Hi there,
I’m finalizing the itinerary for my trip to Namibia in October and would love to get it validated by you, the experts.
I’ll be traveling by 4x4 with a rooftop tent.
Here’s the itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek
Night in REHOBOTH or nearby
Day 2: Rehoboth to Stampriet
Day 3: Road to Sesriem
Day 4: Head to Sossusvlei/Sesriem Canyon
Day 5: Road to Walvis Bay
Day 6: Day in Walvis Bay
Day 7: Head to Spitzkoppe
Day 8: Direction Cape Cross then Brandberg
Day 9: Brandberg, Twyfelfontein, Palmwag
Day 10: Palmwag
Day 11: Head to Etosha
Day 12: Etosha
Day 13: Head to Waterberg after morning safari
Day 14: Full day at Waterberg
Day 15: Return to Windhoek for flight at 8:30 PM
What do you think?
I’m open to all suggestions!
Thanks
Alright, this time it's definite—I'm heading to South Africa next October! 😎
Two weeks for a Kruger-Cape Town combo is short... but better than nothing 😉 Before booking the flight tickets, two quick preliminary questions (more will definitely follow): Is there a preferred direction (Kruger first or Cape Town first)? Is it better to go during the first half of October, the second half (or the middle 😏), or does the current unpredictable weather make it all pretty much the same in the end?
Two weeks for a Kruger-Cape Town combo is short... but better than nothing 😉 Before booking the flight tickets, two quick preliminary questions (more will definitely follow): Is there a preferred direction (Kruger first or Cape Town first)? Is it better to go during the first half of October, the second half (or the middle 😏), or does the current unpredictable weather make it all pretty much the same in the end?
Hello,
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 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! 🙂
Following the post-election chaos this week, read carefully:
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays-destination/tanzanie/
In particular:
"For French travelers needing to take flights from Tanzanian airports, most international flights are canceled until further notice. It’s recommended to go to the airport only if your flight is confirmed by your airline.
It’s advised to postpone any travel plans to Tanzania unless absolutely necessary."
...
...
Hello,
I’m taking advantage of the forum reopening to ask this question:
For her 70th birthday, my mom will receive—as a gift—a trip to South Africa at the end of May 2025. We’ll arrive and depart (13 nights later) from JNB on Air France AF990/AF995. We’ll obviously rent a car for certain parts of the trip. I’ve been to the Cape Town area and as far as Agulhas twice, but she’s never been to South Africa before. She might enjoy a day or two of safari, but it’s not a priority for her. I’m well aware that trying to pack in too much is risky, which is why I’m looking for your advice on itineraries, safety, and health (status of the Marburg virus). So far, which combinations of these visits (in no particular order) would be doable and most enjoyable for her at a reasonable pace:
1-day excursion to Pilanesberg Park (+ Hartbeespoort on the way back if possible), self-drive or with a tour guide? 2 nights around the Panorama Route self-driving Garden Route from/to George/PLZ for 5 nights (what are the must-sees for a first-timer with so little time?) Wine region for 2 nights (is it worth doing both the Stellenbosch bus tour and the Franschhoek Wine Tram the next day, or vice versa)—she loves good wine! Cape Town for 2 nights (is it worth stopping at the Cape of Good Hope if—only if—you’ve maybe already been to Agulhas?).
This would give a final itinerary like this:
Day 1: Morning arrival in JNB—rest day/to be defined Day 2: Guided game drive excursion to Pilanesberg Park Day 3: Flight JNB–Port Elizabeth, pick up rental car, drive to Tsitsikamma Day 4–6: Garden Route: activities to be defined Day 7: Transfer to Franschhoek: Wine Tram in the afternoon Day 8: Taxi to Stellenbosch for the Vine Hopper bus tour Day 9–11: Transfer to Cape Town: activities to be defined Day 12: Flight from Cape Town to Hoedspruit or Nelspruit Day 13: Visit the Panorama Route Day 14: Flight from Hoedspruit or Nelspruit to JNB, then evening flight back to France
Given the time spent on the Garden Route, what are the must-sees? Same question for the Panorama Route? In general, she prefers beautiful walks with incredible landscapes/views and cultural visits over big cats, but it would be a shame not to see some local wildlife like meerkats, whales (I doubt it in May), or penguins during her stay! There you go—feel free to critique (not too harshly, though😛)/advise/improve. Thanks in advance! 🙂
For her 70th birthday, my mom will receive—as a gift—a trip to South Africa at the end of May 2025. We’ll arrive and depart (13 nights later) from JNB on Air France AF990/AF995. We’ll obviously rent a car for certain parts of the trip. I’ve been to the Cape Town area and as far as Agulhas twice, but she’s never been to South Africa before. She might enjoy a day or two of safari, but it’s not a priority for her. I’m well aware that trying to pack in too much is risky, which is why I’m looking for your advice on itineraries, safety, and health (status of the Marburg virus). So far, which combinations of these visits (in no particular order) would be doable and most enjoyable for her at a reasonable pace:
1-day excursion to Pilanesberg Park (+ Hartbeespoort on the way back if possible), self-drive or with a tour guide? 2 nights around the Panorama Route self-driving Garden Route from/to George/PLZ for 5 nights (what are the must-sees for a first-timer with so little time?) Wine region for 2 nights (is it worth doing both the Stellenbosch bus tour and the Franschhoek Wine Tram the next day, or vice versa)—she loves good wine! Cape Town for 2 nights (is it worth stopping at the Cape of Good Hope if—only if—you’ve maybe already been to Agulhas?).
This would give a final itinerary like this:
Day 1: Morning arrival in JNB—rest day/to be defined Day 2: Guided game drive excursion to Pilanesberg Park Day 3: Flight JNB–Port Elizabeth, pick up rental car, drive to Tsitsikamma Day 4–6: Garden Route: activities to be defined Day 7: Transfer to Franschhoek: Wine Tram in the afternoon Day 8: Taxi to Stellenbosch for the Vine Hopper bus tour Day 9–11: Transfer to Cape Town: activities to be defined Day 12: Flight from Cape Town to Hoedspruit or Nelspruit Day 13: Visit the Panorama Route Day 14: Flight from Hoedspruit or Nelspruit to JNB, then evening flight back to France
Given the time spent on the Garden Route, what are the must-sees? Same question for the Panorama Route? In general, she prefers beautiful walks with incredible landscapes/views and cultural visits over big cats, but it would be a shame not to see some local wildlife like meerkats, whales (I doubt it in May), or penguins during her stay! There you go—feel free to critique (not too harshly, though😛)/advise/improve. Thanks in advance! 🙂
Hello and happy New Year to everyone,
A friend and I are interested in going to South Africa (or Kenya) for about two weeks (last quarter of 2026) but without renting a car.
Generally, I don’t like organized trips for the entire duration of a trip, and what’s more, this destination is very expensive.
So, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to spend, for example, a week in Cape Town independently and take day trips with a local agency, then do a week-long circuit for a safari in a park, which would leave a bit of freedom to book flights and maybe get advice from local agencies.
Is this a good idea? Is it doable or not?
What do you think? Have any travelers done this kind of trip?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Dominique
Hi there,
We’re back from our 3-week trip to South Africa in July. It was a family trip with our four grown-up kids (ages 18 to 25).
