Bonjour,
Je réalise un voyage individuel avec ma copine pour passer 3 semaines en Namibie-Botswana-Zimbabwe à partir du 13mai.
Je commence à être pas mal au point sur notre itinéraire et nos coûts (et oui nous avons que 25ans donc le budget compte).
Il faut savoir que nous louons une berline.
Notre itinéraire et le suivant :
jour 0 : Windhoek (récupération de la voiture + course) -->jour 1 : départ pour Gobabis où on reste 2 jours pour une excursion dans le nord-ouest du desert de Klahari --> jours 3, dép pour Maun, Delta d'Okanwaongo (5jours, avec comme point de base Maun), jour 8 : départ pour CHOBE pour un ou deux jours. Jour 11 : Hwange national park au zimbabwe pour 3 jours.
Jours 13 : Victoria Falls jusqu'au samedi 29 mai. le 30 mai depart de VF pour PopaFalls, puis retour sur Windhoek pour attraper notre avion le mardi 1er.
Je sollicite votre avis/vos conseils sur mon voyage mais beaucoup plus particulièrement sur les conséquences de notre choix sur la location d'une voiture berline :
Nous savons que pour certains parcs, nous passerions à coté de quelque chose sans 4x4 mais étant donné le bon prix que nous avons eu sur la location, nous investirons à louer un 4x4, ou participez à une excursion en 4X4 de tour operator (qui d'apres ce que nous avons trouvé pour cette période reste moins cher).
Nous avons donc trouvez notre bonheur pour le desert de Kalahari, pour le delta (la réserve de Morémi) mais je ne parviens pas à savoir si l'entrée du Park de CHOBE est interdit aux berlines? et si c'est authorisé, est-il "safe" et même possible de la traverser en berline pour prendre la route de Kasane depuis Maun en mai?Cette est-elle de sable? (il s'agit d'un sacré détour sinon)
(Savez vous si l'entrée au park de CHOBE est payante ?)
Meme questions pour Hwange (enfin je sais que c'est payant 20us$ et autorisé mais je ne sais pas si c'est "safe" pour un moi de mai?)
Pendant que j'y suis, une rumeur que je ne parviens pas à retrouver disait que le Zimbabwe facturait au nbr de jour dans le pays une "taxe éco" pour les voitures entrant dans le pays, quelqu'un peut-il m'infirmer cette crainte (je n'ai rien trouvez sur les sites officiels du zimbabwe)
Merci beaucoup pour vos réponses.
Et continuer à enrichir ces forums qui sont une précieuse aide dans l'organisation de voyages.
Salut,
que de kilomètres !... y'a un truc que je pige pas, pourquoi arriver et repartir de Windhoek en Namibie si ce n'est pour rien voir de la Namibie ?
1 jour à Chobe, quel dommage ! c'est sans doute un des plus beaux et plus riches parcs d'Afrique australe
Par contre impossible en berline, 4x4 obligatoire et entrée payante bien sûr
Tous les lodges de Kasane organisent des game drive dans Chobe
Pour la route de Maun à Kasane c'est obligatoirement par la route goudronnée via Nata (700 km environ)
Je ne sais pas te répondre pour le Zimbabwe. Le Zimbabwe en solo c'est prendre bien des risques à mon avis.
Si tu en es à te poser toutes ces questions à 1 mois de partir, cela veut il dire que tu n'as encore rien réservé ? bon courage alors 😉
Comme le dit Vinny, pourquoi être parti de WDK ?
tu aurais pu arriver à Johannesburg (vol + direct et - cher), louer un VL là bas et partir direction le botswana.
Comment te loges tu (lodges ou tente ? )
le CKGR (parc du Kalahari), Chobe, Moremi, Savuti, Linyanti, Nxai, Makgadikgadi... tous au Botswana NE PEUVENT PAS se faire en berline : pistes parfois très sableuses. De même Maun-Kasane en berline ne peut se faire que par la boucle Maun-->Gweta-->Nata-->Kasane
Les popas falls sont sympas pour faire un arrêt mais pas pour un but à voir, et là tu dors où ? car sorti de la route principale, ce sont des pistes. De ce que je me souviens, pour aller aux Popas falls la piste que j'ai prise (en sortie de Divundu-Bagani) est difficilement envisageable en berline.
combien payes tu les 5 jours dans le delta ? car si je comprend cela induit : 4x4 + guide + hebergement + nourriture
pareil pour le Kalahari, tu dois louer les services d'un T.O local
Pour le passage au Zimbabwe, en 2008 le visa était de 30 USD par personne. Pour la Voiture je ne sais pas car j'y suis allé à pied. Mais à la même époque fallait compter 40-50 USD pour un 4x4 pour la Zambie. je suppose que cela doit être du même ordre d'idée.
