Africa, closer than ever before?
 

During the course of our early planning for a 2016 trip back to Japan (been there once already) and Australia (this would be a third visit), Africa surfaced onto our radar. We’ve had on-again, off-again discussions about a “dream trip” to Africa, but have put it off due to the perceived inaccessibility financially. Like many first-timers to the continent, I suppose, a visit would include the obligatory wildlife safaris. We would like a safari experience that pulls out all the stops: comfortable accommodations at a place of character, good food, diversity of animals. And we want to experience safaris in a couple of different landscapes (e.g. Kruger and the Okavango Delta). We’re also drawn to Cape Town and Victoria Falls, which help us narrow down our geographic focus. With the U.S. dollar at historic highs against the South African rand, we think this may be our best chance. While we’ve not made a final decision, we’re inclined towards Africa in 2016. We’re looking at early-to-mid April, possibly spilling over into May.

Taking a look at the notes from previous planning attempts and doing some additional research, we’re thinking about an itinerary close to the following:

Cape Town, 5 nights

Cape Winelands, 2 nights – We’re looking at both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. We would probably see both, but what are the pros and cons of each as a home base? May be helpful to share that we would be relying on taxis and public transport.

Greater Kruger, 3 nights – Our budget is around 4200-4800 ZAR per person per night. In the past, we’ve looked at Notten’s, Nkorho, and Elephant Plains, each appealing in its own way.
Victoria Falls, 3 nights – Our thinking is that 3 nights would give us 2 full days, one for the Zambian side and the other for the Zimbabwean side. We allocated a similar amount of time to our visit to Iguazu Falls last year, and it was perfect for us.

Chobe, 2 nights

Impalila Island or Zambezi Cruise, 2 nights – On previous occasions, we’ve looked into the Okavango Delta, our first choice, but could not find something that fits into our budget of about US$400 per person per night. It seems like even increasing it to US$500 would not make much of a difference. After some research, we were attracted to Impalila for some similarities with Okavango in terms of environment. Do folks here have any experience with Impalila? We also came across information about overnight cruises on the Zambezi, which is interesting to us as well. Any experiences here?

Johannesburg, 3 nights

Any feedback or advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

I'm going to address two topics raised in your post, one of which might be completely off the mark, but my personal mania regarding travel planning renders me powerless to resist it.

First, specifically regarding your plans as stated, and offering some very personal opinions at no charge (maybe what they're worth.)

Stellenbosch or Franschhoek - Pick 'em. I personally like Stellenbosch slightly more as it's a bigger place and has a more dynamic vibe. Not surrounded by the glorious scenery that Franschhoek offers, but, maybe more variety. You can't go wrong either way.

Victoria Falls - I have to admit we were underwhelmed by the falls themselves, and frankly the vibe on the Zim side was pretty grim. I don't like to let politics influence my travels, but Zimbabwe was simply not a happy place, for us. I guess I would say that travel is all about choice - how you spend your time and money - and since southern Africa offers such a stunning range of landscapes and options, well...

Nottens/Nkhoro/EP - We've stayed at both Nkhoro and Elephant Plains and would happily return to EP, less so to Nkhoro. Really had to do with the mood - Nkhoro very "old school" to our eyes, if you get my meaning in a South African context. Frankly if I were returning to the SSGR I'd probably return to Chitwa Chitwa, where I'd say we had our best overall experience, in the moderate-budget category. Can't speak to Nottens. Just for the exercise, however, have a look at Pondoro in the Balule reserve, north of Sabi Sand.

South Africa general - I'd really consider getting a car, both for the winelands and Kruger areas. For example, an hour or two from the Sabi Sand lodges is the Panoramic Route, around the Blyde River Canyon and other stunning mountain sights in the northern Drakensberg mountains. Amazing scenery, a couple of very nice little towns in Graskop and Pilgrims Rest, and amazingly close to the Kruger complex. But without a car it's inaccessible.

Okavango - Can't speak to it, haven't been there. Again, look at some alternatives, such as Hluhluwe and St Lucia Bay on the KwaZulu Natal coast for distinctively different environmental zones. Or look at Addo Elephant NP in the Eastern Cape, easily combined with a tour of the Garden Route from Cape Town. Again, very different landscapes (each one more gorgeous than the last) compared to the north and Kruger area.

Okay, second (uninvited) point.

