Après réflexion, notre prochain voyage estival sera sans doute en Afrique du Sud (Août 2018). Je vise une durée de 3 semaines pour ce voyage (voyages inclus). De ce fait, cela fait plusieurs semaines que je me documente sur le sujet, mais il me reste et me restera encore beaucoup de questions.
Pour information, nous sommes un couple qui aura 26 et 24 ans l'année prochaine. Ce sera notre premier voyage en Afrique (j'ai seulement fait le Maroc quand j'avais 5-6 ans et ma copine Maurice à ses 18 ans). Nous aimons prendre notre temps quand nous voyageons. C'est-à-dire que nous préférons rester plusieurs jours sur place plutôt que de changer tous les jours d'endroit. Cette dernière information me semble importante à prendre en compte pour l’organisation de notre voyage.
Itinéraire
Je pense arriver au Cap et repartir de Johannesburg (pour un séjour de 19/20 nuits sur place) pour un itinéraire semblable à :
· Le Cap : 6 ou 7 nuits
· (Avion pour Durban) Santa Lucia 2 ou 3 nuits
· Swaziland ? Si le Swaziland est au parcours je pense pencher pour 2 nuits
· Kruger : 6 ou 7 nuits
· Blyde River Canyon : 2 nuits
Concernant l’itinéraire que pensez-vous du nombre de nuits pour chaque étape ?
Le Swaziland est-il une étape importante lors d’un voyage/itinéraire du genre ?
Si non, est-ce que vous privilégieriez une autre étape entre Santa Lucia et le Kruger ?
Aurais-je oublié une étape importante/incontournable sur cet itinéraire ?
Kruger
Concernant le Kruger je pense donc opter pour 6 ou 7 nuits sur place et écarter les réserves privées pour diverses raisons, notamment budgétaire. J’ai surtout des interrogations concernant les endroits où loger.
Arrivant donc par le sud, je pensais faire d’emblée 2 ou 3 nuits au Lower Sabie pour ensuite faire 3 nuits au Olifants avec une possible étape entre les 2 à Sattara.
Justement, concernant le trajet entre Lower Sabie et Olifants est-ce nécessaire à la fois d’un point de vue logistique et touristique de faire une nuit à Sattara pour couper le trajet en deux ? Où les 2 camps sont joignables en une journée ?
Pensez-vous qu’il serait nécessaire de remonter plus haut que Olifants concernant l’hébergement ?
Voiture
Pour la location de voitures après avoir consulté différents sites d’agences de location je pense opter pour une Toyota Corolla Quest ou similaire. D’après ce que j’ai pu lire à droite à gauche, cela serait tout à fait convenable, pouvez-vous me le confirmer ?
Pour information on est à peine sur du 100€ par semaine chez Avis kilomètres illimités.
Mais...6 ou 7 nuits à CT...Y a-t-il une volonté d'aller par exemple dans le West Coast NP, voir les baleines d'Hermanus ?
Pour visiter CT, la ville, Pensez au bus "rouge" pratique car il libère des contraintes de la conduite et du parking.
Autrement c'est peut-être un poil trop long. Mais cela étant dit, prendre son temps pour être et rayonner à partir de CT c'est très bien.
Je vote pour 3 nuits à St Lucia.
Le Swaziland est sur la route, à mon sens c'est un pays qu'on traverse avec 2 ou 3 étapes qui peuvent être très sympas (Hlane, Milwane, Malolotja, Mkhaya).
Merci pour votre retour, en effet je pense aller voir les baleines à Hermanus, d'ailleurs qu'en est-il à cette époque (début août) ?
Le West Coast NP peut également être une belle sortie, là aussi qu'en est-il de la floraison à cette époque ?
Sans oublier la visite du centre, du front de mer, la péninsule, Boulder's, Stellenbosch, routes des vins etc. L'Aquarium peut aussi consister à une sortie d'une demi-journée en cas de journée pluvieuse (ce qui semble possible à cette époque).
D'ailleurs il y a t-il des belles villes à "l'architecture coloniale" qui sont à visité dans le coin ?
