bonjour a tous
je rentre a peine de namibie et si vous souhaitez des infos pour ce qui partent bientot, n'hesitez pas...les ecrits qui vont suivrent ne sont que mon sentiment personnel.
- tout d'abord, il fait froid et ça c'est pas une legende, voir meme tres froid la nuit et la journee a certain endroit avec une petite veste. --Ne négliger pas les vetements chauds tant pis pour le volume du sac
- je suis epoustouflé par la propreté des campings (sanitaires) avec eau chaude s'il vous plait!!
- les distances sont longues avec parfois des paysages monotones mais les points de chutes sont magnifiques.
- je pense que PURROS est incontournable, malgré la piste difficile qui nous y conduit (4h pour faire 100 kms) mais le decor et la rencontre avec les elephants est magique.
- le ravitaillement en carburant, eau, repas, ce fait tres correctement, salade le midi et grillade le soir. on trouve du bois partout mais le mieux pour nos amis namibiens, c'est de leur acheter pour 2 euros a peine.
- pour ceux qui ont loué un 4x4, assurez vous qu'il soit diesel, car meme si l'essence est moins chere que chez nous, le budget en prend un coup quand meme....
- concernant ETOSHA, il faut le faire seul bien sur, il suffit de ne pas descendre de voiture et se rappeller qu'on est en afrique au contact d'animaux sauvages donc respecter quelques regles de securité, inutile d'insister, quand vous verrez vos premiers lions, vous comprendrez!!!!!!!!
- des animaux de toute façon, il y en a partout ou presque
- le contact avec les locaux se fait facilement sans aucune agressivité
- je terminerai par remercier TOURMALINE, qui nous a fait un "book" complet, bien organisé et tres pro.
si vous avez des questions, n'hesitez pas, c'est tout frais (24h a peine)
a bientot
Bonjour,
Question de neophite, Tourmaline vous a preparé votre book, comment cela se passe t il?
Ils vous font une proposition de trajet et d'etapes que vous validez, ou bien vous dites ce que vous souhaitez( endroit , durée) et ils organisent les etapes, les hebergements?
Bonjour Fredou !
Merci pour ton message !
Nous, nous partons dans quelques jours...
En quelques mots, quels lieux as tu préféré ? (à part, donc, Purros !)
Est ce qu'il y en a d'autres que tu ne referais pas, d'autres où tu aurais aimé passer plus de temps ?
Quant au froid... Nous serons en lodge (donc pas en camping), mais penses tu qu'une bonne polaire suffit ?
Merci d'avance !
Elodie
bonsoir
le mieux c'est que tu leur disent ou tu veux aller et ils te font une proposition de trajets et de prix, apres tu "fignolles" avec eux sur les details, c'est facile a faire et ils sont tres sympas, en plus ils connaissent la namibie parfaitement donc au niveau conseils, c'est tres bien....
salut
salut elodie
effectivement tu as compris que purros etait bien, en fait tout est bien, cest une question de gout, mais sesriem par exemple, les dunes rouges au beau milieu de nulle part, le parc d'etosha, le parc de nauflut, enfin c'est un beau pays, tu l'auras compris il faut beaucoup rouler pour se rendre d'un point a un autre, mais deja en lodges, vous ne ressentirais pas la temperature comme nous, mais si votre sac le permet, prenaient quand meme du chaud, il fait froid, je dirais de 17h a 8/9h le lendemain... c'est un pays a explorer, car le contraste des dunes, les himbas toujours dans leurs coutumes ancestrales et ces animaux partout c'est quelque chose de fascinant.....................ce que je n'ai pas aimé mais etape obligé c'est swakopmunt (désolé pour l'orthographe) et le skeleton coast, mais les 150 000 otaries sur place valent le coup d'oeil, les points de chutes sont tres beaux mais les distances etant longues, il y a parfois des paysages monotones (ce n'est que mon avis) epupa falls est magnifique...enfin je vous laisse decouvrir
bonnes vacances
bonjour
le loueur est ASCO CAR HIRE, ça nous a couté dans les 80 euros par jour pour le vehicule, nous etions 4, apres faut voir combien vous etes, quel vehicule vous voulez (un diesel de preference), n'oubliez pas que si vous reservez avec une carte bleue internationale, vous n'avez pas a payer l'assurance
what else?
