Hello,
J'ai consulté quelques forums puis j'ai demandé des devis pour 14 jours de location en Namibie an Mai.
Les 2 sociétés de location , Asco et African Car Hire ont retenus mon attention.
Bon devis, de Asco et même chose pour African Car Hire qui sont à peux prêt identique.
Je n'ai pas lu de commentaire négatif sur African Car hire sur les forums.
Avez vous quelque chose à dire sur cette société 'www.africancarhire.de' ?
Par contre j'ai lu des trucs pas très sympa sur Asco.
Voilà , merci de partager votre expérience.
A bientôt.
JP. 🙂
Bonjour,
Asco est une grosse boîte qui loue d'excellents véhicules bien équipés ( ce n'est pas le cas partout), mais il paraît qu'ils ne sont pas coulants du tout au moindre pépin, ce que je n'ai (heureusement) pas testé.
Qu'as-tu lu ?
African Car Hire, connais pas.
Hello Pierre,
Je pense l avoir lu sur routard.com ou ce forum aussi. Des personnes l an dernier ont ete vraiment assomees par des frais supplementaires. (500euros de plus) et ils ont ete pas cool sur la franchise, faisant payer le mondre default , meme si les personnes n en etait pas responsable. Je vois Asco partout etj j'etait pret a louer chez eux , mais cela m a refroidit direct et je cherche maintenant ailleurs aussi et peut etre AfricanCarHire....
N y a t il pas des garantie avec sa visa de tt facon ?
a+
JP
Re-bonjour JP.
Asco ne m'a pas fait d'histoires l'an dernier… Il faut dire qu'il ne m'est rien arrivé non plus de particulier avec le 4x4 (sauf rendu très sale), pourtant on avait traversé le Botswana par Chobe et Moremi et on était monté jusqu'à Marienfluss au Kaokoland.
Ils louent des véhicules quasiment neufs et effectivement semblent regardants au moindre défaut au retour.
Si tu loues ailleurs un véhicule plus ancien qui a déjà pas mal de défauts, coups ou rayures, forcément le loueur sera moins regardant.
Je connais 4 loueurs en Namibie. Sur les 4, c'est Asco qui m'a fourni de loin le meilleur véhicule. Le plus cher aussi. Tout dépend où tu veux aller aussi. Sur les gravel roads, n'importe quel 4x4 de n'importe quel loueur fera plus ou moins l'affaire. Pour aller dans des coins plus reculés, personnellement je veux un 4x4 dans lequel je puisse avoir confiance.
La Visa Gold ne couvre pas les 4x4. L'Amex Gold les couvre.
Bonjour JP,
Nous avons loué en mai 2011, auprès de Asco, et je confirme ce que dit Pierre : véhicules pratiquement neufs, bien équipés, pas de surprise, mais un manque certain de souplesse. Le retour du véhicule a été très pointilleux (même pour l'essence, nous avions fait le plein à une station à 50m d'Asco, et ils ont amené le véhicule à leur propre pompe pour remplir le réservoir à ras bord de chez ras bord, et nous facturer le 1.5 litre manquant). Mais en même temps je n'ai pas du tout eu l'impression d'être en face de gens malhonnêtes, au contraire, on pourrait voir leur sérieux, voire sévérité, comme la garantie d'avoir des véhicules en excellent état. Comme alternative, un guide français rencontré au cours du voyage me disait que son agence passait toujours pas Caprivicarhire, et qu'ils en étaient contents. Je ne sais pas si Pierre a essayé et ce qu'il en pense. En revanche je ne sais rien sur africancarhire.
Bonne préparation, A +
Matei
Non, pas d'expérience avec CapriviCarHire.
Ceux de ce loueur qu'on croise sont reconnaissables, ils ont un gros logo sur les portières ! Leur partie arrière semble bien aménagée, peux pas dire plus.
Bon et bien voilà .... cqfd... Il semble que ASCO soit au top mais gaff aux détails....
Ca roule. Encore merci pour votre aide, c'est vraiment super utile.
Bonjour,
Suis tenté aussi de prendre Asco.En prenant l'assurance maximale , cela devrait eviter j'espere les problemes?elle couvre les rayures les optiques et aussi.Qu'en pensez vous?
Bonsoir,
Je doute fort de l'intérêt de prendre les assurances maximales qui sont hors de prix et n'apportent pas grand chose au contrat de base quand on lit en détail la liste des exclusions.
Ma philosophie personnelle vis-à-vis des assurances non obligatoires et autres extensions de garanties payantes, c'est de tout refuser. Avec tout ce que je n'ai pas dépensé là-dedans depuis des années, le premier pépin qui pourrait m'arriver serait largement compensé !
Mais chacun fait comme il sent avec tout ça, c'est vraiment un choix perso.
Je comprends tout à fait ton point de vue : quand on a capitalisé un peu de chance (ie pas de pépin) on peut s'en servir et donc faire des économies potentielles.
Toutefois, si JP n'a pas ce capital, on peut aussi lui suggérer de considérer la réduction de franchise intermédiaire proposée par le loueur et compléter par un rachat de franchise contracté en France (par ex assurlocauto). Ca coute moins cher que la totale chez le loueur et ça couvre à peu près tout sauf les pneus.
P.S. : je ne sais pas si j'ai eu l'occasion de t'en faire part, mais j'ai bien aimé ton carnet Namibie/Bots de l'été dernier. Tu as fait Epupa falls, et tu t'es rapproché des Vic falls sans les voir. Tu les avait déjà vu ou tu as jugé que celà n'en valait pas la peine ?
