La destination estivale de nos prochaines vacances est arrêtée, ce sera la Namibie .
Mais pour le reste, j' avoue ne pas savoir faire ... c' est pourquoi je me tourne vers vous !
C' est la première fois que nous envisageons un tel voyage . Les précédents se sont toujours décidés dans l' urgence et ne nécessitaient pas de préparation particulière . A bord de notre fourgon aménagé, le choix d' une destination pour notre famille pouvait se faire la veille, voire le Jour J . C' est ainsi que nous nous sommes rendus en Italie, Croatie, Hongrie, Autriche, Rép. Tchèque, Sicile, Sardaigne, Portugal, Écosse, Maroc, Turquie ... J' ai essayé de préparer un petit peu sur le net, mais sur les Forums, je n' ai reçu que des avis contradictoires . Plus paumé qu' au départ, j' ai laissé tombé, n' écoutant que nos propres envies, au moment présent .
Je ne peux raisonnablement pas envisager la Namibie dans ces mêmes conditions ! Me reste à déterminer quelques éléments essentiels et personnels tels le nombre de participants au voyage (enfants ayant atteint leur majorité), date à laquelle s' effectuera le voyage (en tenant compte de celles du bac et examens) ... Mais ensuite, par où débuter ?!
Les bases sont grossièrement les suivantes :Durée du voyage : environ un mois au cours de l' été, genre du 20/07 au 20/08Participants : deux adultes + 1 ou 2 adosLocation d' un 4X4 équipé camping pour la totalité du voyageJe désirerais organiser personnellement ce voyage de A à Z, mais ne parlant que deux ou trois mots d' anglais (et souvent pas ceux que je pourrais placer dans une conversation se rapportant à l' organisation du voyage !) est-ce envisageable ou est-il préférable de contacter quelqu' un sur place qui me prépare le terrain ?!
Mes dates et le nombre de participants déterminés, je commence par l' avion ?! Où trouver ?! J' ai consulté sur le net quelques sites proposant soi-disant des vols pas cher . Ils se révèlent sensiblement + cher que des grands organismes connus ?!
Ensuite (ou avant ?!), la location du véhicule ?! Où ?! Comment (in french please !)
Y aurait elle des choses essentielles qui m' échapperaient totalement dans ce début de recherches, est-il trop tôt, trop tard ?! De combien de temps je dispose encore ?!
Bon, mais çà suffit pour ce premier post, j' ai planté le décor, et de vos réponses naîtront tout naturellement de nouvelles interrogations . Je suis encore bien loin de l' élaboration d' un circuit, mais pour çà, je sais où trouver, il y a tous ces récits ici sur le Forum ou sur vos sites perso, souvent fantastiques, ce sont eux qui m' ont donné l' envie de me rendre en Namibie .
Merci de m' aiguiller un peu ... Je ne sais vraiment pas faire, je pense que c' est les débuts qui seront les plus difficiles, après, pris dans le truc, tout devrait s' enchaîner ?!
Les bases sont grossièrement les suivantes : Durée du voyage : environ un mois au cours de l' été, genre du 20/07 au 20/08 Participants : deux adultes + 1 ou 2 ados Location d' un 4X4 équipé camping pour la totalité du voyageCa me semble être un bon début.
Mes dates et le nombre de participants déterminés, je commence par l' avion ?! Où trouver ?! J' ai consulté sur le net quelques sites proposant soi-disant des vols pas cher . Ils se révèlent sensiblement + cher que des grands organismes connus ?!
Là, pas de miracle à attendre. Soit tu préviligies le prix (minimum 1100 € avec 2 escales) ou la durée (1 seule escale mais compte plutot 1300 €). De toutes façons, c'est cher. Le mieux c'est de mettre les ados chez mémé, ça coute moins cher. 😛.
Ensuite (ou avant ?!), la location du véhicule ?! Où ?! Comment (in french please !)
Une fois les billets d'avion pris, louer la voiture. Pour trouver un contrat en français, va falloir trouver un prestataire français. Compte tenu de ton niveau en anglais... prend toi un prestataire qui s'occupera pour toi de louer, réserver les campings ou les lodges. Tu en a plusieurs en recherchant sur internet. Si tu le souhaite, je peux te donner 2-3 noms. Les prix sont identiques à ce que tu paierais sur place.
Y aurait elle des choses essentielles qui m' échapperaient totalement dans ce début de recherches, est-il trop tôt, trop tard ?! De combien de temps je dispose encore ?!
