Ça y est, sandpark vient de me confirmer la réservation
de la LST2U safari tent à lower sabi pour le 3/08
et du bungalow BD2M à pretoriuskop rest camp pour le 4/08.
Il me reste un crédit de 285 rands puisque ces 2 hébergements sont moins chers que ceux de crocodile bridge. Pourrais-je les utiliser pour acheter la wildcard, par exemple?
Je ne me souviens pas de ce qu'il y a d'intéressant à Kimberley et dont Voyajou parlait: le big hole peut-être?, la mine de diamant?. J'ai lu les renseignements du lien que tu m'as communiqué. Google map donne 9 h de route entre naries namakwa retreat et kimberley. C'est beaucoup.
A witsand il y a des dunes de sable, or j'en aurai déjà vu plein à Sesriem. Sont-elles si différentes? Mais il y a 7h de route seulement entre naries namakwa et witsand. C'est mieux que 9h, même si ça reste lourd.
Entre witsand et kimberley tu choisirais quoi? Je n'arrive pas à trancher.
A moins que je décide de zapper soweto et que je dorme la nuit du 25 à witsand, la nuit du 26 à kimberley (qui est à 3h30 de witsand) puis que le 27 je fasse les 5h de routes pour rejoindre or tambo à Jobourg?
Il me reste un crédit de 285 rands puisque ces 2 hébergements sont moins chers que ceux de crocodile bridge. Pourrais-je les utiliser pour acheter la wildcard, par exemple?
Non pas possible ! ça restera en cagnotte pour ton prochaine voyage :-)
"Je suis africain, non pas parce que je suis né en Afrique, mais parce que l'Afrique est née en moi." Kwame Nkrumah.
"J'ai appris que le courage n'est pas l'absence de peur, mais la capacité de la vaincre." Nelson Mandela
Tu pourras les utiliser pour payer un safari à pied par exemple!
Entre witsand et kimberley tu choisirais quoi?
Je choisirais d'être un peu en ville.
Et puis s'appeler Diamina et ne pas visiter une mine de diamants...😉
Je pense que tu pourrais profiter de ta matinée au Naries namakwa retreat puis partir pour Upington où tu dormirais le 25.
Le lendemain, tu rejoins Kimberley où tu visiteras le big hole et où tu trouveras des magasins.
Le 27, tu poursuis ta route sur l'aéroport.
3 étapes équilibrées.
Une autre solution est de modifier ta résa du 14 sur Augrabies et de la reporter au 25. (le 14 dodo à Upington)
Tu profiterais ainsi mieux de ce parc et tu aurais moins l'impression de ne faire que des étapes de transit lors de tes derniers jours.
Entre witsand et kimberley tu choisirais quoi? Je n'arrive pas à trancher.
Moi j'ai choisi Witsand, si tu y passes juste avant moi, tu me laisse un jeu de piste dans les dunes ? 😎
Les dunes de Witsand sont bien moins impressionnantes que celles de Sesriem je crois, mais ils louent des planches de sand boarding , on compte bien passer une journée à faire les fous sur la dune !
Je pensais faire comme tu le suggères, une étape entre Witsand et Tambo, mais mon avion étant à 19 h, je pense que je vais faire un direct Witsand=> tambo en 8h, je partirai tôt pour assurer le coup...
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Comme les agences spécialisées ne sont pas à l'aéroport et qu'il y a une inspection un peu plus poussée que d'habitude, faut bien compter 2 heures entre le moment où tu es chez le loueur et celui où il te dépose à Tambo.
Comme les agences spécialisées ne sont pas à l'aéroport et qu'il y a une inspection un peu plus poussée que d'habitude, faut bien compter 2 heures entre le moment où tu es chez le loueur et celui où il te dépose à Tambo.
Non, je ne crois pas, l'inspection avait duré 10 mn lors de ma dernière location et le retour se fait à l'aéroport ( en tout cas la prise en main se fait à l'aéroport).
Bon, peut-être que SouthAfrica4x4 fait des inspections poussées au retour, masi je n'avais aps cette notion, tu as lu quelque chose dans les conditions de vente ?
De toutes façons, je peux très bien procéder à l'embarquement + enregistrement des bagages vers 16 h et retourner sur le parking pour la restitution du 4x4, ça me laisse 3 heures.
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Bushlore (par exemple) ne se situe pas à l'aéroport. Il y a environ une heure de trajet une fois le 4x4 rendu.
L'inspection n'a pas été spécialement poussée . C'est plutôt nous qui avons listé ce qui n'allait pas...
Bref, entre arrivée chez Bushlore et arrivée à l'aéroport, il s'est passé quasi 2 heures. (Sans pourtant que nous n'insistions sur les défauts - Juste la constatation des faits)
Je pense que SouthAfrica4x4 est aussi dans un autre quartier de Jo burg que l'aéroport. Je n'ai pas été voir où.😊
Chez Bushtrackers qui se situe à 1/2 h de l'aéroport, mais en ce qui concerne southafrica 4x4, je récupère le 4x4 à l'aéroport et toute la démo va se faire sur le parking, j'en ai déduit que le retour aussi se ferait comme ça, mais il faut que je vérifie. Ils proposent un transfert (payant) vers leurs locaux, mais ça n'a rien d'obligatoire.
Va falloir que je vérifie tout ça avant de partir.
Sinon, j'avais en tête une étape dans un truc du genre :
http://www.safarinow.com/go/AlmarExclusiveGameRanch/
Le voyage n'est pas orienté vers les visites citadines, il n'y en aura aucune en fait.
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
Merci beaucoup pour ces infos. Si je peux j'irai y faire un tour.
