Hey everyone, 

I hope you all are good!😊

I am a 25-year-old student from Germany, currently studying at the University of Cape Town. My girlfriend and I are planning a road trip in a camping van and are hoping for some advice and details.

We plan to start our journey from Johannesburg around the 19th of December 2024. Our itinerary includes traveling along the Panorama Route, Blyde River Canyon, spending some days in the northern/middle part of the Kruger National Park, and then crossing the border at Giriyondo into Mozambique. We aim to visit Tofo, Xai Xai, and Bilene before returning to Johannesburg. On our way back, we would like to re-enter South Africa at the Lebombo/Komatipoort border and spend a few more days in the southern part of the Kruger before returning the van in Johannesburg. The trip will last approximately 19 days, concluding in early to mid-January 2025.

As this is our first time visiting these areas, we have some questions regarding the feasibility of such a trip. We haven’t found much information on similar routes, particularly concerning camping in Mozambique. Could you please advise us if there are suitable camping sites in Mozambique where we can safely park and sleep in the van? Additionally, do you think this route is realistic/safe for a camping van trip (especially in December/January during rainy season in Mozambique)? Do we need a 4x4? Are 19 days enough? Is a car with a rooftop tent better or a camping van with an inside bed? Do you know good/cheap rental companies? Any advice or suggestions based on your experience would be greatly appreciated!🙏

For summary, here is an overview of our planned itinerary:

Firstly welcome to our forum. I think that your planned trip is going to keep you very busy.  You will find great camping resorts on this web page to assist with your planning in SA.

Few pointers I have are:

1. The Kruger National park is a great place to visit but during the summer the vegetation could prevent you from seeing what could be obvious during winter.
2. I know Xai Xai and Bilene and there are camping resorts there.  Xai Xai actually next to the sea and Bilene next to a great lagoon.
3. I cannot comment on the other Moz areas you indicated.
4. The roads we travelled on were okay for 2x4 vehicles.
5. Seeing that you are in SA awhile already, you know about the crime. Be care full specially when visiting the Blyde-river Canyon and areas.

Ek kan altyd saamry om die meisie op te pas

Maurits wrote:

Ek kan altyd saamry om die meisie op te pas

Wil jy nou vir wolf skaapwagter maak.☺

Leon wrote:

Firstly welcome to our forum. I think that your planned trip is going to keep you very busy.  You will find great camping resorts on this web page to assist with your planning in SA.

Few pointers I have are:

1. The Kruger National park is a great place to visit but during the summer the vegetation could prevent you from seeing what could be obvious during winter.
2. I know Xai Xai and Bilene and there are camping resorts there.  Xai Xai actually next to the sea and Bilene next to a great lagoon.
3. I cannot comment on the other Moz areas you indicated.
4. The roads we travelled on were okay for 2x4 vehicles.
5. Seeing that you are in SA awhile already, you know about the crime. Be care full specially when visiting the Blyde-river Canyon and areas.

Thanks a lot, Leon! Much appreciated!

Do you (or others) know if it is possible to get a visa-on-arrival for Mozambique at the Giriyondo border (as European passport holders)? 

Moreover, is a car with a rooftop tent better or a camping van with an inside bed for rainy season in Mozambique?

Also, do you know good/cheap rental companies?

Thank you for your help :-)

Just something to bear in mind during your preparations:

The time of year is mid-summer, high rainfall season, high humidity.

Mosquito prime season, be very well prepared with insect repellent 24 hours a day.

You will be in the areas known for high malaria risk, therefore you MUST take some prophylactics! 

You could try to browse or contact DriveMoz for info relating to , amongst others, passport regulations etc...etc.. Those guys have a lot of first hand information and are very willing to assist where they can. [https://www.drivemoz.co.za/]

Enjoy the planning.

I don't think you will get "cheap" vehicle rentals as such, at least not with the main companies.  There might less reputable ones which I do not know, but being stranded out in the bush I don't think you and especially your girl friend, is not something you would want.   I suggest you search for the vehicle hire agencies that let you compare offerings of different you need at places like Travelstart.  There are also others.

Another point to keep in mind. You must pre book Kruger on your way to Moz as you must stay a minimum of two nights inside the Kruger before you can exit into another country

ChrisV wrote:

Another point to keep in mind. You must pre book Kruger on your way to Moz as you must stay a minimum of two nights inside the Kruger before you can exit into another country

Thank you, Chris :-)

And do you know if it is possible to get a visa-on-arrival for Mozambique at the Giriyondo border when I want to enter Moz from South Africa?

I think you should ask your consul these questions.  None of us faces these problems as we do not need a visa to cross the borders with our neighbours so we just do not know how it will effect you with a German passport.

Not the best time of year to go (cyclone season from November to March) 4X2 is fine but you are limited to camp sites you will be able to reach. Campsite in Tofo is Fatima`s Nest and in Bilene is Complexo Palmeiras or the campsite in Xai Xai all reachable by 4X2. One thing to remember is travel time is very slow averaging 60Km/hr as the speed limit signposting is bad and there is a speed cop under just about every tree.

Momomo, welcome to the forum.

As for the hire company, you could contact Bobo Campers   https://bobocampers.com they are situated close to OR Tambo airport (Johannesburg) your starting point as well as in Atlantis (Cape Town) . They have various options on vehicle hire including 4x4 and will be able to assist and guide you on your vehicle choice. 

Just keep watch on the current unrest in Moz.

After the recent elections there, there are reports of violence including in the south. For my penny’s worth I wouldn’t set foot in the place. Far too risky

I agree with Louvan, far too risky to go to Moz.

SA has closed the border crossing at Lebombo.

....."Due to these security incidents and in the interest of public safety, the port has been temporarily closed until further notice," the South African border agency said.

Link to full article  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwygrne8363o

We entered Moz via Lebombo on Thursday the 7th May. The Xenophobia unrests of last week are completely over. The police just waved us on. And when stopped we had a chat and they wished us a safe journey. No inspection what so ever. We were through the border in 20 min with no questions asked.

The tar roads all the way to Inhambane are becoming more and more potholed but are still in reasonable condition. 

Do not exceed the speed at all. 60km/h = 60km/h. There are numerous speed traps.

At the moment fuel is in very short supply. Most pumps are dry and those with fuel have long queues. But you can get fuel!

I would not recommend camping with an on-road caravan. If you go off the tar road a high clearance vehicle is recommended and further off a 4x4 will be required. Where we are staying is only accessible with a 4x4.

We will be staying near Barra Light house for the next few weeks.

Paradise!

Andrew wrote:

Not the best time of year to go (cyclone season from November to March) 4X2 is fine but you are limited to camp sites you will be able to reach. Campsite in Tofo is Fatima`s Nest and in Bilene is Complexo Palmeiras or the campsite in Xai Xai all reachable by 4X2. One thing to remember is travel time is very slow averaging 60Km/hr as the speed limit signposting is bad and there is a speed cop under just about every tree.

All those camp sites have closed. The one in Xai-Xai is open but looks life threatening.

In Bilene there is one on the other side of the lagoon but reachable with a 4x4 only.

Paradise!

In Biliene 2 yrs ago and now in Barra.

33c max 24 min

Lifes Good!

Enjoy Paul looks a lot better than JBay atm 😁