First off, I’d like to thank everyone on this forum for their great tips—they really helped us plan this trip!
The trip: We spent 15 days between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, then a week around Kruger (including Blyde River Canyon). We found South Africans to be welcoming and always ready to help. We never felt unsafe (just followed basic safety rules). The police are very visible, especially on the roads.
Logistics: We’d booked our accommodations in advance but made a few changes on the spot based on how we felt at the time. We rented two vehicles from Firefly (Hertz). No complaints—recent cars, quick returns, and the deposit wasn’t charged. We’d gotten our international driver’s permits... which stayed in France! Luckily, no one asked for them. Driving on the left wasn’t an issue (it wasn’t our first time). The roads we took were in good, even great, condition. Only a few tracks to lodges or parks were rough and required extra caution. Lots of pedestrians on the sides of roads, even highways. And plenty of very slow trucks. But they pull over to let you pass. It’s also common for cars to cross into the opposite lane to overtake, even with white lines. We took two domestic flights: one early in the morning (Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth) and one in the late afternoon (Cape Town to Johannesburg) to save time.
We had some highlights and a few disappointments—all part of the journey! More details coming soon.
We’re back from our 3-week trip to South Africa in July. It was a family trip with our four grown-up kids (ages 18 to 25).
First off, I’d like to thank everyone on this forum for their great tips—they really helped us plan this trip!
The trip: We spent 15 days between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, then a week around Kruger (including Blyde River Canyon). We found South Africans to be welcoming and always ready to help. We never felt unsafe (just followed basic safety rules). The police are very visible, especially on the roads.
Logistics: We’d booked our accommodations in advance but made a few changes on the spot based on how we felt at the time. We rented two vehicles from Firefly (Hertz). No complaints—recent cars, quick returns, and the deposit wasn’t charged. We’d gotten our international driver’s permits... which stayed in France! Luckily, no one asked for them. Driving on the left wasn’t an issue (it wasn’t our first time). The roads we took were in good, even great, condition. Only a few tracks to lodges or parks were rough and required extra caution. Lots of pedestrians on the sides of roads, even highways. And plenty of very slow trucks. But they pull over to let you pass. It’s also common for cars to cross into the opposite lane to overtake, even with white lines. We took two domestic flights: one early in the morning (Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth) and one in the late afternoon (Cape Town to Johannesburg) to save time.
We had some highlights and a few disappointments—all part of the journey! More details coming soon.
Hi there
We’re planning to do this route as a self-drive trip. There’ll be six of us, so with a large car—is the drive between Durban and Johannesburg manageable? Thanks for your feedback! Day 2: Cape Town Day 3: Cape of Good Hope Day 4: Hermanus, Cape Agulhas Day 5: Wine Route Day 6: Cape Town → Durban (flight) → St. Lucia Day 7: St. Lucia Day 8: Hluhluwe Day 9: Mlilwane Day 10: Sabi Sand Day 11: Sabi Sand Day 12: Kruger Day 13: Panoramic Route Day 14: Balule → Johannesburg
We’re planning to do this route as a self-drive trip. There’ll be six of us, so with a large car—is the drive between Durban and Johannesburg manageable? Thanks for your feedback! Day 2: Cape Town Day 3: Cape of Good Hope Day 4: Hermanus, Cape Agulhas Day 5: Wine Route Day 6: Cape Town → Durban (flight) → St. Lucia Day 7: St. Lucia Day 8: Hluhluwe Day 9: Mlilwane Day 10: Sabi Sand Day 11: Sabi Sand Day 12: Kruger Day 13: Panoramic Route Day 14: Balule → Johannesburg
Hi everyone,
We’ve just returned from a 3-week trip to South Africa:
2 weeks in Kruger Park, Manyeleti, and White River
5 days in Vilankulo
1 day in Johannesburg
If you have any questions or are planning your trip, don’t hesitate! 🙂
Hello forum,
We’re a family of 4 adults (2 grown daughters) planning our first trip to South Africa for 3 weeks in August 2025, traveling independently. I’ve been drawing inspiration from several posts on the forum. I’d like to book our flight tickets and nights in Kruger Park as soon as possible since that’s the most urgent part to finalize, if I understood correctly.
Here’s a first draft of our itinerary (with lots of unknowns about what there’ll be to see/do in Eswatini, Lesotho, Durban, etc.—I feel like the Lesotho leg involves a lot of driving).
I’d really appreciate input from the experts to help us craft a great trip. Thanks in advance!
Day 1
Departure from Paris Day 2
Morning Early arrival in Johannesburg Pick up rental car Groceries Afternoon Sightseeing Night in AirBNB near Johannesburg (1/1) Day 3
Morning Drive to Blyde River Canyon (500 km - 6h30) Afternoon Visit the canyon Night in AirBNB near Blyde River Canyon (1/1) Day 4
Morning Drive to central Kruger (200 km - 3h30) Night in Rest Camp (1/2) Day 5
Night in Rest Camp (2/2) Day 6
Morning Drive to southern Kruger (150 km - 3h) Night in Rest Camp (1/3) Day 7
Night in Rest Camp (2/3) Day 8
Night in Rest Camp (3/3) Day 9
Morning Drive to Mbabane (Eswatini) (250 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB or other (1/1) Day 10
Morning Drive to Maputaland (300 km - 4h) Afternoon Swimming (hippos and crocs?) Night in AirBNB or other (1/1) Day 11
Morning Drive to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi (130 km - 2h) Night in Rest Camp (1/2) Day 12
Night in Rest Camp (2/2) Day 13
Morning Drive to Durban (250 km - 3h) Night in AirBNB (1/1) Day 14
Morning First half of drive to Lesotho (225 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB or other (1/1) Day 15
Morning Second half of drive to Lesotho (225 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB or other (1/1) Day 16
Morning First half of drive to Drakensberg (250 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB or other (1/1) Day 17
Morning Second half of drive to Drakensberg (250 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB or other (1/2) Day 18
Night in AirBNB or other (2/2) Day 19
Morning Drive to Johannesburg (300 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB (1/2) Day 20
Night in AirBNB (2/2) Day 21
Morning Departure in early afternoon Day 22
Arrival in Paris
We’re a family of 4 adults (2 grown daughters) planning our first trip to South Africa for 3 weeks in August 2025, traveling independently. I’ve been drawing inspiration from several posts on the forum. I’d like to book our flight tickets and nights in Kruger Park as soon as possible since that’s the most urgent part to finalize, if I understood correctly.
Here’s a first draft of our itinerary (with lots of unknowns about what there’ll be to see/do in Eswatini, Lesotho, Durban, etc.—I feel like the Lesotho leg involves a lot of driving).
I’d really appreciate input from the experts to help us craft a great trip. Thanks in advance!