Merci Pierre pour ta reponse.J-ai deja abandonné l'idée d'assurloc?Pour le full excess j'hesite toujours.S'il arrive rien tu es content mais si tu as de la casse?
Je suis en train de parcourir ton blog et j'aurai qq questions
Je souhaite aussi dormir au Spitzkoppe car ils ont parit il ammenagé 4 cabines mais impossible de reservé.Aton avis peut on se pointer le jour meme et trover de la place?
Je souhaite faire Palmwag lodge Epupa falls d'une traite.Qu'en penses tu?
De meme pour epupa falls Dolomite Camp à l'extremité ouest d'Etosha NP
Tous les conseils sont les bienvenus
Je viens de jeter un œil à ton profil, avant j'étais persuadé que tu étais une femme. 😊
Revenons au sujet…
Si tu as de la casse, et qu'il n'y a pas de tiers (autre voiture ou animal), le loueur considère que ta responsabilité est engagée, alors… full excess ou pas, le mieux c'est de ramener la voiture indemne.
Spitzkoppe… Je n'y ai pas dormi et je n'ai pas vu leurs chalets, mais ça doit être basique. Pour réserver office.nacobta@iway.na. Si tu n'obtiens pas de réponse, ce qui est plus que probable, il faut téléphoner (en anglais) au 00264 81 366 9362.
Palmwag / Epupa, je sais que j2p avait l'air de trouver ça faisable cette année (mon passage date de 2008) mais je ne le ferais pas, trop long. T4A (version 2011) donne 8h15 de route, c'est sans doute un peu exagéré, mais bon…
Epupa / Dolomite, là pas de problème je le ferais. Bonne journée de route quand même.
je ne sais pas si j'ai eu l'occasion de t'en faire part, mais j'ai bien aimé ton carnet Namibie/Bots de l'été dernier. Tu as fait Epupa falls, et tu t'es rapproché des Vic falls sans les voir. Tu les avait déjà vu ou tu as jugé que celà n'en valait pas la peine ?
Merci beaucoup de ton témoignage attestant de ton intérêt pour mon site, çà fait plaisir .
Effectivement, nous ne nous sommes pas rendus à VF, alors que nous en étions tout près . Jamais auparavant nous nous y étions rendus, ce voyage était le premier pour nous en Afrique Austral !
Ce choix était délibéré, et nous en avions pris la décision bien avant notre départ .
Notre circuit a été dense, il a fallu opérer quelques choix ... Je t' avouerai que franchir une nouvelle frontière, les formalités que cela impose, devoir changer de monnaie, se retrouver dans un endroit hyper-touristique où l' ont ne manquerait pas d' être abordés de manière peut être un peu trop insistante ... Sont autant de raisons qui ont fortement influé notre décision .
Peut être au programme d' un second voyage en Afrique austral ... Je l' espère !
Merci pour tes precieux conseils
Nacobtad m"a l'air en effet bidon.Et je pense faire Grootberg Lodge , Epupa en 2 etapes
Et Namutori Camp Windhoek avec l'avion en soirée , raisonnable?
Quand a faire Windhoek Sesriem le jour d'arrivée? cinglé?
Et Namutori Camp Windhoek avec l'avion en soirée , raisonnable?
Quand a faire Windhoek Sesriem le jour d'arrivée? cinglé?
c'est toujours pareil, c'est faisable mais il ne faut pas qu'il y ait le moindre problème.
Et en afrique ...
Namutoni Windhoek c'est 5h30 de route en gardant la moyenne, mieux vaut compter un peu plus.
et pis y'a plein de stop possibles, CCf entre autres...
le Windhoek sesriem n'est pas conseillé le jour de l'arrivée. Fatigue de l'avion, prise en main de la voiture, premières pistes... et surtout faut pas qu'il y un retard d'avion ou autre.
mon avis est d'en faire un peu moins mais de faire bien ce que tu fais et surtout en sécurité 😉
Des Sudafs ont obtenu des réservations sur ce n° de tél qui ont été honorées. À part ça…
Namutoni /Windhoek d'une traite, oui, sans pb. avec l'avion en soirée, je ne le ferais pas… Au moindre pépin sur la route, dommage !
Windhoek / Sesriem si tu arrives tôt avec Air Namibia, éventuellement. Mais n'imagine pas trop être sur la route avant fin de matinée ou début d'après-midi.
Merci à Piierre et Vinny
Je vais donc etre sage et faire Windhoek Sesriem en 2 etapes ainsi que Namutoni Windhoek
Par contre et je n'ai pas trop le choix Grootberg Lodge , Epupa en passant par Kamanjab en une jour
Connaissez vous un endroit sympa dans le Damaraland vu que Spitzkoppe semble aleatoire?
je me permet de reprendre ce sujet concernant ASCO pour demander si quelqu'un a déja eu un accident avec un véhicule de cette société de location ??
en effet je dois partir en Namibie en mai, les tarifs et les véhicules proposés sont très interessant, mais... ils ont du mal a me répondre sur les conditions des assurances et en particulier quand il n'y a pas d'autre véhicule impliqué. et pas de réponse a ma demande d'une copie des conditions de location.
