Bonjour à vous, voyageurs au long cours, (pas bien sûr de l'orthographe),
Je suis rentré il y a 15 jours de tanzanie, après un séjour safari/trek privé de 10 jours absolument extraordinaire.
Tout a commencé par un vol paris/nairobi/arusha délicieux, l'avion à moitié plein (ou à moitié vide selon votre humeur) nous permettant de dormir profondément jusqu'à nairobi.
Puis, le petit avion dans lequel nous étions 6 nous amena jusqu'à arusha pour goûter à l'afrique pour la première fois...🙂
Nuit en lodge avant la prise en charge matinal par notre compagnie (latitude tz pour ne pas la citer, branche tanzanienne d'african latitude...super compagnie) et notre super génial guide, le bien nommé chacha.
Je ne developperai pas précisément la première partie de notre séjour puisque notre safari nous a mené dans le parc national et la zone de conservation du ngorongoro et dans le parc national et la zone de conservation du serengueti.Tout ce que je peux vous dire, c'est que la nature était absolument superbe quoique cruel parfois (pauvres bébés gnous...)Nous avons vu tous les big 5 (buffles, lions, lepoard de loin, rhinoceros de loin aussi et éléphants).
Nous avons logé deux nuits en lodge et le reste en camping privé (et je peux vous dire que le camping dans ces conditions, c'est absolument unique).
La seconde partie de notre séjour nous a ammené à marcher durant 3 jours dans les merveilleux paysages des gol mountains et leurs environs jusqu'au lac natron.Quel bonheur de rencontrer des masais, curieux de notre couleur de peau et de l'abondance de notre chevelure, des croiser des guerriers partant à la chasse au lion (véridique), et de nous reposer le soir dans des sites fabuleux.
Bref, un séjour formidable, je vous recommande particulièrement la tanzanie (beaucoup plus authentique que le kenya d'après les renseignements glanés auprès des voyageurs).Si vous avez des questions à me poser notamment sur les tarifs, n'hésitez pas.
Si vous souhaitez partir là bas, je peux vous donner l'adresse mail de notre guide, qui vous organisera un safari sur mesure tout à fait à votre goût et à un prix beaucoup plus interessant (on évite deux intermédiaires qui doivent bien se rémunèrer sur le prix facturé...).Bref, posez moi toutes les questions que vous voulez, j'essaierai d'y répondre.
A bientôt.
P.S: Je vous joins des photos en petit format, j'espère que ça va marcher...
Bonjour,
je compte partir an Tanzanie au mois de juillet et a lire votre court mais tres instrucitf recis, je suis de plus en plus excité d'y aller!! J'ai justement quelques questions sur les tarifs de vols A/R de Paris vers Nairobi Mais aussi vers Arusha (je prevoit de faire l'ascension du Kili egalement!!). Je compte bien evidement faire un escale au Cratere du Ngorongoro! C'est pourquoi je vs serai tres reconnaissant si vs pouviez m'indiquer comment se passe le camping sauvage? Etant etudiant, mon budget est assez limité donc autant profiter du mon cher si je veux pouvoir profiter d'un autre coté des safaris!
Merci d'avoir deposer votre article en tt cas!
Bonjour counet, les tarfis paris nairobi lorsque nous sommes partis, étaient d'environ 650 euros a/r.N'importe quel voyagiste en ligne vous permettra de les connaitres plus préciément.Pour Arusha, nous avons payé 918 euros je crois.Mais celà a été une erreur, car la distance entre nairobi et arusha se couvre en 2 heures environ en voiture.Celà ne vaut pas le supplément (même s'il faut payer le visa kenyan).
Pour le camping, il n'est pas vraiment sauvage, car forcément "zoné".En fait, il faut distinguer les emplacements privés des "campings publics", sachant qu'il y a une diffèrence de prix. (le premier étant forcément plus cher).Je n'ai pas le détail des prix, mais celà doit être possible de trouver ça sur le net, via notamment le site de "l'office de tourisme tanzanien".Les campings privés (en tous cas ceux que nous avons pratiqué) se trouvent pour certain dans des endroits vraiment fabuleux, sachant que ce sont les "bureaux des rangers" qui imposent les emplacements aux compagnies.Celles-ci n'ont donc, en théorie et sauf erreur, pas d'emplacements spécifiques.En tous cas, rassurez vous, les emplacements des camping privés sont à mon avis, tous superbes...(celui qui est en photo se trouve dans la zone de conservation du serengueti, nous n'avons pas campé dans celle du ngorongoro).J'espère que j'ai répondu à votre question, n'hsitez pas si vous en avez d'autres.
Bonjour!
J'ai lu avec interet ton post sur la Tanzanie.
