sealstep

We are two weeks away from leaving for South Africa and Botswana. We'll be at the Radisson Waterfront for a few nights, then six nights in Botswana - 2 at Mapula Lodge, 2 at Delta Camp, and 2 at Deception Valley Lodge (1 night in Joburg on each end). Then back to Cape Town and on to Franschoek for 4 nights at the Akademie Street Guesthouse, and 2 last nights back in Cape Town. I have some questions that I'm hoping people can help with!

1. Do we need an International Driver's license (from the US)?
2. In Cape Town, is Biesmiellah the best bet for some Cape Malay cuisine?
3. What's the restaurant at the Radisson Waterfront like? Good enough if we're too tired to go out the first night?
4. I'm torn between Franschoek restaurants. Leaning towards making reservations at Le Quarter Francais and Reubens (if still available) and trying to wing some good lunches when we're there. Is it possible to get last minute lunch reservations in April? Le Bon Vivant and Buouillabaisse look good too!
5. How cool will it get in Botswana at night? 60? 50? The averages look to be about 60, but there are lots of warnings about taking warm clothes for early morning game drives.
6. How neutral should our safari clothing be? Is dark grey okay? Black? White? I understand no bright colors.
7. If we're driving around the coast, Simons Town, Boulders Beach, where would a good lunch stop be? Or should we plan to eat seafood in Kalk Bay?
8. We have a 7 hour layover in Joburg on our way home. Should we go to the Cradle of Civilization?

I may have more, but this is a start. Thanks for any help you can think of!

LAleslie

1. You don't need an international driver's license. Your local one will do. But you might want to carry your passport.
4. We loved Reuben's (it was busy), but we were there in 2006, so I don't have super recent expereience. On the same trip, we disliked Le Bon Vivant and wondered why it gets some positive reviews. (And it was empty, never a good sign.) Le Quartier Francais gets mixed reviews here and on other boards. Some say its quality has fallen, but I don't really know. And it may be the priciest place in town. (And in the Cape Town waterfront, we really didn't care for the huge and touristy Baia, which many people recommend. I can't imagine why. )
6. I don't think it's a problem with gray or black, though black might be hot during the day. White I'd stay away from. You'll get dirty. I've seen lots of people in all kinds of colors (even hot pink!) and when you're in a vehicle, the animals don't seem to mind. Another story if your doing a walking safari.
9. Everyone says the apartheid museum in Joburg is a must, but I've never had enough time to go.

debwarr

Hi. Sounds like a great trip! We ate at Le Quartier Francais back in Sept. 2007 and thought it was pretty good. Pricey, but we were staying there and it was rainy so it worked for us. There are probably other places just as good and not as expensive, but we enjoyed it.

I've worn white t-shirts and tank tops without problems on game drives and the grime has always washed away. Grey works pretty well, in fact, I have a grey fleece that I bought at Kleins Camp in Tanzania and it was a good break from all the greens and khakis.

We were in Botswana in September, so I really can't offer any advice about weather in April, but I'd take some layers for the morning game drive. I usually wore a fleece jacket in the morning. Even high 50s can feel cold in an open vehicle before the sun comes up. But I'm a cold weather chicken, so I err on the side of layers that I can shed.

Have a wonderful trip!

ShayTay

You'll want to stay away from blacks and dark blues... they attract tsetse flies. In fact, those are the colors used on "flags" used to trap them. I wouldn't wear white, either, as it really stands out and you'll be in open game-drive vehicles.

I enjoyed Reuben's in SA, but that was in 2006. You might see what restaurants that your local hosts suggest after you get there. We had heard that we needed reservations for Rueben's, but were able to walk right in. Of course, it was early evening.

sealstep

Thanks so much! I am going to try Reubens, and think about Le Quartier Francais. Good advice on the colors too. I'm hoping that if we're flexible we can walk in a few places or get a last minute reservation when we arrive.

I think we'll try Willoughby's instead of Baia too.

spassvogel

Shaytay
Botswana did a good job in getting rid of Tsetse flies. They are "extinct" ! When we visted last Nov (Delta, Moremi, Chobe) there wasn't one left - TG! So Tsetse is not a concern in Botswana anymore.

Regarding lunch in the Wine lands:

Lunch at Grand Roche is a wonderful affair - sitting outside having a marvelous vista over the vineyards.

Bred and Wine at Môreson Franschhoek is also a great place for lunch right within the vineyards

I would ALWAYS return to LQF and Margot Janse's fare! Absolutely stunning and in European terms quite favourable.

And I would again buy some stuff at LQF's boutige to bring home for friends and family http://www.lqf.co.za/indulgences/touches-and-tastes

Whenever we visit Cape Town we drive to Franschhoek to have at least one dinner at the tasting room.

Regarding Cape Town: BAIA is ours for one evening ;-) But it's seafood and NOT Malai!

Happy travels!

SV

Mega4namaddy

Hi Sealstep,
I am thinking you might not have time to go to cradle of civilisation on your way to the airport. When I was in J/Burg airport last October they were renovating it for the World Cup in 2010. It took me almost 4 hours to check in! Others who have travelled more recently might be able to shed some light on the situation with the renovations and check in times now. Just leave lots of time to check in.
Happy trails,
Kaye

sealstep

Wow, that's good info on the check in at Joburg. We have local flights to Botswana that I hadn't thought about checking in that early for. We would just need to get through security, but 4 hours would only give us 3 hours out of the airport. Anyone with more recent experience? If we have a 10 am flight out of Joburg to Botswana, should we leave that many hours?

And thanks for all the other advice too!

finnaroo

Definitely eat at Bread and Wine for lunch when you are in wine country. The food is great but you might need a reservation. We were not fans of Le Bon Vivant but Reuben's and LQF were both amazing. LQF serves lunch as well.

craig_beal

you DO need an international drivers license!

the law is on the books in south africa. the rental car companies rarely ask for it but it is a law. i sent over 500 customers to south africa last year and about 50 rented cars. of these people, only one client and myself was asked for the license before renting.

better to be safe than sorry.

sealstep

Okay, we'll have at least one of us get the international drivers license. Good to know. I am sticking with Reubens and LQF, and hopefully can hit Bread and Wine and some of the others for lunch.

PRLCH

I don't think I would risk the Cradle of Civilisation with 7 hours layover. We had regional flights in Africa where check in was really quick and efficient, but our flight back to Australia (January this year) was really, really busy and really, really chaotic. Also, there are lots of road works on the freeway system around JHB and out to the airport. On one trip to the airport it was gridlocked. If there is an accident, traffic can be bad and very slow.

canadian_robin

We (Canadians) always travel with international driver's licences - we have rented many times from both Avis (in Namibia/South Africa/Botswana) and Kgaladagi 4x4 hire (in Upington, SA), and we have always been asked to produce them - we wouldn't go without them.

Whenever we travel down the coast from Cape Town, we pack a picnic lunch and have it either at Boulder's Beach with the penguins (go to the second entrance/parking lot - there you can actually walk down onto the beach and swim amongst the penguins) or in the Cape of Good Hope Nature reserve (Buffelsbaai or Platboom Beach). It is a shame to sit inside a restaurant with all that beautiful scenery. Be certain to take a bottle of wine for the trip back to Cape Town - the sunset over the Atlantic along Chapman's Peak Drive (or anywhere along the west coast if Chapman's is still closed) is spectacular!

We have eaten lunch at Biesmiellah twice and found the (Cape Malay) food to be very good.

You'll need warm clothes (layers that you can strip off as it warms up by 10am) for the morning game drives, including a warm hat and gloves - colours really don't matter.
Robin