Bonjour à tous,
Alors voilà, je vais passer le pas et me marier le 30 juin.
Nous partons ensuite en voyage de noces au Kenya avec une extension à Zanzibar (du 8 au 20 juillet).
Nous aurions voulu connaître vos points de vue ou conseil sur ce circuit:
Notre organiste est club-faune. on voyage en minibus mais nous ne serons que tout les 2.
On passe 2 nuits à Amboseli au lodge "Ol Tukai"
Ensuite 1 nuit au "Sarova lion hill" à Nakuru
3 nuits au "Mara sarova camp" au Masai Mara.
Pour finir, Zanzibar avec 1 nuit à Stown town au "Tembo House" et 3 nuits au "Hakuna Majiwe" au bord de la mer
Pourriez-vous nous donner vos avis sur les lodges, sur le circuit ou bien des conseils qui seront les bienvenus.
Merci beaucoup.
Aurélien
Merci Jos33
J'en serai ravi.
Comment as-tu trouvé les chambres? Vient-il beaucoup d'animaux autour du swamp?
La nourriture?
Merci pour tes éclaircissements
Le Ol Tukai est dans le parc de Amboseli, tu as donc des animaux tout autour et le Kili entoile de fond.Tu verras les éléphants sans sortir du lodge.A Amboseli, j'ai presque vu tous les animaux, ils sont un peu loin parfois mais c'est un vrai régal.
Si tu veus quelques photos, donnes-moi ton adresse e-mail, c'est sans problème.
Excuse moi, je n'ai pas répondu à toutes tes questions.Les chambres sont très bien, je n'ai pas de photos car j'étais en colère et je regrette.(je n'avais pas de lumière dans la salle d'eau).La nourriture est excellente, tout est très bien.
J'ai aussi fait le Masaï Mara, tout à fait différent, tu vois les animaux de très près.Tout le monde te dira que le Mara, c'est le top, moi j'hésite, je les aime tous les 2, difficile à comparer.
Tu peus aussi avoir quelques photos pour te donner envie.
Quand partez-vous?
On part le 8 juillet.
Oui il parait que le Masai Mara c'est le top. J'ai hâte!!!
J'espères que l'on va voir le big five durant ce séjour, mais remarque c'est ce que souhaite tout le monde...
salut a vous et felicitations le seul hique c et le transport car les reserve animalier ne se trouve pas en ville donc la route et tortueuse et les kenyan appel ca massage gratuit tellement la fourguonnette tangue sinon les lodges sont sympa et les animaux avec de la chance tu en verra mais ca se n est pas garanti bon sejour et bon plongeon dans la vie de couple
Merci!
Pour le transport, j'ai en effet cru comprendre que les routes étaient supers....mais bon, en étant juste 2 dans le van on devrait pouvoir trouver une place.....
J'ai fait un circuit quasi similaire il y a 10 ans et j'en garde un très bon souvenir. Pour un premier safari, c'est pas mal mais il est vrai qu'après j'ai fait d'autres pays un peu plus sauvages et surtout beaucoup moins touristiques, et tu trouves que le Kenya est un peu moins bien.
Mais quand j'en suis revenue, j'étais enchantée. A Amboseli, il y avait surtout des éléphants qu'on a vus d'assez loin, prévoir des jumelles, mais les éléphants devant le Kilimandjaro, c'était superbe!!!
A Nakuru, on aurait dû voir les flamants roses mais pas de chance, c'était la période de secheresse et le lac était à sec donc pas d'oiseaux mais on a vu d'autres animaux.
Et à Masai Mara, le parc vaut sa réputation, on a vu tous les animaux à l'exeption des léopards. Et là, pas besoin de jumelles car les animaux sont près.
Sur les lodges, je ne te renseignerais pas car je ne suis pas allée dans ceux-ci.
Et puis pour les routes ou plutôt pistes, ça fait le charme du voyage et des anecdotes à raconter au retour, et surtout cela fait voir comment les africains sont débrouillards, car ils te réparent un pneu crevé, ou tout autre panne avec tout et n'importe et ça marche!!!!
Alors bon voyage et toutes mes félicitations pour ton mariage.
Merci.
En ce qui concerne les autres pays africains, je connais déjà la Namibie et le Bostwana. Je dois reconnaitre que je crains un peu la réputation "tourisme de masse" que traîne ce pays. Maintenant monde ou pas monde les paysages restent surement magnifiques. C'est aussi pour ça qu'on a choisi de partir seuls (avec un guide) pour pouvoir éviter le monde (même si c'est un peu plus cher).
J'espère vraiment voir un léopard car c'est le seul des "big five" que je n'ai pas encoe vu....C'est aussi ce qui fait son charme.
