Results for "safari+|+121+>+84"

Hi,

Many of us have noticed that bugs have been making it difficult to navigate the forum lately.

I’ll let Kate and Ticapi explain the issue:

I went to your profile to check out the Thailand travel journal, and when I clicked on it, it brought me back here again. All week, I’ve been dealing with bugs like this—it’s really discouraging from continuing on VF.🙁

I had the same thing happen, and multiple times. For me, it was Montagnard’s latest journal that kept coming up no matter which discussion I clicked on.

Hopefully, a solution will be found soon.🙂

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 there,

We’ll be in Tokyo for two full days (not counting the arrival and departure days), while waiting to board a cruise in Japan.

We’ll be staying right next to the port of Yokohama. Are there any agencies offering guided tours of the city? Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Hi there, I’m looking for a driver who can take my 77-year-old parents on a classic 15-day road trip. Windhoek - Okonjima - Etosha - Khorixas - Swakopmund - Sesriem - Mariental Having done this route myself last year, I didn’t see the point of joining an organized tour, and my parents are seasoned travelers but no longer feel 100% comfortable driving on rough roads with the risk of a flat tire or sandstorm (we didn’t encounter either, but it’s a 50/50 chance). In Asia, this kind of arrangement is super easy to organize, but I get the feeling it’s less straightforward to find this type of service in Namibia. The 4x4 rental would be handled through an agency in Windhoek (Safari Car Rental—great experience). We’d book nights in lodges or hotels directly (no camping). Thanks in advance for any tips or recommendations!

Hi there, First question: We're leaving Kruger Park from Olifants camp to head to BRC. I know the drive is long (about 4 hours, especially since I think the part through the park will be slow due to animals). We're exiting the park via Phalaborwa Gate, but I can't find a map, so it's hard to tell if we'll arrive at the top of the Canyon or via Graskop to then drive up the Panorama Route.

Second question: I booked 1 night at Forever Resort, but if we arrive from the top and then drive down the Panorama Route, I'm not sure that's the best choice.

Third question: Since we're leaving Kruger early in the morning, I think we can plan to explore the area in the afternoon. We'll sleep there, and then we need to be at our lodge in the Balule private reserve by late morning (Imagine Africa) to catch the afternoon safari. I'm worried it might be too short if we want to do a boat trip on the dam! What do you think? Should I add another night? It's still possible since I haven't planned the rest yet, and we have 7 nights left in Cape Town, including Hermanus! Do you think I should cut short the Cape Town stay? If so, I could break the BRC trip into two parts—one night after leaving Kruger before the private safari, and then come back this way (since it's not too far, I think) after the two nights on safari before heading to Cape Town. But how can I organize the visits logically?

I can already hear Michel telling me I'm overcomplicating things!! 😉

Anyway, it's all a bit confusing—don't hesitate to ask for clarification if you need it. I'd understand! Thanks, Dan

Hi there!

What a pleasure to be back on this forum—I thought it had closed down? If it has indeed reopened, that’s fantastic news! :)

My wife and I are heading to Kenya for three weeks starting August 30th, and I’d love some help fine-tuning our itinerary and answering a few questions. Here’s the rough draft I’ve put together:

08/30: Nairobi (2 nights) 09/01-09/04: Masai Mara (3 nights, then return to Nairobi) 09/05-09/07: Rift Valley/Nakuru/Hell’s Gate/etc. (2 nights, then return to Nairobi) 09/08: Nairobi > Amboseli (2 nights) 09/10: Amboseli > Tsavo East (2 nights) 09/12: Tsavo > Mombasa (1 night) 09/13: Mombasa > Kilifi (2 nights) 09/15: Kilifi > Malindi > Lamu (3 nights) 09/18: Return to Nairobi 09/19: Departure at 23:40

I’ve got a ton of questions, but I’ll try to summarize them somewhat:

Do you have any recommendations for tour operators for the safaris? Right now, I’ve planned 11 days for the "safari" portion from Masai Mara to Tsavo, with a lot of returns to Nairobi—is it possible to optimize this without booking a full tour with a single agency? Aside from the cost, I’m worried I won’t feel very free if we do a 9-day experience covering all of it, but maybe that’s the most recommended option? Do all the destinations up to Mombasa require booking a tour and hiring a guide in advance (or having your own vehicle), or are some more open to improvisation? We’d also like to meet people and not just do safaris, but our current itinerary doesn’t really allow for that—would you recommend cutting back on safaris and visiting villages between Nairobi and the coast instead? We were also considering the Taita Hills if possible—what do you think? Is Kilifi a good idea? We’ve heard it’s more authentic than Diani and we’re interested in the bioluminescent plankton, but I feel like the detour complicates the trip a bit.

You can probably tell from my questions that our biggest concern right now is booking the safaris. We can’t really afford to spend 2000 € each for 4 days, but we also won’t be taking a trip like this again anytime soon, so we want to make the most of it!

Hope my questions make sense and that you can help us out—thanks, and have a great evening!

Camille

Hi everyone,

Just sharing our experience from our wonderful trip for two, which we’ve just returned from. We decided to get help with the bookings from the agency Tourmaline Safaris, and everything was perfectly organized without any extra costs for the reservations. We chose to alternate nights in rooftop tents, Camping2Go (fitted tents), and guesthouses.

Flight from Paris to Windhoek with a layover in Johannesburg. 4x4 rented from Safari Car Rental—flawless. We had an official translation of our driver’s licenses, but no one asked for them during the trip. Mariental: 1 night in Camping2Go (Anib Lodge) Sersiem: 1 night in a rooftop tent (Oshana Campsite) Solitaire: 1 night in Camping2Go (Nabis Desert Lodge) Swakopmund: 2 nights in a guesthouse (The Stiltz) Spitzkoppe: 1 night in Camping2Go Omaruru: 2 nights in a rooftop tent (Omandumba Cave Camp) Etosha East: 1 night in a rooftop tent (Etosha Safari Village) Etosha West: 2 nights in a rooftop tent (Onguma Tamboti)—game drive and morning walk with them Okahandja: 1 night in Camping2Go Windhoek: 1 night at Londiningi Guesthouse Then... flight to Victoria Falls and transfer by car to Kasane for 2 nights (Water Lily Lodge), followed by a transfer to Victoria Falls for 2 nights at Phe Zulu. All transfers were arranged by Tourmaline, and they were all perfectly on time.

No logistical issues with Tourmaline Safaris, and given that our initial flight was delayed by a day, my checked luggage arrived a week late (Tourmaline arranged for the luggage to be transferred by taxi to Omaruru), and our initial Windhoek-Kasane flight was canceled by Air Botswana without explanation, we were really relieved to have the agency’s local contact to handle these unexpected issues! Delayed luggage seems to be common, but the agency had warned us, so we packed our carry-ons accordingly.

It was very cold at night (June), especially in Omaruru, but luckily we were prepared. Since it had rained a lot this season, Victoria Falls was flowing heavily! So much so that the water mist prevented us from seeing the eastern part of the falls. But a short helicopter tour gave us a better view. Be aware that the entrance fees for the falls are high (50 dollars per person) and only grant one entry—you can’t come in the morning and return in the late afternoon. We stayed from 6 AM to 3 PM in the park, taking breaks at the cafeteria, to see the falls at sunrise, at 11 AM (when the mist partially lifts), and at 3 PM (not much difference from the 11 AM view).

That’s it! A magnificent trip that left us with wonderful memories. Nothing disappointed us.

If you’d like more details, feel free to ask!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a road trip in Kenya and I’m wondering about renting a vehicle. I’d like to know if a 4x4 is really necessary if I book safaris directly through the lodges in the reserves. If I only need a vehicle for long trips (e.g., Nairobi->Masai Mara and Masai Mara->Amboseli, then later to Mombasa), is it worth renting a 4x4?

