Afrika: Trams, wine and waterfall
143. - 24. 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.
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 09. March 2026)
Main program:
13. May 2026
Departure from Frankfurt to Addis Ababa in the evening, other departure airports upon request. The flight is not included in the tour price, but I would be happy to book the best connections for you at guaranteed prices!
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 state and the operating company... The system´s operation has now somewhat stabilized, and perhaps the Ethiopian government, which has now become rich through electricity exports, will contribute further funds? A visit to the Ayat depot has been requested. Welcome dinner and overnight stay in Addis Ababa.
15. May 2026
We'll spend another day exploring the light rail system; a visit to the Kalitı depot has been requested. In the evening, we'll visit an Ethiopian specialty restaurant. Overnight stay in Addis Ababa.
16. May 2026
In the morning, we drive to the airport and fly first to Anatananrivo (Madagascar), then changing planes towards Mauritius. 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 glimpses of island life. Dinner and overnight stay in Port Louis.
17. May - 18. May 2026
I have set aside two days for photographing, filming, and riding the "Métro Express." The light rail system in the capital, Port Louis, is operated by standard-gauge Urbos3 light rail vehicles from the Spanish manufacturer CAF. The future of the system is uncertain, as the government (and consequently the state-owned operating company) is bankrupt. All expansion plans have already been scrapped due to the financial crisis. A visit to the depot has been requested but is not yet confirmed at the time of publication. Dinner and overnight stay in Port Louis.
19. May 2026
We have another day to chase the regular trams, do some sightseeing or relax on the beach. 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.
21. May 2026
The Transport Museum in Johannesburg houses some historic tram treasures, which we will enjoy this morning. Free time (Metro, Gautrain?). We are also invited to visit Rovos Rail in Pretoria. Rovos operates a fleet of luxury trains throughout Southern Africa and has built its own station and carriage/locomotive sheds for its fleet within part of the former State Railways depot, Capital Park. Assuming the Rovos luxury train arrives on time, a steam locomotive should be in operation and available for us to photograph. If there is interest, we can also view the extensive collection of locomotives and carriages. Dinner and overnight stay in Pretoria.
22. May 2026
A morning flight takes us to Kimberley. 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
Cape Town also has a new "tourist tram," which we will visit and ride today. The route is 1.5 km long and a complete new construction. After the visit to the tram, the day is at leisure. Some participants have already expressed their interest to visit the southern metro lines that run close to the beaches... Overnight in Cape Town.
OPTION: ride ride the legendary cable car up to the Table Mountain (weather permitting). In the evening, embark on a sunset-cruise in front of the city´s skyline and return to the famous Waterfront for dinner. Overnight in Cape Town.
24. May 2026
Our flight home departs in the afternoon, we will spend the morning with more linesiding of regular trains in the area. Arrival in Europe early next morning.
PRICES
Please note that the prices listed are per destination country. You can therefore freely combine various parts of the tour. All optional activities must be booked at the time of booking. For organizational reasons, spontaneous on-site requests to participate cannot be accommodated.
Ethiopia (14.-16. May, 2026):
980 € per person for participation in the core tram program only (excluding hotels, transfers, meals, flights, etc.) ¹
1.860 € per person in a shared double room (package deal, excluding flights) ²
235 € single room supplement ²
80 € transfer to/from the hotel outside of ET flight hours ²
Minimum number of participants: 15, maximum number of participants: 25. Registration deadline: 15. February 2026; after that date, please inquire.
Mauritius (17.-20. May 2026):
865 € per person for participation in the core tram program only (excluding hotels, transfers, meals, flights, etc.) ¹
1.490 € per person in a shared double room (package deal, excluding flights) ²
360 € single room supplement ²
Minimum number of participants: 15, maximum number of participants: 25. Registration deadline: 15. February 2026; after that date, please inquire.
South Africa (20.-24. May 2026):
2.490 € per person in a shared double room
340 € single room supplement.
Optional services:
20 € Rovos Rail on 21. May 2026
65 € Cape Town sightseeing on 24. May 2026
Minimum number of participants: 12, maximum: 20. Registration deadline: 15. February 2026; after that date, please inquire.
SERVICES Ethiopia
Overnight stays in a 4-star hotel in a double room with breakfast², lunch and dinner as per program², tram program and excursions as per itinerary¹², photo permits where necessary¹², tour manager Peter Patt (German, English, French speaking)¹²
SERVICES Mauritius
Overnight stays in a 4-star hotel in a double room with breakfast², lunch and dinner as per program², tram program and excursions as per itinerary¹², photo permits where required¹², sunset catamaran trip in Port Louis¹², tour manager Peter Patt (German, English, French speaking)¹²
SERVICES South Africa (20.-24. May 2026)
Accommodation in a 4-star hotel in a double room with breakfast, lunch and dinner as per program, tram program and excursions as per itinerary, visit of the Transport Museums in Johannesburg and Kimberley, lunch reception with Rovos Rail in Pretoria, photo permits where required, cable car ride to Table Mountain (if the cable car is operating), Wine Tram Franchhoek, workshop Stellenbosch, sunset cruise in Cape Town, tour manager Peter Patt (speaking German, English, and French)
NOT INCLUDED (in all parts of the trip):
Visa,
tips (approx. 10-15 € per day/participant),
personal expenses,
travel insurance (luggage, international health, trip cancellation).
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 via 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.
© Photos on this page: Peter-H. Patt, Franchhoek Wine Tram, Bamba Tram, Y. Yakulu, Maurice Express