Nouvelle sur ce site, je commencerai par une question très simple. Je prévois de partir en Ethiopie faire un trip de 3 semaines mais j'ignore encore tout de ce pays et je ne sais par où commencer. Quels sont les endroits indispensables à voir? Août est il une bonne période pour partir? Au niveau des vaccinations, quels sont les conseils et les choses à savoir impérativement avant de partir? ...Enfin vous avez compris j'imagine. Toute info sera la bienvenue! Je ne veux rien louper de cette nouvelle aventure!
Merci d'avance.
La liberté, ce n'est pas faire ce que l'on veut mais vouloir ce que l'on fait.
Avec une superficie de plus de 2 fois la France, tu dois avant tout savoir où tu souhaites de rendre (Nord, Sud, Est, ...) car avec les moyens de transports locaux, voyager demande du temps. Toutes les régions ont des avantages (et des inconvénients) mais il convient avant tout de savoir quelles sont tes envies.
Je n'ai été que dans le nord mais tu as plusieurs forumistes qui sont spécialisés Sud. Contactes les.
Je te conseille de lire le guide Bradt, il est bien plus pertinent (et complet) que le Lonely.
Une partie des réponses à tes questions se trouvent également sur plusieurs des posts consacrés à l'Ethiopie.
Michel
Merci beaucoup pour ces infos! Je vais me plonger dans mes recherches dès que le temps me le permettra. Je pourrai ainsi être plus précise par la suite.
Eve
La liberté, ce n'est pas faire ce que l'on veut mais vouloir ce que l'on fait.
Salut,
Je ne peux qu'approuver MVBERGEN...
Pour t'aider un peu, saches que dans le Nord, en août, tu risques d'avoir la pluie (c'est la saison). En général, on peut quand même circuler presque partout et visiter, mais ce n'est pas forcément drôle. Dans la région de Wukro, il y a des églises troglodytes, un peu perchées, qui demandent une marche d'approche...
Par contre, dans le Sud, c'est sec (une averse est toujours possible). Tu peux faire le tour de la vallée des Grands Lacs avec un trek dans le massif de Bale et, bien entendu, la visite de la "South Omo Valley" qu'il serait dommage de louper.
Voilà, fais ta religion et, si tu as des questions...poses les.
Salut!
Je prévois de partir avec une copine en trip en afrqiue (on hésite sur bcp bcp de destinations...!) et ton message m'a interpelé. Pars-tu toute seule ou accompagnée? Comment comptes-tu t'y prendre? Pourquoi l'Ethiopie??
A bientot
Laure
Non, je ne compte pas partir seule, je suis accompagnée. Et pourquoi le choix de cette destination? L'Ethiopie, pourquoi pas! Il y a tellement de destination au monde que je ne saurais laquelle choisir...Nan, c'est juste suite à une opportunité. Et j'aime m'investir dans tout voyage, quel que soit la destination. Mais pour le moment, je suis en Lituanie, alors j'ai peu de temps pour y penser. Mais si tu veux, on peux rester en contact et je t'informerai des avancées de mes recherches, une fois que je m'y serait mise sérieusement.
Un seul conseil, si tu es sûre de partir, dépêches toi de prendre tes billets d'avion. Les prix augmentent jour en jour, surtout depuis l'augmentation de la hausse du baril de pétrol.
Sur ce, bon courage de ton côté!
Eve
La liberté, ce n'est pas faire ce que l'on veut mais vouloir ce que l'on fait.
Qu’est ce que c’est que ces généralités!!!
Les Poussin n’ont pas eu une bonne expérience en Ethiopie (se ne sont pas les seuls, voir certains posts sur le forum) mais est-ce une raison pour généraliser?!.
La réponse est bien évidement: NON!
Et les raisons de ces mauvaises expériences sont soit la faute à pas de chance, soit une attitude «déplacée» de la part des touristes.
Je n’en suis pas à mon premier voyage en Ethiopie, et jusqu’à présent je n’ai eu aucun problème…
Un voyage se passe de motifs. Il ne tarde pas à prouver qu'il suffit à lui-meme. On croit qu'on va faire un voyage, mais bientot c'est le voyage qui vous fait, ou vous défait. - Nicolas Bouvier -
Houlà!Du Calme!😕
Je viens de lire ce livre, je peux vous dire que ce couple de marcheurs est tout sauf méprisants envers les Ethiopiens;bien au contraire!
Ils se sont fait cailloutés moult fois, et sans raison;juste parcequ'ils étaients des Blancs!
Ils mettent d'ailleurs en garde les "routards"...
