Hick

I am travelling with my wife in Sth Africa in Oct 06. We have 7 days at the end of our holiday to use in Sth Africa. I would luv some suggestions - we have already explored :
Cape Town, Garden Route, Kruger, Misty Mountain, Sun City & J'Burg. Would appreciate some suggestions on some new destinations within SA. We will be landing in J'Burg and leaving from J'Burg (it will be at the end of 6 weeks on a Safari so we will be looking for something other than Safari experiences) Any assistance will be greatly appreciated?

jasher

Hello,

How about the Panorama Route in Mpumalange (Bourke's Luck Potholes, Three Rondavaels, God's Window etc)? You could fly into KMIA and hire a care and drive through the Blyde River Canyon. It's very scenic and there are some interesting little towns to stop in -- Pilgrim's Rest is a town preserved as it was during the gold rush.

If you'd like to see some wildlife up close, you could visit Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre or the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre.

http://www.moholoholo.co.za

http://www.wildlifecentre.co.za

There are a numnber of country house hotels which make excellent bases for exploration of the Panorama Route. I'd suggest starting off with a few days at one of them to relax following your safari. Cybele Forest Lodge is one of the most luxurious options, a Relais and Chateaux property with a spa and activities like horseback riding and fishing:

http://www.cybele.co.za

Rissington Inn offers great hospitality and outstanding value:

http://www.rissington.co.za

You could then head north, stopping off for a few nights at different places along the way. A lot of people enjoy staying overnight in Pilgraim's Rest, and there are a number of places closer to Blyde River Canyon. You can float down the canyon on a raft, or walk around the forest and see waterfalls. Moholoholo has inexpensive accommodation near their rehabilitation centre.

I'd suggest flying into KMIA and heading north and then flying out of Hoedspruit at the end.

If you don't want to spend an entire week on the Panorama Route, you could fly back to Joburg a few days early and visit Pretoria or the Cradle of Humankind, both of which are very close to Joburg.

Cheers,
Julian

Hick

Thanks Julian - These are great areas to look at. Does anyone have any suggestions around the Drakensburg region? Am also interested in the diamond mining area of Kimberley.

AllanE

There is still one of SA's gems for you to explore. Northern KZN. The St Lucia area, Hluhluwe, Mkuzi and up to Kozi. The wildlife is very good but the beaches are awesome. Through in turtles and the lakes - its well worth a visit.

jasher

Hello,

I second the above post -- this is also a lovely area. If you are interested in some of SA's history, there are also places in the Drakensberg where you can do battlefield tours and learn about the wars between the British and the Zulus. David Rattray (no relationship to the Rattrays of Mala Mala) is a renowned battlefield historian who runs a lodge near Rourke's Drift:

http://www.fugitives-drift-lodge.com/

Cheers,
Julian