Tu es dans les temps. Dans 2 mois, il sera déjà trop tard pour trouver de la place en hébergement dans les sites les plus recherchés.
Bon, mais çà suffit pour ce premier post, j' ai planté le décor, et de vos réponses naîtront tout naturellement de nouvelles interrogations . Je suis encore bien loin de l' élaboration d' un circuit, mais pour çà, je sais où trouver, il y a tous ces récits ici sur le Forum ou sur vos sites perso, souvent fantastiques, ce sont eux qui m' ont donné l' envie de me rendre en Namibie .
Tu peux aussi et c'est ce que je te conseille plus avant c'est de passedr par un prestataire. Préparer un voyage en Namibie est chronophage !!
Merci de m' aiguiller un peu ... Je ne sais vraiment pas faire, je pense que c' est les débuts qui seront les plus difficiles, après, pris dans le truc, tout devrait s' enchaîner ?!
Oui...; mais faire des recherches avant est impératif. Tu es dans la bonne pérode, dans 2 mois, c'est trop tard...
tout d'abord, La Namibie est un très bon choix de destination !
Il n'est pas forcement trop compliqué de le decouvrir.
Il faut un avion pour s'y rendre, une voiture pour le parcourir et une bonne carte avec les lieux a ne pas manquer.
Vous avez deja l'avion, comme l'as dit fred : c'est cher. Plus tot c'est fait, mieux c'est.
Ensuite pour la voiture, un 4x4 equipé camping, c'est parfait pour aller partout et camper facilement (location sur le net avec prise du vehicule à l'aéroport)
Il faut reserver quelques étapes : Sessriem, Etosha, par exemple
Le reste, il y a souvent la place necessaire.
Pour finir, grace aux récits, sites, blogs, vous pourrez facilement concocter une premier jet d'itineraire avec vos envies/gouts. Il ne restera plus qu'a approfondir les details.
L'avion… Plusieurs options :
- Francfort / Windhoek direct avec Air Namibia, c'est bien mais il faut rejoindre Francfort. De la Région parisienne ou du Nord-Est, ça se fait bien en voiture.
- Paris / Johannesbourg / Windhoek. Cher si tu fais Paris Johannesbourg direct.
- Paris / XXX / Johannesbourg / Windhoek. Reste à déterminer le XXX, ça peut être Le Caire avec Egypt Air, tarif très raisonnable ou Tripoli avec Afriqiyah, encore moins cher, mais ça fait un peu peur.
Par qui : les moteurs de recherches de vols sur internet. Un conseil, pour ta recherche de prix : désaccouple l'éventuel vol Johannesbourg/Windhoek ou ChezToi/Francfort du reste, ça te coûtera moins cher.
Tu peux utiliser les services d'un TO local francophone pour tes réservations sur place (4x4 et camps), ce n'est pas le choix qui manque : Tourmaline, Madiza, Namikala, Bel Africa, etc… Tu jettes un œil sur leur site pour avoir des idées d'itinéraires, ensuite tu peux les adapter à ta guise avec les conseils du forum (par exemple) et leur faire faire les réservations que tu souhaites (pas forcément toutes les nuits).
Sinon, les réservations se font très bien en direct par email, mais c'est en anglais…
Quand ? Maintenant !
Oui la préparation d'un voyage en Namibie prend du temps. Mais ça fait partie du voyage. Ça y est tu es déjà un peu là-bas pour les 8/9 mois qui viennent.
Bonne préparation !
PS. Il serait bien dommage (pour eux !) que tes 2 ados ne profitent pas du voyage !
Merci à chacun d' entre vous pour vos réponses ...
Elles me semblent pertinentes et émanées de personnes aussi passionnées que connaisseurs .
Mon premier Post a été un élément déclencheur, depuis tout s' accélère .
Nous partirons à trois et sommes fixés sur les dates où s' effectuera le voyage .
Je vais pouvoir effectuer mes réservations en tenant compte des remarques avisées de Pierre .
J' hésite encore à prendre un prestataire ou non ... Je désire de la souplesse dans la réalisation de mon circuit, si je fais appel à eux, ce ne serait que pour la location du véhicule et la réservation de deux ou trois camping (là où celle-ci se révèle plus que conseillée !) . Mais j' avoue qu' en cas de soucis, avoir affaire à un interlocuteur francophone serait un plus ! Je pense les contacter par mail ...
prend toi un prestataire qui s'occupera pour toi de louer, réserver les campings ou les lodges. Tu en a plusieurs en recherchant sur internet. Si tu le souhaites, je peux te donner 2-3 noms. Les prix sont identiques à ce que tu paierais sur place.
