Nous sommes 16 (de 70 à 8ans ) à partir en famille en Afrique du Sud pour 10 jours.
Certains veulent absolument faire Le Cap et moi, je suis beaucoup plus attirée par le Nord.
mais nous devons contenter tout le monde donc on s'y plie.
Voici, à ce jour, ce que j'envisage approximativement de réaliser comme circuit :
- Le Cap : 3 jours
- vol pour Kruger : 4 jours
- vol (si possible ) pour Sta Lucia : 2 jours
Ce circuit vous semble t il raisonnable ?
Connaissez vous l'Inyati Game Lodge dans la réserve de Sabie Sand qui se situe dans le parc Kruger ? et le MannaBay Boutique Hotel au 1 Denholm Road oranjezicht au Cap ?
Ton circuit me semble raisonnable à partir du moment où vous prendrez l'avion .
Tu peux regarder du côté des compagnies low cost kulula et 1Time par ex.
Si ton intention est de passer 4 journées entières au Kruger pourquoi n'en retirerais-tu pas une pour la placer à la suite de St Lucia et aller visiter le parc Huhluwe- Umfolozi ?
L' Inyati Game Lodge dans la réserve de Sabie Sand ne fait pas partie des hébergements à proprement parler du parc Kruger (voir la liste ici ) mais se trouve dans une réserve contigüe sachant qu'il n'y a pas de clôture en les réserves privées et le parc Kruger.
Ces lodges privés n'ont pas la même "philosophie", les mêmes commodités (cadre et déco entre autre), ni les mêmes "rates" !
Je ne connais pas Manna Bay mais en allant jeter un oeil cet hôtel de grand luxe doit être tout à fait correct ! 😇 😉
Bon voyage Angie. 😉
Je pensais que j'allais avoir des alertes à chaque réponse sur voyage forum et en fait, ça ne se passe pas comme ça !
Je viens donc de consulter mon profil et remarque, seulement aujourd'hui que j'ai une réponse ! Un peu quiche !!!
Un grand merci pour vos commentaires.
Entre temps, j'ai avancé sur le projet et pense avoir réussi à convaincre ma famille de concentrer notre séjour sur le Nord.
voici approximativement le nouveau programme :
- J1 :paris - Johannesburg
- J2 : Johannesburg -Hluhluwe (545 km = 7h00) par la N17 puis à partir de Ermelo N2
- J3 : Hluluwe et fin de journée direction St Lucia (65 km = 1h)
- J4 : St Lucia (whale wathing à Cape Vidal ??? et ballade sur estuaire)
- J5 : St Lucia puis direction Pilgrims rest (ville étape) (600 km = 8h20)ou Graskop par la N2 jusque Ermelo puis N11 puis N4 puis les R530...
- J6 : pilgrim' s rest direction Kruger (260 km = 4h30) par les R530...
- J7 : kruger
- J8 : kruger
- J9 : Kruger puis direction Johannesburg (580 km = 8h20)
- J10 : Johannesburg- Paris
Mais je ne sais pas si la répartition est bonne, si mes temps de route sont corrects, si il faut prévoir d'autres étapes sur les itinéraires
Je me demande si il faut intégrer la route des panoramas auquel cas quel temps y consacrer ?...
Connaissez vous un hébergement type lodge dans une réserve au sein même de Kruger ?
Vaut il mieux s'arrêter à Pilgrim s rest ou Graskop ?
Je ne sais pas si les routes : N et R que j'ai repéré sont les bonnes.
Il faut encore que je détermine par quel côté entrer et sortir du parc Kruger ...
Donc encore beaucoup de choses à préciser
je vous souhaite un bon réveillon et une bonne année 2012.
J ai reservé la nuit d'arrivée directement sur le site d un hotel .
