bonjour a tous je suis damien et je me rend environs trois fois par ans en ethiopie depuis trois ans pour rendre viste a ma fiancee
plus particulierement dans la region de harar a une trentaine de dire dawa en gros j ais jamais calculé
si je peut aider des personnes a connetre mieux ce pays les pb de douannes la securité ou la vie quotidienne n hesitez pas a demander si je connait la reponse je vous la comuniquerais si non je vous le ferais savoir
je pourait meme demander a mon amie je l ais deux foie par semaine aux tel a bientot peut etre
elle est belle ta femme dis donc...
Je compte partir 7 été, moi, je ne sais pas dans quel région précisement, peut être y seras-tu, je suis jeune et je n'ai pas le permis, ce qui m'interesse le plus c'est la partit transport, quel est le moyen le plus sur pr voyage, peut être connais tu un guide parlant français ou anglais, qui pourrais m'aider...
merci pour le compliment
tu sait si tu recherche la securite il n y a rien de mieux que l avion mais c est cher et en plus tu ne decouvriras pas grand chose de ce fabuleux pays
le bus c est pas mal pas cher du tout et question de securitee je n ais jamais eu de probleme
j espere que tu n est pas fragile du dos lol
question christianisme tu ne seras pas decus mais atention a demander l autorisation aux responsable des lieux de culte pour prendre des photos et pour les guides tu devrais en trouver as peut pret partout je n ais jamais eu de probleme car moi mon guide c est ma femme
et sache que les gens là bas parle l anglais mieux que nous question de survis
attention quand meme aux arnaque n oublis jamais que tu te trouve dans un pays africain et l un des plus pauvre en plus mais si tu te montre respectueux tu n auras jamais de probleme si ce n est un retard de depart ou quelque accrochages sur le prix prevus mais c est normal .deux mois ce n est pas trops pour visiter ce pays tu n auras pas le temps de tout voir; evite la region a l est d harar c est dangereux je te conseil harar et le noir du pays mais de meme evit d aller trop pres de la frontiere herytreene meme si la guerre est fini c est encore tres chaud là bas.
pour le berceaux de la religion il ne faut surtout pas louper lallibela tres belle eglise taillee d un seul bloc dans la roche
ne reste pas trop longtemps dans la capitale c est une ville nouvelle qui n est pas tres interessante tu peut passer tes nuit aux lallibela hotel 30 euros la nuit bon service et surtout pas loin de l aeroport
tu peut prendre ton visas directement las bas mais je te conseil de fair ses formalitees avant ton depart si tu a d autre question n hesite surtout pas
a bientot
Salut,
je projette de partir en octobre 2006 et de partir de Djibouti, passer par Dire Dawa et Harar avant de repartir vers Addis et d'aller dans l'ancien royaume du nord. En termes de transports, je compte prendre le train et le bus.
Aurais-tu des précisions à m'apporter sur ces 2 modes de transport (prix, chemin de fer en service ou non, ...) ? Faut-il prendre son visa à Djibouti ou directement en France ?
Sinon, je compte bien profiter d'Harar ; quel est selon toi l'un des aspects les plus intéressants de la ville ? Peut-on photographier les personnes facilement, et sinon quelle est la meillerue manière de s'y prendre ?
J'en profite pour signaler que mon budget est très limité... (pas de taille à supporter des hôtels à 30€ la nuit ;-) )
Désolé pour toutes ces questions en rafale, mais je suis aussi impatient de partir que d'en profiter à fond une fois sur place. Merci pour les renseignements que tu pourras m'apporter
Se déplacer en bus en Ethiopie est assez simple en fait et c'est une expérience absolument inoubliable. Pour ce qui est du " royaume du nord ", des bus assurent des liaisons entre chaque ville. Le tout est d'avoir du temps car les trajets sont longs. Faire une centaine de kilomètres peut en effet te prendre la demi-journée. Les routes sont quelquefois en très mauvais état, elles sinuent pas mal et les véhicules tombent régulièrement en panne. Les bus partent très tôt le matin. Vers 6 heures environ. Enfin, je devrais plutôt dire 12 h car la façon de lire l'heure en Ethiopie diffère de la nôtre : elle est décalée de 6 heures (rien à voir avec le décalage horaire qui lui n'est que d'1 heure). Ce qui peut occasionner quelques malentendus... Et quelques belles galères ! Voyager en bus est très économique (grosso modo 2 à 4 euros pour faire 200 kilomètres) mais de nombreux endroits ne te sont pas accessibles, les bus ne s'y rendant pas. Il te faut alors négocier le transport avec des locaux. Et ça frise quelquefois le délire. Dans la mesure où tu n'as pas d'autre alternative, tu acceptes... ou tu abandonnes. A savoir aussi que de nombreux touristes ayant loué des 4X4 à Addis Abeba finissent leur voyage en avion. Les 4X4, qui finissent presque tous par rentrer sur la capitale, circulent donc à vide. Il est alors possible de " louer " une place, c'est tout bénéf pour le chauffeur. C'est un peu plus cher que le bus mais c'est beaucoup plus rapide.
