C'était un voyage splendide mais nous n'avons malheureusement pas fait tout ce que nous aurions souhaité faute de temps. En résumé, notre précédent voyage nous a permis de visiter Johannesburg, Cape Town, Zululand, Swaziland, Kruger, Blyde River, Pilgrim's Rest, Sun City et Pretoria.
Voici l'itinéraire que nous souhaiterions effectuer du 04 au 21 août sachant que ce n'est pour le moment qu'une ébauche et que j'ai déjà consulté pas mal de discussion de ce forum avant de poster :
- J1 : Arrivée à Johannesburg - Location de voiture
- J2 à J4 : Départ pour les Battlefields. Je souhaiterais visiter quelques sites de grandes batailles s'étant déroulés dans le Kwazulu Natal dont Blood River. D'après vous, quels sont les incontournables? Nous pensons passer environ deux ou trois nuits sur place.
- J4 à J6 : Durban. Une journée complète au uShaka Marine World. Est ce que cela vaut vraiment le coup (nous voyageons avec des enfants)? Y a-t-il d'autres incontournables à Durban et dans les environs?
- J6 à J10 : C'est là que ça se complique!!! J'ai beaucoup entendu parler du Drakensberg sur ce forum. Notre objectif serait de rentrer au Lesotho depuis Durban mais le Sani Pass semble difficile voir impossible à passer en août. Quels sont les intérêts du Drakensberg et du Lesotho? Habitant à Mayotte, mes filles n'ont jamais vu la neige. C'est pourquoi nous aimerions aller à Afriski ou à Tiffindell (Quelle station choisir? Y en a-t-il d'autres?). Cette étape peut être allongée d'une voir deux nuits.
- J10 à J12 : Kimberley Big Hole Complex. Est ce que ce site vaut vraiment le coup?
- J12 à J14 : Sun city. Les filles ont adorés la première fois donc il FAUT que nous y passions.
- J14 à J19 : Après avoir pris l'avion depuis Johannesburg, nous nous retrouvons à Victoria Falls. Visite des chutes, du parc de Hwange et des environs (autres points d'intérêts?).
- J19 : Retour en avion un Johannesburg puis retour chez nous.
Voilà notre première ébauche qui peut encore grandement changer selon vos commentaires.
Salut compatriote domien,
il semblerait qu'on ait eu sensiblement le même projet de voyage cette année. J'ai dû abandonner l'idée du Lesotho et surtout le passage par le Sani car sans 4x4 c'est impossible, qui plus est en hiver.
- J2 à J4 : Départ pour les Battlefields. Je souhaiterais visiter quelques sites de grandes batailles s'étant déroulés dans le Kwazulu Natal dont Blood River. D'après vous, quels sont les incontournables? Nous pensons passer environ deux ou trois nuits sur place.
Ca c'est le domaine de l'ami Jean (Voyajou). Sur ses conseils, nous étions partis à Eshowe l'année dernière et c'était une étape pleine de charme.
- J4 à J6 : Durban. Une journée complète au uShaka Marine World. Est ce que cela vaut vraiment le coup (nous voyageons avec des enfants)? Y a-t-il d'autres incontournables à Durban et dans les environs?
Ushaka est vraiment très sympa pour les enfants. C'est un parc où l'on peut passer la journée sans pb à s'amuser (jeux d'eau, aquarium, spectacles de dauphins, otaries....). On le refera en août également mais il faut tenir compte que ce sera en hiver et je doute que mes enfants- déjà réticents à poser les pieds dans le lagon si l'eau est inférieure à 28°- se lancent à lassaut des toboggans et autres jeux d'eau!
Pour le reste de Durban, je n'y ai passé qu'une journée et sur le beachfront. C'est une étape assez reposante. Beaucoup sur le forum disent que Durban n'a pas d'intérêts hormis son front de mer, le stade Moses Mabhida avec la vue panoramique au dessus du terrain.... Toutefois, nous y passerons également 2 jours en août et on compte profiter des circuits "people mover" pour visiter un peu les différents quartiers. Ce serait bien pour les enfants (en tous cas, les miens) qui ne connaissent pas encore de grandes villes.
