Results for "Afrique+du+Sud+événement"

Hi there, For our trip in a month, we’ll have a long wait at OR Tambo. Our flight from Port Elizabeth lands at 2 p.m. and our return flight doesn’t leave until 11:45 p.m. I’m looking for either a nearby spot to kill time or a quiet corner in the airport to catch some sleep and relax. Any ideas, please? Thanks

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

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 everyone, I’m trying to finalize my 2-week itinerary for mid-February. We’ll have traveled from Port Elizabeth to George, stopping by Plettenberg and Knysna, and we’ll be around De Rust at the end. We want to take the return route to Port Elizabeth with an overnight stop since we don’t like driving for long hours. We’re torn between going through the Karoo with a stop in Steytlerville or taking the R62 via Joubertina and Kareedouw. Which option would you recommend, please? Just to clarify, we’ll have a compact car. Thanks for your help! Maeva

Hi, Back from South Africa since 24/10/25, we’re having trouble getting our deposit back after renting a car at Cape Town Airport with Pace Car Rental through Carwiz! It’s still a sum over 1000 €!! Lots of email exchanges via WhatsApp where they send me the refund proof dated 25/11, but my bank can’t find any trace of it!! Just to clarify, the car was returned without a scratch, as they confirmed! Has anyone else run into this issue with this rental company, or others for that matter? And if it’s a scam, what are the possible courses of action? I’m hoping there are some… I was thinking of contacting our Consulate in Cape Town to see if they can help with the next steps or even intervene with this rental company! This kind of practice isn’t going to help boost tourism relations with South Africa!! Thanks for your feedback, Dan

Hi there, My trip to South Africa is starting to take shape. However, I'm struggling to figure out the route through Kruger Park. I can't seem to find the information I need about getting around. Coming from the south, I plan to arrive on Day 1 in the early afternoon at Malelane or Crocodile Bridge. Do some shopping in Malelane (or Crocodile Bridge main area) and stay overnight outside the park. Leave on Day 2 at 5 AM for the park. Explore the southern part of the park. Stay overnight around Skukuza or Lower Sabie. (We don’t want to stay in one of the park’s big camps. We’re looking for a lodge around 200 €. Head out on Day 3 for a self-drive safari, maybe as far as Orpen. We’d like to stay in a private reserve on nights 4 and 5. We’re not sure which one or how to get into a private reserve. Do we need to exit Kruger Park? On Day 5, we’d like to leave to visit Blyde Canyon (on Day 6).

Could you help us with these different locations?

Thanks

Hi there, We’re planning a trip to South Africa and thinking of renting a car. Is it straightforward, and are there any companies to avoid or others you’d recommend?

We just realized our international driving permit has expired, and the French administration says it’ll take 5 months to get a new one. Is it possible to rent a car without this famous international permit?

Thanks in advance for all your tips!

Continuing the journey!

Waterberg to Mapungubwe.

The roads in this area aren’t great. I should’ve taken the N1 and gone via Musina... A massive storm on the road... 60 km away, hazard lights on...

Mapungubwe isn’t new to me, but I’d decided to try the western part, at Limpopo Tented Camp.

Upon arrival... “Sorry, a tree fell on one of the chalets...” “We’ll put you up for the first night at Leokwe, in the eastern part.” From what they said, it happened yesterday... but on-site, we saw it had actually been several months!

Sanparks’ management is still very much “outside usual standards.” There’s constantly work being done “haphazardly,” shoddily, poorly... And the welcome from staff really depends on the person and the day.

Oh well, no big deal—we’ll spend a night at Leokwe!

The eastern part “normally” doesn’t have lions... there are several spots where you can get out of the car... We saw general game, buffaloes, elephants... leopards (yes, see another travel journal), and now possibly cheetahs in the far eastern section. Our friend Montagnard had asked me (following another discussion) if I knew any truly ethical associations... I’d pointed him to a cheetah conservation group. I can confirm—they’re the ones who released several cheetahs into this part of Mapungubwe. Leokwe is stunning, unfenced... with a pretty high chance of seeing elephants in the camp, drinking from the pool or brushing past the chalet terraces. This area is still a fantastic spot for spectacular wildlife sightings and insane landscapes!

Last year, I stumbled upon a "nature reserve" in the Waterberg by sheer luck. Just one night, but I was so thrilled that I went back this year for three nights. It was perfect for breaking up the trip between Marakele and Mapungubwe. The Waterberg is the Limpopo of game farms, hunting farms... and places trying to attract clients from Joburg and Kruger, with varying levels of ethics. The roads aren’t always great, potholes are everywhere, and Google Maps is pretty unreliable. But in my case, I found exactly what I was looking for...

As often happens, old farms have been grouped together to create a nature reserve that doesn’t sell you "wild" lions, has no rhinos (protecting rhinos is complicated), no elephants, and no buffalo. So, antelopes, elusive leopards, hyenas (didn’t see any), peaceful giraffes, warthogs, etc.—just general game! What’s the point? Well, you go for walks or hikes with game drives... you bike... you chill. You get out of the car. For us this year, a gorgeous "house," fully equipped, on the edge of the forest, with wood for the fire and a plain as the view... An unbeatable quality-to-price ratio in a natural setting! A little photo dump for the vibe. You’ve gathered that part of the exploration is by car (it’s big) and part on foot...