Concernant les hôtels, ne t'inquiètes pas, tu peux te loger à moindre frais. Dans certaines villes, on peut dormir pour 1 ou 2 euros la nuit. Dans un confort toutefois très relatif. Pour ce qui est des villes touristiques comme Lalibela ou Bahar Dar, les prix sont plus élevés. En fait tout y est plus cher. Le prix d'une chambre dans un hôtel moyen avoisine les 10 euros, 7 après négociations.
je crois que sylvie a tres bien repondue a tes questions merci sylvie
pour ce qui est des prix cela dependras du moment ou tu seras la bas cela peut varier tres vite en plus
pour indication il y a trois ans aux lalibelas hotel a addis je payais environs 15 euros et depuis j en paye 30
pour la capital ne t attend pas trop a trouver en dessous si tu veut un minimum de confort
avec un peut de recherche peut etre vers 20 euros
et pour ton aller djibouti dire dawa je te conseil vivement d oublier le train, non seulement il n est pas fiable mais en plus asser dangereux entre djibouti et dire dawa il y a pas si longtemps on parlais encore d attaque d ancien militaire demobilises prefere l avion pour environ 100 euros tu pourat trouver un aller avec ethiopian mefie toi de djibouti airline question service clientel il sont nuls
le bus n est pas chers du tout compte a peut pres 200 bir pour un aller harar addis
les photos prendre les gens c est asser delicat harar est principalement musulmane mais avec leurs permissions sa passe harar est une tres belle ville resté asser medieval ses portes valle le detour et ses maisons colonial aussi il y a trois musés dont le responsable est justement un amis un dans la maison dite arthur rimbault un concernant les coutumes local dans la periode musulmane et un sur la ville elle meme
tu y trouveras aussi un homme qui donne a mangé aux hiennes plutot impressionant je l ais fait lors de mon premiers voyage
il s avere que c est la ville ou vie mon epouse et si tu a un probleme sur place ou pour un renseignement il pouront sans doute t eguiller peut etre meme moi si je me trouve la bas
mais le plus important quand tu est a l etrangé c est qu il ne faut pas oublier que tu n est pas dans ton pays les moeurs son diferants et les respect des autres est tres important
pour le visas prend le en france c est plus simple car il n y a que deux endrois ou tu peut le prendre las bas c est a l aeroport d addis ou de dire dawa
en esperant avoir repondus a tes questions je reste a ta disposition
Merci à toi et à Sylvie pour tous ces renseignements, et merci de ta proposition d'assistance sur place :-)
Je pense que je vous demanderai d'autres renseignement au fur et à mesure de l'avancement de mon projet ! Merci encore
Je me pésente, je suis d'origine ethiopienne et tout simplement, je recherche des personnes qui connaissent l' éthiopie. J'ai de la famille que je ne connais pas qui se trouve dans la ville de Karamilé, près de Diredawa et Dadar( je ne suis pas sure de l'orthographe).
Je ne connais pas l'éthiopie, je n'ai jamais eu la chance d'y aller. C'est pour cela que je vous envoie cet e-mail, dans l'objectif de répondre à certaines de mes questions comme est ce que vous connaissez Karamilé?
non je ne connaît pas cette ville mais des fois la prononciation peut être differente mon epouse doit surement connetre mais elle est sur place en ce moment des que je l ais aux telephone je lui demande
a tu un nom de famille là bas peut etre pourrait elle ce renseigner?
que voudrait tu savoir d autre n hesite pas a poser des tonnes de questions j y repondrais aux fur et a mesure et si je n ais pas la reponse mes contacts en ethiopie la trouverons surement
Bonjour, je suis journaliste à france inter et je vais aller à Harar début janvier. J'aimerai vous parler pour voir si je peux rencontrer votre fiancée la bas. Mon téléphone 06 87 83 22 56, merci de me contacter. sandrine mercier
Bonjour,
Je viens de lire votre message et j'aimerais effectivement profiter de vos connaissances ou du moins de celles de votre fiancée sur l'Ethiopie.
Nous sommes deux amies qui comptons partir en Ethiopie en Janvier pour les differentes fêtes et faire un grand circuit dans le pays pendant plus d'un mois.
Pendant les deux premières semaines c'est à dire du 3 au 15 janvier, nous serons seules et envisageons de louer les services d'un chauffeur et de son véhicule pour visiter l'Est du pays dont Harar et éventuellement continuer sur Djibouti et prendre au retour l'autre route un peu plus au nord pour revenir sur Addis Abeba.
1ère question : Est ce réalisable ? J'ai lu qu'il était plutôt difficile de pénétrer à Djibouti et surtout d'entrer de nouveau en Ethiopie (même avec un visa à entrées multiples ?). Le chauffeur acceptera t-il de nous y conduire ?
Les éthiopiens ont ils l'autorisation d'y entrer ?
2ème question : Pouvez vous me recommander un tel chauffeur ? ou une agence ?
Notre budget est malgré tout limité et les tarifs dont j'ai eu connaissance jusqu'à présent sont assez élevés.
Cà tourne autour de 90/120 $ par jour pour le véhicule, le chauffeur, l'essence et l'assurance, lorsque l'on est que deux c'est un peu cher et apparemment il est difficile de se joindre à d'autres personnes.
