Nous partons, mon frère et moi, du 10 au 29 juillet 2014 en Tanzanie.
Nous souhaitons faire un voyage en indépendant, en utilisant les transports locaux et en découvrant autre chose que les seuls parcs nationaux et leur safari. Devant le peu d'informations glanées ça et là sur ce type de voyage dans ce pays, je viens vers vous pour trouver des réponses à mes questions !
-Nous envisageons d'aller dans les montagnes à Lushoto pour faire quelques petites randonnées, est il possible de le faire sans être accompagné d'un guide ?
- Nous pensons apporter notre tente et camper, d'après les guides, il existe de nombreux camping où l'on peut dormir pour une somme dérisoire. Est ce que cela est réalisable ? Quelle température fait il la nuit au mois de Juillet ?
Ou sinon, y a t'il des guesthouse bon marché facile à trouver un peu partout dans le nord du pays ?
- Nous aimerions aller à Tanga et Pangani. Est il sympa de faire de la plongée ou du snorkelling dans la réserve de Maziwe ? Peut on en faire librement où faut il être accompagné / passer par une agence ?
Y a t'il des choses sympa à voir dans les environs ? Par exemple, est il envisageable de louer des vélos pour se promener ?
- Est ce qu'il y a une liaison actuellement entre Tanga / Pangani et l'île de Zanzibar ? J'ai lu beaucoup d'infos contradictoires là dessus !
- J'ai bien envie d'aller jusqu'au lac Victoria mais est ce que cela en vaut la peine ?
- Pour le safari, nous passerons évidemment par une agence, nous pensons faire 4 jours de safari, en nous limitant à 1 ou 2 parcs maximum, si vous connaissez des agences que l'on peut contacter, avec qui cela s'est bien passé, je suis preneuse. Ou bien si vous voulez créer / rejoindre un groupe pour partager les frais du safari, pas de problème.
- Je suis avide de tous récits de voyage en sac à dos, réalisé en Tanzanie et de toutes les bonnes adresses de logement / visites sympas !
Merci beaucoup de m'avoir lu !
En attente de vos précieuses réponses !
La réputation de la Tanzanie est très "Voyage Organisé", mais c'est vraiment possible de voyager en individuel total... sauf dans les parcs.
Lushoto
Excellente idée. les gens sont très gentils et les chemins de randonnées sont ouverts à tous.
Camping.
Il n y a pas énormément de campings, faut regarder avant de partir sur google earth avec tracks4africa.kml (gratuit).
La nuit, an montagne, il peut faire froid, genre 8 - 10 degrés.
Lac victoria.
ça va te prendre 3 jours en bus. Si tu ne sais ce que tu veux y voir, il n y a pas beaucoup d'intérêt.
Agence - safari.
Il y a par exemple Belafrica, ou Corto Safari ou d'autres agences à Arusha. Voir sur place ou sur internet.
Tu es allé à Lushoto ? Il est facile de se promener seul sans se perdre ? Il y a des similis plans des sentiers ?
Merci pour le lien, je vais aller voir à quoi cela ressemble vue du ciel !
Sinon pour les hébergements bon marché, est ce qu'il y a besoin de réserver d'avance pour certaines villes, vu que Juillet correspond à la haute saison ?
Je pense en effet que le Lac Victoria est un peu excentré de mon itinéraire, je vais plutôt me concentrer sur quelques lieux pour limiter les longues journées de voyage !
Pour les safari, je sais que le sujet à déjà été abordé maintes fois, mais est ce raisonnable de ne rien réserver depuis la France et de trouver rapidement un groupe où se joindre ou une agence fiable pour organiser notre safari ?
je compte passer à Lushoto quelques temps avant toi.
si tel est le cas, j'essaierai de te faire parvenir mon "journal de bord" pour que tu puisses en retirer quelques informations et quelques avis.
quant à tanga, , je viens à l'instant d'envoyer un courriel au sharook guesthouse de wete où je suis allé en 09 afin de savoir si le ferry tanga-wete est toujours opérationnel ; dès réception de leur réponse (si j'en reçois une), je te tiens au courant.
Oui merci beaucoup, ça serait chouette d'avoir tes impressions toutes fraîches de Lushoto!
C'est vrai que vue du ciel on voit pleins de pistes autour du village, ça me tente vraiment d'aller voir en vrai !
Et concernant le ferry depuis Tanga, l'information m’intéresse grandement, si on n'avait pas besoin de redescendre sur Dar pour rejoindre Zanzibar ça serait top !
Je vais contacter quelques agences de safari, pour connaitre un peu leur prix et ce qu'ils vont nous proposer, et puis j'aviserai en fonction !
