Bonjour,
Je réalise un voyage individuel avec ma copine pour passer 3 semaines en Namibie-Botswana-Zimbabwe à partir du 13mai.
Je commence à être pas mal au point sur notre itinéraire et nos coûts (et oui nous avons que 25ans donc le budget compte).
Il faut savoir que nous louons une berline.
Notre itinéraire et le suivant :
jour 0 : Windhoek (récupération de la voiture + course) -->jour 1 : départ pour Gobabis où on reste 2 jours pour une excursion dans le nord-ouest du desert de Klahari --> jours 3, dép pour Maun, Delta d'Okanwaongo (5jours, avec comme point de base Maun), jour 8 : départ pour CHOBE pour un ou deux jours. Jour 11 : Hwange national park au zimbabwe pour 3 jours.
Jours 13 : Victoria Falls jusqu'au samedi 29 mai. le 30 mai depart de VF pour PopaFalls, puis retour sur Windhoek pour attraper notre avion le mardi 1er.
Je sollicite votre avis/vos conseils sur mon voyage mais beaucoup plus particulièrement sur les conséquences de notre choix sur la location d'une voiture berline :
Nous savons que pour certains parcs, nous passerions à coté de quelque chose sans 4x4 mais étant donné le bon prix que nous avons eu sur la location, nous investirons à louer un 4x4, ou participez à une excursion en 4X4 de tour operator (qui d'apres ce que nous avons trouvé pour cette période reste moins cher).
Nous avons donc trouvez notre bonheur pour le desert de Kalahari, pour le delta (la réserve de Morémi) mais je ne parviens pas à savoir si l'entrée du Park de CHOBE est interdit aux berlines? et si c'est authorisé, est-il "safe" et même possible de la traverser en berline pour prendre la route de Kasane depuis Maun en mai?Cette est-elle de sable? (il s'agit d'un sacré détour sinon)
(Savez vous si l'entrée au park de CHOBE est payante ?)
Meme questions pour Hwange (enfin je sais que c'est payant 20us$ et autorisé mais je ne sais pas si c'est "safe" pour un moi de mai?)
Pendant que j'y suis, une rumeur que je ne parviens pas à retrouver disait que le Zimbabwe facturait au nbr de jour dans le pays une "taxe éco" pour les voitures entrant dans le pays, quelqu'un peut-il m'infirmer cette crainte (je n'ai rien trouvez sur les sites officiels du zimbabwe)
Merci beaucoup pour vos réponses.
Et continuer à enrichir ces forums qui sont une précieuse aide dans l'organisation de voyages.
Salut,
que de kilomètres !... y'a un truc que je pige pas, pourquoi arriver et repartir de Windhoek en Namibie si ce n'est pour rien voir de la Namibie ?
1 jour à Chobe, quel dommage ! c'est sans doute un des plus beaux et plus riches parcs d'Afrique australe
Par contre impossible en berline, 4x4 obligatoire et entrée payante bien sûr
Tous les lodges de Kasane organisent des game drive dans Chobe
Pour la route de Maun à Kasane c'est obligatoirement par la route goudronnée via Nata (700 km environ)
Je ne sais pas te répondre pour le Zimbabwe. Le Zimbabwe en solo c'est prendre bien des risques à mon avis.
Si tu en es à te poser toutes ces questions à 1 mois de partir, cela veut il dire que tu n'as encore rien réservé ? bon courage alors 😉
Comme le dit Vinny, pourquoi être parti de WDK ?
tu aurais pu arriver à Johannesburg (vol + direct et - cher), louer un VL là bas et partir direction le botswana.
Comment te loges tu (lodges ou tente ? )
le CKGR (parc du Kalahari), Chobe, Moremi, Savuti, Linyanti, Nxai, Makgadikgadi... tous au Botswana NE PEUVENT PAS se faire en berline : pistes parfois très sableuses. De même Maun-Kasane en berline ne peut se faire que par la boucle Maun-->Gweta-->Nata-->Kasane
Les popas falls sont sympas pour faire un arrêt mais pas pour un but à voir, et là tu dors où ? car sorti de la route principale, ce sont des pistes. De ce que je me souviens, pour aller aux Popas falls la piste que j'ai prise (en sortie de Divundu-Bagani) est difficilement envisageable en berline.
combien payes tu les 5 jours dans le delta ? car si je comprend cela induit : 4x4 + guide + hebergement + nourriture
pareil pour le Kalahari, tu dois louer les services d'un T.O local
Pour le passage au Zimbabwe, en 2008 le visa était de 30 USD par personne. Pour la Voiture je ne sais pas car j'y suis allé à pied. Mais à la même époque fallait compter 40-50 USD pour un 4x4 pour la Zambie. je suppose que cela doit être du même ordre d'idée.
