bonjour,
j'avais envie de faire un voyage safari en famille au Kenya, mais plus je me renseigne et plus j'ai l'impression il y aura énormément de monde a visiter les parcs, et je n'ai pas envie d'être dans une usine à touristes, je souhaite aussi aller au bord de la mer.
Je me demande si je ne préfère pas Madagascar, mais en 10 ou 12 jours que faut-il choisir de visiter ?
MERCI
😏 bonjour, je connais MADAGASCAR ( 3 voyages, mais pas du tout le KENYA), pour 12 jours cela me parait un peu juste, sur l' ile la route la plus praticable est celle qui descend sur TULEAR car elle est goudronnee pour le reste de l' ile soit tu as beaucoup de temps pour voyager par la route (plutot des pistes )soit il faut prendre l' avion .Fait egalement attention a la saison :pendant la saison des pluies certaines pistes sont difficilement praticables.a ta disposition pour plus de renseignements😏
Bonsoir,
En 12 jours sur Mada cela risque d'être très juste.
Par contre, le Kenya c'est possible . Où avez- vous vu qu'il ya aurait plein de monde?? De plus si vous voulez voir la faune sauvage, c'est bien le Kenya ou la Tanzanie. Sans parler de la côte swahili pour la baignade .
Le Kenya, quand on est bien conseillé, est l'endroit pour une immersion..
Bonne soirée !
Karine
Il faut savoir que l'on ne peut pas vraiment faire un safari à Madagascar (aucun risque de tomber sur un lion, une zèbre, un hyppo, une girafe et 3 pingoins 😉). Il y a des beaucoup de lémuriens dans les réserves, ce qui est déjà très bien. En fait, on va plus à Mada pour la rencontre avec la population locale que pour les animaux. A chacun de voir ce qu'il préfère. Cela dit, Madagascar est une superbe destination (et je ne dirais pas que Mada est mieux ou pire que le Kenya, c'est simplement différent).
Pour le Kenya : en quinze jours, il faut essayer de se limiter : je dirais Amboseli (éléphants), Masaï Mara (lions, zèbres, gnous dans la bonne période), Nakuru (pratiquement la seule chance de voir des rhinos). Pour ce qui est de la pression touristique, ce n'est quand même pas Saint Tropez en août (ou n'importe quelle
autre ville du littoral français en été) mais il vrai que l'on voyage souvent en dehors des périodes scolaires.
Pour essayer de se donner une idée en photos, il y a notre site de photo http://amvdd.club.fr. On est en
train de le compléter : on vient de finir de compléter la page Madagascar (désolé, on n'a pas encore fait la relecture, c'est du "brut de clavier" avec 3 tonnes de fautes d'orthographe, entre autres...) et je vais me dépécher pour mettre des photos de meilleure qualité sur le Kenya (s'il fait mauvais ce WE) et ensuite, un récit suivra... (un des WE suivants)
Salut Petrouch
J'ai fais un voyage au Kenya il y a 4 ou 5 ans avec ma femme et mes enfants (4 et 8 ans);
nous etions dans un hotel pres de Monbassa et avons fait un (mini_2Jours!) safari sur la réserve de Tsavo;
nous en gardons un trés bon souvenir et ce n'était pas surpeuplé du tout!!!!
Un conseil : faites confiance aux locaux pour organiser le safari ;il sont tout a fait sérieux et c'est surtout beaucoup moins cher.
Amicalement😉
Je confirme ce que t'as dit amvdd, il n'y a pas de safari a Mada. Par contre, tu peux visiter de superbes réserves avec plein d'especes différentes de Lémuriens, voir qq caméleons.... mais pas d'animaux sauvages tels que giraffe, lions, éléphants...
Tu as possibilité de faire de belles randos, notamment au massif de l'Isalo, faire de la plongée au nord ou au sud de Mada (j'ai été a Tulear et j'ai eu la chance de voir une belle baleine).
