An unanticipated but exciting opportunity to tour southern Africa in April 2026 - advice and input requested

[Seat0B]

Recently, whilst camping in Namibia, Seat Son popped the question to his lovely GF, and she said yes .

Although they met in the UAE, where they currently live, she has family in both South Africa and Portugal, so the big question for the rest of us was which one of these places would be selected for the wedding. And the winner is.....Capetown area, specifically Montpellier Wine Farm Tulbagh in late March 2026.

Home - Montpellier

Welcome to Montpellier Wine Estate, a historic Cape Dutch farm in the heart of Tulbagh. Experience our award-winning wines, luxurious accommodations, stunning event venues, and breathtaking landscapes. Discover the charm and elegance of Montpellier Wine Estate.

www.montpellier.co.za

After the wedding, the families will all be getting together to do a safari thing for a few days to as yet unknown destination likely in the Western Cape area, as recommended by her local family.

So, inspired by the fabulous trip reports of many AFFers, we are now thinking of adding 3-4 weeks (ie most of April 2026) after the wedding and taking some organised tours to see a bit of southern Africa - likely countries we might go to are Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe.

We anticipate flying CBR-SYD-JNB-CPT and return, but this may change depending on start/end locations of the tours we select and how we would travel to/from those srate and end points eg maybe we would open jaw on the return and depart from JNB.

So, a special shout out to @RooFlyer, @kpc, @bPeteb, @Fruitloop50, @ShelleyB and any others who would be willing to help me with some total newbie questions for planning this unexpected trip.

I've done a preliminary look at possibly suitable itineraries with Intrepid (only because they obviously have very good name recognition with me ) and have latched onto these choices as indicative of what we might like to do. These are basically the same itinerary, but one option is a 23 day trip, and the other is 2 separate shorter trips taken end to end. I've selected comfort level because I am not sure of the value proposition of going up to premium. We are not keen to do basic accommodation or camping.






So my initial questions to the brains trust are, in your experience:

• what are the relative advantages/disadvantages of taking a single longer trip v two shorter ones end to end?
• what other companies have people had good experiences with that I should consider for tours?
• what are the genuine differences between comfort level and premium level trips? The premium ones seem to be almost twice the cost of comfort level and I am not sure whether that is worth it or not.
• do these itineraries cover the main things people might want to see in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe?
• are there better countries to see for first (and likely last) timers to southern Africa?
• how does one get to/from Victoria Falls to connect back to international flights home?
• what other questions should I be asking you?

Thank you very much for any advice you can offer me. I feel a little bit daunted planning this as I have never really wanted to go to Africa that much and so don't have any real background level of knowledge on these places. And also because we are NOT organised tour people at all. Truthfully, the whole idea makes me shudder. But I understand that these are NOT places for Africa-naive and let's face it, older, whiteys to be trying to travel independently. Seat Son and DIL-to-be, and her family have really impressed that on us. So, group tours it will be, and although I usually love planning trips, I am feeling a bit uncertain of where to even start with this one.

 

[RooFlyer]

Great planning @Seat0B
Note: these replies from an oldie who values comfort!

I’ll probably need a couple of replies but to start off with

• what are the relative advantages/disadvantages of taking a single longer trip v two shorter ones end to end?

Possibly that you will get a break between the 2 to have a bit of time away from a group and maybe even relax a bit of comfort.

• what other companies have people had good experiences with that I should consider for tours?

Besides in Intrepid, I’ve used Exodus tours - a UK based mob but with an Australian presence and a similar type of Tour profile. Good experiences with each but maybe Exodus might be better.

• what are the genuine differences between comfort level and premium level trips? The premium ones seem to be almost twice the cost of comfort level and I am not sure whether that is worth it or not.

I think there is an explanation between them on the Intrepid site (see below). But I think the main difference between the two is the standard of accommodation. With comfort in the places you are going, you may get some average places. Might have shared bathrooms.

Everything you need to know about Intrepid's travel styles

For a once in a lifetime trip, I wouldn’t scrimp if you can afford not to

• do these itineraries cover the main things people might want to see in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe?

A big yes for me!

• are there better countries to see for first (and likely last) timers to southern Africa?

only Madagascar and surrounding islands, but that’s not really southern Africa and it’s probably a good two weeks by itself. Other than that, I think you’re seeing the best of it.