A mon humble avis, pour un premier voyage en solo en Afrique Australe, ayant une limite de temps de 3 semaines, un budget serré et une berline en loc, il aurait mieux fallu viser soit la Namibie, soit l'Afrique du sud qui sont plus adaptés à tes impératifs.
Je ne veux pas faire le rabat joie, mais j'espère que que ne seras pas un peu déçu en restant sur ta faim.
Oeeeeeh un tour d'Afrique en 3 semaines... Ambitieux au moins.
En 4 semaines on a fait Sesriem/Namib/Swakopmund, le Nord de Namibie (Damarand, Epupa Falls, Etosha), Popa Falls puis direction Sud en Botswana, par Tsodillo Hills vers Maun et le Moremi puis retour vers Windhoek.
Croyez-moi ça suffit en 4 semaines.
La seule façcon dans laquelle j'essaierais votre trajet c'est one way. Louer son véhicule à Windhoek et laisser le à Vic Falls pe. Vol de retour à partir de là. Ca va te coûter mais alors là t'as un beau trajet encore réalisable en 3 semaines.
Je ne sais pas si c'est trop tard, mais tu aurais pu atterrir à Maun et louer la voiture à partir de J+6 puisque les 5 premiers jours tu les passes apparemment avec un TO local (si oui, le quel à quel prix ? merci pour tes infos sur ce forum - auberge espagnole).
Chobe c'est 4x4 obligé. Mais là aussi, quitte à avoir une berline, autant ne rien louer et profiter des organisations proposées par les Hotels (qui incluent aussi des campings pour faire moins chers).
Je ne connais pas Hwange au Zim, mais après Chobe et Moremi, est ce bien la peine ?
De plus comme le disent les copains, si tu cherches du "safe", le Zim, c'est pas le plus cool. Et donner du fric à Robert, moi ça me brancherait pas.
Ericarole a fait les Chuttes Victoria côté Zim à pieds. Là encore, tu pouvais éviter la location de la voiture ?? Tous les hotels de Kasane proposent des packages pour aller à Livingstone.
Beau voyage en perspective...
J 'espère que tu as tout réservé, si non tu vas passer d'excellentes soirées derrière ton fax... 😉
Raconte nous
Franck
Tanzanie-2010
Kawaza Village
Botswana : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2037270
Bonjour,
le Botswana en berline, c'est fesable mais pas pour les bonnes raisons.
Les parcs sont ouverts qu'au 4x4 (logique c'est du sable)
Nous avions roulé beaucoup pour rien a part pour rejoindre l'Afrique du Sud et vic falls en passant par la caprivi.
Un conseil : vous avez 25 ans et vous etes en couple, Go go Namibie !
Si vous avez pas encore reservé les parcs du botswana ou autres.
Prenez votre voiture a windhoek et faite un itineraire classique en namibie, ca vous coutera moins cher et ca sera magnifique.
Sinon, je suis d'accord avec les autres, ca sert a rien d'arriver de Windhoek si vous allez au Botswana. de plus, sachant que vous devez passer par les lodges ou TO pour les parcs du botswana, la loc devient inutile les premiers jours comme le dise les autres.
Bonne préparation !
bon vent à tous!!
voyage en Afrique Australe
Travel Southern Africa
Bonjour,
Je suis globalement d'accord avec les autres "forumistes". Pour un voyage de trois semaines, il est peut être préférable de privilégier deux pays, et, pour une première expérience, et au vu de mon expérience😉je choisirais NAMIBIE et BOTSWANA.
