je prévois d'aller à Cape Town en novembre 2014 avec ma femme pour une dizaine de jours.
Après avoir cherché un peu sur internet, nous aimerions visiter la ville, Table mountain, faire un tour au Cap de bonne espérance. On m'a aussi parlé de la route des jardins, la route des vins, Robben island et du parc Kruger.
Il me semble que nous n'ayons pas besoin de voiture pour visiter la ville en elle-même, mais nous en auront besoin pour aller un peu plus loin.
Quel serait le quartier idéal d'un point de vue pratique pour y passer les nuits ? Est-ce que quelqu'un pourrait m'aider quant à l'ordre des visites, histoire de ne pas perdre trop de temps ?
Cape Town, Robben Island, Cap de Bonne Espérance, Route des vins, OK, avec une voiture de location c'est faisable, c'est dans le même coin... Mais alors, le parc Kruger, c'est pas tout à fait au même endroit.
Nous, nous ferons tout, mais nous avons un vol intérieur entre et deux locations de voiture différentes (une Cape Town-Cape Town et une Durban-JoBurg).
Le quartier idéal est certainement aux alentours du port touristique au lieu appelé V&A Waterfront; il y a beaucoup de possibilités de logement en Appartement , à l'Hotel ou dans les Guest House du coin, il suffit de regarder sur le site "Booking.com" que je crois bien être le plus fiable au niveau des réservations dans tous les pays du monde.
D'autre part, du point de vue de l'organisation des visites, voici un programme qui combine tout ce qu'il y a à voir en 4 journées.
>"Robben Island", tour complet, trajet en bateau et visite du musée, compter environ 3 heures 30'; si départ vers 9 heure, possibilité de monter à "Table Mountain" dans l'après midi, le trajet de V&A jusqu'au départ du télécabine ne prend en général qu'un 1/4 d'heure et en novembre, le soleil se couche vers 19h.
>Visite de "Cape Point" et du "Cap de Bonne Espérance"; compter une grosse demi journée pour faire le tour par "Hout Bay" (côte ouest) et retour par "Simon's town" (côte est du Cap).
>Route des vins; Stellenbosch et Franschhoek; beaucoup de vignobles donc également beaucoup de temps à passer en visite et dégustations.
>Visite des Jardins de Kirstenbosch puis éventuellement aller jusqu'à Hermanus pour voir les baleines, mais c'est pratiquement la fin de saison donc pas sûr. Il est peut-être préférable de faire une bonne visite de la ville de Cape town et d'y passer la soirée, il y a beaucoup d'animation et on trouve partout de très bons restaurants.
Voilà, il y a pas mal de choses à faire mais il faut privilégier "Table Mountain" dès que la météo est bonne (pas trop de vent) car dans le cas contraire, le téléphérique ne fonctionne pas.
Effectivement, nous n'irons pas au Kruger park pour éviter de payer un billet d'avion supplémentaire. Du coup, est-ce que vous sauriez où on pourrait faire un safari près de Cape Town sans avoir à prendre l'avion ?
Merci aussi pour l'idée de circuit, ça va nous être très utile !
il y a à environ 2 heures de voiture de Cape town plusieurs réserves assez connues et très bien gérée.
Je pense surtout à "Aquila" située à Inverdoorn, c'est une réserve ou l'on peut voir les Big 5 (Lions, Eléphants, Buffles, Rhinos et Léopard) et on peut soit y aller avec sa voiture ou partir de Cape town en tour organisé avec la société.
Beaucoup de possibilités pour les safaris, d'une journée à deux ou trois jours; voyez par vous même sur le site www.Aquila.co.za et vous pourrez juger si c'est intéressant pour vous .
Bonne soirée et à bientôt sur VF.
claw
p.s. Pour visiter la ville, il y a les bus rouge à deux étages qui font plusieurs circuits intéressants, on peut descendre n'importe ou et reprendre un autre bus plus tard dans la journée; pour filmer ou prendre des photos, c'est plus pratique que la voiture et il y a des connexions d'écouteurs (fournis) pour la traduction des commentaires .
