Bonjour,
Nous partons 3 semaines en septembre en couple en afrique du sud et j'essaye de trouver des réponses o nos questions
1- Camping au Kruger, faut-il réserver ? Je prends tous les conseils ...
2- Rando avec ranger, est-ce que cela faut le coup ? De même pour les conseils dans kruger ou autre parc
3- Le kalahari est loin mais me semble magnifique. Cela veut dire moins de temps à kruger, votre avis ?
Plein d'autres questions mais je me limite à celles-ci.🙂
Bonjour,
Nous partons 3 semaines en septembre en couple en afrique du sud et j'essaye de trouver des réponses o nos questions
1- Camping au Kruger, faut-il réserver ? Je prends tous les conseils …
Impératif… tu peux réserver dans 1 camp pour toute la durée du séjour puis camper dans d'autres camps. Il faut simplement ne pas s'enregistrer dans les autres camps ;) simplement aller au camping et planter ta tente ou il y a de la place.
2- Rando avec ranger, est-ce que cela faut le coup ? De même pour les conseils dans kruger ou autre parc
Jamais fait
3- Le kalahari est loin mais me semble magnifique. Cela veut dire moins de temps à kruger, votre avis ?
pas encore allé :(
Plein d'autres questions mais je me limite à celles-ci.🙂
Pour le camping, si je comprends bien. On paye la durée du séjour avec la possibilité de changer de camp.
Selon ta connaissance, en septembre il y a t-il un risque que les camps soient pleins ?
Pour les randos, as-tu toi même fais une rando ? Si oui laquelle ?
Pour le Kalahari, lorsque tu dis que c'est plein est-ce l'entrée ou les lieux d’hébergement😠 ?
Tu réserves les campings comme tu réserves un hôtel. Nuit du xx/xx/xx camp F nuit suivante camp G etc
Si tu t aperçois que tu te trouves bien au camp F , tu vas à la réception pour qu'il change la nuit au camp G pour une autre nuit au camp F.
S' il y a de la place, pas de problèmes.
Si le prix du camp F est le même ou supérieur, pas de pénalités. Si G est plus cher que F, une petite pénalité.
Je n'ai pas effectué les randos sur plusieurs jours. J'ai juste effectué des randos de quelques heures. Pas au Kruger mais dans d autres parcs. Ça ne change pas grand chose à l affaire . 😉
Pour le Kgalagadi, ce sont les campings qui sont pleins sauf twee Rivieren.
Ça n a pas grand intérêt de ne pouvoir dormir que là.
C'était une de mes principales motivations mais j'ai commis une erreur en réservant ( ce n'est pas évident enfin quand on n'a pas trop l'habitude des réservations).Les départs de randos ( sur 3 jours) n'ont lieu que les mercredis et Dimanche ( enfin c'était comme ça) dans un camp bien précis ( Oliphant et/ou lower Sabie je crois) J'ai fait l'erreur de réserver le mercredi or il fallait le faire le mardi bien sûr pour un départ le mercredi matin bref ce fut un échec.
Sur place tu peux faire sans reserver! ( dans certains camps) des "morning walks" j'en ai faite une à Lower Sabie et pour moi ce fut sans grand intérêt pour ne pas dire nul . Départ à 05h en jeep!! pour 1/2 heure de trajet et courte ballade à pied dans un endroit dégagé. On a vu quelques traces d'animaux et on a eu droit à un cours de botanique où je n'ai pas tout compris.Au déjeuner quelques sucreries et un soda et retour au camp..
Je vais effectivement réserver pour les camps malgré que je ne voulais pas au début bloquer un nombre de jour précis pour conserver une certaine liberté.
Avez-vous d'autres conseils sur Kruger sur les camps ou les routes ? Sachant que j'hesite entre 5 et 7 jours dans Kruger. Et comme vous l'avez compris avec une rando de 1 ou Plusieurs jours.
Nous allons ensuite vers le Drakensberg et le Lesotho pour aller ensuite au cap, de même avez-vous des conseils ?
Je vais effectivement réserver pour les camps malgré que je ne voulais pas au début bloquer un nombre de jour précis pour conserver une certaine liberté.
effectivement c'est bien là tout le problème!