Je suis interessé par l'adresse de ce guide.Penses-tu qu'on puisse lui faire confiance sur la logistique :état de la voiture, sécurité.....?(nous sommes avec 3 ado)
Merci
Sylvie
Bonjour senmout, j'ai toute confiance dans ce guide...cependant, pour le moment, j'ai reçu un mail incendiaire de la compagnie pour laquelle il travaille qui trouvait anormal que je puisse faire profiter de leur guide sans passer par eux..Je préfère donc mettre en stand bye mon initiative pour ne pas mettre ce guide en porte à faux pour le moment.Je peux par contre te conseiller latitude tz, que j'ai cité et avec qui je suis parti, qui a fait un super travail.Les voitures sont super confortables et l'organisation est top.Ayez bien conscience qu'un safari coûte cher.Mais, si je ne me trompe pas, latitude tz est un correspondant en tanzanie du plusieurs grands voyagistes, en traitant directement avec eux, vous otez déjà un intermédiaire.Tu trouveras plus d'info sur le site internet d'african latitude.N'hésite pas si tu as des questions.
Merci pour tous ces renseignements mais je suis encore curieux..
Pouvez vous m'eclairer sur les tarifs de safaris de camping et tous cela, enfin pour que je puisse savoir quel budget je dois prevoir pour des journées de safaris. De plus, combien de jour faut-il passer au ngorongoro pour esperer tout voir (les big five, girafes, et autres animaux) en prenant son temps!!
Merci beaucoup en tt cas!
Bonjour Counet,
concernant les tarifs des campings, celà dépend si vous choisissez de loger exclusivement dans des campings publics, ou bien des campings privés.Je n'ai aucun idée des tarifs des campings publics.Mais en cherchant, je suis sûr que vous trouverez.Il ne faut pas perdre de vue que le safari est une activité chère à la base (il y a des droits d'entrée à payer pour les parcs qui sont elévés entre autres).J'ai cru comprendre que vous alliez faire l'ascension du kili, si vous passez par une agence, je suis sûr qu'ils peuvent vous renseigner sur un safari après l'ascension.C'est d'ailleurs une pratique très courante.
Pour le ngorongoro, il faut distinguer deux choses:Le parc national, qui est constitué du cratère.Le cratère est un concentré de vie sauvage sur une petite superficie (22 km de long sur 19 de large).Lorsque je l'ai fait, j'ai vu des buffles, des éléphants, des lions, des rhinocèros, des gazelles, edes antilopes, des zèbres, des gnous etc....La particularité du caratère, c'est que les animaux sont en quelque sorte sédentarisé.Ils ont trouvé un endroit parfait pour vivre, et ils n'en bougent pas.Le cratère peut se faire en une journée, on peut aussi y venir deux jours d'affilée, celà dépend de vous et du choix de votre safari.Si vous êtes en safari privé (le plus cher), vous êtes beaucoup plus libre qu'en safari en groupe (moins cher forcément)
Ensuite, il y a la zone de conservation du ngorongoro, qui est grande à peu près comme un département français.Là encore, il y a plein d'animaux à voir, mais les distances sont plus grande et on passe plus de temps à "chercher" les animaux.Il y a aussi le problème de savoir si les herbivores (gnous et zèbres principalement) ont migré du ngogongoro au serengeti.Bref, il y a pas mal de paramètres que je ne maitrise pas.Mais encore une fois, l'important est d'avoir un interlocuteur sèrieux qui puisse vous garantir le meilleur rapport qualité prix.Je dis ça, parce que lors de mon voyage, jai rencontré des français qui ont eu plein de galère avec leur agence.Et les exemples ne manquent malheureusement pas.Continuez donc de glaner des renseignements en lisant les post sur les forums, regardez les sites internet des agences (qui sont souvent un bon indicateur), méfiez vous des tarifs très bas etc...
A titre d'exemple, pour mon safari trek de 10 jours, j'ai payé 2500 euros tout compris.Il y a moyen de payer moins cher en atterrissant à nairobi plutôt qu'à arusha, (c'est 300 euros d'éconimisé) et en logeant en camping public.
bonnes recherches, n'hésitez pas à me poser d'autres questions.
La Tanzanie beaucoup plus authentique que le Kenya? C'est ce que je croyais avant d'aller au Kenya....et j'ai d'ailleurs commencé par la Tanzanie. Mais finalement j'ai été éblouie par le Kenya!
Quant au safari ä pied que vous avez fait, on peut le faire au Kenya avec des guerriers massais.
C'est ce que j'ai fait en décembre dernier et sans passer par un tour operator....De plus, nous avons vécu en plein dans des villages massais pendant pratiquement toute la durée de notre séjour (2 semaines), ä part la première nuit passee ä Nairobi....
Pas en camping, mais dans les villages, et dans leurs habitations...
Nous étions deux filles....et accompagnées par 3 guerriers massais munis de lances et de flèches...qui nous guidaient, nous renseignaient sur plein de choses (les plantes, le miel sauvage que nous avons goûté, les animaux sauvages que nous voyions en marchant, etc), et assuraient notre sécurité jour et nuit.
Une expérience rare, surtout que nous étions les seuls "Mzungu" (Blancs) ä la ronde! Juste deux filles!
