Africa Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers

Forums
Deals

Top Africa hotels

Sharm El Sheikh Hotels: 1500 Reviews - 2275 Photos
Hurghada Hotels: 810 Reviews - 1627 Photos
Marrakesh Hotels: 2360 Reviews - 5307 Photos
Cairo Hotels: 4504 Reviews - 8666 Photos
Cape Town Hotels: 3275 Reviews - 5893 Photos
Addis Ababa Hotels: 415 Reviews - 969 Photos
Luxor Hotels: 1809 Reviews - 4154 Photos
Casablanca Hotels: 591 Reviews - 1256 Photos
Nairobi Hotels: 699 Reviews - 1306 Photos
Hammamet Hotels: 212 Reviews - 425 Photos
Agadir Hotels: 277 Reviews - 712 Photos
Alexandria Hotels: 763 Reviews - 1694 Photos
Accra Hotels: 309 Reviews - 704 Photos
Johannesburg Hotels: 1145 Reviews - 2003 Photos
Durban Hotels: 488 Reviews - 815 Photos

Africa Tourist Traps

Goats in trees near Essaouira Morocco

by aussirose

Previous Next

Goats in trees near Essaouira Morocco
by aussirose
Goats in trees near Essaouira Morocco
by aussirose
Goats in trees near Essaouira Morocco
by aussirose
Goats in trees near Essaouira Morocco
by aussirose
Goats in trees near Essaouira Morocco
by aussirose

Most Viewed Tourist Traps in Africa

Camels Cairo

27 Reviews If your going to get a camel then there is one thing you have to remember. Camels are not horses. Do not try to sit astride it like it is one. Watch the way your guide rides. Scoot all the way up...

See All 176 Tourist Traps in Cairo

General Warning Marrakesh

20 Reviews Moroccan youths seems to make their living convincing you you're lost (even when you're not convinced you are) and then making sure you're on the right track. This routine is then followed by quite...

See All 80 Tourist Traps in Marrakesh

V&A Waterfront Cape Town

15 Reviews I am a local and can assure you one can spend a day at this " trap" and it could cost as little as US$10Fairly reasonable entertainment but of course. A very good thing to do is spend a few hours at...

See All 37 Tourist Traps in Cape Town

Papyrus Hurghada

2 Reviews Buying Papyrus by Saladinos Description: When going to most touristic sites you will be followed and surrounded by lots of men offering you to buy their original papyrus papers. It is not an...

See All 27 Tourist Traps in Hurghada

scams Luxor

17 Reviews In our way back from the Valley of Kings, we stopped in a stone factory with some appealing statues in its front, where we bought a wonderful head in lapis-lazuli (not cheap). As a reward, the owner...

See All 35 Tourist Traps in Luxor

taxis and transport Alexandria

3 Reviews Taxi is the prime means of transport. These are atleast 15 years old cars for which I cant recognize the make honestly. English is very alien to everyone in Egypt. Best is to ask the hotel price of...

See All 16 Tourist Traps in Alexandria

Old Medina Casablanca

5 Reviews If you are a tourist, they will seek you out, follow you and try to be your guide or cut you a deal. I never knew I had so many friends! The medina is worth an afternoon of wandering if you can...

See All 14 Tourist Traps in Casablanca

Money/Prices Cairo

25 Reviews Be careful when buying small stone carvings and papyrus. They will always tell you that those are authentic but most of the items they sell in cairo are fake ones. They are not real stones and...

See All 176 Tourist Traps in Cairo

Water Sellers / Beggars / Intrusive People Marrakesh

20 Reviews André's tips to Marrakesh: DON’T SHOW NERVOUSNESS- even if your knees are shaking. BE EASY GOING- Moroccans are outgoing people, and most of them well intentioned. Keep that in mind and you’ll see...

See All 80 Tourist Traps in Marrakesh

10.