A plus et encore merci pour vos remarques
Bonjour,
je relance un peu ce post car finalement j'ai eu très peu de remarques sur les lodges et hotels cités. c'est peut-être bon signe, ça signifie peut-être que ce ne sont pas des lodges trop "tourisme de masse".....en tout cas je suis toujours preneur des expériences...
merci!
Je ne me souviens plus des noms des lodges, mais je suis passé par tous ces endroits et les lodges sont toujours impeccables... normal, les Kenyans ne vivent quasiment que du tourisme... et c'est ça le hic !
Mis à part les lodges, pour le reste, je garde un assez mauvais souvenir de la formule "Safari".
Le touriste est surprotégé. Interdiction de sortir des minibus (je ne parle pas des réserves où la faudrait vraiment être con pour sortir) Dès que les locaux s'attroupent autour d’un minibus (souvent pour vous vendre des souvenirs) le chauffeur détale car il a des accords avec des maffias locales pour s’arrêter dans certains commerces (où les prix sont évidemment 10 fois plus cher) Dans certaines réserves, un militaire monte dans le minibus pour soi-disant te protéger contre les « bandits de grand chemin » Et puis question approche des animaux, c’est plutôt loufoque. Dès qu’un chauffeur à repéré un lion, il appelle les autres chauffeurs par radio et tu vois arriver des dizaines, voir des vingtaines d’autres minibus qui viennent entourer ton petit lion. Le plus drôle est que les big five sont tellement habitués qu’ils se comportent comme dans un zoo.
Donc, pour observer des animaux ayant un comportement « sauvage », il faut profiter des liaisons entre les différentes réserves et ne pas hésiter à demander avec INSISTANCE au chauffeur de s’arrêter. Même si il prétexte que l’on ne respecte pas les horaires (car tout est bien réglé là-bas).
BREF, je ne veux surtout pas te décourager, mais n’oublie pas qu’au prix de ton « Safari » il ne faut surtout pas hésiter à élever la voix lorsque tu désires absolument quelque chose.
Je me souviens d’ailleurs qu’à l’entrée d’une réserve, des femmes s’étaient attroupées pour nous vendre quelques souvenirs. Nous avions la marchandise en main (dans le minibus toujours, vu que tu ne peux pas en sortir) et le chauffeur a démarré avant que nous puissions la payer. Nous avons du GUEULER pour qu’il fasse marche arrière sans quoi les pauvres auraient tout simplement été volées par de riches touristes européens.
Merci beaucoup pour ces commentaires. Ils ne sont pas très reluisants mais surement assez réalistes malheureusement.
j'espères éviter un peu ça czr on part en "solo" c'est à dire juste nous 2 et le chauffeur. J'attend qu'il suive ce que l'on va lui demander, et justement ces "pièges" à touriste ne nous enchantent guère. On verra bien!
Merci encore
Bonjour, je sui désolé de lire les conneries que certains de nos amis sur le forum peuvent écrire, 1 les minibus ne sont pas des fourgonettes mais des véhicules avec une suspension suffisantes qui te permettent de mieux accepter certaines route - 2 les guides sont toujours prets à faire des plus petits désirs à condition que tu te comportes normalement avec eux. Ne pas oublier que le TKKK qui signifie pourboire fait partie de la vie de tous les jours Shillings pour le porteur de bagage dans le slodges - 5 dollars par personne et par jour pour ton chauffeur guide à donner le dernier jour.
Pour votre safari Amboseli reste le parc que nous préferons pour sa lumière ses paysages O. TUkai très bien bien situé - Nakuru Lion Hill très sympa petite maisonnette située à faln de coreau avec vu sur le lac Nakuru qui est en ce moment surpeuplé de flamand Masai Mara avec le Sarova rien à dire très bien et pour finir Zanzibar avec le Tembo un des plus beau Hotel de la ville de Pierre Très bonne proposition profitez en bien
N'oubliez jamais que lorsque vous êtes en safari vous n'êtes pas chez vous mais chez eux - Les animaux sont libres ce ne sont pas des zoo Ma femme et moi avons cherché pendant deux ans pour vpoir notre premier léopard car nous avons vécu plusieurs années à Nairobi.
Comportez vous correctement envers les gens et ils vous le rendrons bien - A zanzibar pas de prob de sécurité - Allez mangé au moins au soir sur le port au front de mer auprès des multiples bbq où vous pouvez manger de tout sans risque
Beaucoup de bonheur à vous et bon voyage Monique et Claude
Bonjour à tous.
Et bien voilà je suis de retour de mon voyage Kenya/zanzibar.
Petit compte-rendu de ce voyage et quelques conseils:
Tout d'abord le vol Paris/ Nairobi par Kenya airways: pas de soucis (changement d'avion, on a eu un B777 au lieu du B767 prévu, tant meiux!) Le repas très bon et pas de retard sérieux.
