bettyfox

We'll be driving from Cape Town on Day 1 and have reservations at Addo on Day 6. (during Christmas Holiday break) Should we split time between Knysna area and Storms River or just stay in one spot and see both areas? Suggestions for places to stay appreciated? Thanks.

Kavey

I'd stop for two nights in the winelands, unless you're already spending time there before you set out.

You could then spend a night in Oudtshoorn before 2 in Knysna. That would give you a base for the Cango Caves and some amazing mountain passes as well as the beautiful coastal area between Knysna and Storms River.

I'm sure Selwyn will have some excellent suggestions for you.

bettyfox

Thanks for the reply. I've really enjoyed reading about your travels!!Actually, we will be spending
Days 1-5 in Cape Town - We'll see the winelands on day trips from Cape Town since we have free lodging in Constantia. Then I was thinking of the following:
Day 6 Drive to Mossel Bay - overnight in Mossel (ideas?)
Day 7 Botlierskop Reserve and onward to Knysna
Days 8-10 QUESTION? Stay in Knysna Day 7&8 and Storm river area Day 9&10 or stay in one spot for four days and drive to sites?
Day 11-12 Addo and Schotia (stay at Addo 2 nights
Day 13-14 Drive to Oudtshoorn, through Schwartberg Pass, Prince Albert,etc., Cango caves, etc.(stay in Oudsthoorn 2 nights)
Day 15 (which will be Christmas Day) drive back to Cape Town
Day 17 Cape Town
Day 18 Depart
How does this sound? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My son and daughter-in-law just arrived in Cape Town a few days ago (teaching in Constantia) and are already inlove with Cape Town. Can't wait to see them and South Africa!!

jen79

I don't know if you have done a lot of searching on this forum, but I was (and am) planning on a very similiar itenerary and have gotten a lot of recommendations and help.
Maybe you could search for my previous few posts for ideas, driving times, distances, etc.

Selwyn_Davidowitz

Betty,

In your posting on this thread your itinerary was laid out as follows:

Days 1-5 in Cape Town - We'll see the winelands on day trips from Cape Town since we have free lodging in Constantia. Then I was thinking of the following:

Day 6 Drive to Mossel Bay - overnight in Mossel (ideas?)

Day 7 Botlierskop Reserve and onward to Knysna

Days 8-10 QUESTION? Stay in Knysna Day 7&8 and Storm river area Day 9&10 or stay in one spot for four days and drive to sites?

Day 11-12 Addo and Schotia (stay at Addo 2 nights

Day 13-14 Drive to Oudtshoorn, through Schwartberg Pass, Prince Albert,etc., Cango caves, etc.(stay in Oudsthoorn 2 nights)

Day 15 (which will be Christmas Day) drive back to Cape Town

Day 17 Cape Town

Day 18 Depart

___________________

In an email following this posting to me your updated itinetary read as follows:

Dec.11-15 CT
Will see CT area and go to Franschhoek on day trips

Dec. 16 drive to Hermanus, go shark diving
Where to stay? Should we move on to Mossel Bay for the night?

Dec.17 Botlierskop and on to Knysna

Dec. 18-20 Knysna area
Question: can i stay in one spot and see the Knysna to Plett. area?
Waiting to hear from Eden's Rest
Rather stay in lodge type of setting than luxurious hotel
If they're booked, any other suggestions in this price range?

Dec. 21-22 addo and schotia, stay at Addo

Dec. 23-24 stay in Oudstshoorn, do the drive you suggested from oudt. back
to oudst. and other sights
Any thoughts other than shades of Africa (rose Leigh is booked)

Dec. 25 travel back to CT

Dec, 26 CT

Dec. 27 Depart

During this season is it necessary to have air conditioning in order to
sleep easily?
__________

In response to your emails I told you I would prefer to answer your questions in the Fodors forum as oppsed to in a private mail so that all Fodorites can benefit from the advice as opposed to only one reader hence my resposne on this page. So here we go...