En fait, je me demandais si ce village pouvait remplacer le "Lesedi cultural village" qui est situé près de Pretoria. Mais, j'ai l'impression que celui près de pretoria est plus important et qu'il y a plus de choses à voir la-bas. Je tacherai de visiter les 2 si je peux.
Entre ma dernière nuit au kruger, qui est maintenant à pretoriuskop restcamp, et le lesedi cultural village, google map donne 4h46 de route. Cela me tente de plus en plus d'y passer une nuit.
Je me suis trompée, ce sont les nuits du 26 et du 27 aout qui sont disponibles, puisque le le 25/08 je dors au naries namakwa, et je pars le soir du 28/08.
Si je change la date de ma résa de augrabies pour le 26/08 au lieu du 14/08, cela fera mon 3ème ou 4ème changement, est-ce que sandpark ne va pas commencer à m'en vouloir sérieusement et à me mettre sur une liste noire?😮
Si tu trouves que ce parc vaut le coup, je peux aussi y garder ma résa du 14/08 et y rajouter la nuit du 26/08. Du coup, je serais plus certaine de récupérer mes 285 rands que lors d'un safari à pied!!!!! Et j'éviterais la liste noire de sandpark!!!🤪
D'ailleurs entre Calvinia et Augrabies, il y a plusieurs routes, notamment la R358 qui traverse le riemvasmaak et dont google donne 7h de temps de trajet, et la R27 qui permet de joindre augrabies en 6 heures. Laquelle choisir?
Tant qu'à faire, je pourrais aussi passer une des 2 nuits au riemvasmaak community conservancy ?
J'avais lu que Michel n'était pas particulièrement fan de Upington. Est-ce pour me rapprocher du KTP que tu suggères Upington plutôt?
Je suis assez perplexe sur l'intérêt d'un safari à pied. Est-ce quelque chose qu'il faut faire? De préférence au kruger ou au KTP?
Bon, puisque Diamina je suis, allons y pour une visite de mine de diamant!!! Mais n'y en a-t-il pas près de jobourg?
Parce que Soweto?????????
Sinon, il faudrait que je vois comment caser cette visite en tuk tuk tour au début du séjour alors!
Par exemple, le lendemain de notre arrivée, visite du musée de l'apartheid le matin après midi tuk tuk tour de 2h , ( ou le contraire) récupération de la voiture et nuit à middleburg?????
Upington est une ville qui possède d'agréables logements et tout ce qu'il faut pour refaire le plein de provisions.
C'est aussi la seule ville à des centaines de kilomètres et un point de verdure au milieu du Kalahari.
Mais ce n'est pas un lieu pour voyageurs pressés. Il n'y a rien de spécial à y faire.
Merci pour les infos entre Calvinia et upington, je comptais déjà prendre la R27.
Ce que je voudrais savoir c'est quelle route favoriser entre Hermanus et Calvinia?
La R43 qui passe par worcester
puis la R303 qui traverse clamwilliam?
ou puis la R355 qui traverse le karoo national park?
Il y a 2 nuits que je n'ai pas réservé dans la région de cape town.
A mon arrivée la-bas, je vais y dormir finalement les 3 premières nuits.
Voici mon programme provisoire
8/08 : départ du pilanesberg vers l'aéroport OR tambo
et vol l'après midi sur kukula airline et arrivée vers 16h à cape town, récupération du 4x4 automatique chez first car rental et direction le fullham lodge à Camps bay, soirée en club de jazz si possible
Tu as marqué que les bus touristiques passent à camps bay, donc de l'hotel fullham lodge on pourra y avoir accès facilement?
9/08 le matin, messe à la cathédrale St Paul puis après midi visite du jardin de Kirtenbosch ou de
Long Street, Bo-Kaap, Signal Hill nuit au fulham lodge
10/08 Cape town, visite de table mountain le matin (si possible, ils ouvrent le 10/08 après travaux), puis visite de robben island l'après midi (si possible, je n'arrive pas à acheter les tickets sur internet ) et nuit au fullham lodge
11/08 direction Cape of good hope par la côte qui passe par kommetjie, découverte de la colonie de pingouins de boulder, puis route vers Hermanus en longeant la côte par simon's town et betty's bay. Nuit à Hermanus pas encore réservée.
12/08 Remontée vers le cederberg? remontée vers le karoo national park?
13/08 nuit à Calvinia
14/08 : augrabies falls
15/08: KTP twee rivieren,
16/08 : KTP, kalahari tent camp,
17/08 : KTP, mata mata
En sortant de Calvinia c'est la R27 puis la R 363.
La R364 était en partie gravel en 2010...Je ne sais pas si c'est toujours le cas...
C'est un grand raccourci.
Puis je choisirais de passer par Worcester.
La 355 c'est gravel...gravel...gravel...je l'ai prise l'an dernier en sortant du Cederberg.
Le bus rouge se prend soit sur Camps bay drive à l'intersection de la rue Fulham et de CB drive soit sur Victoria road au niveau de la plage, là où se trouvent tous les restos. C'est facile, tu demanderas sur place.
Table Mountain, le + tôt possible le matin. Pour Robben il est bien rare quand même de ne pas avoir la moindre place...
Vous faites Table puis descente vers Waterfront et au fond...le départ des bateaux.
Si vous voyez les pingouins à Boulder's peut être que ce n'est plus la peine à Betty's bay...c'est quand même un détour...même si il faut longer la côte !
Le Karoo ou le Cederberg ne seront que survolés en y passant en voiture, je ferais donc au plus simple comme écrit plus haut.
Je serais dans le KTP...mais dans un mois...