Avez-vous d'autres conseils sur Kruger sur les camps ou les routes ? Sachant que j'hesite entre 5 et 7 jours dans Kruger
Ma foi Attila qui répond toujours à ma place sera mieux placée pour t' en parler...
Niveau camp mon préféré a été lower sabie ensuite Mopani ( plus au nord) aussi bien niveau confort qu'environnement.
Je pense que tout dépend aussi du niveau de fréquentation du parc ;lorsque j'y suis allé il était assez bas et donc peu de nuisances à déplorer...certains vont préférer les camps satellites plus sommaires ( ex: Tamboti) il faut y emporter tout ton nécessaire ustensiles de cuisine et nourriture) je n'y ai pas trouvé un grand avantage par rapport aux camps principaux ( les singes chapardeurs omniprésents viennent faire leurs besoins sur les tables) mais il peut y en avoir lorsque les camps principaux plus grands sont hyper fréquentés.
Pour le nombre de jours c'est difficile de me prononcer...ceux qui sont passionnés y resteraient certainement plus longtemps que je ne l'ai fait ( 5 nuits)
Le Drakensberg je peux en parler plus objectivement étant surtout amateur de randonnées ..
J'ai logé à 4 endroits différents et j'ai chaque fois arpenté les sentiers pour des randos de 6 à 8h.Donc je suis bien loin de tout connaitre mais j'ai un bon aperçu des sites visités.
Le peu que j'ai vu du Lesotho ( niveau paysages je précise bien) m'a paru moins "spectaculaire" et plus monotone que la partie sud Af du Drakensberg qui lui est contigüe et aussi moins propice à la rando.
Si tu veux des infos sur les sites du Drakensberg et les plus belles randos à faire n'hésite pas..
Salut
Personne, je réserve toujours, pourtant c'est possible de ne pas le faire mais je trouve toujours cela risqué
Un walk avec ranger, en particulier le matin est à mon sens très intéressant
On ne voit pas toujours quelque chose mais on pourrait et rien que cela c'est déjà un plus
Après il y a le Bush au petit matin
Donc oui
Kalahari ? C'est tellement grand que pour répondre il faudrait circonscrire le débat
Drakensberg: il y a les marcheurs et les promeneurs
Faisant partie de la seconde catégorie, que ce soit à Giants, à cathédrale peak, près de l'orion ou dans le Kamberg , j'ai toujours trouvé parcours à mon pied
Ni lassitude ni autre vision négative
Deux endroits où aller pour de belles randos: Thendele ( royal natal nat park) et Witsieshoeke mountain lodge ( sentinel car park)
Le premier situé dans le royal Natal national park a l'avantage d'offrir deux types de logement
Les chalets au Thendele camp; reservation:( www.kznwildlife.com/...-natal-thendele.html) mais aussi le Mahai camping situé à moins de 2km du camp de thendele( je n'y ai pas logé mais suis passé à pied devant;je n'ai pas non plus d'infos de prix mais suppose que c'est moins cher que les chalets de Thendele).Le site en lui même ( thendele camp) est le plus agréable et le mieux situé des 4 où je suis allé mais avant tout c'est à partir de celui-la que j'ai fait les plus belles randos.
Une des plus intéressantes et relativement facile ( accessible au plus grand nombre) reste les gorges de la Thukela ( thukela gorge) durée environ 6 heures dénivelé 400 ou 500m.
une autre ( un peu plus costaud) consiste à aller ( 3h de montée) sur le plateau( amphitheatre) au Witsieshoeke mountain lodge( tu peux manger à midi au resto bon et pas cher) si le temps est au beau la vue est magnifique. De là ( frontière avec le Lesotho) tu peux redescendre par un autre chemin qui conduit au" crack" ( fissure dans la falaise c'est assez escarpé avec par endroits quelques échelles métalliques mais ça vaut le coup!! toutes les randos sont décrites sur des prospectus qu'on trouve à la réception du camp.