3ème question : Après il faut se loger et se nourrir .... Quels sont les bons plans pour se loger dans cette région de l'est ?
Après ces deux semaines, nous rejoignons un groupe de 4 personnes qui ont organisé un circuit assez large de la région du nord et du sud.
4ème question : Notre séjour en Ethiopie va dépasser le mois autorisé par le visa. Est il facile d'obtenir une prolongation de visa et en combien de temps ? Mais je vais me renseigner auprès de l'ambassade ici à Paris.
Toutefois si vous avez des info à ce sujet elles seront les bienvenues.
Si j'ai bien compris vous êtes en France pour le moment et votre fiancée est en Ethiopie. Voulez vous que nous lui apportions quelque chose dont elle aurait besoin ?
Vous pouvez me répondre directement sur mon mail josette4529@hotmail.com
Merci d'avance pour toutes les info que vous pourrez m'apporter.
Cordialement
bonjour je suis desoleés de mon silence mais j ais dut regler quelques petits problemes perso
je ne suis de retour que pour quelque temps en effet je par voir ma bien aimée le 9 decembre
et oui j ai craqué peut plus attendre et ce coupci je me marie c est sur depuis le temps que l on attend
jevous ferait un beau recit en rentrant avec quelques photos promis
je serait sur harar vers le 15 decembre et repartirais vers le 25 janvier alors sicertains d entre vous passent par la faite un petit coucou voicimon portable là bas 742003 mais pas avant le 15 il ne serat pas allumé tchao a tous et a bientot
bonjour damien, j'essaie de vous téléphoner mais ça ne donne rien, je serai à harar autour du 15 janvier et aimerai beaucoup vous voir la bas si vous êtes d'accord pour vous interviewer? je suis productrice d'un magazine de voyage sur france inter. dites moi si ça vous semble possible. ET beau marige à vous 2. sandrine mercier ; vous pouvez me joindre au 06 87 83 22 56
je veux bien que tu me dises ce qu'on peut faire dans la region, les moyens de transport, les hôtels etc . Je suis partie dans le nord en novembre avec 4 amis, c'était super et nous y retournons en février pour visiter le sud mais l'un d'entre nous repart à Noel (tu vois combien nous avons aimés ce pays) dans la region d'Harar d'où mon message. merci pour lui.
Je viens seulement de lire votre message. Vous êtes peut être à présent rentré d'Ethiopie et ainsi vous serez à même de me donner quelques info sur notamment Harar et les moyens de transports pour y accéder.
En ce qui nous concerne, nous sommes deux amies et partons lundi prochain (2 janvier) pour un mois et demi
mais seulement 2 semaines dans le nord et l'est d'Addis. Nous envisageons de prendre un bus pour Dessie pour nous rendre successivement aux marchés de Kombolcha et Bati et de Bati aller à Mille pour ensuite se diriger vers Awash (via Gewane) et rejoindre Harar. De là nous retournerons à Addis où nous devons être le 16 au matin absolument pour rejoindre un groupe d'amis.
Avez vous des info sur les moyens de transports rejoignant ces différents lieux ?
J'avais entendu dire que le train n'était plus en service alors que je viens d'apprendre ce matin qu'en fait il fonctionnerait tjs. Qu'en est il ? Connaissez vous les jours de fonctionnement de ce train et les heures ?
Pensez vous qu'il est possible de trouver une voiture (ayant déposé des touristes par exemple dans le sens Addis Harar) qui nous ramènerait à Addis ?
Auriez vous expérimenté ce trajet Bati/Mille/Awash ?
Avez vous utilisé ces camions Jiziku (?) pour de longues distances ?
Si par chance vous lisez ce message à temps je suis preneuse de tous les renseignements et vous en remercie.
Mon mail : josette4529@hotmail.com
Cordialement
Bonjour,
merci de votre message mais malheureusement mon voyage reste planifié pour octobre 2006, je ne suis donc pasz encore allé sur place 😕. Je ne peux donc pas vous renseigner plus avant !
Bonjour,
comme tu le proposes gentiment, j'aimerais avoir ton avis sur ce que je lis sur certains sites et dans certaines revues, que l'accès aux parcs de l'OMO et du MAGO sont pratiquement impossible en avril et parfois aussi celui d'Awash !
Qu'est-ce qu'il en est exactement ?
Je vais, avec mon fils, faire du tourisme autonome, "sac sur le dos", en Ethiopie du 02 au 19 avril 2006.
Ton avis me serait utile pour avoir une idée de ce qu'on va pouvoir faire ou peut être que le parc de Bale sera suffisant et ne nous laissera pas le temps de découvrir une autre région ! Nous n'y allons pas avec" les poches pleines" et donc pas non plus avec les moyens d'une forte "intendance" ! (à la rigueur, location d'un 4x4 de manière ponctuelle) ?
J'ai déja posé ces questions à "maesjl", mais je viens de lire qu'il est parti la-bas jusqu'à environ fin janvier et ça m'étonnerait qu'il réponde avant son retour .Peux-tu aussi me dire si c'est possible d'obtenir des autorisations de visite de certaines régions avant d'arriver sur place
Alors, merci d'avance
à+
Bonjour damien j'envisage de faire un tour en vtt en ethiopie, je ne suis qu'a la phase preparatoire du projet mais le theme de la route du cafe me seduit bien.