La Tanzanie en sac à dos c'est tout à fait faisable.
On y a vécu 6 mois et on a fait un beau tour du pays en sac à dos.
Lushoto est vraiment un coin magnifique. Nous avons adoré notre séjour là-bas.
Nous avons logé à Muller lodge et Irente farm qui offre des emplacements de camping.
Nous avions fait une rando avec un guide local mais ce n'est pas indispensable. C'est vrai que si tu as un gps, une bonne carte et un bon sens de l'orientation, il y a des sentiers un peu partout et ça ne devrait pas être trop compliqué.
Le Lac Victoria est accessible depuis Dar es Salaam en bus. C'est sympa mais d'extraordinaire en soi. Par contre nous avons fait la traversée du lac Tanganyika sur un vieu bateau que je recommande vivement.
Pour les safaris, nous sommes partis avec l'agence Afriroots à Selous, que nous avons beaucoup apprécié.
concernant le bac tanga-wete, on m'a fait savoir que le bac existait toujours et mais son jour de voyage diffère de temps en temps, donc rien de certain ni pour l'aller, ni pour le retour.
Merci beaucoup Alizé pour tes impressions !
J'avais déjà parcouru ton site, une vraie mine d'informations !
Pour relier Zanzibar depuis Tanga ou Pangani, j'ai vu qu'il était possible de prendre des bateaux à moteurs, dans certains hotels, ou des bateaux à la voile. Pensez vous qu'il est facile de trouver ces embarcations pour rejoindre Zanzibar, sans perdre trop de temps ? Est ce que quelqu'un a déjà réalisé cet itinéraire ?
Le bac hebdomadaire dont tu parle, c'est une sorte de ferry comme depuis Dar es Salam ?
Je suis en train de construire mon itinéraire et je bloque sur cette partie, je ne sais pas si je prend le pari d'aller sur la côte si au final je n'y trouve pas de solution pour rallier Zanzibar !
je compte me rendre également à lushoto.
je lis dans le lonely planet qu'il y a des daladala à partir de mombo jusqu'à lushoto (une heure de route).
mais pour arriver à mombo en venant de moshi, y a-t-il des bus qui s'y arrêtent ?
c'est en effet la ligne moshi, dar-es-salaam et lorsque je l'ai prise, il ne s'est arrêter que pour manger un bout.
Je suis désolée mais je ne pourrais hélas pas te répondre sur ce point. Mais j'imagine que tu peux essayer de te renseigner sur "l'horaire" du bus et essayer de t'y joindre quand il fait son arrêt.
J'aimerai profiter du paysage du Kilimandjaro sans en faire l'ascension, j'ai lu qu'il n'était pas forcément facile de le voir, souvent caché par les nuages.
Où à t'on le plus de chance d'en profiter ? Je pensais aller passer quelques jours du côté de Moshi et Marangu, pensez vous que c'est une bonne idée ? Y a t'il des belles ballades à faire au pied du Kilimandjaro ?
Tu n'as pas l'air emballé par tes quelques jours à Marangu ! Tu recommande le détour néanmoins ? La superbe photo du kilimandjaro, tu l'a prise depuis Moshi ?
c'est vrai que j'ai vite fait le tour de marangu à moins qu'il y ait des endroits un peu plus reculés que je n'ai pas vus.
de plus, c'était la fin de mon séjour et je commençais à avoir assez mal au dos.
et puis, j'étais seul pendant ce temps-là.
à marangu, le kilimanjaro se trouvait dans la brume et les photos que tu as vues ont été faites à moshi.
Je pars avec une amie en Tanzanie en juillet également, et nous allons aussi faire 2-3 parcs dans le nord. Nous avons, je pense, trouver une agence fiable et peu onéreuse pour passer une après-midi et une nuit dans un village massaï et visiter le Nogorongoro, le lac Manyara et le Tarangire (du 19 au 22 juillet)
Nous cherchons des compagnons de voyage pour partager cette experience, et, évidemment, réduire les frais (de 700€ à 2, le budget passe à 460 si nous sommes 5...)
Si tu es intéressée, n'hésite pas à me contacter !
Je pars avec une amie en Tanzanie en juillet également, et nous allons aussi faire 2-3 parcs dans le nord. Nous avons, je pense, trouver une agence fiable et peu onéreuse pour passer une après-midi et une nuit dans un village massaï et visiter le Nogorongoro, le lac Manyara et le Tarangire (du 19 au 22 juillet)
Nous cherchons des compagnons de voyage pour partager cette experience, et, évidemment, réduire les frais (de 700€ à 2, le budget passe à 460 si nous sommes 5...)
