Nous partons à 2 pour un voyage de 3 semaines en Afrique du Sud, et nous avons réservé un aller retour à Victoria Falls (48h sur place ). Est ce raisonnable compte tenu de la situation actuelle ?
Je suis alle a livingstone au mois d avril et c etait deja problematique cote zimbabwe, magasins vides, pas d essence, tout tres cher prefere aller a livingstone juste de l autre cote en Zambie c est tout aussi beau et ca ne craint pas.
Aucun problème à Victoria Falls. Dire que les choses sont plus chères à Victoria Falls et qu'il y a des problèmes de sécurité est totalement faux : il y a libre circulation totale des marchandises entre les deux pays, et les professionnels (qui sont payés en USD) du Zimbabwe se ravitaillent chez les mêmes fournisseurs en Zambie que les professionnels de Zmabie.
Pour avoir comparé les prix, j'ai même trouvé que les restaux étaient un peu plus chers du côté Zmabie, et il est clair que tous les Zambiens m'ont dit le contraire et prétendant qu'il y avait des soucis de sécurité au Zimbabwe.
Au niveau des activités, je rappelle que l'on voit très bien les chutes du côté Zimbabwe et qu'on a un peu de aml du côté Zambie, sauf sur le pont d'où on e voit rien la pluaprt du temps en période de hautes eaux (notre printemps) à cause du vent dominant qui colle le pont dans une pluie infernale. Penadnt notre automne, où on voit du pont, c'est quand même très largement du côté Zimbabwe qu'on voit le mieux.
Pour la descente en raft, saut à l'élastique, tyrolienne etc... les professionels zambiens sont beaucoup moins expérimentés que ceux du Zimbabwe pour des raisons historiques. C'est en train de changer (aussi compétent d'un côté que de l'autre), mais ils sont pour l'instant toujours mieux équipés côté Zimbabwe.
Merci beaucoup pour votre réponse.
Notre voyage est organisé via une agence spécialisée qui nous a elle aussi rassurés et leurs informations sont concordantes avec les vôtres.
Après avoir fait une boucle Afrique du sud, Bostwana, le 18/11 nous serons àVictoria fall. Nous pension passer la nuit dans un camping car nous aurons un 4x4 avec des tentes de toit près de Vic falls pour prendre notre avions qui nous ramènera à Johannesburg.
Connaissez-vous une adresse de camping sur ? pourrons-nous trouver de quoi manger ?
Peux-tu me dire comment s'est passé ton voyage aux chutes victoria?
Es-tu allé côté zimbabwéen?
Comment s'appelle l'agence par laquelle tu es passée?
Pourrais-tu nous donner un retour de ton voyage s'il te plait?
Je me renseigne pour 2013.
Il n' y a AUCUN PROBLEME des deux côtés. Je suis allé côté Zimbabwe en 2008 et côté Zambie en Avril dernier, et passerai sans doute sur le pont en août pour revenir de Hwange à Lusaka.
Pour ce qui est des "agences", tout dépend de votre type de voyage.
Si vous êtes en "Self drive" et que vous ne désirez pas visiter autre chose que les chutes, le mieux est de vous arrêter à Kasane et de prendre (je crois 80 dollars) un tour à la journée via votre Lodge/Camping. On vient vous chercher, on vous ramène, et cela vous évite les complications de douane avec véhicule, surtout pour la Zambie (et les coûts subséquents, qui ne sont pas neutres). De plus, il n' est pas évident que votre loueur vous permette d' emmener un véhicule au Zimbabwe ou en Zambie (et s' il le fait c' est moyennant supplément).
Si votre voyage passe par une agence, le mieux est d' arranger aussi la partie Vic Falls avec eux.
Le côté Zimbabwe est mieux, il y a plus de recul par rapport aux chutes, en période de fortes eaux (dont cette année) on ne voit rien du tout du côté Zambien et on y prend la duche de sa vie (j' ai même eu sur le petit pont une impression de noyade, suffocation, etc..).