Et tout cela ä un prix défiant toute concurrence, et avec beaucoup de gentillesse.
bonjour (c'est bien de le dire de temps en temps)
et bien tant mieux pour toi, je suis ravi de voir que le kenya est formidable...mon compte rendu n'engage que moi, j'y donne mon avis et quand je parlais de la tanzanie plus authentique que ke kenya, je parlais des animaux, pas des gens...
Je serais ravi de lire ton compte rendu sur ton expèrience masaï, j'espère que tu l'as posté.
Bonne journée.
Je n'ai été que dans quelques parcs et régions du Kenya et de Tanzanie. En Tanzanie, je ne connais que les parcs que l'on fait en général en tant que touristes (pas encore le Sud).
Mais ce que j'ai vu de ces deux pays me fait dire que c'est tout aussi bien, sinon mieux, au Kenya. Pour les animaux aussi...Et pour les paysages encore plus: plus variés, selon moi....
Sans parler des gens au Kenya: absolument fantastiques!
😛bonjour
j envisage 1 voyage privé l'année prochaine en tanzanie ou kenya avec des amis.
peux tu me recommander une compagnie sur place afin que que je puisse la contacter.
merci🙂
Je reviens de Tanzanie - j'ai pris un A/R sur le Paris-Nairobi AF/Kenya Airways qui m'a coûté environ 750 EUR et j'ai fait Nairobi-Arusha en navette... C'est long (5 h) mais ça ne coûte que 20 $ le trajet, et puis c'est suffisamment épique pour faire partie du voyage (mon fils a adoré les zigzags entre les trous et la conduite à l'africaine...). Les horaires ont été respectés à la minute à l'aller comme au retour. Plusieurs compagnies opèrent sur ce trajet, moi c'était Riverside, départ 8h ou 14 de Nairobi et retour 8h ou 14h d'Arusha. L'inconvénient bien sûr c'est que ça rallonge pas mal le voyage final (5 heures plus les attentes à l'arrivée ou la marge au retour à ne pas négliger, ça bouchonne le retour sur nairobi à 19h...) il faut donc être patient... et prêt à passer le voyage assis sur un strapontin où il est tout simplement impossible de fermer ne serait-ce qu'un oeil ! Le passage de la frontière est relativement rapide (compter quand même un peu d'attente surtout si vous n'avez pas le visa, il y a la queue dans un sens comme dans l'autre).
Pour résumer : si vous avez les sous pour l'avion, préférez l'avion ! Sinon c'est une solution économique tout à fait honorable.
Et vous avez raison de garder les sous pour le safari, il est impératif de le faire avec une agence sérieuse sinon vous perdez tout et vous ne verrez pas grand-chose !
Bonne chance à vous et bon voyage
Au fait, j'ai oublié de préciser, pour le Ngorongoro, je n'ai passé qu'une journée complète dans le cratère, mais nous y avons vu quasiment tout ce qu'on peut y voir, y compris un rhinocéros à quelques dizaines de mètres, et c'est le seul endroit où on a le plus de chance de les voir (au serengeti il y en a moins et c'est beaucoup plus vaste...). C'est suffisamment petit pour que les guides se contactent par radio pour signaler les bêtes rares et s'y rendent en quelques minutes (à tombeau ouvert certes)...
C'est comme ça qu'on a pu voir le rhino, des lions de très près (3 m) et toutes les autres bêtes qui y vivent. Seul le guépard est resté caché, pourtant pas loin, mais sous les herbes hautes à cette saison...
Il serait dommage de passer si près et de ne pas profiter de ce magnifique cadeau de la nature.
Bon voyage !
je profite de votre proposition si gentille de donner des infos sur les prix, aresses, etc...c'est super sympa! je souhaite preparer un voyage en tanzanie, pour 15 jrs. au mois d'aout. Nous serons 3 personne (a adultes et un enfant 6 ans). Nous allons voyager pour la première fois en Afrique continentale (nous sommes déja allé à Madagascar), et nous aimerions éviter de prendre en voyage "clés en mains" avec un TO. Je pense que nous preparons le voyage nous mêmele prix final sera bien moins élévé qu'avec un To : et nous avons en effet fait l'experience avec Madagascar.....Bréf, pour cela je vous serais reconnaissante si vous pouvez nous aider, en nous passant les infos que vous considéréz utiles...j'espere à trés bientôt!
Bonjour à tous,
J'ai rencontré un masaï par hasard à Arusha (Tanzanie) en juin 2008, depuis c'est devenu un ami.
C'est une personne qui peut vous faire découvrir les environs d'arusha sans passer par une agence, c'est un vrai Masaï, il a 27 ans, il est d'une gentillesse extraordianire, nous avons passé 3 jours avec lui qui ont été fabuleux.
C'est quelqu'un qu'il s'agit de respecter, ainsi que ses traditions et valeurs, je pense qu'une personne désireuse de rencontrer l'authenticité de la culture masaï peut le contacter, pour ceux qui souhaitent un voyage tout organisé et qui ne sont pas sensibles aux moeurs et traditions s'abstenir.
