Africa, road trip

[TwoByFour]

Anyone done a car-camping trip in Africa? A friend of mine is asking if I want to go. His wife is not interested in such a thing and neither is mine. My friend is a self-taught naturalist and is very good at finding and photographing wildlife and knows a ton so it could be interesting.

Car camping is an inexpensive way to safari in Namibia and Botswana. You hire a 4x4 that has all the camping gear and they set up a camping/touring itinerary for you to follow. But I am wondering what to expect. I worry most about sleeping on the ground for 3 weeks. I could do that when I was 30 but am 67 now. Thanks.

[Scuba]

We did a safari years ago that involved camping but it was all set up by the company running it. It was more like “glamping” ... I recall having a king size bed in one of our tents!

[chris2008]

In Namibia the car camping equipment has the tent on top of the car, not on the ground. And the campsites that are used by tour companies often have private sanitary units right next to your parking lot. They campsites often belong to lodges, so there will be a restaurant nearby.

[Nemo2]

How does that work, is it like Kruger Park in South Africa, (and it's been 35 years since I traveled Kruger in a rented camper, so there may have been procedural changes), where vehicles were required to be in a predetermined zone by nightfall or monetary penalties were instituted?

(We were in the Kalahari in Botswana in 2010 and the lodge's vehicle had to be out of the park zone by nightfall.)

[chris2008]

There are National Parks like Etosha and Sossusvlei but also huge lodges and farms with lots of lans. More and more farmers connect their farms to attract tourists we were told. We were there 2015 for 4 weeks, self drive tour with pre-booked lodges and B&Bs. One of our best trips ever. Tripadvisor has a great local expert in the forums, also tour organiser. We cannot recommend her enough.

[savory]

About 10 years ago, (we are about the same age), we did a post Peace Corps trip around several countries in Africa. Ours was done by bus and train. We visited Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya. We also were in Botswana and Mozambique during our service.

We bicycle tour but have never done that in Africa. But, I know about camping for 3 weeks+. I think camping could work but what we did in Africa is stay in the hostels. They are inexpensive and typically clean enough. You may want to take a look at that.

[TwoByFour]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris2008 There are National Parks like Etosha and Sossusvlei but also huge lodges and farms with lots of lans. More and more farmers connect their farms to attract tourists we were told. We were there 2015 for 4 weeks, self drive tour with pre-booked lodges and B&Bs. One of our best trips ever. Tripadvisor has a great local expert in the forums, also tour organiser. We cannot recommend her enough.

Did you see lots of wildlife? Do you hike at all, or just view from the car? I believe some of the parks in Kenya require an armed guide, but this is not required in Namibia? Crowds?

[frugal-one]

What about animals, snakes, insects? I was in Africa and stayed in lodges but talked to campers. They were not impressed. At 67, I think it would be wiser to either do a lodge or go with a travel company that does camping. Too many risks, IMO.

[TwoByFour]

Quote:

Originally Posted by frugal-one What about animals, snakes, insects? I was in Africa and stayed in lodges but talked to campers. They were not impressed. At 67, I think it would be wiser to either do a lodge or go with a travel company that does camping. Too many risks, IMO.

I am not trying to save money by camping, rather I am trying to have a more wilderness experience - a little closer to the wildlife and a little further from crowds. If I can have that experience in a lodge, that is fine with me, actually better. If all we are doing is camping next to a lodge, then what is the point? May as well stay in it.

[chris2008]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoByFour I am not trying to save money by camping, rather I am trying to have a more wilderness experience - a little closer to the wildlife and a little further from crowds. If I can have that experience in a lodge, that is fine with me, actually better. If all we are doing is camping next to a lodge, then what is the point? May as well stay in it.

In the dry reason the animals come close to the waterholes and lodges. We had a room at Brandberg White Lady Lodge and were told that elephants come pretty close often. We saw them on a tour with their guide. The campgrounds at Etosha have great waterholes, too, but you see them from the car as well.
We mostly stayed for 2 nights at each place and used the day between travelling for drives with the lodge's guides. They know best where to look.

[susswein]

If you decide not to go, please have your friend contact me. A trip like this through southern africa has been on my bucket list for years, but I've never found anyone else interested.