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
For my part, during my trip in 2009:
- I bought the flight myself via Ethiopian Airlines
- I started with Kilimanjaro. I booked through a French trekking agency but I don’t remember which one (like Nomade, Tirawa, Allibert...) and then it was subcontracted to a local agency in Arusha, run by a French guy, Corto Safaris. Everything went really well.
- After that, I did a safari directly with a local agency based in Arusha, Victoria Expedition. That also went really smoothly.
- For the rest, I did everything solo, freely: the bus to Dar es Salaam and the stay in Zanzibar.
It’s mainly for safaris and climbs (Kilimanjaro, Meru) where it’s mandatory (or highly recommended) to have a guide. For everything else, you can travel freely.
I’m starting to plan a trip to Tanzania and 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.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Hi there,
Tell us what draws you to this country and what you’d like to do on the Tanzanian mainland.
If it’s just for safaris, go through an agency right away—you’ll save time. But it’s better to know where you want to go so you don’t get pushed into anything.
Personally, I’ve been to the northern reserves twice and the southern ones five times...
If you’re traveling as a couple, I’d recommend the southern reserves—they’re wilder and more intimate, like "Out of Africa."
Check out my travel journals about the south in this forum.
You can look into what the French agency "Vie Sauvage" offers—I used them for my two safari trips in the north.
Don’t try to visit too many reserves—focus on spending time in 2 or 3 max. Do LITTLE, but do it WELL!!
And ask yourselves: After a safari, is it really necessary to go to Zanzibar?
If you can, go in September or October instead.
The question being "is it necessary?", the answer is definitely no.
It’s not mandatory to go through an agency or a guide to travel in Tanzania.
It’s entirely possible to rent a vehicle and do a self-drive tour, even in the parks where a guide isn’t required either.
There are several travel journals on this forum that recount this kind of trip.
That said, if the question was "is it easy to do a self-drive tour in Tanzania?", the answer would be "not really."
The country where it’s easy and affordable to travel independently to see animals is South Africa. It’s like a self-drive tour in Europe in terms of organization.
For Tanzania, authorities prefer more lucrative options, and local agencies do too.
Independent and individual tourism isn’t promoted.
So, it’s much harder to rent a car (necessarily a 4x4 for this country) because there aren’t many rental companies.
Road infrastructure isn’t optimal either.
For accommodation, campsites are open to everyone!
In short, if you prefer traveling independently, you can still do it in Tanzania.
If being constantly guided doesn’t bother you, you can consider going through an agency. Private tour or not, depending on your budget.
These are two different vibes, each with its own pros and cons.
If you choose a guided option, what’s important is the number of nights spent inside the parks.
Don’t rush from one place to another, even if it means skipping some parks.
The guide matters too...
Just because it's possible to do a safari without an agency doesn't mean it's recommended for everyone.
Besides, if over 90% of travelers use an agency, it's not just because "authorities prefer more lucrative options". At least not for us...
We thought...
We didn’t know the country
We realized the parks were vast and remote.
We didn’t want to deal with unpredictable weather (flooding, etc.)
We didn’t want to change a tire in the savanna.
We’d read that paying for park entry was complicated.
We didn’t have access to the guide’s radio to find the best spots
We relied on the guide’s experience to spot animals
We knew some areas weren’t accessible without a guide (Ngorongoro)
We figured agencies don’t pay the same prices as regular travelers for accommodations
We wanted a structure to help in case of emergencies or delays
We wanted to enjoy family time without stressing every day
...
There are also good reasons to use a local agency sometimes. ;)
There are several types of travelers, with no hierarchy among them. 🙂
The die-hard independents, the half-and-half types, those who prefer organized trips, and those who prefer group-organized trips.
Personally, I fall into the first category (though in the not-so-adventurous subgroup), and I think you’re in the second.
We don’t know which category the person who posted this message falls into.
So, it makes sense for them to receive all possible options in response.
If 99% of travelers (I think your 90% is way off) use an agency, it’s because they don’t mind being guided, and the negative publicity around self-drive trips works like a charm for this destination.
