Bonjour,
je suis toute nouvelle sur ce site : voila ma premiere question, mon mari et moi voulons partir en Afrique du sud fin septembre ou début octobre pour 3 semaines, nous voulons savoir si c'est une bonne periode pour partir, nous aimerions savoir aussi quel budget il faut à peu pres prevoir pour 3 semaines de voyage, combien il faut prevoir pour le voyage, si il est facile de circuler, ( bus, voiture... ), est'il nécessaire de reserver les hotels à l'avance ?, ces questions doivent vous paraitre trop générales mais nous venons juste de nous decider pour cette destination, il y a 2 ans nous sommes alles au Pérou et c'est grace à un forum que nous avons organises notre voyage, rien ne vaut l'experience et les conseils des voyageurs.
merci pour votre réponse
On commence tous souvent par des questions générales pour affiner ensuite.
Septembre - Octobre : très bonne période (les saisons sont inversées des nôtres), entre autre pour visiter les parcs (herbes moins hautes et points d'eau moins nombreux d'où concentration d'animaux plus dense). Il ne fait ni trop chaud - ni trop froid (fin hiver-début du printemps). Période prisée cependant, d'où il est conseiller de réserver ses logements dans les parcs, à l'avance.
Un des moyens de déplacements rapide et efficace : la voiture de location (Avis - Europecar ou sociétés locales). Ce qui est pratique c'est que tu peux la louer d'un point x et la remettre à un point y, sans soucis - Point besoin non plus de louer un 4 x 4, les réseaux routiers sont excellents.
Maintenant l'afrique du Sud c'est grand ... Tout dépend, où tu souhaites te rendre - As tu déjà une idée de ton parcours général ?
Au plaisir de te lire & restant à ta disposition pour des infos très pratiques
merci pour ta réponse, c'est tres sympa ms pr l'instant ns n'avons pas d'idée précise, ns allons nous y pencher sérieusement dans les jours à venir.
Nous n'avons jamais loué de voiture dans un pays étrangé, c'est compliqué de louer une voiture quand on ne maitrise pas bien l'anglais ? en cas de vol comment cela se passe ? pour l'assurance ect.....
Si tu peux aussi ns donner des idées sur les plus beaux endroits à visiter, à ne pas manquer, car pr l'instant nous sommes dans le flou.....
MERCI
Pour la location de voiture (tu peux procéder à la réservation depuis l'europe sans soucis via le site internet)
Avis par exemple :
http://www.avis.be/avisonline/be-fr/avis.nsf?open&~Default
Tu peux en prendre possession directement à l'aéroport de JNB (avec ton voucher).
Ben les endroits à visiter ... Y en a tellement et les distances sont grandes. 🤪😇
Près de JNB - Parc du Pilanesberg (compter minimum 2 jours à l'intérieur) petit parc très sympa, qui a les Big 5 et réputé pour les Rhinocéros.
Kruger NP (qui vaut largement le détour) et/ou les réserves privées le jouxtant (comme Sabi Sand - Manyeleti - Timbavati - Klasserie etc ...Mais plus chères)
Pas loin : Blyde River Canyon (somptueux paysages)
Dans le Kwazulu Natal : St Lucia - Umfolozi et Hluhluwe et bien d'autres parcs encore. Avec en primeur la proximité de l'océan indien (baleines, dauphins, grand blanc)
La garden Route entre Durban et le Cap - Et le Royal Natal Drakensberg etc ...
La péninsule du Cap (cape town, cap de bonne espérance, hermanus (baleines)) etc ...
le nord cap avec le kgalagadi transfrontier parc ...
Mais il va falloir faire des choix (tant les distances sont grandes, les endroits merveilleux à découvrir). Ceci dit, il est aisé de prendre des liaisons internes (vols par South african airways et pas trop chers)
Je prépare actuellement mon 3ème voyage en Afrique du Sud et je suis loin, très loin d'avoir goûté à tous ces endroits magnifiques qu'elle recèle.
Une fois que tu auras des idées plus précises quand aux régions que tu souhaites explorer ...Je pourrais te rencarder sur des logements sympas, si tu souhaites.