Enfin, sauf si vous voulez réaliser des activités annexes chronophages (je ne vois à ce titre que le rafting), passer plus de quelques heures aux chutes est totalement inutile: Il n' y a rien à voir à part les chutes, et si vous y passez deux heures c' est déjà beaucoup. Si vous y rajoutez 1 heure au total pour l' hélico et deux heures pour déjeuner au Victoria Falls Hotel (mauvais mais tellement victorien), cela vous fait cinq heures sur place; c' est d' ailleurs le temps que vous laisse une excursion à la journée depuis Kasane (départ hotel 8h, arrivée chutes 10h30, départ retour 16h - avec une heure à poireauter car il n' y a vraiment RIEN à faire ni à voir -, retour Kasane 18h).
Bon voyage.
Le bonheur commence où le bitume s 'arrête et ....quand on est plus de quatre on est une bande de c... (Georges Brassens)
Merci pour ta réponse.
Depuis quelques temps je cherche mes destinations de voyages très longtemps à l'avance. Donc l'Afrique est une possibilité que j'envisage pour un circuit d'une vingtaine de jours en juillet août 2013.
Après mon 2ème circuit en Amérique latine (Argentine, chili, bolivie) qui se fera en août 2012, je commence à envisager les safaris photos animaliers en Afrique.
Les chutes victoria m'ont fasciné dans des reportages vus à la télé. Ayant fait le tour des chutes de Niagara et de celles d’Iguaçu, j'ai envie de me laisser tenter par celles du zambèse. Ensuite j'ai entendu parler du parc kruger en Afrique du sud.
Pour le moment je n'ai aucune idée précise du parcours que je compte faire. Mais les 2 sites énoncés en haut seront dans mes priorités.
Maintenant il reste la barrière sanitaire ( paludisme, etc), qui me freine un peu.
Ensuite il faut trouver si on passe par une agence ou pas, .... Connais-tu l'agence Vacances Afrique?
http://www.vacancesafrique.com/150670-autotour-afrique-du-sud.php
Je t'ai mis la page de leur site d'un des voyages qu'il proposent et qui m'intéresse en Afrique du sud, avec extension chutes victoria.
Et ensuite il faudra que je me renseigne sur les endroits où je pourrai assister à des chants et danses d’Afrique du sud
Je suis vraiment au tout début de mes recherches. Ma priorité reste la finalisation de mon séjour en Amérique latine.
Enfin bref, si tu as des idées sur cette partie de l’Afrique: Botswana, Namibie, Afrique du sud, Zimbabwe, Zambie.
...sauf si vous voulez réaliser des activités annexes chronophages (je ne vois à ce titre que le rafting)passer plus de quelques heures aux chutes est totalement inutile: Il n' y a rien à voir à part les chutes, et si vous y passez deux heures c' est déjà beaucoup.
Y a t'il une vie en dehors du 4x4 ?
J'ai passé un peu plus de temps sur les chutes et j'ai aimé... mais faut pas le répéter. Passer 48 heures au Victoria falls hotel est sympa en fin de séjour pour se reposer lorsqu'on est en vacances.
Nous serons à Livingstone en Avril prochain (et non motorisés). A ton avis, à cette période, cela vaut-il le coup (et le coût!) de passer côté zimbabwéen ou alors, compte tenu du niveau d'eau, on ne voit pas grand chose de plus que côté zambien?
Merci d'avance.
Muriel
Si tu diffères de moi, mon frère, loin de me léser, tu m'enrichis (Saint Exupéry)
Pour Avril 2013, e ne suis pas devin météoons. Cela étant, les bons guides (Bradt) indiquent qu' on risque de ne rien voir en Avril en raison de la hauteur des eaux (ce qui était le cas cette année), et que Juillet/Août est plus indiqué.
Je confirme que cela vaut la peine de traverser depuis Livingstone pour voir le côté Zimbabween.
A+
Le bonheur commence où le bitume s 'arrête et ....quand on est plus de quatre on est une bande de c... (Georges Brassens)
Salut,
C'est le caractère péremptoire de tes affirmations qui m'a fait réagir. (Pourtant je ne réagis plus souvent, VF est quasi phagocyté par ce type d'affirmations précisemment 😕)
Je confirme que cela vaut la peine de traverser depuis Livingstone pour voir le côté Zimbabween.
Tout à fait.