Pourquoi j'éviterais le ZIMBABWE ? Ton passage va se limiter à Hwange, et comme le dit FRANCKY, après Chobe et Moremi, ça ne vaut peut être pas la peine et ce sera peut être décevant. Pourtant, avant les tristes évènements de ces dernières années, c'était un parc magnifique, un des plus beaux de l'Afrique australe. Nous l'avons visité en 1998: merveilleux. Retour et nouvelle visite en 2007 ( au plus fort de la crise il est vrai ): abasourdis! Nous étions quasiment les seuls visiteurs, même à Main Camp. Problèmes: par faute de moyens, aucune intervention humaine depuis plusieurs années. Pour résumer, on peut dire que les éléphants ont pris le pouvoir et chassé les autres animaux (pour l'anecdote, spectacle surréaliste à SHUMBA CAMP où pendant plusieurs heures nous avons vu pas loin d'un millier d'éléphants venir s'abreuver et empêcher toute approche des quelques autres animaux, y compris des hippopotames).
Je doute que la situation se soit beaucoup améliorée en trois ans, même avec le partage du pouvoir entre 😠Mugabe (appelé "black mamba", y compris par beaucoup de zimbabwéens) et le premier ministre.
Par contre, je peux dire, au regard de notre expérience de 15 jours ( Matopo, Hwange et Matusadona ) que la sécurité n'a posé aucun problème, au moins avec la population, qui pourtant, au regard de la misère extrême, aurait eu des excuses pour tenter de s'approprier certains de nos biens. Même constatation pour notre fils qui a vécu sept mois entre juin et décembre 2007 entre Harare et la basse vallée du Zambèze. Je me répète, mais la population zimbabwéenne le mérite bien: c'est étonnant de ne pas avoir plus d'insécurité dans un pays si dévasté. Le plus gênant fut la répétition des contrôles routiers.
Pour le reste, il faut respecter les règles de sécurité habituelles, que l'on suit partout.
Pour une réponse sur une taxe éco, je fais des recherches pour voir si je retrouve quelque chose.
Quelque soit votre choix, faites un bon voyage.
TANGUE
Bonjour,
Tout d'abord un grand merci à vous tous qui me répondez, je ne regrette pas d'avoir poster mes interrogations.
Ma meilleur expérience en Afrique a été en 2007 où, inconscient et encore plus jeune, je m'étais simplement acheter un billet A/R pour Victoria Falls pour y passer 5 jours seulement. Munis de mon petit sac à dos et de ma CB visa premier dont mon cher banquier m'assurait qu'elle fonctionne partout... j'atterris à VF airport. La chance m'avais déja souris car une annulation de vols sur mon parcours m'avait permis de passer 22h, la veille, dans un étoile 5 étoiles à Maurice au frais de la company aérienne et d'arriver à destination final en temps prévu.
Bref, heureusement que j'avais 20£ sur moi pour payer le droit d'entrer et partager le taxi jusqu'à VF. Sans dollars, (et faut savoir qu'à cette époque le Zimbwabwe avait ses propres dollar mais en tant que blanc tu payes tout en US$ et qu'il n'y a pas de distributeur de dollar), je ne pouvais rien faire d'autre que d'aller dans international hôtel qui prenne la CB.
A l'office de tourisme de la ville, après environ une heure d'échange avec un local, je me retrouve à accepter d'être héberger par un inconnu qui habite l'agglomération de VF (bidonville quoi!). Pour conclure, ces 5 jours dans cette famille qui ne nourrit que les invités et ceux de la famille qui travaille donc ramène de l'argent (et quand je dis nourriture c'est leur fameuse farine de mais et des sorte d'algue bouillie et re-bouillie), où il faut marcher 1h45min dans le bush alentourant VF croisant des champs de babouins, où le seul blanc dans un rayon de 5kms c'est toi au millieu de tout ces gamins qui se demande qui tu es, où y a pas d'électricité ni d'eau, où le réveil matin, c'est un cafard de 5cm de diamètre qui sqatte ton ventre... et bien ça, combiner à la beauté de cette flotte qui tombe de 100m, et ben j'en redemande.
Donc je suis bien d'accord avec TANGUE, c'est beau à voir la gentillesse de certaine personne quand eux non rien mais le partage (bon retournons quand même sur terre, ils savaient que j'allais leur filer des billets vert pour l'hébergement, c'est pour ça qu'ils m'ont aider à traverser la frontière pour aller en Zambie où j'ai pu retirer des US$). La sécurité en ce sens me fait pas trop peur, même si je sais que j'ai eu beaucoup de chance ce coup la...