Si tu es intéressée, n'hésite pas à me contacter !
Elen
Bonjour à tous!
Je pars en Tanzanie dans 3 semaines et je serais intéressée à avoir tes impressions, Elen, sur ton agence. Savoir aussi quelle est cette agence serait un must pour moi!
Merci à vous!
Il me semble bien qu'il suffirait de demander au chauffeur de s'arrêter pour te déposer au croisement, même s il n y a pas d'arrêt.
C'est l'Afrique non ?
Ou bien, tire le signal d'alarme... 😏😏
en fait, je suis déjà revenu et j'ai trouvé un bus de moshi jusqu'à lushoto ; donc pas de problème.
mon voyage se trouve sur http://buxico.com/tanzanie14/index.htm
Bonjour,
Pour le safari, nous sommes passés par l'agence Hotsun, qui a l'avantage d'avoir un contact en France. Notre avis est mitigé. Le guide (francophone), le chauffeur ont été parfait, les repas du cuisinier corrects. Les prix proposés par l'agence très raisonnables comparé à d'autres auxquelles j'avais demandé un devis et qui étaient horsde prix. Par contre, il y a eu quelques petits problèmes sur les informations fournies par l'agence par rapport à certaines prestations, ce qui a créé quelques incompréhensions avec le guide. Mais bon, vu le tarif, cela reste très correct et qu'on reste avec de très bons souvenirs, notamment lors de notre virée dans le village massaï (confort très sommaire, maisexpérience inoubliable !!!)
Sinon, nous avons contacté une autre agence du même style, pour un coffee tour et rando jusqu'à une cascade. Nos guides et chauffeurs(anglophones cette fois) ont été géniaux et le directeur très arrangeant. N'hésitez pas à leur demander aussi un devis pour comparer. Il s'agit de Gazelle aventures, basée également à Moshi.
Bref, j'espère t'avoir aidé !
Bon voyage en Tanzanie, c'est magnifique...
Elen
Me voilà de retour de ce beau voyage !
3 semaines merveilleuses dans ce pays magnifique, les gens sont effectivement très accueillants, tout est très simple et se déplacer en solo est un jeu d'enfant !
Nous avons donc fait un safari de 3 jours avec l'agence HotSun safari: Ngorongoro, Tarangire et Manyara, un vrai dépaysement, des animaux et un groupe sympa ! Nous avions réservé d'avance en rejoignant un groupe et je conseille vivement de réservé à l'avance car il ne semble pas facile de faire le tour des agences sur place et de se décider rapidement ! J'ai personnellement apprécié la durée, 3 jours dans un safari m'a suffit, je ne me voyais pas passer 10 jours dans un 4x4 à traquer toujours les mêmes animaux !
Côté budget, très bonne surprise. Pour nous loger, nous avons finalement opté pour les guesthouses et nous avons trouvé très facilement des chambres bon marchés partout où nous sommes allés, pour moins de 10€ par nuit, sauf à Zanzibar où nous avons trouvé à nous loger pour 20 dollars la nuit.
La nourriture dans les restaurants locaux est vraiment bon marché et il est facile de trouver des plats copieux pour 1€ !
Pour se déplacer en solo, aucun problème. Les liaisons en bus sont très nombreuses et il suffit de se rendre dans une gare routière pour embarquer dans le prochain bus qui part !
A Lushoto nous avons marché tout seul, jusqu'à Irente View Point, aucun problème, le lodge situé au point de vue est fléché depuis le village ! Il suffit de suivre les panneaux ! Le lendemain nous avons fait une 2e randonnée dans les hauteurs de Lushoto en suivant la route, très beaux paysages là aussi, mais il peut être sympa de payer un guide pour sortir des routes !
Le lonely planet est par contre très dépassé sur beaucoup de points (liaisons bus, ATM, prix des chambres).
Coté budget, par personne nous avons dépensé:
- 650€ de billets d'avion avec Turkish Airlines
- 400€ pour 3 jours de Safari
- 350€ pour les 3 semaines sur place: logement, transport, alimentation, visa, loisirs et souvenirs !!
Si vous avez des questions ou si vous voulez des bonnes adresses ! Contactez moi ;)
je serais curieux de savoir si mon site (http://buxico.com/tanzanie14/index.htm) t'a été utile pour la partie non-safari et non-zanzibar de ton voyage.
personnellement, je n'ai pas trouvé de restaurant où l'on pouvait manger copieusement pour un euro mais je n'ai pas fort cherché, j'avoue.
quant au lonely planet, c'est vrai que pas mal de prix indiqués étaient en dessous de la réalité, tant pour les bus que pour les hébergements mais la dernière version de ce guide date quand même de 2012 et on m'a plusieurs fois dit sur place que les prix avaient pas mal changé depuis.