A mon humble avis, pour un premier voyage en solo en Afrique Australe, ayant une limite de temps de 3 semaines, un budget serré et une berline en loc, il aurait mieux fallu viser soit la Namibie, soit l'Afrique du sud qui sont plus adaptés à tes impératifs.
Je ne veux pas faire le rabat joie, mais j'espère que que ne seras pas un peu déçu en restant sur ta faim.
Oeeeeeh un tour d'Afrique en 3 semaines... Ambitieux au moins.
En 4 semaines on a fait Sesriem/Namib/Swakopmund, le Nord de Namibie (Damarand, Epupa Falls, Etosha), Popa Falls puis direction Sud en Botswana, par Tsodillo Hills vers Maun et le Moremi puis retour vers Windhoek.
Croyez-moi ça suffit en 4 semaines.
La seule façcon dans laquelle j'essaierais votre trajet c'est one way. Louer son véhicule à Windhoek et laisser le à Vic Falls pe. Vol de retour à partir de là. Ca va te coûter mais alors là t'as un beau trajet encore réalisable en 3 semaines.
Je ne sais pas si c'est trop tard, mais tu aurais pu atterrir à Maun et louer la voiture à partir de J+6 puisque les 5 premiers jours tu les passes apparemment avec un TO local (si oui, le quel à quel prix ? merci pour tes infos sur ce forum - auberge espagnole).
Chobe c'est 4x4 obligé. Mais là aussi, quitte à avoir une berline, autant ne rien louer et profiter des organisations proposées par les Hotels (qui incluent aussi des campings pour faire moins chers).
Je ne connais pas Hwange au Zim, mais après Chobe et Moremi, est ce bien la peine ?
De plus comme le disent les copains, si tu cherches du "safe", le Zim, c'est pas le plus cool. Et donner du fric à Robert, moi ça me brancherait pas.
Ericarole a fait les Chuttes Victoria côté Zim à pieds. Là encore, tu pouvais éviter la location de la voiture ?? Tous les hotels de Kasane proposent des packages pour aller à Livingstone.
Beau voyage en perspective...
J 'espère que tu as tout réservé, si non tu vas passer d'excellentes soirées derrière ton fax... 😉
Raconte nous
Franck
Tanzanie-2010
Kawaza Village
Botswana : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2037270
Bonjour,
le Botswana en berline, c'est fesable mais pas pour les bonnes raisons.
Les parcs sont ouverts qu'au 4x4 (logique c'est du sable)
Nous avions roulé beaucoup pour rien a part pour rejoindre l'Afrique du Sud et vic falls en passant par la caprivi.
Un conseil : vous avez 25 ans et vous etes en couple, Go go Namibie !
Si vous avez pas encore reservé les parcs du botswana ou autres.
Prenez votre voiture a windhoek et faite un itineraire classique en namibie, ca vous coutera moins cher et ca sera magnifique.
Sinon, je suis d'accord avec les autres, ca sert a rien d'arriver de Windhoek si vous allez au Botswana. de plus, sachant que vous devez passer par les lodges ou TO pour les parcs du botswana, la loc devient inutile les premiers jours comme le dise les autres.
Bonne préparation !
bon vent à tous!!
voyage en Afrique Australe
Travel Southern Africa
Bonjour,
Je suis globalement d'accord avec les autres "forumistes". Pour un voyage de trois semaines, il est peut être préférable de privilégier deux pays, et, pour une première expérience, et au vu de mon expérience😉je choisirais NAMIBIE et BOTSWANA.