Hi there,

My month in South Africa went really well. The itinerary revisits some places I’ve already seen—even a few times over...

Joburg – Marakele – Waterberg – Mapungubwe – Northern Kruger – Panorama Route – Southern Kruger – Eswatini (Hlane) – Maputaland (Sodwana Bay) – St Lucia – Joburg via Richards Bay.

I’ll skip some spots and focus on others.

Today’s topic: Marakele.

Back in 2009, I spent a day there, and since then... I’ve tried several times to go back.

The park isn’t very big—nowhere near as lush as Kruger—but it has a lot going for it. Even back then, there was a split between the western section, where you wouldn’t find any “dangerous” animals like elephants or buffalo (though rhinos were around), and the eastern section, the Big Five zone. Nowadays, the western part is open to mountain biking, and the campsite is completely unfenced, which pretty much confirms that the big animals aren’t there—no rhinos either (I didn’t see a single dung pile). The western section didn’t seem all that interesting to me... with vervet monkeys everywhere in the campsite. In the eastern part, there’s the Topli tented camp, right by a dam. It’s small but charming, with a great view and a loosely fenced perimeter (there are now lions and wild dogs in this area). No facilities—no restaurant, no pool (except at the campsite), no shop, no fuel, nothing...

View from the “chalet” terrace... nice and relaxed...



So, a terrace with a view for the lucky ones...



Bedroom and bathroom, separate and equipped kitchen. It can get windy. It must be cold in winter... but it’s hot this October.

Some lovely little roads... though some sections are 4x4-friendly.







A viewpoint at the top—you’re supposed to see the vulture colony from there... still haven’t seen it, as far as I’m concerned.



The animals?

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! 🙂

Hi, could someone tell me about the administrative procedures and required vaccines for traveling to South Africa? Thanks

Hi there, We're considering the following route: - Cape Town - West Coast National Park - Lambert's Bay - Springbok - Upington - KTP That’s about 1,250 km in total. We’ve already visited the West Coast National Park. Is covering such a distance to reach KTP (the main goal of our trip) really worth it—does it offer enough to justify the detour? Thanks for your input!

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

Hi, I’m looking for a safe place to stay in Camp’s Bay or the surrounding area—do you have any recommendations? The guest house in Camp Bay we used to go to no longer exists. Thanks for your help!

Hello, We’re a group of four seventy-something retirees and we’re planning a 4-week trip to South Africa. We’re seasoned "adventurers" used to multi-week stays (we’ve been to India seven times, Mexico, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Australia, etc.).

For South Africa, we’re thinking of covering most of the trip in a private vehicle and taking flights for inter-state transfers. We’re interested in meeting people, learning about the country’s evolution, exploring major cities, visiting traditional villages, and seeing wildlife.

Here’s the itinerary we’re considering: Johannesburg – 2 days (we’ll pass through again later) Pretoria – 2 days Blyde River Canyon and Graskop – 1 day Acornhoek – 1 day Letaba – 2 days Lobamba – 2 days Johannesburg – 1 day

Flight to Cape Town

Cape Town – 3 days Cape of Good Hope – 1 day Stellenbosch – 1 day Hermanus – 1 day Mossel Bay – 2 days Oudtshoorn Wilderness – 2 days Knysna Port Elizabeth – 2 days Addo Elephant Park

Flight back to Johannesburg

Johannesburg – 1 day

Return to Paris

Could you share your thoughts on this itinerary? We’ll be renting a vehicle to explore both regions. We can easily add 4–5 more days to the trip if needed.

We’re looking at traveling either between April and May 2026 or in October/November 2026.

I’ll follow up later to discuss the best safari options and get a rough budget estimate.

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this and share their thoughts!

Hi, We’re leaving for South Africa soon (on 10/9) and I was wondering if there’s a need for things like paracetamol, since we can bring some! And if so, how should we go about it—can we drop them off at a private lodge, in Kruger, in Cape Town...? Thanks for any tips or experiences you can share—quickly, since we’re leaving soon! 😉

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! 🙂

Help,

We're looking for insurance for our vehicle that we're taking to Southern Africa for our 6-month trip. Thanks for your help.

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right section, but just wanted to warn future travelers...

Where’s Cape Vidal? It’s in iSimangaliso, an independent park in KZN Wildlife, stunning and just a stone’s throw from St Lucia (KwaZulu-Natal, Maputaland). It’s the beach spot at the end of the Eastern Shores road. You can swim, fish... but watch out for waves, currents, and sharks... There’s a really nice game drive where you can get out of your car at certain points, especially at Cape Vidal. That’s where the camp with bungalows and campsites is. The vervets and samango monkeys (endemic to the area, and the males are pretty big) can be a bit of a nuisance if you’re trying to braai... They’re super persistent and not shy at all—don’t let them intimidate you, and stay alert because their speed at snatching food is impressive. Anyway... I’m reporting two recent attacks by these hyenas... who were *not* in a playful mood... The first one happened at night—a hyena tried to bite a camper’s nose off in their tent... and succeeded. The other night, a camper returning to their tent in the early hours was violently attacked by two hyenas... and they had a close call! So, if you’re camping there, be careful... Measures are being taken, but for now, it’s a bit risky.