à lushoto, pour le point de vue d'irente, j'avais lu et/ou entendu qu'il était dangereux d'y aller seul mais c'est peut-être une rumeur lancée par les guides.
tu parles de voyage en solo ; étais-tu vraiment tout seul ou quand même en couple ? et dans ce dernier cas, les prix du voyage que tu indiques, sont-ils pour deux ou par personne ?
je suppose que c'est par personne, vu le prix de l'avion.
question prix de mon voyage en juin, si cela t'intéresse, tu peux tout savoir sur le deuxième message de http://voyageforum.com/discussion/voyage-centre-tanzanie-d6630089/
Bonjour Camollo, j'aimerais savoir comment vous avez ralliez zanzibar ? Depuis Pangani, Tanga ou Dar ? Et pour quel budget ? Merci d'avance pour la réponse !!!
Merci pour ton retour qui me rassure un petit peu 🙂
Je suis en train de préparer un voyage de plus ou moins 3 semaines en Tanzanie pour juin ou août prochain plutôt en sac à dos et quand je vois tes dépenses je me dis que c'est plutôt réalisable !
Juste une question ou avez vous dormi dans les parcs ?
Nous avons dormi dans un "camp" pas loin des parcs, où il y avait des tentes et des petites cabanes en pierres. Mais c'était inclus dans la réservation du safari, nous n'avons pas eu besoin de chercher. Selon le prix que tu paye, le niveau de confort de l'hebergement varie !
I’m starting to plan a trip to Tanzania + Zanzibar in August 2027 for 2 to 3 weeks with my partner.
I’ve never been there before and I’d love some advice, especially for Tanzania where we’re planning to do several safaris in the North.
Specifically:
Do you recommend using a travel agency to organize the trip, or are guidebooks and internet recommendations enough?
If you’ve used a local agency (rather than one in France), which one?
Would you recommend hiring a guide for the entire stay in Tanzania, or is it better to travel independently except in the parks where I’ve read that guides are mandatory?
If you’ve used a local agency (rather than one in France), which one and at what price?
Have you had any bad surprises (hidden fees, inexperienced guide, poor vehicle condition)?
Looking forward to reading your tips! 🙂
Thanks in advance
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!
I’m thinking (thanks to some tips from forum members 😉) of taking this route to get to the Cederberg.
Apparently, the road was damaged by the May rains, and traffic is still slow there.
Has anyone taken this route recently?
If not, is one direction (toward or from the Cederberg) more scenic than the other?
In Nov./Dec. 2022, I went on a safari in the region and we suffered from the extreme temperatures caused by the "El Niño" phenomenon in the Indian Ocean at that time. On top of the extreme heat, there can be torrential rains, flooding, etc., which have led to disasters with casualties.
Hi everyone!
I’m still planning my Cape Town to Johannesburg trip in January 2027.
I saw a documentary about the San people in Namibia, and the same day, I stumbled upon the Lonely Planet page about !Kwah Ttu.
I checked out their website to learn more, including Michel’s travel journal about it. I’m really keen to go.
So, I’m thinking of dedicating:
- either 1 day out of the 4.5 I have in Cape Town...
- or making a detour to !Kwah Ttu on the day I leave Cape Town for Montagu, instead of visiting Franschhoek and its Saturday market...
To the VFers who’ve already been: is it really worth spending a day there?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Malijp
Hello everyone!
It's been a year since I've been longing for South Africa. Our first trip in August 2025 amazed us, and—rarely—it was a unanimous hit with our little family! We were touched to the core, and from the moment we got home, we couldn’t stop talking about going back. 😄
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave me advice on the itinerary for that first trip (Johannesburg loop: Blyde, Kruger, Eswatini, St. Lucia, Durban, Drakensberg)! Thanks to you, our trip went like a dream!
Since then, I haven’t stopped reading articles and discussions on VoyageForum to keep my head in South Africa a little longer!
So, we finally caved and just booked our tickets for January 2027 (from the 3rd to the 26th), with a plan to do a road trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg in about 3 weeks.
I’ve got a rough itinerary that seems great based on what I’ve read on various forums, but there are still some uncertain points, and that’s where I could use your advice.
3/01: Arrival in Johannesburg at 11:45 PM
4/01: Flight to Cape Town, pick up rental car. Afternoon sightseeing
5,6,7/01: Cape Town to visit the big classics in the area (any tips for finding accommodation: which neighborhood, a specific place?)