Je suis preneur pour les 2-3 noms . Pour les prix, c' est vraiment identique ?!
Il serait bien dommage (pour eux !) que tes 2 ados ne profitent pas du voyage !
Nous sommes d' accord, mais mes deux grandes ados sont amoureuses ... Nous partirons donc avec la seile petite dernière (13 ans !)
Parallèlement, j' ai mis en place hier un site consacré à ce voyage . C' est la première fois que je débute le récit avant que le voyage n' ait pris fin . Dans une partie "Préparatifs", j' y mentionne les infos, les liens que vous m' aurez fournis, grâce à Google Maps, j' y ébaucherai mon circuit en tenant compte des endroits où je désire me rendre, j' y repèrerai les campings ... Mon pense-bête ! (ICI) .
A bientôt ... Ce post n' est pas près de se refermer, j' ai tant à demander !
prend toi un prestataire qui s'occupera pour toi de louer, réserver les campings ou les lodges. Tu en a plusieurs en recherchant sur internet. Si tu le souhaites, je peux te donner 2-3 noms. Les prix sont identiques à ce que tu paierais sur place.
Je suis preneur pour les 2-3 noms . Pour les prix, c' est vraiment identique ?!
Ces sont sans doute les mêmes que j'ai cités plus haut ! Oui, ça revient au même financièrement car ils sont rémunérés par les prestataires. L'été dernier, j'ai même obtenu 5% sur la location du 4x4 en passant par un TO (Explore Namibia, néerlandais, anglophone) alors qu'Asco me refusait cette remise en passant en direct.
Tu peux toujours vérifier les prix qu'on te propose en allant voir sur le web, les tarifs "clients" des prestataires finaux. Et discuter le cas échéant !
Nous sommes d' accord, mais mes deux grandes ados sont amoureuses ...
Bonjour,
un petit mot pour te dire que j'ai été dans les mêmes interrogations que toi. Je pars en Namibie en juillet/aout 2011. Grace aux conseils avisés d'un certain nombre de forumeurs, j'ai élaboré un projet, qui je pense tient la route. J'ai notamment pris un prestataire, alors que ce n'est pas dans mes habitudes.
Pour le moment, le seul conseil que je peux personnellement te donner, c'est de lire les nombreux carnets de voyages sur VF qui aident bien à voir les pièges à éviter (du moins je l'espère !)
Bonne continuation
a+
Un des pièges -à mon avis- dont parle ellobo : il faut dormir à l'intérieur du parc d'Etosha (Okakuejo a ma préférence ) et non dans un lodge "aux multiples qualités" souvent proposés( ou imposés 😕) par certains T.O.
A bientôt ... Ce post n' est pas près de se refermer, j' ai tant à demander !
Je suis moi même en train de préparer un prochain voyage en Namibie (ce sera le 5ème)
pour octobre 2012, (et oui c'est cher et ma petite retraite demande une longue épargne)
j'ai un anglais très minable : j'ai eu 1.5 /20 en anglais au bac de 1966.
j'ai toujours fait ces voyages en 4x4, sans aucune organisation,
je n'ai jamais rien réservé d'avance.
aujourd'hui pour préparer mon voyage, j'ai acheté un GPS garmin etrex HCX pour moins de 150 roros
et une carte (mois de 20 roros) pour placer dessus et sur mon PC et préparer mon voyage.
en un mois on peut faire un bon tour de la namibie
moi je restraindrais quand même le périple à sesriem au sud et je laisserais tomber le canyon
sinon après le circuit c'est soit dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre soit l'inverse 😛
c'est le legend à l'apoque ou je l'ai acheté le vista était à plus de 220 roros
aujourd'hui on le trouve à 180
je me souviens d'être tombé sur une promo du legend à 127 roros je crois
en attendant le voyage c'est mon épouse qui l'utilise en parapente.
Bonjour,
Sur internet billets d'avion cdg/wdh 20/7-20/8=1085euros (2esc)
20/7-19/8= 1016eur/pers sur le site placé à droite de la page de VF.
Faire très attention aux dates à un ou deux jours ce n'est pas du tout le même prix.
Merci pour tes renseignements ...
Bon, petit à petit, çà prend forme ... Nous partirons finalement à 4 !