Pourquoi j'éviterais le ZIMBABWE ? Ton passage va se limiter à Hwange, et comme le dit FRANCKY, après Chobe et Moremi, ça ne vaut peut être pas la peine et ce sera peut être décevant. Pourtant, avant les tristes évènements de ces dernières années, c'était un parc magnifique, un des plus beaux de l'Afrique australe. Nous l'avons visité en 1998: merveilleux. Retour et nouvelle visite en 2007 ( au plus fort de la crise il est vrai ): abasourdis! Nous étions quasiment les seuls visiteurs, même à Main Camp. Problèmes: par faute de moyens, aucune intervention humaine depuis plusieurs années. Pour résumer, on peut dire que les éléphants ont pris le pouvoir et chassé les autres animaux (pour l'anecdote, spectacle surréaliste à SHUMBA CAMP où pendant plusieurs heures nous avons vu pas loin d'un millier d'éléphants venir s'abreuver et empêcher toute approche des quelques autres animaux, y compris des hippopotames).
Je doute que la situation se soit beaucoup améliorée en trois ans, même avec le partage du pouvoir entre 😠Mugabe (appelé "black mamba", y compris par beaucoup de zimbabwéens) et le premier ministre.
Par contre, je peux dire, au regard de notre expérience de 15 jours ( Matopo, Hwange et Matusadona ) que la sécurité n'a posé aucun problème, au moins avec la population, qui pourtant, au regard de la misère extrême, aurait eu des excuses pour tenter de s'approprier certains de nos biens. Même constatation pour notre fils qui a vécu sept mois entre juin et décembre 2007 entre Harare et la basse vallée du Zambèze. Je me répète, mais la population zimbabwéenne le mérite bien: c'est étonnant de ne pas avoir plus d'insécurité dans un pays si dévasté. Le plus gênant fut la répétition des contrôles routiers.
Pour le reste, il faut respecter les règles de sécurité habituelles, que l'on suit partout.
Pour une réponse sur une taxe éco, je fais des recherches pour voir si je retrouve quelque chose.
Quelque soit votre choix, faites un bon voyage.
TANGUE
Bonjour,
Tout d'abord un grand merci à vous tous qui me répondez, je ne regrette pas d'avoir poster mes interrogations.
Ma meilleur expérience en Afrique a été en 2007 où, inconscient et encore plus jeune, je m'étais simplement acheter un billet A/R pour Victoria Falls pour y passer 5 jours seulement. Munis de mon petit sac à dos et de ma CB visa premier dont mon cher banquier m'assurait qu'elle fonctionne partout... j'atterris à VF airport. La chance m'avais déja souris car une annulation de vols sur mon parcours m'avait permis de passer 22h, la veille, dans un étoile 5 étoiles à Maurice au frais de la company aérienne et d'arriver à destination final en temps prévu.
Bref, heureusement que j'avais 20£ sur moi pour payer le droit d'entrer et partager le taxi jusqu'à VF. Sans dollars, (et faut savoir qu'à cette époque le Zimbwabwe avait ses propres dollar mais en tant que blanc tu payes tout en US$ et qu'il n'y a pas de distributeur de dollar), je ne pouvais rien faire d'autre que d'aller dans international hôtel qui prenne la CB.
A l'office de tourisme de la ville, après environ une heure d'échange avec un local, je me retrouve à accepter d'être héberger par un inconnu qui habite l'agglomération de VF (bidonville quoi!). Pour conclure, ces 5 jours dans cette famille qui ne nourrit que les invités et ceux de la famille qui travaille donc ramène de l'argent (et quand je dis nourriture c'est leur fameuse farine de mais et des sorte d'algue bouillie et re-bouillie), où il faut marcher 1h45min dans le bush alentourant VF croisant des champs de babouins, où le seul blanc dans un rayon de 5kms c'est toi au millieu de tout ces gamins qui se demande qui tu es, où y a pas d'électricité ni d'eau, où le réveil matin, c'est un cafard de 5cm de diamètre qui sqatte ton ventre... et bien ça, combiner à la beauté de cette flotte qui tombe de 100m, et ben j'en redemande.
Donc je suis bien d'accord avec TANGUE, c'est beau à voir la gentillesse de certaine personne quand eux non rien mais le partage (bon retournons quand même sur terre, ils savaient que j'allais leur filer des billets vert pour l'hébergement, c'est pour ça qu'ils m'ont aider à traverser la frontière pour aller en Zambie où j'ai pu retirer des US$). La sécurité en ce sens me fait pas trop peur, même si je sais que j'ai eu beaucoup de chance ce coup la...