Je ne reviens pas sur le KRUGER, parcontre il y a d'autres resserve d'état ou privée moins loin du CAPou de Johannesbourg;
pour l'hébergement au CAP il y a unguest housse le DALE COURT info @dalecourt, co, za ou WWW, dalecourt, co, za
Bien situer à proximité ducentre-ville et du waterfront
Pour les activités il y a de quoifaire: attention pour visiter ROBBEN ISLAND en fonction des dates ilfaut réservé en avance et prévoir la journée tranquillement;
SIGNAL HILL pour un coucher de soleilmagnifique, prendre avec une bouteille de vins des verres pourl'apéro et une petite laine.
TABLE MOUNTAIN pour la vue sur le CAPet la baie attention prévoir un changement de dernière minutes caren fonction du vent les téléfériques ne circule pas.
Le KIRSTENBOSCHN GARDEN un jardinmagnifique à faire plutôt le matin pour l'ensoleillement
Le CAPE OF GOOD HOPE bien sur pour lesite sa réserve où zone préservée on y voit des plantes etquelques animaux.
Les BOULDERS pour y voir des pingouins, Prévoir une journée voir deux pour visite la péninsule au sud duCAP.
Si vous vouliez voir le point le plussud de l'Afrique il faut prendre la route direction CAPE AGULHASl'eau de port et d'un vert merveilleux, mais vus la distance il vautmieux partir plusieurs jours pour faire un circuit avec la route dela cote vers HERMANUS, la route des jardins et un retour par la routedes vins si vous passez par celle-ci il faut faire FRANSCHHOEK et sonmusée pour comprendre pourquoi la France a fait partie de l'histoirede ce pays. La petite ville de STELENBOSCH et son village musée trèstypiques, sans oublier un magasin musé donc j'ai perdu le nom, jen'ai jamais vu dans un même lieu au temps de choses différentes àvendre cela va s de la viande séchée aux costumes d'époque enpassant par des animaux empaillés et des gamelles.
Entre FRANSCHHOEK et STELENBOSCH unarrêt s'impose au vignoble DELAIRE on peut y déguster la productionde vins avec une assiette de fromage et de charcuterie Sud Africainedevant un paysage féerique attention vous risquez de ne jamaisrepartir.
Le centre-ville du CAP est riche luiaussi entre les musées, le marché le CASTLE, LONG STREET on peut ypasser du temps.
Le seul vrai danger en Afrique du sudc'est d'attraper le virus et d'être obligé à reprogrammer unvoyage alors que le premier n'est pas encore finis, ce pays est tropgrand et trop diversifié pour en faire un tour d'horizon en quelquesjours.
L'essentiel a été dit sur la Cap et sa région, je n'ai pas grand chose à ajouter dessus.
Pour les baleines d'Hermanus, cela vaut le coup de garder un peu de flexibilité au cas où elles seraient encore là en novembre (elles partent en novembre-décembre mais bien sûr il y a des variations d'une année sur l'autre). Cela reste unique au monde de pouvoir les observer aussi bien et en si grand nombre gratuitement depuis la terre ferme.
Côté safari, ce n'est pas vraiment la meilleure région d'Afrique du Sud pour ça. Le parc national le plus proche pour vous est Addo Elephant Park près de Port Elizabeth connu comme son nom l'indique pour ses populations d'éléphants (mais pas que a priori). Ce n'est pas tout près, je vous l'accorde, mais c'est envisageable en faisant des étapes sur la Garden route (Knysna, Tsitsikamma national Park...)
Effectivement, j'avais vu le Addo elephant park près de Port-Elizabeth. Du coup, on pourrait passer quelques jours sur la route des Jardins. Mais je ne sais pas combien de temps il faudrait y consacrer. Aussi, si on y va, est-ce qu'on fait le retour en voiture par une autre route histoire de voir d'autres choses ? Ou alors trouver un vol low-cost à Port-Elisabeth pour retourner à Cape Town ?