bonjour vinnylove
je confirme, les 4x4 egalement, en tout cas, j'ai loué a asco et je n'est pas pris l'assurance car payé avec ma cb premier, il n'y a pas eu de soucis avec le louer, le seul hic, ils ne te couvrent pas a purros.(histoires d'elephants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
a bientot
salut Fredou,
non il ne faut pas confondre les assurances complémentaires qui sont facultatives et l'assurance même du véhicule.
pour les 4x4 cette assurance est comprise dans ton prix de location, les complémentaires et facultatives ne sont ni plus ni moins que des rachats de franchise.
Puisque je te tiens, je ne comprends pas bien le "avec les lions faut pas insister vous comprendrez"... insister à quoi faire ?
si tu peux m'eclairer sur ce point 😉
salut
pour la loc de 4x4 je me suis mal exprimé, ton explication est plus precise, c'est juste
pour les lions, j'ai vu 2 personnes sortir des voitures, pour se degourdir les jambes, ou alors sortir les bras pour prendre une meilleure photo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! je voulais dire que quand je les ai vus(les lions), cela ne m'a pas donné envie de sortir quoi que ce soit de la voiture, et par consequent rappeller a ceux qui iraient au contact des animaux pour la premiere fois, de faire attention, les accidents n'arrivent pas qu'aux autres.
pour les lions, j'ai vu 2 personnes sortir des voitures, pour se degourdir les jambes, ou alors sortir les bras pour prendre une meilleure photo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .
tain ! y'a vraiment des tarés !! 😠
Rappelons qu'il est effectivement INTERDIT de sortir de voiture dans Etosha et que de sortir la tête ou les bras de la voiture est fortement déconseillé, à fortiori devant des félins...
Je n'ai pas vu de lions à Etosha 🙁 mais on s'est arrêtés pour pique-niquer dans une aire aménagée près du pan qui, étonnamment, n'était pas du tout clôturée… On n'a vu aucun animal, mais j'avoue m'être posé quelques questions…
salut
pour l'anecdote, on a cherché des lions pendant un apres midi: sans succes
on demarre pour rentrer au camping, on fait 20 metres et on regarde deux antilopes se battrent, en une fraction de seconde 2 lionnes et un lion ont chargés, sortant de je ne sais ou, a 2 metres du 4x4. ils ne les ont pas attrapees mais juste pour dire que nous, nous ne les voyons pas, mais eux...................................🤪
j'ai effectivement vu ces toilettes non securisé!
Question sur le book de tourmaline. on part avec eux le 22. Quelles sortes d'infos sont à l'interieur et quelles sont celles qu'on a besoin de savoir en plus ?
Je me pose encore des questions sur les barrieres sanitaires et les telephone portables. Des retours de ta part ?
As tu pu aussi partager des moments avec les Himbas ?
Merci pour tous ces futures réponses pour le coté pratique !
bonsoir
concernant le book, tu as peut etre l'option d'avoir l'explication faite par un français le premier jour? si oui, ce sont des gens tres sympas et tres competents, tu pourras poser les questions que tu veux. si non, tu as les distances avec les heures de trajet, la description des points de chute avec ce qu'il y a a faire (il est vrai que si tu as preparé(e) le voyage de ton coté, cela viendra en complement voir en double mais pratique et complet quand meme)
les barrieres sanitaires, il y en a quelques unes, on nous a demandé d'ouvrir le frigo, mais aucun probleme avec le contenu (viandes fraiches achetees en supermarché)
telephone portable passe quasiment partout, nous avons pris un tel satellite pour Purros
nous avons pris un guide a epupa pour les himbas, pratique pour la traduction si tu veux echanger plus que des photos ou un sac de sucre avec eux (ils sont curieux et posent des questions sur ta vie en france)
voila pour ça🙂
bonne soiree
bonsoir
le parc est grand, il y a beaucoup d'animaux
difficile a dire, ça depend de la patience que l'on a a les chercher, a les regarder, a les photographier
si tu as la chance d'en voir pas mal, 3 jours c'est bien
si t'en vois pas beaucoup (n'oublions pas que ce n'est pas un cirque et que des fois on les cherche!!!!!!!!!!!!) tu te contentera de 2 jours
c'est difficile de repondre, mais il y a 3 campings, alors?????????