Sinon je ne sais pas s'il y a vraiment une réponse à ma prochaine question, mais pour l'instant j'ai trouvé des billets d'avion pour le mois d'août avec la Swiss à 660€ par personne avec une escale plus que raisonnable à Zurich (en partant de Paris). Est-ce un bon prix ou d'autres promotions sont normalement envisageables un peu plus tard car nous sommes à 1 an du voyage ? J'ai l'habitude d'entendre dire qu'il faut réserver ses billets plutôt entre 8 et 10 mois à l'avance.
Pour le moment il y a des offres moins chères mais j'exclu les compagnies pour différentes raisons (principes ou pour leur sécurité). Il y a Egyptair à 460€ avec escale raisonnable au Caire et Saudi à 560€ avec escale à Riyad si ça peut intéresser certains.
Pour l'architecture...c'est CT centre et la région des vignobles.
Aoüt = parfait pour les baleines.
Les fleurs du West Coast, cela dépend des pluies...s'il a plu, c'est floraison garantie.
Merci encore pour votre retour. C'est en effet les compagnies que j'ai listé avec quelques compagnies du moyen-orient qui ont la côte comme Qatar et Emirates.
Imaginons que l'on choisisse la Swiss, je pense partir sur quelque chose comme ça:
Paris-Zurich-Johannesburg: départ le soir de Paris, arrivée à Jo' le matin vers 7/8h puis ensuite vol Johannesburg-Le Cap vers 11h/12h avec la SA Airways ou Kulula
Vol Le Cap-Durban avec une des deux compagnies précédemment citées aux alentours de 60€ par personne de ce que j'ai vu
Johannesburg-Zurich-Paris pour le vol retour avec le vol en fin de soirée et l’atterrissage en France dans la matinée suivante.
Je dirais plutôt un voyage hivernal. 😉
Venir en Afrique du Sud et se priver de désert, quel dommage!
Je sais bien que tout le monde va à St Lucia mais est-ce une raison suffisante pour s'y rendre?
Sauf si vous êtes réfractaires aux longs trajets en voiture, voici une alternative:
Cape Town comme prévu, puis route vers le nord (Namaqualand probablement en fleurs) et traversée du sud du Kalahari vers Johannesburg puis le Kruger. Environ 2000 kms de plus que votre projet initial (25 h de conduite).
Et une variante avec moins de route:
Du Cap aller jusqu'au Namaqualand et retour au Cap via le Cederberg pour un vol vers Johannesburg, de là voiture pour le Kruger.
Concernant les billets d'avions, pas vraiment de règle absolue. Si tu achetais tes billets aujourd'hui Paris-Le Cap et Johannesburg-Paris pour un départ dans trois semaines, retour trois semaines plus tard, tu pourrais voler sur Air France, sans escales pour... 660€.
Je prends en compte votre message et je vais me renseigner un peu plus sur les lieux que vous m'avez indiqués. Cependant Santa Lucia m'intéresse particulièrement notamment pour les hippopotames que je trouve presque aussi voir plus impressionnant que le lion (j'exagère à peine).
Etant enseignant, je ne peux partir que pendant les vacances scolaires et j'ai peur de ne pas trouver de vols Air France à ce prix là en plein mois d’août.
Sinon concernant le titre je n'avais pas mis ce titre à la base ça été changé par les modérateurs probablement. Pour ma part dans mon message j'ai utilisé le "voyage estival" par rapport à nos saisons à nous, pauvres hommes de l'hémisphère nord 😛
Il faut bien que les enseignants aient quelques contraintes. 😇
Je connais cette hippomania, ma fille en est atteinte.
Notez qu'il y a plus de 7000 hippos au Kruger (dix fois plus qu'à St Lucia).
Le parcours est globalement très bien. Quelques suggestions :
- Pourquoi pas envisager l'itinéraire dans l'autre sens ? En finissant pas Le Cap vous augmentez un peu vos chances d'avoir du beau temps et il devrait y avoir davantage de baleines.