Le Cap, Port-Elizabeth 750 km ?
Si vous souhaitaient prendre le temps de regarder autre choses que la route il faut prévoir 2 jours pour l'allez.
Une solution c'est de prendre l'avion pour l'allez et faire le retour par la route sur 3 jours en passant par la route des jardins, le Cap l'Agulhas, Hermanus et finir par la route des vins.
Pascal
je veux simplement te signaler que les vols entre Cape town et Port Elisabeth ne sont pas vraiment bon marché; par exemple, aux alentours du 15 novembre le coût du billet aller simple p/p est de +/- 1350 ZAR. Cà va vous faire 200€ l'aller.
Bien sûr si c'est votre choix je n'ai rien ajouter.
Bonne journée.
Si je comprends bien ce qui précède, vous passez dix jours au sud du Western Cape et renoncez au reste du pays (j'approuve sur cette durée).
Aussi, si on y va, est-ce qu'on fait le retour en voiture par une autre route histoire de voir d'autres choses ?
Du Cap, allez donc par la côte, comme expliqué dans les avis précédents, jusqu'à PE et Addo (c'est loin d'être un grand parc mais on y approche facilement nombre d'éléphants et aussi des lions lascifs).
Et revenez, histoire de voir d'autres choses, par les terres en passant par le Baviaanskloof et le Swartberg, le Klein Karoo, l'esprit des lieux, là où est le mien.
c'est noté pour les billet d'avion qui ne sont pas si bon marché que ça, merci !
Effectivement, pour une question de temps et de budget, nous allons nous concentrer sur la région du cap pour ce premier voyage en Afrique du Sud. Merci pour la proposition d'itinéraire retour !
Rebonjour à tous, voici un itinéraire conseillé par l'agence de voyage avec laquelle nous allons prendre nos billets d'avion, merci pour vos critiques et suggestions.
-Jours 1, 2 et 3 :visite de Cape Town
-Jour 4 : direction Hermanus, nuit sur place
-Jour 5 : direction Mossel Bay, nuit sur place
-Jour 6 : direction Knysna, nuit sur place
-jour 7 : visites à Knysna
-jour 8 : direction Port Elisabeth (et réserve d'Addo avec 1 ou 2 nuits sur place ?)
-jour 10 : vol interne à Port Elisabeth pour le retour à Cape Town.
J'aimerais bien aller au cap de Bonne Espérance durant le séjour, mais je ne sais pas encore à quel moment (pendant les jours à Cape town ou alors supprimer une nuit à Knysna).
Tu pourras faire le cap de bonne espérance pendant tes 3 jours a CAP TOWN ou même en l'incluent dans ton voyage pour HERMANUS. Par contre si ru veut faire le cap le plus au sud de l'Afrique il faut aller au CAP AGULHAS en faisant un détour dans ton trajet HERMANUS KNYSNA.
BON VOYAGE Pascal
Je suis rentré hier soir du Cap où j'ai passé 5 jours et demie, nous ne sommes pas allés plus loin qu'Hermanus mais je te donne notre itinéraire jour par jour en espérant que cela t'aide. Nous avons eu un temps magnifique, ce qui devrait aussi être le cas pour vous en novembre :
- J1 : arrivée en fin de matinée au Cap, après midi calme car nous sommes fatigués après une semaine de safari (Kruger) donc simple "prise de contact" avec la ville surtout que c'est un dimanche et qu'il fait beau donc les sudafricains sont de sortie et il n'est pas facile de circuler. Nous logeons vers Sea Point, beau quartier très agréable. Soirée sur le Waterfront.