Bref, je pense que c'est completement différent.
Je garde un superbe souvenir de mon voyage a Mada (3 semaines), la population est vraiment gentille (ils parlent souvent francais !) et tu vois de superbes paysages !! JLes paysages sont si différents selon les regions, c'est vraiment agreable a visiter. Par contre, les routes sont assez difficiles.
Je crois que mes plus belles photos sont jusque la celles de Mada.
Peux pas t'en dire plus pour le Kenya, j'y vais en Février
Oui, je crois que la seule chose comparable à Madagascar et au Kénya, c'est... l'état des routes !
A part ça, deux pays complètement différents à visiter comme on te l'a dit plus haut.
Et question safari, pourquoi pas la Tanzanie ? Ayant eu la chance de faire plusieurs safaris (dont au Kénya et en Tanzanie) il me semble que c'est le Serengeti (il faut dire que j'étais au moment de la migration des gnous) et le cratère du Ngorongoro que j'aurai le plus envie de revoir.
Mais Madagascar, je ne m'en lasse pas. J'y suis déjà allée 4 fois et j'y ai encore quelques projets de voyages.
J'ai eu l'opportunité de faire un safari au Kenya il y a 4 ans. J'avais également une appréhension quant à l'usine pour touristes sur la destination. Il faut savoir que le pays compte plus ou moins 800 000 visiteurs sur une année. Il n'y a donc pas de craintes à avoir. Les réserves et parcs sont très très vastes. Dans certains parcs privés, on peut parfois ne rencontrer personne (à part les animaux😉). Toutefois, il me semble que le choix de la destination n'est pas approprié pour le nombre de jours (10 ou 12 jours). Il faut savoir qu'un safari ne s'improvise pas: c'est relativement fatiguant. A titre indicatif: une semaine de safari demande un repos de 10 jours sur l'océan indien pour bien récupérer.
🙂Salut
A mon avis, pour profiter de l'éloignement touristique et d'une nature avec des animaux particuliers (lémuriens, caméléons, très grands papillons, etc...) il faut choisir Madagascar. Je connais ce pays depuis l'êge de cinq ans et je n'ai jamais été déçu. La nature est 5 étoiles (va voir mon blog et lis les article concernant les voyages ou la santé sur Madagascar: http://laurentjeanmarc.over-blog.com
En revanche ne compte pas voir des elephants ou des giraphes ou hippopotames à Madagascar car il n'y en a pas. Tu y trouveras beaucoup d'autres choses, et surtout des plages superbes (Lagon de Tuléar; plage de l'île Ste-Marie ; Nosy-be; plage de Ramena à Diégo). Les touriste ssont peu nombreux (tant mieux) à Mada. Mais gaffe à l'hygiène, c'est comme à Cuba, faut pas croire que tu peux y aller en jouant les "sacs à dos" style routards, les malgaches ont horreur de ce public. Tu peux trouver de supers bungalows pas chers en bord de mer. Je te filerai plein de contact et tu appelleras qq de ma part sur place (et de confiance) ce qui est pas évident quand on ne connait pas cette destination. En attente de tes news, réponds par mon mail direct, c'est plus pratique car je consulte peu le forum. Mail perso: laurentjeanmarc@caramail.com
Bye Bye
En famille nous sommes allés au kenya et c'était tout simplement super En plein mois d'août, on a vu beaucoup d'animaux sur 1 semaine de safari puis on a profité aussi de l'océan indien au SUD de Mombasa. Si vous vous décidez pour le Kenya vosu pouvez toujours me demander des renseignements.
