Bonjour, je repars en Namibie (aurais-je mis le doigt dans un engrenage?), dans 2 semaines. j'emmène dans mes bagages 5 amis à qui j'aimerais faire apprécier autant que je l'ai fait, cette partie de l'Afrique. Petit changement cette année, puisque nous monterons dans la bande de Caprivi pour poursuivre ensuite vers le Botswana et le parc du Chobe. Il serait dommage d'aller jusqu'ici sans aller faire une excursion aux chutes de Victoria. Le circuit est fin prêt, mais il reste encore pour moi assez flou, concernant cette partie.
Ma question est:
Quelle est la meilleure solution depuis Kazane pour rejoindre les chutes? Les deux seuls guides que je possède sont pour le moins evasifs quant à cet endroit. Nous aurons 2 véhicules 4*4. Je crois savoir que le passage par la Zambie implique forcément une traversée en bac avec la perte de temps qui naturellement en découle. J'ai vu qu'il était possible de rejoindre les chutes par voie terrestre par le Zimbabwe. Qu'en est il de la sécurité dasn ce pays. J'ai lu quelques commentaires pas très engageants sur différents forums. Je ne cherche pas à être rassuré, je veux juste savoir si risques il y a, à quels genres risquons-nous d'être exposés. De plus je suis ouvert à toutes personnes susceptibles de pouvoir me communiquer des adresses de campement dans les 2 endroits. Je voudrais que les personnes qui m'accompagnent, dont pour certains, ce voyage sera le premier reste pour eux un souvenir impérissable.
J'espère ne pas avoir été trop long et merci à tous.
PS: en passant vite fait, si cela interesse du monde j'ai trouvé des billets A/r paris windhoek à 680Euros TTC au lieu des 1100 courament demandés. Cela impose juste une petite "gymnastique"
encore merci
Effectivement, tu peux rejoindre les chutes Victoria par la route via le zimbabwe. C'est à peu près 60 kms de route goudronnée, donc en moins d'une heure, c'est fait. Le passage à la frontière se fait en 5 minutes.
Quand tu es aux chutes côté Zimbabwe, tu peux passer la frontière avec la Zambie sans problème, de nouveau en 5 minutes !
Quand j'y étais allé, j'avais fait l'aller / retour avec le lodge où j'étais à Kasane. Pour être très honnête, je n'ai pas senti de sentiment particulier d'insécurité à VicFalls, mais je n'y ai jamais passé une nuit avec mon propre véhicule !
Nous avons passé cette frontière en octobre avec un 4x4. Il ya un quand même un facteur chance. Dans un sens (VF-Kasane), nous avons mis 5 minutes. Dans l'autre sens (Kasane-VF), plus de 2 heures ! Il ya plusieurs "taxes" à payer (en fonction de la voiture) et ça peut devenir très long. Il faut penser à l'aspect financier : sans compter les visas, nous avons payer 115 $US juste pour la voiture (taxe carbone, etc.). Et juste avant d'ouvrir la barrière, le douanier nous a demandé son petit cadeau... A prévoir !
A Victoria Falls, nous étions à l'hotel et ne pouvons donc pas t'indiquer un camping.
Nous n'avons jamais eu le moindre sentiment d'insécurité. Il y a d'ailleurs une police touristique très présente.
Nous sommes également allés à Livingstone et il nous semble que pour visiter les chutes, Voctoria Falls est plus pratique (accès aux chutes à pied) et surtout... elles sont bien plus jolies !).
Bonjour,
Nous étions à Kasane il y a quelques jours encore (dur de rentrer), pour rejoindre les chutes victoria nous avons pris un taxi jusqu'à la frontière du Zimbabwe. De là, nous avons trouvé un chauffeur (pas vraiment un taxi...) pour nous amenés aux chutes. C'est plutôt facile de trouver quelqu'un pour nous y conduire. Nous avions laissé le 4X4 à Kasane, au camping.
Les formalités pour les piétons sont hyper rapide et hyper simple dans les 2 sens.Nous avons fait l'aller/retour dans la journée.
