my bowl, and no one dares take it. It’s porcelain, edged with intertwined blue flowers. On the bottom, it says "Revol." The factory has existed long before the Revolution. It was my great-grandmother’s bowl. She drank roasted barley from it during the war, then her Leroux chicory.
Last year, a little guy dropped it. My bowl broke into three pieces. A black anger vibrated deep inside me. The little boy was so upset, on the verge of tears. How could I scold him!
I picked up the three pieces and took Little Boy in my arms. His hair smelled of the light, sweet sweat of toddlers. A gentle hug that healed—his budding sorrow and my anger—everything vanished, and time carried on.
Today, my bowl is even prettier. Man fixed it using the traditional kintsugi technique, except he didn’t use gold powder or lacquer but superglue, and he delicately painted the cracks with woad blue. And my bowl is even more beautiful now.
I’m lingering, I can tell—it’s just that a story wraps itself in life, and life can’t be told in the snap of a finger. Life is long. Like in architecture, you start with a rough sketch, called a "sous-cul" (the initial pencil drawing), then you make a tracing, which is the work itself, the one you later carefully roll up in a wooden tube.
Life is like that: you erase, you start over, you use the nub of the pencil until it’s tiny, but you keep going—dreaming, loving.
"Living is a full-time occupation, a unique adventure. Always a surprise and a wonder, which sometimes turns into astonishment. And, from time to time, happiness."*
Alright, enough digressing—this introduction is definitely too long.
Tomorrow, I’ll get to the heart of the matter.
(I hate that expression; it feels like I’m cutting into someone’s skin.)
I’m Yann, a 28-year-old TikToker who loves traveling!
Since I’ve been to several destinations, I’d love to get a flag from each one as a sort of trophy. But from what I’ve seen online, a lot of sites sell them with what looks like really poor quality...
So I’m reaching out to you all to share a site you usually use—help me start my collection! :)
hi there
I’d love to get some opinions—I’ve never used Airbnb before.
They’re offering a key handover via lockbox.
Any tips or advice?
Is it reliable?
Best,
Hi there, I’m Laura, and I’m looking for a few people to answer some questions so I can understand your travel wishes and challenges. It won’t take long—I can chat here, by email, or by phone. Don’t worry, I’m not selling anything! 😊
On this forum, we talk a lot about trekking in the Himalayas, but I’d love to share another side of Nepal: its spiritual, cultural, and religious atmosphere, especially in Kathmandu.
Nepal, much like Tibet and Bhutan, is deeply connected to the Himalayas—the ultimate sacred mountain range. This small country exudes a calming vibe, shaped by a strong spiritual dimension. What I loved most was the unique sensory experience you get there. Walking around temples and tantric monasteries, a distinct scent fills the air—aromatic plants used for ritual fumigation. Locals mainly burn Himalayan juniper, cedar, sandalwood, and other local essences. This fragrant smoke is a way to purify the space and reach the deities, and you’re constantly enveloped in these aromas.
Another striking aspect is the sound. As soon as you step outside, you hear bells ringing in front of temples. People ring them three times before praying to announce their presence to the deities. Nepal is also the birthplace of singing bowls and sound meditation practices. In Kathmandu, you can easily find meditation sessions or "sound baths."
The spiritual dimension is everywhere: a Hindu sadhu practicing asceticism, a lama in deep red robes with his mala, turning a prayer wheel while murmuring "Om mani padme hum." Newar Buddhism, Tantrism, and Hinduism coexist harmoniously in daily life.
For those who love exploring a destination through its culture and spirituality, Nepal is an unforgettable place. What was your spiritual experience in Nepal like?
Hi,
I’m landing in Quebec and then heading to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I’d like to rent a pick-up. My question is: does this vehicle come with a cover and is it secure enough to store luggage in? I’ve heard two conflicting opinions. Thanks
I just installed the Maps.Me app on my phone. I only recently found out about this app. I’m traveling in 2 weeks and a few days, and I’m a bit stuck on how to use it.
I’m from the Montreal (Quebec) area, and I’d love to know if there’s a kind soul out there who could help me get started and use the app at least minimally.
If there are private lessons available, I’d be interested in those too.
Like many others, I’m overjoyed to hear that VoyageForum is reopening! I’ve been waiting hopefully for this, and it’s wonderful that it’s finally happening!
I just couldn’t bring myself to actively participate in other French-language travel forums—their format and way of doing things never appealed to me as much. I really hope that VF’s structure, categories, and interface won’t change too much despite the handover, because I’m very attached to them. Through thick and thin, the site has held strong—it’s amazing!
In a previous message, François mentioned that there were positions to fill ahead of the reopening, including moderators...
I’ve been eagerly waiting for this and hoping to send in my CV.
Now, after reading the latest message, it seems like the team is already fully formed. But are there still a few spots left to fill?
I’ve been a VF member for 20 years (since 2004). I’d love to contribute to this wonderful adventure as a moderator if VF would trust me with the role. If the team is open to reviewing it, I’m ready to send my CV. Could you let me know the next steps?
I’m planning a 3-week trip to Japan in May with Voyage Privé. The package includes a 5 GB eSIM, but my phone isn’t new enough to support it. VP told me I could buy a SIM card when I arrive at the airport.
Sure enough, I’ve seen online that this is possible with different providers.
I only need it for checking routes, looking up addresses, train schedules, etc.—basically using Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and similar apps. No heavy downloads or major internet use. All hotels should provide free Wi-Fi for that, right?
Has anyone got any tips for me on this? What have you tried, and how much did it cost?
Thanks for your help!
I’d like to know if you can buy reef-safe sunscreen sprays at 7-Eleven. If so, how much do they cost? We’re traveling with backpacks, so we’ll either buy 100ml here or in Thailand.