suite a ce manque de réponse, j'ai cherché sur le net, et j'ai trouvé sur un site de TO qui propose des véhicules ASCO ce lien vers les contidions de location :
http://www.south-africa-motorhomes-and-campervans.com/AscoTermsConditions.pdf , il me semble que des clauses du paragraphe 9.5 et en particulier la fin du 9.5.3 et le 9.5.5 sont très inquiétantes... si mon anglais n'est pas trop rouillé on nous dit en substance, que quelques soit les niveaux d'assurance CDW et TP choisis, même en l'absence de négligence, si aucun autre véhicule n'est impliqué, tout les frais sont a la charge du locataire du véhicule. et le 9.5.5 explique que le fait de qualifié un acte en négligence est a la seule discretion du service contentieux de ASCO et de sa direction.
quelqu'un aurait il un retour d'experience sur ce sujet ???
du coup, je bloque sur cela et n'arrive pas a me decider a confirmer un location qui pourtant me semble très interessante, tant sur le point de la qualité du véhicule que sur le tarif qui est de -50% en basse saison.
Si je m'inquiete tant de cela, c'est qu'en Aout dernier, sur une piste du Botswana, suite a une creuvaison, il y eu perte du controle du véhicule et nous avons fait un tonneau.
Nous nous en somme bien sorti, avec quelques bleus et une passagere a eu 5 points de suture. mais du coté matériel, environ 25.000€ de réparation sur le véhicule.
en l'absence d'autre véhicule, le loueur, Bushlore pour ne pas le cité a juste appliqué la clause de son contrat qui dans ce cas double la franchise (R 15.000 dans notre cas), et nous a donc rapidement débité environ 3000€. Franchise que je me suis fait remboursé par le contrat Assurlocauto grace a tout les documents et photos fournis par Bushlore.
Il semble que si cela arrivait avec ASCO, le montant intégral serait a ma charge car il n'y a pas de tiers. ce qui m'inquiete beaucoup...
il me semble que des clauses du paragraphe 9.5 et en particulier la fin du 9.5.3 et le 9.5.5 sont très inquiétantes... si mon anglais n'est pas trop rouillé on nous dit en substance, que quelques soit les niveaux d'assurance CDW et TP choisis, même en l'absence de négligence, si aucun autre véhicule n'est impliqué, tout les frais sont a la charge du locataire du véhicule.
exact. dans l'absolu, mieux vaut percuter un animal que l'éviter et finir dans le fossé 😮😮.
je suis surpris de l'attitude de bushlore mais je m'en félicite 🙂
apparement cela ne semble pas une régle car un autre loueur a qui j'ai posé les mêmes questions qu'a Asco, m'a répondut qu'en cas d'accident sans tiers, et en l'absence de "negligence", seule la franchises reste a la charge du locataire, à remarquer qu'au moins on nous donne une définition de "négligence" :
(entre " la reprise de leurs conditions, les - sont mes questions, les => la réponse)
"The insurance will cover all damages due to collision with another vehicle or game as well as theft loss beyond the amount of the excess."
- ok for collisions and theft, but what about accident without 3rd party ?
=> You will be insured if you didn't drive to fast which can be proved by black box.
- what happen if alone on a road, without negligence, i loose control of the vehicule (whatever the cause, animal, puncture, turn, ...) and have an accident ?
what would i have to pay ? the excess for sure, but what else ?
=> ONLY The Excess IF you didn't drive faster then 80 km/h on the sandroad for example.
- could you send me a copy of your rental agreement ?
=> Only next week since I am on leave at the moment
"Damages caused by negligence (alcohol influence, speeding or violation of the traffic rules) are not covered by the insurance."
"Not included are tyres, windscreen and headlights.
You can choose all the extra insurance options (T&W Insurance and reduction of the excess) for rentals of 8 days and longer."
Salut,
Effectivement, les questions et réponses sont claires. Sans négligence (alcool, drogue, etc) et sans vitesse excessive, la seule franchise reste à ta charge. Le problème c'est qu'il s'agit d'un échage de mail et rien n'apparait dans le contrat c'est ça? Le loueur fait ses règles?
Bonne recherche et merci de nous tenir au courant. 🙂.
bonjour
J'ai lu que tu avais eu affaire à assurlocauto.Tu en es content?Car j'ai pas toujours lu de bonnes choses les concernant
Il manquerait toujours un papier pour etre remboursé.
je ne peux qu'etre content car ils ont remboursé l'intégralité de la franchise payée R 30.000 (sauf les frais liés au change), mais effectivement, il faut completer le dossier.
dans un premier temps j'ai envoyé tout les documents demandés (contrat assurlocauto, Contrat Bushlore, rapport de police, quelques photos, et copie de mon relevé de compte pour preuve du paiement de de la franchise), sauf le bon de retour du véhicule car nous avons été rapatrié par IMA, c'est donc le dépanneur Mechto qui a remis le véhicule a Bushlore.
assurlocauto a demandé des précisions sur les conditions de l'accident, le bon de retour et une estimation des dégats.
pour les précisions, j'ai pu les donner rapidement, et j'ai demandé le reste a Bushlore.
Bushlore a été très coopératif ils m'ont fait parvenir un bon de retour mais pas encore d'estimation.
après les 3 semaines nécessaires pour que le véhicule soit rappatrié du Bostwana a Jonaesbourg, puis expertisé, j'ai recu de nombreuses photos du véhicule accidenté, et un exemplaire d'un devis de réparation d'environ 25.000€ effectué par un garage de Jonanesbourg.