Mes enfants attendent leur séjour en Martinique avec impatience (ils partent demain). Ils te remercient...je t'en dirais un mot après leur retour.
J'appuie la sensation d'émerveillement de Michel sur Augrabie, !
Je me souviens du récit des Arroukatchee : eux aussi avaient été emballés par les paysages et les rencontres d'autant plus que c'était le 1er jour de leur découverte de l'Afrique australe !
😉
Tu as marqué que les bus touristiques passent à camps bay, donc de l'hotel fullham lodge on pourra y avoir accès facilement?
Il y a environ 2 km depuis le lodge
10/08 Cape town, visite de table mountain le matin (si possible, ils ouvrent le 10/08 après travaux), puis visite de robben island l'après midi (si possible, je n'arrive pas à acheter les tickets sur internet ) et nuit au fullham lodge
Les deux dans la même journée ça va être chaud, voire impossible
11/08 direction Cape of good hope par la côte qui passe par kommetjie, découverte de la colonie de pingouins de boulder, puis route vers Hermanus en longeant la côte par simon's town et betty's bay. Nuit à Hermanus pas encore réservée.
Ah ben non c'est carrément une journée le cap de bonne espérance ....
"Je suis africain, non pas parce que je suis né en Afrique, mais parce que l'Afrique est née en moi." Kwame Nkrumah.
"J'ai appris que le courage n'est pas l'absence de peur, mais la capacité de la vaincre." Nelson Mandela
10/08 Cape town, visite de table mountain le matin (si possible, ils ouvrent le 10/08 après travaux), puis visite de robben island l'après midi (si possible, je n'arrive pas à acheter les tickets sur internet ) et nuit au fullham lodge
Les deux dans la même journée ça va être chaud, voire impossible
De toute façon, je passerai 2 jours plein à Cape town, donc je peux très bien essayer d'aller à robben island le 9/08 après midi, et aller à table mountain le 10/08 au matin, et à au jardin Kirtenbosch le 10/08 après-midi. Ceci dit, les jardins de Kirtenbosch peuvent être sacrifiés au profit d'autre chose.
Il faut une journée pour le Cap de bonne espérance??? Veux-tu dire que je ne pourrais pas aller dormir à Hermanus à la suite de la visite du cap de bonne espérance alors?
Bon, ok. Modifications
9/08 le matin, messe à la cathédrale St Paul puis visite de robben island l'après midi (si possible, je n'arrive pas à acheter les tickets sur internet ) ou de Long Street, Bo-Kaap, Signal Hill nuit au fulham lodge
10/08 direction Cape of good hope par la côte qui passe par kommetjie, découverte de la colonie de pingouins de boulder, puis retour en longeant la côte par simon's town et en revenant vers cape town. Nuit au fullham lodge.
11/08 Cape town, visite de table mountain le matin (si possible, ils ouvrent le 10/08 après travaux), et direction Hermanus. Nuit pas encore réservée.
12/08 recommandée par AttilaR43 puis R 45 direction Franschhoek puis R 301 direction Paarl Wellington et la Bain's Kloof Pass.
Si vous voyez les pingouins à Boulder's peut être que ce n'est plus la peine à Betty's bay...c'est quand même un détour...même si il faut longer la côte !
A vrai dire, je pensais qu'il valait mieux longer la côte pour avoir plus de chance de voir les baleines, je ne savais pas qu'on pouvait aussi voir des pingouins à betty'bay.
Aller à Hermanus, c'est pour aller voir les baleines.
En sortant de Calvinia c'est la R27 puis la R 363
Je n'ai pas trouvé la R363. C'est pour aller où à partir de Calvinia?
En quittant Calvinia, pour le moment je suis censée aller à augrabies falls en suivant uniquement la R27, donc je ne comprends pas très bien.
Dans ton carnet, tu disais qu'il y avait un supermarché dans lequel on pouvait faire des courses à augrabies falls? C'est juste? Ou bien vaut-il vraiment mieux que je dorme à Upington après Calvinia, comme me le proposait Attila, vu qu'il faudra que j'ai du ravitaillement avant de dormir au KTP pendant 3 nuits?
Le Karoo ou le Cederberg ne seront que survolés en y passant en voiture, je ferais donc au plus simple comme écrit plus haut.
Je prévois d'y dormir quand même 2 nuits, dont la 2ème à Calvinia.
Je vais donc suivre la recommandation d'Attila suivante puisque tu es du même avis.
R43 puis R 45 direction Franschhoek puis R 301 direction Paarl Wellington et la Bain's Kloof Pass.
Nuit à Tankwa (Self catering...) ou Ceres
R43 puis R 45 direction Franschhoek puis R 301 direction Paarl Wellington et la Bain's Kloof Pass.
Nuit à Tankwa (Self catering...) ou Ceres
Merci pour les routes à emprunter. ceres vient d'emporter la palme!!!
J'ai peut-être trouvé le coin où je verrai de la neige: Ceres. Sur les photos du coin, on y voit des endroits avec de la neige.
Matroosberg private reserve m'a l'air très bien pour être assurée de faire des boules de neige, non?
Tu connais?
De toute façon, je passerai 2 jours plein à Cape town, donc je peux très bien essayer d'aller à robben island le 9/08 après midi, et aller à table mountain le 10/08 au matin, et à au jardin Kirtenbosch le 10/08 après-midi. Ceci dit, les jardins de Kirtenbosch peuvent être sacrifiés au profit d'autre chose.
