J'ai gagné un billet d'avion pour la destination de mon choix, et j'hésite entre l'Afrique du Sud et la Thaïlande, je pense y passer 3 voire 4 semaines et aimerais bouger un max!
J'ai déjà comparé les prix des billets entre ces deux destinations et c'est du pareil au même.
Le côté fun des endroits branchés et touristiques ne m'intéresse guère, j'ai plus envie de me lever tôt pour découvrir les paysages, loger dans des petites bicoques ou avec chance chez l'habitant. Ca n'est pas encore sûr, mais je risque de partir seule!
J'ai pas encore posé mes vacances, mais quelqu'un pourrait me dire quelle est la meilleure période pour l'une ou l'autre des destination, et pourquoi?
J'ai entendu dire que la Thaïlande était un endroit sûr, que je ne risquais rien en étant une jeune blonde à la peau claire! Quant à l'Afrique du Sud, j'ai récemment lu des articles assez crus, notamment à Johannesburg.
Ah oui, je peux vous en dire un peu plus sur mes idées de voyage...
Afrique du Sud, j'avais pensé visiter les réserves naturels puis également descendre en avion sur Cap Town...
Thaïlande, passer deux -trois jours sur des plages de rêves, soit sur les îles, en y allant en bateau, p'têtre même faire un poil de plongée, mais surtout visiter le nord, les sites...Et pourquoi pas faire un saut au Laos?? Savez-vous si c'est combinable?
Bref, voilà, si qq un a des suggestions à me donner, ça me serait très utile! Encore une fois, je n'ai pas encore fixé les dates du voyage! Mais je dois partir avant fin octobre 2007!
sans vouloir t'influencer, extrait Wikipédia rubrique Afrique du Sud :
🙂
D'après le journal Le Monde du 28 décembre 2004, le pays bat des records en matière de criminalité : on y compte environ 20 000 meurtres par an, 30 000 tentatives de meurtre, plus de 50 000 viols et environ 300 000 cambriolages. Les publications officielles des statistiques de la criminalité de 2004 puis celles de 2005 montrent cependant que la tendance est en baisse assez sensible, surtout en ce qui concerne les meurtres et cambriolages. Ceux de 2006 montrent à nouveau des signes encourageants de baisse, mais moins marquée que les deux années précédentes.
En 2005, l'Afrique du Sud a compté quelques 19 000 personnes assassinées, 55 000 personnes violées et 120 000 hold-up selon les chiffres cités par le Sunday Times.
Pour avoir fait les deux, j'ai une preference pour la Thailande.
ZA : très frais mais sec et ensoleillé en hiver austral (donc entre mai et aout). Plus sauvage (beaux parcs nationaux a voir). Effectivement un peu risqué en ville. La Namibie, le Botswana aussi meritent le détour (et je prefere ces 2 pays a la Th).
Th : pluies entre mai et novembre. Villes comme en occident, dépaysement dans les provinces reculées.
Jolies statistiques...j'ai lu un article qui rassemblait en gros les mêmes informations dans le courrier internationale ya de ça deux semaines! Mais bon... dans les réserves aussi?!
Non, la question est de savoir si les touristes représentent un appât intéressant...par exemple le bus d'Allemands et de Croates dévalisé avant hier à Rio de Janeiro...
Note qu'on dit que Rio est super dangereux, mais j'y suis allée seule et j'ai pas eu un frisson...enfin si, quand une dizaine de gosses mon suivie dans la rue jusqu'à ce que je me retourne et leur offre gentillement mon Maxibon...(une glace)
J'en sais rien...tôt ou tard je ferai les deux pays :-) ce n'est qu'une question de temps et d'argent...comme tout le monde!
En réalité l'Afrique m'attire un max et je pensais d'abord commencer par l'Afrique du Sud, qui doit être plus soft peut-être que d'autres pays, je pense au fait que c'est déjà bien touristique et que pour une première approche.... enfin bref, c'est ma pensée...
Même chose pour l'Asie...j'adorerais aller en Inde, mais toute seule et comme premier voyage en Asie, ça demande un gros travail mental et voilà pkoi je me suis dit que la Thaïlande pouvait déjà me faire sentir ce qu'est l'Asie, bien que je pense qu'elle n'a pas grand chose en commun avec l'Inde...
Je suis qu'au commencement de mes voyages alors j'ai le temps, d'où l'hésitation!
<>>
je crois que c'est cela funzi .........
si tu veut être sur, , facile tu me donne ton prix, , et tu reste en suisse ?? ( qui ne tente rien n'a rien ))
moi .. avec ton billet d'avion je crois que j'irais en asie, , ( j'ai un dentiste a voir, , , )
Dans les reserves?tu vas peut etre te faire violé si tu as de la chance par un gorille..ou au pire un elephant!!!! MDR
en fait ne regarde pas les stats de criminalité pour aller en vacances sinon tu ne vas plus vivre...comme j ai deja repondu dans un post sur ce site, chaque endroit de la planete peut craindre a un moment ou a un autre..il suffit de ne pas etre au mauvais moment...au mauvais endroit...