- Kruger : en 6-7 jours vous avez le temps de bien profiter du parc. Je verrais plutôt un parcours en 3 voire 4 étapes. Lower Sabie et Olifants sont 2 très bons choix (ils méritent bien 2 nuits chacun), le premier pour la zone très riche, le second pour l'emplacement unique. Satara a moins de charme mais se situe dans une zone extraordinaire pour les fauves, je préconiserais d'y passer au moins une nuit (et de tenter votre chance en game drive) pour cette raison plus que pour le trajet qui n'a rien de rédhibitoire (Satara-Olifants se fait en 1h30-2h selon l'"animation"). Enfin, avec un an de préparation, vous devriez pouvoir dégoter une ou deux nuits dans certains des camps "sauvages" du Kruger (Tamboti, Talamati, Byamiti, Balule...). Ces camps sont généralement rapidement fully booked car ils permettent une expérience très différente du parc (pas de restaurants et magasins, beaucoup moins de monde, proximité directe avec la nature).
Alternativement vous pouvez envisager la traversée du sud au nord du parc mais je ne le conseillerais pas pour une toute première fois au Kruger (le nord peut être très calme).
- Même avis que Michel sur Le Cap. Il faut prévoir plusieurs points de chute dans la région. 3-4 jours dans la ville, 1-2 jours vers Hermanus-Gansbaai (requins ?), route des vins voire plus loin.
Arf on ne peut pas avoir les vacances et le salaire, mais c'est un choix d'opter pour le plus beau métier du monde 😇
Intéressant pour les informations concernant les hippos au Kruger. Sont-ils localisés à un endroit en particulier dans le Kruger, je veux dire plutôt au Nord, Sud etc ?
Je suis en pleine réflexion concernant l'itinéraire, mais je pense ne pas aller jusqu'au Namaqualand car ça fait beaucoup de kms même si ça à l'air très joli (pourquoi pas une prochaine fois si nous revenons enchantés de la RSA).
Je pense bien conserver ma semaine au Cap et rayonner depuis mon hébergement.
Merci aussi d'avoir pris le temps de me répondre.
L'idée de faire le séjour en sens inverse par rapport à mon idée de départ me trotte aussi dans la tête pour les raisons que vous évoquez. A la base je pensais terminer par le Kruger pour finir en beauté comme on dit.
D'ailleurs vos différents messages sur le Kruger sont vraiment très intéressants et je pense probablement couper le séjour en 2/2/2 concernant les nuits et regarder les camps que vous proposez (rajouter même une 3ème nuit dans un des camps).
Concernant Le Cap est-il possible de faire l'aller-retour pour Hermanus ou le West Coast NP dans la journée tout en ayant le temps de profiter ?
Pour ce que ça vaut, Maps m'indique un temps de trajet de 1h40 pour Hermanus depuis Watefront au Cap et de 1h05 pour le West Coast NP et 50 minutes pour Stellenbosch.
Je peux tout à fait comprendre de vouloir finir par le Kruger. A vous de voir, le Cap fait aussi un beau bouquet final.
Pour le Cap, l'aller-retour pour Hermanus peut s'envisager sur la journée si vous n'y allez "que" pour les baleines : vous aurez le temps de rester quelques heures sur les falaises à les chercher voire de faire une croisière d'observation (2h). La route côtière est d'ailleurs particulièrement belle.
Je trouve tout de même dommage de ne pas y consacrer une nuit si vous passez une semaine au Cap (facteur météo à prendre en compte, une mer agitée peut très vite nuire à l'observation), surtout que c'est une bourgade loin d'être désagréable. C'est encore plus vrai si vous allez à Gansbaai pour les requins car le départ se fait tôt le matin.
Hermanus peut faire une bonne étape entre Le Cap et la route des vins (Franschoek).
Et c'est possible aussi d'aller dans le West Coast, route facile (attention radars).
Même remarque...une nuit soit dans le parc, dans un house boat, à Langebaan ou Paternoster histoire de poursuivre avec un tour dans la petite réserve de Cap Columbine...
