Come January 2010 my boyfriend and I will be starting our 3 month adventure through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana & Mozambique. Our plan is to hire a 4×4 through ‘Just done it’ and drive ourselves around, camping for the majority of our trip.
It’s our first trip to Africa and I’m extremely excited/slightly nervous. My folks are stressing as they think it’s very dangerous but I’m ignoring their bad juju!
If anyone has any tips or great camping spots and must see locations please let us know!
I’ll update this blog regulary with how our plans are progressing.
Cheers,
Jess
Dear Jess,
Thank you for using the Africa Travel Blog. I hope you will find it useful, and that you will also receive good tips and advice from other travelers here!
Your travel plan sounds amazing!! I actually traveled a very similar route with my girlfriend two years ago. We spent several months in Cape Town (going to school), and then a couple of months traveling through South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. Unfortunately we never made it to Botswana ( we sort of made a circle around Botswana).
I will get back to you with more information later, but right now I have to go to work!
Good luck with your planning!
PS: Note to your folks: Africa is surprisingly easy to travel in. But in bigger cities like Cape Town, Jo’burg, Durban etc., you should be careful with hanging around in the streets after dark. There are a lot of muggings. But other than that, traveling in Africa is sweet dream.. And the people are extremely friendly and helpful!
Hey,
Here’s a few places to read up on before you leave:
Garden Route: small cute towns. Surf at J-bay.
Drakensberg Mountains in S-A – awesome scenery
Kruger – Best Safari in South Africa
Swakopmund, Namibia – Laid back beach town close to the sand dunes
Chobe, Botswana
You’ll have a great time! Keep us updated!
Take Care
Hi,
I see you have already gotten some good advice from David above. I will just continue where I let go earlier today, and add a few places to the list David started:
When I traveled in Africa we did not have our own car, but used the local mini buses. Since you have a car it will be way easier for you to get around! I did not stay at camps, so I can’t really recommend any. But I know that all the big Game Reserves and Parks will have camps where you can stay (for a fee).
This is my list of places you should see:
In South Africa I agree with David’s choices. Cape Town is a great city, highly recommended!! See my post: http://www.theafricatravelblog.com/african-travel-destinations/why-cape-town-is-the-perfect-travel-destination-city/
In Mozambique I would highly recommend Tofo, a beautiful laid back beach close to Inhambane. Popular for backpackers. There are several very beautiful beaches and areas if you continue driving north from there as well.
Namibia: I agree with David on Swakopmund. I also liked the Etosha National Park further north. You can drive you own car and stay at the camps. We saw a lot of lions that came all the way up to our car (and they were mating, a LOT!)..
If there are any places you need more specific information on, just let us know..!
-Hakon
Hi All.
My girlfriend and I are planning the same trip in october 2010 for 2 months. We plan on camping in SA,NAM,BOTS,ZAMBIA,TANZANIA,MOZAMBIQUE and then back to SA. Instead of renting I am gonna buy a second hand Toyota Hilux 4×4 wich will cost about the same as renting and then sell it when leaving. We are also interested in finding out information and must see places. We would be very grateful for any feedback.
thanx
Jess,
You are in for the greatest trip of your life. I hope you realize that! I spent 3 months on bus rides, and hitch hikes going from Cape town, to Lake Turkana in Northern Kenya. It was perfect!
Kruger – Kruger Park is unbelievable, spend at least 3 days (and equally as important 3 nights). The park is huge and I think it is neat starting north, where the animals are fewer (but still numerous) and the scenery is amazing. Then slowly travel further south where you will see larger herds of animals. Also, stay in Olifants one night and go down by the fence after dark. It is amazing to hear the animals in the night.
Sani Lodge, Drakensberg – Sani Lodge is a hostel in S. Africa at the base of the drakensberg. The staff is fine but it is not your typical hostel. No tv! Just beautiful mountains, and chances to get away from it all and experience the drakensberg. Take the tour to Lesotho. It is well worth it.
Transvaal Museum, S. Africa – Stop by for the collection of hominid fossils. You can actually take a free tour, learn about human evolution in Africa and see the actually skull of Mrs. Ples, a Pleistocene fossil of a human ancestor. You will never forget holding a 3 million year old ancestor. Never.
Zambia – Zambia was my favorite experience of the trip. I stayed with someone I met on couchsurfing, in Lusaka. He took me to the markets, showed me the real Zambian life. It was the most amazing experience of my life. Living with the locals for 5 days. The zambian people are unlike anyone in the world. So friendly. So fun.
Malawi, Nkhata Bay – Nkhata bay was the nicest place I saw in Malawi. Mayoka village is probably the coolest hostel in Africa. Great food, cheap drinks, very fun atmosphere and at a great spot on the lake. The fish in Lake Malawi are amazing. Snorkel all day with the local kids who don’t use any gear. Then drink beer at the best run hostel in Africa. Also a large Rasta colony in Nkhata bay.
Full moon Party, Zanzibar – I’ve heard that Zanzibar has gotten a bit more dangerous in the last few months so always take caution on the island. But arrive during the full moon for the coolest party in the world. Local Zanzibarians, and hundreds of backpackers congregate on the most beautiful beach and dance like there is no tomorrow. Also some great street food is cooked.
Feel free to write me or read my blog at adam-africa.blogspot.com for ideas. My thoughts and advice are completely subjective and based on my own experience. But no matter where you go, Africa is just such a wonderful travel location. You will enjoy every second of it!
Adam
Hey Adam,
Thanks for the great comment – some really handy tips!
cheers,
Jess
Hi Jess,
As a Southern African nut I have to congratulate you on making the decision to become addicted to one of the most phenomenal places on Earth.
There are two problems with your itinerary though – the first is that you’ll be travelling during the two wettest months of the rainy season in Southern Africa but even if you get wet you’ll still be warmish! The second is that haven’t given yourself enough time to “do” the whole place really well so plan carefully on what you “have” to see and do that well.
A suggestion is that you wend your way up through Namibia through the Caprivi Strip ( contact Katy Sharpe at Tutwa travel in Katima Mulilo – she is fantastic, a great birder and crammed with knowledge about this beautiful area which is grossly overlooked). Check out conditions and consider staying at Nambwa Camp in the Babwata Reserve. It’s a purely 4×4 destination because of the sand and it’s just wonderful when the animals are at home. being the rains they may have gone to Botswana for a holiday. Take in the Chobe national park – you’ll be sure to see lots of elephant! and then travel through Zambia. See the Vic Falls and South Luangwa Park and enter Mozambique through Malawi. Across to Pemba and then go south through Moz back to South Africa where you can enter near the Kruger Park.
Sigh!!! I wish I was coming with you.
Jim
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the post. And you are right – we hadn’t given ourselves enough time to do it all. We’ve made the decision to cut out Tanzania and Mozambique – we are now going to be spending all our time in SA, Namibia, Botswana and a little bit of Zambia.
The Vic falls are a must and thanks for the excellent contacts – we’ll be sure to check out Babwata Reserve.
Cheers,
Jess