Il faut y aller à TM dès que le temps le permet à cette époque de l'année, il peut-être souvent fermé
Il faut une journée pour le Cap de bonne espérance??? Veux-tu dire que je ne pourrais pas aller dormir à Hermanus à la suite de la visite du cap de bonne espérance alors?
Ben nous on était parti à 9h00 et on était rentré vers 17 h lessivé. Entre les pingouins, les paysages, le site ... ça fait long
"Je suis africain, non pas parce que je suis né en Afrique, mais parce que l'Afrique est née en moi." Kwame Nkrumah.
"J'ai appris que le courage n'est pas l'absence de peur, mais la capacité de la vaincre." Nelson Mandela
Betty's bay possède aussi une colonie de pingouins et l'endroit est beaucoup moins touristique que Boulders.
La boutique d'Augrabies est une boutique de camp. Bien pour dépanner mais pas pour faire un plein de courses.
Je te suggerais Upington parce que tu auras plus de temps au retour pour visiter Augrabies. Ça fluidifiait le parcours.
Pour le coin de Ceres, il y a du choix.Tu devrais trouver sans peine un hôtel avec restaurant.
Sinon, il y a celui où j'ai dormi la première nuit de mon voyage précédent. C'est un peu avant Ceres.
Salut,
D'après mes lectures, plusieurs forumistes en ont vu en août !
Bbirdy entre autres qui m'avait envoyé le condensé de son voyage en aoùt 2007
"en faisant le tour de la péninsule du Cap, vers Fish Hoek il y avait 4 baleines à quelques mètres de la plage ( False Bay), c'était la meilleure observation."
Il en parle ici.
😉
Sur le site que tu m'as proposé, il n'y a pas de pick and pay à augrabies falls, seulement à Upington.
J'ai relevé les adresses. Ça peut toujours servir. Merci.
Pour les baleines, tu veux dire que je n'ai forcément besoin d'aller à Hermanus alors, c'est ça?
Tu peux avoir de la chance d'en voir du bord de mer dans la péninsule...le long de la route d'Hermanus, lors du trajet en bateau vers Robben...
Mais c'est à Hermanus que tu les verras le mieux, dans la baie...tu pourras aussi prendre un des seuls bateaux pouvant naviguer dans cette baie...et même y faire du canoë !
Mais c'est à Hermanus que tu les verras le mieux, dans la baie...tu pourras aussi prendre un des seuls bateaux pouvant naviguer dans cette baie...et même y faire du canoë !
Donc du coup la destination Hermanus est maintenue. Je crois que je ne vais pas faire de réservation, pour la nuit du 11/08 et voir comment s'organise ma visite de table mountain ou pas et surtout celle à Robben island. A partir du fullham lodge, je verrai comment organiser cette soirée là et la journée du 12/08.
Ben nous on était parti à 9h00 et on était rentré vers 17 h lessivé. Entre les pingouins, les paysages, le site ... ça fait long
J'ai comparé les distances à partir de cape point, cela ne fait d'une heure de différence de temps de trajet entre retourner à fullham lodge et aller à betty's bay. Je trouve que c'est jouable, mais je pense que je déciderai sur place.
Il faut y aller à TM dès que le temps le permet à cette époque de l'année, il peut-être souvent fermé
Peut-être qu'on peut remplacé la montée à table mountain par signal hill ou encore lion's head si la météo n'est pas favorable?
J'ai envoyé le mail à Sandpark leur demandant de changer la date de mon séjour à augrabies falls pour le 26 aout au lieu du 14 aout. J'ai vérifié et ils ont des disponibilités pour cette date pour un chalet avec vue comme celui que j'avais.
Je te tiens au courant quand ils m'auront répondu.
Du coup, si je dors à Upington, ai-je besoin de dormir à Calvinia?
Tu avais fait tankwa karoo /Upington d'une traite non?
J'ai besoin de tes lumières concernant tracks4africa.
J'ai déjà acheté la version pour Mac. Comment faire pour l'utiliser avec l'iphone ou avec l'ipad? Faut-il acheter une autre version?
J'ai besoin de tes lumières concernant tracks4africa.
J'ai déjà acheté la version pour Mac. Comment faire pour l'utiliser avec l'iphone ou avec l'ipad? Faut-il acheter une autre version?
Déjà ça commence mal tu me parles de pomme déjà mangée, j'aime pas partager ma bouffe 😄
J'en sais rien, je n'utilise pas la version pour smartphone, désolé 🏴☠️
"Je suis africain, non pas parce que je suis né en Afrique, mais parce que l'Afrique est née en moi." Kwame Nkrumah.
"J'ai appris que le courage n'est pas l'absence de peur, mais la capacité de la vaincre." Nelson Mandela
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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.
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.
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.
Hi there,
I’m considering camping in Nyungwe Park with my family (2 adults, 2 kids) at Uwinka campsite. Problem: the park rents the tent but without any gear (mattresses, blankets). We don’t have a car. Is it possible to rent or buy mattresses and blankets near the park, please?
Thanks for your help
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
At the end of July, we’re heading to Namibia with a group of five for a three-week road trip and visit to the national parks.
We’ve read conflicting info about buying entry tickets—either online (where?) or at the gate when we arrive?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the agencies you used to plan your trip to Uganda.
There’s the whole issue of gorilla permits, which need to be booked in advance and involve a significant financial commitment. That’s where I’m at with my trip planning. Between checking lutb.go.ug/ and reading online reviews, it’s hard to move forward with confidence.
I contacted the French Embassy, but they don’t provide any recommendations. I almost booked with an agency that had a really bad review from February specifically about the permit process.
How did you go about choosing your agency? Given the large sum involved, I’m this close to booking through a travel agency in France for this part.