Tant mieux pour vous si vous n'avez pas eu de souci!
Quant à moi, je ne fais que tensmettre ce que j'ai lu.
Un peu facile de lancer des choses comme ça, puis de dire "oh, moi je ne fais que répéter..". Je ne suis pas sûr que les auteurs du bouquin aient écrit texto "on s'est fait caillouter juste parce qu'on était blanc".
Même si certains lecteur du forum doivent commencer à penser que je radote, je ne peux que redire que j'en suis à mon 16me séjour d'environ 2 mois dans ce pays, que je suis allé presque partout et que je n'ai jamais eu de problème.
Il y a un village après Arba Minch où une petite bande de gamins de 8 à 10 ans trouve très drôle de jeter des "cailloux" (ce ne sont pas des pavés) sur les voitures qui passent. J'y ai eu droit, tout comme un copain Ethiopien qui est tout sauf blanc.
Avant de lancer des anathèmes contre une nationalité, la moindre des choses est d'aller voir et pas de "transmettre ce que j'ai lu".
Un peu facile de lancer des choses comme ça, puis de dire "oh, moi je ne fais que répéter..". Je ne suis pas sûr que les auteurs du bouquin aient écrit texto "on s'est fait caillouter juste parce qu'on était blanc".
Eh bien si, les Poussin l'ont écrit noir sur blanc! Et je ne vois pas`ce que j'ai fait de si honteux en citant ce que j'ai lu!Désolée! Tout n'est pas rose bonbon partout en Ethiopie, et un forum est fait pour s'exprimer et non pour caresser les gens dans le sens du poil! www.africatrek.com
Bonjour,
Je vais en Ethiopie régulièrement depuis 8 ans. Il est difficile de te conseiller car le nord, le sud, l'est, l'ouest, le danakil... tout est beau, mais en août, il pleut dans le nord, pas dans le sud! Faire un tour, arba minch, turmi, (les hamer et les dassanetch) jinka, si tu veux voir les mursi, ou aller vers les surma, konso, Yabello(les borana) awasa et Addis, il y a de quoi voir: paysages, sites, ethnies, coutumes...
Je n'ai jamais fait le nord durant l'été, apparemment, il pleut, surtout la nuit. On passe sur les pistes...avec un peu de temps devant soi; j'ai des amis qui ont fait le tour du nord à ce moment et en gardent un excellent souvenir...
Tu peux avoir ton visa à l'arrivée à Addis: 20 dollars - 20 dollars aussi de taxe d'aéroport au retour. A part ces 40 dollars, les euros ne posent aucun problème, on fait le change à Addis: 1 euro= environ 10 birrs -
Il n'y a pas de vaccins obligatoires, par prudence être à jour sur le tétanos.
Prendre un antipaludéen: normalement lariam, sauf si on ne le supporte pas, (voir malarone ou savarine? je ne sais pas)
Prendre impérativement de l'argent liquide et de la monnaie avant de quitter Addis.
Ne pas oublier une petite polaire, on est souvent à des altitudes assez élèvées dans ce pays et les nuits peuvent être fraîches.
J'ai lu les réponses à ta question...sur les parcours et les choses à voir et faire, les renseignements sont précis et utiles, sur les Ethiopiens...J'ai juste envie de te dire que je n'ai pas quitté l'Ethiopie que j'ai déjà envie d'y retourner, je suis rentrée en février, je repars en septembre: c'est un pays tellement étonnant qu'on ne peut s'en lasser, (je trouve!). Vas-y!
et prends le temps de parler aux gens, aux enfants qui te demanderont "give me..." ils n'ont rien, ils essaient...si tu parles, même avec les mains, ils oublient qu'ils t'ont interpelée et après, tu fais ce que tu veux, tu donnes ou pas...en toute subjectivité - pas toujours facile à assumer!
Cordialement,
Edith
Je ne suis allé que 4 semaines en Ethiopie en juillet-août 2003, après une semaine passée en Erythrée et cela a été fantastique pour moi !!! je ne peux que t'encourager à y aller, sans généraliser les expériences négatives vécues par d'autres voyageurs. Difficilme de faire la part des choses entre le manque de chance, la maladresse commise inconsciemment ou la bêtise ponctuelle d'un groupe d'ados. En tout cas je n'ai pas été davantage importuné en Ethiopie que dans d'autres pays pauvres, et la seule fois que j'ai reçu un coup de poing, c'est dans ma bonne ville de La Rochelle par trois ados beurrés qui cuvaient leur vins dans le hall de mon immeuble... Et puis côté caillous, j'ai vu au Yemen des collègues voyageurs s'étant fait "caillasser" à plusieurs reprises alors que d'autres s'y promenaient sans le moindre problème. De toute manière, un voyageur averti en vaut deux ! En tout cas, surtout ne pas généraliser et se dire qu'à une possible mauvaise expérience vont succéder plusieurs autres bien meilleures...
