Capetown Tours Who Is the Best?

Old May 10th, 2017, 05:23 PM
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Capetown Tours Who Is the Best?

Hi

I am wondering if I should do some tours through Southern Destinations, who has been wonderful in helping us plan our trip, and for others hire a private driver. I could not find a one-day Garden route tour, maybe that is not possible.

I was planning on
Wineland full day tour
Cape Point tour-but not clear how comprehensive this is and it includes optional boat trip to see seals and I have enough of them in San Diego. Will I see Castle of Good Hope and Cape of good Hope?

I do not think that Table Mtn is included but I think I can navigate that from hotel or V&A waterfront.

What restaurants are worth going out of way for? Sounds like Test Kitchen and La Colombe.

Gift you bought that you wish you had bought more of?

Also buying new camera for trip but want compact camera with good zoom.


JoAnnn
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Old May 11th, 2017, 05:18 AM
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I thought Charles Ratcliffe was a wonderful guide: I booked him through Southern Destinations.

Yes, Test Kitchen, which is only about a 15 minute taxi from CBD/many hotels, is worth it. Have the agency book this as soon as possible. I also thought La Colombe was worth the ride. You do not need the special hotel taxis for that, as they cost much more than a normal taxi which will probably be lined up near the hotel. Ask about that when you arrive.


I think Garden Route is too far for one day tour. We did one day to Hermanus for whale watching, with Charles R.

I agree about the seals; and the water there can be rough. The Cape Point tour takes you to Cape of Good Hope and you will see animalsl on the way. I don't know about a castle, though.

If you are going to a safari lodge, see if they are listed in Pack for Purpose; you can get ideas of what to bring, like school supplies. No candy or balloons.

https://www.packforapurpose.org/


https://www.packforapurpose.org/dest.../south-africa/


Best gift is money for safari guides, trackers, porters, etc.

You can do Table Mountain on your own. Choose a clear day if possible. Not windy or cloudy.
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Old May 16th, 2017, 05:18 PM
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Thanks for the feedback. I was told by my tour company that Test Kitchen is already sold out. I will ask her if they have a wait or cancellation list. Will check out La Colombe now as alternative. thanks for taxi tip.

I smile at your kindess and did not think of gifts for children but will look at the packforapurpose.
I was wondering what art or gifts you brought home for friends and family that you wished you had bought more of.

Thanks

JoAnn
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Old May 18th, 2017, 08:10 AM
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Joann are you spending any time at all in Johannesburg? I ask because we had dinner last night at The Saxon Hotel, in the restaurant overseen by Luke Dale Roberts, chef of The Test Kitchen. It was quite fantastic!

http://www.saxon.co.za/lukedalerobertssaxon.html

For gifts, I wish I had bought more in the handcraft markets. There are so many reasonably priced items. I always try to hold back but when I get home I wish I had bought more. In CapeTown you can find some really good looking necklaces and other adornments for very little money, Easy to take home, and so are the cases for pillows made from various African fabrics.. The markets have vendors selling things from many southern African nations.. Fabrics are easy to bring home. The gorgeous ceramics, unfortunately, are not as easy.
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Old May 24th, 2017, 05:27 AM
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Charles Ratcliffe, booked for 3 days through Liesl Mathews, or Southern Destinations was the BEST guide we have EVER used for any tours anywhere in the world we have traveled!!!!
If you can book him, you will be quite fortunate! An encyclopedic knowledge of all things Southern African (and elsewhere) and such fun to share the days.
We just returned and have the HIGHEST recommendations for him and Liesl.
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Old Jun 7th, 2017, 02:33 PM
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Hi ekscrunchy

Thanks for the information and gift ideas. I think I will be too exhausted to tackle dinner out in Jo'burg as I go right from airport pickup to tour of apartheid museum/Soweto. Next day is Cradle of Humankind, so it is possible we could squeeze it in the second night if my sister and I are not exhausted.

I might see if I can get Charles R for one-day to Hermanus. If the whales are not visible is it a good jaunt anyhow?

I am working with Ilze at Southern Destinations b/c Liesle was not available. Ilze is great, too. I asked her about tipping in U.S. dollars and, at least for Jo'burg, she said I should give tour guide (this is private tour for me) Rand vs. US $. I'd read in guidebooks that I should arrive with lots of US$ for tips. Any thoughts? also on safari, tip daily or at end? JoAnn
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Old Jun 7th, 2017, 04:06 PM
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Tip in Rand in South Africa. At private safari camps, tip at the end: Tip ranger, tracker if there is one, and (collectively) lodge staff. Tips are usually calculated on a per person, per day basis at a private lodge. I can't remember exactly the usual amounts in SA, but Southern Destinations usually includes suggestions on tipping in your itinerary.

I just returned from Botswana and at the lodges we stayed at, we tipped the guides $20US per day, so $60 US at the end of our stay. Botswana lodges, or at least the ones we visited, do not use trackers. We left an envelope with the tips for lodge staff in a box in the main area; I believe we gave $10 per couple per day for a total of $30 at each of the three lodges. USD are widely accepted in Botswana, as are ZAR (rand).

SD: I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with Charlie. I've had him as a guide on two trips now and agree that he is the best guide I've ever hired (not that I've had all that many, but still........he felt more like a buddy than a guide, right from the start).
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Old Jun 7th, 2017, 04:12 PM
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One more thing: I also brought two pairs of very lightly worn, clean tennis shoes
and gave one pair to a housekeeper at the hotel in J'Burg and the other I added to the www.PackforaPurpose.org stuff that I had brought to the camps in Botswana.

And remember you will not need to bring things like shampoo, body lotion, and all that, as your hotels and lodges will have those on hand. The private game lodges usually have insect repellent as well.
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Old Jun 8th, 2017, 04:22 PM
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thanks so much so glad I asked about the currency to tip in. and thanks for general guidelines, I will consult paperwork from Southern Destinations as well. Will write of my adventures when i return. Still two weeks out from departure.
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