I’m starting to plan a trip to Tanzania + Zanzibar in August 2027 for 2 to 3 weeks with my partner.
I’ve never been there before and I’d love some advice, especially for Tanzania where we’re planning to do several safaris in the North.
Specifically:
Do you recommend using a travel agency to organize the trip, or are guidebooks and internet recommendations enough?
If you’ve used a local agency (rather than one in France), which one?
Would you recommend hiring a guide for the entire stay in Tanzania, or is it better to travel independently except in the parks where I’ve read that guides are mandatory?
If you’ve used a local agency (rather than one in France), which one and at what price?
Have you had any bad surprises (hidden fees, inexperienced guide, poor vehicle condition)?
Looking forward to reading your tips! 🙂
Thanks in advance
Hello everyone!
It's been a year since I've been longing for South Africa. Our first trip in August 2025 amazed us, and—rarely—it was a unanimous hit with our little family! We were touched to the core, and from the moment we got home, we couldn’t stop talking about going back. 😄
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave me advice on the itinerary for that first trip (Johannesburg loop: Blyde, Kruger, Eswatini, St. Lucia, Durban, Drakensberg)! Thanks to you, our trip went like a dream!
Since then, I haven’t stopped reading articles and discussions on VoyageForum to keep my head in South Africa a little longer!
So, we finally caved and just booked our tickets for January 2027 (from the 3rd to the 26th), with a plan to do a road trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg in about 3 weeks.
I’ve got a rough itinerary that seems great based on what I’ve read on various forums, but there are still some uncertain points, and that’s where I could use your advice.
3/01: Arrival in Johannesburg at 11:45 PM
4/01: Flight to Cape Town, pick up rental car. Afternoon sightseeing
5,6,7/01: Cape Town to visit the big classics in the area (any tips for finding accommodation: which neighborhood, a specific place?)
8/01: Overnight stop before Oudtshoorn—but where??? (Is it essential, or is the CT-Oudtshoorn drive manageable? If so, I’d gain a day in Oudtshoorn. Google Maps shows over 5 hours of driving...)
9,10/01: Oudtshoorn (or would 3 nights be better to really enjoy the area?)
11,12/01: Knysna, Plettenberg Bay (to have time for hiking—if you’ve got hiking tips, I’m all ears!)
13,14/01: Tsitsikamma (still to have time for hiking—who knows the must-do hikes in the area? But maybe 4 nights in the Knysna-Tsitsikamma area is too much—I’m not sure)
16,17/01: Addo Elephant (I’m torn between 3 nights at Addo or 3 nights at Mountain Zebra. Based on travel journals, especially Michel’s on MZ, I’ve scheduled 3 nights at MZ 😄...)
18,19,20/01: Mountain Zebra NP
21/01: Camdeboo NP (because it looks so beautiful!)
22/01: Overnight stop (where?) before wrapping up the trip with either 2 or 3 nights at Golden Gate NP or the Lesotho option, which appeals to me, but I don’t know if it’s doable in 3 days to be back in Johannesburg by the afternoon of the 26th.
That’s my trip idea for now...
I’m eagerly waiting for your advice, ideas, and comments...
Can’t wait to be back there again!
March or May 2027.
Around 15 days in the Western Cape,
then 15 days in the southern KNP.
Arrival either in PE or George.
The pros know I’m somewhat familiar with the area... that I don’t camp... that my accommodations can be simple and remote, self-catering but with basic comforts... that I’m looking for spots that are a bit off the beaten path... in a relaxed mode...
From George:
Late arrival... need some rest... Herolds Bay from George to the N1.
Tsitsikamma is catching my eye (Storms River)... with or without a stop in Knysna.
Question:
What’s the current condition of the pass from Knysna to Uniondale? R339.
And while I’m at it, the condition of the R340.
Tsitsikamma, Knysna, and my questions still apply if arriving in PE.
Is the Swartberg still closed?
Any recommendations for accommodation in Prince Albert?
If I cross the escarpment, I’ll continue via Anysberg NR, Touwsrivier... any thoughts?
From there... Tankwa Karoo or Mount Cedar (or both).
Then heading back down to the coast... the highlands of Hermanus or Kogelberg NR (any opinions on the latter?).
Or,
A more classic route along the coast...
If I arrive (fairly late) in PE... any ideas for accommodation in that little area?
Given that Nyathi Camp is winking at me...
(For context... a while back, I stayed at Riverbend (same Addo sector, private concession)... and I visited the ruins of that abandoned lodge at the time, which has clearly been renovated since... located in a very quiet part of Addo...).
Any feedback from the pros?
Well, that’s about it...
I’m open to any other tips or advice!
Here’s my feedback after a recent trip to Ethiopia, organized with a local guide.
Despite a signed quote, months of prep exchanges (over eight months!), and phone calls right up to departure day, the guide didn’t honor the commitments we’d agreed on.
Haile Haftu FANUAILE, manager of the agency www.charmethiopiantours.com—who we’d organized everything with—didn’t meet us as promised when we arrived in Addis Ababa. Without any warning, he sent a different guide to accompany us for the entire trip (with a flimsy excuse).
