Je commence à organiser un voyage pour 2 (2*4 et hotels) en Namibie pour mai 2007.
J'ai commencé un programme avec 10 nuits (ci-après) que je vais pouvoir étendre à 11 nuits (pas plus malheureusement).
Je souhaite rajouté une nuit pour faire une excursion au pays Himba. Dans mon programme actuel, nous n'avons pas le temps de nous rendre en voiture à Opuwo, donc 2 solutions a priori : je reste une nuit de plus à Swakopmund (3 nuits en tt dc) et on fait un daytrip en avion au Kaokaland en avion (un peu cher mais bon) je rajoute une nuit entre Twyfelfontein et Okaukuejo autour de Kamanjab, il parait qu'il y a un village Himba et la visite ne prendrait qu'une demi-journée mais j'ai peur du manque d'authenticité...
Que me conseillez-vous ?
Par ailleurs ai-je raté un immanquable dans ce programme ou y-a-t-il des points non indispensables ?
Toute suggestion est bienvenue !
J 1 WINDHOEK arrivée de Paris et visite centre ville
J2 WINDHOEK/KALAHARI (350km) Windhoek/Mariental 270km 3.5h/lodge 50mn déj au Hardap Dam, au lodge, Kalahari Sunset 4*4 Nature Drive 15h-19h
J3 KALAHARI/SOSSUSVLEI (380km) Lodge/Mariental 50mn/Sesriem 110rte+145piste 5h /Sossuvlei 80km 1.5h) depart lever du soleil Sossuvlei Sunset 4*4 Nature Drive 15h45-19h
J4 SOSSUSVLEI/SOLITAIRE (180 km) Sossusvlei/Sesriem 80km 1.5h/Solitaire 83km 1.5h 4*4 Dune Drive vers Dead Vlei 6h- 9h, Crazy Dune, Elim Dune, Dune 45, Canyon de Sesriem Départ 13 h pour Solitaire
J5 SOLITAIRE/SWAKOPMUND (380 km) Solitaire/Walwis 230km 6.5h, Swakopmund 30km 30mn piste C14 Kuiseb Canyon Walwis Bay, flamants roses, rte du lagon au sud du port avec pts de vue (le mieux =dernier au bout ?)
J6 SWAKOPMUND (150 km) survol Désert du Namib en avion (2h20, départ Swakopmund) Après- midi excursion à Moon Landscape, Welwitschias, (n°26) (3h A/R) croisière Pelican Point ou Sandwich Harbour ?
J7 SWAKOPMUND/DAMARALAND (540 km) Swakopmund/Henties 72 km 1h30, Cape Cross 76km a/r 1h, 301km Khorixas 4h, d2612/Lodge 60km 1h - Henties Bay + à Cape Cross, colonie otaries - Piste C35, paysages désertiques, contreforts Brandeberg plateau, Uis Twyfelfontein, peintures rupestres, Petrified Forest, Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain
J8 DAMARALAND/ETOSHA (290 km) Lodge/Khorixas 45km 1h, /Outjo 131km 2.h, Okaukuejo 114 km 2h piste 2743, site du "doigt de Dieu" Installation au rest camp de Okaukejo
J9 ETOSHA (120km) Traversée du parc vers rest camp de Namutoni, Afri Leo Foundation ?
J 10 ETOSHA/KVALKEB (360 km) Namutoni/Tsumeb 110km 2h, /Otjiwarongo-Kvaleb 120+122km 3h Tsumeb, visite Cultural Village (musée plein-air au sud de la ville) 4*4 game drive (15-19h) after dinner lion + leopard feeding
J11 KVALKEB/WINDHOEK / (310 km ) Kvaleb/Okahandja 2.5h, Airport 90km 1.5h) Okahandja, marché d’objets artisanaux (2 au sud de la ville) 15h10 Vol JOHANNESBURG / PARIS
Dernière petite question aussi sur les marchés artisanaux. N'y-a-t-il que celui de Okahandja ? Est-il facile à trouver et est-il ouvert tôt le matin ?
bon je vais essayer de t'aider mais yu manques de temps pour tout faire
le pays Himba est nord ouest du pays et commence à partir Sesfointein, il y a peut etre un village du côté de kamanjab car j'y ai vu des himbas mais je ne connais pas...de toute façon il faut trouver un guide pour s'y rendre.
ta journée 7 me semble très chargée également
tu peux eventuellemnent gagner du temps en n'allant pas vers le kalahari et mariental, tu zappes ça et tu fais direct windhoek sesriem...
au départ des dunes, tu dis partir à 13 h pour solitaire. pour quoi faire ? sesriem solitaire = 1 heure de route, à solitaire rien à faire, rien à voir...si tu pars effectivement de sesriem à 13 h00 fonce directement sur walwis bay
1 journée pour Etosha ??? possible mais tu risque de pas voir grand chose !! mini 2 jours
tu peux zapper tsumeb
okahandja, il y a 2 marchés très facile à trouver un à l'entrée nord l'autre à la sortie sud, tu en trouveras également à swakop mais moins interessant
tu es vraiment trop court en temps !!! ton circuit fait environ 4000 km..
en espérant t'avoir aider 🙂
Bon, tu vas manger des kilometres !! Mais si tu y es préparé, c'est un SACRE circuit là !!