Arrivé sur place pas de soucis. Le safari s'est très bien passe mais là je dois vraiment faire un coup de gueule: les routes (si on peut appeler ça des routes) sont lamentables, je dirais même que c'est une honte. je m'explique: j'ai déjà circulé sur pas mal de route (Thailande, Namibie, Bostwana, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe) et là franchement c'est le pire que j'ai connu. Je dis que c'est une honte car avec le fric que rapporte le tourisme (le Kenya est quand même bien placé) ils pourraient au moins faire des semblant de pistes! Le guide nous a d'ailleurs bien sous-entendu que la corruption faisait disparaître beaucoup d'argent..... Ca semble être en train de changer car de nombreux sont en construction.
Voilà passé mon coup de gueule, le pays est très beau, les paysages sont variés, les animaux bien présents et les lodges, à la hauteur.
Petite remarque sur masai mara: etant au mara sarova camp, le guide nous dit qu'il n'est pas possible d'aller dans le nord de la réserve car elle est "sous la juridiction" d'un autre village, donc qu'il y aurait soit disant un droit d'entrée. Après avoir poussé une "petite gueulante" nous avons finalement pu y aller. Et là je vous conseille d'insister pour aller voir le nord. C'est dans cette partie que se trouve la majorité des félins et autres animaux. Ca fait de la route mais faut y aller!
Nakuru est à faire, ne serait-ce que pour les rhino. Amboseli est à voir aussi même si nous n'avons pas pu voir le kili (trop de nuages). Beaucoupp d'éléphant là bas (plus qu'à masai mara).
Le transfert et le retour de Zanzibar furent "épiques" dans les aéroports: une incompétence impressionnante!
C'était mieux à Nairobi.
Zanzibar town: je n'y ai pas trouvé beaucoup d'interêt mais c'est vrai qu'avec un peu de rénovation cette ville pourrait être superbe.
Les plages sont comme on se les imagine mais attention aux marées!! On ne pouvait pas se baigner le matin.
Voilà si je peux vous aider ou vous renseigner, je suis à votre disposition.
Au final très beau voyage mais il faut reconnaître que cela manquait un peu "d'imprévu" et "d'aventure". Beaucoup de voitures, et paradoxalement animaux presque trop simples à voir..... (jamais content vous allez dire!)
Aller, à plus!
Here’s my feedback after a recent trip to Ethiopia, organized with a local guide.
Despite a signed quote, months of prep exchanges (over eight months!), and phone calls right up to departure day, the guide didn’t honor the commitments we’d agreed on.
Haile Haftu FANUAILE, manager of the agency www.charmethiopiantours.com—who we’d organized everything with—didn’t meet us as promised when we arrived in Addis Ababa. Without any warning, he sent a different guide to accompany us for the entire trip (with a flimsy excuse).
Several parts of the signed quote weren’t respected:
– Services included in the quote but not provided on-site (meals, water),
– Hotels we’d chosen, booked, and paid for were swapped for lower-category places,
– Visits were canceled because the timing wasn’t calculated properly,
– One stop on the itinerary was dropped without any reason or explanation.
We’d paid a deposit for domestic flights, with a promise to refund any overpayment. A month after returning, 150 € per person (there were three of us) still hasn’t been refunded.
I’m sharing this to warn fellow travelers about the importance of solid guarantees to ensure contracts are actually honored. Double-check everything before committing!
Wishing everyone safe and smooth travel prep—Ethiopia is an incredible country!
---
Hello,
Feedback following a recent trip to Ethiopia, organized with a local guide.
Despite a signed quote, numerous preparatory exchanges over eight months, and phone calls right up until the day of departure, the guide did not fulfill his commitments.
Haile Haftu FANUAILE, manager of the agency www.charmethiopiantours.com with whom we had organized everything, did not meet us as agreed upon our arrival in Addis Ababa; without warning us, he sent another guide in his place to accompany us throughout the trip (with a bogus excuse).
Several points in the signed quote were not honored:
– services included in the quote but not provided on site (meals, water),
– hotels chosen, booked, and paid for, replaced by lower-category establishments,
– visits canceled due to lack of time, which had not been calculated correctly,
– one stop on the itinerary canceled without reason or explanation.
A deposit had been paid for the booking of domestic flights, with a commitment to refund the overpayment.
To date, one month after our return, 150 € per person (there were three of us) has still not been refunded.
This testimony is intended to alert travelers to the importance of solid guarantees for contracts that are actually honored, so that everyone can be extra vigilant before committing.
Good luck with your travel preparations, everyone.
Ethiopia is an extraordinary country!