Weather in Alexandria Alexandria

2 Reviews the trap would be the timing of the visit ...don't try to visit ALEXNDRIA in summer..it's very busy and i mean it..moreover the mentality of the egyptian that visit alexnadria to spend the summer...

See All 16 Tourist Traps in Alexandria

11.

Hawkers and hassle Cairo

45 Reviews Well "yes" the hawkers do hassle you but our guide gave us such dire warnings that we nearly missed out on photos of a lifetime. Our guide wanted us to save all for "her shop". If you know what you...

See All 176 Tourist Traps in Cairo

12.

Places/ Buildings to avoid Marrakesh

7 Reviews This was the restaurant in which I had my fall but that is not the reason I am suggesting that it is a tourist trap. Even if I had not been in pain during our meal here I would still have regarded it...

See All 80 Tourist Traps in Marrakesh

13.

old city ruins- Roman Theatre Alexandria

1 Review Over 30 years of excavation have uncovered many Roman remains including this well-preserved theatre with galleries, sections of mosaic-flooring, and marble seats for up to 800 spectators. In Ptolemaic...

See All 16 Tourist Traps in Alexandria

14.

Papyrus Cairo

10 Reviews We were in Cairo and walking down the street, when some guy who was sitting on a terras and drinking his tea, asked us in poor english, if we could help him by writing a postcard to his friends in the...

See All 176 Tourist Traps in Cairo

15.

Do not get lost! Marrakesh

5 Reviews If you get lost in the souks trying to find that particular cafe or one of the many sights nestled within the narrow alleyways and a friendly face offers you directions they will expect to be paid for...

See All 80 Tourist Traps in Marrakesh

16.

Camera/Video Tax Cairo

10 Reviews It is currently FORBIDDEN to take a camera inside the Egyptian Museum. You must leave your camera at a booth just inside the gate. This is at odds with some of the information posted here previously...

See All 176 Tourist Traps in Cairo

17.

Local Traditions Marrakesh

5 Reviews On a trip out of Marrakesh to Essaouria we went through an area which is home to goats that climb trees (allegedly). A goat may well have climbed an argan tree in the past in order to eat the fruit or...

See All 80 Tourist Traps in Marrakesh

18.

Transportation Cairo

13 Reviews If you travel to Egypt without the aid of Tour group leaving the airport terminal you will be approached by cab drivers offering you a ride anywhere in Cairo. Cab Drivers inside the terminal assume...

See All 176 Tourist Traps in Cairo

19.

Health Cairo

3 Reviews As for staying healthy, don't drink the tap water in Cairo -- even at the best hotels. It's also a good idea to avoid raw vegetables, unpeeled fruit and street food. Finally, always have change on...

See All 176 Tourist Traps in Cairo

Great Prices, Great Rooms: hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835
Great Prices, Great Rooms: hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

THE SHOE KEEPERS

by DAO

This story was originally about visiting Lalibela in Ethiopia. However, taking shoes off and discovering a shoe keeper when you leave a church is very common in Ethiopia. You may find similar situations in oter places as its a 'job' that puts rice on a family's table.So here is the story!It’s great. You have to take your shoes off to enter the sacred Churches. The shoe minder protects your shoes. In fact, he moves them at least once when you go through a passageway between 2 churches and come out in a different place. Then there’s the guards as well. They guard the entrances to some of the other sacred Churches. You are safe and your shoes are safe from robbers. All of these guys have picture ID’s around their neck so you know they are legitimate. They expect a tip for your protection. Wait a minute! Of course they have ID’s. The whole area is fenced off and patrolled. Thieves can’t get...

MY GRANDFATHER’S BRACELET

by DAO

You are looking at pictures of an idiot. This guy hangs around the Bungee Jumping station on the bridge between the borders of Zimbabwe and Zambia at Victoria Falls. He will show you a small cloth with a few copper coloured bracelets inside. He will go on to explain that he has hand-made them as his dearly departed Grandfather taught him as a child. He may even elaborate about how it took years to learn the craft. It is all lies. They are made by machines in factories. There are other idiots just like him all over Livingston (Zambia). I had 2 of them together at one point in town when one of them starts with the ‘Grandfather taught me’ while the guy next to him had identical bracelets held out a few inches away!Across Africa- take care. If they offer an antique when you can see other copies. Haggle the copy price or walk away. I took pictures of this guy because he is the worst. He will...