Et si vous commencez par Krüger...vous finissez plus dans les temps pour la season flower.
Il est vrai que Le Cap peut être aussi un beau final surtout si nous avons plus de chances d'avoir du beau temps.
Pouvez-vous m'en dire plus sur Gaansbai ? Quels sont les activités possibles pour l'observation des requins à part la fameuse cage ?
Intéressant pour les informations concernant les hippos au Kruger. Sont-ils localisés à un endroit en particulier dans le Kruger, je veux dire plutôt au Nord, Sud etc ?
Un diction local: "Là où est l'eau est l'hippo" 😉
Quels sont les activités possibles pour l'observation des requins à part la fameuse cage ?
A vrai dire je n'ai pas trop vu de choses sur Gaansbai mais les requins sont directement visible depuis le port ?
Pour information combien coûtent environ les activités comme la cage pour aller voir les requins ou autres sorties semblables pour espérer observer ces incroyables créatures ?
Gansbaai est la capitale mondiale du requin blanc et se situe à 45 min de route d'Hermanus. Il y a pas mal d'opérateurs qui proposent la plongée en cage. Le terme "plongée" est un peu galvaudé car on ne va pas vraiment sous l'eau, la cage est accrochée au flanc du bateau et contient 4 personnes à la fois. Le skipper agite un leurre et un appât devant pour que le requin fasse de beaux allers et retours et prévient quand il faut mettre la tête sous l'eau. On les voit généralement aussi très bien du bateau (je dis ça pour les phobiques qui ne se voient pas dans l'eau).
Les avis divergent sur cette activité, je la trouve personnellement extraordinaire.
Pour le coût, en hiver il est possible de trouver des offres à 50-60 euros.
Autre alternative, vous serez au Cap en pleine saison du "shark breaching" (technique de chasse des requins blancs qui attaquent leur proies par dessous pour les projeter et les assommer, occasionnant un joli saut du requin). Il parait que c'est incroyable (jamais testé), c'est unique au monde et ça se déroule à False Bay (Simon's town) et pas à Gansbaai.
C'est probablement plus cher.
Pour plus d'infos : http://www.ultimate-animals.com/portfolio-items/airjaws-shark-breaching-trip-simons-town/?portfolioCats=182
Je me suis pas mal renseigné sur les hébergements ce weekend notamment concernant le Kruger.
Je partirai bien sur le Lower Sabie moins de 45€ la nuit à 2 mais avec douche et toilettes communes, cependant j'hésite encore entre 2 et 3 nuits.
En revanche, je pense avoir abandonné Satara car l'hébergement le moins élevé niveau tarif avoisine les 95€. De ce fait j'ai regardé les autres petits camps de disponible et celui de Tamboti a retenu mon attention. Que pensez-vous particulièrement de ce camps ? Sur le site de sanparks il semble y avoir une vue sur un fleuve. 1 ou 2 nuits ?
Je pense terminer donc par Olifants qui sera l'entorse au budget de cette semaine au sein du Kruger mais avec les toilettes et la douche privées, le bungalow est à 77€ la nuit. 2 ou 3 nuits ?
Pour info Balule n'a pas d'hébergement de disponible à part des sites de campement.
Enfin concernant Le Cap j'hésite entre un hôtel et un appartement. Les prix sont similaires (50€ la nuit environ). L'appartement est dans le quartier de Milnerton avec un parking privé compris, l'hôtel (Cape Town Lodge Hotel si certains connaissent) est dans le quartier de City Bowl, parking privé en sous-terrain 6 rands par nuit. Là aussi j'aimerai bien avoir vos avis.
Tamboti est un bel endroit.
Beaucoup plus sauvage que Lower Sabie et beaucoup moins surpeuplé.
Les tentes donnent sur l'extérieur donc on peut voir des animaux passer devant son braai.
Juste lles fils de la barrière entre toi et eux.
Olifant n'a d intérêt je trouve que si on y dort dans les bungalows avec vue qui approchent les 100 euros.