I’m thinking (thanks to some tips from forum members 😉) of taking this route to get to the Cederberg.
Apparently, the road was damaged by the May rains, and traffic is still slow there.
Has anyone taken this route recently?
If not, is one direction (toward or from the Cederberg) more scenic than the other?
Thirty years ago, I traveled to Zanzibar (Tanzania) with my children. Since I’ve since started a new family, I took the opportunity of a trip to Kenya to bring my new family along: my wife, who’s Kenyan, and my 10-year-old daughter.
Zanzibar has really changed in 30 years.
It’s become the island of taxes.
It all starts upon arrival: I think it’s the only country in the world, besides the visa, where Zanzibar insurance (and no other) is mandatory—it costs 40 €. If you didn’t purchase it before arriving, good luck getting it: the IT systems are unreliable. With a bit of luck, it’ll take at least an hour to process! And of course, this insurance is useless—if you get sick, it’s recommended to use your home country’s insurance because if you use Zanzibar’s, your national insurance won’t cover you anymore.
I wanted to show my daughter the red colobus monkey, which is endemic to Zanzibar. I paid for a tour that was supposed to be all-inclusive. First, we visited a spice farm, where a farm guide took charge of us—meaning commissions were involved, of course! The tour was very good and informative, though. When we arrived at Jenzhi Park (the colobus park), the guide told us he "forgot" there was an entrance fee (50$).
Aware of the system, I decided to book an Ocean Blue tour through the Zanzibar Tourism Office. After two hours of driving, we stopped at a beach—and were left there. No boat was ready to take us. Since my wife speaks Swahili (the language in Zanzibar), after an hour, a captain with his own boat agreed to take us along with his family.
Another attempt. The main attraction in Zanzibar (besides the city) is Changuu, the Prison Island. You have to take a motorboat and pay the captain, which is normal.
But in Zanzibar, to even get on a boat, you first have to pay a tax! Once we arrived at the island, it started all over again! Thirty years ago, access was free, and the entire island (about 1 km²) was open. Today, there’s a small office, and you have to pay a hefty fee to enter. But enter where? A paved path leads to about 15% of the island—the rest is off-limits. In total, I paid 100 € for my wife, daughter, and myself just to visit a tiny portion of the island! Avoid this!
For the rest of our stay, we stayed at a 5-star hotel with golf, horseback riding, tennis courts, evening concerts, etc.—undeniably high-level comfort. One last thing: if you want to rent a car, it’s affordable and useful for exploring the island’s diverse landscapes, but there are speed cameras at every corner on the main roads. The fine is supposedly 100 $, and it’s hard not to get one!
I told you: Zanzibar, the land of taxes. I used to think my country, Belgium, was the tax champion—I’ve found something even better!
I’m starting to plan a trip to Tanzania + Zanzibar in August 2027 for 2 to 3 weeks with my partner.
I’ve never been there before and I’d love some advice, especially for Tanzania where we’re planning to do several safaris in the North.
Specifically:
Do you recommend using a travel agency to organize the trip, or are guidebooks and internet recommendations enough?
If you’ve used a local agency (rather than one in France), which one?
Would you recommend hiring a guide for the entire stay in Tanzania, or is it better to travel independently except in the parks where I’ve read that guides are mandatory?
If you’ve used a local agency (rather than one in France), which one and at what price?
Have you had any bad surprises (hidden fees, inexperienced guide, poor vehicle condition)?
Looking forward to reading your tips! 🙂
Thanks in advance
In Nov./Dec. 2022, I went on a safari in the region and we suffered from the extreme temperatures caused by the "El Niño" phenomenon in the Indian Ocean at that time. On top of the extreme heat, there can be torrential rains, flooding, etc., which have led to disasters with casualties.
Hi everyone!
I’m still planning my Cape Town to Johannesburg trip in January 2027.
I saw a documentary about the San people in Namibia, and the same day, I stumbled upon the Lonely Planet page about !Kwah Ttu.
I checked out their website to learn more, including Michel’s travel journal about it. I’m really keen to go.
So, I’m thinking of dedicating:
- either 1 day out of the 4.5 I have in Cape Town...
- or making a detour to !Kwah Ttu on the day I leave Cape Town for Montagu, instead of visiting Franschhoek and its Saturday market...
To the VFers who’ve already been: is it really worth spending a day there?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Malijp
Hello everyone!
It's been a year since I've been longing for South Africa. Our first trip in August 2025 amazed us, and—rarely—it was a unanimous hit with our little family! We were touched to the core, and from the moment we got home, we couldn’t stop talking about going back. 😄
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave me advice on the itinerary for that first trip (Johannesburg loop: Blyde, Kruger, Eswatini, St. Lucia, Durban, Drakensberg)! Thanks to you, our trip went like a dream!