Day 1
Departure from Paris Day 2
Morning Early arrival in Johannesburg Pick up rental car Groceries Afternoon Sightseeing Night in AirBNB near Johannesburg (1/1) Day 3
Morning Drive to Blyde River Canyon (500 km - 6h30) Afternoon Visit the canyon Night in AirBNB near Blyde River Canyon (1/1) Day 4
Morning Drive to central Kruger (200 km - 3h30) Night in Rest Camp (1/2) Day 5
Night in Rest Camp (2/2) Day 6
Morning Drive to southern Kruger (150 km - 3h) Night in Rest Camp (1/3) Day 7
Night in Rest Camp (2/3) Day 8
Night in Rest Camp (3/3) Day 9
Morning Drive to Mbabane (Eswatini) (250 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB or other (1/1) Day 10
Morning Drive to Maputaland (300 km - 4h) Afternoon Swimming (hippos and crocs?) Night in AirBNB or other (1/1) Day 11
Morning Drive to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi (130 km - 2h) Night in Rest Camp (1/2) Day 12
Night in Rest Camp (2/2) Day 13
Morning Drive to Durban (250 km - 3h) Night in AirBNB (1/1) Day 14
Morning First half of drive to Lesotho (225 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB or other (1/1) Day 15
Morning Second half of drive to Lesotho (225 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB or other (1/1) Day 16
Morning First half of drive to Drakensberg (250 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB or other (1/1) Day 17
Morning Second half of drive to Drakensberg (250 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB or other (1/2) Day 18
Night in AirBNB or other (2/2) Day 19
Morning Drive to Johannesburg (300 km - 4h) Night in AirBNB (1/2) Day 20
Night in AirBNB (2/2) Day 21
Morning Departure in early afternoon Day 22
Arrival in Paris
Hi everyone,
As I mentioned a few days ago in the comments on ArXplorateur’s post (https://voyageforum.com/forum/deux-semaines-en-ouganda-en-solo-en-transports-d10553168/) —which was the first to reopen the forum’s Africa section—I wanted to share our feedback on our three weeks in Uganda. We recently traveled between late August and mid-September with the Mpolampola agency, which many of you know, run by Paul. I’m editing a one-hour film about this trip, which I’ll be uploading soon to our travel-focused YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lolodetoul54
It’s almost finished and ready to be uploaded.
We planned an ambitious itinerary (maybe *too* ambitious?).
Here’s the breakdown of our packed schedule:
D0 Saturday 24/08: Departure from Paris to Uganda via Kigali with Rwandair D1 Sunday 25/08: Arrival in Entebbe Sunday morning. Departure for Lake Mburo National Park. Night at Rwakobo Lodge D2 Monday 26/08: Lake Mburo National Park. Walking safari and boat tour of the lake. Night at Rwakobo Lodge D3 Tuesday 27/08: Departure for Lake Bunyonyi. Night at Birdnest Overseas D4 Wednesday 28/08: Boat and walking tour of the lake, then drive to Lake Mutanda Lodge D5 Thursday 29/08: Hike to see the golden monkeys, then departure for Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge D6 Friday 30/08: Hike to see the gorillas. Night again at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge D7 Saturday 31/08: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Night at Twin Lakes Safari Lodge D8 Sunday 01/09: Vehicle safari and boat tour on the Kazinga Channel. Night at Twin Lakes Safari Lodge D9 Monday 02/09: Drive to Kibale Forest and walk around Crater Lake. Night at Isunga Lodge D10 Tuesday 03/09: Chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest and walk in Bigodi Swamp. Night at Isunga Lodge D11 Wednesday 04/09: On the road to Murchison Falls National Park. Walking tour with rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Night at Murchison River Lodge D12 Thursday 05/09: Vehicle safari in Murchison Falls National Park and boat ride to the falls. Night at Murchison River Lodge D13 Friday 06/09: Drive to Chobe Lodge by the Nile D14 Saturday 07/09: Long road trip to Kidepo Valley National Park. Night at Adere Lodge D15 & D16: Safari in Kidepo Valley National Park. Nights at Adere Lodge D17 Tuesday 10/09: Very long drive to Sipi Falls (Mount Elgon). Night at Lacam Lodge D18 Wednesday 11/09: Visit to the falls, then drive to Jinja (source of the Nile). Night at Haven Lodge D19 Thursday 12/09: Drive to Kampala. Night at Latitude 0. D20 Friday 13/09: Discovering shoebills in Mabamba Swamp. Evening flight back to France via Kigali, Rwanda.
That’s the teaser done! I’ll be back with more details soon. Looking forward to sharing! Loïc
As I mentioned a few days ago in the comments on ArXplorateur’s post (https://voyageforum.com/forum/deux-semaines-en-ouganda-en-solo-en-transports-d10553168/) —which was the first to reopen the forum’s Africa section—I wanted to share our feedback on our three weeks in Uganda. We recently traveled between late August and mid-September with the Mpolampola agency, which many of you know, run by Paul. I’m editing a one-hour film about this trip, which I’ll be uploading soon to our travel-focused YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lolodetoul54
It’s almost finished and ready to be uploaded.
We planned an ambitious itinerary (maybe *too* ambitious?).
Here’s the breakdown of our packed schedule:
D0 Saturday 24/08: Departure from Paris to Uganda via Kigali with Rwandair D1 Sunday 25/08: Arrival in Entebbe Sunday morning. Departure for Lake Mburo National Park. Night at Rwakobo Lodge D2 Monday 26/08: Lake Mburo National Park. Walking safari and boat tour of the lake. Night at Rwakobo Lodge D3 Tuesday 27/08: Departure for Lake Bunyonyi. Night at Birdnest Overseas D4 Wednesday 28/08: Boat and walking tour of the lake, then drive to Lake Mutanda Lodge D5 Thursday 29/08: Hike to see the golden monkeys, then departure for Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge D6 Friday 30/08: Hike to see the gorillas. Night again at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge D7 Saturday 31/08: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Night at Twin Lakes Safari Lodge D8 Sunday 01/09: Vehicle safari and boat tour on the Kazinga Channel. Night at Twin Lakes Safari Lodge D9 Monday 02/09: Drive to Kibale Forest and walk around Crater Lake. Night at Isunga Lodge D10 Tuesday 03/09: Chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest and walk in Bigodi Swamp. Night at Isunga Lodge D11 Wednesday 04/09: On the road to Murchison Falls National Park. Walking tour with rhinos at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Night at Murchison River Lodge D12 Thursday 05/09: Vehicle safari in Murchison Falls National Park and boat ride to the falls. Night at Murchison River Lodge D13 Friday 06/09: Drive to Chobe Lodge by the Nile D14 Saturday 07/09: Long road trip to Kidepo Valley National Park. Night at Adere Lodge D15 & D16: Safari in Kidepo Valley National Park. Nights at Adere Lodge D17 Tuesday 10/09: Very long drive to Sipi Falls (Mount Elgon). Night at Lacam Lodge D18 Wednesday 11/09: Visit to the falls, then drive to Jinja (source of the Nile). Night at Haven Lodge D19 Thursday 12/09: Drive to Kampala. Night at Latitude 0. D20 Friday 13/09: Discovering shoebills in Mabamba Swamp. Evening flight back to France via Kigali, Rwanda.
That’s the teaser done! I’ll be back with more details soon. Looking forward to sharing! Loïc
hi,
We’re thinking of traveling to Tanzania in June (more specifically the first half) and would love to hear about your experiences, especially regarding the Serengeti safari. Is it a good time to see the animals? Would it be better to go later? For those who’ve been there during this period, do you recommend it?
thanks in advance
Hi there,
We’re currently planning our trip to Tanzania for August 2025.