- J6 à J10 : C'est là que ça se complique!!! J'ai beaucoup entendu parler du Drakensberg sur ce forum. Notre objectif serait de rentrer au Lesotho depuis Durban mais le Sani Pass semble difficile voir impossible à passer en août. Quels sont les intérêts du Drakensberg et du Lesotho? Habitant à Mayotte, mes filles n'ont jamais vu la neige. C'est pourquoi nous aimerions aller à Afriski ou à Tiffindell (Quelle station choisir? Y en a-t-il d'autres?). Cette étape peut être allongée d'une voir deux nuits.
Il n'y a pas que le Sani Pass comme entrée pour le Lesotho. Venant de Durban, il y aussi Qacha's Nek mais effectivement, tout dépend de ce que vous voulez y faire. Là, je laisse les autres répondre et je suis la conversation qui me sera utile prochainement.
De mon côté, mes enfants aimeraient aussi voir la neige qu'ils n'ont jamais connus mais je pense qu'il y a de fortes chances que nous en ayons dans le Drakensberg en août.
Départ pour les Battlefields...
Ca c'est le domaine de l'ami Jean (Voyajou). Sur ses conseils, nous étions partis à Eshowe l'année dernière et c'était une étape pleine de charme.
Moi un spécialiste des batailles!? Que nenni! Moi, mon credo (mon créneau), c'est Peace and Love.😇
Pour les Battlefields, je te recommande ce site qui vous permettra en fonction de vos goûts et de la présence d'enfants, de retenir les commémorations qui vous conviendront:
http://www.battlefieldsroute.co.za/
Quel type de voiture aurez-vous?
Je n'en suis pas certain mais je crois que certains loueurs proposent des chaînes ou au moins des pneus neige à cette saison. Sans pneus neige ou chaînes et sans 4x4 selon le temps qu'il fera vous risquez d'être bloqués au milieu du Lesotho.
S'il s'agissait d'approcher la neige une solution serait d'entrer par Maseru et de suivre la route nord, entretenue, jusqu'à Afriski. Mais si c'est juste pour la neige, sans autre intérêt pour le Lesotho (qui peut se révéler difficile d'accès à cette époque et moins intéressant aussi) Tiffindell sera bien.
Cela donnerait un circuit sans difficultés contournant le Lesotho: Battelfields, Durban, Tiffindell, Kimberley.
Cela confirme ce que je pensais pour le uShaka Marine World. Nous y passerons une journée complète tout en sachant que mes enfants ne se baigneront pas non plus. Nous profiterons principalement des spectacles.
Je suis allé faire un tour sur le site que tu nous a recommandé. En tant que "spécialiste" des batailles, quels sites recommandes-tu : blood river, isandlwana, rorke's drift, talana...???
En fonction du temps, nous ferons peut être une étape par Umfolozi Game Réserve en quittant les Battlefields et avant de nous rendre à Durban.
Concernant la voiture, je pense prendre un 4*4 avec chaînes. Je pense que c'est le seul moyen de nous rendre au Lesotho à cette période. Néanmoins, le Sani Pass me semble un passage assez aléatoire à cette période. Je suis assez tenté par Afriski avec une entrée par le nord du Lesotho qui est plus praticable si j'ai tout compris. En effet, Afriski me paraît être une station un peu plus développée que Tiffindell. Est ce que je me trompe? L'objectif du Lesotho est principalement la neige à moins que quelqu'un ne m'indique un autre intérêt à cette période.
Virtuelles seulement!😉
Vraiment, je ne saurais te conseiller valablement: j'aime bien cette région, sans courir après les vestiges, je les visite lorsque je les rencontre. Je pense que tu dois voir les choses par la lorgnette des enfants qui seront avec vous.
Un fil conducteur, les musées, dédiés ou pas:
http://www.battlefieldsroute.co.za/placecategory...