Question sécurité, nous étions 3 filles et rien à dire, pas le moindre soucis.
Par curiosité, c'est quoi ta "gymnastique" qui permetent d'avoir des billets si peu chers.
Pour ma part, le moins cher que j'ai trouvé est de voyager jusqu'à Johannesburg sur Egyptair.
00alex
Big 5 pour small 4 ou l’Afrique Australe en famille : Le Cap, Namibie, Botswana, Zimbawe
- Partie 1 : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=3855088;
- Partie 2 : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=3990834;search_string=namibie
Je pense effectivment que c'est un bon lan de laisser les 4x4 au lodge à Kasane et d'y aller en taxi jusqu'au bac puis un autre taxi en zambie (ou au Zimbabwe mais je connais pas).
C'est beaucoup moins cher et beaucoup plus rapide.
à livigstone, il y a tous les services nécessaires, soit par l'hotel où vous dormirez qui vous amène aux chutes ou à l'hélicoptère (à conseiller fortement)...
Franck
Tanzanie-2010
Kawaza Village
Botswana : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2037270
Salut Franck
(pas mal et toi ? 😛)
Temps de passage par le pont, formalités comprises : 1/2 heure !!! mais les taxes sont les mêmes 🏴☠️ (visa+ taxe véhicule + assurance obligatoire + county tax...= beaucoup de USD)
Mais en ce qui me concerne, je voulais rester au moins une nuit près des chutes pour pouvoir faire tranquillement les deux côtés. J'ai donc fait l'apres midi, le côté Zambie avec coucher de soleil sur les chutes et le lendemain la journée complete côté Zimbabwe (in pedibus jambus), j'ai dormis deux nuits à Livingstone dans le campsite du Zambeizi waterfront (resto sympa, super terrasse ponton surplombant le Zambeze, idéal pour l'apéro (ou le diner) avec coucher de soleil sur le Zambèze....
Nous aussi nous repartons. Mais l'été prochain seulement. 😛
Nous démarrons par 2 nuits à Vic Falls au Zimbabwe avant de récupérer le 4x4. D'après ce que l'on m'a dit avant que je me décide, il n'y a pas de problème de sécurité dans la ville ni autour des chutes, il y a une police touristique paraît-il très efficace. Par contre, on y croiserait une misère pouvant choquer. 🤪
Le passage de frontière Zimbabwe / Botswana ou l'inverse semble plus simple et moins cher que celui de la frontière zambienne avec un véhicule. D'ailleurs tous les loueurs à qui je me suis adressé livrent leurs véhicules à Vic Falls, mais pas à Livingstone, trop compliqué !
J'en saurai plus dans quelques mois, mais tu seras rentré depuis longtemps. 😉
Bon, pour le billet à 683 Euros (ttc) Paris-Windhoek A/R, je pense pas révéler un scoop. Il doit y avoir du monde qui y a pensé avant moi. Si comme moi, au début, tu fais une recherche de billet "basique" (c'est à dire Paris-Windhoek) tu verras que tu ne descendras guère en dessous de 1100 Euros (Hors taxes). Ex: BA qui le propose à 1149Euros. En dissociant le billet via Johannesbourg, donc en prenant 2 billets distincts, en récupérant tes bagages, et en faisant dans la foulée, un enregistrement au niveau départ, le même billet, avec la même compagnie, ....et surtout les mêmes horaires descend à....759 Euros! Pout ma part, j'ai trouvé un vol Paris Johannesbourg, en prenant soin de conserver un laps de temps pour la correspondance, avec Afriquahia à 453Euros A/R et ensuite un vol Johannesbourg-Windhoek à 230 Euros.....Nous sommes 6 , le calcul a été fait rapidement.
Pour les chutes, merci à toutes les personnes qui m'ont répondu. J'envisage de plus en plus la solution de laisser le 4*4 au Botswana et de trouver un chauffeur, ou peut-être, qui sait, il y a t-il des agences locales qui proposent des packs pour la journée. Cela me semble en effet, procurer un gain de temps, facteur qui n'est pas négligeable dans ce genre de voyage
Encore merci
Sinon, je sais que le Chobe Safari Lodge à Kasane organise des excursions pour les chutes, ils s'occupent de tout.