Itinerary
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Dec.11-15 CT
Will see CT area and go to Franschhoek on day trips

Comment
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Agreed however when you vsist the winelands make sure you vsist Stellenbosch too.

Itinerary
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Dec. 16 drive to Hermanus, go shark diving Where to stay? Should we move on to Mossel Bay for the night?

Comment
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Forget about it as you cant do Hermanus + a shark dive and then still make it to Mossel Bay. It is just to far to travel in a quarter to half a day in that the shark dive will take half of your day. Your options would be:

1. Do not do the shark dive and travel to Mossel Bay on the day

2. Do the shark dive and stay on in Hermanus for another night

3. Do the shark dibve and drive towards Mossel Bay with the intention of stopping in one fo the small towns such as Swellendam, Riversdale or Albertinia along the way so as to sleep over at a guesthouse.

You asked: Where to stay? Should we move on to Mossel Bay for the night?

Heres a HUGE HIDDEN SECRET. Do NOT stay at Mossel Bay. Before you arrive in Mosselbay turn off to Boggoms Baai (opposite MossGas) and go stay in one of Fred Orban's cottages such as Sandpiper. Please note this is a self catering venue and you would have to bring provisions along with you which you can buy in a supermarket in Hermanus or Swellendam on your way down to Mossel Bay. There is noweher to purchase anything as such in Boggoms baai.
http://www.oystercatchertrail.co.za/index.htm

Forget about the Mossel Bay accommodation on the website. Look at the Sandpiper cottage or Bokmakeirie. Fred Orban owns many cottages in Boggoms Baai and I am sure he will be able to help you if the above two are not available. Boogoms baai is in a fantastiuc setting where you will be right on the sea and will be staying in an area where keys to front doors dont exist and all the folk around you will be very friendly and happy going locals. Furthermore the pricing of the cottages is not expensive and represents great value for money. tell Fred I sent you to him an I can assure you it will help you to have Fred supply you with the best that he has for you and your children.

I have never brought Boggoms Baai up on Fodors as yet. Furthermore not to many South Africans even know of the place however believe me it is extra extra special place so DO NOT miss it.


Itinerary
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Dec.17 Botlierskop and on to Knysna

Comment
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Good idea and definitely feasible

Itinerary
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Dec. 18-20 Knysna area
Question: can i stay in one spot and see the Knysna to Plett. area?
Waiting to hear from Eden's Rest
Rather stay in lodge type of setting than luxurious hotel
If they're booked, any other suggestions in this price range?

Comment
-------
You DEFINITELY can stay in one spot and
se the surrounding areas however I would not include places like Plettenberg Bay in this part of your journey as it is in a south easterly direction and that will be the way that you will travel when you go down to Addo
so my suggestion would be that you visit these areas en route down to Port Elizabeth. I must also advise your very very strongly about vsisting Plettemberg Bay in the decemeber seasonal period in that itis a horrific expereince due to all the holidaymakers who crowd out the town. Everything just takes 100 times longer to do and ones patience is tested to the limits. Personally I would never even consider visiting this town in December.

I also have to warn you that accommodation could be a tough issue and I would very strongly advise you to pursue exactly what you are doing now by trying to arrange accommodation upfront.


I dont know Edens Rest so I cannot comment. This also does not help me in trying to ascertain your budget. As far as Knysna accommodation is concerned I swear by Overmeer Guest House as it has never failed my or my vistors expectations in my many years of tourguiding.
http://www.overmeergh.co.za/


I would also like to suggest that you spend 2 nights in Knysna and then travel down to the Stormsriver/Tsitsikamma area where you can firstly break your journey down to Port Elizabeth in two and secondly can do some of the adventure events at the Stormsriver Village such as river tubing etc. If you go to http://www.stormsriver.com/accomodation.htm you could select a place to stay over in the Stormsriver Village and I also would suggest that you take Kaveys advice on this location as she has stayed there recently. With all that said if you can hire a self catering log cabin at the Stormsriver Mouth restcamp that would be fantastic and would be the cherry on the top. I say "if you could" as they probabnly are booked up by locals already in that they are very popular. http://www.parks-sa.co.za/parks/Tsit...o_gallery.html Do not miss the photo gallery on this page! Definitely try and give this venue your first shot at making choices.