En effet, Afriski me paraît être une station un peu plus développée que Tiffindell. Est ce que je me trompe?
Je ne connais que la première et... en été: ça ressemble à une toute petite station du Massif Central.
Si tu as un véhicule adapté, après les Battlefields tu pourrais tenter le Sani Pass au retour de Durban et s'il n'est pas praticable (il suffira de demander à Underberg ou ailleurs) faire un détour par le nord-est, entrer à Butha Buthe puis traverser le pays par Thaba Tseka et ressortir à Maseru pour Kimberley.
En hiver, bien sûr, la vie aux champs sera réduite alors que c'est, pour moi, d'un intérêt majeur; néanmoins, en passant par le centre, vous aurez une idée du mode de vie de ces montagnards.
Vous allez me dire que nous ne savons pas ce que nous voulons mais la situation actuelle à Madagascar a eu raison de notre voyage et nous partons finalement pour l'Afrique du Sud. Néanmoins, notre voyage sera grandement bouleversé par rapport à ce que nous avions envisagé dans un premier temps en votre compagnie sur ce forum car nous ne serons plus 4 mais 7 et les personnes qui nous accompagnent ne sont jamais allées en Afrique du Sud.
J'envisage un parcours assez classique :
- Arrivée en Afrique du Sud le 02 août. Nuits des 02 et 03 août dans le Bed and breakfast où ne nous trouvions en décembre à Soweto.
- Départ le 04 août pour le parc Kruger. Nuits au Kruger les 04, 05 et 06 août. Pour avoir déjà regardé, nous prendrons les camps en fonction de ce qui sera disponible dans les semaines qui viennent (Lower Sabie est quasiment complet).
- Nuit du 07 août à Blyde River Canyon que nous avons beaucoup aimé en décembre tout en sachant que nous n'avons pas fait le tour de tous les sites.
- Après, je ne sais plus trop... Nous sommes en Afrique du Sud jusqu'au 16 août (date de départ). J'aimerais faire un saut au chutes Victoria mais je ne sais pas trop combien de nuits y passer (entre 3 et 5 nuits?). Que faire d'autre dans le Mpumalanga, le Limpopo, le Kwazulu Natal ou le Swaziland?
Pour info, nous ne souhaitons pas aller à Cape Town car nous prenons déjà l'avion pour Victoria Falls.
En effet, si le parcours se termine là et qu'il y a un problème sur les vols, vous ne pourriez pas prendre votre vol retour...
04, 05, 06, 07 : Je prendrais plutôt un vol pour Kasane au Botswana (Hôtel dans cette ville). De là, vous pouvez à la fois faire une excursion d'une ou deux journées aux chutes et faire un safari 4X4 et bateau au parc Chobé.
Vol retour sur JNB puis :
08 et 09 : nord du Drakensberg
10 : route vers Ithala Game reserve
11 : Swaziland
12 13 14 Kruger
15 Blyde (dormir vers Dullstroom ou Lydenburg)
16 retour sur JNB et vol
Au début, j'envisageais d'abandonner le véhicule à Victoria Falls et de prendre l'avion pour Johannesburg mais je n'ai trouvé aucune agence qui acceptait que nous laissions notre véhicule la-bas. Connaissez-vous des agences qui louent des véhicules pour sept et qui accepteraient cela?
Ce trajet est-il réalisable avec un mini-bus type Hyundai H1 (8 places - 4*2)?
Ce trajet est-il réalisable dans le peu de temps que nous avons (04 au 16 août)?
Les loueurs classiques n'acceptent pas la traversée du Zimbabwe. Cette compagnie l'autorise mais je ne sais pas ce qu'elle vaut.
Il faut savoir que conduire au Zimbabwe n'est pas comme conduire en AFS, au Botswana ou en Namibie à cause des policiers qui aiment arrondir leurs fins de mois.
Le véhicule doit être aux normes locales surtout si le conducteur a les moyens...
Quelques détails ici.