- J2 : temps splendide, départ pour faire le tour de la péninsule. départ vers 10h, route magnifique, arrivée vers 11h à Simon's Town pour voir les manchots. 1h passée à les observer. Déjeuner de poissons au restaurant à côté de la colonie (seaforth, bon rapport qualité/prix). Arrivée vers 14 à Cape Point. 3h de balade entre Cape Point et Cape of Good Hope, c'est magnifique (une baleine australe était de passage). Retour par Chapman's Peak et Hout Bay, paysages à couper le souffle
- J3 : temps identique à la veille donc direction table Mountain. 2-3h au total (montée, balade, descente en téléphérique). Passage d'1h au marché à souvenirs de Green Market Square (on y trouve les même choses que partout mais tout est concentré au même endroit). Direction Hermanus après le déjeuner via la route panoramique qui part de Somerset West (je ne le referais pas forcément, la route ne longe pas pendant très longtemps le bord de mer et c'est assez long). Arrivée à Hermanus un peu avant 17h, journée calme niveau baleines (2 assez loin et peu actives) mais nous patientons jusqu'au coucher du soleil. Conseil restaurant : fuir le soi-disant resto à tapas situé en bord de mer (conseillé par notre hotel), ce que nous avons mangé n'avait rien à voir avec des tapas...
- J4 : départ tôt le matin pour aller plonger avec les requins à Gansbaai. Super expérience, retour sur Hermanus vers 15h30. Nouvelle session d'observation des baleines plus fructueuse, elles sont plus proches et plus actives.
- J5 : croisière d'observation des baleines le matin de 9h à 11h. Magnifique, des baleines partout et très proches (ils coupent le moteur du bateau). Départ ensuite pour Franshoek. Déjeuner au retaurant French Connection absolument délicieux, nous recommandons. Balade en voiture dans cette jolie région, shopping (nous ne sommes pas de grands amateurs de vins et je dois conduire donc pas de wine tasting pour nous) puis départ en fin de journée pour dormir à Simon's Town (pas la partie la plus logique de l'itinéraire mais nous voulions dormir près du Cap et face à la mer avant de repartir en France). Nuit dans la guesthouse Aqua Terra (cf Booking.com) qui jouit d'une vue sublime sur False Bay, nous recommandons.
- J6 : on repasse voir les manchots à la demande de ma copine (nous avons une Wild Card donc c'est gratuit) puis route jusqu'au Waterfront du Cap pour prendre le bateau pour Robben Island à 13h (pensez à réserver sur internet). Longue traversée (1h), visite intéressante mais en anglais (avec fort accent sudafricain) donc potentiellement frustrante pour ceux qui ne le parlent pas très bien. Retour sur le Waterfront et soirée sur le Waterfront. Nous avions prévu de voir le coucher de soleil sur Signal Hill ou Lions Head mais un retard de bateau nous en a empêché. Départ le lendemain aux aurores.
Si c'était à refaire (et nous le referons car c'est vraiment l'une des plus belles régions du monde sans exagération) : faire un coucher de soleil, aller à Kirstenbosch et dans le quartier Cape-malay de Bo Kaap (maisons colorées). Dormir deux nuits à Simon's Town et en profiter pour faire la péninsule. Dormir une nuit à Franshoek pour mieux profiter de la région. Prendre davantage en compte les embouteillages autour du Cap (notamment axes Sea point-Camps Bay et Muizenberg-FishHoek) dans la planification de mes journées
finalement, le voyage aura lieu le mois prochain, pour une durée de.. 7 nuits (6 jours pleins).
Du coup, je pensais rester au cap 3-4 nuits pour les différentes visites, puis louer une voiture pour les jours restants et dormir dans les villes/régions voisines. Pensez-vous qu'il soit plus judicieux de quand même revenir dormir au Cap après une journée de voiture ? J'ai du mal à me rendre compte des distances et des trajets, du temps qu'il faut pour entrer et sortir du Cap en voiture...
Aussi, j'aurais besoin de conseils pour les endroits à visiter en dehors du Cap. Il y a tellement de choses à voir, et comme nous ne disposons que de 2-3 jours...
A noter que nous ne sommes pas intéressés par les requins, et que rouler toute la journée ne nous dérange pas, c'est même un peu le but du voyage (rouler et découvrir de grands espaces et de jolis paysages).
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 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.
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!
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!
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 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
