Bonne conduite, mais pas forcément de bonnes manières.
Le but de cette discussion est de relever les "bonnes pratiques" du safari.
Que faut il faire ? Que faut-il ne pas faire ?
Pour se donner le maximum de chances de voir les animaux bien sûr, mais aussi pour éviter l'accident.
Après de rapides recherches, j'ai trouvé quelques post sur le forum, mais je n'ai pas retrouvé de discussion, pourtant il doit certainement en exister.
Un site Sudaf qui donne de bons conseils.
Matériel de base
Conseils bateaux et faciles à retrouver :
-Utiliser un véhicule surélevé pour avoir une vue au dessus des herbes.
-Ne pas sortir dudit véhicule en dehors des aires autorisées, sachant que dans certains parcs peu fréquentés, il n'y a pas d'aires "autorisées", chacun gère le danger comme il le sent avec son expérience.
-Ne pas ouvrir les portes et fenêtres pour prendre en photo le lion qui est là, tout près, ne pas non plus ouvrir la porte pour pouvoir "le prendre de plus haut", certains le font pourtant et s'en vantent ! ils se reconnaîtront 😉
-Sortir plutôt au lever et coucher du soleil qu'en plein midi.
-Se poster aux abords des points d'eau et attendre.
-Se poster aux " points d'observation" et attendre ( à noter qu'ils semblent bien se trouver souvent près des points d'eau ! Ce qui est très astucieux...)
-Préférer la saison sèche permet de voir de plus grosses concentrations d'animaux aux dits points d'eau.
-Roulez doucement, si vous voyez un départ de guépard, ne cherchez surtout pas à le suivre : mieux vaut rentrer tard que prendre un ch'tar mon lascar .
-Si un gros animal vient vers vous, reculez doucement. S'il accélère, reculez un peu plus vite, s'il accélère encore, c'est foutu...
-Si un petit animal vient vers vous, roulez lui dessus, ça lui apprendra et ça rendra service à l'espèce : avec un peu de chance, il ne s'est pas encore reproduit...
-Ne pas faire vrombir le moteur, ne pas klaxonner, ne pas faire d'appels de phare qui pourraient aggraver la situation. Si vous voulez aggraver la situation " pour voir vu que vous avez une bonne assurance", faites les 3 en même temps et venez nous raconter...
-Si la grosse bête attaque quand même, au lieu de prier bêtement, mettez vous du côté opposé de la voiture si vous pouvez et hurlez, vous verrez , ça fait du bien. Si la grosse bête retourne votre voiture, ne maudissez pas Erwan de vous avoir dit de détacher votre ceinture pour aller de l'autre côté : mieux vaut un torticolis qu'une perforation par défense d'éléphant ou par corne de rhino.
-Respectez une "distance de sécurité" 😮 ( alors là, oui : c'est très vague et à l'appréciation de chacun selon la bestiole considérée, il n'est pas facile du tout de déterminer qu'on est à 100 ou à 50 m d'un lapin, il faut connaître pour cela la taille du lapin et en déduire l'hypoténuse...vraiment pas simple...)
-Ne cherchez pas à imiter le cri des animaux, surtout des gros..vous pouvez faire Tarzan si ça vous chante, mais ça pourrait être mal pris par certains crocodiles qui n'ont pas apprécié les films...il est notoirement plus prudent d'imiter Edouard Balladur ou Raymond Barre (pour ceux qui s'en souviennent)
-Il est recommandé sur le site que j'ai mis en lien, de ne pas fumer , mais il semble que c'est plus pour éviter de foutre le feu à la savane qu'autre chose...Vu du nez d'un animal sauvage, une clope ne doit pas sembler beaucoup plus exotique que l'odeur d'un pot d'échappement...
Chacun peut faire un copié collé de ces conseils, les remettre sur son post en corrigeant ce qu'il juge bon, merci de noter les corrections en caractère gras, le posteur suivant corrige à son tour la correction etc...