Chantal
hello,
je suis allée au kenya en février 2004, côte sud de monbasa avec excursions, ... Mais surtout un safari de 3 jours dans le masaï mara. Sublime !!! Il faut savoir que le chauffeur-guide peut faire du hors pistes au masaï mara, ce qui permet de voir plus d'animaux, de se diriger vers les points d'eau, etc. là où se trouvent les animaux. Mais le hors pistes n'est pas autorisé dans les autres parcs (tsavo...) Et les animaux n'attendent bien entendu pas que vous passiez avec votre appareil photos. Déduction: si je puis conseiller un safari, c'est celui de trois jours (ou plus si on a les moyens) dans le serengeti. J'y ai même vu des rhinos, énormément d'hippos, des zèbres, des girafes, des lions, éléphants, hyènes, mangoustes, impalas, dick-dick, gnous, antilopes, gazelles, grues couronnées, serpentaires, marabouts, etc. etc.
Bref, un safari inoubliable. Il est vrai qu'il y avait pas mal de touristes, et tous sont concentrés dans les hotels clubs.......
bon voyage !!😉
🤪es-tu allé voir mon blog sur Madagascar? Beaucoup mieux que le Kenya pour la nature. D'ailleurs je t'ai ecrit....
http://laurentjeanmarc.over-blog.com
Il y a des parc sans nombreuse mais belle au Kenya comme Meru. Il y a aussi un bon plage au Sud de Mombasa. J e vous propose cette itineraire:
Jour 1 - Maasai Mara.
Jour 2 - Maasai Mara.
Jour 3 - L. Nakuru
Jour 4 - Amboseli
Jour 5 - Tsavo West
Jour 6 - Diani Beach
Jour 7 - Diani Beach
Jour 8 - Diani Beach.
Jour 9 - Dinai Beach.
Jour 10 - Depart
Déjà avoir tts ses vaccins obligatoires bien à jour (tétanos surtout)
Me concernant, et sur conseil de mon médecin, j'ai fait le vaccin contre la thyphoïde.
Traitement anti paludisme, bien évidemment...trés important !
Madagascar est en zone 2 donc la Savarine suffit ( ne pas prendre un traitement pour zone 3, ça renforce
la résistance de cette maladie)
Préparer une bonne pharmacie perso' : pansements de tte sorte, désinfectants, anti douleurs, anti tourista, compresses mais on trouve des pharmacies bien fournies dans les grandes villes, en province, ce sont surtout de dépôts moins bien achalandés.
Sinon, prendre une armada d'anti moustics : spirales, encens à la citronelle, diffuseur électrique (mais suivant où tu iras, il n'y aura pas forcément d'électricité tts la nuit, prises aux normes européennes) moustiquiaire (trés efficace mais en général, on en trouve partout maintenant dans les hôtels) lotion pour la peau.
Le soir, porter de préf.des vêtements à manches longues et bien s'enduire les parties découvertes.
Pour ma part, je vais confectionner une mixture trés efficace qui, disposée sur qq cotons refoulent réellement les ptites bestioles :1/4 de citronnelle, 1/4 de géranium bourbon et 1/4 d'eucalyptus citronné.
Lorsque tu es là-bas, boire essentiellement de l'eau en bouteille (je me lave les dents aussi avec)
Pour + d'infos encore, voici une adresse :
http://www.astrium.com/
pour affiner ce qui a été dit (et qui est exact), je me pemets de conseiller une protction + efficace si tu vas à Ste Marie . il y a du palu zone 3 donc mortel. il me semble qu'il ne faut pas lésiner et prendre du Lariam ds ce cas. il faut s'assurer que tu supportes bien ce produit, donc la 1ère fois, le prendre 1 semaine avant le départ, puis 1 fois /semaine. pour le reste de Mada, la savarine va bien. il y en a un nouveau TTT B, la malarone que l'on arrête 1 semaine après le retour au lieu de 4 mais il est encore + cher. donc voir le nbre de cps/ boite, le prix, le nbre de jours.....et calculer. je suis médecin . mes conseils sont tt à faits sérieux. En + faire tt pour ne pas se faire piquer à la tombée de la nuit: anti moustiques peau efficace, genre INSECT ECRAN + sur vetements (et sur la moustiquaire vendue imprégnée si on part avec. il n'y en a partout ds le sud). le palu est une maladie très sérieuse et grave suivant le type de parasite. il faut vraiment s'en occuper. sinon il n'y a pas bcp de bestioles vraiment dangereuses à MADA.