Bonjour,
Pour le budget çà dépend évidemment de ce que vous faites! Nous préparons un voyage en AFS pour la même période sur un peu plus de 3 semaines et on est également en plein dans la budgétisation!!!
Pour les billets d'avion on en a eu pour 1430€ par personne!!! Vol Paris-Londre-Le cAP (quelques jours au cap) puis vol Le Cap-Durban (trajet de Durban vers Joburg en faisant un lrge détour par le Lésotho, HLuhluwe, Swaziland, Kruger et blyde river) et enfin vol Joburg-Chutes victorias pour 3 jours avant le retour en France...
C'est tellement facile que tu y arriverais en langue des signes. En cas de vol, on te la remplace. A prendre OBLIGATOIREMENT: l'assurance tout-risques. Pas seulement à cause des vols mais aussi parce qu'un grand nombre de gens - les plus mal lotis en matière de sécurité du véhicule - n'ont aucune assurance.
Vous étrangers vous payez relativement plus que nous, locaux. C'est vrai pour les billets d'avion comme pour toutes les réservations payées à l'étranger. Donc dans la mesure du possible réservez éventuellement sur internet pour être sûr d'avoir le type de voiture désiré pour les dates désirées mais sans payment. On te demandera un numero de carte de crédit comme garantie mais la facture ne sera débitée qu'une fois la voiture rendue.
Pour les vols intérieurs, à signaler qu'en réservant sur flysaa.com depuis l'AFRIQUE DU sUD ça COÜTE SOUVENT DEUX FOIS MOINS CHER QUe le même trajet réservé par agence.
Le moins cher c'est kuluma.com uniquement en ligne.
Pour les choses à voir, soit tu choisis tes régions et tu vas de l'un à l'autre par avion en louant une voiture à chaque fois, où bien tu décides d'un long trajet à faire de bout en bout avec exploration des deux régions de départ et d'arrivée. Autrement tu risques de passer ton temps sur les routes.
Ceci dit, un week-end à Vic Falls au départ de Johannesburg par agence en tout compris, ça vaut vraiment la peine. Il n'y a QUE les chutes à voir à Victoria donc une nuit suffit.
merci d'avoir répondu à mes questions, si on pourvait me dire à peu prés le budget qu'il faut pr 3 sem ( hotel simple mais correct ) avec un ou deux vols interieurs, location de voiture, .....cela nous donnerait une idée, merci encore pour vos réponses
Bon, déterminer un budget moyen est quelque chose de très très compliqué mais je vais annoncer quelques chiffres que les autres forumers s'empresseront de rectifier si je me plante !!!
Billet d'avion/personne : environs 900 à 1200 euros (selon que tu prennes un A/R simple = 900-1000 euros ou un allez retour + 1 vol intérieur = 1000-12000 euros). Pour une extention aux Victoria falls il faut rallonger le budget car pour un allez retour sur une compagnie honorable entre joburg et vicfalls compter 200-250 euros en +.
D'après mes premières estimations (sans négociation donc je pense que c'est la fourchette haute qui devrait baisser lorsqu'on se lancera dans les réservations!) la location de voiture reviendrait à :
100 euros pour 4 jours pour une voiture de catégorie B (que nous utiliserons à CAPTOWN) et 900 euros pour 15 jours pour une voiture type toyota condor (que nous utiliserons pour le reste du trajet, nous avons fait le choix de ce type de véhicule qui est beaucoup + couteux qu'une catégorie B mais - cher qu'un 4*4 / avantage : il est surélevé donc peut-être plus pratique pour l'observation de la faune dans le Kruger ou Hluhluwe et en + on fait un détour par le Lésotho dont l'état des routes n'est pas aussi réputé que celles d'AFS).
Kruger : entrée = taxe de 120 ZAR par personne et par jour passé dans le parc / nuit logement moyen = 600-1000 ZAR pour un petit bungalo (1ZAR ~0.13 euros)
Pour le reste de l'AFS on a tablé sur un budget hébergement en moyenne de 60 à 80 euros pour 2.