We’re a family with two teens (16 and 14) and we’re used to traveling with our backpacks, using local transport to create authentic exchanges with locals.
We’d like to do a short safari (2 days and 1 night) during our 3-week trip on a small budget.
If we had to choose just one park in Tanzania in August, which one would you recommend?
Is it easy to rent a jeep with a driver in August without going through an agency in Tanzania?
Who can help us decode the rates offered by agencies? - Park entry: how much per person? Does it vary by age? Are the rates different depending on the park? - Cost of the driver and a guide? - Is accommodation in the park taxed? - Do we need to budget for a tip?
We’d like to do a short safari (2 days and 1 night) during our 3-week trip on a small budget.
If we had to choose just one park in Tanzania in August, which one would you recommend?
Is it easy to rent a jeep with a driver in August without going through an agency in Tanzania?
Who can help us decode the rates offered by agencies? - Park entry: how much per person? Does it vary by age? Are the rates different depending on the park? - Cost of the driver and a guide? - Is accommodation in the park taxed? - Do we need to budget for a tip?
Yiiihiiiiii😎
Hey everyone, and warm greetings to all you Southern African wanderers exploring the eastern lands of this African forum!
Four years later, I can finally create a new thread about my next trip—and not just any trip: Uganda! 🙂 A destination that’s been making me dream more and more over the past few years. Originally planned for 2019 but swapped for Tanzania, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar. Then pushed aside for another well-known African destination, Namibia, with 6 friends in 2021 (but ultimately done with just 2 because of Covid). 2022 was supposed to be the year of our Canada trip (initially planned for 2020 and canceled two years in a row for the same health reasons). The 2021 safari with friends finally happened in South Africa in 2023—a classic loop that didn’t require much planning and let me start dreaming about my next African destination while devouring all the Uganda travel journals, frustrated I couldn’t reply or comment. Uganda was then reconsidered for 2024 as a follow-up to a 6-week road trip in Finland and Norway, starting from Paris to save time, money, and the ecological footprint of a transatlantic round trip—but ultimately canceled due to budget constraints, the start of my freelance work (no more paid leave), the high cost of 6 weeks in Scandinavia, and no desire to cheapen our first Uganda trip.
Uganda will be the absolute priority for 2025! 😉 And I plan to use this time to prepare for the trip properly. I also hope to use this period to get back to writing our travel journals. By absolute priority, I mean minimal restrictions and compromises on budget and travel time. 🙂
So, we’re planning to spend a month in Uganda next summer (2025). The exact month will be decided in the coming weeks. Why a month? To explore a good part of the country (really want to go up to Kidepo), enjoy the stops, and avoid putting ourselves at risk on the roads. Also, several rental companies offered me 4x4 quotes with a 10% discount for 30+ days of rental...
Here’s my humble draft itinerary:
Day 1: Late arrival in Entebbe around 11 PM. Day 2: Pick up 4x4 vehicle. Night in Jinja.
Day 3: Drive and night in Sipi Falls. Day 4: Night in Sipi Falls. Day 5: Night in Moroto. Day 6: Night in Moroto. Day 7: Drive to Kidepo NP. Day 8: Safari in Kidepo NP. Day 9: Safari in Kidepo NP. Day 10: Full day drive to Murchison Falls. Day 11: Safari in Murchison Falls. Day 12: Safari in Murchison Falls. Day 13: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Day 14: Lake Albert. Day 15: Full day drive to Kibale Forest. Day 16: Kibale Forest NP. Day 17: Drive to Kilembe (Rwenzori NP). Day 18: Hike in southern Rwenzori region. OR start Weismann’s Peak trek (Day 1). Day 19: Weismann’s Peak trek (Day 2). Day 20: Weismann’s Peak trek (Day 3). Day 21: Weismann’s Peak trek (Day 4). Day 22: Weismann’s Peak trek (Day 5), night in QENP. Day 23: QENP. Day 24: Visit Ishasha and drive to Lake Bunyonyi. Day 25: Drive to Ruhija. Day 26: Ruhija, Bwindi NP, gorilla tracking. Day 27: Mgahinga Gorilla NP... Day 28: Morning trek (gorillas or golden monkeys). Drive and night in Mburo NP.
Day 31: Visit Mburo NP and drive to Entebbe. Mabamba Swamp if we haven’t seen shoebills yet? Return 4x4 (30 days rental). Day 32: Departure from Entebbe (flight at 7:30 PM direct to Johannesburg with Uganda Airlines).
It’s not easy to visualize such a long itinerary. In terms of nights, it would look like this:
● Entebbe (1 night)
● Jinja (1 night)
● Sipi Falls (2 nights) ● Moroto (2 nights) ● Kidepo NP (3 nights) ● Murchison Falls (3 nights)
● Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (1 night)
● Lake Albert (1 night) ● Kibale Forest (2 nights)
● Rwenzori NP (5 nights) ● QENP (2 nights)
● Lake Bunyonyi (1 night)
● Ruhija (2 nights)
● Mgahinga Gorilla NP (1 night?)
● Mburo NP (2 nights)
● Entebbe (1 night)
Obviously, I already have a lot of questions .
A question I really like: Where would you add extra nights? Keeping the 5 days in Rwenzori, we still have at least 2 nights to add to this itinerary.
Also, I don’t really have a clear idea about the loop’s direction. Instinctively, I thought of doing the gorillas last to end on a high note, but given the state of rental vehicles and traveler feedback, it seems we might not even make it to the end of the trip . Is there a meteorologically better direction? Given we’re likely leaving from early August to early September.
We’ve debated a lot about renting a vehicle with or without a guide, RAV4 or a proper 4x4, rooftop tent or not... In the end, after testing the guided experience in Tanzania and noting the relatively reasonable prices of hard lodgings (compared to Tanzania, Namibia, or Botswana, for example), the high cost of equipped 4x4s, and their unpredictable condition... We’re currently leaning toward a non-equipped 4x4, opting for the newest and most reliable vehicle possible to minimize breakdowns and missed stops. Any agencies/vehicles you’d recommend? Any recent feedback from the past few years?
Where’s the best place to see golden monkeys? I read that the southern part of QENP is no longer accessible. Can’t we go to Ishasha anymore? I’ve seen a lot of disappointed reviews about QENP, but it still seems like a good place to spot leopards and hyenas. If we stick with hard lodgings, which lodge is worth it in QENP, and how many nights should we plan? Are there night drives in Uganda to observe nocturnal wildlife? Initially, I thought of doing two gorilla treks—one in Bwindi (Ruhija) and another in Mgahinga Gorilla NP. But I got excited about Rwenzori (especially with the option to extend the stay a bit) and now I’m considering a trek there instead. However, the trek to Margherita Peak’s summit takes at least 7 days at 1580 $/person (plus extra rental days...), so I’m leaning toward the 5-day Weismann’s Peak trek. Has anyone done the Weissman’s Peak trek? If we skip the gorilla trek, is Mgahinga Gorilla NP still worth visiting?
Thanks in advance for all your comments, answers, feedback, favorite spots, and tips! 🙂
Looking forward to chatting with you all on this forum again! 😉
Pierre & Alison
Hey everyone, and warm greetings to all you Southern African wanderers exploring the eastern lands of this African forum!