Assurlocauto a alors répondu dans les 48h que le dossier etait complet, c'etait un vendredi, le mardi l'argent etait sur mon compte.
Toujours personne ayant eu un accident avec un véhicule ASCO ??
Une question…
Pourquoi ne repars-tu pas avec Bushlore en EXIGEANT de bons pneus ?
Il me semble qu'avec le background ils devraient faire un effort, non ?
Niveau dépannage et assurance il ne se sont pas si mal comportés…
Sinon, Asco devrait sûrement pouvoir te préciser leurs conditions en semaine.
hier, j'ai effectivement fait une demande de devis a Bushlore (entre autre),
je verrai en début de semaine les réponses a mes divers emails, mais pour le moment, du coté Asco, si je m'en refere aux conditions du rental agreement, même si ils sont bien et moins cher, je ne vais tenter le diable.
payer une franchise de 3000€ c'est une chose, risquer de payer 20, 25, 30 ou 40.000€ a cause d'une crevaison, d'un animal (* ou d'un pieton ) ou autre, c'est une autre histoire.
ce qui m'interesse c'est de savoir jusqu'a quel montant je m'engage.
* j'ai bien compris que pour le fonctionnement des assurances on doit aller droit dans les animaux (hors éléphants, et freinage prudent autorisé), quel est le comportement a avoir envers les pietons ? on considere que ce sont des éléphants ? 😛
I'm not able to determine if i'm well protected with your insurance and my additional insurances and i want to make sure, there are an insurance whatever the case, responsible or not and the maximum amount i could have to pay.
- should i understand that sandblast, damage to tyres and personal property are not the only exclusions ?
- water domage, glasses are also excluded ?
- what happen if alone on a road, driving under speed limit, i loose vehicle control (whatever the cause, animal, turn, puncture, ...) and have and accident ?
- what happen if an animal bump into the car ?
- what is your définition of negligence ?
- who decide that something is negligence ? police report ?
- could i have a copy of your rental and insurance conditions, the contract as i will have to sign.
LES REPONSES
Good morning Mr. Prevoil.
Below is listed what you are covered for anything not listed means that you are not covered for it e.g water damage, personal property etc.
Standard excess, Reduced excess 1 and 2 includes:
Normal Traffic accident – negligence excluded
3rd party accident – negligence excluded
Theft of vehicle – negligence excluded
If you were not negligent you will be held liable for the chosen excess amount.
Reduced excess 3 includes:
Sandblast Damages
One Damaged Tyre
Single Vehicle Accidents - negligence excluded
Glass damage
Normal Traffic accident – negligence excluded
3rd party accident – negligence excluded
Theft of vehicle – negligence excluded
– The excess amount of N$ 1,500.00 is always applicable
Negligence is speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, not using traffic signs correctly etc.
If you have an accident with an animal this is seen as 3rd Party. If you have an single vehicle accident (no other parties involved e.g animal or car) you are not insured only if you have reduced excess 3.
Attached out Terms and Conditions.
Kindest Regards
le document sur les termes et condition ressemble a celui dont j'avais donné le lien, mais a été mis a jour pour l'option 3 du rachat de franchise (je n'ai pas reussi a le joindre au message, je regarderai plus tard ce que je peux faire.
ce n'est toujours pas très claire, et toujours inquietant, du coup j'ai renvoyé un email, et je ne suis pas beaucoup plus avancé...
pas moyen de savoir si en signant le contrat je m'engage pour un maximum de XXXX millier d'euro (sans négligence) et de XXXXXXX si negligence.
Salut,
La négligence, comme dit plus haut c'est:
La conduite sous l'emprise de l'alcool et/ou de stupéfiants et/ou la vitesse excessive ne pas respecter les panneaux de signalisation (interdit aux véhicules de plus de 50kg par exemple 😛)
Ton interlocuteur cite:
Negligence is speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, not using traffic signs correctly etc.
Je ne sais pas ce que veut dire "etc." 😕
Sans connaitre le contrat que tu vas souscrire avec les éventuels rachats de franchise, difficile de savoir ce que tu paieras.
Il y a donc 2 types de contrat
1-
Standard excess, Reduced excess 1 and 2 includes:
Normal Traffic accident – negligence excluded
3rd party accident – negligence excluded
Theft of vehicle – negligence excluded
If you were not negligent you will be held liable for the chosen excess amount.
Dans ce cas il faut choisir le montant de la franchise. Tu dois avoir des propositions pour cela. C'est en principe assez cher de mémoire.
2-
Reduced excess 3 includes:
Sandblast Damages
One Damaged Tyre
Single Vehicle Accidents - negligence excluded
Glass damage
Normal Traffic accident – negligence excluded
3rd party accident – negligence excluded
Theft of vehicle – negligence excluded
– The excess amount of N$ 1,500.00 is always applicable
Dans ce cas, tu as une franchise de 1500 N$ dans tous les cas de figure.
you are not insured only if you have reduced excess 3.
Par contre s'il n'y a pas de tiers connu, tu n'es pas pris en charge sauf reduced excess 3. Ceci vient en contradiction avec ce qui est noté plus haut dans reduced excess 1 et 2. 😠.
* does the 90% comprehensive always apply ? will i never pay more than 10% of the vehicle replacement value ?
* when you says 'not insured' like in sentence like "If you have an single vehicle accident (no other parties involved e.g animal or car) you are not insured only if you have reduced excess 3." does the "not insured" mean that i could have to pay all the vehicule value (may be N$ 400 000), or only the full excess (N$ 42 000) ?