A mon tour de t'apporter mon avis (et mon expérience) : L'escale au Kalahari est-elle indispensable?? Bon, ce coin est extra et souvent délaissé mais y restes-tu assez de temps pour en profiter?? Mais si vraiment tu en as le temps, je te le conseille 🙂 Pourquoi d'abord aller sur Sossusvlei et ensuite Solitaire alors que l'inverse est plus logique? Solitaire est sur la route qui meme à Sesriem. Je suis d'avis qu'il faut ABSOLUMENT posser par Solitaire mais de là à y consacrer une nuit, non. Il y a beaucoup plus beau à voir en Namibie que Soliataire 😛 donc, à mon avis, tu y vas, tu fais le plein d'essence, tu achetes 2 miches de pain frais aux céréales, une part tarte aux pommes (7cm d'epaisseur la part siouplé 😎) une glace et basta !! Je te conseille de dormir à Sesriem pour pouvoir profiter du Désert à la "fraiche" le matin. je pense aussi que la journée 7 est trop chargée. En partant de swakop, tu peux faire la balade à Cape cross sans probleme le matin et l'apres-midi faire la balade de la White Lady a Brandberg ou alors te rendre à Twyfelfontein mais je crains que tu n'arrives trop tard pour faire la visite du site 🤪. Je zapperai le site "Doigt de Dieu" pour aller directement à Etosha. Si tu part tot de Twyfelfontein, tu arrive à 13h à Etosha. Pour Etosha, 2 nuits, c'est mieux mais si le parc ne fait parti de tes priorités, 1 nuit/2jrs c'est bien aussi étant donné que tu en vois beaucoup la nuit autour du point d'eau eclairé. Apres tout dépend de tes priorités. Par contre, je te conseille de rester à l'Okaukuejo. Il n'y a presque jamais rien au point d'eau de Namutoni, du moins, tu en verras 100 fois plus à Okaukuejo (rhino noir, elephants et lions assez frequement).
Pour ce qui est des marchés, ils sont pas terribles. Beaucoup de produits viennent du Zimbabwe et les vendeurs à Okahandja sont aussi collants que dans les egyptiens dans leurs souks 🙁. Si tu peux, va au Art Craft Center à Windhoek, c'est un peu plus authentique et personne ne vient t'embeter. Le marché de Swakop est plus cher.
Pour ce qui est des Himbas, il va falloir enlever 1 étapes ou 2 dans ton circuit, comme Mariental par exemple. Dans tous les cas, les villages autour d'Opuwo manque d'authenticité !! Les guides echangent de l'alcool et des cigarettes contre la visite de leur village donc je te laisse imaginer l'ambiance. Ne fait pas confiance au petit guide qui te promettent un vrai village Himba. Je te conseille de te renseigner au pres de l'office de tourisme ou dans le forum pour vaoir un adresse sérieuse. Pour ma part, je te conseille NACOBTA, ils aident un village à purros (pres de Sesfontein) seulement le lieu n'est accessible qu'en 4X4.
En fait pour J4 et J5, je comptais essayer les forfaits Kulula Desert Lodge qui propose 2 sorties après-midi (nature drive) et matin (dunes). On dort tt près des dunes. L'étape à Solitaire me semblait justifiée car cela me semblait difficile de faire visite des dunes le matin et partir direct sur Swakopmund. Pas de tps pr le Kuiseb Canyon par exemple ? A moins que j'oublie le logement Kulala et prenne qq chose à Sossuvlei ou Sesriem qui offre une excursion matinale des les dunes en 4*4 et qui ne rentre pas tard pr que je puisse repartir sur Walwis...
Etosha, normalement j'y passe 1j + qq h un soir et qq h le matin avant de partir sur Kvalkeb
Pour Sossuvlei, tu verras mes explications ds ma réponse à Vinnylove.
Pr Etosha en fait ca fait 2 nuits (Okaukuejo + Namutoni).
Tu conseilles qd meme les survols en avions ? Sossuvlei ? Cote des squelettes; qui permettrait de pousser jusqu'au pays Himba en 1j A/R ?