En revanche si vous passez sur arusha, nous étions aux backpackers hotel (anciennement da costa) et il peut venir vous chercher devant l'hotel pour vous accompagner, ce sera à vous de lui dire ce que vous avez envie de faire.
Il ne sera jamais question d'argent avec lui, mais lui donner pour moi correspond tellement plus que de donner à une agence, j'ai rencontré son père et sa famille je sais que l'argent lui est utile et je souhaite contribuer à faire vivre sa culture d'une grande tolérance et hospitalité.
Son nom est Meleji, je vous laisse son adresse mail ainsi que la mienne, contacter moi pour avoir plus d'information, sur ce que nous avons fait ensemble et ce qu'il est possible de faire avec lui (safari, marchés bijoux tissus zébus, visite de villages)
A Flosara, voila le voyage au Kenya comme je l'aimerai ! votre aventure est comme je les aime. Comment vous vous êtes "débrouillées" avez vous commencé à rejoindre un point par un "transport local" ? si vous voulez me répondre en MP. Je souhaiterai vraiment vivre ce type d'expérience
We went on a safari in Tanzania from February 7th, 2026, to February 17th, 2026. It remains a wonderful memory. There were six of us in the group. Here s the…
In Nov./Dec. 2022, I went on a safari in the region and we suffered from the extreme temperatures caused by the "El Niño" phenomenon in the Indian Ocean at that time. On top of the extreme heat, there can be torrential rains, flooding, etc., which have led to disasters with casualties.
Hi there,
I’m planning a gorilla trek in Bwindi, Uganda. I’m torn between the classic option (1 hour with the gorillas) and the habituation trek (4 hours with the gorillas but a more expensive permit). Has anyone done the habituation trek? Both? If so, I’d love to hear your feedback (including on the difficulty).
Thanks
Hello everyone!
It's been a year since I've been longing for South Africa. Our first trip in August 2025 amazed us, and—rarely—it was a unanimous hit with our little family! We were touched to the core, and from the moment we got home, we couldn’t stop talking about going back. 😄
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave me advice on the itinerary for that first trip (Johannesburg loop: Blyde, Kruger, Eswatini, St. Lucia, Durban, Drakensberg)! Thanks to you, our trip went like a dream!
Since then, I haven’t stopped reading articles and discussions on VoyageForum to keep my head in South Africa a little longer!
So, we finally caved and just booked our tickets for January 2027 (from the 3rd to the 26th), with a plan to do a road trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg in about 3 weeks.
I’ve got a rough itinerary that seems great based on what I’ve read on various forums, but there are still some uncertain points, and that’s where I could use your advice.
3/01: Arrival in Johannesburg at 11:45 PM
4/01: Flight to Cape Town, pick up rental car. Afternoon sightseeing
5,6,7/01: Cape Town to visit the big classics in the area (any tips for finding accommodation: which neighborhood, a specific place?)
8/01: Overnight stop before Oudtshoorn—but where??? (Is it essential, or is the CT-Oudtshoorn drive manageable? If so, I’d gain a day in Oudtshoorn. Google Maps shows over 5 hours of driving...)
9,10/01: Oudtshoorn (or would 3 nights be better to really enjoy the area?)
11,12/01: Knysna, Plettenberg Bay (to have time for hiking—if you’ve got hiking tips, I’m all ears!)
13,14/01: Tsitsikamma (still to have time for hiking—who knows the must-do hikes in the area? But maybe 4 nights in the Knysna-Tsitsikamma area is too much—I’m not sure)
16,17/01: Addo Elephant (I’m torn between 3 nights at Addo or 3 nights at Mountain Zebra. Based on travel journals, especially Michel’s on MZ, I’ve scheduled 3 nights at MZ 😄...)
18,19,20/01: Mountain Zebra NP
21/01: Camdeboo NP (because it looks so beautiful!)
22/01: Overnight stop (where?) before wrapping up the trip with either 2 or 3 nights at Golden Gate NP or the Lesotho option, which appeals to me, but I don’t know if it’s doable in 3 days to be back in Johannesburg by the afternoon of the 26th.
That’s my trip idea for now...
I’m eagerly waiting for your advice, ideas, and comments...
Can’t wait to be back there again!
Thirty years ago, I traveled to Zanzibar (Tanzania) with my children. Since I’ve since started a new family, I took the opportunity of a trip to Kenya to bring my new family along: my wife, who’s Kenyan, and my 10-year-old daughter.
Zanzibar has really changed in 30 years.
It’s become the island of taxes.
It all starts upon arrival: I think it’s the only country in the world, besides the visa, where Zanzibar insurance (and no other) is mandatory—it costs 40 €. If you didn’t purchase it before arriving, good luck getting it: the IT systems are unreliable. With a bit of luck, it’ll take at least an hour to process! And of course, this insurance is useless—if you get sick, it’s recommended to use your home country’s insurance because if you use Zanzibar’s, your national insurance won’t cover you anymore.