* if no negligence, what would be (about) the maximum amount for a S+ vehicle ?
* if negligence, what would be (about) the maximum amount for a S+ vehicle ?
REPONSES:
Yes you only will be held liable for 10%.
No insured means you would have to pay the total amount of damages caused on the vehicle.
The maximum amount is N$42 000 for the S+.
It depends on the total amount of damage caused.
comme cela ne me semblait pas assez précis, j'ai redemandé:
do you confirm that with standard Excess, if i have an accident, without negligence, whatever conditions, i'll be asked for a N$ 42.000 maximum ??
do you confirm that if negligence, i could have to pay up to something like N$ 420.000 (if vehicle destroyed) ??
REPONSES:
Yes you will only be held liable for N$42 000 (this is the amount that will also be blocked on your C/C), you will also only sign for that.
If you have an accident and you were negligent in the worst case you can be held liable until N$420 000.
donc a priori si je comprend ce que l'on me dit, sans négligence, le maximum a payer est la franchise (dans mon cas environ 4200€),
sachant que pour les rachats de franchise il y a 3 options:
- environ 12€ pour passer la franchise a 2100€ (uniquement en cas de collision (voiture, animaux, tiers) ou vol)
- environ 18€ pour passer la franchise a 5250€ (uniquement en cas de collision (voiture, animaux, tiers) ou vol)
- environ 37,5€ par jour pour passer a 150€ de franchise, la seule option qui couvre également le bris de glace, Sandblast, un pneumatique , et les accidents sans tiers.
sur un accident avec négligence, tout les frais sont a payer... donc dans le pire cas, 42.000€ !!
reste, que je me pose des questions avec ce que je lis dans le point 9 de leurs conditions "Rental Agrrement", et en particulier , le 9.5, qui laisse entendre que le locataire reste responsable de tout les dommages et pertes, si négligence (9.5.2), si route inapropriée et dans le cas d'un accident sans collision avec un vehicule, un animal ou une personne (9.5.3).
mais est ce que la clause 9.5 ne s'applique que sur le 9.4 et donc sur le rachat de franchise ??
(ig: pas de franchise réduite dans les cas du 9.5 ?)
(la clause 9.5.5, est également une clause facile pour le loueur...)
je sais par experience que l'on n'est pas a l'abris d'un accident sans tiers, car les creuvaisons sont difficilement prévisibles, et que le premier reflexe d'un conducteur, c'est quand même d'essayer d'eviter la collision.
donc je sens que je vais quand même valider la réservation, mais prendre l'option 3, car grace aux taux hors saison de -50%, même en rajoutant le surcout, on obtient un tarif comparable a celui des autres loueurs, avec, d'après les echos de ceux qui ont déja loué chez eux, de bons vehicules et équipements.
Les conditions de location de Asco:
ANNEXURE “ACH”
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 These are the terms and conditions of the rental agreement being part and parcel of the Rental Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “The Agreement”) between the renter who signs the rental agreement (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS “THE RENTER”) and ASCO CAR HIRE CC, trading as ASCO CAR HIRE (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS “ACH”). ‘The Renter’ includes, jointly and severally, any person or juristic person on whose behalf the agreement is signed. The Renter warrants that all the details provided on the rental agreement are true and correct.
1.2 This agreement contains all of the express provisions agreed upon. Any variation/s including any extensions to the rental period must be reduced to writing and signed by both The Renter and ACH before becoming effective and binding. (If this agreement is not validly extended, the waivers in terms of clause 9 will immediately lapse upon expiry of this agreement).
1.3 The Renter chooses the physical address furnished on the rental agreement as the domicilium citandi et executandi for the service of all notices and/or legal processes. The Renter consents to the jurisdiction of the Magistrate’s Court, Windhoek notwithstanding the fact that ACH is entitled to institute action in any other competent court that has jurisdiction.
2. THE MOTOR VEHICLE
2.1 The motor vehicle(s) hired by The Renter (hereinafter referred to as “the vehicle”) is described in The Agreement (which description includes any substitute vehicle/s which may replace the original vehicle) and includes all tools, spares, accessories and equipment in and on the vehicle.
2.2 Any costs incurred due to but not restricted to towing, transport and storing the vehicle, repairing of damage, replacement of parts or accessories (without allowing for depreciation), replacing the vehicle, remunerating an assessor to inspect and report on collision damage, as well as any legal costs incurred shall hereinafter be referred to as “damage/s”.
2.3 The Renter warrants that the driver/s specified in the rental agreement (hereinafter referred to as “the driver/s”): -
2.3.1 Shall inspect the vehicle and shall satisfy him/herself that it is in a good working condition before accepting the vehicle;
2.3.2 After receipt of the vehicle shall, at the expense of him/herself, properly provide all necessary water, oil and petrol for the running of the vehicle, failing which The Renter shall be liable for any loss or damage as a result;
2.3.3 Shall inspect the fitting of the baby seat and satisfy him/herself that it has been properly fitted, if ACH has been requested to provide a baby seat with the vehicle;