Je me réveille un peu tard pour te répondre mais bon...
Je ne suis pas comme Placassier qui dit " mada sans hésitation" puisque ces deux pays n'ont pas grand chose en commun. Ni le peuple, ni les coutumes ni les paysages et encore moins la faune et la flore.
Si tu veux voir des animaux en famille il faut aller au Kenya. je pense que les lions les éléphants et les hyènes par exemple vont plus intéresser les enfants qu'un caméléon, une grenouille et un lézard. Bien sur à Mada il y a les lémuriens, mais rien n'a voir avec un léopard, un groupe de lions qui prépare une chasse ou un troupeau d'une centaine d'éléphants.
je n'ai fait pour l'instant qu'un petit bout de MADA (on y retourne au mois de mai) mais je trouve les paysages du kenya bien plus grandioses. (les plateaux de massai mara et d'amboseli et la plaine du rift par exemple)Pour la flore et la géologie, là, à mon avis il n'y a pas photo, Mada est devant.
En ce qui concerne les peuples et leurs coutumes, je me garderais bien d'un jugement quelconque. Ils sont différents, c'est tout. Les uns sont Africains, les autres sont....Malgasy, rien de comparable hormis la gentillesse des gens dans les villages de campagne.
Pour le bord de mer, là aussi pas d'hésitation (pour moi) c'est mada qui l'emporte.
Dix ou douze jours, pour faire un circuit et bord de mer au Kenya, c'est juste. Il faudrait au moins quinze jours.
Et puis pour éviter les endroits très fréquentés par les touristes, tente un circuit en camping et bivouac. Il y en a de très bien organisés et ils sont plus enrichissants que ceux ou on se retrouve dans les lodges avec bar piscine et boite de nuit.
Dix ou douze jours pour Mada, c'est aussi trop court, quinze serait mieux mais à conditions de se concentrer sur une région cardinale de Mada et prévoir un transfert retour en avion vers la capitale (ou nosy be) pour reprendre le vol international.
Une dernière chose sur le kenya, je ne sais pas si celà est du au guide au chauffeur ou au fait qu'on ne logeait pas dans les hôtels, (ou au trois à la fois) mais moi, l'usine à touriste au Kenya...j'ai pas trouvé.
mais en ce moment, les vols vers le kenya ne sont ils pas suspendus ???
Si oui il y la tanzanie juste à coté qui doit ressemebler au kenya.
salut pour mada je suis ok avec toi mais je trouve la complexite malagasy tres interessante du surement au metissage d origine de la population plus grande que dans l afrique de l est ou les ethnies sont assez marques d ou peut etre les pbs passes et actuels interethniques
pour ce qui est d usine a touriste on dira que tu avais bien choisi la saison ou les endroits car c est un peu quand meme "tous autour du lion" pour etre un peu caricatural (mais pas trop)
mais a mada certains endroits sont en train de le devenir : nosybe (c est fait) ste marie juillet aout pour les baleines cela devient un peu la foire et antiecologique!!
et aussi le nord de tulear maingily ifaty mais heureusement plein d endroits super encore mais pour combien de temps car vu l augmentation des prix je ne sais pas comment cela va terminer
POur le kenya j'y étais en février, nous avons très beau et c'est sans doute la basse saison. Mais le fait qu'on soit souvent seul dans les réserves était du à l'équipe kenyane qui nous accompagnait. le matin alors que beaucoup de véhicule partaient dans la même direction, nous allions souvent à l'opposé et nous avons passé trois jours dans Masai Mara sans rencontrer grand monde. Par contre nous avons passé pas mal de temps seul avec des lions et des guépards.