I wanted to show my daughter the red colobus monkey, which is endemic to Zanzibar. I paid for a tour that was supposed to be all-inclusive. First, we visited a spice farm, where a farm guide took charge of us—meaning commissions were involved, of course! The tour was very good and informative, though. When we arrived at Jenzhi Park (the colobus park), the guide told us he "forgot" there was an entrance fee (50$).
Aware of the system, I decided to book an Ocean Blue tour through the Zanzibar Tourism Office. After two hours of driving, we stopped at a beach—and were left there. No boat was ready to take us. Since my wife speaks Swahili (the language in Zanzibar), after an hour, a captain with his own boat agreed to take us along with his family.
Another attempt. The main attraction in Zanzibar (besides the city) is Changuu, the Prison Island. You have to take a motorboat and pay the captain, which is normal.
But in Zanzibar, to even get on a boat, you first have to pay a tax! Once we arrived at the island, it started all over again! Thirty years ago, access was free, and the entire island (about 1 km²) was open. Today, there’s a small office, and you have to pay a hefty fee to enter. But enter where? A paved path leads to about 15% of the island—the rest is off-limits. In total, I paid 100 € for my wife, daughter, and myself just to visit a tiny portion of the island! Avoid this!
For the rest of our stay, we stayed at a 5-star hotel with golf, horseback riding, tennis courts, evening concerts, etc.—undeniably high-level comfort. One last thing: if you want to rent a car, it’s affordable and useful for exploring the island’s diverse landscapes, but there are speed cameras at every corner on the main roads. The fine is supposedly 100 $, and it’s hard not to get one!
I told you: Zanzibar, the land of taxes. I used to think my country, Belgium, was the tax champion—I’ve found something even better!
We're heading to South Africa for a month with 5 adults.
We'd like to rent a vehicle that can accommodate 5 people and all our luggage.
We're starting in Cape Town and ending in Johannesburg.
What vehicle would you recommend?
EDITH
Hi everyone!
I’m still planning my Cape Town to Johannesburg trip in January 2027.
I saw a documentary about the San people in Namibia, and the same day, I stumbled upon the Lonely Planet page about !Kwah Ttu.
I checked out their website to learn more, including Michel’s travel journal about it. I’m really keen to go.
So, I’m thinking of dedicating:
- either 1 day out of the 4.5 I have in Cape Town...
- or making a detour to !Kwah Ttu on the day I leave Cape Town for Montagu, instead of visiting Franschhoek and its Saturday market...
To the VFers who’ve already been: is it really worth spending a day there?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Malijp
I’ve read some travel journals here but I still have a question.
We’re heading to Uganda next February. The gorilla permits are booked, and the flight tickets are sorted too.
My question is about the chimpanzee trek. I’d love to know whether it’s better to book the habituation experience (4 hours) or the standard trek (1 hour).
The price difference isn’t huge, but I keep wondering and I’d hate to miss out on a great experience.
Hi everyone,
We’re revising our travel plans for January 2027. Originally, we were considering Uganda for about 14/15 days, but given the current health situation and the restrictions that might affect my partner, who’s American, we’ve decided to switch to Tanzania instead.
I’m used to traveling in South Africa and organizing my trips myself, but I get the impression that planning a safari in Tanzania is quite different.
I know self-drive isn’t really an option in Tanzania. So my main question is: can you organize your own itinerary and book lodges directly, then hire a local driver-guide? Or is it better to go through a local agency that handles the entire safari?
For the itinerary, which parks would you recommend for a first-time visit in January? Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Manyara, Ruaha, Arusha, Selous…
We’d also like to include Zanzibar to end the trip with a few days at the beach. Over 14/15 days, does that sound realistic or too ambitious?
Finally, for flights, is it better to arrive at Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Dar es Salaam (DAR) based on the itinerary we’re considering?
Thanks in advance for your feedback, especially on the best way to organize the safari and which parks to prioritize in January!
We're now just 5 weeks away from our trip to South Africa 🙂 and *so* excited to explore (just a tiny bit of) this amazing country.
I need to buy some binoculars but have no idea which model to choose. I don’t really know what to look for (and I don’t want to spend too much).
Thanks in advance to anyone who can give me some tips!
We just got back from ten days in Tanzania. We were lucky enough to be guided by Gishaman. Always in a great mood, a good driver, and an excellent guide. Thanks to him, we not only saw the Big Five in one day but also loads of other animals. He works for the local agency Blit Safaris, which provided excellent support throughout our trip. Highly recommended!
I’m planning a potential trip to Namibia for a classic circuit in April 2027.
I’m surprised by how expensive the accommodations inside the parks are—really steep! Is it possible to stay outside the parks but still close enough to enjoy the game drives?
Do you have any recommendations for more reasonably priced lodging? I’m okay with spending 200 to 250 € per night.
No camping—the friend I’m traveling with absolutely refuses 😉, but maybe upgraded tents would work.
Hi, I'm looking for information on the road conditions in Moremi. We're leaving in 15 days, and from what I've heard, the roads are pretty tough to drive on. Any advice?
Thanks
My trip to South Africa is getting closer (still 2 months to go 😏), and I’m diving back into my itinerary: from Saturday to the following Sunday around Cape Town, then from Sunday to the following Saturday in Kruger.
