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Safari first or Cape Town? Also, Joburg hotel near airport?

Safari first or Cape Town? Also, Joburg hotel near airport?

Old Mar 11th, 2010, 05:40 AM
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Safari first or Cape Town? Also, Joburg hotel near airport?

Hi,
We're going to S. Africa in October for 8 days, arriving from Atlanta. We're spending half of that time at a game reserve and the other half at Cape Town. Is there any reason to put the safari first or last, maybe due to logistics or the time change, working out better? We have to fly in and out of Johannesburg regardless.

Also, if we put the game reserve first, we'll need a night in Johannesburg. Any recommendations on hotels close to the airport that are reasonably priced? We would ideally want something near a good restaurant - we'll land at 5pm and not fly out till the next morning.

Thanks!
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Old Mar 11th, 2010, 05:49 AM
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I don't think there is any particular reason to do Safari and Cape Town in any particular order. We did safari first, because it was most our priority, and then worked our way over to Cape Town and then back to Joburg. Info and pics at http://patrinadoestheglobe.blogspot.com/

For hotels in Joburg, I'd recommend checking out the Formula 1 chain. They are the most reliable budget accommodations we found and are very reasonably priced. I think there are a few locations near the airport.
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Old Mar 11th, 2010, 05:54 AM
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We always stay at the Southern Sun O. R. Tambo at JNB airport. Free shuttle, great restaurant/breakfast, very comfortable rooms and nice people. Usually the price is pretty reasonable. http://www.southernsun.com/SSH/
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Old Mar 11th, 2010, 06:01 AM
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Personally, I would fly into Cape Town and do the safari after your time in the city. First, it allows your luggage to catch up with you should it be necessary - much easier from CT than if you are out in the bush. Also, days are long on safari, so it would be good to have some time in CT, to recover from the long flights/jet lag, before heading out on safari. Kulula Airlines (www.kulula airlines.com) offers cheap flights between CT and Joburg. If going to CT first helps you avoid the overnight in Joburg, when you have limited time, so much the better. Hopefully, flying to CT won't make your flights/logistics more difficult. Where are you going on safari? Of the two (CT vs the safari), I would devote more time to the safari, but that would just be my preference. I love CT, but being on safari even more. Robin
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Old Mar 11th, 2010, 08:22 AM
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Southern Sun hotel is nice but can be expensive, rates seem to vary a lot. We've also stayed at the Emperors Palace complex, short free shuttle away from JNB, four hotels to choose from.
http://www.emperorspalace.com/peermo...mperors-hotels

Regarding CT, never been there, we go to SA only for safari.

regards - tom
ps - going to SA for only 8 days (actually less with overnights) is not really long enough to justify the long flights and time change over, IMHO. (You're flying Delta I'd bet ) We're also from USA and like to spend at least two weeks when we go.
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Old Mar 11th, 2010, 11:39 AM
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Thanks everyone. Appreciate the advice on which to do first. I'll also check out the hotels mentioned. Tom, agree that it's not ideally long enough but it's this or not at all - the boyfriend doesn't get enough vacation to do more. I had a previous posting asking if the time was sufficient (realizing it wasn't optimal) and most agreed that it's do-able. And again, I'd rather go for 8 days than not at all! But appreciate your PS!
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Old Mar 11th, 2010, 02:29 PM
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To maximize time, I'd fly straight onto Cape Town and do that first, then you can get to safari without a wasted night in JNB.
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Old Mar 11th, 2010, 07:48 PM
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The Southern Sun is a great hotel. We have managed to get rooms there for around US$150 per night BB inc. of transfers. IMHO, I prefer safari first and then Cape Town, as I find it is a great wind down after a hectic (but pleasurable) few days on safari.
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Old Mar 12th, 2010, 05:00 PM
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I prefer Cape Town first. If you have lost luggage it can catch up with you better in a city than on safari. As NapaMatt states, you can save a day with Cape Town first because of the many early flts between Cape Town and Joburg. I always put logistics and cost saving over how the trip flows. In this case logistics, cost savings, and the flow (IMO) all point to Cape Town first.

Have a great time.
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Old Apr 6th, 2010, 11:44 AM
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We did Cape Town after our safari in Botswana, and I wish someone would have given me the wonderful advice you're getting here. Absolutley do Cape Town first, for reasons noted. If you miss the Jo'burg flight out of Europe you will be late for your safari and may have to charter a plane privately and on short notice (v. expensive), and you may miss part of your first day at camp (v. heartbreaking). Go to Cape Town first and if you are delayed, or luggage is lost, it's no big deal. Plus it will relax you and get you on local time. Have fun!
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Old Apr 7th, 2010, 07:23 AM
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I say Capetown first then safari. If you safari first you will be regretting all of your time in Capetown because you'll be wishing you had booked safari camps for the whole 8 days. I think Tom and I agree on this.

Cindy
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Old Apr 7th, 2010, 11:03 AM
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Yes, well said Cindy

regards - tom
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Old Apr 7th, 2010, 02:37 PM
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Totally agree and will add that we did 3 nights on safari and 5 nights in Cape Town (what was I thinking!!). We have said over and over we wished we had done 5 nights on safrai and 3 in Cape Town. Three nights in Cape Town was enough for us. We actualy saw everything in Cape Town that we wanted to in about two and a half days. We did manage not to have to spend a night in Johannesburg.

Have fun!
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Old Apr 7th, 2010, 03:00 PM
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Definitely agree with the suggestion to go to Capetown first. It can be hard to fall asleep the first night in RSA if you fly straight from the US (without an overnight in Europe or something).
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