8/01: Overnight stop before Oudtshoorn—but where??? (Is it essential, or is the CT-Oudtshoorn drive manageable? If so, I’d gain a day in Oudtshoorn. Google Maps shows over 5 hours of driving...)
9,10/01: Oudtshoorn (or would 3 nights be better to really enjoy the area?)
11,12/01: Knysna, Plettenberg Bay (to have time for hiking—if you’ve got hiking tips, I’m all ears!)
13,14/01: Tsitsikamma (still to have time for hiking—who knows the must-do hikes in the area? But maybe 4 nights in the Knysna-Tsitsikamma area is too much—I’m not sure)
16,17/01: Addo Elephant (I’m torn between 3 nights at Addo or 3 nights at Mountain Zebra. Based on travel journals, especially Michel’s on MZ, I’ve scheduled 3 nights at MZ 😄...)
18,19,20/01: Mountain Zebra NP
21/01: Camdeboo NP (because it looks so beautiful!)
22/01: Overnight stop (where?) before wrapping up the trip with either 2 or 3 nights at Golden Gate NP or the Lesotho option, which appeals to me, but I don’t know if it’s doable in 3 days to be back in Johannesburg by the afternoon of the 26th.
That’s my trip idea for now...
I’m eagerly waiting for your advice, ideas, and comments...
Can’t wait to be back there again!
We're heading to South Africa for a month with 5 adults.
We'd like to rent a vehicle that can accommodate 5 people and all our luggage.
We're starting in Cape Town and ending in Johannesburg.
What vehicle would you recommend?
EDITH
Hi there,
I’m planning a gorilla trek in Bwindi, Uganda. I’m torn between the classic option (1 hour with the gorillas) and the habituation trek (4 hours with the gorillas but a more expensive permit). Has anyone done the habituation trek? Both? If so, I’d love to hear your feedback (including on the difficulty).
Thanks
I’ve read some travel journals here but I still have a question.
We’re heading to Uganda next February. The gorilla permits are booked, and the flight tickets are sorted too.
My question is about the chimpanzee trek. I’d love to know whether it’s better to book the habituation experience (4 hours) or the standard trek (1 hour).
The price difference isn’t huge, but I keep wondering and I’d hate to miss out on a great experience.
Hi everyone,
We’re revising our travel plans for January 2027. Originally, we were considering Uganda for about 14/15 days, but given the current health situation and the restrictions that might affect my partner, who’s American, we’ve decided to switch to Tanzania instead.
I’m used to traveling in South Africa and organizing my trips myself, but I get the impression that planning a safari in Tanzania is quite different.
I know self-drive isn’t really an option in Tanzania. So my main question is: can you organize your own itinerary and book lodges directly, then hire a local driver-guide? Or is it better to go through a local agency that handles the entire safari?
For the itinerary, which parks would you recommend for a first-time visit in January? Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Manyara, Ruaha, Arusha, Selous…
We’d also like to include Zanzibar to end the trip with a few days at the beach. Over 14/15 days, does that sound realistic or too ambitious?
Finally, for flights, is it better to arrive at Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Dar es Salaam (DAR) based on the itinerary we’re considering?
Thanks in advance for your feedback, especially on the best way to organize the safari and which parks to prioritize in January!
We're now just 5 weeks away from our trip to South Africa 🙂 and *so* excited to explore (just a tiny bit of) this amazing country.
I need to buy some binoculars but have no idea which model to choose. I don’t really know what to look for (and I don’t want to spend too much).
Thanks in advance to anyone who can give me some tips!
We just got back from ten days in Tanzania. We were lucky enough to be guided by Gishaman. Always in a great mood, a good driver, and an excellent guide. Thanks to him, we not only saw the Big Five in one day but also loads of other animals. He works for the local agency Blit Safaris, which provided excellent support throughout our trip. Highly recommended!
I’m planning a potential trip to Namibia for a classic circuit in April 2027.
I’m surprised by how expensive the accommodations inside the parks are—really steep! Is it possible to stay outside the parks but still close enough to enjoy the game drives?
Do you have any recommendations for more reasonably priced lodging? I’m okay with spending 200 to 250 € per night.
No camping—the friend I’m traveling with absolutely refuses 😉, but maybe upgraded tents would work.
Hi, I'm looking for information on the road conditions in Moremi. We're leaving in 15 days, and from what I've heard, the roads are pretty tough to drive on. Any advice?
Thanks
My trip to South Africa is getting closer (still 2 months to go 😏), and I’m diving back into my itinerary: from Saturday to the following Sunday around Cape Town, then from Sunday to the following Saturday in Kruger.
For Cape Town, the plan was to avoid changing accommodation every day (we’ll do enough of that in the second part) but still see different landscapes.