J'ajoute pour notre Vfiste Muriel18 qu'il faudra ajouter 30$ US par personne de visa zimbabwéen et 30$ US par personne pour les "2 heures de balade" sur la rive des chutes!
J'avais trouvé un peu cher la visite.
Merci pour vos réponses.
C'est justement à cause du coût que je posais la question car en plus, il nous faudra prendre un visa zambien multi entrées au lieu d'un simple car nous viendrons du South Luangwa ... à moins de loger à Vic falls au lieu de Livingstone...mais les hébergements y ont l'air plus chers... et ce sera sans doute une nouvelle période d'élections au Zimbabwe ...à réfléchir!
Muriel
Si tu diffères de moi, mon frère, loin de me léser, tu m'enrichis (Saint Exupéry)
plutôt que de payer les frais prohibitifs pour passer de l'autre côté offre toi plutôt un survol en hélico ou en Ulm (possible côté Zambie)
Il n'y a pas grande différence entre le côté Zambie et le côté Zimbabwe. La partie zimbabwe est plus longue donc avec plus de points de vue. C'est tout.
En avril c'est normalement un gros débit, donc visibilité réduite... d'où l'intérêt de prendre de la hauteur 😉
On peut ajouter qu'il y a de nombreuses et intéressantes activités à faire aux Victoria Falls même si certains sont réfractaires, sûrement plus à cause du coût que de l'intérêt d'ailleurs.
Canoé sur le zambèze, safari à cheval, balade à dos d'éléphant, marche avec les lions etc... et des activités plus sportives telle que le rafting ou le saut à l'élastique.
Je crois que je vais effectivement opter pour un survol en hélico (A la Réunion, je ne l'ai pas fait à cause du coût ... mais je le regrette encore!) ... et peut-être une balade en canoé (qui me parait plus sympa qu'une croisière sur un gros bateau plein de gens bruyants).
Muriel
Si tu diffères de moi, mon frère, loin de me léser, tu m'enrichis (Saint Exupéry)
Je trouve les réponses un peu confuses, et c'est à mon avis normal, car tout le monde n'a pas les mêmes intérêts. Je vais essayer de faire un point.
1. Victoria Falls côté Zimbabwe
Définitivement, oui, il faut y aller.
D'abord, la conformation du site des chutes l'exige : le Zambèze tombe dans la faille par le côté zambien, et donc en fait, on ne voit pas grand chose du côté zambien, sauf sur le pont qui relie Zambie et Zimbabwe qui permet de s'écarter de la paroi. Seul petit problème : en avril, c'est la période des eaux maximales, et compte tenu des vents dominants, le pont est quasiment impraticable tellement on reçoit d'eau sur la tête (c'est comme dans sa douche dans la salle de bains. Vraiment). Au moins du côté Zimbabwe, on a la vue sur les 2/3 du chemin, et ce n'est qu'en arrivant vers le pont qu'on en prend plein la tête.
Pour ce qui concerne le prix, oui, il faut un visa Zimbabweien (30USD) et oui, il faut payer l'entrée du parc National (30USD). Mais le visa est valable 3 mois, et dans ce cas, autant en profiter pour pousser un peu plus loin pour faire des visites de type safari.
Mais il n'y a pas que les chutes !
Une promenade "Sunset Cruise" est super sympa. Cela se passe à partir de 16h et on est de retour vers 18h30 et on navigue sur le Zambèze supérieur en amont des chutes. On rencontre très souvent des éléphants, et parfois des hippopotames.
La descente des rapides du Zambèze en raft est un must. Mais surtout ne pas le faire en avril (d'ailleurs, souvent pas ouvert). Il y a vraiment énormément d'eau. Conséquence : on va très vite sur l'eau, il n'y pas les énormes vagues de l'hiver (juillet à octobre) et c'est très dangereux, car les tourbillons sont si puissants qu'ils arrivent à aspirer un passager malgré son gilet de sauvetage s'il tombe à l'eau. Par contre, de juillet à octobre, je le recommande vraiment, c'est un truc de fou totalement génial et plein d'adrénaline.
Il y a également un spectacle de danses tribales bien fait qui dure environ une heure en fin d'après-midi, et le matin, une marche safari (souvent même les hôtels eux-mêmes organisent).