Since then, I haven’t stopped reading articles and discussions on VoyageForum to keep my head in South Africa a little longer!
So, we finally caved and just booked our tickets for January 2027 (from the 3rd to the 26th), with a plan to do a road trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg in about 3 weeks.
I’ve got a rough itinerary that seems great based on what I’ve read on various forums, but there are still some uncertain points, and that’s where I could use your advice.
3/01: Arrival in Johannesburg at 11:45 PM
4/01: Flight to Cape Town, pick up rental car. Afternoon sightseeing
5,6,7/01: Cape Town to visit the big classics in the area (any tips for finding accommodation: which neighborhood, a specific place?)
8/01: Overnight stop before Oudtshoorn—but where??? (Is it essential, or is the CT-Oudtshoorn drive manageable? If so, I’d gain a day in Oudtshoorn. Google Maps shows over 5 hours of driving...)
9,10/01: Oudtshoorn (or would 3 nights be better to really enjoy the area?)
11,12/01: Knysna, Plettenberg Bay (to have time for hiking—if you’ve got hiking tips, I’m all ears!)
13,14/01: Tsitsikamma (still to have time for hiking—who knows the must-do hikes in the area? But maybe 4 nights in the Knysna-Tsitsikamma area is too much—I’m not sure)
16,17/01: Addo Elephant (I’m torn between 3 nights at Addo or 3 nights at Mountain Zebra. Based on travel journals, especially Michel’s on MZ, I’ve scheduled 3 nights at MZ 😄...)
18,19,20/01: Mountain Zebra NP
21/01: Camdeboo NP (because it looks so beautiful!)
22/01: Overnight stop (where?) before wrapping up the trip with either 2 or 3 nights at Golden Gate NP or the Lesotho option, which appeals to me, but I don’t know if it’s doable in 3 days to be back in Johannesburg by the afternoon of the 26th.
That’s my trip idea for now...
I’m eagerly waiting for your advice, ideas, and comments...
Can’t wait to be back there again!
We're heading to South Africa for a month with 5 adults.
We'd like to rent a vehicle that can accommodate 5 people and all our luggage.
We're starting in Cape Town and ending in Johannesburg.
What vehicle would you recommend?
EDITH
Hi there,
I’m planning a gorilla trek in Bwindi, Uganda. I’m torn between the classic option (1 hour with the gorillas) and the habituation trek (4 hours with the gorillas but a more expensive permit). Has anyone done the habituation trek? Both? If so, I’d love to hear your feedback (including on the difficulty).
Thanks
I’ve read some travel journals here but I still have a question.
We’re heading to Uganda next February. The gorilla permits are booked, and the flight tickets are sorted too.
My question is about the chimpanzee trek. I’d love to know whether it’s better to book the habituation experience (4 hours) or the standard trek (1 hour).
The price difference isn’t huge, but I keep wondering and I’d hate to miss out on a great experience.
Hi everyone,
We’re revising our travel plans for January 2027. Originally, we were considering Uganda for about 14/15 days, but given the current health situation and the restrictions that might affect my partner, who’s American, we’ve decided to switch to Tanzania instead.
I’m used to traveling in South Africa and organizing my trips myself, but I get the impression that planning a safari in Tanzania is quite different.
I know self-drive isn’t really an option in Tanzania. So my main question is: can you organize your own itinerary and book lodges directly, then hire a local driver-guide? Or is it better to go through a local agency that handles the entire safari?
For the itinerary, which parks would you recommend for a first-time visit in January? Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Manyara, Ruaha, Arusha, Selous…
We’d also like to include Zanzibar to end the trip with a few days at the beach. Over 14/15 days, does that sound realistic or too ambitious?
Finally, for flights, is it better to arrive at Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Dar es Salaam (DAR) based on the itinerary we’re considering?
Thanks in advance for your feedback, especially on the best way to organize the safari and which parks to prioritize in January!
We're now just 5 weeks away from our trip to South Africa 🙂 and *so* excited to explore (just a tiny bit of) this amazing country.
I need to buy some binoculars but have no idea which model to choose. I don’t really know what to look for (and I don’t want to spend too much).
Thanks in advance to anyone who can give me some tips!
We just got back from ten days in Tanzania. We were lucky enough to be guided by Gishaman. Always in a great mood, a good driver, and an excellent guide. Thanks to him, we not only saw the Big Five in one day but also loads of other animals. He works for the local agency Blit Safaris, which provided excellent support throughout our trip. Highly recommended!
I’m planning a potential trip to Namibia for a classic circuit in April 2027.
I’m surprised by how expensive the accommodations inside the parks are—really steep! Is it possible to stay outside the parks but still close enough to enjoy the game drives?