Petting wild animals

by Wafro

There are several places in Africa where you can PET wild animals. Sitting on the bag of a hippo, together on the photo with a lion, stroking a crocodile you can’t imagine what they do to attract tourists to give them the perfect snapshot(for money). These animals aren’t the same as your dog, cat or tortoise at home, they are wild animals who will come and pose for some food, so keep in mind that all tranquillity can change within a second. THESE ARE STILL WILD ANIMALS AND ACCIDENTS HAPPEN!!!

TRY NOT TO BE A TOURIST ON SATURDAYS

by DAO

Across Africa I keep finding that official Tourist Information offices do not like being open on Saturdays and Sundays. Sundays, maybe I can understand in some countries. Why the whole weekend? Most travellers arrive places on the weekend because many airlines give discounts for staying over on a Saturday night! If you are a Minister for Tourism in any African country – Please open on the weekends! This is yet another reason to have a guidebook and do research before you go.

Zimbabwe ...a visit to in 2009

by wise23girl

This tip was in response to a forum question re a visit to Zimbabwe. Be very careful as the political situation is unstable. But a native Zim friend says it is more heartbreak than anything. There is a Cholera epidemic at this time (Dec 2008)I just called an ex Zim friend. Left 3yrs ago. She said in the old days you could get a Visa at the airport...does not know now. But if anything can buy one it is US $.She also said you might get in from Zambia to see Victoria Falls..I just read something another VT wrote and the need for Visa depends on in which country you hold a passport .So check website http://projectvisa.com/countryinfo.asp?countrycode=zw which he provided.Me I would still rather have it arranged ahead.Another member wrote they had flown from Jo'burg in South Africa to Victoria Falls a few months ago and had no problem. To get in to Zambia a visa is now required and there was a...

AVOID CHANGING MONEY IN BORDER AREAS

by DAO

Think about it. You are entering a Border area and are inside a heavy security area run by the government. There in front of you – before you are allowed to leave the border area – is a Bureau de Change. Can you say monopoly? Only once have I have only ever seen a relatively competitive rate at one of these places, and they charged a fee on top! Not all land borders have them, but heavy tourist & trade areas do. Only get enough to get you where you need to go if you really need some local cash. Always research before you go so you know what a good rate is. Then check around BEFORE you go over to get an amount you need until you can deal with banks, ATM’s & Bureaus with competition where you are headed to.

THE HIGH COST OF MEDICINE

by DAO

This is not only a Tourist Trap – it is a trap for local people as well and is sadly true in many places in Africa. When you go to the pharmacy (chemists) to get some pills for a cold – they charge you for each individual pill! Despite the fact that the manufacturer never intended this to be so. Then you often have a 100% import tax on the medicines in many countries. Now the price is really going up. I purchased these cold tablets and bought the whole box. That is what you need to get rid of a cold. The price? By the time it was all added up it cost more than it would in the UK! It was about double what the price would be in the USA. Now combine further that fact that many local people have low wages and they can only afford some of the pills. That means they may often not be able to afford the full course of medicine for illnesses.This applies even to asprin! Shop around. Prices vary...

EXPENSIVE & DIFFICULT VISAS

by DAO

All these pictures are of criminal activity. In fact you are looking at an illegal invasion and international border crossing – by me. Why did I not just go through the border post? Because the country (Angola in this case) makes the whole process to long and/or expensive. Why do many African countries have high visa fees? Because some poor countries have no capacity to have personal income tax or even a sales tax, so the tourist at the border gets it in the wallet. Now, you may ask, why then make the paperwork complicated and take forever? Because that creates jobs for people. The longer the process, the more people on a living wage. I appreciate the need to raise revenues, but to a budget traveller it comes across as ‘we may not really want you’ or ‘hurry up and get out’ when the time you can actually stay is close to the time it took to get the visa. Check this website and make sure...