Les autres lodges doivent le faire aussi bien sûr.
Pour les billets, la combine est effectivement intéressante ! En prenant séparément Paris-JoBurg A/R avec Egypt'Air puis, à part, JoBurg-Vic Falls à l'aller et Windhoek-JoBurg au retour, j'ai gagné au moins 2500/3000 € pour nous 4 par rapport à une demande Paris-Vic Falls A/R !!!
Et ben, malgré toutes les recherches et interrogations "googlesques" que j'ai pu faire, je n'avais jamais vu ce prix là...chapeau Monsieur Francois91...tu mériterais le titre de Mr Bon Plan
Concernant la combine, c'est aussi ce que j'avais prévu de faire, en utilisant Egyptair.
Néanmoins, il me semble que cela pose un problème. En effet, comme ce n'est pas le même transporteur qui t'achemine tout du long, il ne faut pas rater de correspondance.
Par exemple, si le vol Paris-Johannesburg est en retard et que tu rates le vol Johannesburg-Windhoek, la seconde compagnie te considère comme ne t'étant pas présenté (no show comme ils disent), et le billet est perdu. Ils ne sont pas tenus de faire quoi que ce soit pour toi. Ce n'est pas le cas si c'est le même transporteur qui t'achemine tout du long. En gros : il faut que tout roule ou prévoir beaucoup de marge.
J'ai cherché des posts là dessus, mais je n'en ai pas trouvé. J'ai pas du rentrer les bons mots clés.
Big 5 pour small 4 ou l’Afrique Australe en famille : Le Cap, Namibie, Botswana, Zimbawe
- Partie 1 : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=3855088;
- Partie 2 : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=3990834;search_string=namibie
Re bonsoir et encore merci pour toutes les info.
Pour le billet, je l'ai trouvé sur easyvol.fr (qui te renvoie ensuite sur des agences comme govoyage). J'espere ne pas me faire censurer en faisant de la pub...sourire.
Il est vrai qu'il faut prévoir assez de temps pour la correspondance à Johannesbourg. L'avion est censé arrivé à 4h du matin. Il ne devrait pas y avoir, à cette heure-ci trop de peuple pour passer la douane et recuperer nos bagages. Le vol pour windhoek est prévu à 10h50. Je pense, du moins j'espère (et je touche du bois) que cela devrait suffire. Entre Air Namibia, South Africa, et British il y a un vol toutes les 2 heures. Il est vrai que j'étais au debut, un peu réticent pour emprunter la compagnie lybienne, mais apreès divers renseignements sur des sites économiques, il apparait, que c'est la compagnie qui grimpe. (sic: une des rares compagnies avec une croissance à 2 chiffres...) Appareils flambants neufs, ouverture récente de la ligne pour Johannesbourg et un nouvel aéroport à Tripoli inauguré cet été. Il y a longtemps que je ne crois plus aux compagnies dites "plus sures" et a part quelques exceptions asiatiques, aux services à bord. De plus, sans entamer de polémique, j'ai laissé un message dans une autre rubrique concernant les pratiques tarifaires de notre compagnie nationale....il vaut mieux en rire
Pour en revenir au sujet principal, je prends note sur le camp site à Victoria falls ainsi que l'agence de voyage au parc du Chobe. Je pense que nous ne serons pas les seuls touristes, et que l'activité a du se developper.
Je reste ouvert encore à tous tuyaux d'ici mon depart (le 20 Novembre)
Encore merci à tous
Bonjour,
- Puisque tu as été aux Vic F, j'aimerais ton avis : est-ce intéressant de passer par le lodge (nous serons 3) question facilité, rapidité et coût des passages douanes ?
- Si nous avons une réservation dans un hébergement à Moremi vaut-il mieux contacter le DWNP pour réserver les entrées dans le parc ?
ce serait plus simple il me semble !