Do you have any recommendations for more reasonably priced lodging? I’m okay with spending 200 to 250 € per night.
No camping—the friend I’m traveling with absolutely refuses 😉, but maybe upgraded tents would work.
Hi, I'm looking for information on the road conditions in Moremi. We're leaving in 15 days, and from what I've heard, the roads are pretty tough to drive on. Any advice?
Thanks
My trip to South Africa is getting closer (still 2 months to go 😏), and I’m diving back into my itinerary: from Saturday to the following Sunday around Cape Town, then from Sunday to the following Saturday in Kruger.
For Cape Town, the plan was to avoid changing accommodation every day (we’ll do enough of that in the second part) but still see different landscapes.
I know, I’m missing out on a lot, but you’ve got to make choices, and after all this time, I know what I like—and especially what I don’t (or like less) 😉
Here’s the breakdown:
Arrival Saturday at 11 AM: heading to Hermanus (2 nights). The idea is to stroll along the cliff path in the afternoon, and possibly drive to the Klein River Lagoon. Sunday: Stony Point, then depending on time and weather, a hike in Kogelberg Nature Reserve or Fernkloof Nature Reserve (which seems less scenic but has shorter walks).
Monday: drive to Franschhoek (1 night). If everything lines up, a hike in Jonkershoek NR and a visit to a wine estate.
Tuesday: drive to Mountceder Lodge in the Cederberg (2 nights). I’m thinking of visiting the Stadsaal Caves and the elephant paintings, and maybe one of the hikes listed on the lodge’s site or Maltese Cross.
Thursday: heading to Hout Bay for 3 nights. In no particular order: a classic day trip around the peninsula, half a day at Kirstenbosch Gardens, and half a day at Lion’s Head.
Sunday: flight to Johannesburg.
My questions are mostly about (short) hikes:
Has anyone here done hikes in Kogelberg, Fernkloof, or Jonkershoek?
At Mountceder Lodge (Michel, if you’re reading this… 😉), has anyone tried the hikes (guided or not) offered by the lodge?
There’s still half a day to fill when we’re in Hout Bay—any ideas (not necessarily hikes)?
Lastly, regarding safety: the French foreign ministry (always alarmist, but still) recommends hiking in groups. Is it really risky in broad daylight? (I’m not sure a group of two women counts as a "group"…)
Thanks in advance for your answers, ideas, and comments!
Question: we’re doing a 3-week trip in Namibia, including 5 days for Victoria Falls.
I’ve booked one night in Brandberg, and then I have some questions.
I was thinking of spending 2 nights in Palmwag, then heading to Etosha for one night in Okaukuejo and then 2 nights in Halali.
Alternatively, from Brandberg, I could book a night near Galton Gate and then enter Etosha.
I’m not really sure about the distances, especially with a 4x4.
Same for the return trip: Halali to Windhoek seems long. Maybe it’d be smart to break it up on the way back? (We have 2 days to get back if needed.) If so, where?
Jambo! I organized my trip through this kind of group, so I thought I’d share my experience here. We traveled as a group of four, including two kids aged 9 and 11. After requesting around twenty quotes, I decided to book the safari portion with MAKING MEMORIES IN AFRICA. Ally responded quickly and listened to all my requests—unlike other agencies—such as having a French-speaking guide, the order of park visits (Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, then Ngorongoro), and a mix of budget hotels and camping to keep costs down. There were still four agencies in the running, and price was the deciding factor. Even though they were the cheapest, I felt better taken care of than with others. For example, all meals were prepared by a Maasai chef, Louis, who accompanied us throughout the trip, while some others ate meals out of cardboard boxes. Samuel, our guide, explained so many things and answered all our questions. José drove us safely the whole way. Everything was done with great cheer!
At the end of the stay, Ally came to meet us and gave us t-shirts with the agency’s logo—we loved that they took the time to hear our feedback in person. In short, I highly recommend them +++, especially since it’s a local agency that also supports a charity for women and children.
For Zanzibar, I organized everything myself. I hesitated for a long time but eventually booked all four nights at the same place. We don’t like crowds, so I initially considered Jambiani but ended up choosing EVERGREEN BUNGALOWS in Bwejuu. We took their first airport-to-hotel transfer since we arrived at night, and it felt safer. Great value for money, in our opinion. Just be aware that it’s quite isolated—perfect for relaxing and going on excursions. There were very few beach vendors, unlike what I’d read about Zanzibar. We lived with our feet in the sand from morning to night, with a small basin of water outside our room to rinse off. Such a lovely spot!
I had asked for some excursion prices before leaving but ended up booking on-site. Not at our hotel, but at a nearby restaurant that was cheaper. After some thought, since we were based in Bwejuu, I wanted to do Blue Lagoon and Pungume (both departing from the south of Zanzibar).