Oh, and stretching it, Zanzibar. Well out of the way but unique if you can get there.

Oh, Ngorongoro crater in Kenya if you want another great safari experience!

• how does one get to/from Victoria Falls to connect back to international flights home?

Air Link is a quite a reasonable airline, I’ve flown it. And I guess South African airlines.

• what other questions should I be asking you?

Vaccinations. See a good travel doctor ASAP to make sure you’ve got time to get all the necessary ones. Sometimes they need to be spaced out.
EDIT I just re-noticed the date of your trip so plenty of time then

Group size. Smaller the better.

Camera. I would strongly recommend a SLR with a good zoom. Phones simply won’t be good enough for the wildlife.

Take a look at the current bookings of the tours around the one you want. They are not guaranteed until they get a sufficient number so there’s a small chance that a particular Tour may not run but I think that’s very very unusual especially in this area but just have a look at the availability.

I have some other ideas, but that’ll do for now.

 

[Quickstatus]

KQ (Kenya Airways) operate nonstop between VFA and CPT. And between VFA and NBO. Good reliable airline
NBO opens up the possibility of EK which also does CPT

SA operate nonstop between VFA and JNB

 

[kpc]

We did this one from Windhoek, Namibia to Vic Falls, Zimbabwe last August.

It was great but long days of travel

Namibia Overland Safaris | Namiba Overland Tours | Kiboko Adventures

This overland tour offers an abundance of scenic, wildlife and cultural attractions. Walk the highest dunes in the Namib Desert. Namibia Overland Safaris!

www.kiboko.co.za

@bPeteb did similar but started in Vic Falls and ended up in Cape Town. You can go the other way.

Kalahari Adventure Tour | SA, Namibia & Zimbabwe Safari | Kiboko Adventures

Experience the exciting Cape Town to Victoria Falls route with a Kikobo overland safari. View the mighty Augrabies falls and Fish River Canyon. Traverse the Kalahari and Namib deserts. See wild animals in the Kgalagaladi and Etosha National Parks, before ending your tour at the world-famous...

www.kiboko.co.za

You must reread his TR below. It mirrors a lot of my experiences and we stayed and went to alot of the same places.

Thread 'Of black maned lions and rampaging hippos'

Jul 30, 2024

Here we are, sat in the J lounge in Brisbane, wondering just when our flight to Sydney will eventually depart. And they wondered why we weren't comfortable with a two hour early morning connection!



Finally off to southern Africa in the morning. I'm not sure if I'll try to keep this up to date along the way, or just when we get home. You'll all know at the same time as I do.

Tonight down to SYD where we're staying at the Novotel across the road from the international terminal.

Tomorrow off to JNB on QF63. One night at the airport at the City Lodge then Airlink to...

• bPeteb
• Replies: 263
• Forum: Trip Reports

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...and of course @RooFlyer 's...both of which won AFFs TR of the month.

Thread 'Mainly Namibia'

Aug 8, 2024

I can't recall the genesis of this trip. About a year ago I think I was looking at the map for somewhere I hadn't been before, and where I could see interesting things. Namibia had always be of interest, and I noticed Intrepid had a 'Premium Namibia' 10 day tour. I'm more and more attracted to tours these days, especially in non-first world countries. I was happy enough driving around Chile last December and Japan a few months ago, but I decided I'd see a lot more on a small group tour here, being driven around with everything organised.

So that was the first plank...

• RooFlyer
• Replies: 233
• Forum: Trip Reports

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• 

 

[RooFlyer]

I wouldn't presume to talk over your local family members, but sometimes locals see things differently from visitors ...

Some of the best experiences I had around Cape Town were visits to the 'Wine Estates' Now, this was a long time ago and I expect times have changed but there are large properties built in the 1600-1700s by Dutch colonials and have gorgeous colonial buildings in courtyards and immaculate gardens (think looks like nail clippers used on the lawns!) But the best part is that you could buy a gourmet picnic lunch and go out onto some huge large lawned/treed areas and just spread out and enjoy. I recall Constantia Estate , Stellenbosch and Paarl. You don't have to be a wine lover to enjoy these. Vergelegen ('Verkelekin') was special. Gardens - Vergelegen Wine Estate

Of course Montpellier will be excellent, but you'll be focussed on other things there . Dramatic setting!