Bon je m'égare, mais si je vais à VF et c'est l'objet de mon voyage c'est pour aller au mariage de ce jeune qui m'a héberger le samedi 29 mai. dont pas de variante la dessus!
J'aurais pu atterrir directement la bas , où alors oui à Maun aussi, mais l'opportunité d'une location de VL à 20€ par jour je ne l'ai trouver qu'à WDK ; Biensur inconvenant, il faut partir de WDK et y revenir, c'est pourquoi chemin faisant nous profiterons à notre rythme de ce qui se trouve sur notre chemin, notamment la chance d'être héberger par des locaux à Gobabis.
Je ne suis pas sur que partir en VL de Jobourg soit plus économique en km pour rejoindre Maun.
Puis pour le retour, ca c'est un vrai inconvénient d'autant plus que nous n'avons que trois jours : VF pour WDK, c'est vrai que c'est pénible, mais le calcul est rapide, si je le fait en 2j en VL aller dison 3j (je confirme Popa Falls est juste une étape intermdiaire), ça nous coute 2 pleins d'essence soit un plein d'essence par personne, l'avion, c'est plutot l'équivalent de 4pleins d'essence par personne... et 1500km d'aventure en moins (raisonnement trop optimiste d'accord)
A Okavango Delta, nous resterons 2 nuits dans un campsite pour back packers (30€ la nuit en tente sympa double du campsite am��nagé où 10€ la nuit pour deux avec sa propre tente). Ils organisent sur le tas les sorties standarts dans le delta et notamment un saffari mobile (en 4x4) pour 70€ par jour/pers suivant le nombre de personne (bouffe non comprise) ce qui est pas mal me semble t-il. Nous partirons en safari de 3jours.
Je prend bonne note de ta remarque Franky 4, après les parks du Botsana pourquoi Hwange... mais Tangue, me remets le doute du coup, des milliers d'éléphant c'est balaise!
Mais ce que je pense faire (prenant en compte la remarque de winnylove), c'est de prolonger mon séjour à CHOBE.
Pour absorber les 3 jours initialement prévu
Je vous remercie bien de m'avoir prévenu pour la non possibilté de pouvoir traverser CHOBE en berline, je me taperai le détour en passant par NATA et ferai mes visites de park depuis Kazane. Et du coup rejoindre VF sans passer par Hwange...
Pour absorber les 3 joursà Hwange, je pense prolonger d'un jour au delta et de deux jours à CHOBE. Ca tombe je n'avais rien réservé encore à Hwange... et petit pensée pour Franky 4 encore, j'en donnerai moin à Robert (ou black memba devrais-je dire😉!
Enfin bon, les milliers d'éléphant me reste en travers qd meme, à ETOSHA, KRUGER et Ruhaha, j'en avais pas vu plus d'une trentaine je dirais.
Ce voyage me parait pas irréalisable, il s'agit de 1700 kms environ mais il y a que 5 jours de longue routes...
Nous sommes conscient qu'au delta/moreni et qu'à CHOBE nous louerons les services d'un local pour excursion en 4x4
Les tours Operator ont des cadence de malade (car bien mieux organiser) : le CAP --> VF en 19j... en passant bien sur par tous les beau coins... et je suis sur que vous assi en 3 semaines vous avez déja fait bien plus de kilomètres.
Effectivement je suis un peu déçu qu'il faille revenir à WDK surtout en si peu de temps... mais bon, 😠 faut vite revenir à notre vie d'Europeen et nos soucis de francais où on se demande à quelle heure le bus va partir alors que l'authentique africains connait déjà la réponde : il partira quand il sera plein...
Quelques prix de notre voyage en synthétisant ce qui a été dit précédamment :
Avion : Paris - Windhoek AR : 750€
entré au zimbawe : 30US$/pers en 2007
CHOBE : en 4x4 seulement, entrée payante,
Okawango delta :
- nuit en camping avec se propre tente : 10€ pour deux
- nuit en twin tent / chalet pour deux : 30€ pour deux
(suvant le taux de change de l'euros avec le Pula)
- MOKORO TRIPS : 65€pppd (sans nourriture/boisson)
- Location de 4x4 depuis windhoek : à partir de 80€ par jour suivant la période...