Several parts of the signed quote weren’t respected:
– Services included in the quote but not provided on-site (meals, water),
– Hotels we’d chosen, booked, and paid for were swapped for lower-category places,
– Visits were canceled because the timing wasn’t calculated properly,
– One stop on the itinerary was dropped without any reason or explanation.
We’d paid a deposit for domestic flights, with a promise to refund any overpayment. A month after returning, 150 € per person (there were three of us) still hasn’t been refunded.
I’m sharing this to warn fellow travelers about the importance of solid guarantees to ensure contracts are actually honored. Double-check everything before committing!
Wishing everyone safe and smooth travel prep—Ethiopia is an incredible country!
---
Hello,
Feedback following a recent trip to Ethiopia, organized with a local guide.
Despite a signed quote, numerous preparatory exchanges over eight months, and phone calls right up until the day of departure, the guide did not fulfill his commitments.
Haile Haftu FANUAILE, manager of the agency www.charmethiopiantours.com with whom we had organized everything, did not meet us as agreed upon our arrival in Addis Ababa; without warning us, he sent another guide in his place to accompany us throughout the trip (with a bogus excuse).
Several points in the signed quote were not honored:
– services included in the quote but not provided on site (meals, water),
– hotels chosen, booked, and paid for, replaced by lower-category establishments,
– visits canceled due to lack of time, which had not been calculated correctly,
– one stop on the itinerary canceled without reason or explanation.
A deposit had been paid for the booking of domestic flights, with a commitment to refund the overpayment.
To date, one month after our return, 150 € per person (there were three of us) has still not been refunded.
This testimony is intended to alert travelers to the importance of solid guarantees for contracts that are actually honored, so that everyone can be extra vigilant before committing.
Good luck with your travel preparations, everyone.
Ethiopia is an extraordinary country!
I’m thinking (thanks to some tips from forum members 😉) of taking this route to get to the Cederberg.
Apparently, the road was damaged by the May rains, and traffic is still slow there.
Has anyone taken this route recently?
If not, is one direction (toward or from the Cederberg) more scenic than the other?
Thirty years ago, I traveled to Zanzibar (Tanzania) with my children. Since I’ve since started a new family, I took the opportunity of a trip to Kenya to bring my new family along: my wife, who’s Kenyan, and my 10-year-old daughter.
Zanzibar has really changed in 30 years.
It’s become the island of taxes.
It all starts upon arrival: I think it’s the only country in the world, besides the visa, where Zanzibar insurance (and no other) is mandatory—it costs 40 €. If you didn’t purchase it before arriving, good luck getting it: the IT systems are unreliable. With a bit of luck, it’ll take at least an hour to process! And of course, this insurance is useless—if you get sick, it’s recommended to use your home country’s insurance because if you use Zanzibar’s, your national insurance won’t cover you anymore.
I wanted to show my daughter the red colobus monkey, which is endemic to Zanzibar. I paid for a tour that was supposed to be all-inclusive. First, we visited a spice farm, where a farm guide took charge of us—meaning commissions were involved, of course! The tour was very good and informative, though. When we arrived at Jenzhi Park (the colobus park), the guide told us he "forgot" there was an entrance fee (50$).
Aware of the system, I decided to book an Ocean Blue tour through the Zanzibar Tourism Office. After two hours of driving, we stopped at a beach—and were left there. No boat was ready to take us. Since my wife speaks Swahili (the language in Zanzibar), after an hour, a captain with his own boat agreed to take us along with his family.
Another attempt. The main attraction in Zanzibar (besides the city) is Changuu, the Prison Island. You have to take a motorboat and pay the captain, which is normal.
But in Zanzibar, to even get on a boat, you first have to pay a tax! Once we arrived at the island, it started all over again! Thirty years ago, access was free, and the entire island (about 1 km²) was open. Today, there’s a small office, and you have to pay a hefty fee to enter. But enter where? A paved path leads to about 15% of the island—the rest is off-limits. In total, I paid 100 € for my wife, daughter, and myself just to visit a tiny portion of the island! Avoid this!
For the rest of our stay, we stayed at a 5-star hotel with golf, horseback riding, tennis courts, evening concerts, etc.—undeniably high-level comfort. One last thing: if you want to rent a car, it’s affordable and useful for exploring the island’s diverse landscapes, but there are speed cameras at every corner on the main roads. The fine is supposedly 100 $, and it’s hard not to get one!
I told you: Zanzibar, the land of taxes. I used to think my country, Belgium, was the tax champion—I’ve found something even better!
In Nov./Dec. 2022, I went on a safari in the region and we suffered from the extreme temperatures caused by the "El Niño" phenomenon in the Indian Ocean at that time. On top of the extreme heat, there can be torrential rains, flooding, etc., which have led to disasters with casualties.
Hi everyone!
I’m still planning my Cape Town to Johannesburg trip in January 2027.
I saw a documentary about the San people in Namibia, and the same day, I stumbled upon the Lonely Planet page about !Kwah Ttu.
I checked out their website to learn more, including Michel’s travel journal about it. I’m really keen to go.
So, I’m thinking of dedicating:
- either 1 day out of the 4.5 I have in Cape Town...