Nous risquons d'arriver un vendredi soir ou le w.e. donc porte close au bureau de Maun.
- Si nous rentrons un samedi et ressortons un lundi (par ex.)doit-on payer (par personne bien sûr + véhicule) une seule entrée ou 3 puisque 3 J dans le parc ?
Sorry, j'ai déjà lu une discussion là-dessus mais j'ai oublié ... 😊
Merci !
Bonjour
Comme promis je t'envoie nos impressions et nos expérience de notre voyage en Namibie eu au Botswana. Nous sommes rentrés cette semaine et je peux te dire que c'est pour le moins difficile...Ne serait ce que pour la température....
Bon , pour les trajets en avion, je confirme...Afriqhya (compagnie lybienne) rien à redire...Aviosn à l'heure, car c'est ce que je redoutais le plsu pour ma correspondance à Johannesbourg avec le vol de la Southafrica pour Windhoek. Avions flambants neufs, service à bord tout à fait dans la norme....Voyage un peu plus long du fait d'une escale supplémentaire à Tripoli mais A/R Paris Windhoek à 653Euros......
Pour ce qui est du Chobe nous avons dormi au Chobe Safari Lodge. Un conseil...Fuis toutes leurs excusrsions!! En effet, il te proposent un transfert jusqu'aux chutes mais à des prix de folie!!! Nous avons préféré y aller avec notre propre véhicule. Cela nous a couté beaucoup moins cher malgré toutes les taxes qui pleuvent littéralement , et nous sommes restés indépendants au niveau des horaires (il ne faut cependant pas oublier que la frontière ferme à 18h). Ensuite, il proposent des promenades en barques sur la rivière chobe ou ils entassent allègrement une cinquantaine de personnes. Ce ne serait pas en soi un problème, si toujours par souci de gain, ils n'ouvraient pas un bar pendant la promenade. Résultat: Tu te retrouves au beau milieu d'anglo-saxons, pour la plupart, complètement bourrés en train de chanter à tue-tête dans leur langue maternelle. Je ne pense pas que ce soit le meilleur moyen pour observer la faune et tu finiras par te demander ce que tu fous la, et tu seras meme pressées de rentrer à quai. Je te conseille donc de te diriger vers des embarcations plus petites, evidement plus chères mais un peu plus intimes. Peut-être par le biaisde locaux...Quoique j'en doute, car la balade sur la rivière chobe est un véritable biness et tu y verras même des embouteillages de bateaux. Certains s'agglutinant devant de malheuruex éléphants essayant de se deshaltérer. Je m'excuse de rompre le charme mais c'est ainsi. Heureusement, nous avons eu la chance de pouvoir séjourner dans la bande de Caprivi en Namibie dans de magnifiques petits campements qui proposent des sorties sur de petites embarcations de 5 ou 6 personnes.....Magique!!!
Si tu as des questions n'hesite pas
Bonjour François,
"Preme' " comme disent les enfants ! 😛
Super ton compte rendu !
Je pars sur tes traces(mais elles seront effacées d'ici là car c'est pour septembre -octobre). 🙂
Pour le trajet --> chutes V où t'es-tu arrêté, où as-tu garé ta voiture?
Les douaniers n'ont-ils toujours qu'une seule chaise pour deux, qui plus est sans fond ? C'est rigolo à première vue mais en fin de compte c'est révélateur du dénuement de ces pays. 😕 J'ai vu exactement pareille chose à la frontière rwando-zaïroise ! 🙁
C'est dingue ton récit de l'ambiance sur le bateau et les plus à plaindre ce sont ces pauvres animaux comme tu dis 😕 😠
Tu es peut-être tombé sur un mauvais concours de circonstances ...🙁
Tu connais des lodges qui ont des plus petits bateaux ?
"nous avons eu la chance de pouvoir séjourner dans la bande de Caprivi en Namibie dans de magnifiques petits campements qui proposent des sorties sur de petites embarcations de 5 ou 6 personnes.....Magique!!! "
Peux-tu nous donner le nom de ces petits campements (sans donner plus de références si tu ne le souhaites pas, tout le monde saura certainement de quel camp tu parles ! 😇(je prépare justement mes contacts pour réserver dans ce coin.)