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
La lecture du chapitre 6 du Bradt Botswana est édifiante.
http://www.bradtguides.com/Book/78/Botswana.html
Désolé, faut payer pour accéder au contenu, j'ai un peu la flemme de traduire les 10 ou 12 pages du mien pour les publier ici.
😇
-Ne pas ouvrir les portes et fenêtres pour prendre en photo le lion qui est là, tout près, ne pas non plus ouvrir la porte pour pouvoir "le prendre de plus haut", certains le font pourtant et s'en vantent ! ils se reconnaîtront
Comment fais-tu dans les 4x4 de safari qui n'ont ni porte, ni fenêtre ? Pourtant la plupart des clients survivent ! 😛
Voilà un post prometteur dans lequel, sous l'humour, je décèle une pointe de vraie angoisse😇, au moins au début de ton guide des bonnes pratiques (c'est très tendance ça, les bonnes pratiques), puis ton naturel reprend le dessus.😏
Je pense que les contributeurs devront préciser à quel animal s'applique leur conseil, même si de mon expérience, certains fondamentaux sont multi-espèces.
En attendant, et pour ceux qui se sont affranchis de lire mon dernier rapport, voici une photo qui confirme que les locaux appliquent la devise de ton site en lien:
la taille du lapin et en déduire l'hypoténuse
Dans le lapin, le meilleur, c'est l'hypothalamus... au cidre!
Point d'angoisse, non non, une vraie interrogation sur les bons usages du comment faire.
Me faire embrocher ou déchiqueter m'angoisse moins que de ne pas trouver d'embrocheur ou de dechiqueteur...
Ce sont les conseils des traqueurs de bêtes qui m'intéressent au plus haut point.
C'est un wiki qu'il faut faire évoluer, en tant que sachants, il vous appartient à toi, grand voyou et à Pierre, de corriger ce passage sur la cloture des huis que vous denigrez sans corriger !
Honte à vous !
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Tu as oublié l'infiniment petit parfois beaucoup plus dangereux que l'infiniment gros !🤪🤪🤪
- Le moustique :
Prendre avec soi un compagnon ou une compagne dont le sang a obtenu la note de 99 au Parker de l'hémoglobine.
- Le scorpion :
A la nuit tombée, chaussures fermées.
Au petit matin, secouer les brodequins.
- L'araignée :
Avant de se coucher, un coup d'oeil sous l'oreiller.
(Sous le sommier, sous l'évier, sous le bidet...)
Le but étant de déterminer le comportement idoine du safariste afin qu'il puisse observer les grosses bebêtes en respectant certaines mesures de prudence, j'ai jugé bon de passer sous silence le risque représenté par les moustiques, araignées et scorpions.
J'ai également passé sous silence les noix de coco, les incendies, les coups de soleil, la deshydratation, la malaria, la chiasse verte et la constipation.
Je n'ai pas non plus abordé les scènes de ménages.
Ni la phlébite (de ch'val !)
Restez concentrés messieurs et mesdames les spécialistes du genre, j'attends impatiemment vos corrections.
Il est impossible que le premier jet soit parfait.
Peut-être dois je considérer la photo de Jean comme un conseil avisé? Naïvement, j'ai cru qu'il plaisantait...
Je rajoute: "dans un fiacre à capote au milieu des fauves tu avanceras sans crainte car l'âne est toujours bouffé en premier..." ?😉
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Il aura plus l'occasion d'affronter les petites bêtes que les grosses.
Ne serait-ce que dans son logis du soir que ce logis soit une tente, un bungalow ou un lodge de luxe...
Il faudra aussi qu'il veille à sa nourriture et reste aux aguets durant ses repas : les singes sont généralement plus vifs que lui (surtout après quelques bières et autres délicieuses boissons à base de raisin fermenté...😄), les insectes se servent de son assiette et de son verre comme d'une piste d'atterrissage -amerissage..._ et le chacal raffole du braai et des serviettes de toilettes laissées à sécher...
les noix de coco...la chiasse verte et la constipation
Bonne nouvelle : y en a pas ! 😉
Je n'ai pas non plus abordé les scènes de ménages.