Le second endroit ( sentinel car park) là où se trouve le Witsieshoeke mountain lodge( que l'on peut rejoindre à pied en 3 heures environ depuis thendele est à 2h et demi de route ( voiture) depuis Thendele!! Il serait intéressant de pouvoir y loger le second jour ( pour faire une rando sur 2 jours consécutifs) mais pour cela il faut d'abord laisser sa voiture à Thendele ( pas possible!! )
Donc le seul moyen c'est d'aller au Witsieshoeke mountain lodge en voiture! et d'y loger..
de là tu peux faire une rando très spectaculaire : le sentinel peak par la "chain ladder" walk ( 4 heures)
Il existe d'autres point de chute notamment Giant's castle plébicité par certains. J'ai trouvé les logements très corrects ( comme partout d'ailleurs) il y a aussi un resto correct ( je pense que c'est sans doute un des atouts qui font la renommée de ce site mais l'environnement est assez quelconque ( on est un peu dans une cuvette) et le paysage environnant est loin d'être aussi spectaculaire qu'à Thendele mais surtout les randos offertes sont très quelconques et plutôt monotones à moins peut-être d'en faire de très longues ( >25km) ce qui nécessite un bivouac. Par curiosité j'ai voulu aller voir un "refuge" situé à 6 ou 7 km du camp en direction du mont giant's castle sur le plan ;il était totalement en ruine et donc inutilisable
Voilà si tu veux plus de précisions n'hésite pas..
Pour le reste ( kruger notamment) adresse toi aux autres ( Attila Rjulie, michel, montagnard74) ils sont mieux placés pour te renseigner et font plus l'unanimité sur la question ( safaris en particulier) Tu sais les goûts et les couleurs comme on dit...
Ce que je n'admets pas c'est la pensée unique!
Merci pour ces détails, ils m'aident dans ma préparation pour quelques jours au Drakensberg.
En effet, j'ai beaucoup entendu parler de la rando Amphitheatre. Il faut compter à peu près combien de temps pour le retour en passant par le "crack" ?
Donc si j'ai bien compris, impossible de faire le sentinel peak en étant basé à Thendele ? ou de faire la rando Amphitheatre en étant basé au Witsieshoeke mountain lodge ? S'il n'y avait qu'une des deux à choisir ?
Pour la réservation au Thendele, il y a t'il une grosse différence entre le lower et upper camp ?
Je pensais également faire un tour au Lesotho mais apparemment les routes ne sont pas évidentes. Il y a t'il des excursions organisées ?
En effet, j'ai beaucoup entendu parler de la rando Amphitheatre. Il faut compter à peu près combien de temps pour le retour en passant par le "crack" ?
Au départ de Thendele ( ou Mahai camping à 1,5km de Thendele)c'est entre 5 et 6 heures fonction de ton niveau. Le passage du crack est assez escarpé quelques échelles et parfois faut s'aider un peu des mains mais rien de très technique..Je suis un très mauvais photographe mais dans ce passage il y a de très belles photos à faire!
Donc si j'ai bien compris, impossible de faire le sentinel peak en étant basé à Thendele ? ou de faire la rando Amphitheatre en étant basé au Witsieshoeke mountain lodge ? S'il n'y avait qu'une des deux à choisir ?
A mon avis il vaut mieux loger à Witsishoek mountain lodge car de là tu peux faire les deux!
Si tu loges à Thendele tu ne pourras pas faire la "chain Ladder/ sentinel peak" ça te prendrait 2 jours( aller!) et faudrait aussi revenir récupérer ta voiture au parking!
Perso j'avais déjà réservé à Thendele et je n'avais donc pas le choix. Donc pour faire les deux je suis allé ensuite à Sentinel car park en voiture!! En bagnole de Thendele à Witieshoek il faut 2 heures et demi de "route" souvent défoncée alors qu'à pied il faut seulement 3 heures( sur les chemins de trek) Mais tu ne peux pas enchainer sur "sentinel peak" le même jour!
Par contre de Witsieshoek lodge ( positionné entre Thendele et le sentinel peak) tu peux d'abord faire le sentinel peak: Une navette t'en rapproche et t'évite les 8 km de bitume te déposant au pied du peak... Après c'est une rando plutôt ludique ( si tu n'es pas sujet au vertige) mais faisable ( techniquement parlant )par tout le monde ou presque et c'est assez spectaculaire..Entre 3 et4 heures en prenant son temps pour sentinel peak + les chutes de la Tugela river
Tu peux aussi( un autre jour) faire le crack en descendant vers Thendele ( en faisant une boucle de 5/6 heures) C'est en descente dans la premiere partie et le retour à Witsieshoek est bien sûr en montée .