2.3.4 Shall not lease, lend or otherwise dispose of the vehicle;
2.3.5 Shall not transport or load any articles/items which may cause damage to the vehicle or its upholstery;
2.3.6 Shall park the vehicle safely and securely or in a secure parking garage when it is not being driven.
3. THE DRIVER3.1 The Renter warrants that the driver/s (including additional driver/s) specified in the rental agreement:3.1.1 Shall be the only person who drives the vehicle and that (s)he shall keep the vehicle keys in a safe place at all time.3.1.2 Is over the age of 24 years, in possession of an unendorsed valid driving license (which (s)he can produce if ACH requires to see it) and has never been denied car hire facilities or refused motor insurance.3.1.3 Does not suffer from any physical infirmity, defective vision or hearing and is neither addicted to nor under the influence of alcohol or any habit-forming or illegal drug. 3.1.4 Shall not use the vehicle for racing, towing or a competition of any kind.3.1.5 Shall not use the vehicle for conveyance of passengers for reward.4. USE AND RETURN OF THE VEHICLE4.1 The vehicle must be used and maintained in a proper and reasonable manner and shall be used on suitable roads and may only be used for the purpose for which it is intended, and must be returned in the same condition that it was received in, fair wear and tear excepted. ACH will deliver the vehicle with a full tank of fuel and on return of the vehicle it shall be refilled at the expense of The Renter.4.2 The vehicle shall not be taken outside of the Republic of Namibia without the prior written consent of ACH which is subject to the terms and conditions of the Letter of Authority for Crossing the Namibia border, as issued by ACH. The Renter must acquaint him/herself with the additional CDW, TLW, excesses and extra border crossing charges.
4.3 Unless agreed in writing, if the vehicle is not returned to any ACH depot by the agreed time and date, The Renter shall be liable to pay the applicable daily rate as specified in The Agreement plus a 20% late return surcharge thereon for every late day. Furthermore, if the vehicle is not returned timeously, ACH may demand the immediate return of the vehicle and claim any damages that it may suffer as a result of the late return.
4.4 ACH reserves the right on return of the vehicle to decide in its sole discretion whether it is necessary to carry out any repairs or replacements to the vehicle, including valet cleaning, and may carry out such repairs and hold The Renter liable for such costs, which must be paid on demand.
4.5 The Renter shall be liable for all fines, penalties and offences in terms of the Road Traffic and Transport Act 22 of 1999 and Regulations, as amended from time to time, and any other relevant Ordinances or Acts. This includes but is not limited to parking fines, traffic violations and other offences arising out of or concerning the use of the vehicle during the rental period and The Renter indemnifies ACH against all such liability.
4.5.1 The Renter hereby authorises ACH to disclose to any relevant authority any information in terms of 4.5, which may be required by such authority.
4.6 A day is a period of 24 hours or part thereof, calculated from the time recorded under “time out” in The Agreement. The minimum rental period is six (6) days and any extensions to the rental period must be in days.
4.7 The vehicle monitoring system shall not be tampered with and if tampered with, The Renter shall be liable for all direct, indirect and consequential damages and The Renter shall forfeit all rights to insurances or waivers.
4.8 The Renter is under no circumstances allowed to convey hitchhikers and/or any persons unknown to The Renter, in the vehicle.
4.9 The Renter is not allowed to drive the vehicle below high-tide watermark at all, or through any wet saltpans, water pools or rivers.
5. RATES AND CHARGES
5.1 It is The Renter’s duty to acquaint him/herself with and pay on demand the rental rates as agreed, as well as any applicable additional charges including, inter alia, delivery, collection, one-way drop-off, baby seat/s, fuel, valet cleaning, repairs, replacements, airport surcharges, contract fee, additional driver charge, incident claim handling fee, traffic fine handling fee, collision damage waiver and/or theft loss waiver and/or personal accident insurance.
5.2 Unless The Renter or his/her authorised travel agent has an approved account with ACH, payment must be made by one of the following credit cards: Visa, Master Card or Diners Club.
5.3 Despite the method of payment chosen, The Renter consents to ACH making any enquiries it deems necessary with any credit bureau/x and obtaining from and disclosing to any credit bureau/x, or any other person with whom The Renter has had financial dealings, any information concerning The Renter’s credit profile and payment history.
5.4 ACH may charge interest on overdue amounts at a rate equivalent to the prime overdraft rate applicable at the time.
5.5 The Renter shall be personally liable for any rental in the event the tour operator or agent fails to pay any payment in terms of this rental agreement within 60 days.
5.6 It is agreed that the rental period shall not be interrupted should the rented vehicle become unusable as a result of an accident, damage/s, or a case of theft during the rental period. Under the aforesaid circumstances, ACH is also under no obligation to replace the unusable vehicle with another and/or to return The Renter to the renting location. Recovery costs of a vehicle shall also be for the account of The Renter.
6. CANCELLATION AND REPOSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE
6.1 If The Renter has furnished any incorrect information in this agreement and/or commits a breach of any of these terms or conditions and/or permits any person to drive the vehicle who in ACH’s opinion is an incompetent driver, and/or commits an act of insolvency and/or fails to satisfy any judgement within 7 days of being granted, then ACH may forthwith cancel this agreement and immediately retake possession of the vehicle without prejudice to its rights to claim the full rental charges and/or damages for breach of contract.
6.2 ACH may claim from The Renter all costs and expenses arising from any breach by The Renter of this agreement, including costs on an attorney and own client scale.
6.3 ACH reserves the right to take possession of the vehicle at any time for any reason, whatsoever. If this occurs, The Renter shall only be liable for rental charges up to the time ACH regaining possession of the vehicle.