A swakop, Pelican Point, Sandwich Harbour, Moon Landscape sont-ils des best ?
Si tu restes au Kulala Lodge, tu peux aussi faire la balade en mongolfiere...si ton budget te le permet car c'est assez cher mais c'est bien mieux que l'avion par contre !! 🙂 On vient te chercher au aurore, tu survolles 1h le désert durant le lever du soleil, puis tu auras droit à un somptieux petit dej dans le desert et 1 à 2h de route dnas les dunes pour retourner à ton lodge 😉. Par contre, si mes souvenirs sont bon, c'est environ 300€ 🏴☠️. Je ne me souviens plus combien coute le survol en avion, donc, il faut voir. Photos d'exception garanties !
Tu peux aussi faire la balade dans les dunes seuls. Avec un 2X4, tu peux aller jusqu'au parking à voiture puis prendre une voiture spéciale (N$90) qui te déposera au centre du désert, ces voitures font les navettes toute la journée. Tout peut se faire à pied apres 😉 en particulier Deathvlei. Avoir une voiture dans le désert n'est pas indispensable à mon avis.
Pour ce qui est du survol en avion dela Squelton Coast, cela n'a rien à voir avec le Namib, donc si tu peux te l'offrir, fait le, sinon, s'il faut en choisir qu'un, je pense que le Namib est plus impressionnant.
Pour Swakop, je ne te serais pas d'une grande aide car je n'ai jamais trop aimé le coin et donc, je ne me suis pas trop baladé autour. Par contre, le Moonlandscape et la Welwetchia Drive sera sur ta route et je te les conseille. Quant au Kuiseb Canyon, c'est surtout un point de vue ou un coin pin-nic 😉.
. Par contre, je te conseille de rester à l'Okaukuejo. Il n'y a presque jamais rien au point d'eau de Namutoni, du moins, tu en verras 100 fois plus à Okaukuejo (rhino noir, elephants et lions assez frequement).
désolé moi c'est à Namutoni que j'en ai vu le plus. je ne crois pas qi'il y ai une règle en la matière, les animaux vont et viennent et le reste tient beaucoup à la chance...
Rentré de Namibie il y a quelques semaines j'en garde un souvenir très riche, mais il faut y passer un temp suffisant pour s'imprégner du pays. L'excursion à Sandwich Harbour était extrêmement intéressante avec un guide passionné et passionnant.
Pour Etosha, c'est à Hallali et Okaukuejo que j'ai vu le plus d'animaux: mais là aussi il faut souvent être patient. A Namutoni il n'y avait qu'un chacal et quelques oiseaux malgré une observation assez longue. Le récit et quelques photos sont sur mon site web
En ce qui concerne les Himbas, est-ce que vous voulez aller les voir comme une curiosité? ou comme un peuple africain? Si c'est le deuxième cas qui vous intéresse il faut absolument contacter une association de soutien à leur culture...Je peux vous communiquer une adresse pour cela
salut karina
je suis preneuse de ton cotact avec la structure qui soutient la culture himba.je pars autour du monde à partir de mars 2007 et je souhaite aller à la rencontre de strctures ecotouristiques qui soutiennent les communautés autochtones et la valorisation du patrimoine naturel et de leur culture.
je suis donc tres tres intéressée par ce contact et eventuellement si tu as un nom en particulier avec qui je pourrais me metrre en contact par mial avant que j'arrive?
je souhaiterais passer quelques jours avec les himbas..penses tu que c'est possible ?
merci de ton aide, tu peux m'envoyer tout ca sur mail privé à kmassonnie@yahoo.fr
karine
Bonsoir,
Vous serez t il possible de nous contacter à votre retour de voyage car nous prévoyons de partir début octobre et novembre 2007 et, faute de réponse à de nombreux mails nous sommes en quête d'infos et surtout de conseils sur la destination et les soucis éventuels sur place.
Par avance, merci de nous faire partager votre expérience.
De plus, en ce qui concerne la circulation sur place, avez vous trouvé des cartes routières plus précises que celle vendues en France? Dans ce cas merci de nous communiquer les ou le fournisseur.
Le Namib tourism board à Windheok en donne gratuitement lorsque tu te présentes sur place et elles sont réactulisées tous les ans 🙂. Et elles sont vraiment biens, tres completes.
Pour les associations qui soutiennent les communautés autochtones et leur patrimoine naturel et culturel, vous êtes bien tombé!
J'en ai créé une l'an dernier pour le monde berbère ...du Maroc à l'Egypte en passant par le Mali et le Niger (touaregs), et les Iles Canaries !
Nous sommes en train de monter des projets de tourisme solidaire gérés par les communautés berbères elles-mêmes, dont certains devraient démarrer bientôt en Algérie (montagnes kabyles et oasis)....