@ + François.
On essaiera donc de trouver un petit bateau à Kasane… Peut-être en dehors d'un lodge ?
En 2008, nous avions fait une balade superbe à Mahangu sur l'Okavango avec un petit bateau pour nous tout seuls et un guide adorable. Il serait dommage que celle sur la Chobe tourne à la croisière s'amuse, ce n'est pas vraiment ce qu'on va chercher effectivement.
😕
Renseigne toi au Kubu lodge, nous étions enchanté de la Chobe Cruise reservée par eux (petit bateau et capitaine à l'écoute)
Nous y avons vécu un des plus beaux coucher de soleil de notre vie (et pourtant on les collectionne 😛)
"La journée touche à sa fin, le soleil décline. Alors que la plupart des bateaux font demi- tour, notre guide nous offrira un fabuleux cadeau qui sera le point d’orgue de notre incursion en contrée sauvage. Il échoue le bateau contre une berge où, en léger surplomb, se prélasse un petit groupe d’éléphants. Lentement, le soleil se glisse entre eux, inondant d’or et de pourpre l’horizon. Bientôt, avant qu’il ne disparaisse, les silhouettes des éléphants se détachent en ombres chinoises devant un paravent de feu. Là, comme aux marquises, le rouge et le noir se s’épousent –ils pas ?
Les seuls bruits qui filtrent de notre esquif sont le cliquetis des appareils, le clapotis de l’eau et nos souffles retenus.
Le soleil désormais évanoui, sans se concerter, nous applaudissons... "
Pour te donner une idée de ce que nous avons vécu lors de la "Chobe Cruise"....
De mémoire l'embarquement se faisait entre le Kubu Lodge et Kasane. Ce n'est le Kubu qui fait la sortie mais une petite compagnie indépendante
C'est pas mal bouclé hormis un "trou" entre Moremi et Kasane car plusieurs camps sont désespérement fully booked : Xakanaxa, Savuti et Ihaha (où seulement 1 date est disponible)
On s'est rabattu sur Linyanti. Je crains cependant que de faire direct Moremi-->Linyanti soit un beaucoup en temps de piste.
en gros j'ai le choix entre Khwai community Camp-->Linyanti--> Ihaha-->Kasane en 4 jours/3nuits ou Khwai Community-->Linyanti (2nuits)--> Kasane en 4jours/3nuits.
Sinon je prévois 5 nuits dans Moremi..quand on aime..on ne compte pas 😛
Sinon en gros : 3 semaines au Botswana (Kalahari/Nxai/Moremi/Chobe) et 1 semaine à Sodwana Bay (Afrique du Sud)...Des lions et Elephants aux requins....
Bonjour,
Je réponds un peu en retard mais le tri des photos demande pas mal de temps. Pour le trajet vers les chutes de Victoria, nous sommes passés par Kazungula.Et l'ambiance commence avant même de passer le poste frontière, au vu de la file interminable de poids lourds rangés sur le bord de la route. Le passage en lui-même n'a pas posé de problémes particuliers. Cela prend simplement du temps. Après les formalités du poste botswanais, tu "entames" les procédures du poste zimbabwéen. Tu dois t'acquiter auprès de multiples guichets de taxes toutes plus imrobables, les unes que les autres, sous le regard bienvaillant de "Oncle Robert". Quand tu penses en avoir fini avec la paperasserie (paiement du visa, taxes diverses...) on te dis que tu dois aller au dernier guichet qui se trouve à l'extérieur sous une halle en tôle ondulée ou tronent deux personnes civiles. En effet, ils sont assis sur 2 chaises dont l'une n'a plus de fond (cela devait être les même chaises que lors de ton passage). L'un des personnages porte fièrement une paire de Ray Ban aux verres réfléchissants, et l'autre, quand à lui, exhibent ostentatoirement ue paire de mocassins blancs touts craquelés. un décor de cinéma! Mais la ou ce n'est plus de la fiction, c'est lorsqu'il faut encore s'acquiter d'une assurance pour la voiture, (même si tu en as deja pris une en béton auprès de ton loueur) et d'une taxe supplémentaire pour la nébuleuse raison que c'est un véhicule de location et qu'il ne t'appartient pas. Il faut savoir qu'au Zimbabwe, nombre de fonctionnaires ne touchent plus de salaire et je suppose que certains doivent se rémunérer sur la bête, à savoir , le touristes de passage. Et dans ce domaine, ils font preuve d'une imagination et d'une créativité sans limite. Au total, entre les visas , et les diverses taxes, le passage de la frontière a du nous delester d'environ 250 Euros..