Et pourtant...
Si tu ne vois pas un animal de premier plan (genre guépard à 5 mètres) et que l'autre l'apprend...🤪🤪😄
Je reviens à ta première question:
Que faut il faire ? Que faut-il ne pas faire ?
Pour se donner le maximum de chances de voir les animaux bien sûr, mais aussi pour éviter l'accident.
A laquelle tu réponds, directement ou par lien en y ajoutant celui de Pierre.
Pour aller plus loin, ou plus exactement, plus près, la première règle est d'être, comme les animaux, tous sens en alerte, écouter, voir, sentir, percevoir et interpréter l'intention de l'animal et, comme lui, savoir qui est qui, qui se comporte comme ci ou comme ça.
La deuxième règle qui, comme la première, n'engage que moi, plus tard.🙂
Pour aller plus loin, ou plus exactement, plus près, la première règle est d'être, comme les animaux, tous sens en alerte, écouter, voir, sentir, percevoir et interpréter l'intention de l'animal et, comme lui, savoir qui est qui, qui se comporte comme ci ou comme ça.
La deuxième règle qui, comme la première, n'engage que moi, plus tard.🙂
😮
Wouah !
Là je me sens tout petit scarabée. ..
Tu veux dire qu'il faut bien étudier le comportement animal pour pouvoir bien les observer ?
Je note et me mets au travail.
Pourrais tu étayer cet enseignement d'exemples , pour un néophyte comme moi ?
Des vautours qui tournent ? Des prédateurs sont en train de passer à table en dessous.
Des zèbres au point d'eau, cherchez le lion qui les observe.
J'ai bon ?
Y a t'il d'autres situations qui éveillent tes sens aiguisés ?
Et lesquelles ?
(J'ai l'impression de chercher à obtenir un coin à champignons...)😎
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Bon déjà, deux erreurs dans les deux premières lignes😇:
1/ On ne crie pas pour exprimer son étonnement ( on se livre encore moins à la danse de St Guy sur le capot de la voiture😠)
2/ Ne jamais se sentir en situation d’infériorité (on peut le faire sentir si c’est une ruse): n’oublie pas, mon fils, que tu appartiens à l’espèce dominante… et qu’elle te regarde.🤪
Le statut du scarabée me semble peu enviable, il a trop de prédateurs (les animaux sont des huns pour les autres😉).
Par ailleurs, dans les parcs, on signale de plus en plus d’adeptes d’une secte virtuelle francophone qui écrasent les petits pour se venger des gros. Donc, tu changes de totem, vu!
Tu veux dire qu'il faut bien étudier le comportement animal pour pouvoir bien les observer ?
C’est un peu comme lors d’un recrutement (ou d’un speed dating), il n’est pas inutile de savoir ce que tel geste ou telle posture traduit de l’état, des intentions de la personne. Ce qu’on nomme le langage corporel.
Il en est de même pour l'éléphant.
L’éléphant, contrairement au moustique, charge rarement sans sommations; par exemple en se tenant face à vous, un antérieur plus avancé que l’autre, comme un escrimeur, avec un léger mouvement d’avant en arrière (image 1), avec une variante boxeur, de gauche à droite, mais ce sont surtout les oreilles qui parlent (peut-être le moustique, tout comme la DGSE, procède-t-il ainsi mais nous ne le voyons pas). Il va les projeter de l’arrière vers l’avant (sans toutefois se les décoller totalement) à plusieurs reprises (image 2): on est encore au stade de l’intimidation.
C’est à ce moment que se joue la partie.
Si tu fais dans ta culotte, il va le sentir, même à 100 mètres (ce n’est pas à toi que je vais expliquer les conséquences sur les selles des aléas gastriques en voyage) et dans ce cas, c’est le moment de te retirer (tu peux quand même le regarder dans les yeux pendant la manoeuvre pour sauver la face, ce qui serait dangereux avec un ours).