J'espère ne pas faire de pub en donnant ces adresse de website de site gouvernementaux qui m'ont bien servit :
Bonjour,
Je précise mes réflexions sur HWANGE. Voir un millier d'éléphants venir s'abreuver à un point d'eau, ce fut super; mais ne voir quasiment que des éléphants entre l'entrée principale de main Camp et la sortie ouest, à Sinamatella, ce fut très décevant. C'est la conséquence de l'accroissement trés important du nombre d'éléphants: ils ont repoussé les autres animaux dans la partie du parc qui n'est pas accessible (partie sud ).
Je pense que prolonger votre séjour à Chobe sera probablement une bonne solution, d'autant que vous y serez gâtés en matière d'éléphants!
TANGUE
Quand je pense que certains mepretent ici une réputation de baroudeur... tu penses, moi qui prépare mon voyage au km près avec mon GPS (même si cette année ce sera beaucoup plus l'aventure au quotidien en Tanzanie...)
Alors qu toi tu prends l afrique comme j aime la prendre : comme elle est, et les gens gentils avec.
Bon qq remarques :
- MOKORO TRIPS : 65€pppd (sans nourriture/boisson)
As tu déjà réservé ?
On avait aussi payé ce prix là, mais on a appris que notre puller de mokoro était payé 15 euos par jour. Tu vois la marge du Lodge qui organisait cela... !
C'est plus compliqué c'est sur, si tu fais trois jours dans le delat (ce qui est absolument formidable sans aucun doute...) mais je pense que tu pourrais aussi chercher sur place un organisateur local de trip dans le delta.
Si tu veux j 'ai les coordonnées de notre puller indépendant, en MP.
- Ruaha
Je vois que tu connais la Tanzanie.
je me permets de t'envoyer un MP pour te poser qq questions sur cette façon de voyager sans passer par les gros TO. Ca a l'air plus compliqué en Tanz qu au Zimbabwe...
ça oui on y tient que tu nous racontes.... !
bonne préparation
Franck
Tanzanie-2010
Kawaza Village
Botswana : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2037270
Effectivement, tes choix sont explicites.
750 euros le billet Paris WDK : c'est un excellent prix.
Et comme tu le dis, faire 1700 km sur les routes d'afrique australe, c'est déjà une aventure.
Je te souhaite un bon voyage et une belle cérémonie de mariage.
J'ai vu qu'il y a pas mal de discussions sur la Namibie et des propositions de parcours, mais souvent pour 2 semaines. Je me permets donc de faire ici une…
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Afrique de l'Est et Australe › Namibie · 17 replies
A mon tour je souhaiterais recueillir vos avis sur un itinéraire de 3 sem prévu pour fin juillet prochain. J1: Arrivée Johannesbourg J2: Johannesbourg/...…
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Pourriez vous nous donner votre avis et vos conseils sur le voyage de 3 semaines en Namibie que nous souhaitons effectuer en Juillet. Nous avons pour cela…
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.
Hi there,
I’m considering camping in Nyungwe Park with my family (2 adults, 2 kids) at Uwinka campsite. Problem: the park rents the tent but without any gear (mattresses, blankets). We don’t have a car. Is it possible to rent or buy mattresses and blankets near the park, please?
Thanks for your help
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
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.
Hello,
We’re planning a route from Maun to Kazane and Victoria Falls for May 2027 in a Toyota Hilux 4x4, staying in lodges (no camping). Here’s the rough outline:
- Maun: Arrival likely from Johannesburg, 2 nights
- Khwai: 2 nights
- Return to Maun
- Need to decide on a stop between Maun and Sepopa?
- Sepopa: 2 nights
- Cross into Namibia: Bagani, 2 nights
- Kongola: 2 nights
- Katima Mulilo: 2 nights
- Kasane: 3 or 4 nights
- Victoria Falls: 1 or 2 nights
- Return to France from Kasane or Victoria Falls
What’s the road condition like between Maun and Khwai? The stop names are approximate based on accommodations.
Thanks for any feedback on this plan!
Ailleurs 64
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?
I’ve been to Rwanda twice before, in November 1991 and December 1993, mostly for solidarity work.
I’m looking into going back this November or December for three weeks, but I’m a bit hesitant when I see the tourist offerings—it’s so far from how I like to travel...
I travel solo using public transport and stay in places like guesthouses (GH), or accommodations run by cooperatives, associations, or religious groups. I love villages, markets, hikes, and local crafts.