Chutes victorias : compter 100$ pour l'hébergement, tout est très cher là bas mais il y a pas mal de trucs sympas à faire (survol en hélico, rafting, suat à l'élastique, journée d'excurtion au parc de Chobé...). Victoria falls = véritable usine à touriste!!!!
Voili voilou...
P.S : pour la location de voiture il ne faut pas oublier d'informer le loueur si vous compter sortir d'AFS avec la voiture (ex : passage au Lesotho ou au Swasiland).
En ce qui concerne la période, c'est parfait car il s'agit du printemps, donc pas encore les grosses chaleures de l'été.
A titre indicatif, il fait dans les 22-25 degrés dans la région de Johannesburg, dans les 25 - 30 dans le Kruger, dans les 25 près de Durban et dans les 20 degrés dans la région du Cap.
Attention, ce sont des températures moyennes constatées au plus chaud de l'après midi.
Bon ensoleillement dans tout le pays en général.
Pour le cout du voyage, tout d'abord compter une location de voiture ( dans les 300 R la journée pour une petite catégorie) et pour les billets internes Johannesburg Le Cap etc, voir directement sur le net avec la companie low cost de type kulula.com par exemple.
Et si tu souhaites limiter les couts au niveau hotelier (attention à cette période, il vaut mieux réserver à l avance dans des régions telles que la Garden Route ou au Cap) autant passer par un tour opérateur local et tout faire en direct, en profiter pour réviser un peu l'anglais aussi. Bon si tu as des questions précises, n'hésites pas, j'ai déjà passé quelques semaines dans ce beau pays.
Kevin
merci pour ta réponse, il y a encore beaucoup de questions qui me pertubent :nous ne parlons pas bien l'anglais, est ce vraiment un handicap ou peut'on arriver tout de même à gerer le problème ? ( si vous avez des conseils, methodes rapides pour juste pouvoir se débrouiller....)est'il préferable de prendre un guide pour visiter les parcs ? et il y a t'il des guides qui parlent francais ? pour la conduite à gauche cela ne pose pas trop de problème ?doit'on louer une voiture pour tout le voyage ou peut 'on prendre le bus pour une certaine partie du voyage pour limiter les frais ?
avec plaisir! les sud africains parlent très rarement le francais quoique de plus en plus d africains d afrique centrale francophone viennent s installer en afrique du sud mais ils occupent rarement de fonction dans les services
il faut connaitre la base de l anglais pour pouvoir se débrouiller, à voir dans les guides routard, lonely planet ou autre il y a généralement un lexique
lors de la prise de véhicule je sais que chez europcar par exemple, le contrat est traduit en francais
dans les hotels, un anglais minime vous sera demandé si vous avez deja fait la réservation à l avance et que vous presentez un voucher (chambre deja payée à l avance) donc il vaut mieux tout reserver à l avance pour visiter les parcs, pas besoin de guide, par exemple si vous choisissez de visiter le kruger, vous pouvez circuler en voiture et acheter un guide touristique à l entree du parc (ils en ont en francais, allemand, espagnol...) donc récupérer les infos utiles comme les noms des animaux, distances entre les rest camps, description des zones de végétation...
sinon choisir une formule d hebergement en lodge dans une reserve privée ou la 2 safaris + tous les repas inclus et les safaris se font avec un ranger (guide) spécialisé, mais tres tres rarement en francais tu ne trouveras pas de guide francophone, c est une denrée rare en afrique du sud, ou alors c est un coup de bol conduite à gauche demande beaucoup de concentration les premiers jours donc comme les vols se font généralement de nuit depuis l europe, prévoir le lendemain matin (jour de l arrivee sur le sol sud africain) tres courte distance
mais on s habitue au bout de quelques jours, ca va aller! il vaut mieux louer une voiture pour toute la durée du séjour, le bus n est pas recommandable pour des raisons de sécurité
l essence et loc de voitures sont bon marché en afrique du sud
un petit message pour vous dire que je suis comme vous tout nouveau sur voyage forum.
les dates de départ de votre voyage sont tres bien (fin de la saison séche) nous étions partis une fois plus tard et à la fin de notre sejour, début novembre il commençait à pleuvoir je sais que la pluie et un bienfait pour la nature mais c'est mieux quelle tombe quand on y est pas .