J'ai personnellement repoussé à plus tard le voyage au Zimbabwe mais si ça te tente tu pourrais envisager un truc du genre :
A Chobe, il faudra laisser le minibus au parking et prendre des safaris guidés.
Je pense que ce sera pareil à Hwange (à vérifier).
Cette option est impossible en combinaison avec le Kruger.
Un autre itinéraire possible (totalement différent...)
JNB-Kimberley-Augrabies-Kgalagadi-Sesriem(Namibie)-Swakopmund-Spitzkoppe-Windhoek et retour sur JNB en avion.
Tu trouveras facilement des loueurs qui acceptent un drop off en Namibie et tout le parcours peut s'effectuer sans 4X4 hormis l'arrivée aux dunes (mais il existe des navettes).
Pas d'éléphants et rhinos sur ce parcours à moins de remplacer Kimberley par le Pilanesberg.
Aux vues de tes conseils, je pense que je vais laisser tomber le Zimbabwe par la route. C'était une folie passagère... des choses qui arrivent 🙂
J'ai le sentiment que l'itinéraire que tu me proposes en Namibie nous fait faire vraiment beaucoup de route.
Revenons donc sur ta proposition d'atterrir à Kasane pour faire Chobe et les Victoria Falls. Les croisières safari à Chobe ont l'air vraiment sympa mais assez chers. En as-tu déjà fait une? Qu'en penses-tu? Vaut-il mieux atterrir à Kasane pour faire Chobe et Victoria Falls ou atterrir à Victoria Falls pour faire Hwange et Victoria Falls?
Concernant l'Afrique du Sud, le Kruger me paraît incontournable pour des personnes qui n'y sont jamais allées. En conséquence, une étape au Swaziland (que j'ai beaucoup aimé) et à Blyde me semblent sympa. Y a-t-il un risque de neige au Swaziland à cette saison?
J'ai entendu parler du pays Venda. Qu'en penses-tu?
J'irai bien jusqu'à Kimberley mais cela risque de nous faire beaucoup de route après le Kruger. Qu'en penses-tu? Que faire dans la région de Kimberley et Bloemfontein à part le Big Hole?
Autre question, que vaut le parc de Hlane au Swaziland? Il dispose de logement qui correspondent exactement à ce que nous recherchons (cottage pour 7).
Les croisières safari à Chobe ont l'air vraiment sympa mais assez chers. En as-tu déjà fait une? Qu'en penses-tu?
Je ne parlais pas des croisières avec nuit à bord (qui ne sont effectivement pas données...) mais juste d'une excursion à la demi-journée sur un bateau (ce qui est bien meilleur marché !)😉
Quand je suis allée au Chobé, j'avais pris une excursion d'une journée entière dans le parc et une excursion en fin d'après midi par bateau. C'était très bien.
Tu peux aussi envisager de dormir dans un des lodges à l'intérieur du parc mais ce ne sera pas le même budget.
Une autre journée, j'avais réservé une excursion aux chutes.
Si tu veux dormir une nuit aux chutes, tu pourrais peut être envisager un billet d'avion JNB Kasane retour Victoria Falls JNB et prendre un transfert terrestre dans une agence de Kasane pour VF (Ce n'est pas loin).
ou atterrir à Victoria Falls pour faire Hwange et Victoria Falls?
Je ne connais pas Hwange. Ce parc sera certainement moins fréquenté que le Chobé. Et moins coûteux.
Y a-t-il un risque de neige au Swaziland à cette saison?
Les épisodes neigeux semblent plus concerner le drakensberg et le lesotho mais la météo n'est pas une science exacte...😄
Qu'en penses-tu?
Kimberley n'est possible qu'en allant vers l'ouest .
Avec l'option Kruger, ça fait un trop gros détour.
J'ai le sentiment que l'itinéraire que tu me proposes en Namibie nous fait faire vraiment beaucoup de route.
C'était un itinéraire sans Kruger. Le kilométrage doit tourner autour de 2800 kilomètres.