Si ton budget est limité, essaie d avoir une nuit dans ce type de bungalow et la et ou les deux autres à Letaba dans une tente sans salle d'eau. Elles sont dans un endroit plutôt pas mal de ce camp En moyenne, le budget sera ainsi respecté !
Sur le Kruger, il y a selon moi 2 paramètres à prendre en compte pour le choix des camps :
- Le camp en lui même (taille, affluence, panorama, équipements à disposition)
- La région à laquelle il donne accès aux meilleures heures de la journée (aurore et crépuscule)
A partir de là je trouve votre ébauche d'itinéraire très bonne :
- Lower Sabie : un joli camp (terrasse panoramique qui surplombe la rivière Sabie) certes très fréquenté (quasiment toujours fully booked) mais surtout dans l'une des meilleures zones du parc niveau faune >>> parfait pour les 2 premières nuits.
- Satara : très gros camp plutôt banal dans sa disposition (pas de point de vue ou de plan d'eau à proximité) dans une zone très connue pour les observations de félins. De ce point de vue, Tamboti fait une excellente alternative beaucoup plus sauvage et intimiste (ni restaurant, ni boutique, ni station essence) tout en restant dans la même "région à lions". 2 nuits peuvent complètement se justifier.
- Olifants : probablement la plus belle vue du parc dans une région avec beaucoup d'éléphants qui reste assez proche de Satara et sa savane.
Balule a seulement 4 ou 6 huttes assez rustiques généralement réservées très tôt.
A votre place je ferais 3x2.
Pour Le Cap, je séjourne généralement plutôt du côté de Camps Bay. Je n'ai pas d'avis particulier sur Milnerton ou le City Bowl. Camps Bay offre surtout l'avantage d'être très bien situé pour ne pas trop subir les embouteillages récurrents au Cap (facile de filer vers la péninsule ou inversement d'aller vers le centre ou le Waterfront). La question se pose un peu différemment si vous souhaitez avoir un point de chute unique pour couvrir toute le région, y compris les vignobles et Hermanus.
L'hôtellerie y est plus chère qu'ailleurs (auberges de jeunesse aussi). Il y a de bonnes affaires sur Airbnb.
Merci à vous deux pour vos messages je pense donc faire 2 nuits dans chacun des camps précédemment cités (Lower Sabie, Tamboti, Olifants). Je pensais faire 1 semaine complète dans le parc donc j'héste pour rajouter une troisième nuit dans un des camps, Olifants par avec un désavantage niveau tarif.
Concernant Le Cap en effet c'est avoir un point de chute pour pouvoir visiter la région (Hermanus, Stellenbosch, Francschoek etc.). Je ne sais pas si vous allez pouvoir me répondre mais de Milnerton pour aller jusqu'à Waterfront en voiture ? Est-il facile de se garer au Cap ? Parkings privés abordables ?
Concernant le Cap, la circulation n'est pas toujours optimale et le stationnement est à l'avenant en plein centre-ville. Le Waterfront est pour le coup épargné car bien desservi (équivalent voies rapides) et pourvu de parkings payants (prix raisonnable) en nombre suffisant. En bref Milnerton n'est pas un mauvais point de départ pour aller passer la soirée sur le Waterfront, c'est surtout l'accès à la péninsule qui sera un peu plus long.
Pour le Kruger j'avoue ne plus me souvenir des règles pour l'annulation. Je sais que les modifications de réservations se font facilement, j'ai un doute sur les réservations "sèches".
Enfin pour la question du choix du sens, il n'y a pas vraiment de mauvaise décision. La dernière fois je l'ai fait dans le sens Kruger-Cap et j'ai apprécié de me dégourdir les jambes au Cap après une semaine avec bcp de voiture au Kruger. Idem côté gastronomie, les multiples options du Cap sont un plaisir après avoir enchainé les Mugg&Bean. Par contre le frisson du safari n'est plus là...
Je suis en train d'effectuer mes réservations pour le Kruger, il n'y a déjà plus rien pour Lower Sabie et Biyamati. Je voulais avoir vos avis concernant Malelane ?