Four years later, I can finally create a new thread about my next trip—and not just any trip: Uganda! 🙂 A destination that’s been making me dream more and more over the past few years. Originally planned for 2019 but swapped for Tanzania, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar. Then pushed aside for another well-known African destination, Namibia, with 6 friends in 2021 (but ultimately done with just 2 because of Covid). 2022 was supposed to be the year of our Canada trip (initially planned for 2020 and canceled two years in a row for the same health reasons). The 2021 safari with friends finally happened in South Africa in 2023—a classic loop that didn’t require much planning and let me start dreaming about my next African destination while devouring all the Uganda travel journals, frustrated I couldn’t reply or comment. Uganda was then reconsidered for 2024 as a follow-up to a 6-week road trip in Finland and Norway, starting from Paris to save time, money, and the ecological footprint of a transatlantic round trip—but ultimately canceled due to budget constraints, the start of my freelance work (no more paid leave), the high cost of 6 weeks in Scandinavia, and no desire to cheapen our first Uganda trip.
Uganda will be the absolute priority for 2025! 😉 And I plan to use this time to prepare for the trip properly. I also hope to use this period to get back to writing our travel journals. By absolute priority, I mean minimal restrictions and compromises on budget and travel time. 🙂
So, we’re planning to spend a month in Uganda next summer (2025). The exact month will be decided in the coming weeks. Why a month? To explore a good part of the country (really want to go up to Kidepo), enjoy the stops, and avoid putting ourselves at risk on the roads. Also, several rental companies offered me 4x4 quotes with a 10% discount for 30+ days of rental...
Here’s my humble draft itinerary:
Day 1: Late arrival in Entebbe around 11 PM. Day 2: Pick up 4x4 vehicle. Night in Jinja.
Day 3: Drive and night in Sipi Falls. Day 4: Night in Sipi Falls. Day 5: Night in Moroto. Day 6: Night in Moroto. Day 7: Drive to Kidepo NP. Day 8: Safari in Kidepo NP. Day 9: Safari in Kidepo NP. Day 10: Full day drive to Murchison Falls. Day 11: Safari in Murchison Falls. Day 12: Safari in Murchison Falls. Day 13: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Day 14: Lake Albert. Day 15: Full day drive to Kibale Forest. Day 16: Kibale Forest NP. Day 17: Drive to Kilembe (Rwenzori NP). Day 18: Hike in southern Rwenzori region. OR start Weismann’s Peak trek (Day 1). Day 19: Weismann’s Peak trek (Day 2). Day 20: Weismann’s Peak trek (Day 3). Day 21: Weismann’s Peak trek (Day 4). Day 22: Weismann’s Peak trek (Day 5), night in QENP. Day 23: QENP. Day 24: Visit Ishasha and drive to Lake Bunyonyi. Day 25: Drive to Ruhija. Day 26: Ruhija, Bwindi NP, gorilla tracking. Day 27: Mgahinga Gorilla NP... Day 28: Morning trek (gorillas or golden monkeys). Drive and night in Mburo NP.
Day 31: Visit Mburo NP and drive to Entebbe. Mabamba Swamp if we haven’t seen shoebills yet? Return 4x4 (30 days rental). Day 32: Departure from Entebbe (flight at 7:30 PM direct to Johannesburg with Uganda Airlines).
It’s not easy to visualize such a long itinerary. In terms of nights, it would look like this:
● Entebbe (1 night)
● Jinja (1 night)
● Sipi Falls (2 nights) ● Moroto (2 nights) ● Kidepo NP (3 nights) ● Murchison Falls (3 nights)
● Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (1 night)
● Lake Albert (1 night) ● Kibale Forest (2 nights)
● Rwenzori NP (5 nights) ● QENP (2 nights)
● Lake Bunyonyi (1 night)
● Ruhija (2 nights)
● Mgahinga Gorilla NP (1 night?)
● Mburo NP (2 nights)
● Entebbe (1 night)
Obviously, I already have a lot of questions .
A question I really like: Where would you add extra nights? Keeping the 5 days in Rwenzori, we still have at least 2 nights to add to this itinerary.
Also, I don’t really have a clear idea about the loop’s direction. Instinctively, I thought of doing the gorillas last to end on a high note, but given the state of rental vehicles and traveler feedback, it seems we might not even make it to the end of the trip . Is there a meteorologically better direction? Given we’re likely leaving from early August to early September.
We’ve debated a lot about renting a vehicle with or without a guide, RAV4 or a proper 4x4, rooftop tent or not... In the end, after testing the guided experience in Tanzania and noting the relatively reasonable prices of hard lodgings (compared to Tanzania, Namibia, or Botswana, for example), the high cost of equipped 4x4s, and their unpredictable condition... We’re currently leaning toward a non-equipped 4x4, opting for the newest and most reliable vehicle possible to minimize breakdowns and missed stops. Any agencies/vehicles you’d recommend? Any recent feedback from the past few years?
Where’s the best place to see golden monkeys? I read that the southern part of QENP is no longer accessible. Can’t we go to Ishasha anymore? I’ve seen a lot of disappointed reviews about QENP, but it still seems like a good place to spot leopards and hyenas. If we stick with hard lodgings, which lodge is worth it in QENP, and how many nights should we plan? Are there night drives in Uganda to observe nocturnal wildlife? Initially, I thought of doing two gorilla treks—one in Bwindi (Ruhija) and another in Mgahinga Gorilla NP. But I got excited about Rwenzori (especially with the option to extend the stay a bit) and now I’m considering a trek there instead. However, the trek to Margherita Peak’s summit takes at least 7 days at 1580 $/person (plus extra rental days...), so I’m leaning toward the 5-day Weismann’s Peak trek. Has anyone done the Weissman’s Peak trek? If we skip the gorilla trek, is Mgahinga Gorilla NP still worth visiting?
Thanks in advance for all your comments, answers, feedback, favorite spots, and tips! 🙂
Looking forward to chatting with you all on this forum again! 😉
Pierre & Alison
Hello,
With so many agencies out there, we're feeling a bit lost. Could you please share your experience—like recommending your agency if you were happy with them—and tell us why, and if possible, what budget we should expect? Feel free to send it in a private message :)
We’re just the two of us, and ideally, we’d like to go in a 4x4 alone or with another couple, or in a very small group.
Thanks so much in advance!
We’re just the two of us, and ideally, we’d like to go in a 4x4 alone or with another couple, or in a very small group.
Thanks so much in advance!
hi everyone, we’re just back from 4 weeks in Mozambique. If you need any info—even though the situation’s getting more and more chaotic—just ask!
Hey everyone,
I’m in the middle of planning a road trip in Southern Africa, and I’m specifically working on the itinerary—especially the distances.
I’ve got the time, but I’m struggling with the transfer days (so much driving just to end up spending the whole day on the road). That’s why I’m trying to analyze travel times, even if it means adding extra stops.
My highlights in Zimbabwe would be: - Hwange - Victoria Falls (and maybe Matusadona) - Mana Pools - Harare - Gonarezhou - Great Zimbabwe
But the distances and travel times seem huge (over 4 hours each time), and I don’t see how to make the drives more chill or shorten them—even if it means adding stops (but which ones?) between each leg.