Thanks in advance for your feedback—I’m not sure about the road conditions here! !

Hi, We’re heading to South Africa at the end of July, and thanks to your great tips, our itinerary is all set. We still have a few questions, though. For safaris, we’re definitely bringing binoculars, but do you have any advice? I’ve heard that a 10x42 model is the way to go, but prices vary a lot. There are some at Décathlon (Solognac)—do you think they’re worth it? Thanks so much for your tips! Have a great day

Hey fellow travelers,

I'm back in the "travel journal" section to share our 15-day adventure in Kenya in November 2024. It was pretty much our first time in East Africa (since Zanzibar doesn’t really count 😜).

As usual, I’m sharing the journal I made for our loved ones—still as casual and cheerful as ever, just to give them a little break from their tough workdays 😄.

We organized the whole trip ourselves, and to be original here LOL, we took some *very* well-trodden paths: Naivasha, Tsavo, and Diani. But what I loved about this country is that it’s so easy to go off the beaten track—even on the "tourist highways" 😉.

So, if you're a safari fanatic or after stunning wildlife photos, you might be disappointed. But if you want to discover other sides of Kenya, you might just find what you're looking for 😉.

Looking forward to sharing this fun journey with you all 😊.

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

Hi everyone, I’m thinking of heading to Southern Africa next autumn for several months. I’d love some advice on my itinerary—I’m looking for authentic spots with cheap accommodation. I know Southern Africa is generally pricier than Asia or Latin America because of the lack of backpacker infrastructure (except maybe Cape Town). I’m planning to visit South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, and maybe Eswatini. My main goal in South Africa is to see the coexistence between white, mixed-race, and Black communities. I think I’ll skip Namibia and Botswana because of the cost of living. Thanks

Hi there, We did a trip to South Africa in August 2023 and at the time, we regretted not being able to make the most of the Cape Town area because of the weather. So we’re thinking of going back during the right season in early 2026 for 2 weeks, but I’m struggling a bit to plan the itinerary. We’d like to spend a few days on safari, but options are somewhat limited in this (large) geographic area since it’s not the right season for KTP, and Addo Elephant Park doesn’t seem like the best choice. Are there any interesting private reserves in this area? Otherwise, we’re considering starting with a few days in Madikwe from Johannesburg, then about ten days from Cape Town. For those 10 days, do you have any suggestions that go beyond the classic Garden Route? We’ve heard good things about the Cederberg, but after that, I’m struggling to put together something coherent. Thanks for your suggestions! Jacques

Hi there,

We’re planning to visit Yala Park for half a day. Could anyone tell me which block is the most interesting to visit, given that we’re coming from Tangalle?

Thanks for your reply.

Hi there, We’ll be traveling as a family with our two teens (16 and 14) in Tanzania in August 2025 for three weeks. We’d like to use public transport to get around, especially the train between Arusha and Dar Es Salaam, as well as the Dar Es Salaam–Morogoro route. We’re looking for: - firsthand experiences - fares - journey durations - how to book (in advance? or on the day?) - a website to check train schedules?

Thanks for your tips!

Hi everyone, has anyone been to Shingwezi Camp in the northern part of Kruger Park? I read on the SanParks website that the drive from Phalaborwa Gate to Shingwezi Camp takes 12 hours🤯. Can anyone confirm this? When I check Google Maps, it shows a 5-hour trip?? Thanks for your replies 😅

Hi there,

I spent 3 weeks there from May 7th to 28th, 2023.

I arrived and departed from the capital, Lusaka.

I rented a 4x4 equipped for camping/overlanding with the only serious option I found at the time from Fair Car Hires. This was to avoid the long approach times from South Africa or Botswana.

