Que voir au Rwanda ?
Pour préparer votre futur voyage, un aperçu des principaux sites et lieux à visiter dans ce pays (carte).
1- Villes et patrimoine culturel
Butare : appelé aussi parfois par son nouveau nom de Huye, Butare était autrefois la capitale coloniale du Rwanda. La ville, à vocation universitaire, abrite une cathédrale et surtout le Musée national du Rwanda. Le Mémorial du Génocide de Gikongoro est à quelques kilomètres.Cyangugu : une localité au sud du lac Kivu pouvant servir de point de départ pour visiter le Parc national de Nyungwe ou les sources chaudes de Nyakabuye.Gisenyi : cette bourgade sur le lac Kivu (et dans le prolongement de Goma en RDC) propose quelques plages et des possibilités de balades en bateau et autres activités nautiques.Kibuye : c'est l'autre "station balnéaire" du lac Kivu avec un superbe panorama sur le lac. Pas loin, un mémorial de la guerre civile et les cascades de Ndaba.Kigali : la capitale rwandaise est une ville agréable, malgré son million d'habitants, avec de très nombreux services et commerces appréciés notamment des expatriés. Le Mémorial du Génocide de Kigali est son principal site d'intérêt.Mémorial du Génocide : plusieurs villes ou villages du Rwanda ont un Mémorial du Génocide. Outre à la capitale, il en existe notamment à Gikongoro, Ntarama, Nyamata...Nyanza : cette ville du sud abrite l'ancien palais de la monarchie rwandaise désormais transformé en petit musée.Ruhengeri : c'est la petite ville point de départ pour le Parc national des Volcans et ses gorilles, ou encore les grottes (aménagées) de Musanze.2- Patrimoine naturel Chutes Rusumo : des chutes d'une quinzaine de mètres de hauteur à la frontière avec la Tanzanie.Congo Nile trail : 230 km de chemins parallèles au lac Kivu permettant de découvrir en 4x4, en vélo/VTT ou à pied cette partie du territoire.
Lac Kivu : grand lac frontière entre le Rwanda et la République Démocratique du Congo. Il offre quelques plages, plus des opportunités nautiques ou de pêche du côté de Gisenyi et Kibuye.Parc national Akagera : une réserve limitrophe de la Tanzanie avec des girafes, éléphants, hippopotames, zèbres, gazelles, singes, oiseaux, etc. Par le passé le site a été un temps aménagé pour accueillir les réfugiés de la guerre civile.Parc national de Nyungwe : grand parc forestier d'altitude situé au sud-ouest, à la frontière du Burundi. Il est connu pour abriter des singes et des oiseaux. On peut y faire des treks et de la canopée.Parc national des Volcans : c'est l'attraction principale du pays avec ses volcans et surtout les populations de gorilles des montagne qui vivent sur ce site forestier d'altitude. C'est là aussi qu'est situé le centre de recherche créé par Dian Fossey. On peut y randonner.3- Le plus apprécié...
Kibuye; Parc national Akagera; Parc national des Volcans.
J'adore, merci beaucoup d'avoir pris le temps de synthétiser; car c'est (presque) parfait!
Toutefois vous m'attristez beaucoup à retranscrire les anciens noms de villes😕 .
Heureusement que vous n'avez pas mis le nom des provinces.😛
Nouveaux NOMS à adopter => ancien nom ( dans les guides touristiques)
Huye => Butare
Musanze => Ruhengeri (Parc N des volcans)
Rusizi => Cyangugu (l'aérodrome reste Kamembe)
Rubavu => Gisenyi (frontière avec Goma/RD du Congo)
Karongi => Kibuye
Kigali = ... 😇😏 Joker!!
Muhanga => Gitarama
Nyabisindu => Nyanza
Cela semble un brin tatillon, mais les chauffeurs de bus et beaucoup de locaux assimilent parfaitement les noms des nouvelles provinces, ainsi que leurs capitales! sollicitez les avec ces (nouveaux) noms et vous serez agréablement surpris! 🙂
Il y a aussi les caves de Musanze ( = Ruhengeri) également qui valent le détour et qui ont été aménagées très récemment!
Et que dire d'une de la Source du Nil bleu près des Plantations de thés! je dois avoir une image quelque part (mais la trouverai que demain ou plus tard... désolé!)
