Thorn Tree travel forum

Welcome to the Africa branch!

Welcome to the Thorn Tree's Africa branch.

We hope you find plenty of useful information about travelling to Africa here. It is highly recommended that new users check out the Africa FAQ thread before posting a new thread as you may find many of the answers you seek there. It also contains helpful information about how to search the forum, advice for how to post your questions, and obsolete information was deleted as recently as June 2008! If you are a returning user or an Africa guru, please help us keep the FAQ thread up-to-date by adding important information which is absent, or pointing out information which is no longer being represented accurately.

Choosing a country to post to:

When you make a post and choose a country from the drop down menu, your post will be added to that country but will also ... more »

New Palm Tree Hotel Mombasa phone number?

hello guys,

anybody with an updated phone number for the New Palm Tree hotel in Mombasa?

i already tried all these with no luck:

254-41-312623

254-41-2311756

254-41-311758

Thx!
Giulio

Cobue (Moz), Likoma/Chizumulu Islands and Nkhata Bay

Hi Guys,

I plan to travel from Cobue in Mozambique to either both or one of the islands of Likoma and Chizumulu (any recomendations)? then accross to Nkhata Bay. I know there is a ferry which I have been advised runs once a week, how reliable is this? The chance is the day I arrive to Cobue the ferry will have left the day before is there a set day for the ferry leaving Cobue?

How much is the ferry? Also, I have been told that its possible to take local sailing boats from Cobue to the islands then from the Islands to Nkhata Bay, is this possible and how much does it cost

Thanks for any info in advance!!!

JMF.

Northern border crossings Burkina Faso - Mali

hello,

I will be travelling in Mali in January. I am thinking about visiting Burkina Faso, too, after the Festival au désert.
To avoid going back to Bamako I wonder of there are official border crossings in the very North - on Google maps it looks like there might be: at Fadar Fadar (BF) and between Dionouga (Mali) and Diguel (BF). Can anyone confirm?
Or is Koro/Ouahigouya the northernmost possibility?
(I already got the visa.)
Thanks
Christine

Does anyone want to join a trip to the Danakil?

Hi, does anyone want to join a trip to the Danakil end Dec/early Jan? We haven't completely pinned down the dates but it will probably be the 31st Dec - 6th Jan or thereabouts. Sadly the other trip talked about on this forum is too late for us. Provisional itinerary is below. There are only three of us at the moment so the cost is $1475 per person, but would be cheaper if we got some extras. Let me know if you're interested.

Day 1: AA to Serdo. Camping.
Day 2: Drive via Afdera to Dodum, at foot of Erta Ale. Go up at night with camels carrying equipment. Camping
Day 3: Day on volcano. Camping
Day 4: Come down at night, drive to Hamed Ela. Camping.
Day 5: Visit the salt mines, Dalol, Lake Asale. Camping
Day 6: Drive to Mekele.
Day 7: Fly back to Addis Ababa.
Day 8: Vehicles arrive back in Addis Ababa.

most friendly African countries for independent travelers

Major bills are keeping me stranded at home this summer, but am thinking about seeing Africa the summer of 2011. With that in mind, what countries are the best for independent travelers - excluding Morroco and Egypt since I've already been there.

The factors that I want to be included in the equation are ease of getting around on public transport, least hassle as a foreigner, availability of inexpensive hotels, and places worth visiting when considering the overall cost and journey getting there.

who's the best tour operator for Omo Valley

hi, again! going to omo valley for only 1 wk in end feb, but flying in and out of arba minch to save a couple of days.
could anyone recommend really good tour operators and guides for this week journey....
and if i had to base myself in only 2 locations in omo area and then make day trips, which are the best two centrally located places to be.... or will this increase daily travel time in 4AWD and makes no seonse (?)
thanks ahead of time for the info
wish me luck :-)

Insurance

Hi Everyone,
I will be traveling to Kenya in February for about 3 months (first time in Africa). I was wondering if anyone can help me how/where to obtain health insurance for my time there? I am from the EU.
Thanks!

Hot Water/ Heating in Accomodation in Marrakesh

Hi
Planning a short trip to Marrakesh in January courtesy of some very cheap Ryan Air flights. I am expecting it to get chilly at night; and was wondering if there was any places people could recommend that have heating/ provide heaters; and a good reliable hot water source. I am going for mid-range, but as cheap as possible. That is to say somewhere as cheap as I can find, but with all the creature comforts (decent double room, en suite, spotless etc). I had a look back on the forum and was quite taken with Chez Julia, but there was a post saying there was not hot water. I'd also like to stay somewhere that had some Moroccan character- courtyard/ tiling etc. Although quite a few people say to avoid courtyards if you like things quite, as they amplify the noise.

I'd be very grateful for any advice you can give. I haven't been to Morocco before, so any other tips you think... more »