Bon je m'égare, mais si je vais à VF et c'est l'objet de mon voyage c'est pour aller au mariage de ce jeune qui m'a héberger le samedi 29 mai. dont pas de variante la dessus!
J'aurais pu atterrir directement la bas , où alors oui à Maun aussi, mais l'opportunité d'une location de VL à 20€ par jour je ne l'ai trouver qu'à WDK ; Biensur inconvenant, il faut partir de WDK et y revenir, c'est pourquoi chemin faisant nous profiterons à notre rythme de ce qui se trouve sur notre chemin, notamment la chance d'être héberger par des locaux à Gobabis.
Je ne suis pas sur que partir en VL de Jobourg soit plus économique en km pour rejoindre Maun.
Puis pour le retour, ca c'est un vrai inconvénient d'autant plus que nous n'avons que trois jours : VF pour WDK, c'est vrai que c'est pénible, mais le calcul est rapide, si je le fait en 2j en VL aller dison 3j (je confirme Popa Falls est juste une étape intermdiaire), ça nous coute 2 pleins d'essence soit un plein d'essence par personne, l'avion, c'est plutot l'équivalent de 4pleins d'essence par personne... et 1500km d'aventure en moins (raisonnement trop optimiste d'accord)
A Okavango Delta, nous resterons 2 nuits dans un campsite pour back packers (30€ la nuit en tente sympa double du campsite aménagé où 10€ la nuit pour deux avec sa propre tente). Ils organisent sur le tas les sorties standarts dans le delta et notamment un saffari mobile (en 4x4) pour 70€ par jour/pers suivant le nombre de personne (bouffe non comprise) ce qui est pas mal me semble t-il. Nous partirons en safari de 3jours.
Je prend bonne note de ta remarque Franky 4, après les parks du Botsana pourquoi Hwange... mais Tangue, me remets le doute du coup, des milliers d'éléphant c'est balaise!
Mais ce que je pense faire (prenant en compte la remarque de winnylove), c'est de prolonger mon séjour à CHOBE.
Pour absorber les 3 jours initialement prévu
Je vous remercie bien de m'avoir prévenu pour la non possibilté de pouvoir traverser CHOBE en berline, je me taperai le détour en passant par NATA et ferai mes visites de park depuis Kazane. Et du coup rejoindre VF sans passer par Hwange...
Pour absorber les 3 joursà Hwange, je pense prolonger d'un jour au delta et de deux jours à CHOBE. Ca tombe je n'avais rien réservé encore à Hwange... et petit pensée pour Franky 4 encore, j'en donnerai moin à Robert (ou black memba devrais-je dire😉!
Enfin bon, les milliers d'éléphant me reste en travers qd meme, à ETOSHA, KRUGER et Ruhaha, j'en avais pas vu plus d'une trentaine je dirais.
Ce voyage me parait pas irréalisable, il s'agit de 1700 kms environ mais il y a que 5 jours de longue routes...
Nous sommes conscient qu'au delta/moreni et qu'à CHOBE nous louerons les services d'un local pour excursion en 4x4
Les tours Operator ont des cadence de malade (car bien mieux organiser) : le CAP --> VF en 19j... en passant bien sur par tous les beau coins... et je suis sur que vous assi en 3 semaines vous avez déja fait bien plus de kilomètres.
Effectivement je suis un peu déçu qu'il faille revenir à WDK surtout en si peu de temps... mais bon, 😠 faut vite revenir à notre vie d'Europeen et nos soucis de francais où on se demande à quelle heure le bus va partir alors que l'authentique africains connait déjà la réponde : il partira quand il sera plein...
Quelques prix de notre voyage en synthétisant ce qui a été dit précédamment :
Avion : Paris - Windhoek AR : 750€
entré au zimbawe : 30US$/pers en 2007
CHOBE : en 4x4 seulement, entrée payante,
Okawango delta :
- nuit en camping avec se propre tente : 10€ pour deux
- nuit en twin tent / chalet pour deux : 30€ pour deux
(suvant le taux de change de l'euros avec le Pula)
- MOKORO TRIPS : 65€pppd (sans nourriture/boisson)
- Location de 4x4 depuis windhoek : à partir de 80€ par jour suivant la période...