As mentioned elsewhere, Botswana is more complicated in terms of tracks, bookings, and vast empty spaces...
Yet, more travelers are taking the plunge.
Why?
The answer is simple: that same negative publicity.
The fact that a guide spots animals more easily isn’t a benchmark for the die-hard independent traveler, who’d rather see one lion they found themselves than ten they were shown.
It’s not the same experience at all.
Though, for a leopard, I’m not so sure...
I’ve done guided safaris before. They’re not for me.
So, if someone prefers the self-drive option, they should know it’s possible.
As for Ngorongoro, the requirement to hire a guide is recent and not at all justified by the park’s difficulty.
It’s a classic case of authorities treating tourists like cash cows.
The Ngorongoro Crater is a very easy and suitable park to explore on a Tanzania self-drive safari. The safari tracks on the crater floor are well-maintained and signposted, and it’s impossible to get lost in Ngorongoro. Nevertheless, the authorities require that all self-driving visitors must be accompanied by a park ranger while inside the crater. This should be arranged upon arrival at the gate. The fee is USD 40, payable in cash only. Please note that the ranger is not allowed to drive your vehicle; they just guide you on your crater safari. A ranger is not compulsory if you are only in transit through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and do not go down the Crater.
Nothing’s stopping you from telling the guy he can sleep in the back of the vehicle during the safari. 😄
There are other places in the world where a guide is mandatory even though they’re useless. It keeps people employed...
Discussions about Tanzania are more complicated than about other safari countries.
I think the total cost of the trip deters self-drivers, so they’re more likely to opt for more budget-friendly destinations.
Do you have any concrete examples of "negative publicity for self-drive" that "works really well for this destination"? (And I’m not talking about agency sites selling safaris—that’s part of their marketing, after all).
The die-hard independents, the half-and-half, those who prefer organized trips, and those who prefer group-organized trips—and I think you fall into the second category.
You know me better than I know myself. 😉
But it’s not (at all) a question of personality.
First and foremost, it’s the destination that dictates: Where it makes sense, I go through an agency (Tanzania), and where it doesn’t, I do a self-drive (South Africa).
It’s also a matter of circumstances: A family trip to celebrate a 60th birthday—you go through an agency for the "peace of mind" of handling unexpected issues and also so you’re not the dad telling his thirty-something kids in the evening, "Tomorrow, we’re waking up at 6:00 AM because we’ve got a long drive to the Serengeti."
There’s no problem with going through an agency.
Everyone does what they want based on their own needs and feelings.
But it’s not essential for everyone—that’s what I want to emphasize.
Everyone’s bar is set at a different height.
France is enough for some, the Western world for others.
Even easy South Africa seems out of reach for some travelers.
Then there are those who hate not being in a group.
For me, the bar is logistics or a country being completely closed off.
The ultimate examples: Antarctica or North Korea, which seem unthinkable to me without joining an organized group.
Or in Tanzania, climbing Kilimanjaro.
Maybe I come off as a bit "adventurous."
It’s funny because some travelers see me as quite the opposite—pretty low-key with my comfort needs, my very prepared side, and my physical limits. 😄
Totally agree on the way to travel—everyone does it their own way, and I’ve got no problem with that. It supports people’s livelihoods, and that’s great. For others, with all the tools available today, honestly, I don’t know of any destination (though I haven’t traveled everywhere) where an agency is indispensable unless it’s required.
I’m not sure it’s just because of negative publicity on social media, but rather a combination of factors: of course, countries’ desire to favor certain types of tourists plays a role, the lack of info for independent travel fuels the fact that there’s little info and thus even less demand for self-organized trips to a destination, the desire for hassle-free travel, a greater need for comfort than before, and therefore less appetite for less organized travel, etc. I don’t know if this is universal, but it’s a fact that backpackers have decreased over the last 25 years in several destinations I know.
In the end, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda generate more questions about agencies than about self-drive trips—that’s a fact. Yet for these three countries, and to varying degrees, I don’t think it’s particularly difficult to organize your trip. It might be more expensive than using an agency—that’s possible, and even then, it’s not certain.