Finalement j'ai décaler ma date d'arrivée de 2 jours pour pouvoir avoir accès aux camps que je souhaitais: Lower Sabie, Talamati et Olifants, 2 nuits pour chaque 😎
Le projet avance tranquillement, les réservations pour le Kruger sont donc réalisées.
Je me pose des questions concernant l'hébergement au Cap désormais. J'ai trouvé un appartement vraiment sympa comme je vous le disais à la page précédente dans le quartier de Milnerton. Pour vous donner une idée précise l'appartement se situe en face de Woodbridge Island.
Je voulais avoir (encore) vos avis concernant cette location (d'un point de vue géographique) mais surtout d'un point de vue sécuritaire au niveau du quartier ?
Plus que bof par rapport à la sécurité ? Si non, par rapport à quoi est-ce bof selon vous ?
Je réfléchis à mon itinéraire entre le Cap et le Kruger. J'ai 3 ou 4 nuits de disponibles, j'hésite entre prendre un vol soit pour Durban, soit pour Johannesburg.
Si Durban: je penche pour 2 nuits à Santa Lucia et 2 au Swaziland. Ce qui me laisse en réalité qu'une vraie journée à Santa Lucia car vol du Cap même en le prenant à 8h et le trajet entre Durban et Santa Lucia ça me fait arriver pas avant 14h grosso modo, pas le temps de faire grand chose j'imagine ? Il y a donc le lendemain de plein et le surlendemain avec départ le matin pour le Swaziland.
Sinon, si je retourne sur Johannesburg, je rajouterai 1 nuit au Cap et ensuite probablement 3 nuits au Swaziland, mais j'ai peur que ce soit de trop (pour le Swaziland).
Le centre de CT est toujours un poil chaud en dehors des heures de bureaux.
L'emplacement ...
Et du côté de Camps Bay , j'ai vu des Airbnb pas mal.
St Lucia à 14 heures.
Un tour sur le path, à la plage et un crocs tour en bateau le soir...
Le centre de CT est toujours un poil chaud en dehors des heures de bureaux.
L'emplacement ...
Et du côté de Camps Bay , j'ai vu des Airbnb pas mal.
St Lucia à 14 heures.
Un tour sur le path, à la plage et un crocs tour en bateau le soir...
Merci pour votre retour je vais regarder ce qu'il y a du côté de Camps Bay. Air Bnb j'aime bien mais il est assez rare d'avoir l'annulation gratuite, si jamais vous en trouvez, n'hésitez pas à me l'envoyer en message privé, j'en serai ravi.
Que préconisez vous pour la seconde journée qui sera elle complète ?
Le Swaziland 2 nuits en venant de Santa Lucia est-ce suffisant ? Trop ?
Avec l'aide de Michel, je pense avoir trouvé ma location pour Le Cap sur Camps Bay 😎
Par contre, j'hésite toujours (voir même le grand flou) concernant les 3 jours entre Le Cap et le Kruger.
A la base j'étais parti sur un vol pour Durban avec 2 jours Santa Lucia et 1 au Swaziland. Mais j'ai peur que ce soit un peu trop speed et je réfléchis donc à d'autres possibilités. Je suis donc à l'écoute de toutes autres possibilités (sachant que je fais le Blyde River Canyon les 3 jours après le Kruger).
En nov./ déc. 2022, j’avais fait un safari dans la région et nous avions souffert des températures extrêmes engendrées par le phénomène “El Nino” sur l’océan Indien à cette époque . En plus des T. extrêmes, il peut y avoir des pluies diluviennes , avec crues etc ... qui ont engendré des catastrophes avec victimes .
Nous revenons de dix jours en Tanzanie. Nous avons eu la chance d’être guidés par Gishaman. Toujours de bonne humeur, bon conducteur et très bon guide. Grâce à lui nous avons eu la chance de voir non seulement les big5 en une journée mais aussi plein d’autres animaux. Il travaille pour l’agence locale Blit Safaris qui a assuré un très bon suivi de notre voyage. À conseiller !
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!
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!
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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.