J'espère ne pas faire de pub en donnant ces adresse de website de site gouvernementaux qui m'ont bien servit :
Bonjour,
Je précise mes réflexions sur HWANGE. Voir un millier d'éléphants venir s'abreuver à un point d'eau, ce fut super; mais ne voir quasiment que des éléphants entre l'entrée principale de main Camp et la sortie ouest, à Sinamatella, ce fut très décevant. C'est la conséquence de l'accroissement trés important du nombre d'éléphants: ils ont repoussé les autres animaux dans la partie du parc qui n'est pas accessible (partie sud ).
Je pense que prolonger votre séjour à Chobe sera probablement une bonne solution, d'autant que vous y serez gâtés en matière d'éléphants!
TANGUE
Quand je pense que certains mepretent ici une réputation de baroudeur... tu penses, moi qui prépare mon voyage au km près avec mon GPS (même si cette année ce sera beaucoup plus l'aventure au quotidien en Tanzanie...)
Alors qu toi tu prends l afrique comme j aime la prendre : comme elle est, et les gens gentils avec.
Bon qq remarques :
- MOKORO TRIPS : 65€pppd (sans nourriture/boisson)
As tu déjà réservé ?
On avait aussi payé ce prix là, mais on a appris que notre puller de mokoro était payé 15 euos par jour. Tu vois la marge du Lodge qui organisait cela... !
C'est plus compliqué c'est sur, si tu fais trois jours dans le delat (ce qui est absolument formidable sans aucun doute...) mais je pense que tu pourrais aussi chercher sur place un organisateur local de trip dans le delta.
Si tu veux j 'ai les coordonnées de notre puller indépendant, en MP.
- Ruaha
Je vois que tu connais la Tanzanie.
je me permets de t'envoyer un MP pour te poser qq questions sur cette façon de voyager sans passer par les gros TO. Ca a l'air plus compliqué en Tanz qu au Zimbabwe...
ça oui on y tient que tu nous racontes.... !
bonne préparation
Franck
Tanzanie-2010
Kawaza Village
Botswana : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2037270
Effectivement, tes choix sont explicites.
750 euros le billet Paris WDK : c'est un excellent prix.
Et comme tu le dis, faire 1700 km sur les routes d'afrique australe, c'est déjà une aventure.
Je te souhaite un bon voyage et une belle cérémonie de mariage.
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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!
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.
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 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!
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
Dream of standing on the roof of Africa at 5,895 m?
I’m looking for 4 people to complete our group for the Kilimanjaro ascent in Tanzania.
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Don’t hesitate to share this post with your hiking friends! 😊
Mafate Randos
Just returned from a three-week family trip to Kenya (with three kids aged 10, 12, and 15), and I wanted to share my experience. Forums were super helpful in planning this trip, especially if you want to get a bit off the beaten path.
First off, Kenya is an amazing destination with incredibly friendly and welcoming locals. It was easy to travel around because you can always find someone to give you directions or help you out.
For practical tips—though you’ve probably read this elsewhere—get a Safaricom SIM card when you arrive at the airport so you can pay via M-Pesa (you can top it up with a credit card using the Wise app) and chat with people on WhatsApp. It’ll make your life *so* much easier (booking trains, buses, park entries, etc.) and save you from carrying too much cash or hunting for ATMs.
Also, we went during the first three weeks of July, which wasn’t peak tourist season.
One thing to note: even if you’re using public transport and budget accommodations, Kenya can still be pricey because tourist attractions add up fast—often more expensive than in France. But honestly, it’s usually worth it!
We started our trip with a 5-day homestay. We were welcomed by a really lovely family in Loitokitok with a view of Kilimanjaro right from their garden entrance (just a heads-up: in July, it’s often shrouded in mist!). To find them, search for Greenfield Homestay in Loitokitok. It was a fantastic experience, especially with kids! On top of transfers, they organized several outings with locals: a hike to the Tanzanian border, a motorcycle ride on the foothills of Kilimanjaro, and a day safari in Amboseli. You can book with them eyes closed! For the safari, Anthony (who’s English-speaking) took us around—he’s from the area and knows the park like the back of his hand. Highly recommend him!