I know, I’m missing out on a lot, but you’ve got to make choices, and after all this time, I know what I like—and especially what I don’t (or like less) 😉
Here’s the breakdown:
Arrival Saturday at 11 AM: heading to Hermanus (2 nights). The idea is to stroll along the cliff path in the afternoon, and possibly drive to the Klein River Lagoon. Sunday: Stony Point, then depending on time and weather, a hike in Kogelberg Nature Reserve or Fernkloof Nature Reserve (which seems less scenic but has shorter walks).
Monday: drive to Franschhoek (1 night). If everything lines up, a hike in Jonkershoek NR and a visit to a wine estate.
Tuesday: drive to Mountceder Lodge in the Cederberg (2 nights). I’m thinking of visiting the Stadsaal Caves and the elephant paintings, and maybe one of the hikes listed on the lodge’s site or Maltese Cross.
Thursday: heading to Hout Bay for 3 nights. In no particular order: a classic day trip around the peninsula, half a day at Kirstenbosch Gardens, and half a day at Lion’s Head.
Sunday: flight to Johannesburg.
My questions are mostly about (short) hikes:
Has anyone here done hikes in Kogelberg, Fernkloof, or Jonkershoek?
At Mountceder Lodge (Michel, if you’re reading this… 😉), has anyone tried the hikes (guided or not) offered by the lodge?
There’s still half a day to fill when we’re in Hout Bay—any ideas (not necessarily hikes)?
Lastly, regarding safety: the French foreign ministry (always alarmist, but still) recommends hiking in groups. Is it really risky in broad daylight? (I’m not sure a group of two women counts as a "group"…)
Thanks in advance for your answers, ideas, and comments!
Question: we’re doing a 3-week trip in Namibia, including 5 days for Victoria Falls.
I’ve booked one night in Brandberg, and then I have some questions.
I was thinking of spending 2 nights in Palmwag, then heading to Etosha for one night in Okaukuejo and then 2 nights in Halali.
Alternatively, from Brandberg, I could book a night near Galton Gate and then enter Etosha.
I’m not really sure about the distances, especially with a 4x4.
Same for the return trip: Halali to Windhoek seems long. Maybe it’d be smart to break it up on the way back? (We have 2 days to get back if needed.) If so, where?
Jambo! I organized my trip through this kind of group, so I thought I’d share my experience here. We traveled as a group of four, including two kids aged 9 and 11. After requesting around twenty quotes, I decided to book the safari portion with MAKING MEMORIES IN AFRICA. Ally responded quickly and listened to all my requests—unlike other agencies—such as having a French-speaking guide, the order of park visits (Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, then Ngorongoro), and a mix of budget hotels and camping to keep costs down. There were still four agencies in the running, and price was the deciding factor. Even though they were the cheapest, I felt better taken care of than with others. For example, all meals were prepared by a Maasai chef, Louis, who accompanied us throughout the trip, while some others ate meals out of cardboard boxes. Samuel, our guide, explained so many things and answered all our questions. José drove us safely the whole way. Everything was done with great cheer!
At the end of the stay, Ally came to meet us and gave us t-shirts with the agency’s logo—we loved that they took the time to hear our feedback in person. In short, I highly recommend them +++, especially since it’s a local agency that also supports a charity for women and children.
For Zanzibar, I organized everything myself. I hesitated for a long time but eventually booked all four nights at the same place. We don’t like crowds, so I initially considered Jambiani but ended up choosing EVERGREEN BUNGALOWS in Bwejuu. We took their first airport-to-hotel transfer since we arrived at night, and it felt safer. Great value for money, in our opinion. Just be aware that it’s quite isolated—perfect for relaxing and going on excursions. There were very few beach vendors, unlike what I’d read about Zanzibar. We lived with our feet in the sand from morning to night, with a small basin of water outside our room to rinse off. Such a lovely spot!
I had asked for some excursion prices before leaving but ended up booking on-site. Not at our hotel, but at a nearby restaurant that was cheaper. After some thought, since we were based in Bwejuu, I wanted to do Blue Lagoon and Pungume (both departing from the south of Zanzibar).
Blue Lagoon: About 3 hours total, with snorkeling on a small reef full of fish (coral wasn’t great) and a stop at a spot with tons of starfish, plus local snacks, fruit, and drinks.
Pungume: An amazing day with a 50% chance of seeing dolphins (we missed them), a visit to the mangroves, then snorkeling at a spot with some nice coral and, of course, fish. We ended with a fantastic grill (tuna, shrimp, squid, lobster, and fries) on a sandbank in the shade.