- or making a detour to !Kwah Ttu on the day I leave Cape Town for Montagu, instead of visiting Franschhoek and its Saturday market...
To the VFers who’ve already been: is it really worth spending a day there?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Malijp
We're heading to South Africa for a month with 5 adults.
We'd like to rent a vehicle that can accommodate 5 people and all our luggage.
We're starting in Cape Town and ending in Johannesburg.
What vehicle would you recommend?
EDITH
Hi there,
I’m planning a gorilla trek in Bwindi, Uganda. I’m torn between the classic option (1 hour with the gorillas) and the habituation trek (4 hours with the gorillas but a more expensive permit). Has anyone done the habituation trek? Both? If so, I’d love to hear your feedback (including on the difficulty).
Thanks
I’ve read some travel journals here but I still have a question.
We’re heading to Uganda next February. The gorilla permits are booked, and the flight tickets are sorted too.
My question is about the chimpanzee trek. I’d love to know whether it’s better to book the habituation experience (4 hours) or the standard trek (1 hour).
The price difference isn’t huge, but I keep wondering and I’d hate to miss out on a great experience.
Hi everyone,
We’re revising our travel plans for January 2027. Originally, we were considering Uganda for about 14/15 days, but given the current health situation and the restrictions that might affect my partner, who’s American, we’ve decided to switch to Tanzania instead.
I’m used to traveling in South Africa and organizing my trips myself, but I get the impression that planning a safari in Tanzania is quite different.
I know self-drive isn’t really an option in Tanzania. So my main question is: can you organize your own itinerary and book lodges directly, then hire a local driver-guide? Or is it better to go through a local agency that handles the entire safari?
For the itinerary, which parks would you recommend for a first-time visit in January? Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Manyara, Ruaha, Arusha, Selous…
We’d also like to include Zanzibar to end the trip with a few days at the beach. Over 14/15 days, does that sound realistic or too ambitious?
Finally, for flights, is it better to arrive at Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Dar es Salaam (DAR) based on the itinerary we’re considering?
Thanks in advance for your feedback, especially on the best way to organize the safari and which parks to prioritize in January!
We're now just 5 weeks away from our trip to South Africa 🙂 and *so* excited to explore (just a tiny bit of) this amazing country.
I need to buy some binoculars but have no idea which model to choose. I don’t really know what to look for (and I don’t want to spend too much).
Thanks in advance to anyone who can give me some tips!
We just got back from ten days in Tanzania. We were lucky enough to be guided by Gishaman. Always in a great mood, a good driver, and an excellent guide. Thanks to him, we not only saw the Big Five in one day but also loads of other animals. He works for the local agency Blit Safaris, which provided excellent support throughout our trip. Highly recommended!
I’m planning a potential trip to Namibia for a classic circuit in April 2027.
I’m surprised by how expensive the accommodations inside the parks are—really steep! Is it possible to stay outside the parks but still close enough to enjoy the game drives?
Do you have any recommendations for more reasonably priced lodging? I’m okay with spending 200 to 250 € per night.
No camping—the friend I’m traveling with absolutely refuses 😉, but maybe upgraded tents would work.
Hi, I'm looking for information on the road conditions in Moremi. We're leaving in 15 days, and from what I've heard, the roads are pretty tough to drive on. Any advice?
Thanks
My trip to South Africa is getting closer (still 2 months to go 😏), and I’m diving back into my itinerary: from Saturday to the following Sunday around Cape Town, then from Sunday to the following Saturday in Kruger.
For Cape Town, the plan was to avoid changing accommodation every day (we’ll do enough of that in the second part) but still see different landscapes.
I know, I’m missing out on a lot, but you’ve got to make choices, and after all this time, I know what I like—and especially what I don’t (or like less) 😉
Here’s the breakdown:
Arrival Saturday at 11 AM: heading to Hermanus (2 nights). The idea is to stroll along the cliff path in the afternoon, and possibly drive to the Klein River Lagoon. Sunday: Stony Point, then depending on time and weather, a hike in Kogelberg Nature Reserve or Fernkloof Nature Reserve (which seems less scenic but has shorter walks).
Monday: drive to Franschhoek (1 night). If everything lines up, a hike in Jonkershoek NR and a visit to a wine estate.
Tuesday: drive to Mountceder Lodge in the Cederberg (2 nights). I’m thinking of visiting the Stadsaal Caves and the elephant paintings, and maybe one of the hikes listed on the lodge’s site or Maltese Cross.
Thursday: heading to Hout Bay for 3 nights. In no particular order: a classic day trip around the peninsula, half a day at Kirstenbosch Gardens, and half a day at Lion’s Head.
Sunday: flight to Johannesburg.
My questions are mostly about (short) hikes:
Has anyone here done hikes in Kogelberg, Fernkloof, or Jonkershoek?
At Mountceder Lodge (Michel, if you’re reading this… 😉), has anyone tried the hikes (guided or not) offered by the lodge?
There’s still half a day to fill when we’re in Hout Bay—any ideas (not necessarily hikes)?
Lastly, regarding safety: the French foreign ministry (always alarmist, but still) recommends hiking in groups. Is it really risky in broad daylight? (I’m not sure a group of two women counts as a "group"…)
Thanks in advance for your answers, ideas, and comments!