Pour moi, surtout sur un séjour de 15 jours seulement, 2 nuits à Etosha suffisent.
Une demi-journée de visite à l'arrivée, une journée le lendemain et encore une demi-journée avant de repartir, c'est déjà pas mal. Les pistes sont assez monotones et l'émerveillement des rencontres avec les animaux se banalise un peu au fur et à mesure… Ah des springboks 😐
perso j'ai fait 3 jours mais 5 m'auraient convenu 🙂
Je crois que c'est en fonction de son intérêt pour la faune, faire des photos...
1 nuit dans chaque camp a un côté pratique aussi au niveau de l'exploration du parc
Merci pour vos impressions, qui dans tous les cas donnent envie d'y aller!
On ne reste qu'environ 15 jours en Namibie car on passe ensuite en Afrique du Sud. On voyage par nous même, ce qui laisse la possiblité de faire des ajustements de circuit sur place. On va donc juste réserver à l'avance les campings à Etosha, probablement pour 2 nuits, et on essaiera de trouver un endroit pour une 3ème nuit si on veut rester plus longtemps...
Bonjour,
Nous partons vendredi avec 2 enfants, en 4x4, visiter une partie de la Namibie. Comme tu en arrives, j'aimerai avoir des renseignements pratiques sur l'alimentation : Trouve t-on facilement de l'eau, du lait, du pain, des légumes dans tout le pays , où seulement dans la capitale ?
Merci
Bétiquette
bonjour
le ravitaillement se fait assez facilement, les "grandes villes" ont les memes aliments que chez nous, par contre, dans les endroits recules, c'est moins fournis mais tu pourras manger sans probleme
l'eau: il y en a partout
le lait: j'en boit pas mais ça doit pas etre difficile non plus
fruits et legumes: pas trop de choix mais pommes, tomates
le pain? demi oui apres, a part en france...............
pour info: on mangeait le midi salade de tomates, mais, thon oeuf et le soir tres bonnes viandes sur le grill avec des pates, les 4x4 ont un frigo donc tu peut prevoir, tout depend de ton parcours.
pour la 1ere fois en Namibie , on fait un tour en camping sur le toit (avec TOURMALINE) - on a donc qq questions pratiques
> Pour l'eau - est elle consommable partout sans crainte ?
> Pharmacie: des choses à ne pas oublier (anti venin ? ... ??
Pour nous départ dans 15J. donc normalement pas de moustique
> Pour le Froid, j'imagine que ce n'est pas de partout ??
Cette année, grâce à notre sympathique CE, nous pouvons partir en Namibie pour 1200 ou 1500 euros si nous passons par quelques agences référencées (VDM, terres d'Av, etc ...). Après avoir vu quelques magnifiques photos sur le net (notamment celles de forumeurs), nous avons envie d'y aller 15 jours en septembre. L'un des tours proposés par VDM passe par le Kalahari, Fish River Canyon, Sesriem, Sossusvlei, Duwisib Castle, le Damaraland, Etosha, Otjiwarongo, Walvis Bay et les sources thermales de Gross Barmen. C'est un tour classique avec hébergement en hôtels standards et rest-camps, rod book et voiture (berline) de location avec assurance comprise. Je me dis que c'est une bonne première approche.