So far, my searches for these kinds of lodging options haven’t turned up much.
For now, I’m considering visiting (in no particular order):
Butare: Kibeho, Bisesero, Nyanza
Ngenda
Akagera, Kibungo, Lake Muazi
Dian Fossey’s tomb (with the possibility of seeing gorillas)
Kibuye??? Is the political situation stable there? Or Cyangugu?
So here are my first questions:
-Is French still widely spoken?
-Are there lists of the types of accommodations I mentioned above, or places to find that info?
-Is what I’m planning doable using public transport? From the towns, are moto-taxis still available to get to villages, sites, and—most importantly—back?
-Is it possible to go hiking solo?
-Which are the best markets and what days are they held?
I know that’s a lot of questions already, and I really appreciate any relevant answers you can share.
Looking forward to exchanging more!
I’m planning my next trip in September, and after two self-drive trips to Botswana last year, I’d love to explore Kruger. Since I’m used to camping, I’m thinking of renting an equipped van from Kitted Africa (a small Suzuki van—thanks Safari Expert!) to sleep in a tent and occasionally in a hut.
Here’s my provisional itinerary, and I’d love to hear your thoughts if you don’t mind.
I’ve got 13 nights to plan in Kruger. The rental company is based in Nelspruit.
Entering from the south:
14-15-16.09: 3 nights at Crocodile Bridge or Lower Sabie
17-18-19.09: 3 nights at Skukuza
20-21.09: 2 nights at Satara
22-23-24.09: 3 nights at Olifants
25-26.09: 2 nights at Tamboti or Talamati
Exiting the park on 27.09 via Orpen Gate, then heading to Blyde River Canyon for a night in a hotel or elsewhere.
28.09: Return to Nelspruit, drop off the van, and stay in a hotel.
29.09 (midday): Airlink flight to Johannesburg, then an evening return flight to GVA.
What do you think? Too many nights here, not enough there?
I’ll be traveling solo, I love driving, and I enjoy settling in the middle of nature to listen, observe, and take photos (Botswana was perfect for that).
Thanks in advance!
Nicole
Photo: Baines Baobab, Botswana, April 2025
I’d like to return to Africa and stay in a lodge where I can see animals—not necessarily the Big Five—without needing any transport once I arrive at the lodge, and at a price under $250 per day for two people with full board. The week-long stay is planned for late June into early July. I’m looking for suggestions. Thanks in advance!
Hi, I’d like to travel to Ethiopia as a solo 60-year-old woman, backpacking style, between December 2025 and January 2026.
I’m wondering about the current state of the country: unrest, safety concerns, etc.
Government websites advise against going, saying it’s too dangerous.
But I’m skeptical—they tend to be overly cautious.
So I’m looking for reliable information, though I’m not sure where to find it.
Thanks in advance!
Hello,
We’re a group of four seventy-something retirees and we’re planning a 4-week trip to South Africa. We’re seasoned "adventurers" used to multi-week stays (we’ve been to India seven times, Mexico, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Australia, etc.).
For South Africa, we’re thinking of covering most of the trip in a private vehicle and taking flights for inter-state transfers.
We’re interested in meeting people, learning about the country’s evolution, exploring major cities, visiting traditional villages, and seeing wildlife.
Here’s the itinerary we’re considering:
Johannesburg – 2 days (we’ll pass through again later)
Pretoria – 2 days
Blyde River Canyon and Graskop – 1 day
Acornhoek – 1 day
Letaba – 2 days
Lobamba – 2 days
Johannesburg – 1 day
Flight to Cape Town
Cape Town – 3 days
Cape of Good Hope – 1 day
Stellenbosch – 1 day
Hermanus – 1 day
Mossel Bay – 2 days
Oudtshoorn
Wilderness – 2 days
Knysna
Port Elizabeth – 2 days
Addo Elephant Park
Flight back to Johannesburg
Johannesburg – 1 day
Return to Paris
Could you share your thoughts on this itinerary? We’ll be renting a vehicle to explore both regions.
We can easily add 4–5 more days to the trip if needed.
We’re looking at traveling either between April and May 2026 or in October/November 2026.
I’ll follow up later to discuss the best safari options and get a rough budget estimate.
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this and share their thoughts!