Au départ de thendele c'est bien sûr le contraire..
Je viens de trouver ça au cas où tu cherches quelque chose de plus organisé:www.drakensberghikes.co.za/amphi-hike.html
Ps: je viens aussi de voir que le logement au Witsieshoek est moins cher qu'à Thendele Je n'y ai pas logé mais seulement mangé à midi. La vue de la haut est magnifique ( par beau temps!)
Au cas où tu loges à Thendele je ne vois pas trop l'utilité de réserver au upper camp.. c'est 200m au dessus! même vues ou presque et si c'est pour faire des photos suffit de faire 400 m à pied; mais il en faut pour tous les goûts...
Donc si j'ai bien compris, pour la rando amphitheatre, on descend dans les "gorges" alors que pour le sentinel peak on monte à un des sommets ?
Je pense donc me baser à Witsieshoek. S'il n'y avait qu'une seule des 2 randos à faire, laquelle te parait la plus sympa (sachant que je suis un bon marcheur/grimpeur donc pas de soucis à ce niveau-là) ?
J'ai lu sur le site de Witsieshoek, la possibilité d'aller jusqu'au Mont au Sources en 2 jours en passant par le sentinel peak. Je pense que ça me tenterait bien avec un guide.
Quelqu'un sait si cette rando est difficile ?
Après c'est une rando plutôt ludique (si tu n'es pas sujet au vertige) mais faisable (techniquement parlant)par tout le monde ou presque et c'est assez spectaculaire.. Entre 3 et 4 heures en prenant son temps pour sentinel peak + les chutes de la Tugela river
Quand tu dis entre 3 et 4 heures, c'est seulement l'aller ou l'aller-retour ?
Donc si j'ai bien compris, pour la rando amphitheatre, on descend dans les "gorges" alors que pour le sentinel peak on monte à un des sommets ?
C'est tout à fait ça si ton point de départ est le Witsieshoek mountain lodge qui se trouve sur le "plateau" ( autour de 2300m d'altitude si mes souvenirs sont exacts) dominant l'amphithéatre... le "sentinel peak lui est au dessus ( 3265m)
Tout en bas se situe le Thendele camp ( 1400m).
A partir de Witsieshoek mountain lodge tu peux aller en voiture ( ou en navette) au Sentinel car park ( à environ 7km de Witsieshoek) et de là monter au Sentinel peak ( 3250m) et la Tugella falls
Si tu passes 2 nuits à Witsieshoek le lendemain tu peux faire une boucle qui descend dans la gorge en direction de Thendele ( passage par le "crack") sans nécessairement descendre jusqu'à Thendele camp. Donc cette rando commence sur le plateau puis descend dans la gorge par le "crack" et remonte sur le plateau( à Witsieshoek lodge) par un chemin moins escarpé. ça peut bien sûr se faire dans l'autre sens et même par un itinéraire qui ne passe pas par le crack.( plusieurs itinéraires sont possibles )
Reste à savoir si au Witsieshoek lodge ils ont la map des randos qui "descendent"dans la gorge
Celle du "sentinel peak", elle, est évidente ( même sans map) à partir du parking( sentinel car park) aucun risque de se tromper c'est bien fléché mais celles qui descendent dans la gorge c'est différent, c'est pas simple de trouver le crack sans la carte ( carte qu'on peut trouver au Thendele camp mais peut-être pas au Witsieshoek)
Quand tu dis entre 3 et 4 heures, c'est seulement l'aller ou l'aller-retour ?
C'est 3 à 4 heures de montée mais tranquillement... Des fois tu peux te trouver derrière un groupe qui traine dans un passage "difficile" ou sur les "ladders" ( certains ont le vertige!) donc au total entre 5 et 7 heures si tu t'attardes un peu aux Tugella falls... Dénivelé positif autour des 900m
Nous on a mis autour de 5 heures aller-retour.
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.
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
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