Franschhoek is very pretty, and historic - its where some Huguenots settled in the late 1600s.

Learn what a (rolled rs) rrrrrrrrrobot is!

Edit. Must try malva pudding. South African Desserts

 

[ShelleyB]

So my initial questions to the brains trust are, in your experience:

• what are the relative advantages/disadvantages of taking a single longer trip v two shorter ones end to end?
• what other companies have people had good experiences with that I should consider for tours?
• what are the genuine differences between comfort level and premium level trips? The premium ones seem to be almost twice the cost of comfort level and I am not sure whether that is worth it or not.
• do these itineraries cover the main things people might want to see in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe?
• are there better countries to see for first (and likely last) timers to southern Africa?
• how does one get to/from Victoria Falls to connect back to international flights home?
• what other questions should I be asking you?

Thank you very much for any advice you can offer me. I feel a little bit daunted planning this as I have never really wanted to go to Africa that much and so don't have any real background level of knowledge on these places. And also because we are NOT organised tour people at all. Truthfully, the whole idea makes me shudder. But I understand that these are NOT places for Africa-naive and let's face it, older, whiteys to be trying to travel independently. Seat Son and DIL-to-be, and her family have really impressed that on us. So, group tours it will be, and although I usually love planning trips, I am feeling a bit uncertain of where to even start with this one.

How exciting!

I am not sure I am any sort of expert and have only two sets of experiences to call upon: 27 years ago as a backpacker in Southern/East Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya), and just over a year ago Tanzania and Zanzibar with a substantially increased budget and level of comfort.

The traveling party 27 years ago was myself and Mr ShelleyB (we were both much younger then!) and more recently with the addition of ShelleyB-son (11 years at the time).

In terms of travelling independently I am not sure I quite agree with the tour group only suggestion, although places you are planning to go are mostly outside my experience. Nonetheless, the only time we did not travel independently on either previous trip was for the safari components on the Serengeti and surrounds. I think there would be no advantage at all in trying to do the National Parks of Tanzania on your own. I doubt it would ever be cheaper and without an experienced guide, much would be missed. However, all other aspects we just did our own thing. Organised our flights and accommodation, hired local drivers as required even for drives that were many hours. Our safari was also private - that is we had the driver/guide and the vehicle was just for us. BUT - I would not recommend April for that region. It's the big wet season. I think it might get a bit tiresome after a while.

Although we did not do Victoria Falls on the most recent trip, I highly highly recommend it. And given you would prefer independent travel I think that component at least you could sort for yourself. The airport (a few options to fly from South Africa) is just outside town, and transfers easy to arrange and not expensive. If you stay near Victoria Falls town, the falls are walkable and tours (such as boat tours) easily arranged on arrival. As for connecting to fly international from Vic Falls, not only are there connections via Jo/burg, you can also connect to Nairobi and from there onto Middle East/Asia and home. Just be aware if flying home via Singapore that even a long transit in Nairobi will mean that you need to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate or Singapore won't let you in.

As for comfort I really cannot speak to the different levels of tour group travels, as the advantage of independent is that you choose a hotel/lodge and rooms the usual way and get exactly what you want.

The other suggestion I have as to where to go, would be Botswana. We thought hard about this for the most recent trip instead of a return to Tanzania, and I have heard nothing but good things. Although we did not do so, I think this would be another relatively safe bet for organising things for yourself. You can absolutely organise private safaris of the type we organised for Serengeti. We just contacted a bunch of safari operators (mostly for the Okavango Delta region and Kalahari), told them what we roughly had in mind (where, when, how long, camp or lodge) and got quotes. You could combine this with a bit of time independently in town regions eg. Gaborone (although I have heard it is a bit dull). In the end we went with Tanzania to give ShelleyB-son a taste of classic East Africa. If we went again Botswana would be high on my list.

All of the above is just to give you an idea that there's a space between totally independent (hire a car, do everything yourself) and a tour group (where you have limited choice and are never alone) that would allow you something safe (still a guide, still other people navigating unfamiliar roads and knowing where all the animals are) but that you have control over in terms of choosing the accommodation and what you want to do each day. Like you, tour groups are not really our style. But we do know when other people are experts and can hire the right people to look after us when needed. Also, a tour that's already planned would be taking away a major component of the fun of travel. I LOVE to plan and organise.

Hope this helps.