A propos, nous avons besoin d'un coup de main pour ces projets! Il y a tant à faire ! et nous avons besoin de certaines compétences...
En dehors de cette association, j'aimerais aussi faire avancer l'idée de tourisme communautaire au Kenya chez les Masaïs....un projet en cours avec un village masaï près du Masaï Mara....
Pour la Namibie, et les Himbas plus précisément, je vais vous mettre en contact avec une toute nouvelle assoc. qui vient de se faire connaître dans une émission très intéressante.
on se recontacte en privé poutr tchatcher plus long? mais pas ce soir... mon mail: kmassonnie@yahoo.fr
mais c'est sur, on va pouvoir s'aider.
a plus karinaa
Bonjour,
hj'ai orgabnisé un voayge en namibie avec une voiture que j'ai loué à Windhoek. Attention les distances sont longues et il ne faut surtout pas conduire la nuit (beaucoup d'animaux sauvages et personne sur les pistes). Surtout ne jamais dépasser un maximum de 50-7O km/h selon les pistes (c'est le pays où il ya le plus d'accidents dus à des vitesses excessives, nombreux tonneaux sur les pistes). Le parcours le plus long est du Desert du Namib à Swakopmund (il faut passer par la route nord (Kuiseb pass) la plus belle et la plus isolée, puis visite des welvetschia et surtout Moonlandscape. Il n'ya pas d'essence après Solitaire jusqu'à Swakopmund. Il faut partir vers 6h du matin pour arriver vers 6h du soir.Mais ça en vaut le coup. Le circuit que tu proposes, avec toutes les activités, est un peu juste (par exemple, une visite au pays himba ne peut se faire qu'à partir au moins de Palmwag : le lodge organise une visite (pas touristique) en une journée aller-retour, par exemple). L'hotel au Kalahari le mieux est Intu Africa (superbe) et dans le Namib, je te conseille le Desert Homestead.
Le meillleur guide est le Bratt (en anglais uniquement)
Bon voyage.
Christine
A propos des structures d'écotourisme qui soutiennent les cultures des communautés autochtones, oublié de donner le nom de l'association que j'ai créée pour faire découvrir le monde berbère (Maroc, Algérie, Iles Canaries, et touaregs du Mali et du Niger):KAHINA ...du nom d'une reine berbère des Aurès !
Il y a 5 ans vous proposer de transmettre des contacts d'une association qui soutient la culture Himbas. Avez-vous encore les coordonnées ? Serait-il possible de nous les transmettre ?
Nous serions très heureux de pouvoir rencontrer le peuple himbas en évitant au maximum les structures touristiques.
Salut,
L'association c'est Kovahimba je pense. Pas sûr qu'elle t'aide beaucoup pour ta visite touristique.
Si tu veux visiter les Himbas hors des sentiers battus, il faut aller vers Marienfluss ou Hartman au fin fond du Kaokoland et prendre les rencontres comme elles viennent. Mais c'est une expédition…
J'avais parcouru le site de Kavohimba hier et effectivement je n'ai pas l'impression qu'il propose ce type de prestation.
Bien sûr nous tenterons d'avoir des rencontres fortuites mais il y aura la barrière de la langue.
Nous recherchons une association qui soutiennent leur culture ou une structure locale gérée par les himbas eux-mêmes qui nous permettrait de les rencontrer "sans l'effet zoo".
La barrière de la langue n'est pas un souci si tu parles et comprends anglais. Sinon, tu peux faire des petits dessins, c'est souvent rigolo. En général, il y a toujours dans le village au moins un jeune qui a été à l'école et qui le parle.
À mon avis, une association qui organiserait des rencontres avec des villageois tomberait automatiquement ce côté "zoo" et visite organisée que tu crains.
Dans un lieu touristique (Epupa par exemple), des guides locaux himbas viennent te proposer leurs services, c'est un moyen plus sympathique à mon avis de les rencontrer que d'y aller avec un lodge qui les fait vivre et qui vit des Himbas (entre autre).
De toute façon, le seul obstacle, ce n'est pas la langue. Nos cultures sont si éloignées qu'on a du mal à se sentir à l'aise chez eux. En tout cas c'est mon cas, quelles que soient les circonstances de la rencontre, même après avoir tenté de soigner un vieil homme et quand les enfants dansent et nous fêtent…
Nous nous laisserons porter par le vent en espérant faire des rencontres.
Mais je suis bien d'accord avec toi ce n'est pas en quelques jours que nous pourrons comprendre leur culture et quelques soient les rencontres que nous feront, elles ne pourront rester que superficielles. J'en suis conscient...
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.
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.
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