Le Congo Nile trail permet de découvrir tout ou partie, la "côte ouest", à son gré en 4x4 en vélo/vtt ou à pieds, ce que je recommande très fortement à chacun si vous êtes en indépendant !
Pour les enfants, le Parc National des Volcans avec son attraction phare, les gorilles ne sont accessibles qu'à partir de quinze ans révolus, sinon pour le reste ça passe, un bon endroit pour les enfants (moins de 14 ans) se situe près du quartier de Nyarutarama, derrière Gishushu, et du Rwanda Developement Board (RDB). C'est marrant dans tous les sens du terme!
Un mini centre d'attraction existe aussi pour les enfants en sortant de la ville en direction de la frontière tanzanienne (Rwamanaga ou Rusumo), suffisant pour le dimanche après l'église!
Un dernier petit conseil, même avec l'anniversaire de célébration des 20 ans du génocide prévu en avril 2014, ne croyez pas que personne ne souhaite parler en français avec vous! (très fausse idée) Certains autochtones sont nés, ont grandi et vécu avec leurs familles en Ouganda et en Tanzanie; pays où le Français ne fait pas encore l'unanimité 😊... Entre-temps, apprenez donc le Kiswahili ou le Kinyarawanda pour vous occuper! 😉
Bon séjour et en espérant lire vos commentaires ou carnets de voyages 🙂
East African Citizen / Léonard
One People, One Destiny... Jumuiya ya Afrika ya Mashariki
Bonjour,
L'essentiel est là et pour la majorité des visiteurs qui passent 7 à 10 jours au Rwanda, je pense qu'il y a largement de quoi faire. Les must indiqués sont effectivement à ne pas rater (Akagera...).
Les principaux spots touristiques sont tous listés mais comme sollicité et précisé par EACitizen, c est mieux de mettre les noms nouveaux et anciens pour les villes. Pour certaines l'ancien me semble plus utilisé (comme Butare par exemple), pour d'autres ce sont les nouveaux noms qui le sont. Connaître les 2, c est mieux.
Je pense que l'endroit pour les enfants à 20kms de Kigali sur la route de Rwamagana c est le Bambino. Piscine et jeux pour enfants, attention l'attente pour les repas est très très très longue. C'est fréquent au Rwanda comme au Burundi mais au Bambino, on atteint des sommets.
Je ne connais pas le lieu dont il est fait mention pour les enfants derrière la RDB, quel en est le nom EACitizen ?
Près des volcans et de Musanze, ne pas rater les lacs Burera et Ruhondo, une bonne piste en fait le tour et ils sont splendides.
Sur un séjour un peu plus long, il est bien aussi d'aller un peu sur les pistes et dans la campagne rwandaise à la découverte de la vie rurale qui concerne encore plus de 70% de la population. Campagne magnifique et encore plus quand on est sur des pistes un peu reculées (celle au départ de Nyanza vers Nyamagabe ou vers Karongi sont splendides). Bien aussi d'aller sur un marché rural pour voir les produits vendus et l'ambiance générale. A Kigali, ne pas rater le marché de Kimironko, riche en produits issus de la campagne rwandaise (avec des légumes à tomber par terre) et avec de l'artisanat aussi.
Les routes goudronnées sont aussi très belles et offrent des vues splendides sur des paysages de collines magnifiques. En particulier le tronçon Muhanga (Gitarama) - Karongi (Kibuye), Kigali - Musanze (ma préférée) et Musanze - Muhanga. Sur une surface assez réduite, grande variété de paysage qui vont des mers de collines ou à la moyenne montage et à des paysages de bush/plaine quand on va vers l'Est ou le Sud.
Si on est à la bonne période, assister au tour du Rwanda constitue un moment sympa, foule énorme sur les bords de route et engouement réel pour les amateurs de petite Reine (le cyclisme rwandais progresse à toute vitesse, Adrien Nyonshuti est désormais professionnel au sein de la meilleure équipe d'Afrique MTN Qubeka, un rwandais a gagné une étape au Gabon dans l'épreuve la plus prestigieuse d'Afrique et sur le tour du Rwanda, les meilleurs cyclistes africains sont présents (Algérienne, Erythréenne...), souvent avant d'aller rouler sur les routes européennes).