vous ne dites pas si vous désirez allez dans des réserves, l' Afrique du Sud est Immense les routes sont tres bien ammenagées pour le Kruger il faut absolument réserver avant ( c'est la periode des vacances ) le prix du voyage en avion est à peut pres de 900.00 euros par personnes, moi j'ai déja mes billets pour la Namibie via Joburg nous partons à huit le 28 septembre 2006 dépechez vous les places sont limitées c'est la haute saison .
les locations de voitures ne sont pas trés chere à part les 4x4 camping "tente sur le toit"
continuez votre projet Afrique du Sud vous attends
merci pour ta réponse, oui ns allons visiter une ou deux réserves, kRUGER, et ?, n'hésitez pas à ns donner des conseils....on ns a conseillé de visiter une réserve privée pour avoir + de chance de voir un maximum d'animaux, alors on ne sait pas, il y en a tellement.....laquelle prendre ?, si vous pouvez aussi nous donner des info sur des lodges sympas, pas trop cheres....
j ai survolé les derniers mails et suis assez surprise par le tarif des vols.
J ai réservé en janvier pour un vol en mars avec air france pour 610 euros.
Certes c etait une affaire mais ce n etait pas la seule. Les vacances scolaires doivent certainement faire grimper les prix mais naviguez un peu sur le web, vous devez pouvoir trouver a moins de 900 euros (ou alors je suis tres contente de partir en mars...)
Il s'agit comme je l'ai mentionné d'Air France. L'an passé, par contre j'avais trouvé les prix plus intéressants chez Lufthansa.
J'organise personnellement mon voyage, réservation via internet ou via mes contacts locaux sur place. L'Afrique du Sud est un pays qui se prête facilement au trip sans TO. Prise d'une voiture de location et c'est parti.🙂
Période :au moins 3 semaines vu la taille de ce magnifique pays. Mon objectif réside dans l'observation de la faune sauvage donc je construis mon itinéraire, essentiellement, en fonction du bush.
Ps : je préfère les plateaux de fruits de mer de St Lucia aux moules-frites du Waterfront et à la baguette d'Hermanus!😛
je trouve les tarifs proposes de vol tres chers en 5 mn de recherche, à 708 euros vol direct south africa airlines si tu veux plus de renseignement envoye moi un mail à thierry.mourmant@wanadoo.fr
Non je ne pars pas seule. Mais lors de mes voyages précedents, j'ai déjà rencontré, en Afrique du Sud quelques voyageurs(euses) solo. 😉
Il est assez aisé, via les backpackers de faire des rencontres avec d'autres voyageurs et de réaliser un bout de route avec eux.
Hello everyone!
It's been a year since I've been longing for South Africa. Our first trip in August 2025 amazed us, and—rarely—it was a unanimous hit with our little family! We were touched to the core, and from the moment we got home, we couldn’t stop talking about going back. 😄
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave me advice on the itinerary for that first trip (Johannesburg loop: Blyde, Kruger, Eswatini, St. Lucia, Durban, Drakensberg)! Thanks to you, our trip went like a dream!
Since then, I haven’t stopped reading articles and discussions on VoyageForum to keep my head in South Africa a little longer!
So, we finally caved and just booked our tickets for January 2027 (from the 3rd to the 26th), with a plan to do a road trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg in about 3 weeks.
I’ve got a rough itinerary that seems great based on what I’ve read on various forums, but there are still some uncertain points, and that’s where I could use your advice.
3/01: Arrival in Johannesburg at 11:45 PM
4/01: Flight to Cape Town, pick up rental car. Afternoon sightseeing
5,6,7/01: Cape Town to visit the big classics in the area (any tips for finding accommodation: which neighborhood, a specific place?)
8/01: Overnight stop before Oudtshoorn—but where??? (Is it essential, or is the CT-Oudtshoorn drive manageable? If so, I’d gain a day in Oudtshoorn. Google Maps shows over 5 hours of driving...)
9,10/01: Oudtshoorn (or would 3 nights be better to really enjoy the area?)