Anthony then drove us to Isiolo, a town in the north that’s just starting to open up to tourism. We wanted to see the Monday livestock market, where different ethnic groups gather to buy and sell goats, sheep, and cows (according to Lonely Planet). We were a bit disappointed and wouldn’t recommend it. We also visited Ngare Ndare Forest, which has a stunning waterfall, an interesting walk with an armed ranger (elephants are common), and a suspension bridge for admiring the canopy. Just make sure to let them know you’re coming at least three days in advance to guarantee a ranger will be available. We also did a second safari day in Samburu—it’s a great complement to Amboseli and totally worth it!
Next, we headed to Naivasha (still with Anthony). We found a place on Airbnb (Jasmine House) at Fischerman’s Camp, a campsite we really loved! You’ll spot hippos, monkeys, and beautiful birds there. We organized several activities: a boat ride on the lake to see birds, zebras, and giraffes; a bike safari in Hell’s Gate Park (the campsite is right by the entrance and rents bikes); and a hike to Crater Lake (departing by boat from the campsite), where you walk among zebras, giraffes, and different gazelles. Naivasha is way more touristy than Loitokitok or Isiolo, but there’s no shortage of things to do.
Finally, we spent our last week in Watamu on the coast. To get there, we took an overnight ENA Coach bus from Naivasha to Mombasa, booked via https://www.travler.africa/. It was comfortable and fast, but you’ll need to call the driver to arrange a pickup spot—the restaurant staff at the campsite helped us out with that! Then we took an Uber to Watamu since we had a lot of luggage (we skipped the matatu).
Watamu is nicknamed "Little Italy" because of all the Italian tourists. When we were there (third week of July), it wasn’t peak season yet, so the beaches weren’t cleaned. But we loved the laid-back vibe and how easy it was to get around. We *highly* recommend the marine turtle rescue center—it’s fascinating (especially with kids) and supports a great cause! We were a bit disappointed by the marine park, though—maybe because of the season? There weren’t many fish, and jellyfish kinda ruined the snorkeling. The mangrove tour is also a must-do.
For the trip back to Nairobi, we took the express train from Mombasa. We booked our tickets when we first arrived in Kenya (since payment is only via M-Pesa). The train is reliable and comfortable, and we saw lots of elephants along the way. Just a heads-up: there are *a lot* of security checks, and we almost weren’t allowed to board with our Opinel knife…
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
All in all, we had an amazing trip—so much variety, great encounters, and the magic of safaris!
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.
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!
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
Hey everyone!
Heading to Namibia in a few days and I just read that the entry fees for all parks in Namibia have skyrocketed. Increases between 86 and 100%, and this has been in effect since April 1st (no joke). Have any of you heard about this, and if so, do you know if it’s actually being enforced?
For example, the fee for Etosha has gone from 150 NAD to 280 NAD per day per person.
Thanks in advance!
I’m really interested in traveling to South Africa in September 2020. My question is whether I should go on an organized tour or plan my own itinerary. Organized trips are pretty expensive $$$$, but the security aspect reassures me. I’d love to hear your thoughts on safety in South Africa and whether it’s easy to arrange activities like visiting vineyards, Cape Town, and going on a safari on our own. Which is better in terms of cost—booking an organized trip or doing it ourselves? It’s definitely less exciting to follow a group for 10 days. We’re a couple in our 50s who love nature.
😊🦁
We’re heading out in April 2027 with our 4x4 to explore part of Southern Africa. Right now we’re researching all these beautiful countries and deciding where to ship our vehicle. We’re from Le Havre—has anyone here already shipped from that port to South Africa or East Africa?
As for all these countries, is wild camping allowed, tolerated, easy, or difficult?
We’ve already visited a few, but you can read just about anything online, so getting tips from real independent travelers is way better :)
We’re all ears for any hacks, experiences, or spots you’d recommend.
See you on the road with Doddy
Hi,
I’m starting to plan a great trip for the last three weeks of January 2027 (my first time in South Africa).
After spending a few hours (!) browsing this forum, here’s a rough first draft of my itinerary:
D0 Arrival at JNB
D1, D2 Blyde River Canyon
D3, D4, D5, D6, D7: Kruger
D8, D9, D10: St Lucia and surrounding area
D11, D12, D13, D14: Drakensberg + Lesotho
D15 A very long driving day to the south (hope the AC doesn’t break down!)