je me joins au conseils d'autres voyagerus. En Juillet août, le pays sera vert, magnifique, mais prévoir parapluie et polaire dans les montagnes du nord. Je me souviens de 4 heures de barque sur le lac Bahar Dar pour atteindre un magnifique monastère, frigorifié sous une pluie insistante... Pour aller dans la Omo Valley en revanche, les routes sont sèches et les camions passent... En bref, c'est un pays extraordinaire, mais pas toujours facile à cause de la longueur des trajets et de l'immense pauvreté ambiantes. Mais que de rencontres, de regards, de sourires et de merveilleuses photos à la clef. Mon séjour dans le pays Hamer, quoique court (3-4 jours) et un peu galère (sans véhicule, c'est pas facile de se déplacer) est un souvenir extraordianaire, tout comme mes deux jours à Harar ou ma journée sur le marché de Asbe Teferi ou les enfants venaient me serrer bravement la main pendant que les femmes carressaient surprises mes avant-bras (velus et doux) en appelant les copines ou que les plus âgés prenaient peur à l'éclat du flash !
je conseillerai toujours d'alterner un aller en avion avec Ethiopian Airlines (ce sont des ATR42 ou des Twin Otter apparemment fiables et ponctuels.) et un retour en train (depuis Harar/DireDawa) ou en bus (depuis Bahar Dar dans le nord ou Jinka dans le sud).
Mon voyage a été une suite de rencontres, plus ou moins brèves, plus ou moins enrichissantes, mais des rencontres quand même. Quant à la galère, à moins d'être fortuné et de pouvoir louer voiture et guides, elle fait plus ou moins partie du voyage quand on part dans ce genre de pays. Je déconseille toujours les agences de tourisme à moins de devoir faire un trek nécessitant une assistance, une logistique et un guide... Comme touriste, j'ai préféré me trouver coincé à Turmi (pays hamer) trois jours, prendre le temps et râler contre l'overdose de galette de tef qui me guettait, plutôt que de faire partie des touristes qui se logent dans un camp de tentes luxueux à 5 km du village, puis débarquent à 12 dans 3 toyota 4/4 pour passer deux heures à prendre des photos sur le marché Hamer avant de filer en toute hâte vers le marché suivant...
Bref, je profite d'un deuxième voyage en Afrique cet été ((en zambie et au Malawi du 11 juillet au 12 août), epour refaire une dizaine de jour d'escale en Ethiopie sur le chemin du retour. En espérant que les problèmes politiques n'ont pas trop pourri la situation...
j ai lu tous les messages de ce sujet et personnellement je fais partie de ceux qui ont ete constamment harceles par les ethiopiens, bien plus que dans tous les autres pays ou je suis alle sur les 5 continents, y compris les pays d afrique(j ai traverse le continent du nord au sud par la route, et jamais avec une agence).
bien sur tel qu il a ete dit plus haut les proprietaires de restaurants et hotels font payer beaucoup plus cher les blancs(et ne sont en effet pas exactement les plus necessiteux)mais il semble aussi que trop d aide humanitaire donnee a tort et a travers ait cree une culture de la mendicite, a tel point que certains vendent leurs terres pour avoir droit a l aide humanitaire(lu dans un journal kenyan, l ethiopie est souvent citee par les autres pays du coin comme l exemple a ne pas suivre).
et donc entre les escrocs, les you you money, les fuck you et les insultes(mais pas de pierres pour moi, tant mieux!)le sejour a ete vraiment desagreable, ce qui est dommage car l ethiopie est un pays interessant au niveau culturel.
helas le blanc n a pas vraiment acces a cette culture, sauf s il paye les services d un guide et autres.
j ai bien l impression que ceux qui apprecient le pays sont ceux qui, a quelques exceptions pres, y ont voyage avec une agence et un guide, avaient un gros budget et ne voyaient pas de problemes a se faire arnaquer a tous les coins de rue...
quelle difference avec le soudan voisin, ou les gens sont encore plus pauvres mais tellement plus gentils, accueillants et honnetes!!!!
Nouveau sur ce forum et ne connaissant pas les usages, je remets quelques même remarques sur plusieurs forum Ethiopie. Je voudrais juste apporter quelques exemples concrets pour illustrer mes 5 semaines en Erythrée et Ethiopie en 2003.