Would anyone be able to estimate the travel time between these highlights and maybe suggest some nice stops to take breaks?
I’m in the middle of planning a road trip in Southern Africa, and I’m specifically working on the itinerary—especially the distances.
I’ve got the time, but I’m struggling with the transfer days (so much driving just to end up spending the whole day on the road). That’s why I’m trying to analyze travel times, even if it means adding extra stops.
My highlights in Zimbabwe would be: - Hwange - Victoria Falls (and maybe Matusadona) - Mana Pools - Harare - Gonarezhou - Great Zimbabwe
But the distances and travel times seem huge (over 4 hours each time), and I don’t see how to make the drives more chill or shorten them—even if it means adding stops (but which ones?) between each leg.
Would anyone be able to estimate the travel time between these highlights and maybe suggest some nice stops to take breaks?
Hi everyone,
We’re seriously considering a two-week trip in August 2026 with our kids, who’ll be 11 and 10 years old.
That’s where we’re torn on the destination. For those who’ve been to both, could you share the main differences? I get the impression that in Botswana, the landscapes are a bit samey everywhere, while Namibia offers more diversity? We’re looking for an "off-the-beaten-path" adventure: safaris, meeting local communities, etc., and not too many touristy spots. Thanks for your help!
Olivia
Hi everyone,
Is it possible to change the dates or cancel a reservation in Kruger Park, please? What’s the process, and are there any fees involved? Thanks for sharing your experiences on this!
Dan
Hi,
We arrive in Johannesburg (Tambo) at 8:30 in the morning. Do you think we’ll have enough time to catch the 10:30 flight to Hoedspruit, or is it better to play it safe and take the next one at 11:40? The earlier flight would work better for us, but what if the plane is delayed 😕? Plus, we have to collect checked baggage!
Thanks for your feedback and experiences!
Danyèle
Hello,
We’re a family from Réunion with three kids, used to active holidays: biking, camping, hitchhiking, and finding last-minute accommodations.
This time, we’d like to visit a country in Southern or East Africa (since it’s close to our island—flights to Johannesburg aren’t too expensive). The kids dream of seeing animals, but we don’t want to spend our whole holiday in a 4x4!
My husband and I know West Africa well (we’ve lived for months in Burkina, Benin, and Madagascar), where it’s easy to get around by public transport, get unexpectedly invited into villages, and find food in roadside eateries... But we’re not sure if we can find that same vibe in "safari" countries.
More specific criteria:
- See animals and varied landscapes, but without ending up with 25 4x4s around one elephant... - Not spend 5 hours a day in the car every day - Do some travel by public transport - A holiday focused not just on nature but also on taking time to meet locals - Be able to hike (or even bike, canoe...) - Camp for all or part of the trip
Given all this, which destination would you recommend? South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe? Or Kenya, Tanzania? Or somewhere else?
I’ve read tons of websites and forums but I’m still confused!
This would be for about 3 weeks next July-August.
Thanks for your help!
This time, we’d like to visit a country in Southern or East Africa (since it’s close to our island—flights to Johannesburg aren’t too expensive). The kids dream of seeing animals, but we don’t want to spend our whole holiday in a 4x4!
My husband and I know West Africa well (we’ve lived for months in Burkina, Benin, and Madagascar), where it’s easy to get around by public transport, get unexpectedly invited into villages, and find food in roadside eateries... But we’re not sure if we can find that same vibe in "safari" countries.
More specific criteria:
- See animals and varied landscapes, but without ending up with 25 4x4s around one elephant... - Not spend 5 hours a day in the car every day - Do some travel by public transport - A holiday focused not just on nature but also on taking time to meet locals - Be able to hike (or even bike, canoe...) - Camp for all or part of the trip
Given all this, which destination would you recommend? South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe? Or Kenya, Tanzania? Or somewhere else?
I’ve read tons of websites and forums but I’m still confused!
This would be for about 3 weeks next July-August.
Thanks for your help!
Hi there, I’m planning our trip for February 2026. I’ve done my homework, but I’d still love your insights in case I’ve missed anything.
Arrival in Stone Town – 1 night
Jambiani – 6 nights. Activities with a guide: Mnemba, Safari Blue Mangrove, Nakupenda sandbank, etc. Without a guide, we’re thinking of renting bikes on the beach, visiting Maalum Cave, Jozani Forest ??? (no strong opinions), N’tende ??? What do you think? Quad biking?
Nungwi – 3 nights, mostly chilling and a sunset boat ride.
Last day: on the way to the airport, visit Stone Town and a spice farm.
For Jambiani, I was considering Garden Beach Bungalow. Any other accommodation recommendations?
Thanks a million for your feedback...
Arrival in Stone Town – 1 night
Jambiani – 6 nights. Activities with a guide: Mnemba, Safari Blue Mangrove, Nakupenda sandbank, etc. Without a guide, we’re thinking of renting bikes on the beach, visiting Maalum Cave, Jozani Forest ??? (no strong opinions), N’tende ??? What do you think? Quad biking?
Nungwi – 3 nights, mostly chilling and a sunset boat ride.
Last day: on the way to the airport, visit Stone Town and a spice farm.
For Jambiani, I was considering Garden Beach Bungalow. Any other accommodation recommendations?
Thanks a million for your feedback...
hi,
after a 13-day trek between Drakensberg, Lesotho, and the Wild Coast that’ll end in Durban, I’d love to extend the fun for a few more days (4 or 5) by heading to a reserve.
Ideally, it’d offer not just the usual daytime 4x4 safaris but also "morning walks."
I’ve already explored the coast up to St Lucia and done Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, iSimangaliso… so I’d prefer to head south or west instead.
It’d also need to include pickup and drop-off at Durban airport—I don’t feel like renting a car that’ll just sit unused for days.
I’ve done some research and narrowed it down, and Springbok Lodge (Nambiti Game Reserve) caught my eye. => Anyone familiar with it—what do you think? => Any other suggestions? I’d like to avoid Phezulu—it feels more like an amusement park—and Shongweni Nature Reserve seems more focused on family-friendly activities.
Thanks! Sophie
I’ve done some research and narrowed it down, and Springbok Lodge (Nambiti Game Reserve) caught my eye. => Anyone familiar with it—what do you think? => Any other suggestions? I’d like to avoid Phezulu—it feels more like an amusement park—and Shongweni Nature Reserve seems more focused on family-friendly activities.
Thanks! Sophie
Hi there,
We arrived in St Lucia today and started with a classic boat excursion to see the hippos. It was amazing!
Tomorrow, we're heading to Isimangaliso up to Cape Vidal. Quick question: what time do you recommend going?
Thanks so much!
Have a great evening! !
Hi everyone again 🙂
I was thinking of continuing the questions from my first post, but since the title was changed... I’m starting a new thread
The plane should land on Saturday around 11 AM. After collecting luggage and the car, I think we’ll leave the airport between 1 and 2 PM. Question #1: Where should we stop along the way, allowing some buffer time so we don’t end up driving at night if the flight is delayed? (The idea isn’t to sightsee but just to take a break while making progress toward Kruger.)