Question: we’re doing a 3-week trip in Namibia, including 5 days for Victoria Falls.
I’ve booked one night in Brandberg, and then I have some questions.
I was thinking of spending 2 nights in Palmwag, then heading to Etosha for one night in Okaukuejo and then 2 nights in Halali.
Alternatively, from Brandberg, I could book a night near Galton Gate and then enter Etosha.
I’m not really sure about the distances, especially with a 4x4.
Same for the return trip: Halali to Windhoek seems long. Maybe it’d be smart to break it up on the way back? (We have 2 days to get back if needed.) If so, where?
Jambo! I organized my trip through this kind of group, so I thought I’d share my experience here. We traveled as a group of four, including two kids aged 9 and 11. After requesting around twenty quotes, I decided to book the safari portion with MAKING MEMORIES IN AFRICA. Ally responded quickly and listened to all my requests—unlike other agencies—such as having a French-speaking guide, the order of park visits (Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, then Ngorongoro), and a mix of budget hotels and camping to keep costs down. There were still four agencies in the running, and price was the deciding factor. Even though they were the cheapest, I felt better taken care of than with others. For example, all meals were prepared by a Maasai chef, Louis, who accompanied us throughout the trip, while some others ate meals out of cardboard boxes. Samuel, our guide, explained so many things and answered all our questions. José drove us safely the whole way. Everything was done with great cheer!
At the end of the stay, Ally came to meet us and gave us t-shirts with the agency’s logo—we loved that they took the time to hear our feedback in person. In short, I highly recommend them +++, especially since it’s a local agency that also supports a charity for women and children.
For Zanzibar, I organized everything myself. I hesitated for a long time but eventually booked all four nights at the same place. We don’t like crowds, so I initially considered Jambiani but ended up choosing EVERGREEN BUNGALOWS in Bwejuu. We took their first airport-to-hotel transfer since we arrived at night, and it felt safer. Great value for money, in our opinion. Just be aware that it’s quite isolated—perfect for relaxing and going on excursions. There were very few beach vendors, unlike what I’d read about Zanzibar. We lived with our feet in the sand from morning to night, with a small basin of water outside our room to rinse off. Such a lovely spot!
I had asked for some excursion prices before leaving but ended up booking on-site. Not at our hotel, but at a nearby restaurant that was cheaper. After some thought, since we were based in Bwejuu, I wanted to do Blue Lagoon and Pungume (both departing from the south of Zanzibar).
Blue Lagoon: About 3 hours total, with snorkeling on a small reef full of fish (coral wasn’t great) and a stop at a spot with tons of starfish, plus local snacks, fruit, and drinks.
Pungume: An amazing day with a 50% chance of seeing dolphins (we missed them), a visit to the mangroves, then snorkeling at a spot with some nice coral and, of course, fish. We ended with a fantastic grill (tuna, shrimp, squid, lobster, and fries) on a sandbank in the shade.
Finally, before heading to Stone Town, we visited Paje Cave, which is much less known than Maalum. It’s smaller, but we saw bats, went for a swim, and fed the chickens and rabbits (great for the kids). To finish, we explored Stone Town on our own and had dinner at Forodhani Market.
For flights, we flew with Turkish Airlines from Barcelona to Kilimanjaro and back from Zanzibar—no issues there. However, I don’t recommend the Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar leg with Precision Air. Our luggage didn’t arrive, and according to the hotel, this happens often. We only got it back a day and a half later.
I’m reaching out with a question about which park to choose for a 3-day safari in Kenya.
After 20 days in Uganda, I’m meeting up with my dad for a 3-day safari (that works for him). We’ll be meeting in Nairobi and have a full day to travel to a park (preferably the farthest from Nairobi to avoid crowds?) and spend 4 nights there before heading back to the capital for our flight to France.
I’d love to hear your recommendations since I’ve read so many great tips on this forum.
At the end of July, we’re heading to Namibia with a group of five for a three-week road trip and visit to the national parks.
We’ve read conflicting info about buying entry tickets—either online (where?) or at the gate when we arrive?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the agencies you used to plan your trip to Uganda.
There’s the whole issue of gorilla permits, which need to be booked in advance and involve a significant financial commitment. That’s where I’m at with my trip planning. Between checking lutb.go.ug/ and reading online reviews, it’s hard to move forward with confidence.
I contacted the French Embassy, but they don’t provide any recommendations. I almost booked with an agency that had a really bad review from February specifically about the permit process.
How did you go about choosing your agency? Given the large sum involved, I’m this close to booking through a travel agency in France for this part.
From what I understand, no matter which agency books the permit, you’re ultimately guided by professionals trained for gorilla trekking based on the permit itself? I’m assuming that’s how it works.
Thanks for your feedback, and I’m really happy to see the forum’s new energy—it’s been super helpful to me in the past.
We’re heading to Uganda next summer for three weeks with our two kids, who’ll be 7 and 9 years old.
We’ve been to Southern Africa before but not East Africa, and after a trip to South Africa two years ago, the kids wanted to return to Africa, while we wanted to explore a new region while staying independent... Uganda’s been catching our eye for a while, and with Rwandair offering relatively attractive prices, we’re going for it!