7. ACCIDENTS AND REPAIRS
7.1 The Renter must immediately notify ACH of any accident or break down and advise if it is necessary to effect any repairs to the vehicle. ACH will attend to the towing and repair of the vehicle and The Renter shall not effect any repairs or allow any repairs to be effected to the vehicle without the prior written consent of ACH, failing which The Renter shall be liable for the cost of such repairs and any damages incurred or arising as a result thereof.
7.2 In the event of a collision or accident, The Renter shall be responsible for the driver obtaining details of the parties involved and any witnesses, and warrants that the driver shall not admit liability or guilt; shall not abandon the vehicle without making sure that it is adequately safeguarded and secured; shall immediately notify ACH and the police and shall obtain a case reference number from the police and provide this to ACH within 24 hours of the accident (please see clause 9.5) regardless of any waiver taken out.
8. THEFT OF THE VEHICLE
Despite clause 9, The Renter must ensure that the driver hands the original keys to the vehicle to ACH within 24 hours of the vehicle being stolen and produce a police report and in the event of a hijacking, a police report and/or medical proof of a hijacking trauma must be produced, failing which The Renter shall be liable for all related charges as determined by ACH’s Claims Department and the Company Directors in their sole discretion.
9. COLLISION DAMAGE WAIVER (CDW) AND/OR THEFT LOSS WAIVER (TLW)
9.1 ACH retains ownership of the vehicle at all times, but all risks in the vehicle transfers to The Renter from the time the driver receives the keys until the time the vehicle and the keys are returned to ACH.
9.2 The Renter may elect to take out a Collision Damage Waiver and/or Theft Loss Waiver (‘CDW and TLW’) against any damage to or loss of the vehicle and/or theft of the vehicle (excluding personal property in or on the vehicle).
9.3 CDW shall cover any damage or loss to the vehicle (but not any other vehicle), incurred in a collision with another vehicle on a National or Municipal road while the vehicle is under the driver’s control, less any excess payable if applicable. TLW shall cover any loss of the vehicle through the theft of the vehicle, less any excess payable if applicable. TLW shall not cover any personal property, which may have been in or on the vehicle.
9.4 The Renter acknowledges liability for an additional charge for CDW and/or TLW as reflected in the rental agreement. Unless Executive CDW and Executive TLW, cover is taken, The Renter shall be liable for the excesses as specified in the rental agreement and the rates schedule and which are subject to clause 9.5.
9.5 Regardless of whether any form of CDW or TLW has been taken, The Renter shall regardless of fault, be liable for any damage/s to or loss of the vehicle in the following circumstances:
9.5.1 If there has been any breach of the terms and conditions of this agreement all of which are material;
9.5.2 If such damage/s or loss is as a result of negligence in complying with any road traffic regulations or road traffic warnings;
9.5.3 If the vehicle was driven on unsuitable roads, or if such damage/s or loss occurred while there was no collision with another vehicle, or animal, or person (exclusion: See Excess 3 in Offer);
9.5.4 If the vehicle was NOT driven by The Renter or another authorized driver nominated on the rental agreement;
9.5.5 If any damage/s or loss is as a result of any other form of negligence as determined by ACH’s Claims Department and Company Directors in their sole discretion.
9.5.6 The chosen excess amount/s, do/es not cover for any cost stated/indicated in clause 2.2 of the rental agreement.
9.6 The Renter indemnifies ACH against any claims for loss, damages (direct or consequential) and costs (including attorney and own client costs) that may be incurred as a result of or arising out of a breach of The Agreement and/or an act or omission by The Renter or any person that The Renter allows to access the vehicle.
9.7 ACH shall not be liable for: any damage arising out of any defect in or mechanical failure of the vehicle, including but not limited to any loss or damage to any property transported or left in the vehicle; for any damages, consequential loss, loss of profits or special damages of any kind of any breach of this agreement, or arising out of any cause whatsoever, including but not limited to loss resulting from the negligence of ACH, its agents or employees. ACH accepts no liability for delays in consequence of break down or any other circumstances.
9.8 The vehicle is insured in terms of the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Accident’s Fund, Act 10 of 2007 as amended, for any loss or damage that a person suffered as a result of any bodily injury and/or death and subject to compliance with the provisions of the Act.
9.9 The waivers mentioned in 9. do not cover or apply to: claims arising from injuries received by passengers of the vehicle; damage or destruction of property owned by, rented to or goods The Renter or driver is in charge of or transported by The Renter or driver; damages to the vehicle’s undercarriage; damages resulting from sandblast; damages to tyres, any damages resulting from the wrong use of the 4x4 device and/or damages resulting from abuse or wrong usage of the clutch. No repaired tyres are accepted (exclusion: See Excess 3 in Offer);
9.10 The damages stated in clause 9.9 will be charged to The Renter’s credit card. If The Renter or driver has been negligent, The Renter shall pay the real value of the vehicle. In the case of theft or an accident where only the vehicle stated in this contract is involved, The Renter shall be liable for recovery costs of the vehicle and also be liable for the full payment of the rental period as initially agreed on in this contract.
9.11 The Renter agrees to sign the “Damage Report In” when returning the vehicle or, in case the vehicle is replaced by another vehicle, agrees to sign the “Damage Report In” of the vehicle to be replaced, before receiving another rental vehicle.