11,12/01: Knysna, Plettenberg Bay (to have time for hiking—if you’ve got hiking tips, I’m all ears!)
13,14/01: Tsitsikamma (still to have time for hiking—who knows the must-do hikes in the area? But maybe 4 nights in the Knysna-Tsitsikamma area is too much—I’m not sure)
16,17/01: Addo Elephant (I’m torn between 3 nights at Addo or 3 nights at Mountain Zebra. Based on travel journals, especially Michel’s on MZ, I’ve scheduled 3 nights at MZ 😄...)
18,19,20/01: Mountain Zebra NP
21/01: Camdeboo NP (because it looks so beautiful!)
22/01: Overnight stop (where?) before wrapping up the trip with either 2 or 3 nights at Golden Gate NP or the Lesotho option, which appeals to me, but I don’t know if it’s doable in 3 days to be back in Johannesburg by the afternoon of the 26th.
That’s my trip idea for now...
I’m eagerly waiting for your advice, ideas, and comments...
Can’t wait to be back there again!
Thirty years ago, I traveled to Zanzibar (Tanzania) with my children. Since I’ve since started a new family, I took the opportunity of a trip to Kenya to bring my new family along: my wife, who’s Kenyan, and my 10-year-old daughter.
Zanzibar has really changed in 30 years.
It’s become the island of taxes.
It all starts upon arrival: I think it’s the only country in the world, besides the visa, where Zanzibar insurance (and no other) is mandatory—it costs 40 €. If you didn’t purchase it before arriving, good luck getting it: the IT systems are unreliable. With a bit of luck, it’ll take at least an hour to process! And of course, this insurance is useless—if you get sick, it’s recommended to use your home country’s insurance because if you use Zanzibar’s, your national insurance won’t cover you anymore.
I wanted to show my daughter the red colobus monkey, which is endemic to Zanzibar. I paid for a tour that was supposed to be all-inclusive. First, we visited a spice farm, where a farm guide took charge of us—meaning commissions were involved, of course! The tour was very good and informative, though. When we arrived at Jenzhi Park (the colobus park), the guide told us he "forgot" there was an entrance fee (50$).
Aware of the system, I decided to book an Ocean Blue tour through the Zanzibar Tourism Office. After two hours of driving, we stopped at a beach—and were left there. No boat was ready to take us. Since my wife speaks Swahili (the language in Zanzibar), after an hour, a captain with his own boat agreed to take us along with his family.
Another attempt. The main attraction in Zanzibar (besides the city) is Changuu, the Prison Island. You have to take a motorboat and pay the captain, which is normal.
But in Zanzibar, to even get on a boat, you first have to pay a tax! Once we arrived at the island, it started all over again! Thirty years ago, access was free, and the entire island (about 1 km²) was open. Today, there’s a small office, and you have to pay a hefty fee to enter. But enter where? A paved path leads to about 15% of the island—the rest is off-limits. In total, I paid 100 € for my wife, daughter, and myself just to visit a tiny portion of the island! Avoid this!
For the rest of our stay, we stayed at a 5-star hotel with golf, horseback riding, tennis courts, evening concerts, etc.—undeniably high-level comfort. One last thing: if you want to rent a car, it’s affordable and useful for exploring the island’s diverse landscapes, but there are speed cameras at every corner on the main roads. The fine is supposedly 100 $, and it’s hard not to get one!
I told you: Zanzibar, the land of taxes. I used to think my country, Belgium, was the tax champion—I’ve found something even better!
In Nov./Dec. 2022, I went on a safari in the region and we suffered from the extreme temperatures caused by the "El Niño" phenomenon in the Indian Ocean at that time. On top of the extreme heat, there can be torrential rains, flooding, etc., which have led to disasters with casualties.
We're heading to South Africa for a month with 5 adults.
We'd like to rent a vehicle that can accommodate 5 people and all our luggage.
We're starting in Cape Town and ending in Johannesburg.
What vehicle would you recommend?
EDITH
Hi everyone!
I’m still planning my Cape Town to Johannesburg trip in January 2027.