Quand aux reservations pour les parcs nationaux ( surtout le Kruger) j ai reservé sur le site de www.sanparks.co.za
C est assez facile , mais ils prélèvent la totalité nuits dans les 3 jours suivant la reservation
Sur leur site tu peux aussi payer d'avance les entrées dans le parc où choisir de les payer que sur place ( ce que j ai fait car nopus prendrons probablement la caerte à l année moins chère à partir de 5 nuits )
Bonjour Michelle, ,
Tout d'abord, je vous souhaite une bonne année 2012!!
J'ai retravaillé sur le circuit depuis mon, dernier message, il ne faut donc pas en tenir compte.
Voici le nouveau programme, plus détaillé :
- J 1 : 12/08 Paris Durban
- J2 : 13/08 arrivée 13h20 à Durban puis route Durban nuit à St Lucia : 4h00 = 247 Km Hôtel ?????
- J2 : 14/08 St Lucia (whale watching à Cape vidal ???, ballades sur estuaire) Hôtel ?????
- J3 : 15/08 Hluhluwe (2 safaris) Leopard Mountain Game Lodge
- J4 16/08 Hluhluwe (2 safaris) ) Leopard Mountain Game Lodge entré dans le swaziland par Lavumisa et en ressortir par Jeppe’s reef.
Entrée dans Kruger par Malelane Gate
- J5 : 17/08 vallée Ezulwini : étape pour se diriger vers Kruger Forester Arms ou Royal swazi sun ou Ezulwini Sun
- J6 : 18/08 Kruger Sabi sand reserve (1 safari) Inyati game Lodge ou Djuma Bush Lodge
- J7 :19/08 Kruger sabi sand reserve (2 safaris) ) Inyati game Lodge ou Djuma Bush Lodge
- J8 : 20/08 Kruger sabi sand reserve (1 safari) puis direction route des panoramas Umbhala Lodge and restaurant
- J9 : 21/08 route des panoramas pour se diriger vers Johannesburg hôtel ?????
- J10 : 22/08 retour sur Johannesburg décollage 19h30 arrivée 6h00 Paris.
Je Je ne sais pas quelle ville étape sélectionner sur la route des panorama avant de rejoindre Johannesburg ???
et Et je ne repère par bien la route du retour vers Johannesburg. On emprunte les R 530 quelque chose puis ???
Programme bien ficelé à mon avis.
- Saint Lucia: Effectivement environ 4h de Durban Airport. Il y a beaucoup de B&B dans le coin
- Hluhluwe: Rien à dire, mais les camps sont un peu vieillots. Belle nature.
- Swaziland: les avis sont partagés (personnellement, ça fait longtemps que je n'y suis pas allé mais c'était bof bof)
- Kruger - Sabi sands: Très bien
- Retour: pourquoi pas une étape du côté de Dullstroom et ensuite direct aéroport le lendemain
bon voyage,
bruno (Lipadi, dans la région du Tuli, Botswana)
J'ai une question : connaissez vous un site qui permette de calculer les distances kilométriques et / ou le temps de route car je n'arrive pas à évaluer la distance entre Hluhluwe et Elzwini ?
Je ne connais pas très bien cette région. La dernière fois que j'y suis allé, les routes étaient 'moyennes' en comparaison avec l'état général de niveau quasi-européen (hors réseau secondaire). Je dirais donc entre 4 et 5 h + passage de frontière (de 15mins à 1h).
N'oubliez pas de demander un document appelé "cross-border documents" à votre agence de location pour éviter des soucis et surtout des délais supplémentaires à la frontière...
Je ne sais pas quelle ville étape sélectionner sur la route des panorama
Choisis une ville plutôt centrale pour pouvoir rayonner.(Graskop par ex) puis pour rejoindre Johbourg tu as le choix pour rejoindre la N4.
Bonne prépa !
Bonjour,
En octobre dernier nous avons fait le trajet Mlilwane Reserve (juste après Elzwini Valley) - Hluhluwe.
275 km jusqu'à Memorial Gate (entrée nord du parc Hluhluwe) et 4h30 de trajet y compris l'arrêt à la douane (1/2 h pour nous).