Concernant les "usines" à touristes, je ne suis pas un grand voyageur, mais les plus belles je les ai vues en France (Argelès, ST trop, Piriac sur mer, Biarritz, etc)
je sais que tu vas rouspéter, mais au mois de mai on va à Nosy be mais que quelques jours sur la grande ïle et les autres dans l'archipel
Je te raconterais au retour et te donnerais mes impressions.
A bientôt
Thierry
Tu as eu vraiment bcp de chance au Kenya concernant le peu de monde que tu as eu lorsque tu de déplaçais en minibus dans les réserves car pour ma part en 1990 déjà à cette époque ci dans le masai mara, au mois de juin qui correspond à l'hivers australe là bas et donc pas la période la plus touristique, et bien il y avait autour d'un guêpard au moins six minibus.
J'ai été déçu de cela, mais j'ai récidivé 5 ans plus tard en Tanzanie et la punition a été presque la même mais à une autre période bcp plus touristique celle là, parcontre où j'ai eu moins de monde quand même dans les réserves c'était en Afrique du sud et oui cela est bizzare mais comme cela.
Concernant Mada, et oui, je suis un inconditionnel mais pour tellement de sujets, déjà pour la rencontre avec les ethnies cela est complètement diff. par rapport à l'Afrique de l'Est et de plus pas mal de gasy parlent le français, bien sur pas dans la campagne profonde.
Ce que j'ai aimé au Kenya et en Tanzanie c'est les paysages cartes postales et le Kilimandjaro et le mont Kenya en fond de carte cela est fantastique, mais au niveau paysage il n'y a pas photo avec Mada et surtout avec les plages!!
Je vois que toi, jipi et moi en fait aallons au même endroit sur la grande ile, alors un bon séjour à toi aussi!!!
salut
mais non si tu veux aller a nosy be c est ton choix (moi c est fini depuis 1992) mais j espere que tu y vas en connaissance de cause
depuis que j ai entendu en 2006 que meme les italiens(qqes uns) ne supportent plus nosy be je risque pas d y revenir pour ce que tu dis des lieux en france tout a fait daccord mais je repete comme tele dit tamerland que tu as eu bcp de chance mais c est bien pour toi concernant le kenya car bcp de gens reviennent quand meme assez deçus (a part les inconditionnels des afrique=animaux)
bon trip a nosy be quand meme
12 jour a mada c'est possible mais domage qu'elle age on les enfants en fonction de leur ages le kenia reste une destination magnifique __ Salut Pierre Yves!!!!🙂 Et oui, c'est deux destinations complètement diff. sur tous les sujets, mais il est vrai qu'avec des enfants, le Kenya est certainement la meilleure solution surtout pour une période de 12 jours!!! Amicalement😉
C'est vrai que je garde un super souvenir de mon voyage au kenya. Une autre chose qui a sans doute favorisé notre isolement vis à vis des autres touristes, cest qu'on dormait sous la toile dans des petits campings ou en bivouac donc loin des lodges où se retrouvent tous les minibus et 4x4 le soir.
Pour Nosy be on verra. On va loger quelques nuits dans une petite auberge face à Nosy sakatia et faire de la plongée avec un tout petit club qui se trouve à proximité puis on part plusieurs jours en pirogue à voile dans des endroits moins touristique que la grande île. toujours en camping bivouac.
Vivement le premier mai !!
BOn voyage😎
Thierry
salut si tu pars dans les iles aux alentours alors la pas de pbs l ile va etre supportable disons car c est vrai qu autour nosy kombe, tankely, sakiata et qqes autres sont super je suis aller a nosy komba en 1999 j ai aime
bon trip et surtout tres bonne plongee
bon encore un mois et je suis dans l'avion ma moto doit etre arrivee a diego depart le 27 de paris le 28 un coup de kick et en avant pour l'aventure et les thb
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