<i>During the course of our early planning for a 2016 trip back to Japan (been there once already) and Australia (this would be a third visit), Africa surfaced onto our radar.</i>

You might want to have a look at using some synergies available to global travelers by use of round-the-world air tickets. This is something of an obsession of mine, so forgive my inner geek.

RTW tickets (at least those sold by members of the big airline alliances) offer one-price packages of up to 16 flights, good for a year, that require you to go around the world - either westbound or eastbound, crossing both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the same direction.

One of the most striking features of RTW tickets is that they're priced VERY differently depending on where the ticket is bought and started/ended, with differences sometimes as great as 100%.

So my reason for mentioning this is that for the moment, Japan is one of the cheaper (in strong US dollar terms) origin points for RTW tickets sold by Oneworld alliance members, such as American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, British Airways et al.

So you're going to Japan, but are also thinking about Australia and Africa. So how about this route over the space of a year? http://tinyurl.com/oy3yryl

Bought in the US, in economy class this ticket would cost $6100 plus taxes. Bought in Japan, $3630. But in <i>business class</i> (first class on domestic flights in the USA) the US price of $12,300 would be $7490. If you skipped Australia, the price would be lessened by around $600 for coach and almost $1000 for business class.

Buy the ticket in Japan and use it to fly to Oz. (Or if this is a separate trip, just use it to fly back to the US.) Then over the next few months, use it to fly around North America (including the Caribbean and Central America.) Then when the time's right, over to Europe and down to Africa, maybe via the Middle East. Visit southern Africa, then end by flying from Joburg to Hong Kong, then back to Japan.

In addition to a lot of flying (around $375 - $450 per business/first class flight, hard to beat) you'd also earn many thousand frequent flyer miles in the process, potentially enough for another business- or first class trip overseas the following year.

Now this isn't for everyone, and I admit it's a mania, but it sounds like you might be keen international travelers, so consider it as a data point for further investigation. If interested, have a look at a wee "primer" I did on these tickets over at TripAdvisor - http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...ir_Travel.html

So sorry for the length and diversion, and happy planning!

Safari is "obligatory"?

Check out Arathusa in Sabi Sand. We liked it a lot - there is a waterhole in camp that we spent a lot of time watching the animals come to us right from our front deck. www.sabisand.co.za has all the lodges in SS and from there you can check prices, too. We didn't drive the Panorama Route - we hired a car and driver. It worked out well to be driven around on our first S Africa trip.

We did the winelands on a day trip from Cape Town using a driver. Public transportation is not easy. There is so much to do in the city, three days is barely enough, plus the Cape of Good Hope and the penguins (again with a driver) take a whole day. Table Mtn, Robben Island, Kirstenbosch are all great. We used the hop-on/hop-off bus and liked being able to hop off any time we saw something fun.

Three nights in Vic Falls is way too much. It's not like Iguassu. The view from the Zim side is much better. I agree with Gardyloo, and add a night or two in Chobe.

Our two favorite trips were (add Cape Town to both) with three-four nights per lodge:

Arathusa, Outpost in northern Kruger, Mashatu Tented (you might be more comfortable in main camp, but tented was perfect for us) in SE Botswana. We flew a scheduled charter to Arathusa, got driven to Outpost and Mashatu, then a charter/commercial to JNB. It was almost perfect.

A lodge similar to Arathusa, then south to Zululand Rhino Reserve in KwaZulu Natal (we stayed at Rhino River Lodge and arranged for a rhino conservation project - best experience we've ever had) and St Lucia (iSimangaliso Wetland Park) for kayaking with crocs and hippos and horseback riding on the beach or safari, snorkeling and whale watching. Getting from Sabi Sand to ZRR, if flying, requires a flight through JNB to Richards Bay. But arrangements are easy for getting everywhere. If you want to add private beach time, Rocktail and Thonga are nearby. Or just enjoy the beaches and many activities in St Lucia!

Both are great fun and very varied Eco-systems. The second one is very affordable. I'm pretty excited to go back to Zululand Rhino Reserve because just last week they released a pack of wild dogs. There is a great video on their Facebook page.

June-Sept is the best time for wildlife viewing. If you decide to visit Vic Falls, check into the water volume - too high and the spray makes seeing the falls difficult and too low, a little dull.

Have fun planning!

Gardyloo, wow! Thank you for the wealth of information you've provided here. Your feedback of the places we're looking at along with the additional destinations you're recommend give us a lot to think about. Your suggestion of the RTW ticket offers a lot of food for thought.