J'ai donc quelques questions à vous soumettre à tous :
- entre les restes de la colonisation allemande et les peuples traditionnels, à quoi ressemble ce pays ? Est-ce qu'il se rapproche de son voisin sud-africain ? Est-ce un voyage "roots" ou plus confort ? Doit-on plutôt partir en voyage organisé (collectif ou à la carte) ou est-ce possible d'improviser sur place ? Nous voyageons pas mal et selon les pays, on adapte la formule.
- Quel temps peut-il faire à cette saison ? J'ai lu qu'il pouvait faire jusqu'à -10°C la nuit dans le Kalahari. Ca risque d'être difficile en tente...
- J'ai essayé de trouver un site internet pour Tourmaline mais sans succès. Pourriez-vous me donner l'adresse pour que je compare les offres ? Je pense que le prix dont nous pouvons bénéficier défie toute concurrence mais je voudrais être sûre qu'on ne peut pas faire mieux en se débrouillant seuls sur place ou avec une autre agence.
salut
tout d'abord tourmaline: bon choix
l'eau est consommable pratiquement partout, tu demande et les gens te renseigne mais si tu veux en acheter, c'est pas ce que ça coute.....
la trousse, toujours pareils: pour les maux de tete, d'estomac, enfin tout ce qu'on prend en voyage
effectivement, vu plus d'elephants que de moustiques
je repete, il fait tres froid a la tombee de la nuit et le petit matin
bon voyage
bonsoir
en ce qui me concerne, je ne connais pas l'afrique du sud
il est evident que la securite de la namibie est tres largement au dessus de l'ads, j'ai pas mal roulé et pas un seul signe d'agrssivité.
le pays est plutot desertique, mais la presence d'animaux en abondance vaut le detour, rencontre avec les himbas, ect...
pour les tours operateur, apres avoir regardé un peu partout, tourmaline arrivent bien devant aussi bien en tarifs qu'en prestations, le 4x4 est vraiment necessaire a purros qui est a mon avis une etape incontournable de la namibie, l'improvisation se fait tres bien, l'organisation touristique de ce pays est tres pro,
pour revenir sur tourmaline, les prix sont identiques a ce que tu va trouver sur le net avec le roadbook en plus!!!!!!!!!
septembre, je sais pas pour la météo
j'espere t'avoir apporté des elements supplementaires
bonnes recherches
en ce qui concerne les vols
air namibia partent de francfort avec un vol direct, je l'ai eu a 650 euros ttc pour juin, apres tu rajoute le trajet de la ville d'ou tu habite vers francfort....
c'est tres correct car aucune autre cie ne peut s'aligner (air france 1400 euros a/r meme date)
Je suis allé en Namibie+Botswana en Aout dernier (3 semaines avec ma femme et nos 4 enfants). J'avais loué un camping car (pas d' autre solution à 6 mais quand meme moins bien qu'un 4x4) avec une agence Sud africaine: bobocamper, (sans problème, ils ont été très pro) et organisé mon périple grace aux membres de ce site (géniaux on ne le dira jamais assez : le site comme ses membres) et avec l'aide de TOURMALINE pour les reservations. Très pro tu peux leur faire une totale confiance.
On a eu un petit soucis mécanique en plein desert du Damaraland Bobocamper comme tourmaline ont été d'un grand secour pour nous permettre de nous organiser face à ce contretemps.
Bon voyage
Merci de ton retour,
je commence effectivement a tracer un parcours d'apres tout les retours, puis je le soumettrais sur le forum.
Et je pense que je passerais par Tourmaline dont j'ai été voir le site grace à ce post.
Voyageant avec des enfants egalement, nous sommes toujours pret à partir en decouverte, mais en prevoyant le necessaire pour qu'un simple incident ne se transforme pas en galere totale.
In Nov./Dec. 2022, I went on a safari in the region and we suffered from the extreme temperatures caused by the "El Niño" phenomenon in the Indian Ocean at that time. On top of the extreme heat, there can be torrential rains, flooding, etc., which have led to disasters with casualties.
Hi 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
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!
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!
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
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