4x4: $3,402 for 18 days (😕), a Toyota Hilux Double-Cab Safari Camper—fully equipped, 3.0L diesel, manual transmission, air-con, Bluetooth radio, and 1 or 2 roof-top tents.

I’d already traveled through Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, and KTP, and Harry (the owner of Lukasa in Lusaka) told me Zambia was the "real Africa." I wasn’t disappointed on that front 😉.

I explored three parks: - Lower Zambezi NP (2 nights camping nearby at Mvuu Lodge) - South Luangwa NP (2 nights at Wildlife Camp + 3 nights at Croc Valley Lodge campsite) - Kafue NP (3 nights at Kasabushi Bush Camp + 3 nights at Mapunga Bush Camp) (Check out my route on a map on my personal site).

That’s a lot of kilometers in 3 weeks—just a few well-paved roads in good condition, but mostly rough roads or tracks, which really slows down your average speed 😕.

No supply issues for fuel or food, but watch out for stock in some grocery stores (one Friday afternoon in Chipata, the fruit and vegetable shelves were empty!).

May is still a bit early in the season, so the grass is still tall in the plains.

Lower Zambezi NP: A mother elephant and her "little one":

South Luangwa NP, near the Mushilashi Bridge:

Kafue NP, morning sunrise:

Kafue NP, spotting two lions on Spinal Road near the Shishemba Loop:

Northern Kafue NP:

Kafue NP, leopard during a morning game drive:

Northern Kafue NP, at my campsite in Mapunga Bush Camp—hippo on night watch (Where’s Charlie? 😉):

Kafue NP, tall grass—buffalo lurking!

In Lusaka, I highly recommend Harry and Geke’s welcoming green property, Lukasa, as a base camp (over Lusaka Pioneer Campsite, where I stayed my first night).

More photos on my personal site: wildescapesoverland.com

Happy to help, Pierre

PS: To the site admins, please consider allowing the .webp image format—it’ll significantly cut your storage costs while keeping great resolution.

Hi everyone, My partner, our 6-year-old daughter, and I are heading to South Africa in early July. I’d love your thoughts and insights on our planned itinerary: Day 1: Arrival in Joburg in the early afternoon / Overnight near the airport Day 2: Morning flight to Cape Town / Pick up rental car / Explore the city Day 3: Cape Peninsula (Boulders Beach to see the penguins) Day 4: If the weather allows: whale-watching excursion from Hermanus Day 5: Early morning flight to Kruger (Mpumalanga Airport) - Pick up rental car and head to the Blyde River Canyon Panoramic Route (stops at Mac Mac Falls, Lisbon or Berlin Falls, and Three Rondavels) / Overnight on Orpen Road as close as possible to Orpen Gate Day 6: Enter Kruger National Park via Orpen Gate for a self-drive safari / Overnight to be decided? Day 7: Kruger National Park / Overnight at Letaba Rest Camp (the only night we’ve managed to book in the park so far) Day 8: Self-drive safari from Letaba Rest Camp to Manyeleti Game Reserve (overnight booked at Honeyguide Khoka Moya lodge) Day 9: Morning guided safari in the private reserve, then return to Joburg Day 10: Return flight in the late afternoon from Joburg Airport What do you think? Do you think Day 5 is doable? Does the Panoramic Route in half a day from the airport seem realistic to you? It’s tough to find availability in the rest camps. Any suggestions for a place to stay between Orpen Gate and Letaba (Day 6)? On the way back (Day 9), we’re considering stopping overnight between Kruger Park and Joburg. What do you think? Any towns or stops you’d recommend? Thanks so much for your help!