From what I understand, no matter which agency books the permit, you’re ultimately guided by professionals trained for gorilla trekking based on the permit itself? I’m assuming that’s how it works.
Thanks for your feedback, and I’m really happy to see the forum’s new energy—it’s been super helpful to me in the past.
We’re heading to Uganda next summer for three weeks with our two kids, who’ll be 7 and 9 years old.
We’ve been to Southern Africa before but not East Africa, and after a trip to South Africa two years ago, the kids wanted to return to Africa, while we wanted to explore a new region while staying independent... Uganda’s been catching our eye for a while, and with Rwandair offering relatively attractive prices, we’re going for it!
We’ll be traveling in a 4x4 (self-drive) with roof tents. I don’t have any 4x4 driving experience, so it’ll be a first for me, but we’ll manage 😉 No great apes for us—kids need to be 15, and we don’t want to do that experience without them.
I don’t usually ask the forum much for trip planning, but this time, I’d love your thoughts and advice!
First question: Karamoja or not? At first glance, if we want to add it to a "classic" loop in the southwest, it doesn’t seem realistic—too packed, too much driving. We could consider doing the full loop via Kidepo and then heading down to Murchison, but I’m worried the trip might feel less varied and less kid-friendly. That said, the region looks stunning, and I’m struggling to accept not going at all... What do you think?
If we skip Karamoja, we’d do a loop: Murchison/Fort Portal/QENP/Bunyonyi/Mburo, which seems pretty comprehensive and would let us take our time, which is nice. A few random questions:
- How much time should we plan for the Fort Portal area? I was thinking at least 3 days to visit Bigodi Swamp, walk around the craters, and maybe do a community walk (any thoughts on that?).
- Between Murchison Falls and the Fort Portal area, is it worth breaking up the drive? I spotted Lake Albert Safari Lodge on the shores of Lake Albert—it’s not too expensive and looks nice.
- I’d love to do some easy walks/hikes at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, ideally without a guide, but it doesn’t seem straightforward. Do you know if it’s possible to do nice walks independently? I’ve read about hikes in the hills near Kilembe but nothing very specific. Maybe staying somewhere at the foot of the mountains, like Ruboni Community Camp, would allow that.
- Lake Mutanda looks really cool, and so does Lake Bunyonyi... Ideally, I’d like to see both, but won’t that feel repetitive? Is Lake Mutanda worth the detour?
Last practical question, since we don’t have experience with this: for the car with kids, would you recommend two tents (a bit more space) or a four-person tent?
I’ll stop here—already a lot of questions...
Thanks in advance for your feedback, and looking forward to exchanging ideas!
Gabriel
We’re planning our second trip to South Africa in July 2026. In 2023, we did a loop from Joburg, Golden Gate, Drakensberg, Hluhluwe, St Lucia, Eswatini, Kruger, Blyde River Canyon, and back to Joburg.
This time, we’d like to go to Cape Town and do a road trip to Port Elizabeth, then fly back to Joburg to return to Kruger. At this stage of my planning, here’s what it could look like:
D1 to D4: Cape Town and Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, Boulders, Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak Drive). I’ve spotted a few places to stay between Camps Bay and Hout Bay (3 nights).
D5 and D6: Either Karoo NP or Hermanus and De Hoop. Any opinions to tip the scales? I’ll admit I’m already leaning toward Karoo (the "wild" vibe of the landscapes and wildlife encounters appeal to me much more than the seaside, which feels less exotic). If we go for Karoo, where should we stay? Inside the park or in Beaufort West? I’ve seen good reviews for Ko-ka Tsara Bush Camp, but maybe it’s better to stay in the Sanparks cottages to make the most of the park? (2 nights)
Option B is to do Stellenbosch (though vineyards aren’t great in winter) and/or the Whale Route—Betty’s Bay, Hermanus, De Hoop (2 nights near Gansbaai).
D7 and D8: Klein Karoo, Oudtshoorn. Staying at De Cango Guest Farm (2 nights).
D9 and D10: Knysna, Robberg Nature Reserve, Tsitsikamma (2 nights in Plettenberg Bay and 1 night in PE).
D11: Flight from Port Elizabeth to Joburg at 7 AM and drive to Marloth Park.
For Kruger, I’ve booked 2 nights in Marloth Park, 1 night in Skukuza, 2 nights in Satara, and 1 night in Talamati, which we loved. I’ll book the last night in Graskop later since we want to revisit the Blyde Canyon area.
I’d love all the feedback you can give on my itinerary, especially for days 5 and 6.
If you have recommendations for accommodations for 4 people, I’d appreciate those too.
Thanks! 🙂
We’re a family of four (two daughters aged 18 and 21) and we’re planning a three-week trip to Tanzania. Zanzibar would be our main base, but we’d also like to do a safari on the mainland.
Could you share any tips on:
- the ideal length for such a safari, the best place to go during this period (and easily accessible by flight from Zanzibar)
- your recommendations for the most suitable type of stay for a family like ours
- reliable local agencies with reasonable prices that could help us with this plan
Hi everyone, I’m here to get some advice on visiting KRUGER Park.
From what I’ve gathered through my reading, I understand there are two ways to visit the park:
- Independently with your own vehicle
=> Do you drive all day?
- By booking with a professional
=> Safari early in the morning and late in the afternoon. But what do you do in between?
When it comes to accommodations, the options are:
- Booking in one of the park’s camps, where the lodging is basic but functional
- Booking in a private reserve, which is more comfortable but prohibitively expensive
- Booking outside the park, which means entering the park every morning. But if you want to stay for 3 days, that doesn’t seem practical to me.
Do you have any advice for accommodations?