For Cape Town, the plan was to avoid changing accommodation every day (we’ll do enough of that in the second part) but still see different landscapes.
I know, I’m missing out on a lot, but you’ve got to make choices, and after all this time, I know what I like—and especially what I don’t (or like less) 😉
Here’s the breakdown:
Arrival Saturday at 11 AM: heading to Hermanus (2 nights). The idea is to stroll along the cliff path in the afternoon, and possibly drive to the Klein River Lagoon. Sunday: Stony Point, then depending on time and weather, a hike in Kogelberg Nature Reserve or Fernkloof Nature Reserve (which seems less scenic but has shorter walks).
Monday: drive to Franschhoek (1 night). If everything lines up, a hike in Jonkershoek NR and a visit to a wine estate.
Tuesday: drive to Mountceder Lodge in the Cederberg (2 nights). I’m thinking of visiting the Stadsaal Caves and the elephant paintings, and maybe one of the hikes listed on the lodge’s site or Maltese Cross.
Thursday: heading to Hout Bay for 3 nights. In no particular order: a classic day trip around the peninsula, half a day at Kirstenbosch Gardens, and half a day at Lion’s Head.
Sunday: flight to Johannesburg.
My questions are mostly about (short) hikes:
Has anyone here done hikes in Kogelberg, Fernkloof, or Jonkershoek?
At Mountceder Lodge (Michel, if you’re reading this… 😉), has anyone tried the hikes (guided or not) offered by the lodge?
There’s still half a day to fill when we’re in Hout Bay—any ideas (not necessarily hikes)?
Lastly, regarding safety: the French foreign ministry (always alarmist, but still) recommends hiking in groups. Is it really risky in broad daylight? (I’m not sure a group of two women counts as a "group"…)
Thanks in advance for your answers, ideas, and comments!
Question: we’re doing a 3-week trip in Namibia, including 5 days for Victoria Falls.
I’ve booked one night in Brandberg, and then I have some questions.
I was thinking of spending 2 nights in Palmwag, then heading to Etosha for one night in Okaukuejo and then 2 nights in Halali.
Alternatively, from Brandberg, I could book a night near Galton Gate and then enter Etosha.
I’m not really sure about the distances, especially with a 4x4.
Same for the return trip: Halali to Windhoek seems long. Maybe it’d be smart to break it up on the way back? (We have 2 days to get back if needed.) If so, where?
Jambo! I organized my trip through this kind of group, so I thought I’d share my experience here. We traveled as a group of four, including two kids aged 9 and 11. After requesting around twenty quotes, I decided to book the safari portion with MAKING MEMORIES IN AFRICA. Ally responded quickly and listened to all my requests—unlike other agencies—such as having a French-speaking guide, the order of park visits (Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, then Ngorongoro), and a mix of budget hotels and camping to keep costs down. There were still four agencies in the running, and price was the deciding factor. Even though they were the cheapest, I felt better taken care of than with others. For example, all meals were prepared by a Maasai chef, Louis, who accompanied us throughout the trip, while some others ate meals out of cardboard boxes. Samuel, our guide, explained so many things and answered all our questions. José drove us safely the whole way. Everything was done with great cheer!
At the end of the stay, Ally came to meet us and gave us t-shirts with the agency’s logo—we loved that they took the time to hear our feedback in person. In short, I highly recommend them +++, especially since it’s a local agency that also supports a charity for women and children.
For Zanzibar, I organized everything myself. I hesitated for a long time but eventually booked all four nights at the same place. We don’t like crowds, so I initially considered Jambiani but ended up choosing EVERGREEN BUNGALOWS in Bwejuu. We took their first airport-to-hotel transfer since we arrived at night, and it felt safer. Great value for money, in our opinion. Just be aware that it’s quite isolated—perfect for relaxing and going on excursions. There were very few beach vendors, unlike what I’d read about Zanzibar. We lived with our feet in the sand from morning to night, with a small basin of water outside our room to rinse off. Such a lovely spot!
I had asked for some excursion prices before leaving but ended up booking on-site. Not at our hotel, but at a nearby restaurant that was cheaper. After some thought, since we were based in Bwejuu, I wanted to do Blue Lagoon and Pungume (both departing from the south of Zanzibar).
Blue Lagoon: About 3 hours total, with snorkeling on a small reef full of fish (coral wasn’t great) and a stop at a spot with tons of starfish, plus local snacks, fruit, and drinks.
Pungume: An amazing day with a 50% chance of seeing dolphins (we missed them), a visit to the mangroves, then snorkeling at a spot with some nice coral and, of course, fish. We ended with a fantastic grill (tuna, shrimp, squid, lobster, and fries) on a sandbank in the shade.
Finally, before heading to Stone Town, we visited Paje Cave, which is much less known than Maalum. It’s smaller, but we saw bats, went for a swim, and fed the chickens and rabbits (great for the kids). To finish, we explored Stone Town on our own and had dinner at Forodhani Market.
