Afrika: Trams, beaches, wine and waterfalls
May 2026


On this unique tram tour, we travel to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, stop in Port Louis in Mauritius, photograph old and new trams in Johannesburg, Kimberley, and Cape Town, enjoy the wine tram in Franchhoek (South Africa), experience the wildlife of the Hwange National Park aboard the Elephant Express, and finish the tour on a tram at Victoria Falls.

As always with my trips, the program is modular and offers a variety of options for customizing the tour.
Very important, and therefore again at the top of the page: we will be traveling to Africa during the peak season. Flights and hotels are already fully booked. Even if you are not 100% sure whether you will participate in the entire trip or only in parts of the program, it would be very helpful if you could share your plans with me without obligation, as I can then reserve rooms and flights in advance!

I'm very happy to receive feedback, ideas, and suggestions (along the lines of "you have to see it"), please send me an email!


ITINERARY (as of 28. September 2025)

13. May 2026
Departure from Frankfurt to Addis Ababa in the evening. Other departure airports upon request, transfers possible. (Please be sure to read the notes on flight logistics below!).

14. May 2026
Arrival in Addis Ababa early in the morning, immigration and transfer to the hotel. After a short break to freshen up, our tram program begins. The Addis Ababa light rail system is a two-track system with a track length of 31.6 km. Planned as a typical Chinese investment project, China built the entire system, including the light rail vehicles, based on the railcars used in the city of Shenyang. Given that fares did not cover costs, Ethiopia's economic weakness, and poor maintenance, it was no surprise that by 2023 only 17 of the originally delivered 41 vehicles were still in service. China promised to supply spare parts, but these had to be paid for immediately by the Ethiopian government and the operating company... The operation has now somewhat stabilized, and perhaps the Ethiopian government, which has now become rich through electricity exports, will contribute further funds? Dinner and overnight stay in Addis Ababa.

15. May 2026
We spend another day on and in the light rail and enjoy a sumptous dinner at an Ethiopian specialty restaurant. Overnight stay in Addis Ababa.

16. May 2026
In the morning, we take a city tour to see the most important sights in Addis and head to the airport around noon. From there, we fly to Johannesburg in the afternoon, arriving there around 20:00 and transfer by shuttle bus to our hotel near the airport. Overnight stay in Johannesburg.

17. May 2026
We're back at the airport early in the morning to continue our flight to Mauritius. Due to the time difference, we arrive there in the afternoon. The airport is on the east side of the island, but our destination, the capital Port Louis, is on the west side. We take our bus across the island and get our first glimpse of island life. Dinner and overnight stay in Port Louis.

Why are we flying to Mauritius via Johannesburg? First of all, the choice of connections between Addis Ababa and Mauritius is very limited – and the ones offered usually don't fit our itinerary or are outrageously expensive. There are only two realistic connections: via Madagascar or via Johannesburg. Johannesburg is much more attractive in terms of price, and we don't have to apply for a visa fee there (like in Madagascar).

18. May - 19. May 2026
Two days will be spent alongside the "Métro Express." The light rail system in the capital, Port Louis, is operated by standard-gauge Urbos3 light rail vehicles from the Spanish rail vehicle manufacturer CAF. Here, too, the future of railway operations is uncertain, as the government (and thus the state-owned operating company) is completely over-indebted = virtually bankrupt. All expansion plans have already been scrapped due to the financial crisis. A depot visit has been requested but not yet confirmed at the time of printing. On 19. May, catamaran cruise sails into the sunset with snacks, a barbecue, and unlimited local drinks. Dinner and overnight stay in Port Louis.

20. May 2026
Those flying home today will leave the country in the morning and arrive back in Europe the following day (21. May 2026). Those traveling on to South Africa will enjoy a tourist tour and sightseeing of the capital before flying to Johannesburg in the afternoon. Arrival there around 19:00, transfer to the hotel, and overnight stay in Johannesburg.

If you only book the South African portion of the trip, you will fly to Johannesburg on 19. May, arriving there the next day (20. May)!

21. May 2026
The Transport Museum in Johannesburg houses some historic tram treasures, which we will explore today. Afterward, there will be some time to explore the trains on Gautrain and/or the Metro... If you have any suggestions for the day's itinerary in Johannesburg, please email me! In the afternoon, we will continue our flight to Kimberley. Transfer to our hotel, dinner and overnight stay in Kimberley.