Pour moi, la seule fois où j'ai reçu des pierres, c'est dans le village Geleb (les ennemis jurés de Hamer) sur la rivière Omo à deux heures de Turmi (non oublié) parce que je prenais une photo plan large (attention, pas un portrait !) sans payer. Bref, après s'être mutuellement insulté, j'ai laissé tombé la photo dans ce bled.
Pour tout le reste du séjour, l'appareil photo a été un merveilleux compagnon pour lier contact et je n'ai eu qu'à louer la dignité et la gentillesse des Ethiopiens rencontrés. Quelques exemples : 2 jours avec des fonctionnaires du Ministère de l'Agriculture entre Turmi, l'Omo river et Arba Minch, après qu'ils 'ont eu pris gracieusement en stop ! photo gratuite à Turmi (si si !) avec Ilko, adolescente Hamer très curieuse de mes photographies de France après 3 jours à Turmi il est vrai, et quelques "discussions" via un habitant parlant Anglais et Hamer. C'est vrai les Hamer demandent 1 birr la photo, mais quels excellents comédiens et poseurs !! Et puis, ils vous emmerdent pas quand on prend des photos au zoom de loin ou en plan large (au contraire de leurs ennemis, les Geleb !), et j'ai pu, en restant 3 jours (je sais c'est peu !) faire en sorte qu'on s'ahbitue à me voir dans les parages... rencontre à Harar avec un collègue enseignant et les enfants du quartier rencontre avec un collègien footballeur désirant parler anglais qui m'a guidé un peu dans les environs de Harar (sans rien demander en échange que la pratique de l'anglais, je précise !!) dignité et serviabilité d'un pêtit guide à Lalibela pour me guider jusqu'à l'une des églises perchées dans la montagne, et en général de tous les gens rencontrés à Lalibela, malgré la disette ambiante et les dificiles conditions de vie... soirée autour de milkshake avec trois étudiants à Addis Abeba incroyables "scéances photos" et rires partagés avec les marchandes et les enfants de Asbe Teferi, où les touristes semblent bien rares... Hébergement à Dire Dawa par une famille mususlmane du fait de l'arrivée du train de Djibouti à 1h du matin au lieu de 18h. A deux heures du matin, Monsieur a mis un matelas pour sa femme et sa fille dans le couloir, a dormi avec son petit garçon sur un matelas dans la chambre et ils m'ont laissé le lit conjugal. Il mattendait le matin pour déjeuner... repas partagé avec un ingénieur agronome et dex de ses amies dans l'un des petits restaurants de Lalibela...
quant à l'Erythrée voisine, je ne suis pas parvenu les trois premiers jours à payer mon bus ou le repas demidi sur le trajet car mes voisins de bus, moins argentés que moi, le payaient avant que j'ai pu esquisser le moindre geste. Le dernier jour, ce vieil homme de 75 ans, expulsé d'Ethiopie, ancien cadre d'Ethiopian Airlines à qui ses terres et maisons en Ethiopie avaient été confisquées parce que d'origine érythréenne, a payé mon bus pour l'aéroport sur sa carte d'abonnement en me disant "tu en auras besoin pour prendre un café à l'aéroport" !
Et je pourrais trouver d'autres exemples. Finalement, il n'ya guère que à Gonder et Bahar Dar que le tourisme m'a semblé générer une moindre curiosité mutuelle. Alors je ne sais toujours pas pourquoi cela se passe parfois bien ou parfois mal. En ce qui me concerne, j'évite toujours de voyager avec voiture et guide car le 4*4 et le guide agissent comme un filtre et c'est pour moi un microcosme ou l'on est protégé de l'extérieur et qui empêche ou limite l'adaptation au monde extérieur tellement différent du notre. J'ai toujours noté que les demandes de stylo et argent étaient plus pressantes sur les touristes arrivant dans les 4*4 qu'avec les moyens de transport locaux, et que, de toute manière, ces demandes cessent très vite, d'autant plus que l'on reste quelques jours au même endroit. Et puis, je relativise tout le temps ces demandes d'argent de la part de gens qui me prennent pour un con, car ils restent une minorité qui se lasse assez vite du "jeu".
Donc, moi, je voudrais remercier ici les Ethiopiens qui m'ont donné une leçon de dignité et d'hospitalité durant mes 5 semaines dans la région. Et j'y retourne pour 10 jours en août, en revenant de Zambie et Malawi...