For flights, we flew with Turkish Airlines from Barcelona to Kilimanjaro and back from Zanzibar—no issues there. However, I don’t recommend the Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar leg with Precision Air. Our luggage didn’t arrive, and according to the hotel, this happens often. We only got it back a day and a half later.
March or May 2027.
Around 15 days in the Western Cape,
then 15 days in the southern KNP.
Arrival either in PE or George.
The pros know I’m somewhat familiar with the area... that I don’t camp... that my accommodations can be simple and remote, self-catering but with basic comforts... that I’m looking for spots that are a bit off the beaten path... in a relaxed mode...
From George:
Late arrival... need some rest... Herolds Bay from George to the N1.
Tsitsikamma is catching my eye (Storms River)... with or without a stop in Knysna.
Question:
What’s the current condition of the pass from Knysna to Uniondale? R339.
And while I’m at it, the condition of the R340.
Tsitsikamma, Knysna, and my questions still apply if arriving in PE.
Is the Swartberg still closed?
Any recommendations for accommodation in Prince Albert?
If I cross the escarpment, I’ll continue via Anysberg NR, Touwsrivier... any thoughts?
From there... Tankwa Karoo or Mount Cedar (or both).
Then heading back down to the coast... the highlands of Hermanus or Kogelberg NR (any opinions on the latter?).
Or,
A more classic route along the coast...
If I arrive (fairly late) in PE... any ideas for accommodation in that little area?
Given that Nyathi Camp is winking at me...
(For context... a while back, I stayed at Riverbend (same Addo sector, private concession)... and I visited the ruins of that abandoned lodge at the time, which has clearly been renovated since... located in a very quiet part of Addo...).
Any feedback from the pros?
Well, that’s about it...
I’m open to any other tips or advice!
I’m reaching out with a question about which park to choose for a 3-day safari in Kenya.
After 20 days in Uganda, I’m meeting up with my dad for a 3-day safari (that works for him). We’ll be meeting in Nairobi and have a full day to travel to a park (preferably the farthest from Nairobi to avoid crowds?) and spend 4 nights there before heading back to the capital for our flight to France.
I’d love to hear your recommendations since I’ve read so many great tips on this forum.
At the end of July, we’re heading to Namibia with a group of five for a three-week road trip and visit to the national parks.
We’ve read conflicting info about buying entry tickets—either online (where?) or at the gate when we arrive?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the agencies you used to plan your trip to Uganda.
There’s the whole issue of gorilla permits, which need to be booked in advance and involve a significant financial commitment. That’s where I’m at with my trip planning. Between checking lutb.go.ug/ and reading online reviews, it’s hard to move forward with confidence.
I contacted the French Embassy, but they don’t provide any recommendations. I almost booked with an agency that had a really bad review from February specifically about the permit process.
How did you go about choosing your agency? Given the large sum involved, I’m this close to booking through a travel agency in France for this part.
From what I understand, no matter which agency books the permit, you’re ultimately guided by professionals trained for gorilla trekking based on the permit itself? I’m assuming that’s how it works.
Thanks for your feedback, and I’m really happy to see the forum’s new energy—it’s been super helpful to me in the past.
We’re heading to Uganda next summer for three weeks with our two kids, who’ll be 7 and 9 years old.
We’ve been to Southern Africa before but not East Africa, and after a trip to South Africa two years ago, the kids wanted to return to Africa, while we wanted to explore a new region while staying independent... Uganda’s been catching our eye for a while, and with Rwandair offering relatively attractive prices, we’re going for it!
We’ll be traveling in a 4x4 (self-drive) with roof tents. I don’t have any 4x4 driving experience, so it’ll be a first for me, but we’ll manage 😉 No great apes for us—kids need to be 15, and we don’t want to do that experience without them.
I don’t usually ask the forum much for trip planning, but this time, I’d love your thoughts and advice!
First question: Karamoja or not? At first glance, if we want to add it to a "classic" loop in the southwest, it doesn’t seem realistic—too packed, too much driving. We could consider doing the full loop via Kidepo and then heading down to Murchison, but I’m worried the trip might feel less varied and less kid-friendly. That said, the region looks stunning, and I’m struggling to accept not going at all... What do you think?
If we skip Karamoja, we’d do a loop: Murchison/Fort Portal/QENP/Bunyonyi/Mburo, which seems pretty comprehensive and would let us take our time, which is nice. A few random questions:
- How much time should we plan for the Fort Portal area? I was thinking at least 3 days to visit Bigodi Swamp, walk around the craters, and maybe do a community walk (any thoughts on that?).
- Between Murchison Falls and the Fort Portal area, is it worth breaking up the drive? I spotted Lake Albert Safari Lodge on the shores of Lake Albert—it’s not too expensive and looks nice.
- I’d love to do some easy walks/hikes at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, ideally without a guide, but it doesn’t seem straightforward. Do you know if it’s possible to do nice walks independently? I’ve read about hikes in the hills near Kilembe but nothing very specific. Maybe staying somewhere at the foot of the mountains, like Ruboni Community Camp, would allow that.