To be honest, I’m really struggling to understand how it all works...
Thanks to everyone for your help.
Bidule 27
Hey everyone!
Heading to Namibia in a few days and I just read that the entry fees for all parks in Namibia have skyrocketed. Increases between 86 and 100%, and this has been in effect since April 1st (no joke). Have any of you heard about this, and if so, do you know if it’s actually being enforced?
For example, the fee for Etosha has gone from 150 NAD to 280 NAD per day per person.
Thanks in advance!
I’m really interested in traveling to South Africa in September 2020. My question is whether I should go on an organized tour or plan my own itinerary. Organized trips are pretty expensive $$$$, but the security aspect reassures me. I’d love to hear your thoughts on safety in South Africa and whether it’s easy to arrange activities like visiting vineyards, Cape Town, and going on a safari on our own. Which is better in terms of cost—booking an organized trip or doing it ourselves? It’s definitely less exciting to follow a group for 10 days. We’re a couple in our 50s who love nature.
😊🦁
We’re heading out in April 2027 with our 4x4 to explore part of Southern Africa. Right now we’re researching all these beautiful countries and deciding where to ship our vehicle. We’re from Le Havre—has anyone here already shipped from that port to South Africa or East Africa?
As for all these countries, is wild camping allowed, tolerated, easy, or difficult?
We’ve already visited a few, but you can read just about anything online, so getting tips from real independent travelers is way better :)
We’re all ears for any hacks, experiences, or spots you’d recommend.
See you on the road with Doddy
Hi,
I’m starting to plan a great trip for the last three weeks of January 2027 (my first time in South Africa).
After spending a few hours (!) browsing this forum, here’s a rough first draft of my itinerary:
D0 Arrival at JNB
D1, D2 Blyde River Canyon
D3, D4, D5, D6, D7: Kruger
D8, D9, D10: St Lucia and surrounding area
D11, D12, D13, D14: Drakensberg + Lesotho
D15 A very long driving day to the south (hope the AC doesn’t break down!)
D16, D17, D18, D19 southwest coast (so far I’ve noted Oudtshoorn, Robberg Nature Reserve, Wilderness NP, De Hoop Reserve, and a bit of the wine route)
D20, D21 Cape Town (peninsula and a bit of the city) + domestic flight and return flight (departure from JNB at 11 PM)
A few questions before refining this:
- Do you see any major issues with this itinerary?
- We don’t have a choice on dates, and personally, I prefer green landscapes to desert ones anyway, but do you really see far fewer animals in January than in the dry season? Five days in Kruger should give us enough time to spot plenty of different animals despite the tall grass, right? As for the heat, we’re from Réunion, so we’re relatively used to it, even though I know it’s not the same type of heat.
- Can I trust the distances and driving times given by Google Maps?
- Picking up the vehicle in Johannesburg and dropping it off in Cape Town: how much might that cost us? I’m thinking it probably won’t be worse (in terms of time or money, since there are five of us—2 adults + 3 kids) than going back to Joburg after Lesotho, taking a flight to Cape Town, and renting another vehicle... but maybe I’m wrong.
- Finally, wouldn’t it be better to focus on just one of the two regions (either the northeast or Cape Town and the south coast)? If it were up to me, I’d stick to the first part and extend a few stops... but not everyone agrees! And we’re thinking that since it’ll be really hot, a second part of the trip that’s a bit """cooler""" would be welcome.
I imagine many of you have been captivated by the Masai Mara park and/or your safari experience with Tony Crocetta/Melting Pot Safari. Still, I’d like to share my perspective.
First, I’m an avid traveler, especially in love with Africa, which my partner and I have explored a bit (Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia...).
That said, I want to express my deep disappointment with both the Masai Mara and Tony Crocetta’s camp, Melting Pot Safari, where we stayed last year.
First, about the park: it’s stunning, no doubt. But what a highly touristy place! I can’t find the words to describe the horror of being among 30 4x4 vehicles lined up in front of a lioness hunt, let alone encircling her right after her kill while her prey is still alive in her jaws... no respect for wildlife. The same goes for surrounding a young leopard playing with its small prey, a moment when I counted over 50 vehicles, most with their engines running... sickening. I turned away, both my gaze and my camera. What a disaster to see this natural wonder of Africa turned into a tourist hotspot.
Yes, I loved this place on Earth, but no, I won’t "promote" it anywhere or to anyone.
Next, I also wanted to share my dissatisfaction with Tony Crocetta’s famous camp, Melting Pot Safari: where to begin? We booked a private vehicle for four with two friends, and I have no complaints about the vehicle itself (though it obviously came at a cost). The windows and the vehicle weren’t very photo-friendly, but let’s move on.
The trip between the sisters’ guesthouse (which was fine) and the camp went smoothly, except we arrived a bit too late. Result: "We’ll leave for the safari an hour later today because the driver has to respect his rest hours." Perfect—with park formalities, we only spent about an hour in the park that evening. The safari got off to a great start...
During our 12-day stay, we saw some amazing things. Tony wasn’t at the camp—I don’t know what the atmosphere is like when he’s there, but it was rather cold during our trip. Sylvie, his wife, barely looked at us, never asking how our day, night, or game drive went (I think she spoke to us once during the stay, plus the day we arrived, of course). We felt invisible... (if I were mean, I’d say the money had already been deposited into Melting Pot’s bank account.)
The evening meals, if I may say so, were a joke: not enough dessert (aside from fruit, but the few elaborate desserts—like 10 for 18 guests) for everyone, barely enough meat or sides. If you were unlucky like us and ended up with a group of 15 people who decided to skip the starter, you’d better hurry to get your main course, or there might not be any left—and no refills... We always ate our fill, but sometimes we had to serve ourselves in advance.