🙂
Bon...OK...pas scarabée, boursier, c'est bon bousier? Personne leur fait de mal aux bousier vu qu'ils ont toujours au moins 2 pattes dans la merde...
Très instructive ta description des manoeuvres d'intimidation de l'éléphant, c'est exactement ce type de renseignements que je cherche.
Les commentaires d'Attila sont à retenir également. Je progresse, je me bonifie, bientôt moi aussi, tout comme vous et grâce à vos enseignements, je serai un maître de la brousse 😎
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Les jolis tas qui parsèment routes et pistes ne sont pas sans danger pour qui aurait l'audace de rouler dessus : à l'intérieur du fumant dépôt peut se cacher une belle épine d'acacia...
La bonne conduite en safari, c'est aussi de savoir changer un pneu crevé ! 😏
Bonne conduite, mais pas forcément de bonnes manières.
Le but de cette discussion est de relever les "bonnes pratiques" du safari.
Que faut il faire ? Que faut-il ne pas faire ?
Pour se donner le maximum de chances de voir les animaux bien sûr, mais aussi pour éviter l'accident.
Bonjour Erwan,
La principale bonne pratique d'un safari faune, celle pour moi qui passe avant toutes les autres, c'est d'éviter au maximum de déranger la susdite faune.
Ne pas faire de hors piste si ce n'est pas autorisé, ne pas se regrouper en paquets de 4x4, ne pas trop approcher (à Mara des bébés guépards ont été écrasés), ne pas être "collant", ne pas faire de bruit, bref faire son possible pour ne pas trop peser (ce qui ne m'est personnellement pas très facile, s'pas ?) sur la faune.
Le reste, les dangers : si l'on suit les conseils de son chauffeur/guide/spotter quand on en un, les conseils du bon sens quand on en un, et si dans tous les cas on évite au maximum de déranger la susdite faune, le risque existe mais il est presque négligeable, du même ordre je pense qu'un accident de la circulation chez nous quand l'on respecte lettre et esprit du code de la route...
Le reste, les dangers : si l'on suit les conseils de son chauffeur/guide/spotter quand on en un, les conseils du bon sens quand on en un, et si dans tous les cas on évite au maximum de déranger la susdite faune, le risque existe mais il est presque négligeable, du même ordre je pense qu'un accident de la circulation chez nous quand l'on respecte lettre et esprit du code de la route...
Voilà qui est extrêmement inquiétant pour quelqu'un comme moi qui a traîné ses guêtres au samu pendant quelques années...😮
Et si je croise un rhino complètement bourré qui roule à donf ?😐
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Dans la voiture tu ne parleras pas ...surtout lorsque la fenêtre tu ouvriras.
Un bon opticien tu verras avant de partir ... ou tu voyagera avec un "oeil de Lynx".
Doucement tu t'approcheras et tu anticiperas ta position à l'arrêt ... histoire de ne pas redémarrer et bouger ta voiture 3 fois aprce que tu n'as pas "le bon angle"
Il y a d'ailleurs quelque chose d'étonnant, tu peux t'approcher beaucoup plus près d'un animal en 4x4 qu'à pieds (sans le déranger on s'entend).
N'oublie pas de regarder dans les arbres ... des fois qu'il y ai un léopard qui s'y repose.
Sinon il y a le grand débat entre:
- je me m'installe à un point d'eau en attendant que la faune vient à moi
et
- je me déplace en espérant "tomber" sur une belle scène.
Au KTP nous avons cherché (malheureusement sans y parvenir) à voir un léopard. Un spécialiste (reconnaissable à ses deux 600 mm) nous a recommandé de se mettre à l’affût à un point d'eau où "normalement" tous les matins un léopard passe entre 7h et 8h30. Nous nous sommes donc installé à 6h30 (pour faire bonne figure) et avons patienté jusqu'à 8h, moment ou un autre "chercheur" nous a dit que le dit léopard à trouvé très rigolo de passer pour une fois à 100 mètre de là !!!!😠
Ah, un beau livre genre "Compagnon de Safari" est très intéressant pour connaître et reconnaître les différentes antilopes
Merci à toi Max pour ces precieux conseils, j'y serai donc à 6h30 et a 100m de là. ...exactement...