Alors c'est a toi de choisir suivant ce que tu as envie de voir...soit l'Afrique du sud..soit la Thailande
Personne ne pourra choisir pour toi
rend toi sur les sites d'offices de tourisme des 2 pays et regarde ce que tu as envie de voir et faire pendant tes vacances...
et en plus avec cette nouvelle ère du net, il est tres facile de trouver bon nombre de blogs de voyageurs pour se faire une idée! meme pas besoin de se daplacer dans les offices de tourisme, qui sont en plus tres subjectifs... (remarque comme le blogs tu me diras....😛)
Salut copatriote! J espere t apporter un avis clair et critique, et non dissuasif et negatif...
Voilà j ai passé 7 mois en asie du sud est l année passée, j ai rencontré plein de filles qui voyageaient seules aussi, franchement c est tres tres tres safe, les pays sont easy-going, pour les transports, dormir, manger etc, tout est simple, surtout thailande et malaisie=bien developpé. Les gens t aident tjrs et te demandnet ou tu vas en arrivant dans une gare, vraiment aucun probleme! Aussi louer des motos et voyager seule t auras aucun probleme! La Thailande est moins chere que la RSA!
2eme chose: mon meilleur pote ici a Fribourg est sud-africain, ca fait 8 ans qu i est revenu en suisse a cause de al criminalité, et est retourné y a une année pour 1 mois. Une chose est claire: pour les grandes villes, tu ne joues pas la "tranquille il m arrivera rien!" La nuit tombée tu sors pas seule, si tu vas a la plage, c ets sans argent ni camera, y a partout des gangs qui guettent ceux qui ont le portemonnaie trop rempli, et c est un fait pas des conneries, maintenant il ets clair que dans les campagnes c est bcp plus relax et moins dangereux, mais honnetement, j ai rencontré plein de gens ki etaient la bas, ils mont ts dit que y a aucun touriste ki prend les transports locaux et ils reglent tout avec les hotels, et ca fait du semi-organisé...il ets vrai aussi que c ets l un des pays avec le plus fort taux de criminalité...ma foi y a peu de touristes egalemnet qui se font braquer la bas, donc comme on dit, on ne fait plus rien si on ecoute tt ce qu on dit. Voilà ce que je voulais te dire est resumé a une ligne apres ces qques explications:
Si tu vas en Thailande, t'auras une liberté totale, en RSA non. Maintenant fais ce que ton coeur te dit, moi j irai en RSA un jour de toute facon...bonnes vacs
j'hésite entre l'Afrique du Sud et la Thaïlande...
Si l'Afrique du Sud produit des stats sur la criminalite, la Thailande reste plutot discrete a ce sujet ? Il est certain que ces deux pays meritent d'etre visites pour leur patrimoine. Mais avec surement une difference de budget ! La moindre des chose quand on voyage est de ne pas afficher sa "richesse". Quand par exemple en Thailande, vous depenserez peu etre en une seule journee ce que gagne la tres grande majorite de la population en un mois, vous comprendrez une partie de l'essentiel... Toutefois, un point commun reuni surement ces deux territoires. Une elite tres aisee tout en representant une minorite aussi extreme. D'autre part, les thailandais ne sont d'aucune facon des personnes dangeureuses pour l'etranger. Mais il ne vous empeche pas d'avoir un minimum de vigilance tout de meme ! Bon voyage, 🙂
Pour moi y'a pas photo ! Je connais les 2 et préfères de loin l'Afrique du Sud : si tu pars seule il faudra faire attention dans les villes, coté budget les accomodations seront plus chères (mais de très bonne qualité) et il serait mieux de louer une voiture, mais les paysages sont splendides et les parcs animaliers valent vraiment le détour !
Drôle de question..toi seule peux le savoir.... les autres ne te seront d'aucun secours..ça sera toujours du 50/50... comment peut-on, "touristiquement" comparer ces 2 pays, c'est impossible, ils sont aux antipodes l'un de l'autre !!!... les 2 ont des fans ou des détracteurs, ... fais selon ta sensibilité ou ton intuition et surtout, n'écoute personne tu pourrais le regretter..
Merci pour ton message, mais je ne pense pas regretter l'une ou l'autre destination. J'ai conscience que ces 2 pays n'ont absolument rien à voir, mais je souhaitais juste recevoir des idées..
Merci à tous!
J'ai encore discuté avec un collègue cette après-midi et je crois que mon choix ce portera sur la Thaïlande. En effet, j'ai pas tellement d'économie et n'ai pas envie d'un tour organisé... Pas envie de devoir me déplacer en voiture de location ou de me prendre trop le chou sur comment sortir de mon logis!