Enfin, pour les golfeurs, il faut absolument aller faire une partie sur l'Elephant Hills où l'on croise les animaux sur le parcours : impalas, cobes à croissants, et surtout phacochères. J'ai même du une fois demander qu'on écarte les phacochères pour que je puisse faire mon coup d'approche sur le 18
2. Aout 2013
Date à éviter , car la deuxième quinzaine d'août l'année prochaine (2013), le Zimbabwe et la Zambie co-organisent l'Assemblée Générale de l'Organisation Mondiale du Tourisme. Et ça se passe à Vistoria Falls/Livingstone
3. Safaris
Les meilleurs safaris se passent sur Hwange. C'est à une bonne demi-journée de Victoria Falls, et Hwange est le meilleur spot au monde pour les éléphants. On y rencontre aussi beaucoup de Sables (Hippotrague niger) et c'est infesté d'impalas. Ce qui fait qu'il y a aussi pas mal de lions. Les buffles, cela dépend, car ils sont en troupeaux immenses (je suis tombé une fois sur un troupeau d'au moins 400 buffles cafer cafer) et comme Hawnge est grand, on est dessus ou pas. Beaucoup de girafes aussi ainsi que les onglués classiques (gnous, zèbres, cobes, ...). Ma plus grande émotion a été une heure au milieu d'un troupeau de 300 éléphants, dont les bébés venaient sentir le 4x4 à 10 cm de moi (on ne bouge plus du tout, car la mêre est à côté).
4. Kariba
Personne n'en parle, mais c'est une des pllus belles aventures que vous pouvez faire.
On parle de Kariba, mais cela se passe en fait en aval du grand barrage sur le Zambèze. Là on trouve un parc national classé par l'Unesco : Mana Pools.
Par décision du gouvernement Zimbabweien, il n'y a aucun hotel, et ce parc se visite en canoë et on dort en tentes. C'est le seul parc national où les guides ont le droit d'être armés pour la protection des visiteurs (en général ils ont des 357 Mag ce que je trouve un peu léger mais qui est un compromis entre protection et interdiction de chasser).
En trois jours de canoé, j'ai dû croisé plus de 500 hippos, et un soir, un éléphant est venu visiter tranquilement notre campement (il est passé entre notre emplacement de pique nique où nous étions et les tentes !
Seul véritable danger : interdiction de s'approcher de l'eau la nuit à cause des crocodiles.
C'est un périple incroayble d'émotions et proche de la nature comme les premiers explorateurs de l'Afrique. Totalement génial.
On peut y accéder aussi bien par le côté Zambie que par le côté Zimbabwéien.
Si vous faites VIc Falls, puis que vous rejoignez Kariba par la Zambie, n'oubliez pas de prendre un visa "entrées multiples" qui coûte un peu plus cher (45 USD je crois), mais qui vous éviter de reprendre un second visa plein pot à Kariba.
5. Matopos
Si vous envisagez d'aller jusqu'en AFS par la route, de Hwange, on se rend facilement à Bulawayo, et de là au petit parc de Matopos.
C'est un paysage de blocs de rochers granitiques en équilibre et de grandes colines de granite qui émergent de la forêt d'un vert dense. Beaucoup de panthères (difficles à voir) et d'oréotragues. Un eptit peu partout, des damans des rochers qui ressemblent un peu à des marmottes mais dont le patrimoine génétique est la plus proche de celui des éléphants.
Il n'y a pas de lion dans ce parc, donc il est possible de faire une marche dans le parc. Et on peut tomber face à face avec des rhinocéros, c'est magnifique ...
Côté Zimbabwe en général :
> Mana Pools se fait aussi en voiture et surtout à pied ... 🙂 On peut y camper dans les campsites existants le long du Zambèze ou dans le camping public à l'entrée du parc. Soit on organise l'excursion seul avec son 4x4 équipé, soit en passant par une agence qui organise tous le séjour (transport, matériel de camping, guide, repas ...)
> Hwange est très riche en faune et très pauvre en touristes ... Un eden rare 🙂
Côté Victoria Falls :
> Les chutes sont effectivement très fortes après la saison des pluies qui s'achève vers février-mars. Le débit ne faiblit pas avant Juillet. La visite reste sympa en toutes saisons et l'hélico est aussi une chouette expérience si on ne veut pas prendre l'eau !