KARIBUUU

Over 5 years later, I’m finally getting around to writing the travel journal for our first trip to East Africa: Tanzania. *Polé Polé*, as they say! 😎

A trip I’d started planning just 6 years ago, in February 2019, for my post-internship exam vacation. After returning to South Africa in July 2019 with my family, this trip, planned for September 2019, would be all about discovery and a few firsts: first trip with friends, first trek, first time in East Africa. I really wanted to attempt the Kilimanjaro ascent, try to still see some of its "eternal" ice, and Alison wanted to do as much safari as possible. Unlike with the Zulus, Himbas, or San, visiting a Maasai village wasn’t on the agenda. Thanks to the Kessy Brothers agency, who were super responsive, Sandy from VF, and other members who helped prepare our trip, we settled on the following itinerary:

Day -1 (8/30): Departure from Pointe-à-Pitre Day 0 (8/31): Departure from Paris Day 1 (9/01): Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport / Ameg Lodge (Moshi) DAY 2 (9/02): Machame gate / Machame camp DAY 3 (9/03): Shira / Shira camp DAY 4 (9/04): Baranco / Baranco camp DAY 5 (9/05): Barafu / Barafu camp DAY 6 (9/06): Barafu + Summit at midnight / Mweka camp DAY 7 (9/07): Mweka gate / Sal Salnero Hotel (Moshi) DAY 8 (9/08): Arusha National Park / Kanga camp DAY 9 (9/09): Tarangire National Park / Kanga camp DAY 10 (9/10): Tarangire National Park / Twiga Lodge DAY 11 (9/11): Lake Manyara / Twiga Lodge DAY 12 (9/12): Ngorongoro Crater / Simba campsite DAY 13 (9/13): Serengeti National Park / Seronera campsite DAY 14 (9/14): Serengeti National Park - Uoga Kuria Camp DAY 15 (9/15): Serengeti National Park / Waso campsite DAY 16 (9/16): Lake Natron / Maasai Giraffe Ecolodge DAY 17 (9/17): Kilimanjaro Airport Day 18 (9/18): Zanzibar Day 19 (9/19): Zanzibar Day 20 (9/20): Zanzibar Day 21 (9/21): Zanzibar

As I mentioned in my first travel journal about our South Africa trip, I’ve had a special connection to Tanzania for a long time. Growing up in the Indian Ocean without ever visiting Africa, those wildlife documentaries on TV when I skipped my pharmacy classes... I imagined and dreamed about this land and country so much.

The original plan was to go just the two of us with Alison, but somehow—though I don’t quite remember how—we ended up organizing the trip with our friends Mélissa and Doriane, who joined us in Arusha after our Kilimanjaro trek for the last two weeks and their very first safari. I think it was Melissa who had the idea to crash our trip, and she was right to do so! 😉 Flights: Pointe-à-Pitre-Grand Case and Grand Case-Paris with Air Caraïbes. Flights: Paris-JRO and ZNZ-Paris with Kenya Airways (layover in Nairobi). Flight: JRO-ZNZ with Air Tanzania.



Safe travels! !

Back on the forum, I’m starting to write up two 3-week trips to Kenya in August 2021 and 2023. In 2021, Quynh and I traveled with Régis (Rjulie95 on VF). Our son joined us in Baringo for the second half of the trip. In 2023, we went with two friends who’d been dreaming of seeing wild animals ever since we got back from Kenya. We didn’t need much convincing to go with them!

The two itineraries are almost identical (well, when you love something...) but we did make a few tweaks.

- The first part of the trip was with a local driver/guide, Félix, who was recommended by Sylvie56. Sylvie and her husband Ben are Kenya enthusiasts—they’ve been there countless times, always with Félix... and for good reason! He’s fantastic!

- The second part was with Melting Pot Safari, an agency that adapted to our photography needs. Tony Crocetta, the co-founder (along with his Kenyan friend Simon Chebon), is a wildlife photographer himself.

