AmyH

We are a family of four (teens are 17 and 16). This will be our second trip to Africa. We were in Kenya and Tanzania in 2005. Trip report is somewhere and fodorites were invaluable in planning what was a very high end private guided tour.
This trip is intended to be different. We fly into Capetown in mid-July and have 18 days on the ground. At least 4-5 of those days will be spent in East Africa on Mfongano Island and in the Mara visiting my niece who lives on the Island and works at the first ever cybercafe and AIDS testing center. We are super proud of her accomplishments and can't wait to see the center.
The detour to Nairobi/Kisumu is necessary but also costly as we have to fly from jo-burg to nairobi and then get down to Kisumu, but it is what it is. That leaves us with 13-14 days in South Africa. My thought is to rent a car and rent a house either in CP or False bay for 6-7 nights and then there are so many options:
1. Premier Train overnight to Joburg and self-drive/spend 5-6 nights. 3 nights Umfolozi and 3 nights St. Lucia?
2. Drive the Garden Route
3. Wild Coast
4. Daughter wants to climb in the Rocklands near ClanWiliam in the Northwest. What would the rest of us do? Is there an interesting itinerary here.
We want to be active on the trip and also self-drive/self-cater or simple accomodations when in the camps. We loved the tented camps the best on safari and I have laready read Luangwablondes blog on self driving. My DH has said that he does not want to be at any camps where he is limited to 5-6 hours of game drives and cannot run/hike/on his own. that was something that was very difficult for him on the last trip. it is mid-late July so we want to go where the weather will be best.
What a ridiculously long message, I know. But would appreciate hearing thoughts.

mcwomble

Look at staying at Outdrif Lodge near Clanwilliam.

cary999

You been to Kruger?
Go tented there if you bring our own tent . Or stay in hut/bungalows, $80 per night per bungalow. Can be out on -your own- game drives all day long, 12 hours if you'd like. DH can unlimited run and hike on his own - as long as he stays within the camp. July is mid winter in SA so morning will be cool but days nice, no rain. Here's site for average weather -
http://www.classicescapes.com/sa-weather.html

We have been to Kruger 3 times and will go back.

regards - tom

kimssouthafrica

Thula Thula, kwazulu Natal, tented camps http://www.thulathula.com/ or
Makakatana lodge
http://www.makakatana.co.za/

www.kimssouthafrica.blogspot.com

Celia

We adored the tents in Imfolozi! We spent 3 or 4 nights there this past February, and have stayed in the cottages on previous visits. I don't know if you can run/hike on your on there, though, as the camp isn't fenced. You can take guided walks with the ranger.

Are you thinking of visiting St. Lucia town, or the reserves near it? The beach at Cape Vidal is terrific.

AmyH

Thanks for the suggestions. I also read the responses to Christobair's inquiry regarding lodging in Kruger and her itinerary and that has helped a great deal. I think we might prefer Imfolozi for its size and location. Celia, I had not seen anything about Cape Vidal Camp -- it looks like a great option. have you stayed there?

christabir

Amy - just be aware that some Kruger camps, Vidal and iMfolozi are self-catering (you have to provide all of your own food and prepare it). I don't do that.

Happy to hear my posts were helpful. Check out Addo Elephant Park, Storms River Mouth in Garden Route. Sanparks.org has some nice accommodations - waterfront! Next time....

Celia

Amy, Cape Vidal doesn't have any overnight accommodations. There's just the beach and a changing room-restroom building. It's a drive of about 30 minutes or so from the town of St. Lucia. It's part of the Natal Parks.

In Imfolozi-Hluhluwe, Mpila camp is self-catering and Hilltop camp has a full-service restaurant.

Kruger is part of the South African National Parks, and all the camps except the wilderness ones have restaurants. You may self-cater if you want, but you don't have to. Even if you don't want to cook your own meals, I think it's nice to have the capability to make your own coffee or tea in the morning.

AmyH

As long as they have brai's, we are OK with getting food and self-catering for a few days. Apparently there are accommodations at Camp Cape Vidal but according to TA they are not very well kept and they have a huge monkey problem that goes well beyond being a "cute" distraction. The Sanparks website is very helpful. I think I'm getting it narrowed down but so many of the areas look great. Given that we have spent significant time in Kenya and Tanzania on a really luxury tented camp trip, I think we are going to opt out of Krugerarea and focus on something smaller. The combination of sea and safari all in one location makes St. Lucia and the Natal Parks very interesting indeed, so any more suggestions in those areas would be most appreciated!

christabir

Sorry - I got Camp Vidal and Sodwana Bay mixed up!

Now you get to try to use kznwildlife.com. Good luck - it's a bit difficult to navigate. All the info you need is there, just not easy.

The town of St Lucia didn't interest me very much, but a lot of the park activities start there, I believe, so you might consider it as it is convenient.

For higher end safaris, there's Thula Thula and Thanda, and of course Phinda that everyone recommends very highly. You have my itin, so you know where I'm going and some of my thought process. Swaziland also has 3 national parks that look very interesting, plus you can tell people you've been to Swaziland. (same with Lesotho).

Sea and safari! What could be better!?

kimssouthafrica

rocktail beach lodge http://www.rocktailbay.com/, Amangwanane http://www.kosibay.net/

Lots of accommodation options. Tented is Mpila at Hluhluwe/Mfolozi and is highly recommended, it is self catering with braai facilities and you can buy from local Hluhluwe Supermarkets before entering the park. I believe Cape Vidal San Park Chalets are run down.
Thula Thula is a tented private camp.
Makakatana Bay Lodge http://www.makakatana.co.za/ So many options so much to see and do in the area.
www.kimssouthafrica.blogspot.com

AmyH

OK, I think I have narrowed down the "map" -- there are just too many options, everything sounds great but in reality with seven nights in and around Capetown and needing to get into Kenya for a few days at the end of the trip, I think we have 6-7 extra nights total to spend so my thought is that we fly from CPT to Durban, pick up a rental car and spend 3 nights in Mpila Camp and then 3 nights on the water -- Kosi Bay, Sodwana,St. Lucia. before heading back to Durban and flying through JNB to Kenya. I would really love any input on the KZN properties in the wetlands area. Much as I would love to stay at Rocktail or Makakatana, with a family of four on this trip it is not an option. So what's the next best thing of the KZN properties.

Thanks for all your patience

kimssouthafrica

Look at cabins in Sodwana Bay, Kosi Bay or Cape Vidal, they may be rustic, but this is Africa.
http://www.kosibaycabins.com/
http://www.kznparks.com/accommodatio...zulunatal.aspx
or just google these places and the accommodation options should come up.
You could also stay in st lucia itself.
www.kimssouthafrica.blogspot.com