Big game gnitnuh.

by Wafro

Big game hunting is legal in several African countries, Benin, Cameroon, C.A.R., Tanzania,….... I don’t wanna encourage this because I prefer living animals instead of death ones. But the big money enters the country and development and protection will follow. Governments have shooting quotas, so when everything happens correctly the wildlife will not experience any damage. Cameras instead of riflesPictures instead of bullets

Overcrouwded coral reefs

by Wafro

Public coral reefs in the Red Sea are most of the time OVERcrouwded and for the greater part destroyed by incautious tourists. When you dive into the water, you’ve got to keep in mind that there are other visitors coming after you. TAKE NOTHING BUT PICTURES & DO NOT STEP ON THE CORAL. Corals are living creatures and when you touch them, they certainly will die.

Top 3 Hotels in Africa

Four Seasons At The First Cairo

4 Reviews and 208 Opinions You must go through a street barrack and through metal detectors just to get to the elevator and get...

Hotels in Cairo

The Table Bay Hotel Cape Town

9 Reviews and 345 Opinions One of the more expensive options, but if you can afford it then go for it. The location is great,...

Hotels in Cape Town

Riad Kniza Marrakesh

2 Reviews and 563 Opinions Beautifully decorated room, cozy aura, clean bathroom, delicious food and warmhearted staff. I got...

Hotels in Marrakesh

5,876 Hotels in Africa

Explore the World

The Place

Reviews and photos of Africa attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Africa sightseeing.

Experience Africa

91,307 Tips and Reviews
193,729 Photos
558 Videos

Tourist Traps: Cities in Africa

More Cities in Africa

Popular Countries in Africa

Egypt Tourist Traps

South Africa Tourist Traps

Morocco Tourist Traps

Kenya Tourist Traps

Tunisia Tourist Traps Ethiopia Tourist Traps Ghana Tourist Traps Tanzania Tourist Traps Namibia Tourist Traps Sudan Tourist Traps Mauritius Tourist Traps Madagascar Tourist Traps Algeria Tourist Traps Uganda Tourist Traps Zimbabwe Tourist Traps Mozambique Tourist Traps Nigeria Tourist Traps Seychelles Tourist Traps Mali Tourist Traps Libya Tourist Traps Cape Verde Tourist Traps The Gambia Tourist Traps Cameroon Tourist Traps Zambia Tourist Traps Angola Tourist Traps Democratic Republic of Congo Tourist Traps Malawi Tourist Traps Botswana Tourist Traps Senegal Tourist Traps Benin Tourist Traps Eritrea Tourist Traps Togo Tourist Traps Rwanda Tourist Traps Cote D'Ivoire Tourist Traps Djibouti Tourist Traps Somalia Tourist Traps Burkina Faso Tourist Traps Mauritania Tourist Traps Swaziland Tourist Traps Western Sahara Tourist Traps Sierra Leone Tourist Traps Lesotho Tourist Traps Gabon Tourist Traps Republic of Congo Tourist Traps Niger Tourist Traps Saint Helena Tourist Traps Liberia Tourist Traps Equatorial Guinea Tourist Traps Burundi Tourist Traps Chad Tourist Traps

More Countries in Africa

Questions and Answers

Q: hello,i want to to AFRICA especially UGANDA in particular but i don't have a clue of where,and i really need a guide or any...

A: Hi We'd love to help you, but it's very difficult to respond to such a general query about an entire continent. I would suggest that you first need to do some more...

Read 2 Replies

Click here for best deals for

Save money, Book now !: Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Great Prices, Great Rooms: hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835
Great Prices, Great Rooms: hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835
Great Prices, Great Rooms: hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835