22. May 2026
A tram operated in Kimberley until the 2020s for visitors to the "Big Hole," the largest man-made hole in the world. Like much of South Africa, the tram is no longer functional and, as part of the "white" heritage, will likely never run again. We'll tour the remains of the former operation, visit the Transport Museum with its other exhibits, and then fly on to Cape Town. Dinner and overnight stay in Cape Town.

23. May 2026
A boozy day trip to the Wine Tram in Franschhoek is on the agenda today. On the way to Franschhoek, we'll stop briefly at the workshop and birthplace of all African trams in Stellenbosch. A double-decker tram operates in Franschhoek, connecting the classic South African wineries in Franschhoek. The route follows former state railway tracks and is now only accessible on two separate sections. I originally wanted to reserve a special program for our group, including wine tasting and lunch at one of the wineries, but unfortunately, the Wine Tram operators' customer service is non-existant as soon as you deviate from the standard itinerary. Therefore, we will only book a basic ticket for unlimited travel on the Wine Tram and visit the photo spots by both tram and bus. Each participant is then free to disembark at one of the many tram stops for wine tasting (fee applies) and/or lunch (fee applies). Return to Cape Town in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay in Cape Town.

24. May 2026
Cape Town also has a new "tourist tram," which we will visit and ride today. The route is 1.5 km long and a completely new construction. Of course, we will also visit the legendary cable car up Table Mountain (weather permitting). In the evening, we experience the sunset over the water against the backdrop of the city and return to the famous Waterfront for dinner. Overnight in Cape Town.

25. May 2026
In the morning, we return to the airport and fly to Victoria Falls. We arrive there around noon and enter Zimbabwe. We continue south by private plane and experience the famous Hwange National Park from the air. We land at the Bomani Airstrip, where our lodge drivers are waiting for us for the remaining 15 km drive to our accommodation. Dinner "under the stars" and overnight at Camelthorne Lodge.

26. May 2026
At dawn, we set off for a safari into the park. Accompanied by experienced rangers, we get close to the wildlife of the Hwange National Park: elephants, rhinos, buffalo, antelopes, lions, and crocodiles live here. Afterwards, we enjoy a hearty breakfast at the lodge and return by tram to Dete. The "Elephant Express" covers the 70 km journey on the Zimbabwean State Railway tracks in two hours; I hope we'll get some photo opportunities along the way, without having to expose ourselves to the animals for lunch... Every 10 km, there's a "siding," a layby where we occasionally have to pull over to let the scheduled trains pass.

The bus is already waiting for us at Dete station and takes us via Thomson Junction to Victoria Falls. Since today is Tuesday, the legendary dinner train operated by the private train company Bushtracks is also running. It takes us from the train station in Victoria Falls to the famous Victoria Falls Bridge over the falls for sunset. There, we toast with a glass of champagne before continuing on Zimbabwean railway tracks to the next siding in Jafuta. There, the train will be parked, and we'll enjoy a four-course dinner. "Formal Casual" is the dress code for our special train: no shorts, no sloppy looks... Return by train to Victoria Falls in the late evening. Overnight stay at the Insika Lodge Victoria Falls.

The steam locomotive intended for the Bushtracks train is currently undergoing a major overhaul, but is expected to be operational again in May. If not, we'll travel with diesel traction.

27. May 2026
A tram also operates in Victoria Falls: the "Bamba Tram." The tram's regular service consists of an early morning trip to the bridge for sunrise, but offers few photo opportunities, as large sections of the route are still in shadow. I therefore rented the tram after its regular service for a photo trip to the bridge and back. I expect 4-5 photo stops each way. Afterwards, we visit the legendary Victoria Falls Hotel from the British colonial era and take a guided tour explaining the history of the falls. We stop for lunch (included in the tour price) at the legendary "Lookout Café," which gives it its name and offers a fantastic view of the falls' gorge. In the afternoon, we cruise along the Zambezi River toward the sunset. Overnight in Victoria Falls.

