Sheila - you might want to look at this website which facilitates non synchronous house exchanges. There are several SA listings.

I met the owner of this site when we explored a long term house swap (Toronto/London) which unfortunately didn't work out but this house exchange method seems very interesting to me.

http://www.ivhe.com/index.php

Thank you so much; I'll have a look.

Stellenbosch or Franschhoek would be an ideal location.

If you're really interested in doing this, you need to list on an exchange site. We used http://www.homeexchange.com/ and found non-simultaneous exchanges for our house in France with Australia and New Zealand. (Oddly enough none of them wanted to come to France in the winter, which is when we wanted to be away, so the non-simultaneous worked well)

We thought of trying to do one for South Africa, but since we like to spend several (read 3 or 4) months there in the winter, it was much less likely that we would find someone. And since we have a very nice flat that we usually rent, we didn't try so hard.

We like Stellenbosch a lot, and actually stay about 25 minutes from there, on the coast at Gordon's Bay. I would be wary of Franschhoek in their summer (our winter) We find it almost unbearably hot and too touristy.

Sheila, have you been to SA previously? If not, I think a house exchange in someplace like Stellenbosch would be great - close enough to Cape Town for day trips, but also close enough to the coast (Hermanus etc.) for trips there, too.

I would say, however, that if your time allowed, you ought to look into "bracketing" your house swap (or a before/after choice) with some time in other parts of SA. If you went around the first of September, for example (I know, probably not on for this year) you could enjoy some fine spring weather in the wine country, but also still get in some good game viewing in winter conditions in the north (Kruger NP area) - no/few bugs, good visibility due to absence of foliage etc., cool nights and warm days, low humidity. Start there, then move south.

Also in the south around that time, the wildflowers on the Atlantic coast north of Cape Town are amazing - West Coast National Park is a stunning area just two hours from Cape Town (and around the same from Stellenbosch.) Highly recommended. http://gardyloo.us/aug24b%20044s.jpg http://gardyloo.us/aug24b%20066s.jpg

I never thought of renting (rather than buying) a place in SA. Makes my dream a little more attainable!

Thank you all. Carlux, I've done two swaps into Canada and the States informally through Fodors and I was just hoping.

I am checking out some of the exchanges sites as well.

I've never been to SA. I think around Cape Town is probably right. Kruger is also suggested, but maybe another time

Sheila - if renting is an option we rented an apartment in this lovely house in Simonstown for a month. It was a great location - although better to have a car

http://www.capetownrents.com/index.html

Thanks. I really need the swap...

Hi Sheila,
We have a beach home in Cannon Rocks ,in the Eastern Cape. It is built on a sanddune overlooking the Indian Ocean where you can watch whales and dolphins play from your bed. Ebery room in the house has a seaview and to the north rolling pastures. We are close to game farms , and the Addo Elephant park is an hours drive away. Explore two tidal rivers with our boat and fish on the river or enjjoy wild life (elephant,rhino,buck,) on the river banks. Go horse riding on our unspoilt beach ,or kite surfing. Experience the thrill of a cruise liner in all its lighted splendour at night gliding over the black ocean or ocean liners by day crossing in front of our double storey house . Hiking to Bartholomeus cross will lead you to lovely golden beaches and deep blue pools for snorkeling. Close to the town of Kenton -on-sea for food , coffee shops ,banks etc.
Fishing from the beach in front of our house will land your dinner on the table.

We will be interested in a swop with your home in France . We will be available for a swap from end November to end December and then again from 8Jan 13 to 24Jan2013

Regards
Lana de Reuck

Hmm. Do you need a direct swap- that's not a problem. I just kinda thought you might prefer France in the summer

Sheila...i can keep my eye out for you when we are driving around the area next (!) month.

@Lana

You contacted me last week about Vienna via lovehomeswap.
I cancelled my account there but they have left my profile online. I can't reply to requests - I can only see them. (My feeling is that half the profiles are no longer active but the website never takes them down - makes their site look more attractive than it really is.)
Anyway, this year is too early for us for SA. My email address is now displayed in the profile there!

john Vienna