I saw a documentary about the San people in Namibia, and the same day, I stumbled upon the Lonely Planet page about !Kwah Ttu.
I checked out their website to learn more, including Michel’s travel journal about it. I’m really keen to go.
So, I’m thinking of dedicating:
- either 1 day out of the 4.5 I have in Cape Town...
- or making a detour to !Kwah Ttu on the day I leave Cape Town for Montagu, instead of visiting Franschhoek and its Saturday market...
To the VFers who’ve already been: is it really worth spending a day there?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Malijp
Hi there,
I’m planning a gorilla trek in Bwindi, Uganda. I’m torn between the classic option (1 hour with the gorillas) and the habituation trek (4 hours with the gorillas but a more expensive permit). Has anyone done the habituation trek? Both? If so, I’d love to hear your feedback (including on the difficulty).
Thanks
I’ve read some travel journals here but I still have a question.
We’re heading to Uganda next February. The gorilla permits are booked, and the flight tickets are sorted too.
My question is about the chimpanzee trek. I’d love to know whether it’s better to book the habituation experience (4 hours) or the standard trek (1 hour).
The price difference isn’t huge, but I keep wondering and I’d hate to miss out on a great experience.
Hi everyone,
We’re revising our travel plans for January 2027. Originally, we were considering Uganda for about 14/15 days, but given the current health situation and the restrictions that might affect my partner, who’s American, we’ve decided to switch to Tanzania instead.
I’m used to traveling in South Africa and organizing my trips myself, but I get the impression that planning a safari in Tanzania is quite different.
I know self-drive isn’t really an option in Tanzania. So my main question is: can you organize your own itinerary and book lodges directly, then hire a local driver-guide? Or is it better to go through a local agency that handles the entire safari?
For the itinerary, which parks would you recommend for a first-time visit in January? Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Manyara, Ruaha, Arusha, Selous…
We’d also like to include Zanzibar to end the trip with a few days at the beach. Over 14/15 days, does that sound realistic or too ambitious?
Finally, for flights, is it better to arrive at Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Dar es Salaam (DAR) based on the itinerary we’re considering?
Thanks in advance for your feedback, especially on the best way to organize the safari and which parks to prioritize in January!
We're now just 5 weeks away from our trip to South Africa 🙂 and *so* excited to explore (just a tiny bit of) this amazing country.
I need to buy some binoculars but have no idea which model to choose. I don’t really know what to look for (and I don’t want to spend too much).
Thanks in advance to anyone who can give me some tips!
We just got back from ten days in Tanzania. We were lucky enough to be guided by Gishaman. Always in a great mood, a good driver, and an excellent guide. Thanks to him, we not only saw the Big Five in one day but also loads of other animals. He works for the local agency Blit Safaris, which provided excellent support throughout our trip. Highly recommended!
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.
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
My trip to South Africa is getting closer (still 2 months to go 😏), and I’m diving back into my itinerary: from Saturday to the following Sunday around Cape Town, then from Sunday to the following Saturday in Kruger.
For Cape Town, the plan was to avoid changing accommodation every day (we’ll do enough of that in the second part) but still see different landscapes.
I know, I’m missing out on a lot, but you’ve got to make choices, and after all this time, I know what I like—and especially what I don’t (or like less) 😉
Here’s the breakdown:
Arrival Saturday at 11 AM: heading to Hermanus (2 nights). The idea is to stroll along the cliff path in the afternoon, and possibly drive to the Klein River Lagoon. Sunday: Stony Point, then depending on time and weather, a hike in Kogelberg Nature Reserve or Fernkloof Nature Reserve (which seems less scenic but has shorter walks).
Monday: drive to Franschhoek (1 night). If everything lines up, a hike in Jonkershoek NR and a visit to a wine estate.
Tuesday: drive to Mountceder Lodge in the Cederberg (2 nights). I’m thinking of visiting the Stadsaal Caves and the elephant paintings, and maybe one of the hikes listed on the lodge’s site or Maltese Cross.
Thursday: heading to Hout Bay for 3 nights. In no particular order: a classic day trip around the peninsula, half a day at Kirstenbosch Gardens, and half a day at Lion’s Head.