But anyway, in Tanzania, it’s perfectly doable on your own. You can travel Tanzania without an agency or guide. And if you want to be more certain of seeing animals, don’t feel like dealing with potentially more likely hassles, prefer a well-structured itinerary, or don’t feel comfortable driving on rough tracks or long distances on roads that aren’t great... there are plenty of agencies for that. And forum members who can give advice. And that’s a good thing.
"We are ALL different,
Our expectations during a trip, our desires for discovery, are just as varied!"
I’d like to add a few personal thoughts on the "advantages" of having a driver-guide behind the wheel in the reserves.
In Tanzania, as in Kenya, there are those who go to discover landscapes and see animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, etc.) and not just the "Big Five"!!
My wife and I are part of that group.
There are also those who want to bring back images of these discoveries, captured in the best possible conditions: we’re part of that group too!! (nothing original)
Personally, I also like being able to let my gaze wander in every direction (including behind) and even daydream...
Something I couldn’t do if I were driving, which would deprive me of a good part of the discoveries...
It’s also important to note that in the reserves, there are no road signs (except sometimes to indicate the direction of a camp or lodge). The tracks crisscross and go in every direction. There are also restricted areas that driver-guides know about. And knowing exactly where you are can be very useful on the last day, when you mustn’t exceed the authorized time in the reserve. Nowadays, the system is computerized and automatic, so one minute too long, and you’ll have to pay for an extra day in the reserve for all passengers....!!??
Reserve rangers keep a particularly close eye on visitors who drive their own vehicles and are ready to find any infraction to financially penalize the offender....
If the goal is to find a lion, it shouldn’t be too difficult, but don’t expect much help from drivers of other vehicles—they’re unlikely to share (useful!) information about rarer animals with a self-driving tourist....!
And most importantly, there are the safety distances to know when it comes to buffaloes or elephants (just as an example) and their behavior before they charge... something we don’t know how to anticipate...
At the price of reserve entry fees, it’d be a shame to only see a lion.
Just some personal reflections.
I’ve noticed on different forums that those who drive themselves often highlight this aspect of their trip in their reports... probably to set themselves apart from "ordinary" tourists. Why not!!??
Best regards, happy discoveries, and safe travels ahead.
It’s also important to note that in reserves, there are no signs (except sometimes to indicate the direction of a camp or lodge). The tracks crisscross and go off in every direction.
There are now amazing apps that work offline and help you never get lost, no matter where you are in the world.
Maps.me is one of them.
It was indeed tough to travel in some places without them back in the day.
They’ve made the world more accessible, especially in areas with no signs or where everything’s written in a language you don’t understand.
Thailand without them would’ve been a whole different ballgame, and the same goes for Chile or some parts of Namibia.
Beyond that, everyone has their own needs, as always.
What you describe doesn’t appeal to me, and what I describe doesn’t appeal to you.
We’re not all chasing the same goals, and that’s a good thing.
For me, a safari is a bit like opening a *Where’s Waldo?* book. If an adult points out Waldo right away, I lose interest.
For me, a safari is like opening a "Where's Waldo?" book.
If an adult immediately points out Waldo to me, I lose interest.
You have, ma'am, a mistaken idea of a guided safari...
😏 What you're describing there is Thoiry Zoo!!
But a safari (even with a driver/guide) isn't like that at all!!
You can spend hours finding nothing. That's the glorious uncertainty of a safari (in Tanzania and Kenya, at least).
I've often written that it's Nature that decides what it wants to show you.😉
During my last two safaris in Kenya and Tanzania, I dreamed of (re)seeing African wild dogs, and I'd chosen reserves where they're present, but... didn't see any, nor any other species. (Just an example)
Hopefully DjobiSan, who started this thread, will clarify which category of traveler she belongs to and her intentions... !! 😉
...
I’m replying a bit late—this week started off a little hectic .
I took the time to read all the responses.
I’ve traveled a lot and learned what works for me: I like planning my trips myself, at my own pace—choosing my stops, staying longer where I feel good, changing plans if I feel like it. So far, everything I’ve organized has gone really well.