- Lake Mutanda looks really cool, and so does Lake Bunyonyi... Ideally, I’d like to see both, but won’t that feel repetitive? Is Lake Mutanda worth the detour?
Last practical question, since we don’t have experience with this: for the car with kids, would you recommend two tents (a bit more space) or a four-person tent?
I’ll stop here—already a lot of questions...
Thanks in advance for your feedback, and looking forward to exchanging ideas!
Gabriel
We’re planning our second trip to South Africa in July 2026. In 2023, we did a loop from Joburg, Golden Gate, Drakensberg, Hluhluwe, St Lucia, Eswatini, Kruger, Blyde River Canyon, and back to Joburg.
This time, we’d like to go to Cape Town and do a road trip to Port Elizabeth, then fly back to Joburg to return to Kruger. At this stage of my planning, here’s what it could look like:
D1 to D4: Cape Town and Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, Boulders, Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak Drive). I’ve spotted a few places to stay between Camps Bay and Hout Bay (3 nights).
D5 and D6: Either Karoo NP or Hermanus and De Hoop. Any opinions to tip the scales? I’ll admit I’m already leaning toward Karoo (the "wild" vibe of the landscapes and wildlife encounters appeal to me much more than the seaside, which feels less exotic). If we go for Karoo, where should we stay? Inside the park or in Beaufort West? I’ve seen good reviews for Ko-ka Tsara Bush Camp, but maybe it’s better to stay in the Sanparks cottages to make the most of the park? (2 nights)
Option B is to do Stellenbosch (though vineyards aren’t great in winter) and/or the Whale Route—Betty’s Bay, Hermanus, De Hoop (2 nights near Gansbaai).
D7 and D8: Klein Karoo, Oudtshoorn. Staying at De Cango Guest Farm (2 nights).
D9 and D10: Knysna, Robberg Nature Reserve, Tsitsikamma (2 nights in Plettenberg Bay and 1 night in PE).
D11: Flight from Port Elizabeth to Joburg at 7 AM and drive to Marloth Park.
For Kruger, I’ve booked 2 nights in Marloth Park, 1 night in Skukuza, 2 nights in Satara, and 1 night in Talamati, which we loved. I’ll book the last night in Graskop later since we want to revisit the Blyde Canyon area.
I’d love all the feedback you can give on my itinerary, especially for days 5 and 6.
If you have recommendations for accommodations for 4 people, I’d appreciate those too.
Thanks! 🙂
We’re a family of four (two daughters aged 18 and 21) and we’re planning a three-week trip to Tanzania. Zanzibar would be our main base, but we’d also like to do a safari on the mainland.
Could you share any tips on:
- the ideal length for such a safari, the best place to go during this period (and easily accessible by flight from Zanzibar)
- your recommendations for the most suitable type of stay for a family like ours
- reliable local agencies with reasonable prices that could help us with this plan
Hi everyone, I’m here to get some advice on visiting KRUGER Park.
From what I’ve gathered through my reading, I understand there are two ways to visit the park:
- Independently with your own vehicle
=> Do you drive all day?
- By booking with a professional
=> Safari early in the morning and late in the afternoon. But what do you do in between?
When it comes to accommodations, the options are:
- Booking in one of the park’s camps, where the lodging is basic but functional
- Booking in a private reserve, which is more comfortable but prohibitively expensive
- Booking outside the park, which means entering the park every morning. But if you want to stay for 3 days, that doesn’t seem practical to me.
Do you have any advice for accommodations?
To be honest, I’m really struggling to understand how it all works...
Thanks to everyone for your help.
Bidule 27
Hey everyone!
Heading to Namibia in a few days and I just read that the entry fees for all parks in Namibia have skyrocketed. Increases between 86 and 100%, and this has been in effect since April 1st (no joke). Have any of you heard about this, and if so, do you know if it’s actually being enforced?
For example, the fee for Etosha has gone from 150 NAD to 280 NAD per day per person.
Thanks in advance!
I’m really interested in traveling to South Africa in September 2020. My question is whether I should go on an organized tour or plan my own itinerary. Organized trips are pretty expensive $$$$, but the security aspect reassures me. I’d love to hear your thoughts on safety in South Africa and whether it’s easy to arrange activities like visiting vineyards, Cape Town, and going on a safari on our own. Which is better in terms of cost—booking an organized trip or doing it ourselves? It’s definitely less exciting to follow a group for 10 days. We’re a couple in our 50s who love nature.
😊🦁
We’re heading out in April 2027 with our 4x4 to explore part of Southern Africa. Right now we’re researching all these beautiful countries and deciding where to ship our vehicle. We’re from Le Havre—has anyone here already shipped from that port to South Africa or East Africa?
As for all these countries, is wild camping allowed, tolerated, easy, or difficult?
We’ve already visited a few, but you can read just about anything online, so getting tips from real independent travelers is way better :)
We’re all ears for any hacks, experiences, or spots you’d recommend.
See you on the road with Doddy