Finally, before heading to Stone Town, we visited Paje Cave, which is much less known than Maalum. It’s smaller, but we saw bats, went for a swim, and fed the chickens and rabbits (great for the kids). To finish, we explored Stone Town on our own and had dinner at Forodhani Market.
For flights, we flew with Turkish Airlines from Barcelona to Kilimanjaro and back from Zanzibar—no issues there. However, I don’t recommend the Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar leg with Precision Air. Our luggage didn’t arrive, and according to the hotel, this happens often. We only got it back a day and a half later.
March or May 2027.
Around 15 days in the Western Cape,
then 15 days in the southern KNP.
Arrival either in PE or George.
The pros know I’m somewhat familiar with the area... that I don’t camp... that my accommodations can be simple and remote, self-catering but with basic comforts... that I’m looking for spots that are a bit off the beaten path... in a relaxed mode...
From George:
Late arrival... need some rest... Herolds Bay from George to the N1.
Tsitsikamma is catching my eye (Storms River)... with or without a stop in Knysna.
Question:
What’s the current condition of the pass from Knysna to Uniondale? R339.
And while I’m at it, the condition of the R340.
Tsitsikamma, Knysna, and my questions still apply if arriving in PE.
Is the Swartberg still closed?
Any recommendations for accommodation in Prince Albert?
If I cross the escarpment, I’ll continue via Anysberg NR, Touwsrivier... any thoughts?
From there... Tankwa Karoo or Mount Cedar (or both).
Then heading back down to the coast... the highlands of Hermanus or Kogelberg NR (any opinions on the latter?).
Or,
A more classic route along the coast...
If I arrive (fairly late) in PE... any ideas for accommodation in that little area?
Given that Nyathi Camp is winking at me...
(For context... a while back, I stayed at Riverbend (same Addo sector, private concession)... and I visited the ruins of that abandoned lodge at the time, which has clearly been renovated since... located in a very quiet part of Addo...).
Any feedback from the pros?
Well, that’s about it...
I’m open to any other tips or advice!
I’m reaching out with a question about which park to choose for a 3-day safari in Kenya.
After 20 days in Uganda, I’m meeting up with my dad for a 3-day safari (that works for him). We’ll be meeting in Nairobi and have a full day to travel to a park (preferably the farthest from Nairobi to avoid crowds?) and spend 4 nights there before heading back to the capital for our flight to France.
I’d love to hear your recommendations since I’ve read so many great tips on this forum.
At the end of July, we’re heading to Namibia with a group of five for a three-week road trip and visit to the national parks.
We’ve read conflicting info about buying entry tickets—either online (where?) or at the gate when we arrive?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the agencies you used to plan your trip to Uganda.
There’s the whole issue of gorilla permits, which need to be booked in advance and involve a significant financial commitment. That’s where I’m at with my trip planning. Between checking lutb.go.ug/ and reading online reviews, it’s hard to move forward with confidence.
I contacted the French Embassy, but they don’t provide any recommendations. I almost booked with an agency that had a really bad review from February specifically about the permit process.
How did you go about choosing your agency? Given the large sum involved, I’m this close to booking through a travel agency in France for this part.
From what I understand, no matter which agency books the permit, you’re ultimately guided by professionals trained for gorilla trekking based on the permit itself? I’m assuming that’s how it works.
Thanks for your feedback, and I’m really happy to see the forum’s new energy—it’s been super helpful to me in the past.
We’re heading to Uganda next summer for three weeks with our two kids, who’ll be 7 and 9 years old.
We’ve been to Southern Africa before but not East Africa, and after a trip to South Africa two years ago, the kids wanted to return to Africa, while we wanted to explore a new region while staying independent... Uganda’s been catching our eye for a while, and with Rwandair offering relatively attractive prices, we’re going for it!
We’ll be traveling in a 4x4 (self-drive) with roof tents. I don’t have any 4x4 driving experience, so it’ll be a first for me, but we’ll manage 😉 No great apes for us—kids need to be 15, and we don’t want to do that experience without them.
I don’t usually ask the forum much for trip planning, but this time, I’d love your thoughts and advice!
First question: Karamoja or not? At first glance, if we want to add it to a "classic" loop in the southwest, it doesn’t seem realistic—too packed, too much driving. We could consider doing the full loop via Kidepo and then heading down to Murchison, but I’m worried the trip might feel less varied and less kid-friendly. That said, the region looks stunning, and I’m struggling to accept not going at all... What do you think?
If we skip Karamoja, we’d do a loop: Murchison/Fort Portal/QENP/Bunyonyi/Mburo, which seems pretty comprehensive and would let us take our time, which is nice. A few random questions:
- How much time should we plan for the Fort Portal area? I was thinking at least 3 days to visit Bigodi Swamp, walk around the craters, and maybe do a community walk (any thoughts on that?).