I’ve never used an agency, so I can’t give an opinion on that yet. For this Tanzania + Zanzibar trip, I think I’ll organize the Zanzibar part myself, but for some reason, handling everything solo in Tanzania—rental car, national parks (leaving the rental if we take a local guide), etc.—seems more complicated.
Not sure if I’m really answering the question here.
For those who’ve used an agency, did you travel with a group or just a guide? (I think I’d prefer the latter option)
We had a dedicated driver... but there were 6 of us in the family!
One thing I didn’t mention: the sunroof is a real plus.
The "kids" told us they wouldn’t have lasted 6 days in a "normal" 4x4. Here, you can stand up, get some fresh air, "stretch your legs"... In South Africa, we had a Nissan X-Trail, and it’s just not the same experience.
My advice: Use an agency for the first week for the safari, then go solo in Zanzibar.
Hello everyone, My husband and I are planning our honeymoon in Tanzania, hoping to go on a safari and spend a few days in Zanzibar, or even on Mafia Island. We…
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!
Hello,
We’d like to book a round-trip transfer from the airport to the reserve for peace of mind. Do any of you have experience to share or tips to help me find a reliable provider? There’ll be 4 adults in our group.
Thanks for your feedback!
Hi there!
I’m supposed to arrive in Rwanda in mid-January, then continue on to Gabon (I think I’ll have to fly there because of bad experiences in the past), and after that, travel from Libreville to Monrovia by sea. Is this doable without too much hassle?
Hi there, my wife and I are likely going to spend a week volunteering at the in Bela Bela, near Hatfield, during the third week of May 2027. After that, we’d like to rent a car and spend a week in Kruger Park. What do you think about the timing and the type of vehicle? Also, which spots are best for accommodation so we can experience the park’s different sides? Thanks.
Hi,
The Wild Card gives access to many parks in South Africa. Since the card is cheaper if you choose the "couple" option, I was wondering what they mean by "couple." Is it simply 2 people, with no family ties, or is it the "official" couple as many people understand it? In my case, I’ll be traveling with 2 buddies. Since there’ll be 3 of us, we could take 1 couple card and 1 individual one.
Thanks in advance
📋 Yes, travel insurance is now mandatory in the ETA application.
Since October 6, 2026, the official Kenyan ETA portal directly includes a step to subscribe to mandatory government travel insurance for travelers required to obtain an ETA, even if you already have your own medical and repatriation insurance.
This insurance adds an official extra cost of $44 plus payment fees of $8, totaling $52 on top of the ETA. The ETA application cannot be completed without paying for this insurance on the portal.
In the end, Kenya followed the Tanzanian "model".....!!
Thirty years ago, I traveled to Zanzibar (Tanzania) with my children. Since I’ve since started a new family, I took the opportunity of a trip to Kenya to bring my new family along: my wife, who’s Kenyan, and my 10-year-old daughter.
Zanzibar has really changed in 30 years.
It’s become the island of taxes.
It all starts upon arrival: I think it’s the only country in the world, besides the visa, where Zanzibar insurance (and no other) is mandatory—it costs 40 €. If you didn’t purchase it before arriving, good luck getting it: the IT systems are unreliable. With a bit of luck, it’ll take at least an hour to process! And of course, this insurance is useless—if you get sick, it’s recommended to use your home country’s insurance because if you use Zanzibar’s, your national insurance won’t cover you anymore.
I wanted to show my daughter the red colobus monkey, which is endemic to Zanzibar. I paid for a tour that was supposed to be all-inclusive. First, we visited a spice farm, where a farm guide took charge of us—meaning commissions were involved, of course! The tour was very good and informative, though. When we arrived at Jenzhi Park (the colobus park), the guide told us he "forgot" there was an entrance fee (50$).
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’d like to go to South Africa in August and plan my trip myself (so no travel agency).
Could anyone recommend a good guidebook, please? (Routard, Lonely Planet, Petit Futé, etc.) Thanks!!
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.
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.
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!
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?
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
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.
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.
