Discussions similar to: pays découvrir Afrique
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Feedback on Kruger itinerary
Hi everyone,

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
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Your advice for Namibia itinerary in January
Hi everyone,

We’re heading to Namibia for the first time at the end of January 2026 for 12 nights as a couple, with a 4x4 rental (no tent). We’re planning to stay in lodges, hotels, or similar. Our goal is to explore Namibia and see as many animals as possible.

We were thinking of following this route:

Windhoek to Sesriem – 2 nights

Sesriem to Omaruru – 2 nights

Omaruru to Ongava (ETOSHA) – 2 nights

Ongava to Onguma (ETOSHA) – 2 nights

Onguma to Okonjima – 2 nights

Okonjima to Windhoek – 2 nights (these last two nights near Windhoek at a lodge like Our Habitas)

What do you think of this plan?

I know we’ll miss a lot of must-see spots, but we only have 12 nights, and the distances between the points of interest we’ve chosen are pretty long.

Also, since January/February is the "rainy season," do you think this itinerary is suitable?

Don’t hesitate to tell me if we’re completely off track or if you’d recommend something totally different—we’re open to any suggestions.

Thanks so much for your time and advice!

Joris
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Questions about planning a 3-week self-drive trip to Uganda with kids
Hi everyone!

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
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Preparing for my first trip to Botswana
Hello everyone, I’m in the planning stages for a trip to Botswana in October 2025. This will be an extension of my trip to Namibia in January 2025. Of course, I have a lot of questions!

First one: For day trips visiting Botswana’s parks in a self-drive setup, do I need accommodation *inside* the parks? Is it possible to visit them on a day-trip basis, like in Kruger Park or Etosha?

Thanks in advance for your answers! Have a great day!
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Kenya or Tanzania: which safari to choose?
Hi everyone,

I’m planning a safari and I’m torn between Kenya and Tanzania. I’ve read quite a few articles online, and one in particular really helped me see things more clearly. I’m now leaning more toward Kenya for its authentic vibe and local culture, but I’d love to hear some opinions before making my final decision.

Have any of you hesitated between these two destinations? Even better, has anyone done a safari in both countries? What were the factors that tipped the scales for you? I’d love to hear all your experiences!

While I wait for your replies, and if it might be helpful to some, I’ll share the article I found really useful on the topic.

Thanks in advance for your tips! Fabien A.
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Your recommendations for the Eastern Cape
Hello,

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! 🙂
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Trip report: Our South Africa journey in July
Hi there,

We’re back from our 3-week trip to South Africa in July. It was a family trip with our four grown-up kids (ages 18 to 25).

First off, I’d like to thank everyone on this forum for their great tips—they really helped us plan this trip!

The trip: We spent 15 days between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, then a week around Kruger (including Blyde River Canyon). We found South Africans to be welcoming and always ready to help. We never felt unsafe (just followed basic safety rules). The police are very visible, especially on the roads.

Logistics: We’d booked our accommodations in advance but made a few changes on the spot based on how we felt at the time. We rented two vehicles from Firefly (Hertz). No complaints—recent cars, quick returns, and the deposit wasn’t charged. We’d gotten our international driver’s permits... which stayed in France! Luckily, no one asked for them. Driving on the left wasn’t an issue (it wasn’t our first time). The roads we took were in good, even great, condition. Only a few tracks to lodges or parks were rough and required extra caution. Lots of pedestrians on the sides of roads, even highways. And plenty of very slow trucks. But they pull over to let you pass. It’s also common for cars to cross into the opposite lane to overtake, even with white lines. We took two domestic flights: one early in the morning (Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth) and one in the late afternoon (Cape Town to Johannesburg) to save time.

We had some highlights and a few disappointments—all part of the journey! More details coming soon.

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Our South Africa Trip Itinerary
Hi everyone, I’m reaching out today to gather some great tips for the second part of our trip to South Africa, which will take place from 03/21 to 04/11. We don’t want to rush too much either. We’ll start in Cape Town (tickets already booked) since it seems like a good time to visit this region—except for the whales in Hermanus, which we won’t be seeing. Oh, and I almost forgot, we’re renting a car for both legs of the trip for more freedom.

The first part is planned like this:

- 03/21: Arrival in Cape Town, staying until 03/24 - 03/25: Visit to the Cape, including a stop in Simon’s Town - 2 nights in Stellenbosch from 03/26 to 03/28 - 3 nights in Knysna to explore the area from 03/28 to 03/31 - 03/31: Flight from Port Elizabeth to Durban, where we’ll spend one night in Umhlanga

After that, I’m a bit lost 🙂. Next, I was thinking of doing:

2 nights in St. Lucia 2 nights in Eswatini 4 nights in Kruger Park (2 nights in Skukuza and 2 nights in Balule to visit a private reserve) 1 night at Blyde Canyon 1 night somewhere to get closer to Johannesburg (Graskop?) since we’ll need to return the car by around 11:00 AM on 04/11.

