Hi all.

We recently had some trouble with our trip itinerary to SA in August and had to make some changes. The final 8 nights are complete with 4 nts. Phinda and 4 nights Kirkmans.

My issue is that we now have 6 open nights at the beginning of our trip (night 1 we'll probably stay in JNB because of 18 hours of travel and a late afternoon arrival.)

Is 5 nights too many in Capetown in the middle of winter?? Not sure what to do..the only parameters are that we arrive in JNB Aug. 2nd at 5:00pm and have to be in Phinda for the night of August 8th. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

There is more than enough to do in Cape Town to fill 5 nights. More than enough. But just remember that it will be cold and possibly rainy.
You could also visit Hermanus as the whales should be around by then.

If you want sunshine, then consider perhaps going to Durban and heading up the coast to Thonga Beach Lodge or Rocktail Bay for a beach holiday.

Poppins - is it warm enough to swim north of Durban in August???

August sea temperature on the KZN North Coast would be about 21c.

That's an average for August. As much as four degrees C higher on average in Feb/March.

hi jg,

if you can, get hold of a book called "7 days in capetown". there's anough in it to fill a whole month!

we were in CPT last July, and whilst it wasn't exactly hot, when the sun shone it was pleasantly warm. of course it rained, but we had less rain than sunshine - 1:2

I guess i suppose it depends how important good weather is to you and whethwer you'll get another chance to see CPT.

regards, ann

I don't know how it would fit into your itinerary, but my first choice would be spending that time in Kruger Park. On your own, in rental/hire car, staying in the comfortable Kruger camp bungalows. (Kirkmans borders Kruger).

regards - tom

I'll have 8 nights Cape Town in mid-July. Five will be in Simonstown at a place the Fallows of African Shark Eco-Charters have. If you do 5+ shark viwing trips, there is a great deal on their lodging. I'll be observing from on deck, no cage diving.

Mid-June is usually peak time for shark activity and Aug would still be good.

I've arranged two walks with baboons through Baboon Matters, one am and one pm.

You can kayak near the penguins and I'm considering that. Morning departures only.

The Cape of Good Hope area can take a day to drive around and absorb.

Kirstenbosch Gardens would be a nice afternoon visit (I hope since I'm doing that.)

If your dates work with the days DeWildt is open, you could visit that cheetah conservation area, outside of Joburg. I've never been but it looks interesting.

Lots of good options, including the self drive in Kruger if that is of interest to you.

I would fly or drive up to Mashatu in Botswana and spend your extra days there. It's about a 5 hour drive from Johannesburg. Of course, I'm of the opinion that you can never have too many days on safari!