Christabir, obligatory for us at least. An African safari has been a dream of ours. Thank you for the suggestions. How many nights do you think is more reasonable for Victoria Falls: 2 nights? Are you suggesting more nights in Chobe in addition to our 2? I could probably add a night or two to Cape Town, but I'm expecting to see everything the region has to offer no matter how much time.

Typo above: should be "not" expecting.

See if this helps with the Winelands bit:

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...eed-a-plan.cfm

I don't like to stay at any safari lodge less than 3 nights. It gives enough time to give you the best chance of experiencing the wildlife in the area.

I know of many people who have done day trips from Chobe to Vic a Falls. Unless you plan some of the adrenaline activities, it's plenty, in my opinion. I know it's one of those "must do's", but it takes a lot of time and money to get there. If there is a drought or flood (or not), it's just not rewarding enough for me to make the investment. Again, it's not Iguassu.

You will barely scratch the surface of Southern Africa in one trip. We are planning our fifth, and have missed a lot more than we've seen. Don't worry - you'll be planning your return trip before you land back home!! So no matter what you decide, it will be great. Or enjoy your RTW trip!

I didn't understand your usage of obligatory: required by a law or rule
: always or often included as a familiar and expected part of something - from Merriam. I misunderstood.

Have fun planning.

Ekscrunchy, thanks for reminding me of this thread. I remember following it a couple of months ago, when I wasn't considering an Africa trip.

Christabir, thank you again. I do not expect to see "all" of any one city or area let alone a part of a continent on one trip. I hope to get a sample of the variety that Africa offers and come away with a few cool memorable experiences.

I'll return briefly to the Victoria Falls/Chobe discussion and simply say that we went to both (flew into Livingstone, transferred to Chobe via a rather "interesting" crossing of the Zambezi, road transfer to Victoria Falls, flew back to Joburg from VFA) and in retrospect would have done something else with the days and cost.

The "in retrospect" part is key - had we known what was possible within South Africa we probably would have reallocated those days elsewhere. For example, on a later trip we visited Cathedral Peak in the central Drakensberg mountains, stunning subalpine scenery surrounded by beautiful Zulu villages; one really comes to realize that "people of the sky" is an apt name. Or on a later trip we spent time on the Atlantic coast north of Cape Town - historic whitewashed villages, unimaginable fields of wildflowers in the spring, the litle-visited West Coast National Park - all within an hour or two of Cape Town.

Anyway, just saying... You <i>will</i> be planning a return visit - promise - so spending less time hopping about the continent this time might be a good idea.

Gardyloo, appreciate the feedback. I do not expect to experience "everything" in 100 visits let alone 1.

TP - we seem to following each other around as we have planned a trip to SA in February 2016. We have been on Safari (Kenya) a couple of times, so that is not a priority for us but we are doing Cape Town, the Winelands, the Garden Route and a 3-night safari at a private game reserve in the malaria-free south.

Craig, indeed, and I suppose not surprising given our similar interests and travel styles. This will be our first time and our second safari experience after Sri Lanka. Have you been to SA before?

I have to agree with others, I can't for the life of me understand why visitors feel compelled to spend so much time at the carnival that is Vic Falls. At the end of the day, its just a waterfall. Everything else is a hodge-podge of hyped up junk intended to part the tourist from his/her cash. If an African "safari" has been a dream of yours, why spend so much time and money doing other things?

In regard to Botswana, we had an amazing 22 days in camps at a cost of about $500 PP/PD. We traveled during the "green season" - Nov/Dec. The cost is approximately 30%-40% less than high season and the wildlife was still outstanding. We used all Wilderness Safari camps. They more than meet your desire for a place that "pulls out all the stops". Consider a combination of Chitabe and Tubu Tree with at least 3 days in each. We stayed 4-5 days in each of 5 camps and would have stayed longer.

TC, thank you for your suggestions. I took a look at the Wilderness Safari camps and it seems the only one within reach based on pricing is Pelo. Do you have experience with the particular camp? Others in the Okavango region we're looking at are Gunn's and Moremi Crossing.

As an alternative to the Okavango, we're looking at a Zambezi cruise or perhaps Deception Valley Lodge in the Central Kalahari.

tripplanner, I would suggest you speak with a professional planner. As I posted, we paid $500 pp/pd for our Wilderness Safari experience, which is right in line with what you say you can spend. I don't know where you are looking for cost, but rack rates posted on-line are never the going rate if you use a good planner. Beside, you can't book the camps yourself. You will have to use someone for that purpose, so why not get some good advice along the way?