We’ll be traveling in a 4x4 (self-drive) with roof tents. I don’t have any 4x4 driving experience, so it’ll be a first for me, but we’ll manage 😉 No great apes for us—kids need to be 15, and we don’t want to do that experience without them.
I don’t usually ask the forum much for trip planning, but this time, I’d love your thoughts and advice!
First question: Karamoja or not? At first glance, if we want to add it to a "classic" loop in the southwest, it doesn’t seem realistic—too packed, too much driving. We could consider doing the full loop via Kidepo and then heading down to Murchison, but I’m worried the trip might feel less varied and less kid-friendly. That said, the region looks stunning, and I’m struggling to accept not going at all... What do you think?
If we skip Karamoja, we’d do a loop: Murchison/Fort Portal/QENP/Bunyonyi/Mburo, which seems pretty comprehensive and would let us take our time, which is nice. A few random questions:
- How much time should we plan for the Fort Portal area? I was thinking at least 3 days to visit Bigodi Swamp, walk around the craters, and maybe do a community walk (any thoughts on that?).
- Between Murchison Falls and the Fort Portal area, is it worth breaking up the drive? I spotted Lake Albert Safari Lodge on the shores of Lake Albert—it’s not too expensive and looks nice.
- I’d love to do some easy walks/hikes at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, ideally without a guide, but it doesn’t seem straightforward. Do you know if it’s possible to do nice walks independently? I’ve read about hikes in the hills near Kilembe but nothing very specific. Maybe staying somewhere at the foot of the mountains, like Ruboni Community Camp, would allow that.
- Lake Mutanda looks really cool, and so does Lake Bunyonyi... Ideally, I’d like to see both, but won’t that feel repetitive? Is Lake Mutanda worth the detour?
Last practical question, since we don’t have experience with this: for the car with kids, would you recommend two tents (a bit more space) or a four-person tent?
I’ll stop here—already a lot of questions...
Thanks in advance for your feedback, and looking forward to exchanging ideas!
Gabriel
We’re planning our second trip to South Africa in July 2026. In 2023, we did a loop from Joburg, Golden Gate, Drakensberg, Hluhluwe, St Lucia, Eswatini, Kruger, Blyde River Canyon, and back to Joburg.
This time, we’d like to go to Cape Town and do a road trip to Port Elizabeth, then fly back to Joburg to return to Kruger. At this stage of my planning, here’s what it could look like:
D1 to D4: Cape Town and Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, Boulders, Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak Drive). I’ve spotted a few places to stay between Camps Bay and Hout Bay (3 nights).
D5 and D6: Either Karoo NP or Hermanus and De Hoop. Any opinions to tip the scales? I’ll admit I’m already leaning toward Karoo (the "wild" vibe of the landscapes and wildlife encounters appeal to me much more than the seaside, which feels less exotic). If we go for Karoo, where should we stay? Inside the park or in Beaufort West? I’ve seen good reviews for Ko-ka Tsara Bush Camp, but maybe it’s better to stay in the Sanparks cottages to make the most of the park? (2 nights)
Option B is to do Stellenbosch (though vineyards aren’t great in winter) and/or the Whale Route—Betty’s Bay, Hermanus, De Hoop (2 nights near Gansbaai).
D7 and D8: Klein Karoo, Oudtshoorn. Staying at De Cango Guest Farm (2 nights).
D9 and D10: Knysna, Robberg Nature Reserve, Tsitsikamma (2 nights in Plettenberg Bay and 1 night in PE).
D11: Flight from Port Elizabeth to Joburg at 7 AM and drive to Marloth Park.
For Kruger, I’ve booked 2 nights in Marloth Park, 1 night in Skukuza, 2 nights in Satara, and 1 night in Talamati, which we loved. I’ll book the last night in Graskop later since we want to revisit the Blyde Canyon area.
I’d love all the feedback you can give on my itinerary, especially for days 5 and 6.
If you have recommendations for accommodations for 4 people, I’d appreciate those too.
Thanks! 🙂
We’re a family of four (two daughters aged 18 and 21) and we’re planning a three-week trip to Tanzania. Zanzibar would be our main base, but we’d also like to do a safari on the mainland.
Could you share any tips on:
- the ideal length for such a safari, the best place to go during this period (and easily accessible by flight from Zanzibar)
- your recommendations for the most suitable type of stay for a family like ours
- reliable local agencies with reasonable prices that could help us with this plan
Hi everyone, I’m here to get some advice on visiting KRUGER Park.
From what I’ve gathered through my reading, I understand there are two ways to visit the park:
- Independently with your own vehicle
=> Do you drive all day?
- By booking with a professional
=> Safari early in the morning and late in the afternoon. But what do you do in between?
When it comes to accommodations, the options are:
- Booking in one of the park’s camps, where the lodging is basic but functional
- Booking in a private reserve, which is more comfortable but prohibitively expensive
- Booking outside the park, which means entering the park every morning. But if you want to stay for 3 days, that doesn’t seem practical to me.
Do you have any advice for accommodations?
To be honest, I’m really struggling to understand how it all works...
Thanks to everyone for your help.
Bidule 27