Sunday: flight to Johannesburg.
My questions are mostly about (short) hikes:
Has anyone here done hikes in Kogelberg, Fernkloof, or Jonkershoek?
At Mountceder Lodge (Michel, if you’re reading this… 😉), has anyone tried the hikes (guided or not) offered by the lodge?
There’s still half a day to fill when we’re in Hout Bay—any ideas (not necessarily hikes)?
Lastly, regarding safety: the French foreign ministry (always alarmist, but still) recommends hiking in groups. Is it really risky in broad daylight? (I’m not sure a group of two women counts as a "group"…)
Thanks in advance for your answers, ideas, and comments!
Question: we’re doing a 3-week trip in Namibia, including 5 days for Victoria Falls.
I’ve booked one night in Brandberg, and then I have some questions.
I was thinking of spending 2 nights in Palmwag, then heading to Etosha for one night in Okaukuejo and then 2 nights in Halali.
Alternatively, from Brandberg, I could book a night near Galton Gate and then enter Etosha.
I’m not really sure about the distances, especially with a 4x4.
Same for the return trip: Halali to Windhoek seems long. Maybe it’d be smart to break it up on the way back? (We have 2 days to get back if needed.) If so, where?
Jambo! I organized my trip through this kind of group, so I thought I’d share my experience here. We traveled as a group of four, including two kids aged 9 and 11. After requesting around twenty quotes, I decided to book the safari portion with MAKING MEMORIES IN AFRICA. Ally responded quickly and listened to all my requests—unlike other agencies—such as having a French-speaking guide, the order of park visits (Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, then Ngorongoro), and a mix of budget hotels and camping to keep costs down. There were still four agencies in the running, and price was the deciding factor. Even though they were the cheapest, I felt better taken care of than with others. For example, all meals were prepared by a Maasai chef, Louis, who accompanied us throughout the trip, while some others ate meals out of cardboard boxes. Samuel, our guide, explained so many things and answered all our questions. José drove us safely the whole way. Everything was done with great cheer!
At the end of the stay, Ally came to meet us and gave us t-shirts with the agency’s logo—we loved that they took the time to hear our feedback in person. In short, I highly recommend them +++, especially since it’s a local agency that also supports a charity for women and children.
For Zanzibar, I organized everything myself. I hesitated for a long time but eventually booked all four nights at the same place. We don’t like crowds, so I initially considered Jambiani but ended up choosing EVERGREEN BUNGALOWS in Bwejuu. We took their first airport-to-hotel transfer since we arrived at night, and it felt safer. Great value for money, in our opinion. Just be aware that it’s quite isolated—perfect for relaxing and going on excursions. There were very few beach vendors, unlike what I’d read about Zanzibar. We lived with our feet in the sand from morning to night, with a small basin of water outside our room to rinse off. Such a lovely spot!
I had asked for some excursion prices before leaving but ended up booking on-site. Not at our hotel, but at a nearby restaurant that was cheaper. After some thought, since we were based in Bwejuu, I wanted to do Blue Lagoon and Pungume (both departing from the south of Zanzibar).
Blue Lagoon: About 3 hours total, with snorkeling on a small reef full of fish (coral wasn’t great) and a stop at a spot with tons of starfish, plus local snacks, fruit, and drinks.
Pungume: An amazing day with a 50% chance of seeing dolphins (we missed them), a visit to the mangroves, then snorkeling at a spot with some nice coral and, of course, fish. We ended with a fantastic grill (tuna, shrimp, squid, lobster, and fries) on a sandbank in the shade.
Finally, before heading to Stone Town, we visited Paje Cave, which is much less known than Maalum. It’s smaller, but we saw bats, went for a swim, and fed the chickens and rabbits (great for the kids). To finish, we explored Stone Town on our own and had dinner at Forodhani Market.
For flights, we flew with Turkish Airlines from Barcelona to Kilimanjaro and back from Zanzibar—no issues there. However, I don’t recommend the Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar leg with Precision Air. Our luggage didn’t arrive, and according to the hotel, this happens often. We only got it back a day and a half later.
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.
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