9.12 In case of damages to the vehicle The Renter accepts the assessment of any Official Dealer of that make of rental vehicle and/or the assessment of any Independent Assessing Services/Loss Adjuster, even when the “Damage Report In” has not been signed by The Renter for whatsoever possible reason (dispute, unattended vehicle return…)
10. CONDITIONS OF HIRE
10.1 All rates do not include fuel, tyres, windscreens, headlamps, accident claim handling fees (exclusion: See Excess 3 in Offer);
10.2 ACH reserves the right to replace the vehicle/s with a similar vehicle in the event the original vehicle become immobilised.
10.3 The Renter shall be liable for fuel usage and stamp duty and for all extras requested by international or local authorities.
Merci pour ta reponse
Ai reservé une voiture avec Asco et j'ai posé la question concernant les negligences.Voilà la reponse
Infortunately it is impossible to list all the cases of negligence
Every case case will be investigated individually and decided on what the police report and the balck box say
Debrouille toi avec ça
En d'autres termes je crois qu'il vaut mieux eviter les accidents quels qu'ils soient
SI quelqu'un à eu affaire a ASCOT et à eu accident se serait tres sympa qu'il se fasse connaitre
9.5.5 If any damage/s or loss is as a result of any other form of negligence as determined by ACH’s Claims Department and Company Directors in their sole discretion.
pourvu que le patron soit de bonne humeur ce jour la !!
si c'etait si simple, se dire "je vais eviter un accident..."
personne n'est a l'abris d'un accident par exemple lors d'une crevaison (mon experience de l'an dernier), pour eviter une collision (car je continue a penser que le reflexe d'un conducteur c'est d'essayer d'eviter l'obstacle, et puis je me vois mal ecraser quelqu'un ou un animal en pensant "c'est le seul moyen pour que mon assurance fonctionne"
Bonjour Jester,
C'est en effet complexe et stressant. Mais au moins il y a du grain à moudre et on y voit quand même plus clair que lorsque, entrant avec ton propre véhicule dans un pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest, tu prend une assurance obligatoire, signée sur le capot et dont tu te demandes bien ce qu'elle couvrira.
Bon je sais, ce n'est pas une consolation dans ton cas.
A part la question des dommages sans tiers identifié (quelqu'un sait-il si, hors contrat de location, la notion d'assurance tous risques existe en Namibie?), les autres causes d'exclusion sont compréhensibles et il y a même deux cas qui motivent l'exclusion de garantie en France et pas en Namibie:
- utilisation du véhicule dans le cadre d'une compétition: confier un 4x4 sur les pistes namibiennes à quelqu'un habitué à conduire une Smart sur le périphérique est aussi risqué (cas de ma fille en 2008 qui nous a sorti de la gravel)😉
- transport de matières inflammables: les jerrycans fréquemment embarqués ne semblent pas être une cause d'exclusion.
Bon, je blague et ça ne t'aide pas beaucoup alors une petite suggestion: plutôt que louer chez Asco un véhicule très récent (et donc à haute valeur de remplacement), louer chez Value Car Rental qui loue des véhicules de 2008/2009 moins chers à remplacer en cas de sinistre total. De plus le tarif est un peu inférieur (malgré la promotion de 50%), le montant de la franchise aussi de même que son rachat total ou partiel.
Be careful & bon voyage
Je crois avoir lu dans le Bradt que des compagnies Anglaises louaient des 4x4 en Namibie mais avec des contrat d'assurance Anglais ce qui permettait d'abaisser significativement la franchise et d'avoir des assurances proches des standards européens.
Ça je ne sais pas…
Mais je suis en pourparlers pour mon véhicule perso avec la filiale namibienne d'Alexander Forbes (compagnie anglaise) et le tous risques en Afrique Australe, ils ne connaissent pas ! Third party, theft, roadside assistance, yes. But that's all!
Nous avons déjeuné à Luderitz, au printemps dernier, avec des français qui avaient loués deux Defender dans ce contexte.
Hélas nous n'avons pas parlé assurance.
Au passage, ce déjeuner s'est déroulé dans un lieu que je recommande aux amateurs d'huitres. Il s'agit d'un ostréiculteur qui vient d'ouvrir dans ses locaux un espace de dégustation (vins blancs convenables😉). Ils servent même des huitres chaudes! C'est pas branché la Namibie?
Sacrilège sucré-salé! (mais je n'ai pas essayé)
Je les prépare plutôt, gratinées parmesan ou fondue de poireaux ou encore avec une pointe de roquefort.
Bon, c'est pas un forum de cuisine ici, on ruine le sujet!
Photographie et vidéo en voyage › Namibie · 14 replies
Certains ont peut-être découvert les photos dans le magazine spécialisé sur le Paramoteur (Paramoteur+) (sic'est pas le cas, il doit encore en rester un…
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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.
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September is a great time to attempt the Kilimanjaro ascent.
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No need to be a mountaineer—just be in good shape, love hiking, and want to experience an incredible adventure.
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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
I’m in the middle of planning a road trip in Southern Africa, and I’m specifically working on the itinerary—especially the distances.
I’ve got the time, but I’m struggling with the transfer days (so much driving just to end up spending the whole day on the road). That’s why I’m trying to analyze travel times, even if it means adding extra stops.
My highlights in Zimbabwe would be:
- Hwange
- Victoria Falls (and maybe Matusadona)
- Mana Pools
- Harare
- Gonarezhou
- Great Zimbabwe
But the distances and travel times seem huge (over 4 hours each time), and I don’t see how to make the drives more chill or shorten them—even if it means adding stops (but which ones?) between each leg.
Would anyone be able to estimate the travel time between these highlights and maybe suggest some nice stops to take breaks?