Itinerary
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Dec. 21-22 addo and schotia, stay at Addo

Comment:
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Perfect planning.
Remember to book an Eyethu guide in Addo. Ask to do this at the gate when entering the park.

Itinerary
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Dec. 23-24 stay in Oudstshoorn, do the drive you suggested from oudt. back
to oudst. and other sights
Any thoughts other than shades of Africa (rose Leigh is booked)

Comment
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I have stopped going to Shades becasue it has totally lost its personal touch with its owners not caring that much for there guests anymore. Make no error the venue is a good one and offesrts a great quality stay but the phuman interaction that SA guesthouses are well known for simply is missing missing. These days I syggest that visitors take a look at Rooderandt Guesthouse as well as Le Plume.

http://www.laplume.co.za/

http://oudtshoorn.com/rooderandt/

http://www.showcook.co.za/new_horizons.htm

DONT miss a meal at Jemimas!! You MUST book this venue.

Itinerary
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Dec. 25 travel back to CT

Dec, 26 CT

Dec. 27 Depart

Comment
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The above should work out pretty well.

OK Betty the above should give you quite a bit to think about and I can but only hope that it aids you in your planning.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

bettyfox

Thanks So---so--so much for the recommendations, Selwyn! Decided to drop the shark dive for several reasons: time, not the best time of year for shark dives, something about baiting sharks really doesn't set right ecologically with me. Did contact all of the properties you suggested. Let you know what I hear. the Oyster Catcher Trail sounds like a wonderful experience---folks should check it out. If only I had the time ---- I'm sure that my son will have the opportunity during the 2 years he's in SA. At any rate one night at Sandpiper's sounds lovely! I think you just did give away a secret place!! The web site for La Plume is currently under construction but you can still E-mail the owners. I did get a confirmation for reservations at Addo for 2 nights ---- I'm really getting excited! Betty

Kavey

Knew Selwyn would be able to help!

Re Storms River... we stayed two nights in Knysna and then one at Storms River. Because our main interest there was the Tree Tops Canopy Tour we stayed in Storms River Village which is just off the N2 about 5 km from the turn off into Tsitsikamma National Park/ Storms River Mouth. We took a LARGE upstairs corner room from Ken and Dottie at the Storms River Guest Lodge for about 390 Rand a night (between two, not per person). Given the lovely breakfast cooked to order the next morning, the size and comfort of our room and the peaceful location, we felt this was an excellent deal. That said, we did take a trip down to the Storms River Mouth area within the park and the situation of the park self-catering chalets is just stunning. I'd certainly consider staying in these another time - we were originally booked to stay 3 nights in Knysna so our Storms River stay was last minute. The views from the chalets are just beautiful. Oh, there is a slightly more upmarket hotel in Storms River too but the rooms seemed smaller and the prices almost double so we weren't interested in that.

bettyfox

Thanks for the Storms River info., Kavey. The Storms River Mouth Camp was fully booked, but we were able to book at Storms River Guest Lodge, unfortunately the rates during peak times are R325 per person not per room. But it will we worth it since we get to see my son and daughter-in-law during their school holiday. i would advise anyone going to this area in Dec. to book immediately. Several of the accommodations that Selwyn mentioned are already fully booked.

Kavey

One of the reasons we opted for winter travel but I did think it was a lovely lodge - spacious rooms, comfortable furniture, thoughtful hosts and a peaceful environment. I am sure you'll like it. The decor isn't "designer" - it's more homely. But it's nice, clean and we enjoyed our night there.