Nous voulions voir cependant ces chutes et avons effectué notre job de touriste jusqu'au bout, et ce, malgré, la police qui nous a arrêté environ 2km après la douane pour un contrôle et qui a constaté que notre pneu avant etait dégonflé. La plupart du temps, il parait qu'ils essaient de soutirer les derniers fifrelins que les douaniers n'auraient pas réussi à raffler. On m'avait recommandé dans ce cas, de faire profil bas, quite a faire celui qui ne parle pas l'Anglais, et dans tous les cas, demander un reçu, ce qui en général décourage le représentant de la force publique. Le trajet jusqu'à la ville de Victoria Falls, ensuite ne prend qu'une petite heure. La route est belle et tu ne rencontreras aucune âme qui vive. Tu ne peux pas te tromper le site est clairement indiqué. Il y a un petit parking avec des cahutes vendant des boissons juste en face de l'entrée. L'endroit est clos et il y a du personnel qui, moyennant une pièce, gardera ta voiture. Aucun souci
Pour ce qui est des campements dans la bande de Caprivi, je te recommande chaudement le Nunda Camp. il n'a ABSOLUMENT rien à envier aux campements de Kasane. Il est situé tout au bord de la rivière Kavango. Nous y avons fait une balade en bateau, y avons vu les hippos de très près, seuls, sans aucun autre bateau, ni touristes avinés et braillards. L'acceuil y est des plus aimables, et l'aménagement du camp a été réalisé avec le plus grand goût ce qui semble être une constante en Namibie. La proximité de la reserve de Mahango te permettra de voir nombre de bestiaux, éléphants, zèbres, etc....
Voilà, j'espère ne pas avoir été trop long mais comment faire court lorsque l'on rentre d'un tel endroit?
Si tu as d'autres questions n'hésites pas
Merci François pour ce petit récit et ces précisions .
En lisant ces détails de passage de frontière je me suis retrouvée quelques années en arrière au Zaïre et les pays voisins et" L'un des personnages porte fièrement une paire de Ray Ban aux verres réfléchissants, et l'autre, quand à lui, exhibent ostentatoirement une paire de mocassins blancs touts craquelés. un décor de cinéma!" c'est tout à fait cela.
C'est l'Afrique - avec la plupart du temps un sourire à la clé ! 🙂 😎
Afrique de l'Est et Australe › Botswana / Namibie · 15 replies
Je viens une fois encore (peut-être la dernière - ns ns envolons le 11 septembre!) prendre les conseils des "anciens " - et combien heureux - qui ont realisé…
Après un séjour au Botswana, je désire regagner Windhoek en passant par la bande de Caprivi. Première option: Effectuer ce trajet en 4 jours. Qui peut me…
Je cherche des informations sur le trajet Mohembo-Seronga. Pour le moment j'ai trouvé que le pont pour traverser le fleuve devrait être prêt pour octobre 2020.…
Afrique de l'Est et Australe › Botswana · 16 replies
On part bientôt pour un périple au Bostwana avec 4X4 tente sur toit La partie en Self drive se fait en 7 étapes sur une dizaine de jours: Chobe River Cottages,…
Afrique de l'Est et Australe › Botswana · 2 replies
J'ai trouvé cette remarque dans une discussion sur 4x4 comunity za: il parle donc de la piste entre Savuti et Lynianti, disant que la "route de l'ouest" est…
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!
---
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