(photo ici en juin 2010 : http://tawana.over-blog.com/...isiere-53424381.html)
> Sunset Cruise très bien si on choisit le bon bateau ... Les bateaux de Dabula Safari sont à "taille humaine", avec apéritif dinatoire en prime, très agréable !
Le Zimbabwe est un pays de toute beauté, génial à découvrir et à explorer !
Sur Manapools, je ne recommande pas d'aller camper soi-même sans guide : il y a des lions, et c'est très risqué (même si c'est techniquement possible).
Je trouve les réponses un peu confuses, et c'est à mon avis normal, car tout le monde n'a pas les mêmes intérêts. Je vais essayer de faire un point.
Votre réponse à vous ne serait-elle pas légèrement hors-sujet?
Et le ton employé un tantinet péremptoire?
Depuis la relance de cette discussion les deux demandes sont limitées à une incursion aux Vic Falls et vous vous lancez dans ce qui ressemble fort à une description de votre périple qui relève d'une toute autre approche tant dans l'esprit qu'en terme de temps et de logistique.
De plus vos affirmations sont discutables:
Hwange est le meilleur spot au monde pour les éléphants
Avec quoi êtes-vous en mesure de comparer? Qu'il y ait foule d'éléphants ne signifie pas que les conditions soient les "meilleures au monde" pour les observer
Définitivement, oui, il faut y aller.
Bof! Les Vic Falls sont tout à fait évitables, d'un côté comme de l'autre, mais il en faut pour tous les goûts.
C'est le seul parc national où les guides ont le droit d'être armés pour la protection des visiteurs
N'avez-vous pas observé que dans les petits camps de Hwange un gardien armé se tient à demeure? Sans doute êtes vous resté à Main Camp?
Beaucoup de panthères (difficles à voir)
Non! Seulement une poignée de léopards. Et lors de notre deuxième visite en février 2011 nous avons rencontré plus de bétail domestique dans ce minuscule parc (400 km2) que de faune sauvage. On peut même acheter diverses babioles à des gens qui bondissent sur la piste à votre passage. De toute évidence ce parc ne dispose pas de moyens suffisants alors même qu'ayant payé l'entrée du parc, on paie une seconde fois pour accéder à la tombe de Rhodes.
Enfin, vous indiquez qu'il ne faut pas camper seul à Mana Pools à cause des lions. Mais savez-vous qu'au Botswana, en particulier dans le Central Kalahari, c'est partout comme ça. Et qu'on en revient! Et qu'on ne rêve que d'y retourner!
Afrique de l'Est et Australe › Zimbabwe · 5 replies
Je compte aller au zimbabwe en juin 05, à Vic Falls, puis visiter les parc du nord (Hwange, Matusadona et Mana Pools) pour faire de la photographie animalière.…
Afrique de l'Est et Australe › Zambie / Zimbabwe · 25 replies
En juillet prochain j'irai voir les chutes Victoria, je pensais faire les 2 côtés: Zimbabwéen et Zambien mais avec les troubles du côté Zambien, j'hésite à…
Afrique de l'Est et Australe › Zimbabwe · 41 replies
Je réfléchis à un éventuel voyage en Afrique Australe pour notre été 2008. Nous avons déjà un peu parcouru l'est de l'Afrique du Sud et la Namibie (sauf…
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.
📅 September 17–28, 2026
👥 Small group
🥾 Suitable for experienced hikers
🏔️ Goal: Uhuru Peak – 5,895 m
🇹🇿 Local team specialized in Kilimanjaro
🎒 Porters during the ascent
🍽️ Meals and trek organization included
🧗♂️ Trip led by a French state-certified Mountain Leader
September is a great time to attempt the Kilimanjaro ascent.
🔥 Only 4 spots left. The departure is confirmed.
No need to be a mountaineer—just be in good shape, love hiking, and want to experience an incredible adventure.
👋 If you’re alone, no problem: you’ll join our small group directly.
📧 Send me a message for the full program, price, and all the details.
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.