Lors de la réservation du véhicule il vous faudra préciser au loueur que vous allez au Swaziland afin qu'il vous établisse le formulaire qui vous sera demandé pour passer la frontière.
A votre dispo,
Miesele
Tu passes uniquement par les réserves privées du Kruger ? ?
Oui j'aimerais optimiser la plongée dans l'univers nature avec faune et flore donc on m'a dit que pour l'obtenir, il fallait aller dans les réserves.
En plus dans les guides, il est indiqué que ce sont les réserves qui sont les mieux équipées pour nous permettre de voir un max d'animaux.
Mais ce n'est pas évident de trouver pour 16 pers. Je voulais trouvais dans la réserve de Sabi mais je n'ai encore rien et j'ai peut être mes chances dans la réserve de Kapama mais je ne sais pas si c'est une bonne réserve...
As-tu regardé du côté de la réserve Timbavati NR, du Gomo gomo game lodge, de la réserve Thornybush G R., du Kwa mbili game lodge (avec marche guidée tôt le matin) ?
Le doc appelé "cross border document" est rarement gratuit, et coûte le plus souvent de R500 à R800 auprès des loueurs (ça doit pouvoir se négocier). Côté véhicule: un ou deux combis de style Vito devraient faire l'affaire pour un grand groupe.
Pour les lodges, vous pouvez regarder les sites qui proposent des réservations avec rabais comme EmptyBeds, BushBreaks ou SafariNow, encore que ces réductions sont parfois réservées aux résidents sudafricains... 🙂
Merci pour ces liens dans lesquels j'ai glané de bonnes infos.
J'ai le guide Michelin aussi qui est le complément du routard.
J'ai contacté le tour opérator Rhino africa car j'ai beaucoup de réponses négatives à cause du nombre de personnes (16) à héberger... Et si je me plante, ils ne manqueront pas de me le faire remarquer ... Je ne suis q'une pièce rapportée !! Sois je gagne des galons, soit je me grille pour qq années ...
Ils ont l'air compétents et sérieux, les connaissez vous ?
Je suis passé à de nombreuses reprises par EmptyBeds and BushBreaks sans le moindre problème, mais ayant investi dans une réserve au Botswana où je vais le plus souvent possible, je vadrouille beaucoup moins ailleurs.
Les marges des agents en Afrique du Sud sont élevées, et évidemment pour ne pas faire concurrence les lodges s'alignent en direct, mais tout est négociable: C'est l'Afrique ici !!!
Bon, si vous êtes vraiment coincée, dites le moi et je vous passerai en message privé l'email d'un ami français ici au Cap qui est spécialiste de voyage en groupe.
À vrai dire je ne connais pas Rhino Africa, mais à priori pas la moindre raison de douter de leur professionalisme. Étant maintenant plus introduit dans le métier grace à ma réserve, je sais juste que les marges sont ici souvent confortables.
Par acquis de conscience, j'ai demandé à mon ami. Je vous tiens au courant.
J'ai vu des baleines mais a Hermanus au sud du pays, dans ce coin je ne connais pas
juste pour infos a Santa lucia si tu cherche un resto va voir chez Alfredoo sur MC KENZIE pas cher et bon , du moins la derniere fois que nous sommes passes la bas😉😉😉
claude
En plus dans les guides, il est indiqué que ce sont les réserves qui sont les mieux équipées pour nous permettre de voir un max d'animaux.
J'ai vu bien plus d'animaux au Kruger que dans les réserves privées.....
Rien n'est jamais garanti.
Mais je pense tout de même qu'il faut avoir une guigne phénoménale pour ne pas croiser le chemin des animaux suivants : gazelles diverses et variées, singes, zèbres, girafes, éléphants, rhinocéros, buffles, gnous, hippos....😉
Pour les baleines: elles sont en effet de juin à octobre sur la côte sud, et en particulier dans la baie protégée d'Hermanus.
Pour les réserves privées ou non: tout est une question de prix, mais à mon humble avis ayant visité les deux types à de multiples reprises, j'en ai eu souvent bien plus pour mon argent en réserve privée une fois que tout est additionné pour un service comparable.