We’ll spend part of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (a little over 4 days) in Kruger. Questions #2 and beyond: What route should we take? I’ve considered two options: either enter from the south (Malelane Gate?) and head north up to the Olifants area to exit at Orpen Gate. How many accommodations should we book in this case, and where? Or enter at Orpen Gate and exit near Hazyview (or the other way around, and near Hazyview, should it be Paul Kruger Gate or Phabeni?). In this case, it would allow us to spend 2 nights in one place and 2 in another, but we’d skip the south (or is it possible to visit it in a day?) Well, for accommodations (accessible by sedan), all suggestions are welcome… but I’ve checked October availability, and there aren’t many left 😕 I plan to spend Thursday in the park and exit before it closes to sleep outside, which would save time the next day for the drive to the airport. I was thinking of Hazyview (again, no sightseeing since we already visited the area in 2009), but do you have another/better idea?
For clarity, here’s a summary of the Kruger part: Day 1: Arrival in Johannesburg and drive to ? Day 2: Enter Kruger (likely late morning or early afternoon) Days 3, 4, and 5: Kruger with exit at the end of Day 5 Day 6: Drive to the airport for the Cape Town and surrounds portion
Regarding Kruger bookings, it seems (I lost my old notes when my hard drive crashed—I backed up work documents but not vacation ones, what a mess!) that you can monitor reservations, and if a preferred accommodation becomes available, you can book it and cancel the old one. Is that still the case? (And is it easy to do?)
Thanks in advance for your answers. I’m off to reread travel journals about Cape Town and will probably be back with more questions (the accommodation availability issue seems less urgent there, so less of a priority).
I was thinking of continuing the questions from my first post, but since the title was changed... I’m starting a new thread
The plane should land on Saturday around 11 AM. After collecting luggage and the car, I think we’ll leave the airport between 1 and 2 PM. Question #1: Where should we stop along the way, allowing some buffer time so we don’t end up driving at night if the flight is delayed? (The idea isn’t to sightsee but just to take a break while making progress toward Kruger.)
We’ll spend part of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (a little over 4 days) in Kruger. Questions #2 and beyond: What route should we take? I’ve considered two options: either enter from the south (Malelane Gate?) and head north up to the Olifants area to exit at Orpen Gate. How many accommodations should we book in this case, and where? Or enter at Orpen Gate and exit near Hazyview (or the other way around, and near Hazyview, should it be Paul Kruger Gate or Phabeni?). In this case, it would allow us to spend 2 nights in one place and 2 in another, but we’d skip the south (or is it possible to visit it in a day?) Well, for accommodations (accessible by sedan), all suggestions are welcome… but I’ve checked October availability, and there aren’t many left 😕 I plan to spend Thursday in the park and exit before it closes to sleep outside, which would save time the next day for the drive to the airport. I was thinking of Hazyview (again, no sightseeing since we already visited the area in 2009), but do you have another/better idea?
For clarity, here’s a summary of the Kruger part: Day 1: Arrival in Johannesburg and drive to ? Day 2: Enter Kruger (likely late morning or early afternoon) Days 3, 4, and 5: Kruger with exit at the end of Day 5 Day 6: Drive to the airport for the Cape Town and surrounds portion
Regarding Kruger bookings, it seems (I lost my old notes when my hard drive crashed—I backed up work documents but not vacation ones, what a mess!) that you can monitor reservations, and if a preferred accommodation becomes available, you can book it and cancel the old one. Is that still the case? (And is it easy to do?)
Thanks in advance for your answers. I’m off to reread travel journals about Cape Town and will probably be back with more questions (the accommodation availability issue seems less urgent there, so less of a priority).
Hi everyone,
It's official—I've got our flight tickets for next October! Two weeks with my 16-year-old son, aiming to see plenty of big animals and birds.
Thanks to all of you for the wealth of information on this site.
After going through a good chunk of the forum and travel journals about South Africa, I think my itinerary is ready...
I’ve planned 2 days with long drives to minimize time spent outside the parks. These are Sunday the 18th: Johannesburg Airport to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve, and Friday the 23rd: St. Lucia to Nelspruit (staying in South Africa) or as close as possible to visit the Canyon the next day.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the itinerary, especially these 2 days—are they doable or not? Should I book in advance, or will there be places to sleep along the way if we don’t make it to our planned destination? What’s the crowd level in South Africa in October?
As for Kruger, I’ve chosen campsites with camping facilities, prioritizing the "satellite" camps, at least in the northern part!! I’ve planned to change camps almost every day to combine travel and wildlife spotting, but is this the right choice?
The itinerary:
Sunday 18th Arrival at 8:50 AM in Johannesburg Drive to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve 530 km, 7h20 1 night (18th–19th) at the northern gate
Monday 19th Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve 1h30, 50 km 2nd night (19th–20th) southeast of the reserve
Tuesday 20th Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve 3rd night (20th–21st) southeast of the reserve or Mpila
Wednesday 21st Reserve and drive to St. Lucia Drive to St. Lucia: 1h, 50 km Crocodile and hippo boat tour at 3 PM 4th night (21st–22nd) in St. Lucia Sugarloaf Campsites
Thursday 22nd Whale-watching tour 7–9 AM (or the next day) Cap Vidal, day trip: 70 km round trip 5th night (22nd–23rd) in St. Lucia Sugarloaf Campsites
Friday 23rd Drive to Nelspruit 541 km, 7h Night in Nelspruit 6th night (23rd–24th) in Graskop
Saturday 24th Blyde River Canyon 150 km, 2h + stops 7th night (24th–25th) at Blyde Canyon Forever Resort
Sunday 25th (Kruger Day 1) Leopard Trail hike: 3h Drive to Kruger, Phalaborwa Gate 136 km, 2h to the park entrance 75 km, 3h to Mopani - Tzende 8th night (25th–26th) Kruger 1: Tsendze
Monday 26th (Kruger Day 2) Drive to Balule: 84 km, 3h20 9th night (26th–27th) Kruger 2: Balule
Tuesday 27th (Kruger Day 3) Drive to Satara: 160 km, 6h25 10th night (27th–28th) Kruger 3: Satara
Wednesday 28th (Kruger Day 4) Kruger 11th night (28th–29th) Kruger 4: Satara
Thursday 29th (Kruger Day 5) Kruger 12th night (29th–30th) Kruger 5: Skukuza
Friday 30th (Kruger Day 6) Kruger 13th night (30th–31st) Kruger 6: Lower Sabi
Saturday 31st (Kruger Day 7) Kruger 14th night (31st–1st) Kruger 7: Berg-en-Dal
Sunday 31st Departure: flight at 9:15 PM (must be at the airport by 6 PM max) Morning in Kruger, then drive 400 km, 5h30—departure by 11 AM max
Thanks in advance for your feedback! Claude
It's official—I've got our flight tickets for next October! Two weeks with my 16-year-old son, aiming to see plenty of big animals and birds.
Thanks to all of you for the wealth of information on this site.
After going through a good chunk of the forum and travel journals about South Africa, I think my itinerary is ready...
I’ve planned 2 days with long drives to minimize time spent outside the parks. These are Sunday the 18th: Johannesburg Airport to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve, and Friday the 23rd: St. Lucia to Nelspruit (staying in South Africa) or as close as possible to visit the Canyon the next day.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the itinerary, especially these 2 days—are they doable or not? Should I book in advance, or will there be places to sleep along the way if we don’t make it to our planned destination? What’s the crowd level in South Africa in October?