D16, D17, D18, D19 southwest coast (so far I’ve noted Oudtshoorn, Robberg Nature Reserve, Wilderness NP, De Hoop Reserve, and a bit of the wine route)
D20, D21 Cape Town (peninsula and a bit of the city) + domestic flight and return flight (departure from JNB at 11 PM)
A few questions before refining this:
- Do you see any major issues with this itinerary?
- We don’t have a choice on dates, and personally, I prefer green landscapes to desert ones anyway, but do you really see far fewer animals in January than in the dry season? Five days in Kruger should give us enough time to spot plenty of different animals despite the tall grass, right? As for the heat, we’re from Réunion, so we’re relatively used to it, even though I know it’s not the same type of heat.
- Can I trust the distances and driving times given by Google Maps?
- Picking up the vehicle in Johannesburg and dropping it off in Cape Town: how much might that cost us? I’m thinking it probably won’t be worse (in terms of time or money, since there are five of us—2 adults + 3 kids) than going back to Joburg after Lesotho, taking a flight to Cape Town, and renting another vehicle... but maybe I’m wrong.
- Finally, wouldn’t it be better to focus on just one of the two regions (either the northeast or Cape Town and the south coast)? If it were up to me, I’d stick to the first part and extend a few stops... but not everyone agrees! And we’re thinking that since it’ll be really hot, a second part of the trip that’s a bit """cooler""" would be welcome.
I imagine many of you have been captivated by the Masai Mara park and/or your safari experience with Tony Crocetta/Melting Pot Safari. Still, I’d like to share my perspective.
First, I’m an avid traveler, especially in love with Africa, which my partner and I have explored a bit (Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia...).
That said, I want to express my deep disappointment with both the Masai Mara and Tony Crocetta’s camp, Melting Pot Safari, where we stayed last year.
First, about the park: it’s stunning, no doubt. But what a highly touristy place! I can’t find the words to describe the horror of being among 30 4x4 vehicles lined up in front of a lioness hunt, let alone encircling her right after her kill while her prey is still alive in her jaws... no respect for wildlife. The same goes for surrounding a young leopard playing with its small prey, a moment when I counted over 50 vehicles, most with their engines running... sickening. I turned away, both my gaze and my camera. What a disaster to see this natural wonder of Africa turned into a tourist hotspot.
Yes, I loved this place on Earth, but no, I won’t "promote" it anywhere or to anyone.
Next, I also wanted to share my dissatisfaction with Tony Crocetta’s famous camp, Melting Pot Safari: where to begin? We booked a private vehicle for four with two friends, and I have no complaints about the vehicle itself (though it obviously came at a cost). The windows and the vehicle weren’t very photo-friendly, but let’s move on.
The trip between the sisters’ guesthouse (which was fine) and the camp went smoothly, except we arrived a bit too late. Result: "We’ll leave for the safari an hour later today because the driver has to respect his rest hours." Perfect—with park formalities, we only spent about an hour in the park that evening. The safari got off to a great start...
During our 12-day stay, we saw some amazing things. Tony wasn’t at the camp—I don’t know what the atmosphere is like when he’s there, but it was rather cold during our trip. Sylvie, his wife, barely looked at us, never asking how our day, night, or game drive went (I think she spoke to us once during the stay, plus the day we arrived, of course). We felt invisible... (if I were mean, I’d say the money had already been deposited into Melting Pot’s bank account.)
The evening meals, if I may say so, were a joke: not enough dessert (aside from fruit, but the few elaborate desserts—like 10 for 18 guests) for everyone, barely enough meat or sides. If you were unlucky like us and ended up with a group of 15 people who decided to skip the starter, you’d better hurry to get your main course, or there might not be any left—and no refills... We always ate our fill, but sometimes we had to serve ourselves in advance.
Finally, I want to correct something about the quality of the meals: seriously, this buffet was really mediocre and far from the culinary standards I’d read about in my pre-trip research (see their Facebook page).
Anyway, let’s move past the food—after all, the avocados were sublime, and we’re not there primarily to eat.