Je vous remercie infiniment pour vos précieux messages.
L'Afrique du Sud sera visitée lors d'un prochain voyage, mais je tâcherai de ne pas partir seule!
Dans les deux pays l'anglais est obligatoire, c'est un point commun.
Attention, tu sais pas lire le Thai, des fois vaut mieux un bon voyage organisé avec un guide francophone !
Banngkok c'est énorme, attention de ne pas t'y perdre comme moi, ma belle !
Je suis allée en Thailande 4 semaines cet été. C'est vraiment TRES touristique, et l'aventure (tout dépend ce que tu entends par «aventure» bien sur...) se fait en gros bus VIP climatisé. C'est un très beau pays mais le tourisme de masse est très présent, ne reste que certains petits coins encore presque épargnés!
Et pour être allée en Indonésie et en Malaisie, la Thailande semble être enfermée dans une bulle causée par le tourisme qui la rend un peu moins exotique.
Tout dépend de ce que tu recherches!!
Je pars pour Madagascar l'été prochain, alors je serais portée à te conseiller l'Afrique! 😉
salut lymililee!j'arrive surement un peu tard mais je suis tombée par hasard sur ton message et je ne peux m'empecher d'y mettre mon grain de sel!en esperant que tu n'es pas deja partie...
je vais avoir du mal a etre objective car je n'ai visité que la thailande...et j'en suis tombée amoureuse!
je pars neanmoins en afrique du sud le 3 juillet.
mon mari est deja allé en afrique du sud et il en a gardé un souvenir magnifique et en est revenu très enrichi humainement.il est allé en thailande egalement(11fois!!) et m'a fait decouvrir ce pays l'année derniere pendant 26 jours.
je te conseillerais de commencer par la thailande de preference.en effet, l'afrique du sud est dangereuse pour une fille seule, meme s'il est vrai que de nombreuses personnes y voyagent seules sans avoir eu le moindre probleme, c'est tout de meme assez risqué.(ma belle soeur y est allée l'année derniere avec une copine, elle s'est faite agréssée au couteau...ça a été terrible pour elle...)
perso je pars avec mon mari, sa soeur et son beau frere, mais sans eux je n'y serais pas allée.je suis encore un peu inquiete mais je me lance pour cet été.je te donnerai des nouvelles pour ton prochain voyage!
en ce qui concerne la thailande je peux te donner quelques tuyaux si tu en a besoin, tiens moi au courant!
Here’s my feedback after a recent trip to Ethiopia, organized with a local guide.
Despite a signed quote, months of prep exchanges (over eight months!), and phone calls right up to departure day, the guide didn’t honor the commitments we’d agreed on.
Haile Haftu FANUAILE, manager of the agency www.charmethiopiantours.com—who we’d organized everything with—didn’t meet us as promised when we arrived in Addis Ababa. Without any warning, he sent a different guide to accompany us for the entire trip (with a flimsy excuse).
Several parts of the signed quote weren’t respected:
– Services included in the quote but not provided on-site (meals, water),
– Hotels we’d chosen, booked, and paid for were swapped for lower-category places,
– Visits were canceled because the timing wasn’t calculated properly,
– One stop on the itinerary was dropped without any reason or explanation.
We’d paid a deposit for domestic flights, with a promise to refund any overpayment. A month after returning, 150 € per person (there were three of us) still hasn’t been refunded.
I’m sharing this to warn fellow travelers about the importance of solid guarantees to ensure contracts are actually honored. Double-check everything before committing!
Wishing everyone safe and smooth travel prep—Ethiopia is an incredible country!
---
Hello,
Feedback following a recent trip to Ethiopia, organized with a local guide.
Despite a signed quote, numerous preparatory exchanges over eight months, and phone calls right up until the day of departure, the guide did not fulfill his commitments.
Haile Haftu FANUAILE, manager of the agency www.charmethiopiantours.com with whom we had organized everything, did not meet us as agreed upon our arrival in Addis Ababa; without warning us, he sent another guide in his place to accompany us throughout the trip (with a bogus excuse).
Several points in the signed quote were not honored:
– services included in the quote but not provided on site (meals, water),
– hotels chosen, booked, and paid for, replaced by lower-category establishments,
– visits canceled due to lack of time, which had not been calculated correctly,
– one stop on the itinerary canceled without reason or explanation.
A deposit had been paid for the booking of domestic flights, with a commitment to refund the overpayment.
To date, one month after our return, 150 € per person (there were three of us) has still not been refunded.
This testimony is intended to alert travelers to the importance of solid guarantees for contracts that are actually honored, so that everyone can be extra vigilant before committing.
Good luck with your travel preparations, everyone.
Ethiopia is an extraordinary country!
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?
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 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
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