Blue Lagoon: About 3 hours total, with snorkeling on a small reef full of fish (coral wasn’t great) and a stop at a spot with tons of starfish, plus local snacks, fruit, and drinks.
Pungume: An amazing day with a 50% chance of seeing dolphins (we missed them), a visit to the mangroves, then snorkeling at a spot with some nice coral and, of course, fish. We ended with a fantastic grill (tuna, shrimp, squid, lobster, and fries) on a sandbank in the shade.
Finally, before heading to Stone Town, we visited Paje Cave, which is much less known than Maalum. It’s smaller, but we saw bats, went for a swim, and fed the chickens and rabbits (great for the kids). To finish, we explored Stone Town on our own and had dinner at Forodhani Market.
For flights, we flew with Turkish Airlines from Barcelona to Kilimanjaro and back from Zanzibar—no issues there. However, I don’t recommend the Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar leg with Precision Air. Our luggage didn’t arrive, and according to the hotel, this happens often. We only got it back a day and a half later.
March or May 2027.
Around 15 days in the Western Cape,
then 15 days in the southern KNP.
Arrival either in PE or George.
The pros know I’m somewhat familiar with the area... that I don’t camp... that my accommodations can be simple and remote, self-catering but with basic comforts... that I’m looking for spots that are a bit off the beaten path... in a relaxed mode...
From George:
Late arrival... need some rest... Herolds Bay from George to the N1.
Tsitsikamma is catching my eye (Storms River)... with or without a stop in Knysna.
Question:
What’s the current condition of the pass from Knysna to Uniondale? R339.
And while I’m at it, the condition of the R340.
Tsitsikamma, Knysna, and my questions still apply if arriving in PE.
Is the Swartberg still closed?
Any recommendations for accommodation in Prince Albert?
If I cross the escarpment, I’ll continue via Anysberg NR, Touwsrivier... any thoughts?
From there... Tankwa Karoo or Mount Cedar (or both).
Then heading back down to the coast... the highlands of Hermanus or Kogelberg NR (any opinions on the latter?).
Or,
A more classic route along the coast...
If I arrive (fairly late) in PE... any ideas for accommodation in that little area?
Given that Nyathi Camp is winking at me...
(For context... a while back, I stayed at Riverbend (same Addo sector, private concession)... and I visited the ruins of that abandoned lodge at the time, which has clearly been renovated since... located in a very quiet part of Addo...).
Any feedback from the pros?
Well, that’s about it...
I’m open to any other tips or advice!
I’m reaching out with a question about which park to choose for a 3-day safari in Kenya.
After 20 days in Uganda, I’m meeting up with my dad for a 3-day safari (that works for him). We’ll be meeting in Nairobi and have a full day to travel to a park (preferably the farthest from Nairobi to avoid crowds?) and spend 4 nights there before heading back to the capital for our flight to France.
I’d love to hear your recommendations since I’ve read so many great tips on this forum.
At the end of July, we’re heading to Namibia with a group of five for a three-week road trip and visit to the national parks.
We’ve read conflicting info about buying entry tickets—either online (where?) or at the gate when we arrive?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the agencies you used to plan your trip to Uganda.
There’s the whole issue of gorilla permits, which need to be booked in advance and involve a significant financial commitment. That’s where I’m at with my trip planning. Between checking lutb.go.ug/ and reading online reviews, it’s hard to move forward with confidence.
I contacted the French Embassy, but they don’t provide any recommendations. I almost booked with an agency that had a really bad review from February specifically about the permit process.
How did you go about choosing your agency? Given the large sum involved, I’m this close to booking through a travel agency in France for this part.
From what I understand, no matter which agency books the permit, you’re ultimately guided by professionals trained for gorilla trekking based on the permit itself? I’m assuming that’s how it works.
Thanks for your feedback, and I’m really happy to see the forum’s new energy—it’s been super helpful to me in the past.
We’re heading to Uganda next summer for three weeks with our two kids, who’ll be 7 and 9 years old.
We’ve been to Southern Africa before but not East Africa, and after a trip to South Africa two years ago, the kids wanted to return to Africa, while we wanted to explore a new region while staying independent... Uganda’s been catching our eye for a while, and with Rwandair offering relatively attractive prices, we’re going for it!
We’ll be traveling in a 4x4 (self-drive) with roof tents. I don’t have any 4x4 driving experience, so it’ll be a first for me, but we’ll manage 😉 No great apes for us—kids need to be 15, and we don’t want to do that experience without them.
I don’t usually ask the forum much for trip planning, but this time, I’d love your thoughts and advice!