Pour l' avion, j' ai trouvé des prix similaires aux tiens : 1 008.37 € A/R Lyon-Windhoek . Le paiement m' a toutefois été refusé, le plafond accordé à mes dépenses hebdomadaires étant largement dépassé . Mon agence bancaire peut en autoriser son dépassement (opération facturée 24 € tout de même !), mais le lundi, c' est fermé ! Espérons que ce tarif soit encore applicable demain, les offres varient très rapidement d' une saisie à l' autre !
J' ai contacté deux prestataires francophones basés à Windhoek ... les réponses obtenues sont plutôt positives !
Merci à tous pour vos pertinentes réponses . J' ai trouvé sur le Forum Namibie des intervenants très compétents, c' est rassurant, je ne manquerais pas de faire à nouveau appel à vous .
Ah ce fameux plafond ! on avait eu le même soucis avec notre billet jo'burg-Upington, 3 jours après il avait doublé.
Sur un vol plus important, ca devrait le faire.
Le paiement m' a toutefois été refusé, le plafond accordé à mes dépenses hebdomadaires étant largement dépassé . Mon agence bancaire peut en autoriser son dépassement (opération facturée 24 € tout de même !), mais le lundi, c' est fermé !
Tu aurais peut-être intérêt à prendre une CB Visa Premier : d' abord pour augmenter ton plafond autorisé , et aussi ça te dispenserait de payer des assurances assistance et annulation ( c' est ce que j' ai fait en début d' année , car Tourmaline ne proposait pas d' assurance annulation de sa prestation , et souscrire ponctuellement une assurance coûtait très cher ... ) .
j'ai un anglais très minable : j'ai eu 1.5 /20 en anglais au bac de 1966.
C' est sûr que c' était pas beaucoup , mais je me permets de te dire qu' il y a prescription 😉 , car j' ai eu le bac cette même année ( entre nous , c' était un cru prestigieux : de mémoire , 50% d' admis seulement ... 🤪 ) .
Depuis le temps , et avec la pratique de nombreux voyages , ton niveau doit être bien meilleur maintenant !
Bonne soirée 🙂
Tu aurais peut-être intérêt à prendre une CB Visa Premier : d' abord pour augmenter ton plafond autorisé , et aussi ça te dispenserait de payer des assurances assistance et annulation
Eh oui ... cela paraissait évident ! Pourquoi n' y avais-je pas penser plus tôt ?! J' ai été voir : cela parait intéressant d' autant qu' elle prend en charge l' assurance annulation pour le vol ! Mais patienter pour son obtention, c' est reporter la réservation du vol et toute l' organisation inhérente aux dates obtenues pour celui-ci ... Zut, nouveau dilemme ! Comme je m' y attendais, pas évident cette préparation : on semble faire un pas en avant, mais la réalité vous fait reculer de deux et ainsi de suite ...
Bonjour,
Tu peux attendre une semaine l'obtention de la carte dorée, les prix ne devraient pas trop bouger.
Pour information, j'ai pris mes billets l'an passé en décembre et ils étaient toujours au même prix en mai. Ce n'est malheureusement pas une généralité...
Je peux te donner un autre conseil:
Prends 2 vols distincts au lieu d'un seul.
Par exemple, acheter un Lyon-Johannesbourg et ensuite un J'burg-Windhoek revient moins cher qu'un Lyon-Windhoek (dans mon cas, 100€ par personne l'an passé) mais un risque:
si ton premier vol a du retard, tu es bon pour un non-show sur le 2° vol et là, carte dorée sur tranche ou pas, c'est perdu 😠.
j'avoue que je ne suis pas tout dans ton raisonnement
Ceci dit la meilleure solution au départ de Lyon c'est :
Lyon francfort avec Lufthansa
Francfort Windhoek avec Air Namibia
donc 2 vols distincts avec de la marge possible au niveau des horaires
Attention, un critère à prendre en compte avec les vols transitant par Joburg, c'est que l'arrivée plus tardive dans la journée oblige souvent à passer cette première nuit à Windhoek et souvent l'économie réalisée sur un billet d'avion est perdue avec une nuit en Gh et un jour de loc de voiture pour rien..
J' avais patienté , le temps d' avoir la carte magique , et presque rien perdu ... 😉
A 3 ou 4 , est-il sûr qu' un premier vol Lyon-Frankfurt soit "rentable" par rapport à un trajet en voiture jusqu' à l' aéroport de Francfort ( remarquablement organisé et agréable à utiliser ) ? Si on s' y prend bien en avance , le coût de stationnement longue durée à l' aéroport reste raisonnable . Cela dépend aussi des horaires du long courrier , compatibles ou non avec cette solution .
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
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!
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?
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!
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
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.
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