Et les baleines, on ne pourra donc pas en voir à St Lucia ?
Si Angie on peut voir les baleines à Cape Vidal, à Sta Lucia, il existe des excursions en mer pour les observer de plus près
http://www.encounter.co.za/what-to-do/outdoors/whale-watching/http://www.southafrica.info/travel/surf/whale.htm
Mais cela dépend du temps car si la mer est trop démontée, les bateaux ne sortent pas.
Mais tu les verras de très près tout le long des côtes dont(ce qui t'intéresse) le long de la côte entre Cape Town, Hermanus, De Hoop nature réserve (située après Arniston -nouveau nom Waenhuiskrans ! ! )et Witsand un peu plus au nord (Cap Infante).
Ce site avec les bonnes infos sur les baleines :http://www.classicencounters.com/whalewatching.htm
Ils ont l'air compétents et sérieux, les connaissez vous ?
Non, Angie.
j'en ai eu souvent bien plus pour mon argent en réserve privée une fois que tout est additionné pour un service comparable.
Il n'y a pas que cela qui rentre en ligne de compte.
Réserve privée ou safari en self drive, c'est un peu comme un voyage organisé et un voyage au gré de ses envies.
D'un côté, on est pris en charge de A à Z : le traqueur repère les animaux (vive les colliers à puce dans certains cas...); le repas est servi matin midi et soir, il n'y a que les pieds à mettre sous la table; on est rarement seul (repas, safari)....
De l'autre, il faut se débrouiller😄
Je penche pour la solution numéro 2 mais chacun sa manière de voyager😉
Et je le répète les animaux n'étant pas rémunérés, il est possible de rentrer bredouille d'un safari en réserve privée comme en réserve publique....😮
Hello Attila,
Il y a les deux écoles, et à prendre et à laisser des deux côtés.
J'ai le privilège de 25 ans d'expérience en Afrique du Sud jusqu'au point d'être maintenant actionnaire dans une réserve au Botswana, où j'apprécie vraiment la liberté d'explorer la nature sous toutes ses formes, et ce même à pied.
Pour un premier voyage en Afrique, et plus encore si en groupe, je conseille l'organisation offerte dans une réserve privée et en particulier profiter du savoir des rangers. Cela permet aussi de rencontrer éventuellement d'autres voyageurs passionnés par le 'bush'. Le safari perso permet certes de réduire les coûts, mais il y a des contraintes comme exploration impossible tard après le coucher du soleil, et au delà de l'émerveillement de pouvoir vadrouiller tout seul, je me rends compte quand certains amis viennent ensuite au Cap me relater leur "aventure" qu'en fait ils n'ont rien vu... Bref, à chacun ses plaisirs.
Pour les plus expérimentés, je recommande sans la moindre hésitation le Botswana, et je ne prèche pas nécessairement pour ma paroisse. Le pays regorge d'endroits fabuleux pour les plus aventuriers.
Angie: J'ai reçu confirmation de la réputation de sérieux de Rhino Africa.
Le safari perso permet certes de réduire les coûts, mais il y a des contraintes comme exploration impossible tard après le coucher du soleil, et au delà de l'émerveillement de pouvoir vadrouiller tout seul, je me rends compte quand certains amis viennent ensuite au Cap me relater leur "aventure" qu'en fait ils n'ont rien vu... Bref, à chacun ses plaisirs.
Pour le côté financier, il n'y a pas photo : à 2 en self drive 120 € (voiture+entrées+emplacement de camping+essence+nourriture+boissons) contre un bon 300 € minimum pour une réserve privée (et à ce prix là, c'est pas le grand luxe...) sans les boissons et l'entrée .
Pour le côté animalier, j'ai aussi eu beaucoup plus de chance en solo (lions à la dizaine, hyènes quotidiennes, lycaons, guépards, léopards plus les habituels.....) qu'en accompagnée (lions mais pas d'autres prédateurs.....).