First question: Karamoja or not? At first glance, if we want to add it to a "classic" loop in the southwest, it doesn’t seem realistic—too packed, too much driving. We could consider doing the full loop via Kidepo and then heading down to Murchison, but I’m worried the trip might feel less varied and less kid-friendly. That said, the region looks stunning, and I’m struggling to accept not going at all... What do you think?
If we skip Karamoja, we’d do a loop: Murchison/Fort Portal/QENP/Bunyonyi/Mburo, which seems pretty comprehensive and would let us take our time, which is nice. A few random questions:
- How much time should we plan for the Fort Portal area? I was thinking at least 3 days to visit Bigodi Swamp, walk around the craters, and maybe do a community walk (any thoughts on that?).
- Between Murchison Falls and the Fort Portal area, is it worth breaking up the drive? I spotted Lake Albert Safari Lodge on the shores of Lake Albert—it’s not too expensive and looks nice.
- I’d love to do some easy walks/hikes at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, ideally without a guide, but it doesn’t seem straightforward. Do you know if it’s possible to do nice walks independently? I’ve read about hikes in the hills near Kilembe but nothing very specific. Maybe staying somewhere at the foot of the mountains, like Ruboni Community Camp, would allow that.
- Lake Mutanda looks really cool, and so does Lake Bunyonyi... Ideally, I’d like to see both, but won’t that feel repetitive? Is Lake Mutanda worth the detour?
Last practical question, since we don’t have experience with this: for the car with kids, would you recommend two tents (a bit more space) or a four-person tent?
I’ll stop here—already a lot of questions...
Thanks in advance for your feedback, and looking forward to exchanging ideas!
Gabriel
We’re planning our second trip to South Africa in July 2026. In 2023, we did a loop from Joburg, Golden Gate, Drakensberg, Hluhluwe, St Lucia, Eswatini, Kruger, Blyde River Canyon, and back to Joburg.
This time, we’d like to go to Cape Town and do a road trip to Port Elizabeth, then fly back to Joburg to return to Kruger. At this stage of my planning, here’s what it could look like:
D1 to D4: Cape Town and Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, Boulders, Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak Drive). I’ve spotted a few places to stay between Camps Bay and Hout Bay (3 nights).
D5 and D6: Either Karoo NP or Hermanus and De Hoop. Any opinions to tip the scales? I’ll admit I’m already leaning toward Karoo (the "wild" vibe of the landscapes and wildlife encounters appeal to me much more than the seaside, which feels less exotic). If we go for Karoo, where should we stay? Inside the park or in Beaufort West? I’ve seen good reviews for Ko-ka Tsara Bush Camp, but maybe it’s better to stay in the Sanparks cottages to make the most of the park? (2 nights)
Option B is to do Stellenbosch (though vineyards aren’t great in winter) and/or the Whale Route—Betty’s Bay, Hermanus, De Hoop (2 nights near Gansbaai).
D7 and D8: Klein Karoo, Oudtshoorn. Staying at De Cango Guest Farm (2 nights).
D9 and D10: Knysna, Robberg Nature Reserve, Tsitsikamma (2 nights in Plettenberg Bay and 1 night in PE).
D11: Flight from Port Elizabeth to Joburg at 7 AM and drive to Marloth Park.
For Kruger, I’ve booked 2 nights in Marloth Park, 1 night in Skukuza, 2 nights in Satara, and 1 night in Talamati, which we loved. I’ll book the last night in Graskop later since we want to revisit the Blyde Canyon area.
I’d love all the feedback you can give on my itinerary, especially for days 5 and 6.
If you have recommendations for accommodations for 4 people, I’d appreciate those too.
Thanks! 🙂
We’re a family of four (two daughters aged 18 and 21) and we’re planning a three-week trip to Tanzania. Zanzibar would be our main base, but we’d also like to do a safari on the mainland.
Could you share any tips on:
- the ideal length for such a safari, the best place to go during this period (and easily accessible by flight from Zanzibar)
- your recommendations for the most suitable type of stay for a family like ours
- reliable local agencies with reasonable prices that could help us with this plan
Hi everyone, I’m here to get some advice on visiting KRUGER Park.
From what I’ve gathered through my reading, I understand there are two ways to visit the park:
- Independently with your own vehicle
=> Do you drive all day?
- By booking with a professional
=> Safari early in the morning and late in the afternoon. But what do you do in between?
When it comes to accommodations, the options are:
- Booking in one of the park’s camps, where the lodging is basic but functional
- Booking in a private reserve, which is more comfortable but prohibitively expensive
- Booking outside the park, which means entering the park every morning. But if you want to stay for 3 days, that doesn’t seem practical to me.
Do you have any advice for accommodations?
To be honest, I’m really struggling to understand how it all works...
Thanks to everyone for your help.
Bidule 27