Equivalent à un aller retour JNB Kasane ou Victoria Falls.😇
Après un peu de réflexion, voici notre itinéraire qui commence à prendre forme :
J1 : Arrivée à Johannesbourg. Route pour Graskop et nuit à Graskop.
J2 : Tour du canyon de Blyde (3 rondavels, Bourke's Luke Potholes, God's Window, Pinnacle). Nuit à Pilgrim's Rest.
J3 : Route pour le Kruger avec arrêt aux Mac Mac Falls. Nuit à Pretoriuskop (Guest House réservé).
J4 : Morning walk ou Game drive. Nuit à Pretoriuskop (Guest House réservé).
J5 : Route pour Berg-en-Dal (je voulais dormir à Skukuza ou Lower Sabie mais plus de place pour nous). Nuit à Berg-en-Dal (Cottages réservés).
J6 : Morning walk ou Game drive. Nuit à Berg-en-Dal (Cottages réservés).
J7 : Route pour Mbabane. Nuit à Mbabane et visite de Swaziland canddles.
J8 : Route pour Johannesbourg. Visite des ateliers de souffleurs de verre avant la frontière. Nuit à Johannesbourg.
J9 : Vol pour Livingstone. Tour en hélicoptère au dessus des chutes. Nuit à Livingstone.
J10 : Passage au Zimbabwe. Visite du parc national des chutes et du pont reliant les deux pays. Nuit à Livingstone.
J11 : Lion Encounter.
J12 : Vol pour Johannesbourg. Nuit à Soweto.
J13 : Visite de la maison de Mandela, de l'Apartheid muséum et de Constitution Hill. Nuit à Soweto.
J14 : Fin du voyage.
Concernant les chutes Victoria, nous avons choisi d'atterrir à Livingstone car les billets d'avion et les hôtels sont moins chers. Par ailleurs, il n'y a pas de vol le jour du départ et du retour pour Victoria Falls.
Je poursuis la préparation de notre voyage pour cet été. L'ensemble des billets d'avion et des réservations de voiture sont pris et les hôtels et chambres d'hôtes sont en cours.
Ma question concerne maintenant les devises.
En Afrique du sud, pas de problème, je change des euros en rands dès mon arrivée à l'aéroport, je paie les petits achats en rands et les gros achats en VISA. Jusque là tout va bien.
En Zambie (LIVINGSTONE uniquement avec passage à VICTORIA FALLS côté Zimbabwe), faut-il changer ses euros en kwachas ou vaut-il mieux changer des dollars US en kwachas? J'ai lu que les euros étaient échangés à parité avec les dollars. Est ce vrai? Les paiements en VISA s'effectuent-ils avec des terminaux modernes ou avec des "sabots"? Ces questions peuvent paraître surprenantes pour quelqu'un qui est déjà allé là-bas mais c'est une première pour moi et même si je me doute que cette région est "développée" (il y a des termes que je préfère), je me pose quelques questions.
Hello, We already did a self-organized trip to Namibia in March 2019, covering Windhoek and the southern part up to the South African border, then heading back…
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!
I’m thinking (thanks to some tips from forum members 😉) of taking this route to get to the Cederberg.
Apparently, the road was damaged by the May rains, and traffic is still slow there.
Has anyone taken this route recently?
If not, is one direction (toward or from the Cederberg) more scenic than the other?
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!
I’m starting to plan a trip to Tanzania + Zanzibar in August 2027 for 2 to 3 weeks with my partner.
I’ve never been there before and I’d love some advice, especially for Tanzania where we’re planning to do several safaris in the North.
Specifically:
Do you recommend using a travel agency to organize the trip, or are guidebooks and internet recommendations enough?
If you’ve used a local agency (rather than one in France), which one?
Would you recommend hiring a guide for the entire stay in Tanzania, or is it better to travel independently except in the parks where I’ve read that guides are mandatory?
If you’ve used a local agency (rather than one in France), which one and at what price?
Have you had any bad surprises (hidden fees, inexperienced guide, poor vehicle condition)?
Looking forward to reading your tips! 🙂
Thanks in advance
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.
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
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!
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 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