As for Kruger, I’ve chosen campsites with camping facilities, prioritizing the "satellite" camps, at least in the northern part!! I’ve planned to change camps almost every day to combine travel and wildlife spotting, but is this the right choice?
The itinerary:
Sunday 18th Arrival at 8:50 AM in Johannesburg Drive to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve 530 km, 7h20 1 night (18th–19th) at the northern gate
Monday 19th Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve 1h30, 50 km 2nd night (19th–20th) southeast of the reserve
Tuesday 20th Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve 3rd night (20th–21st) southeast of the reserve or Mpila
Wednesday 21st Reserve and drive to St. Lucia Drive to St. Lucia: 1h, 50 km Crocodile and hippo boat tour at 3 PM 4th night (21st–22nd) in St. Lucia Sugarloaf Campsites
Thursday 22nd Whale-watching tour 7–9 AM (or the next day) Cap Vidal, day trip: 70 km round trip 5th night (22nd–23rd) in St. Lucia Sugarloaf Campsites
Friday 23rd Drive to Nelspruit 541 km, 7h Night in Nelspruit 6th night (23rd–24th) in Graskop
Saturday 24th Blyde River Canyon 150 km, 2h + stops 7th night (24th–25th) at Blyde Canyon Forever Resort
Sunday 25th (Kruger Day 1) Leopard Trail hike: 3h Drive to Kruger, Phalaborwa Gate 136 km, 2h to the park entrance 75 km, 3h to Mopani - Tzende 8th night (25th–26th) Kruger 1: Tsendze
Monday 26th (Kruger Day 2) Drive to Balule: 84 km, 3h20 9th night (26th–27th) Kruger 2: Balule
Tuesday 27th (Kruger Day 3) Drive to Satara: 160 km, 6h25 10th night (27th–28th) Kruger 3: Satara
Wednesday 28th (Kruger Day 4) Kruger 11th night (28th–29th) Kruger 4: Satara
Thursday 29th (Kruger Day 5) Kruger 12th night (29th–30th) Kruger 5: Skukuza
Friday 30th (Kruger Day 6) Kruger 13th night (30th–31st) Kruger 6: Lower Sabi
Saturday 31st (Kruger Day 7) Kruger 14th night (31st–1st) Kruger 7: Berg-en-Dal
Sunday 31st Departure: flight at 9:15 PM (must be at the airport by 6 PM max) Morning in Kruger, then drive 400 km, 5h30—departure by 11 AM max
Thanks in advance for your feedback! Claude
Hi everyone,
We're heading out again for a little road trip through South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia.
Quick question: we're leaving from Midrand, taking the N14 to Vryburg, then heading toward the McCarthy's Border crossing. After that, we want to reach the Mabuasehube Gate.
The question is, how long does it take to get from Midrand to the Mabuasehube Gate?
We plan to make one stop near Vryburg to fill up on drinks and snacks.
Thanks in advance for your replies, especially if anyone's done this route before!
JP M
Hi everyone,
I’m planning my next trip in September, and after two self-drive trips to Botswana last year, I’d love to explore Kruger. Since I’m used to camping, I’m thinking of renting an equipped van from Kitted Africa (a small Suzuki van—thanks Safari Expert!) to sleep in a tent and occasionally in a hut.
Here’s my provisional itinerary, and I’d love to hear your thoughts if you don’t mind. I’ve got 13 nights to plan in Kruger. The rental company is based in Nelspruit.
Entering from the south: 14-15-16.09: 3 nights at Crocodile Bridge or Lower Sabie 17-18-19.09: 3 nights at Skukuza 20-21.09: 2 nights at Satara 22-23-24.09: 3 nights at Olifants 25-26.09: 2 nights at Tamboti or Talamati
Exiting the park on 27.09 via Orpen Gate, then heading to Blyde River Canyon for a night in a hotel or elsewhere. 28.09: Return to Nelspruit, drop off the van, and stay in a hotel. 29.09 (midday): Airlink flight to Johannesburg, then an evening return flight to GVA.
What do you think? Too many nights here, not enough there?
I’ll be traveling solo, I love driving, and I enjoy settling in the middle of nature to listen, observe, and take photos (Botswana was perfect for that).
Thanks in advance! Nicole Photo: Baines Baobab, Botswana, April 2025
I’m planning my next trip in September, and after two self-drive trips to Botswana last year, I’d love to explore Kruger. Since I’m used to camping, I’m thinking of renting an equipped van from Kitted Africa (a small Suzuki van—thanks Safari Expert!) to sleep in a tent and occasionally in a hut.
Here’s my provisional itinerary, and I’d love to hear your thoughts if you don’t mind. I’ve got 13 nights to plan in Kruger. The rental company is based in Nelspruit.
Entering from the south: 14-15-16.09: 3 nights at Crocodile Bridge or Lower Sabie 17-18-19.09: 3 nights at Skukuza 20-21.09: 2 nights at Satara 22-23-24.09: 3 nights at Olifants 25-26.09: 2 nights at Tamboti or Talamati
Exiting the park on 27.09 via Orpen Gate, then heading to Blyde River Canyon for a night in a hotel or elsewhere. 28.09: Return to Nelspruit, drop off the van, and stay in a hotel. 29.09 (midday): Airlink flight to Johannesburg, then an evening return flight to GVA.
What do you think? Too many nights here, not enough there?
I’ll be traveling solo, I love driving, and I enjoy settling in the middle of nature to listen, observe, and take photos (Botswana was perfect for that).
Thanks in advance! Nicole Photo: Baines Baobab, Botswana, April 2025
Hi everyone, I’m planning a two-week trip to Tanzania at the end of December and beginning of January, including 3 or 4 days in Zanzibar. But after reading some posts about the island, I’m wondering if it’s really worth it.
Are the beaches on the mainland just as idyllic as Zanzibar’s? I’ve also seen there are other islands, like Mafia Island, which is less touristy.
Another question: for my arrival, I don’t want to stay in Dar es Salaam, as big cities don’t really appeal to me. Would Bagamoyo be a good base, or would you recommend somewhere else?
To give you more details, I’m not traveling with a tour operator—I’m more of a backpacker and prefer local transport.
Thanks for your advice!
Are the beaches on the mainland just as idyllic as Zanzibar’s? I’ve also seen there are other islands, like Mafia Island, which is less touristy.
Another question: for my arrival, I don’t want to stay in Dar es Salaam, as big cities don’t really appeal to me. Would Bagamoyo be a good base, or would you recommend somewhere else?
To give you more details, I’m not traveling with a tour operator—I’m more of a backpacker and prefer local transport.
Thanks for your advice!
Hi there. We’ll be in South Africa at the end of February ’26 with a rental car—not a 4x4.
What’s the best route between Kosy Bay and the southern part of Kruger Park?
Is the Mozambique route via Maputo a good option?
What are the formalities for crossing into Mozambique?
Is the Kosy Bay area worth a detour?
We’ll be entering Kruger from the south for 4 days. Any recommendations for routes/campsites? Lower Sabie, Satara?
Do we really need to book accommodations in Kruger in February? And what about safaris?
Thanks for your input!
Franz