We spent 22 nights in Wilderness Safari camps during the "green season" -- Nov/Dec. Our cost was just slightly over $22,000 for two people (excluding International airfare). We stayed in Tubu Tree, Xigera, Vumbura Plains (a premier camp), Chitabe Lediba, and Savuti. With the right help, your budget will go much farther. Good luck.

Just a quick reply! I am just starting to plan a second trip to Southern Africa and I noticed your question.We went Botswana and South Africa. Why do you want to go to Johannesberg? I do not think it is at all worthwhile. It is very dangerous and for the most part, if you stay in a nice hotel, you are sequestered off by gates! We stayed in a lovely small hotel in Capetown called African Villa.We stayed in Frankshoek for four nights. It was lovely. To generalize -most of the wineries in Stellenbosch make Cabernet or Bordeaux varietals and Frankshoek there seemed to be more of a variety including some very good Syrahs. We were there about 7 years ago. We made appointments at smaller wineries which was fun.

TC, thanks again. Who did you use in terms of an agent? I wanted to get some of the basic research done and have a good sense of itinerary, interests, range of costs, etc., in mind before contacting someone.

Zinfanatic, Johannesburg is of interest to me given the recent history (e.g. Soweto). And I figure I had to transit the city regardless.

tripplanner, I applaud you for doing research in advance. That is exactly what I do so that I have a clear view of what I want before approaching an agent. It's easy to get steamrolled by a bad agent if you don't know what you're doing. I am only suggesting that you not get too hung up on pricing specifics until you talk to an agent. Even then shop your prospective itinerary around. It's surprising the different prices you will get on the same trip.

Our trip to Botswana was the third to Africa and I was clear on what I wanted.....to be in high end camps in the Okavanga for a minimum of 20 nights. I wasn't going to fly 20+ hours to stay a week! Different agents have connections with different camp/lodge organizations. You may therefore see more advantageous pricing from one over another in specific camps. After reading a lot of reviews on TA, I was set on Wilderness Safari camps. I found "Travel Beyond" in Minnesota. The owner, Craig, is very knowledgable ....having been to Africa many, many times.

Re. JNB: yes you will land there, but the airport is far from the city. Have a look at the reality of a JNB city tour and ask yourself if it's really worth the time and money to "drive by" buildings and bridges. I've been on a lot of city tours and find they are usually a fine way to waste a day if you have nothing better to do.

The flight from ATL to JNB (the non-stop) lands at approx. 8PM. The flight out to Maun (The Okavanga Delta) is early the next morning. We stayed at the Intercontiental right on airport property and was glad of it. It's expensive, but we had points. You also save the price of a "meet and greet" and transport, so really not so bad price wise.

Tour:
http://www.viator.com/tours/Johannes...r/d314-2382SJ6

I don't know where you live, but we have toured wineries in CA, France and Australia. While it can be interesting, I sure wouldn't give up a day on safari for it. Just being very honest....seen one winery, seen 'em all. A tasting and then the pressure to purchase. What am I going to do with bottles of wine while traveling around?

My opinion.....wildlife is what sets Africa apart from every other trip you will make in your life. When you return home it will be the lions, elephants, cheetah, hippos that you rave about.....not the wine tastings or the city tour. History is wonderful. I agree that learning about a country is important. Read about it, watch movies, have lengthy conversations with your guides about their life......don't spend too much time driving by buildings.

Again , good luck. Happy to help if you have additional questions.

TC, appreciate your thoughts and suggestion on a travel agent. I've reached out to Travel Beyond in addition to the half-dozen others I've contacted. While the safari experiences are important to us, we are looking for a more rounded trip that includes other elements. Suppose it comes down to our unique travel styles and preferences.

TripPLanner: I've taken two trips to Southern Africa. Each was planned down to the last detail by Southern Destinations, a CapeTown-based agency with a new office in the US. (I live in New York)

I've written trip reports about both of the trips; click on my name to find them. I am very well traveled and almost always plan my own trips but for SA/Bots I let an expert handle everything. The person I used at the agency is Liesl Matthews and I recommend her with enthusiasm.

Liesl has also planned what will be my third trip, to SA and Botswana, planned for next spring.

You can phone with a toll-free number, or e-mail.

https://www.southerndestinations.com/

Ekscrunchy, thank you for the recommendation. I've dropped them a note. And will take a look at your reports.