Concernant les adresses, il y a des hotels et restos dans une gamme de prix assez variée mais généralement relativement chers pour des touristes habitués à l'Asie par exemple. Le midi, une bonne formule consiste à manger dans un resto qui fait buffet. Une formule idéale : prix modéré (1500 à 2500), plein de légumes, peu de viande (donc très bien point de vue santé) et rapide (on se sert direct) ce qui est un avantage au Rwanda...
Possible quasi partout dans le pays.
A Kigali : Chez Lando's, Sol e Luna (meilleures pizzas de Kigali), Zen, L'Epicurien, Kariboo, New Cactus... plein de restos.
Qq boites : Le Next, Le Papyrus, le SunDowner, Le KBC... des endroits pour écouter de la musique en live, généralement congolaise vers Muhima, Nyamirambo. Oublié les noms.
Bref un beau pays magnifique dont le décollage est impressionnant et qui a des charmes multiples dont le moindre n est pas l'accueil et l'hospitalité, certes réservé et discret mais toujours attentionné.
Pour finir, dommage de venir au Rwanda sans faire un tour au... ...Burundi qui est aussi un pays qui recèle de nbx trésors.
Nous avons prévu nous rendre au Rwanda mi-2014 avec notre véhicule actuellement stationné en ZA. Nous arriverons de Tanzanie avant de repartir vers l'Ouganda. Tout nous intéresse, y compris les ....oiseaux!
Je n'envisage pas un passage au Burundi qui a sans doute de l'intérêt mais peut être saurez vous me convaincre.
Cordialement
jean michel
Niveau birdwatching, le Rwanda est au top. Même dans Kigali oiseaux à foison, se munir du bouquin sur les oiseaux d'Afrique Centrale et en prendre plein les yeux : souimanga, ibis, rapaces de nbses espèces, pélican (nichent avec des ibis dans un arbre un peu au dessus de l'épicerie la Galette et de la prison centrale - les observer d'en haut depuis le dernier étage de la tour juste à côté), cigognes diverses et même grue couronnée en pleine ville.
Je trouve dommage de ne pas faire un passage au Burundi en venant au Rwanda d'abord :
- parce que les distances sont minimes, ensuite...
- parce qu'on trouve au Burundi des choses à faire et à voir complémentaires du Rwanda, enfin...
- parce que Bujumbura vaut à elle seule le détour pour la beauté de son site entre montagnes et lac Tanganyika et face au Congo et aux pentes du Sud Kivu.
Au Burundi :
- en descendant de Kigali à Bujumbura en passant par Butare puis par la frontière à Akyanaru, les paysages sont très beaux tout du long, en particulier les 35kms de descente quasi ininterrompu pour descendre sur Bujumbura. Magnifiques vues sur la plaine de l'Imbo et Bujumbura, dans la descente après la partie de forêt naturelle et d'eucalyptus, les pentes ornées de bananeraies puis de palmeraies.
- A Bujumbura et alentours : plein de restos, pas trop de buffet mais plein d'endroits pour manger des brochettes ou des poissons du Tanganyika (des genres de maquis comme sur la route qui part vers le sud en longeant le Tanganyika). Convivialité au top comme généralement au Burundi. Ne pas rater le petit déj ou une patisserie ou la formule du midi au Café Gourmand (excellentissime à prix réduit, un MOF a formé les équipes récemment), Résidence Ubuntu offre aussi de bons repas au bord du Tanganyika. Vers 15h/16h boire une bière au bord du Tanganyika au cercle nautique, probabilité élevée d'y voir les hippopotames à 5 m des paillottes et attendre le coucher de soleil, magnifique. Pas loin le terrain de foot, où si il y a de l'animation, c est que le président joue, comme il le fait régulièrement. Piscine possible à l hotel Sources du Nil, désuet mais plein de charme version sixties.
Malheureusement le grand marché a brulé et pas encore reconstruit, dommage. Les vendeurs/vendeuses sont obligées de trouver la place là où ils peuvent.
Monter sur les pentes vers le séminaire, vue d'en haut très belle sur la ville, le lac et la plaine.
Alentours aller pour la journée voire passer la nuit dans un bungalow sur la plage un peu au Nord : Bora Bora (piscine sur la plage style Cote d'Azur, ambiance expat qu'on peut ne pas aimer, mais à voir, à côté une paillotte au dessus de l'eau pour une bière et qq bungalows. Nom oublié mais juste avant le Bora Bora.