Bonne chance à tous ceux qui veulent y aller. Il faut effectivement mieux partir averti et savoir qu'une mauvaise expérience peut survenir, mais le contraire est aussi largement possible. La preuve !
salut
j ai vecu en tanzanie et je doits partir vivre en ethiopie je doit partir normalament en fin aout pour deux ans j espere que t on voyages se passera bien moi j essaye d avoir des info pour vivre las bas
pour l'ethiopie ou ailleurs :
on surestime en général la générosité des pauvres
on sous estime toujours la méchanceté des riches
j'ai passé quatre semaines seul en ethiopie + somaliland : des pays peut etre pas très "faciles" mais ce n'est certainement pas la galère qui ressort de certains récits
keep cool !!!!!!!!!
ah non la tu te trompe!bien au contraire les éthiopiens sont attirés pas les étrangers "les farange"comme ils disent et je suis
fiere d'y etre originaire
Salut a tous,
Je viens de rentrer de mon 20me séjour (à peu près) de 2 mois en Ethiopie.
En ce qui concerne les renseignements "erronés", tout ce que je peux dire c'est qu'à AUCUNE DE MES ENTREES dans ce pays on m'a demandé de carnet de vaccination ou autre preuve.
Je reviendrai "tchatcher" sur VF un peu plus tard.
Que tu en sois a ton vingtieme voyage en Ethiopie sans avoir etait controle pour la fievre jaune est surement une realite 😉 MAIS CELA N' EMPECHE PAS QUE LE VACCIN EST OBLIGATOIRE et DONC LE RENSEIGNEMENT EST FAUX ! Il suffit qu' il y ait une recrudescence de la maladie et dans ce cas tu peux te retrouver en QUARANTAINE a ton retour en FRANCE si tu ne peux prouver que tu es a jour de ta vaccination ! Sympa non comme fin de vacances 😏
Je voulais simplement faire part d'une longue pratique et dire à ceux qui se posent des problèmes en terme de temps pour faire ce vaccin que les autorités éthiopiennes ne demandent aucune vaccination ni à l'entrée ni à la sortie - actuellement et ceci depuis dix ans.
Pour le reste, il est toujours plus simple d'avoir "tout ce qui est demandé" çà pourra toujours servir dans d'autres pays et sans doute un jour dans celui là!
Avec ou sans vaccin, allez-y, c'est un pays étonnant, attachant, exceptionnel.
"AVEC OU SANS VACCIN ALLEZ -Y " Quand a moi j' ais zappé vos "BONS" conseils dictes par "une longue pratique" 😉 Puisque le vaccin Fievre Jaune est OBLIGATOIRE (et pas demandé ! ) pour l' Ethiopie je le fais ! Ras' l bol des renseignements "ERRONES"😠
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!
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!
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?
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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.
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.
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.
I’m reaching out because I don’t understand how Volcanoes National Park works.
I looked at booking for the gorillas, but there’s just the price listed, and the same goes for the Diane Fossey tomb.
So I contacted a hotel in Kinigi, and they told me that for the gorillas, you need a car to get to the park headquarters, and then once you know your group, you need to get from the headquarters to the trekking start point?? Do you confirm this? Is that really how it works? They say the hotel has a driver and it would cost 100 DOLLARS!!
I just found out that on top of the permit, there are other fees??? Uhh…
Are there other options, knowing I don’t want to rent a 4x4 since I’m traveling alone?
And if I don’t get the gorilla permit but just want to visit the Diane Fossey tomb, is it the same issue? From Kinigi, do you need a 4x4? How far is the tomb from the headquarters? Is it a hike you can do alone OR DO YOU NEED A GUIDE, ON FOOT? By car??
If someone could explain everything to me… and is the DF Foundation different??
If I decide to go through an agency, is it possible in Musanze (which would save me trips) or is it mandatory to go through Kigali?
Thanks so much for your help…
Best regards
I’m in the middle of planning a road trip in Southern Africa, and I’m specifically working on the itinerary—especially the distances.
I’ve got the time, but I’m struggling with the transfer days (so much driving just to end up spending the whole day on the road). That’s why I’m trying to analyze travel times, even if it means adding extra stops.
My highlights in Zimbabwe would be:
- Hwange
- Victoria Falls (and maybe Matusadona)
- Mana Pools
- Harare
- Gonarezhou
- Great Zimbabwe
But the distances and travel times seem huge (over 4 hours each time), and I don’t see how to make the drives more chill or shorten them—even if it means adding stops (but which ones?) between each leg.
Would anyone be able to estimate the travel time between these highlights and maybe suggest some nice stops to take breaks?