@ Attila :penserqis signifie penserai en français, désolé mais, parfois , le breton reprend le dessus....
P****tain de tablette !😠
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
je penserqis à toi lorsque je ne changerai pas mas roue.😉
Les réminiscences de la langue maternelle n'expliquent pas tout.😇
Ecrire mas roue, comme si il y en avait deux à plat (mes roues?), ne dénoterait-il pas une très légère angoisse?😉
je penserqis à toi lorsque je ne changerai pas mas roue.😉
Les réminiscences de la langue maternelle n'expliquent pas tout.😇
Ecrire mas roue, comme si il y en avait deux à plat (mes roues?), ne dénoterait-il pas une très légère angoisse?😉
Bah, ayant décidé de traverser le Lesotho par les pistes , je me suis octroyé DEUX roues de secours 😎
Ce qui, pour le coup, dénote une certaine angoisse.
😛
"Mas roue " est une faute due à un bretonisme venant de la célèbre phrase de Per Jakez Helias : "Ag a plujadur an ty gwenn pelec'h e mao von gast a mas roue" ou quelque chose comme ça. ..
(J'espère ne pas trop dénaturer la pensée du poète...)
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Je te reponds que je ne crains point le requin, pas plus que la moustique d'ailleurs, mais je crains le plasmodium et le chikoungounia tout comme la dengue, c'est pourquoi je me renseigne à leurs sujets, en l'occurence je ne suis pas inquiet 😛
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Beaucoup diront que voilà un exemple de mauvaise conduite.
Je m'attendais à ce que toi, ou un autre photographe réagisse sur cette photo en contre-plongée (pour ne pas dire en apnée🤪)
En voici le contexte:
Moremi’s World Championship 2008
A ma droite, Defender, 65 ans, corps d’alu, multiples prouesses à travers le monde, 2500kg, taille 2.02m, accélération: de 0 à 100 km/h en 22’, autant dire un veau, vitesse de pointe 120 km/h.
A ma gauche, Eléphant, 12 ans, 5000kg, taille 3.50m, accélération poussive, vitesse de pointe 35 km/h.
Sur cette vue en contre-plongée, une dizaine de mètres et un malheureux taillis-arbitre les sépare. El envoie violemment les oreilles vers l’avant, trop court, Def travaille son jeu de jambes accélérateur/embrayage; El barrit puissamment, Def mitraille sans zoom.
Ils s’observent, se jaugent mais se connaissent depuis si longtemps. Def anticipe une ligne de fuite, il est plus agile; El le sait mais poursuit ses rodomontades quand tout à coup la coach de Def lui demande d’abandonner.
Petit aparté concernant les safaris en Afrique du Sud/Swaziland et la Wild card :
Elle peut être intéressante mais à condition de passer pas mal de temps dans les parcs, je dirais 1 semaine complète jours + nuits en couple ou en famille.
C'est un peu plus intéressant si vous êtes en famille avec des enfants de moins de 16 ans, en effet , le système autorise à réaliser une carte unique pour toute la famille à meilleur prix .
C'est carrément plus intéressant si vous êtes sud african ou si vous avez un permis de travail là bas.
Paar exemple, dans mon cas pour 6 nuits en parc à c'était tout juste intéressant à 4 et ça ne l'est plus à 3, en effet la Wild Card "famille" coûte actuellement 2785 Rds, Or 6 nuits pour les 3 qui peuvent aller sur la WC famille ça fait 2160 Rds, la 4e ayant plus de 16 ans ne peut pas prétendre à la carte familiale.
Il faut donc bien compter avant de partir pour juger de l'utilité de cette carte dont on parle ( à bon droit) beaucoup sur le forum.
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Je croyais que l'âge séparant les enfants des adultes pour la WC était 18 ans et non 16. Y a-t-il eu du changement?