Here are the itineraries for both trips, including accommodations:

In 2021: Day 0: Paris / Nairobi - 67 Airport Hotel Day 1: Nairobi / Amboseli - Simba Cottage Day 2: Amboseli - Simba Cottage Day 3: Amboseli / Aberdares - Fishing Lodge Day 4: Aberdares - Fishing Lodge Day 5: Aberdares - Fishing Lodge Day 6: Aberdares / Samburu - Riverside Camp Day 7: Samburu - Riverside Camp Day 8: Samburu - Riverside Camp Day 9: Samburu / Nakuru - Merica Hotel Day 10: Nakuru / Baringo - Tumbili Cliff Lodge Day 11: Baringo - Tumbili Cliff Lodge Day 12: Baringo - Tumbili Cliff Lodge Day 13: Baringo / Maasai Mara – Meltingpot Bush Camp Day 14 to 18: Maasai Mara – Meltingpot Bush Camp Day 19: Maasai Mara / Nairobi – Roussel Guest House Day 20: Nairobi / Paris

In 2023: Day 0: Lyon / Paris / Nairobi - 67 Airport Hotel Day 1: Nairobi / Meru - Ikweta Camp Day 2: Meru - Ikweta Camp Day 3: Meru - Ikweta Camp Day 4: Meru / Samburu - Riverside Camp Day 5: Samburu – Riverside Camp Day 6: Samburu / Buffalo Springs – Samburu Simba Day 7: Buffalo Springs / Ol Pejeta – Sweetwater Camp Day 8: Ol Pejeta / Amboseli - Simba Cottage Day 9: Amboseli - Simba Cottage Day 10: Amboseli - Simba Cottage Day 11: Amboseli / Nakuru – Lake Nakuru Lodge Day 12: Nakuru / Baringo - Tumbili Cliff Lodge Day 13: Baringo - Tumbili Cliff Lodge Day 14: Baringo - Tumbili Cliff Lodge Day 15: Baringo / Maasai Mara – Meltingpot Bush Camp Day 16 to 20: Maasai Mara – Meltingpot Bush Camp Day 21: Maasai Mara / Nairobi / Paris

Here’s an itinerary—it’s not exactly what we did, but a combination of both.



Ready to join us on safari to see some wild animals?

Hi everyone, Here’s my route—I’d like to stay at least 3 nights in each stop, take Indian dance classes, a cooking class, and any other discoveries you might recommend! I arrive in Delhi in early March 2025, then take a flight to Jaisalmer. Do you know of any charming, well-located hotels along this route? Between buses, trains, or another flight, what would you suggest? Jaisalmer / Jodhpur: Jodhpur / Udaipur Udaipur / Jaipur Jaipur / Agra Agra / Varanasi Maybe head down to Kolkata and then back up to Delhi. I’d love to hear about any firsthand experiences you’ve had!

Best, MurieJeanne

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!

Hi there, I’m planning to spend a week in Lapland from January 4th to 11th, 2025. It’s one of my dreams that I’ll finally get to fulfill—I’ve only been to the mountains once before, at Les 2 Alpes when I was 19. I’ll admit, I’m usually more drawn to warmth, the sea, and islands, but I have this crazy desire to discover this incredible region.

For those of you who’ve been lucky enough to go, could you please share lots of tips so I can make the most of my trip? What clothes should I pack, what local dishes should I try, and what souvenirs should I bring back? Thanks in advance!

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

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! 🙂

adhérent a warmshowers, je n'arrive plus a ouvrir la carte une fois que je suis connecté , j 'ai besoin d 'aide !!! merci

Bonjour j'envisage de faire l’ascension du Kilimandjaro, je n'ai pas fixé encore présisement de date : soit février 2021 ou sinon début octobre 2021. J’ai choisis l’ascension par la voie Lemosho en 8 jours à partir de 2200 m. Je suis seul pour le moment donc si vous êtes intéressé vous êtes les bienvenus ! À bientôt peut-être Nicolas

Nous sommes allé faire une plongée profonde de 100 pieds à la carrière Flintkote. Nous sommes descendu sur le site de l'autobus. êtes vous déjà allé plus bas? comme a la voiture?

Voici notre visite en vidéo