I wanted to share a really unpleasant experience from our last trip booked with Promoséjours and organized by FTI.
We booked an 8-day/7-night stay in Egypt, from June 8 to 15.
The flight initially scheduled was changed a week before departure to take off at 10 PM from Paris CDG.
In the end, it took off with a 1-hour delay and included an unmentioned stopover in Marsa Alam.
We landed in Hurghada at 4 AM and arrived at the hotel at 6 AM.
So, we spent our first night on the plane.
For the return trip, surprise—the flight was moved up. We left the hotel at 10:30 PM on Friday the 14th to take off at 2 AM and land at 7 AM at Paris CDG.
So, we spent our last night on the plane too.
After sending a complaint letter to Promoséjours / FTI, they replied that the first and last days can be dedicated to transport (which I already knew) and that no matter how many nights you book, you’re not guaranteed to spend them in the hotel—it could just as well be on the plane.
I’m really questioning this.
Isn’t there a law that protects customers in cases like this?
Because when I do the math, the first and part of the second day were spent on transport, same for the second-to-last and last day. And I paid for 7 nights for a stay that only lasted 5.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks to them—thanks to their two sleepless nights in transit, I’m coming back even more exhausted from a trip that was supposed to be restful!
I also want to warn anyone booking through this agency about visas for Egypt.
At booking, they told me the visa was included in the price, then they sent me an email saying I’d have to pay for it on-site at 25 €.
Once there, we were directed to a special line for FTI customers, and guess what? They charged us 30 €!
Basically, they’re great at making sure you *enjoy* your vacation—mostly by enjoying your wallet!
If anyone has dealt with this kind of situation and won their case, I’m all ears.
Hi there!
I’m heading to Thailand for two months.
So I thought I’d get a Thai SIM card to use Google Maps for getting around cities, mostly.
Here’s my question: will this SIM affect my apps? Or will they work the same as with my Orange SIM?
Is there any setup I need to do, or can I just pop in the Thai SIM?
I’d also like to switch back to my Orange SIM now and then while I’m in Thailand—on the same phone. Will I need to reset the phone, or will it reconnect without any issues?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Best,
Huiclos
Hi, I’d like to know where we can buy beer or wine in Chefchaouen and around Merzouga. We’ll be doing a circuit and staying at the Parador Hotel in Chefchaouen and in a bivouac in Merzouga.
Thanks for any info you can share!
Hello everyone,
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globe-trotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m launching a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of this journal will focus on opening up to the world, embracing differences, travel, global cultures, and more.
I’m putting out a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a postcard (from France or anywhere in the world)! The goal is to help us "travel" and discover new places, countries, and horizons in a way that’s much more fun and exciting than a geography textbook. One section of our journal could be called "We received a letter from ," where we’d research the location and share what we learn with our readers—a really enriching activity for the classroom.
The project starts in September 2025 but doesn’t have a strict end date, since this journal and world-discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in the ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! The kids will find them when they return.
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible, and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow travelers. Help us dream and explore!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!
Thank you in advance for your participation! Below is our address. If you’d like us to write back, feel free to leave your address on a corner of the postcard! 😊
ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon! 😊
Julien
🙂
Hi there! I have to leave Ivato/Antananarivo on December 16th. I have a lot of ariary that I’d like to exchange for euros since I might not be coming back to Madagascar (after this 21st trip). I think the exchange office at Ivato also buys ariary back. If any of you have seen the rate for this buyback in advance, thanks a million!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a website that would let me plot my travel route in advance so I can print it out. The idea is to create a map with a little “me” on a bike that my parents can move along as I progress, since I’m planning to cycle all the way to Nepal.
If any of you have done something similar or know of a good tool, I’d love to hear your tips!
Thanks in advance! 😊
I'm looking to buy an ultra-lightweight 50/55L travel backpack with a suitcase or front opening.
Does anyone have any brand and/or model recommendations?
Thanks,
Emma
Hello. We’re a retired couple heading to Sri Lanka from January to March. After the November floods, I’d like to know if we can offer hands-on help to the locals, maybe pack some clothes or other items people might need in our luggage, and who we could give them to. Thanks for any info from those on the ground.
Be careful when sailing between Somalia and northern Madagascar.
It appears to be Somali pirates who have widened their search in the Mozambique Channel, far from their usual attack zone, since, to my knowledge, there are no Malagasy pirates.
Not sure if this is the right section, but just wanted to warn future travelers...
Where’s Cape Vidal?
It’s in iSimangaliso, an independent park in KZN Wildlife, stunning and just a stone’s throw from St Lucia (KwaZulu-Natal, Maputaland).
It’s the beach spot at the end of the Eastern Shores road. You can swim, fish... but watch out for waves, currents, and sharks...
There’s a really nice game drive where you can get out of your car at certain points, especially at Cape Vidal.
That’s where the camp with bungalows and campsites is.
The vervets and samango monkeys (endemic to the area, and the males are pretty big) can be a bit of a nuisance if you’re trying to braai...
They’re super persistent and not shy at all—don’t let them intimidate you, and stay alert because their speed at snatching food is impressive.
Anyway...
I’m reporting two recent attacks by these hyenas... who were *not* in a playful mood...
The first one happened at night—a hyena tried to bite a camper’s nose off in their tent... and succeeded.
The other night, a camper returning to their tent in the early hours was violently attacked by two hyenas... and they had a close call!
So, if you’re camping there, be careful...
Measures are being taken, but for now, it’s a bit risky.
A white rental Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 carrying foreign tourists was attacked at the entrance of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in the village of Bekopaka, western Madagascar, yesterday. So far, there’s been no response from the central government to curb these repeated armed attacks—usually between Malagasy people, but this time targeting foreign tourists.