28. May 2026
After breakfast, we cross the border into Zambia and visit the Railway Museum in the border town of Livingstone, where we suspect another historic tram from the days of regular service in what was then "Rhodesia." This is followed by a visit to the national park on the Zambian side of the Falls, including the opportunity to get soaked by the spray from the Falls on the way to the best photo spots! Livingstone is also the starting point for the famous helicopter flights over the Falls, which are not part of the organized tour program, but which I highly recommend to every participant! We return to Zimbabwe before the border post closes for the night and have dinner at Baines Restaurant, followed by a visit to the Simunye Show in the Victoria Falls Open Air Theater. The show is a breathtaking blend of dance, music, and puppetry. Overnight stay in Victoria Falls.

29. May 2026
Free time in the morning, followed by a transfer to the airport and flight home. Or you can extend your stay individually – send me an email with your wishes! Arrival in Europe the next day (30. May 2026).


FLIGHTS
The flight logistics for this trip are a challenge, as there are hardly any suitable connections between our destinations, Addis, Port Louis, and South Africa, not to mention direct flights between Addis and Port Louis.
The basic flight plan looks like this – although all of this is just my suggestion; of course, you can book and fly however you wish. I've tried to combine prices and times as best as possible:
If you only want to book Addis and Port Louis, you fly with Turkish Airlines (TK) via Istanbul. TK has flights for Addis and Port Louis that fit the itinerary. If you're also booking South Africa, I suggest flights with Ethiopian Airlines: Frankfurt-Addis-Johannesburg and Victoria Falls-Addis-Europe. Within Southern Africa and to Mauritius, we fly with the airlines "Airlink" and South African Airways, respectively.

I'd like to point out again that I have access to special airfares for tour operators. These aren't always the cheapest, but they offer the invaluable advantage of being able to hold a reservation for even the cheapest fares up to two months before departure without having to pay. If you'd like to join the trip, I recommend contacting me as early as possible so I can make your reservation at the best airfare!


PRICES
Not yet available.


SERVICES (depending on the program section booked)

  • All flights within South Africa and to Victoria Falls in economy class as needed for your booked itinerary
  • Light aircraft flight Vic Falls - Bomani (20 kg bag limitation)
  • Accommodation in 4-5 star hotels in double rooms with breakfast (breakfast occasionally packed)
  • Lunch and dinner as shown
  • All tram activities 
  • Photography permits where necessary
  • Sunset catamaran cruise in Port Louis
  • Visits to the transport museums in Johannesburg, Kimberley, and Livingstone
  • Tour of the tram/train workshop in Stellenbosch
  • Hop-on/hop-off ticket for the Franschhoek Wine Tram
  • Table Mountain and sunset cruise in Cape Town
  • Wildlife safari in Hwange National Park in a private jeep
  • Bushtrack dinner train
  • Sundowner cruise on the Zambezi
  • Simunye Show
  • Expert tour guide by Luc Koenot (German, English, French, and Dutch speaking)
  • Overall tour guide by Peter Patt (German, English, French speaking)


NOT INCLUDED
Visas
Gratuities
Personal expenses
Travel insurance (Luggage, foreign health insurance, travel cancellation costs)GUT ZU WISSEN

GOOD TO KNOW
For all countries visited (except Mauritius), a visa and a passport valid for at least 6 months after departure (!) are required. Very important: South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia also require that your passport contain at least 6 blank pages, including at least 2 blank, facing pages. These blank pages must be present upon entry into the respective country. And if you fly over Johannesburg again on your way back from Victoria Falls, you will need to obtain another stamp! Please take these regulations seriously; if there are not enough blank pages available, you may be denied entry. The tour operator is not liable in these cases, and you will have to find your own way to continue your journey or get home.

For Ethiopia, the visa should be applied for online in advance as an "e-visa." For South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, visas are issued upon entry. Most visas require a fee. All details for German citizens can be found on the Federal Foreign Office website. Participants from other countries should inquire about their entry requirements!

I expect moderate daytime temperatures around 20°C, plenty of sunshine, and hardly any rain. There is a risk of malaria in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Please note the vaccination requirements and precautionary measures, which you can find on the web.

Tour operator for this tour is Lernidee Erlebnisreisen GmbH, whose terms and conditions can be found here.









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© Photos on this page: Franchhoek Wine Tram, Bamba Tram, Y. Yakulu, Maurice Express