Finally, I want to correct something about the quality of the meals: seriously, this buffet was really mediocre and far from the culinary standards I’d read about in my pre-trip research (see their Facebook page).
Anyway, let’s move past the food—after all, the avocados were sublime, and we’re not there primarily to eat.
About the tent: the river views were beautiful, and the beds were very comfortable. No running water, individual showers outside the tent, and dry toilets—but it’s Africa, so we weren’t shocked. However, I’m disappointed that for this "modest" price, I wasn’t warned there’d be no soap (and no, I don’t travel with my own soap—and for the price, a little bar in the tent wouldn’t be a luxury). But let’s move on—the hippo views were fantastic. Oh, and to preserve the Masai Mara’s water (which makes sense) and for hygiene reasons, underwear isn’t washed by the camp staff—fair enough. But then what’s that little sign next to the bed? Oh right, for a hefty sum, underwear suddenly becomes "washable"...
Finally, my biggest gripe is about the essential part: the game drives. In France, they sell you a dream with a "photo safari" (what’s the difference, really? A room with a few more electrical outlets?). They promise guides especially suited for photography (not a given, sorry) and vehicles that can get close to animals and go off-road... but here’s the catch: the guides are bound by park laws and hounded by rangers looking to fine rule-breakers. Result: as soon as a white ranger vehicle is spotted, we have to abandon our spot for a wild chase through the grass. Fun once... The next day, we learned that another group’s guide got caught and had to pay $100 for breaking the rules—a sum he casually asked the travelers in his vehicle to cover... because of course, Melting Pot lures tourists with dreams, the poor rangers try to get close, all while breaking park laws... and they break those laws for Crocetta’s company, which, of course, won’t dip into its profits to pay the fines. Basically, it’s "keep the clients happy, but don’t get fined—or the fines are on you or you’ll have to ask the clients directly." Nice boss! Anyway, there were long discussions about this last year, especially among the guests in the fined vehicle. My partner and I found these practices unacceptable, and we were deeply disappointed by this attitude.
I know many people adore this park and/or this company—maybe you were luckier... or maybe you’re less demanding than we are when it comes to respecting rules, nature, and clients. But after traveling through much of southern Africa, I can tell you we personally came back frustrated from this experience and aren’t eager to return... You’ve been warned.
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!
Hello,
With so many agencies out there, we're feeling a bit lost. Could you please share your experience—like recommending your agency if you were happy with them—and tell us why, and if possible, what budget we should expect? Feel free to send it in a private message :)
We’re just the two of us, and ideally, we’d like to go in a 4x4 alone or with another couple, or in a very small group.
Hi there,
I’ve reached out to a few agencies for a week-long family safari next summer before heading to Zanzibar.
So far, the itinerary looks like this:
Day 1: Late arrival at JRO and overnight in Arusha
Day 2: Drive to Tarangire, park visit, and overnight in Tarangire
Day 3: Tarangire, drive to and overnight in Karatu
Day 4: Ngorongoro and overnight in Ngorongoro
Day 5: Drive to Serengeti and safari in Seronera
Day 6: Serengeti and overnight near Lobo
Day 7: Serengeti and overnight in Seronera
Day 8: Flight from Seronera to Zanzibar
On paper, it covers "everything," but maybe there’s a bit too much time lost on the road... Any alternatives?
To simplify (and cut costs), I was thinking:
Day 1: Late arrival at JRO and overnight in Arusha
Day 2: Arusha National Park with a walking safari and meeting the Maasai (?)
Day 3: Drive to Tarangire, park visit, and overnight in Tarangire
Day 4: Full day in Tarangire
Day 5: Tarangire, drive to and overnight in Karatu
Day 6: Ngorongoro and overnight in Ngorongoro
Day 7: Morning in Manyara or Natron and drive to JRO
Day 8: Flight to Zanzibar
Your thoughts and recommendations are welcome...
Thanks
We have the opportunity to spend about ten days somewhere for Christmas, and I’m really tempted by Zanzibar. I’ve been dreaming for a long time about the Spice Island, Stone Town, diving...
Which hotels could you recommend? Not a big "resort"—we’re more into "boutique hotels" or even an Airbnb house. Somewhere quiet (we’re not party animals).
I’m thinking of staying the first few nights in Stone Town and then moving to a beach, preferably one where we can swim regardless of the tides, without ending up in seaweed and mud at low tide.
I’m a bit lost with all the beaches because apparently, the north is very crowded, the south is very windy, and the east has some good and some not-so-good spots, with big tides or not... HELP! 🤪
I’d like to limit myself to a maximum of 2 different places to stay over the 10 days.
I’m reaching out because I don’t understand how Volcanoes National Park works.
I looked at booking for the gorillas, but there’s just the price listed, and the same goes for the Diane Fossey tomb.
So I contacted a hotel in Kinigi, and they told me that for the gorillas, you need a car to get to the park headquarters, and then once you know your group, you need to get from the headquarters to the trekking start point?? Do you confirm this? Is that really how it works? They say the hotel has a driver and it would cost 100 DOLLARS!!
I just found out that on top of the permit, there are other fees??? Uhh…
Are there other options, knowing I don’t want to rent a 4x4 since I’m traveling alone?
And if I don’t get the gorilla permit but just want to visit the Diane Fossey tomb, is it the same issue? From Kinigi, do you need a 4x4? How far is the tomb from the headquarters? Is it a hike you can do alone OR DO YOU NEED A GUIDE, ON FOOT? By car??