- Between Murchison Falls and the Fort Portal area, is it worth breaking up the drive? I spotted Lake Albert Safari Lodge on the shores of Lake Albert—it’s not too expensive and looks nice.
- I’d love to do some easy walks/hikes at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, ideally without a guide, but it doesn’t seem straightforward. Do you know if it’s possible to do nice walks independently? I’ve read about hikes in the hills near Kilembe but nothing very specific. Maybe staying somewhere at the foot of the mountains, like Ruboni Community Camp, would allow that.
- Lake Mutanda looks really cool, and so does Lake Bunyonyi... Ideally, I’d like to see both, but won’t that feel repetitive? Is Lake Mutanda worth the detour?
Last practical question, since we don’t have experience with this: for the car with kids, would you recommend two tents (a bit more space) or a four-person tent?
I’ll stop here—already a lot of questions...
Thanks in advance for your feedback, and looking forward to exchanging ideas!
Gabriel
We’re planning our second trip to South Africa in July 2026. In 2023, we did a loop from Joburg, Golden Gate, Drakensberg, Hluhluwe, St Lucia, Eswatini, Kruger, Blyde River Canyon, and back to Joburg.
This time, we’d like to go to Cape Town and do a road trip to Port Elizabeth, then fly back to Joburg to return to Kruger. At this stage of my planning, here’s what it could look like:
D1 to D4: Cape Town and Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, Boulders, Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak Drive). I’ve spotted a few places to stay between Camps Bay and Hout Bay (3 nights).
D5 and D6: Either Karoo NP or Hermanus and De Hoop. Any opinions to tip the scales? I’ll admit I’m already leaning toward Karoo (the "wild" vibe of the landscapes and wildlife encounters appeal to me much more than the seaside, which feels less exotic). If we go for Karoo, where should we stay? Inside the park or in Beaufort West? I’ve seen good reviews for Ko-ka Tsara Bush Camp, but maybe it’s better to stay in the Sanparks cottages to make the most of the park? (2 nights)
Option B is to do Stellenbosch (though vineyards aren’t great in winter) and/or the Whale Route—Betty’s Bay, Hermanus, De Hoop (2 nights near Gansbaai).
D7 and D8: Klein Karoo, Oudtshoorn. Staying at De Cango Guest Farm (2 nights).
D9 and D10: Knysna, Robberg Nature Reserve, Tsitsikamma (2 nights in Plettenberg Bay and 1 night in PE).
D11: Flight from Port Elizabeth to Joburg at 7 AM and drive to Marloth Park.
For Kruger, I’ve booked 2 nights in Marloth Park, 1 night in Skukuza, 2 nights in Satara, and 1 night in Talamati, which we loved. I’ll book the last night in Graskop later since we want to revisit the Blyde Canyon area.
I’d love all the feedback you can give on my itinerary, especially for days 5 and 6.
If you have recommendations for accommodations for 4 people, I’d appreciate those too.
Thanks! 🙂
We’re a family of four (two daughters aged 18 and 21) and we’re planning a three-week trip to Tanzania. Zanzibar would be our main base, but we’d also like to do a safari on the mainland.
Could you share any tips on:
- the ideal length for such a safari, the best place to go during this period (and easily accessible by flight from Zanzibar)
- your recommendations for the most suitable type of stay for a family like ours
- reliable local agencies with reasonable prices that could help us with this plan
Hi everyone, I’m here to get some advice on visiting KRUGER Park.
From what I’ve gathered through my reading, I understand there are two ways to visit the park:
- Independently with your own vehicle
=> Do you drive all day?
- By booking with a professional
=> Safari early in the morning and late in the afternoon. But what do you do in between?
When it comes to accommodations, the options are:
- Booking in one of the park’s camps, where the lodging is basic but functional
- Booking in a private reserve, which is more comfortable but prohibitively expensive
- Booking outside the park, which means entering the park every morning. But if you want to stay for 3 days, that doesn’t seem practical to me.
Do you have any advice for accommodations?
To be honest, I’m really struggling to understand how it all works...
Thanks to everyone for your help.
Bidule 27
Hey everyone!
Heading to Namibia in a few days and I just read that the entry fees for all parks in Namibia have skyrocketed. Increases between 86 and 100%, and this has been in effect since April 1st (no joke). Have any of you heard about this, and if so, do you know if it’s actually being enforced?
For example, the fee for Etosha has gone from 150 NAD to 280 NAD per day per person.
Thanks in advance!