So, does the second part make sense or not? I’ve done quite a bit of research, but I’m still a little lost . We can’t wait to be there, and your valuable advice would be very welcome. Thanks so much in advance, and have a great day! Luis
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Your thoughts on my 14-day South Africa itinerary for a senior traveler
Hello, I’m taking advantage of the forum reopening to ask this question:

For her 70th birthday, my mom will receive—as a gift—a trip to South Africa at the end of May 2025. We’ll arrive and depart (13 nights later) from JNB on Air France AF990/AF995. We’ll obviously rent a car for certain parts of the trip. I’ve been to the Cape Town area and as far as Agulhas twice, but she’s never been to South Africa before. She might enjoy a day or two of safari, but it’s not a priority for her. I’m well aware that trying to pack in too much is risky, which is why I’m looking for your advice on itineraries, safety, and health (status of the Marburg virus). So far, which combinations of these visits (in no particular order) would be doable and most enjoyable for her at a reasonable pace:

1-day excursion to Pilanesberg Park (+ Hartbeespoort on the way back if possible), self-drive or with a tour guide? 2 nights around the Panorama Route self-driving Garden Route from/to George/PLZ for 5 nights (what are the must-sees for a first-timer with so little time?) Wine region for 2 nights (is it worth doing both the Stellenbosch bus tour and the Franschhoek Wine Tram the next day, or vice versa)—she loves good wine! Cape Town for 2 nights (is it worth stopping at the Cape of Good Hope if—only if—you’ve maybe already been to Agulhas?).

This would give a final itinerary like this:

Day 1: Morning arrival in JNB—rest day/to be defined Day 2: Guided game drive excursion to Pilanesberg Park Day 3: Flight JNB–Port Elizabeth, pick up rental car, drive to Tsitsikamma Day 4–6: Garden Route: activities to be defined Day 7: Transfer to Franschhoek: Wine Tram in the afternoon Day 8: Taxi to Stellenbosch for the Vine Hopper bus tour Day 9–11: Transfer to Cape Town: activities to be defined Day 12: Flight from Cape Town to Hoedspruit or Nelspruit Day 13: Visit the Panorama Route Day 14: Flight from Hoedspruit or Nelspruit to JNB, then evening flight back to France

Given the time spent on the Garden Route, what are the must-sees? Same question for the Panorama Route? In general, she prefers beautiful walks with incredible landscapes/views and cultural visits over big cats, but it would be a shame not to see some local wildlife like meerkats, whales (I doubt it in May), or penguins during her stay! There you go—feel free to critique (not too harshly, though😛)/advise/improve. Thanks in advance! 🙂
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What can you see on safari in Tanzania in June?
hi, We’re thinking of traveling to Tanzania in June (more specifically the first half) and would love to hear about your experiences, especially regarding the Serengeti safari. Is it a good time to see the animals? Would it be better to go later? For those who’ve been there during this period, do you recommend it? thanks in advance
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Our trip recap: searching for primates in Uganda
Hi everyone,

As I mentioned a few days ago in the comments on ArXplorateur’s post (https://voyageforum.com/forum/deux-semaines-en-ouganda-en-solo-en-transports-d10553168/) —which was the first to reopen the forum’s Africa section—I wanted to share our feedback on our three weeks in Uganda. We recently traveled between late August and mid-September with the Mpolampola agency, which many of you know, run by Paul. I’m editing a one-hour film about this trip, which I’ll be uploading soon to our travel-focused YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lolodetoul54

It’s almost finished and ready to be uploaded.

We planned an ambitious itinerary (maybe *too* ambitious?).

Here’s the breakdown of our packed schedule:

D0 Saturday 24/08: Departure from Paris to Uganda via Kigali with Rwandair D1 Sunday 25/08: Arrival in Entebbe Sunday morning. Departure for Lake Mburo National Park. Night at Rwakobo Lodge D2 Monday 26/08: Lake Mburo National Park. Walking safari and boat tour of the lake. Night at Rwakobo Lodge D3 Tuesday 27/08: Departure for Lake Bunyonyi. Night at Birdnest Overseas D4 Wednesday 28/08: Boat and walking tour of the lake, then drive to Lake Mutanda Lodge D5 Thursday 29/08: Hike to see the golden monkeys, then departure for Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge D6 Friday 30/08: Hike to see the gorillas. Night again at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge D7 Saturday 31/08: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Night at Twin Lakes Safari Lodge D8 Sunday 01/09: Vehicle safari and boat tour on the Kazinga Channel. Night at Twin Lakes Safari Lodge D9 Monday 02/09: Drive to Kibale Forest and walk around Crater Lake. Night at Isunga Lodge D10 Tuesday 03/09: Chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest and walk in Bigodi Swamp. Night at Isunga Lodge D11 Wednesday 04/09: On the road to Murchison Falls National Park. Walking tour with rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Night at Murchison River Lodge D12 Thursday 05/09: Vehicle safari in Murchison Falls National Park and boat ride to the falls. Night at Murchison River Lodge D13 Friday 06/09: Drive to Chobe Lodge by the Nile D14 Saturday 07/09: Long road trip to Kidepo Valley National Park. Night at Adere Lodge D15 & D16: Safari in Kidepo Valley National Park. Nights at Adere Lodge D17 Tuesday 10/09: Very long drive to Sipi Falls (Mount Elgon). Night at Lacam Lodge D18 Wednesday 11/09: Visit to the falls, then drive to Jinja (source of the Nile). Night at Haven Lodge D19 Thursday 12/09: Drive to Kampala. Night at Latitude 0. D20 Friday 13/09: Discovering shoebills in Mabamba Swamp. Evening flight back to France via Kigali, Rwanda.

That’s the teaser done! I’ll be back with more details soon. Looking forward to sharing! Loïc
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First draft of South Africa itinerary
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.

Thanks for your help
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Travel safety in Ethiopia: visiting the north and central regions
hi, We’d like to visit the main sites in northern and central Ethiopia, but we’re reading very different things about the security situation there. Is it safe for tourists to travel there right now? I guess it’s a bit safer with an organized tour, but we don’t want to push our luck. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
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Road conditions in Angola
Hi, I’m heading to Angola for two weeks starting mid-April and I’d like to rent a car to explore the country, but not a 4x4 to keep my budget in check. I plan to mostly stay in the western part and go as far as the Namibian border. Is it possible to drive in Iona Park without a 4x4, or to get to Kalendula or Piedra Negras? Also, is the Lubango–Huambo–Kuito–Malanje route doable in a city car? Lastly, do gas stations accept Visa? Thanks for your feedback and tips!
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1-Year Southern Africa Road Trip
Hi everyone,

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
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Issues in Tanzania October 2025
Following the post-election chaos this week, read carefully: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays-destination/tanzanie/ In particular: "For French travelers needing to take flights from Tanzanian airports, most international flights are canceled until further notice. It’s recommended to go to the airport only if your flight is confirmed by your airline. It’s advised to postpone any travel plans to Tanzania unless absolutely necessary."

...
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Situation in Ethiopia for solo travel
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!
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Tips for preparing a trip to Tanzania
Hi everyone! My mom (75 years old, in great shape!) and I (40) are planning a trip to Tanzania between October 26th and November 16th (duration: 2 to 3 weeks). Yes, it’s a bit short notice to organize, but we don’t really have a choice :) Here’s the rough idea:

Exploring the country on the go, with a touch of spontaneity and local encounters (not a 100% fixed itinerary). Personally, I’m used to total improvisation when traveling solo, but in this case, I’d prefer to be a bit more informed/structured.

Potentially climbing Kilimanjaro (for me) before ending with a few relaxing days in Zanzibar.

Maybe renting a 4x4 to stay independent?

No luxury requirements: we prioritize authenticity over comfort (as long as it’s at least clean). We’re not opposed to camping either if it lets us do some cool stuff! Not a huge budget, but this time we’re not completely broke either :)

I’m reaching out to you here for:

Ideas for off-the-beaten-path itineraries.

Advice on whether a guide is necessary in certain places or recommendations for reliable and friendly local contacts/tour operators.

If you have any recommendations, experiences, or great tips, we’re all ears! Thanks in advance for your advice and kindness.

See you soon.
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South Africa: Your feedback on luggage safety
Hi, we’re planning to take the scenic route back from Kruger Park (Orpen Gate) but we’ll have our two travel bags in the trunk. In some countries, there’s no rear shelf to hide the trunk. I don’t know how it works in SA—what do you think?

We have the same concern because we’d like to do the Leopard Trail, but we’ll have our stuff with us too. We’re wondering if leaving the car in the parking lot where the trail starts is somewhat monitored or not. Thanks for your feedback!