If someone could explain everything to me… and is the DF Foundation different??
If I decide to go through an agency, is it possible in Musanze (which would save me trips) or is it mandatory to go through Kigali?
Thanks so much for your help…
Best regards
I’m in the middle of planning a road trip in Southern Africa, and I’m specifically working on the itinerary—especially the distances.
I’ve got the time, but I’m struggling with the transfer days (so much driving just to end up spending the whole day on the road). That’s why I’m trying to analyze travel times, even if it means adding extra stops.
My highlights in Zimbabwe would be:
- Hwange
- Victoria Falls (and maybe Matusadona)
- Mana Pools
- Harare
- Gonarezhou
- Great Zimbabwe
But the distances and travel times seem huge (over 4 hours each time), and I don’t see how to make the drives more chill or shorten them—even if it means adding stops (but which ones?) between each leg.
Would anyone be able to estimate the travel time between these highlights and maybe suggest some nice stops to take breaks?
I’ve been to Rwanda twice before, in November 1991 and December 1993, mostly for solidarity work.
I’m looking into going back this November or December for three weeks, but I’m a bit hesitant when I see the tourist offerings—it’s so far from how I like to travel...
I travel solo using public transport and stay in places like guesthouses (GH), or accommodations run by cooperatives, associations, or religious groups. I love villages, markets, hikes, and local crafts.
So far, my searches for these kinds of lodging options haven’t turned up much.
For now, I’m considering visiting (in no particular order):
Butare: Kibeho, Bisesero, Nyanza
Ngenda
Akagera, Kibungo, Lake Muazi
Dian Fossey’s tomb (with the possibility of seeing gorillas)
Kibuye??? Is the political situation stable there? Or Cyangugu?
So here are my first questions:
-Is French still widely spoken?
-Are there lists of the types of accommodations I mentioned above, or places to find that info?
-Is what I’m planning doable using public transport? From the towns, are moto-taxis still available to get to villages, sites, and—most importantly—back?
-Is it possible to go hiking solo?
-Which are the best markets and what days are they held?
I know that’s a lot of questions already, and I really appreciate any relevant answers you can share.
Looking forward to exchanging more!
I’m planning my next trip in September, and after two self-drive trips to Botswana last year, I’d love to explore Kruger. Since I’m used to camping, I’m thinking of renting an equipped van from Kitted Africa (a small Suzuki van—thanks Safari Expert!) to sleep in a tent and occasionally in a hut.
Here’s my provisional itinerary, and I’d love to hear your thoughts if you don’t mind.
I’ve got 13 nights to plan in Kruger. The rental company is based in Nelspruit.
Entering from the south:
14-15-16.09: 3 nights at Crocodile Bridge or Lower Sabie
17-18-19.09: 3 nights at Skukuza
20-21.09: 2 nights at Satara
22-23-24.09: 3 nights at Olifants
25-26.09: 2 nights at Tamboti or Talamati
Exiting the park on 27.09 via Orpen Gate, then heading to Blyde River Canyon for a night in a hotel or elsewhere.
28.09: Return to Nelspruit, drop off the van, and stay in a hotel.
29.09 (midday): Airlink flight to Johannesburg, then an evening return flight to GVA.
What do you think? Too many nights here, not enough there?
I’ll be traveling solo, I love driving, and I enjoy settling in the middle of nature to listen, observe, and take photos (Botswana was perfect for that).
Thanks in advance!
Nicole
Photo: Baines Baobab, Botswana, April 2025
I’d like to return to Africa and stay in a lodge where I can see animals—not necessarily the Big Five—without needing any transport once I arrive at the lodge, and at a price under $250 per day for two people with full board. The week-long stay is planned for late June into early July. I’m looking for suggestions. Thanks in advance!
Hi, I’d like to travel to Ethiopia as a solo 60-year-old woman, backpacking style, between December 2025 and January 2026.
I’m wondering about the current state of the country: unrest, safety concerns, etc.
Government websites advise against going, saying it’s too dangerous.
But I’m skeptical—they tend to be overly cautious.
So I’m looking for reliable information, though I’m not sure where to find it.
Thanks in advance!
Hello,
We’re a group of four seventy-something retirees and we’re planning a 4-week trip to South Africa. We’re seasoned "adventurers" used to multi-week stays (we’ve been to India seven times, Mexico, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Australia, etc.).
For South Africa, we’re thinking of covering most of the trip in a private vehicle and taking flights for inter-state transfers.
We’re interested in meeting people, learning about the country’s evolution, exploring major cities, visiting traditional villages, and seeing wildlife.
Here’s the itinerary we’re considering:
Johannesburg – 2 days (we’ll pass through again later)
Pretoria – 2 days
Blyde River Canyon and Graskop – 1 day
Acornhoek – 1 day
Letaba – 2 days
Lobamba – 2 days
Johannesburg – 1 day
Flight to Cape Town
Cape Town – 3 days
Cape of Good Hope – 1 day
Stellenbosch – 1 day
Hermanus – 1 day
Mossel Bay – 2 days
Oudtshoorn
Wilderness – 2 days
Knysna
Port Elizabeth – 2 days
Addo Elephant Park
Flight back to Johannesburg
Johannesburg – 1 day
Return to Paris
Could you share your thoughts on this itinerary? We’ll be renting a vehicle to explore both regions.
We can easily add 4–5 more days to the trip if needed.
We’re looking at traveling either between April and May 2026 or in October/November 2026.
I’ll follow up later to discuss the best safari options and get a rough budget estimate.
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this and share their thoughts!
Les deux dans la même journée ça va être chaud, voire impossible