Cela peut jouer pour vous si "la 4ème" a entre 16 et 18 ans.
la 4e ayant plus de 16 ans ne peut pas prétendre à la carte familiale.
A child is anyone who is under 18 at the time of Membership Purchase. 😇
A 248 R le droit d'entrée pour les enfants et adultes de plus de 12 ans (Grands parcs), la carte est amortie au bout de 3 nuits pour une famille de 4 avec enfants de 12 à 18 ans.
Au bout de 4 nuits, si les enfants ont moins de 12 ans.
Pour 2 adultes, l'achat est rentable au bout de 5 nuits.
Oui, je ne vois pas d'autre explication, vu du point de vue du visiteur, c'est un peu injuste vu que sur une journée, on est de toute façon limité et la surface visitée sera la même.
Mais bon, la justification est sans doute là.
Le fait que ce soient des parcs frontaliers, voir transfrontaliers doit peut-être jouer aussi ?
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
J'aurais peut-être plus parié sur le nombre d'entrées.
Le chiffre d'affaires du Kruger permet peut-être aussi l'entretien d'autres parcs plus confidentiels.
(Pour le Kgalagadi, je pencherais pour la situation en pleine zone désertique. Ce parc, c'est un peu l'équivalent d'un refuge de haute montagne au milieu des dunes de sable...)
Exact, mais les parcs du Kzn sont accessibles, du moins pour certain d'entre eux, par la wild card.
Il est vrai que ça dévie un peu, mais ça reste dans l'esprit safari des parcs africains et de ce qu'il faut savoir avant de les fréquenter.
Epine d'acacia dans les bouses, singes chapardeurs, insectes dévoreurs et tarifs au petit bonheur...😉
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Comme je trouve ce topic très intéressant et que je suis fort intéressée par de nouvelles réponses, je relance.
Au fait, quand on est en plein parc, genre KTP, ou kruger, et qu'on a un pneu à plat, on fait comment pour le changer si on n'a pas le droit de sortir du véhicule?
la règlementation dit qu'il faut klaxonner pour avertir quelqu'un jusqu'à ce qu'un ranger soit prévenu et vienne changer la roue. On peut aussi téléphoner à un campsite en ayant pris soin de relever le numéro.
Dans les faits je pense qu'il est arrivé à certains d'entre nous d'avoir à changer soi même sa roue. A ne pas conseiller.
Dans ce cas la prudence est de rigueur, essayer d'avancer au minimum en terrain découvert et d'arréter une autre voiture, pour l'aide mais aussi pour les paires d'yeux.
Ensuite changer la roue rapidement, voire très rapidement, tout remettre dans le coffre et ranger une fois au camp site.
Outre le danger, si vous le faites vous même, vous pouvez tout a fait vous prendre une amende, soit qu'un rangers vous voit, soit qu'on vous dénonce avec votre numéro de plaque.
Donc prudence, et plutôt privilégier l'appel téléphonique.
Pendant que vous serez arrétés vous aurez plein de choses à voir.
Nous avons crevé un pneu dans un parc.
Heureusement, nous étions sur le parking d'une cachette donc un espace assez dégagé et un peu fréquenté.
Nous avons donc changé la roue.
Voilà ce qui s'appelle avoir du pot!
Est-ce que dans les camps du KTP, il y a une heure limite pour rentrer?
Notamment à Nossob, Mata mata, kalahari tented camp, gharagab wilderness camp?
On peut aussi téléphoner à un campsite en ayant pris soin de relever le numéro.
Si on a un téléphone qui capte!!!
Donc à Johannesburg ou à Cape town, il faut penser à acheter une puce d'une compagnie sud africaine.
Merci pour ces précieux conseils.
Un téléphone qui passe partout où tu vas est effectivement très utile pour ce genre de galère.
Si tu veux, j'ai trouvé une adresse de loueur de 4x4 qui te procure un tel sat sans alourdir la facture.😉
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
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
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🏔️ 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.
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