PS: Is the Kruger section starting from Orpen Gate any good? Thanks a bunch!
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Crossing Ethiopia in a 2CV: road conditions, safety, and must-see spots
Hi everyone, My wife and I are about to finish our trip in Tanzania and would like to head to Egypt via Ethiopia in early 2026. We’re leaving our Citroën 2CV in Dar es Salaam until next year. But we can’t find any recent feedback on whether it’s safe to cross the country, the state of the roads, or how long it might take to travel from southern to northern Ethiopia (road conditions). We have a tent, but I guess it’s useless—so are there decent places to stay along the way? We’re used to Africa, as this will be the 16th country our 2CV has crossed. Of course, we’re also very interested in any must-see spots along the route. Thanks for helping us make this trip happen!
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2-day budget safari in northern Tanzania
Hi there, We’re currently planning our trip to Tanzania for August 2025. We’re a family with two teens (16 and 14) and we’re used to traveling with our backpacks, using local transport to create authentic exchanges with locals.

We’d like to do a short safari (2 days and 1 night) during our 3-week trip on a small budget.

If we had to choose just one park in Tanzania in August, which one would you recommend?

Is it easy to rent a jeep with a driver in August without going through an agency in Tanzania?

Who can help us decode the rates offered by agencies? - Park entry: how much per person? Does it vary by age? Are the rates different depending on the park? - Cost of the driver and a guide? - Is accommodation in the park taxed? - Do we need to budget for a tip?
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Choosing a Destination in Southern or East Africa
Hello, We’re a family from Réunion with three kids, used to active holidays: biking, camping, hitchhiking, and finding last-minute accommodations.

This time, we’d like to visit a country in Southern or East Africa (since it’s close to our island—flights to Johannesburg aren’t too expensive). The kids dream of seeing animals, but we don’t want to spend our whole holiday in a 4x4!

My husband and I know West Africa well (we’ve lived for months in Burkina, Benin, and Madagascar), where it’s easy to get around by public transport, get unexpectedly invited into villages, and find food in roadside eateries... But we’re not sure if we can find that same vibe in "safari" countries.

More specific criteria:

- See animals and varied landscapes, but without ending up with 25 4x4s around one elephant... - Not spend 5 hours a day in the car every day - Do some travel by public transport - A holiday focused not just on nature but also on taking time to meet locals - Be able to hike (or even bike, canoe...) - Camp for all or part of the trip

Given all this, which destination would you recommend? South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe? Or Kenya, Tanzania? Or somewhere else?

I’ve read tons of websites and forums but I’m still confused!

This would be for about 3 weeks next July-August.

Thanks for your help!
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Question about gorilla permit agencies in Uganda
Hi there,

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.
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Namibia: Exponential increase in park entry fees
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!

Namibia raises park fees by 86 to 100 percent
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Trip Review - January 2026 - ETHIOPIA
Hi there,

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!
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How to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa via the parks: rental car or train?
Hi there, I’m heading to Kenya in July 2026. I’d like to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa in 5/6 days, passing through Amboseli, Tsavo West and East, and Taita Hills. Unfortunately, I can’t find any group tours for this itinerary—only private options, which makes the prices skyrocket for camping accommodations. I’m realizing it might actually be cheaper to rent an SUV from Hertz and stay in much more luxurious lodges on my own! My partner drove for a month from Cape Town to Johannesburg, so left-hand driving doesn’t scare him, but I’ve seen a lot of warnings about chaotic traffic... Has anyone tried this? And what about safety (fake police checks, carjacking, etc.)? Alternatively, should I take the train and book directly with the lodges? But I’m worried about wasting too much time. Thanks for your help! Gaëlle
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Has safety returned to Zanzibar?
Hi there, We’re heading to Zanzibar in early January and I was wondering if it’s really safe given the post-election events that happened earlier this month. We heard there was severe repression during the protests (that’s putting it mildly) and that the internet was shut down. How’s the situation now? What’s the vibe like in Zanzibar? Is it safe to travel there? If any of you are currently there, I’d really appreciate hearing your firsthand experience. Have a great day, Lazurite
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Booking Timing for Campsites in Botswana
I’m just starting to plan our trip for late August 2026, but I’ve read multiple times that campsite bookings need to be made *way* in advance if we want to secure a spot—especially in the parks. Before I get too far into my road book, I’d love to get a sense of what “way in advance” actually means.

That leads to another question: what’s the best *channel* for making these reservations? Can I find a list of campsites online?

From what I’ve gathered, there aren’t any fenced campsites—is wild camping allowed?

I’ll admit, I’m short on time, and reading a few threads here has shown me how quick and helpful the experts are 😉.

We’re a group of 4 and plan to rent a 4x4. Rooftop tents seem like the better option given the wildlife (and, well, *people* roaming freely), especially compared to Namibia (which we visited in 2018).

Thanks in advance to everyone!
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