About the tent: the river views were beautiful, and the beds were very comfortable. No running water, individual showers outside the tent, and dry toilets—but it’s Africa, so we weren’t shocked. However, I’m disappointed that for this "modest" price, I wasn’t warned there’d be no soap (and no, I don’t travel with my own soap—and for the price, a little bar in the tent wouldn’t be a luxury). But let’s move on—the hippo views were fantastic. Oh, and to preserve the Masai Mara’s water (which makes sense) and for hygiene reasons, underwear isn’t washed by the camp staff—fair enough. But then what’s that little sign next to the bed? Oh right, for a hefty sum, underwear suddenly becomes "washable"...
Finally, my biggest gripe is about the essential part: the game drives. In France, they sell you a dream with a "photo safari" (what’s the difference, really? A room with a few more electrical outlets?). They promise guides especially suited for photography (not a given, sorry) and vehicles that can get close to animals and go off-road... but here’s the catch: the guides are bound by park laws and hounded by rangers looking to fine rule-breakers. Result: as soon as a white ranger vehicle is spotted, we have to abandon our spot for a wild chase through the grass. Fun once... The next day, we learned that another group’s guide got caught and had to pay $100 for breaking the rules—a sum he casually asked the travelers in his vehicle to cover... because of course, Melting Pot lures tourists with dreams, the poor rangers try to get close, all while breaking park laws... and they break those laws for Crocetta’s company, which, of course, won’t dip into its profits to pay the fines. Basically, it’s "keep the clients happy, but don’t get fined—or the fines are on you or you’ll have to ask the clients directly." Nice boss! Anyway, there were long discussions about this last year, especially among the guests in the fined vehicle. My partner and I found these practices unacceptable, and we were deeply disappointed by this attitude.
I know many people adore this park and/or this company—maybe you were luckier... or maybe you’re less demanding than we are when it comes to respecting rules, nature, and clients. But after traveling through much of southern Africa, I can tell you we personally came back frustrated from this experience and aren’t eager to return... You’ve been warned.
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!
Hello,
With so many agencies out there, we're feeling a bit lost. Could you please share your experience—like recommending your agency if you were happy with them—and tell us why, and if possible, what budget we should expect? Feel free to send it in a private message :)
We’re just the two of us, and ideally, we’d like to go in a 4x4 alone or with another couple, or in a very small group.
Hi there,
I’ve reached out to a few agencies for a week-long family safari next summer before heading to Zanzibar.
So far, the itinerary looks like this:
Day 1: Late arrival at JRO and overnight in Arusha
Day 2: Drive to Tarangire, park visit, and overnight in Tarangire
Day 3: Tarangire, drive to and overnight in Karatu
Day 4: Ngorongoro and overnight in Ngorongoro
Day 5: Drive to Serengeti and safari in Seronera
Day 6: Serengeti and overnight near Lobo
Day 7: Serengeti and overnight in Seronera
Day 8: Flight from Seronera to Zanzibar
On paper, it covers "everything," but maybe there’s a bit too much time lost on the road... Any alternatives?
To simplify (and cut costs), I was thinking:
Day 1: Late arrival at JRO and overnight in Arusha
Day 2: Arusha National Park with a walking safari and meeting the Maasai (?)
Day 3: Drive to Tarangire, park visit, and overnight in Tarangire
Day 4: Full day in Tarangire
Day 5: Tarangire, drive to and overnight in Karatu
Day 6: Ngorongoro and overnight in Ngorongoro
Day 7: Morning in Manyara or Natron and drive to JRO
Day 8: Flight to Zanzibar
Your thoughts and recommendations are welcome...
Thanks
We have the opportunity to spend about ten days somewhere for Christmas, and I’m really tempted by Zanzibar. I’ve been dreaming for a long time about the Spice Island, Stone Town, diving...
Which hotels could you recommend? Not a big "resort"—we’re more into "boutique hotels" or even an Airbnb house. Somewhere quiet (we’re not party animals).
I’m thinking of staying the first few nights in Stone Town and then moving to a beach, preferably one where we can swim regardless of the tides, without ending up in seaweed and mud at low tide.
I’m a bit lost with all the beaches because apparently, the north is very crowded, the south is very windy, and the east has some good and some not-so-good spots, with big tides or not... HELP! 🤪
I’d like to limit myself to a maximum of 2 different places to stay over the 10 days.