Parc de la Rusizi (qui ne vaut pas l Akagera).
Sur une journée, descendre vers le Sud pour aller au Blue Bay Resort, plage privée très jolie. Possible de manger sur place et surtout baignade et snorkeling dans une eau des plus translucides (c est un fait scientifique, pas uniquement une appréciation perso), plein de poissons colorés de forme, taille variées comme dans la mer, cychlidés et endémiques du Tanganyika pour bcp.
Ensuite plus loin de Bujumbura : faille des allemands, Nyanza au bord du Tanganyika, lacs au nord près de Kirundo (le Burundi sec), vie de campagne à Ngozi en passant sur les pistes entre bananeraies et plantations de café. Bien plus pauvre que le Rwanda, gros contraste. Dense et beau malgré tout avec les bas fonds en mosaïque et les collines cultivées.
Bref si après cela vous n avez toujours pas envie d y passer qq jours, je ne sais plus quoi faire/dire.
Valable en ce moment que la situation sécu est OK, suivre si jamais cela se dégrade.
Je n'envisage pas un passage au Burundi qui a sans doute de l'intérêt mais peut être saurez vous me convaincre.
Un souvenir des voyages de la famille Moreau vient me chatouiller la mémoire et me rappeler que cette famille est passionnée d'oiseaux: je me trompe ?😇
Je te conseille de lire (ou relire) le petit résumé de VF "Que voir au Burundi"
Il y est fait mention (brièvement, c'est un résumé😉) de la Réserve naturelle du Lac Rwihinda appelée aussi (n'en déplaise aux "modernes" 🏴☠️) lac aux oiseaux.
Un tas de petites structures pour se loger et admirer les fameux danseurs N'Tore.
Autre attrait et pas des moindres LE Tanganyika.
Au bord du lac à Bujumbura, tu te croirais au bord de la mer tellement ce lac est immense et majestueux avec son cirque de montagnes où s'enfuient et s'accrochent des écharpes de nuages chassés par le grand vent du large !
Près de Buja tu pourras vibrer au son des percutions et des chants des inoubliables tambourinaires .
Pousse une petite pointe jusque là, vous ne le regretterez pas ! 😎
Quant au Rwanda ne manque surtout pas d'aller jusque Kibuye (c'est ainsi que ce coin de paradis au bord du merveilleux lac Kivu s'appelait, lorsque j'y allais "autrefois") !
@+ 😉
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!
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
Hi,
I’m starting to plan a great trip for the last three weeks of January 2027 (my first time in South Africa).
After spending a few hours (!) browsing this forum, here’s a rough first draft of my itinerary:
D0 Arrival at JNB
D1, D2 Blyde River Canyon
D3, D4, D5, D6, D7: Kruger
D8, D9, D10: St Lucia and surrounding area
D11, D12, D13, D14: Drakensberg + Lesotho
D15 A very long driving day to the south (hope the AC doesn’t break down!)
D16, D17, D18, D19 southwest coast (so far I’ve noted Oudtshoorn, Robberg Nature Reserve, Wilderness NP, De Hoop Reserve, and a bit of the wine route)
D20, D21 Cape Town (peninsula and a bit of the city) + domestic flight and return flight (departure from JNB at 11 PM)
A few questions before refining this:
- Do you see any major issues with this itinerary?
- We don’t have a choice on dates, and personally, I prefer green landscapes to desert ones anyway, but do you really see far fewer animals in January than in the dry season? Five days in Kruger should give us enough time to spot plenty of different animals despite the tall grass, right? As for the heat, we’re from Réunion, so we’re relatively used to it, even though I know it’s not the same type of heat.
- Can I trust the distances and driving times given by Google Maps?
- Picking up the vehicle in Johannesburg and dropping it off in Cape Town: how much might that cost us? I’m thinking it probably won’t be worse (in terms of time or money, since there are five of us—2 adults + 3 kids) than going back to Joburg after Lesotho, taking a flight to Cape Town, and renting another vehicle... but maybe I’m wrong.
- Finally, wouldn’t it be better to focus on just one of the two regions (either the northeast or Cape Town and the south coast)? If it were up to me, I’d stick to the first part and extend a few stops... but not everyone agrees! And we’re thinking that since it’ll be really hot, a second part of the trip that’s a bit """cooler""" would be welcome.