De plus, j'ai pu être seule face aux animaux alors que souvent la rencontre en réserve privée se fait non seulement avec les personnes présentes dans votre jeep (qui peuvent être très sympathiques mais qui peuvent aussi s'avérer des boulets ou des Paris Hilton...) mais également avec tous les autres véhicules rameutés par radio par le premier traqueur qui a vu les animaux.
Je reproche aussi aux traqueurs de ne s'intéresser qu'aux big five et de snober tous les autres animaux 🙁
en particulier profiter du savoir des rangers.
C'est, pour moi, un des rares points positifs des safaris en groupe. Pas pour la traque mais pour les explications et la possibilité de faire un safari à pieds.
comme exploration impossible tard après le coucher du soleil
Cette exploration est aussi possible dans les réserves publiques (comme les safaris à pieds....)
Il suffit de s'inscrire et de payer un supplément pour participer à une excursion organisée par les rangers employés par l'état🙂
Cela permet aussi de rencontrer éventuellement d'autres voyageurs passionnés par le 'bush'.
Je ne crois pas que c'est ce genre de concept que recherche Angie qui sera déjà accompagnée de 15 autres personnes !
je me rends compte quand certains amis viennent ensuite au Cap me relater leur "aventure" qu'en fait ils n'ont rien vu...
C'est triste ! 🏴☠️
Je reconnais le point de vue de chacun. Et vos arguments tiennent tous. Le mieux me semble de réussir à faire les 2.
Comme dit Michelle, j'ai la contrainte du groupe des 15 autres personnes 8 à 70 ans et qui ne sont pas de grands aventuriers ... on devait à l'origine partir en Grèce et j'ai réussi à les convaincre de pousser jusqu'à l'Afrique du sud. Il s'agit en plus de ma belle famille !!!
Donc je joue la sécurité et compte profiter de l'équipement et de la structure du Kapama à Timbavati... mais dès que l'opportunité se présente à moi pour faire un safari plus indépendant (je verrai en fonction du type d'hébergement à hluhluwe par exemple je me ferai un plaisir d'y goûter. Car mon hôtel pour Hluhluwe est à l'extérieur du parc. Ou peut être lors d'un safari à pied , laissons un peu d'aventure à notre voyage programmé...
Je suis sur la dernière ligne droite. Mes étapes sont normalement établies et je dois réserver le vol pour tout le groupe ce week end.
voici ci dessous mon circuit.
départ Paris le 12 aout Arrivée à Durban
Nuits 13 et 14 aout : St Lucia : Thonga beach Lodge on me parle de kayaks à disposition. A voir sinon j'aimerai faire la ballade en bateau pour croco et hippo puis observation des baleines mais sommes nous surs d'en voir en aout sur cette côte ?
http://www.safarisdafrique.com/safari-lodges/afrique-du-sud/thonga-beach-lodge/
Nuits 15 et 16 aout : Hluhluwe River Lodge avec 1 safari compris par jour donc c'est peut être là que je pourrai en faire un 2è en solo. Peut on en programmer un à cheval ou à pied dans cette réserve ?
http://www.hluhluwe.co.za/site/default.asp
Nuits 20 et 21 aout Hazyview : Umbhaba Lodge http://www.umbhaba.co.za/Sleep.html et la j'aimerai faire du rafting, la route des panoramas ....
le 22 aout : retour sur Paris via Johannesburg
Hello Angie,
Pour un éventuel 'game walk' à Hluhluwe, il faut demander à votre lodge si cela est possible. De mémoire, toutes les activités comme les 'game drive' matin et soir sont réservées aux résidents de Hluhluwe.
Je n'ai plus qu'à vous souhaiter un super voyage!
Salut Angie,
A présent tu dois être rentrée 🙂 - ainsi que toute ta petite troupe 😉 !
Si tu as un peu de temps, peux-tu nous donner tes impressions sur ton circuit et ton avis sur les lodges choisis ?
Même brièvement ce serait chouette ! 😉
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