To camp or not to camp?

Hi all,

I'm currently planning a six week backpacking trip in Africa. The idea is to start in Dar Es Salaam and finish in Cape Town, via Vic Falls. I'll either go down through Namibia (current preferred option) or down through Zambi/Zimbabwe and then across SA. The idea started with the LP Great Journeys suggestion, then evolved after reading Seat61's Africa page - http://seat61.com/Map-southern-africa-train-routes.htm#.VYS_7ulRHIU

My main aim is to have some long train journeys to do some thinking and life planning. Secondary to this is obviously to see some wildlife!

Which leads me to my question. Staying on campsites is undoubtedly cheaper, but I'm not sure of the practicalities of it. I'll be travelling solo, and I have mobility problems which means I'll be taking shared taxis a lot. I'm not sure if the benefits of camping (financial and giving more time to relax and get my head straight), will be outweighed by the discomforts of being cramped in a small minibus with a big pack on my knee for hours on end. Or maybe it would still be cost effective to camp and pay for an extra seat for my bag?

So I'm torn between small backpack, minimal equipment, restricted on where I can go by price.

Or, big backpack, more choice of where to go but more hassle.

Also comments on whether I'm being totally unrealistic full stop would be good. I've experience of backpacking in Europe, and a small trip to Morocco, and I'm a reasonably seasoned camper (although I've never actually managed to get a tent back in the bag it comes in, I'll have to practice that part...)

Any advice would be great.

it would be a nice trip if you go via Zimbabwe you could go by train most of the way.
there are Backpacker hostels in most of the places you would go with prices from $8 for a dorm
bed. or camping at the hostel cost from $5.

Camping won't save you a lot of money, there are plenty of cheap guesthouses and hotels. Using public transport, you will be mostly moving from town to town, so it won't be practical to be looking for campsites - camping is more of an option with your own transport.

Thanks for the replies.

I think I've been relying too much on the guidebook - which was just a general Southern Africa one, rather than individual countries. I've been looking in there to see where I want to go and then looking on hostelbookers/hostelworld/booking.com for somewhere to stay - which are generally coming in at around £12-30.

That's probably the wrong way round - I need to look at the whole picture of place, accommodation and transport, talk to fellow travellers while I'm there. I know in Europe once you get to one hostel there's leaflets for others just about every possible destination and so I expect Africa will be the same?

I ordered a big wall map last week so being able to stick pins in and visualise things will probably help me to get to grips with everything and see what's possible.

You've all said what I wanted to hear (not to camp) so I should probably trust my instincts more.

Remember that the cheaper places don't have a web presence. There is absolutely no need to book any rooms in advance, unless you have set your heart on a particular place or it's Xmas or something. Talking to people you meet on the way is a good idea, as is asking the locals to suggest somewhere when you arrive - have a cup of tea in the bus station cafe and ask the waitress!

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