Safari - Uganda,TZ, malawi,Zambia,Botswana, Namibia

[chipompi]

we are currently planning to do an extended safari in our patrol through these countries.

we dont want to reinvent the wheell so are asking any of the members if they have done this trip.

Chipompi

[Saltman]

Hi Lawrence

I keep on postponing the completion of my trip report of our 2008 voyage!
I might be able to help with some of your planning issues and queries as we drove the following route:

1. RSA - CT Starting point through to Vioosldrift via N7
2. Namibia - B1 from Noordoewer to Windhoek for final buying spree, then Otjiwarongo, Grootfontein, Rundu, Katima Mulilo
3. Zambia - Sesheke , Livingstone, Lusaka, great North road to Tunduma border post
4. Tanzania - Tunduma, Mbeya, Iringa, Dar Es Salaam, Arusha, Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro NP, Serengeti NP up to Kenia border, Wasso, Lake Natron, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dar Es Salaam, Mbeya, south to Malawi border post,
5. Malawi - Border Post to Nkatha Bay, Dwanga, Salima, Senga Bay, Lilongwe, Namitete,
6. Zambia - Great Eastern road - Machinji, Chipata, Katete, Sinda, Petauke, Nyimba, Kacholola, Luangwa River Bridge, Lusaka, Livingstone
7. Botswana - A1 from Kasane, Nata, Francistown, Gaborone, Lobatse,
8. RSA - N12 over Mafikeng, Vryburg, Kimberley, Victoria West, Beaufort West, Laingsburg, Worcester, CT

13836 km in 30 days!
I can assist with planning of fuel stops, accommodation, sightseeing etc.
Give us some more info regarding potential routes, how many days, weeks, months do you have at your disposal, travel times, distances per day, camping vs lodging accomm, what you want to see and do etc etc ...

[JohnBoyZA]

Sjoe Saltman - sounds like an awesome trip - have been to all the countries, but not in 1 trip.

Lawrence, great advice above. Your question is very broad, I suggest you ask memebers what their highlights were in all the countries and then decide what you want to visit and then plan your route accordinly. I have just returned from a fly-in to Tanz. Awesome country.

[Wilfred Moore]

Hi, In June/July this year I completed my trip to Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe and back to SA.

See my trip report. I think one of the most important things to take with is a Carnet that you can get from the AA. This really helped a lot with border crossings. You can also get Comesa insurance from them, that reduces your time at the border crossings as wel.

Another point to help with planning is not to take too much cash, well at all the big cities, you can draw money from the ATMs with your credit card and you get the best rate. It helps also to confirm the rates in advance and get an average so you know what to expect when you have to exchange money. If you want to take money, US Dollar works everywhere.

Let me know your route or planned route and I can give you some pointers where to stay for cheap!!

Wilfred