Hi Tripplanner001!

Here's some ideas for you..

Land in JNB and fly onward to Vic Falls. I'd spend 2-3 nights (max) there depending on 2 things: how well you deal with jet lag and how many adventure activities you are interested in. Some people do not want to bungee jump or go white water rafting if they are still dealing with the lag.. I would recommend The Elephant Camp. I would use Shearwater Adventures or Wild Horizons for your activities.

From VFA, I would fly to Cape Town via JNB. I'd stay 4 nights with 2 nights in the Wine Lands if staying over night there is important to you; otherwise, I would stay 5 nights in CT and just do day trips. The vineyard area is approx a 1 hour drive. There are many places to choose from to stay in either CT or the Wine Lands. Totally depends on your style of lodging: large or more boutique-oriented, bustling waterfront or more neighborhood-like. Many good ones to recommend...

You could then go to Sabi Sand and spend 6 nights. There are many to choose from that would suit your budget. Elephant Plains on the lower end is great value for what you get. Consistently very well rated. Kirkman's Kamp is another lovely lodge. Ngala (in neighboring Timbavati) is a nice complement to Kirkman's and being both AndBeyond lodges, you could secure a nice long stay discount. There are others as well.

An alternative to Sabi Sand is to go to Phinda in KwaZulu Natal and you could do 6 nights there split between 2 of their lodges, such as Forest and Mountain. It's a lovely private reserve with 7 distinct eco systems and one of the last sand floor forests left in the world. Forest Lodge is in it. Really interesting. The diversity there would be of great interest to you since you mentioned you wanted different landscapes. From that area, you can do a day trip to St Lucia Wetlands, a Unesco world heritage site, or a day trip riding in a jeep on the sand of Sodwana Bay in the middle of your 6 nights there. The dunes are some of the tallest and actually the only dunes that border an evergreen forest. You can get a pass and be one of only a handful of jeeps on the beach, a stretch of 320+ km of untouched coastline. Pretty spectacular. I have some incredible photos from one our trips there. If you 'd like to see them, please contact me via my profile.

If you wanted to throw Chobe into the equation, you could do 2 nights and if you were considering Kirkmans and/or Ngala, another AndBeyond lodge such as Chobe Under Canvas or Savute Under Canvas; however there are a number of other good lodges to choose.

I would not dedicate any time in Jo'burg unless you have to do an overnight on the front end of your trip. Many flights come in early AM in good time to take a flight out of there, such as to VFA. If you however need a cost effective solution for lodging at OR Tambo, I would recommend City Lodge OR Tambo which you can access via the airport through the parking garage. Fine ratings and gets the job done. The Intercontinental is lovely and pricey to match. Both work well.

It's such fun to plan, isn't it? Happy to help! Continue to ask questions as needed!

Best
Dianne
Africa Direct USA, Owner

Dianne, thank you for your input. There's a lot to consider.

For folks who are familiar with Ngala and Kirkman's Kamp, both andBeyond properties in the greater Kruger area, could you fill me in on the pros and cons? And how do either compare with Elephant Plains, other than it being friendlier on the wallet? Thanks.

Ngala is in Timbavati. I was there (Lodge, not Tented) a few years back and, though it was nice (and it holds a special place in my heart because it's where I saw my first rhino!), it was my least favorite of the high end lodges we visited on that trip. It was more "hotel-y" than other places we visited and less casual. I like communal dining and it was not offered there. I have not been to Kirkmans but I planned a trip for my mother and I liked everything I read about it. It is in the southern part of Sabi Sand and the wildlife viewing should be excellent. My mother is a high end kind of woman. (We didn't take that trip. Big bummer!)

The biggest difference between the hig end camps and others is the service level. At EP, you will share a full vehicle, as many as ten people in three rows plus the front seat. At the high end camps, usually limited to 6 which is very nice for viewing, photos and for the ranger to not have to please as many people. Drinks and laundry will be included and the wine list will be outstanding. The food will be top notch. The rangers might be more experienced.

I visited Arathusa in the past. It won my business because there is a waterhole in camp - get a unit with a view! - and at the time was just a little more expensive than EP. Everything has been upgraded since we were there and it is a bit more pricey, but not too bad. They have an airstrip so getting there by scheduled charter is easy. They also have a larger traversing area than EP (the land they are allowed to use for game drives). I would also recommend the three Africa on Foot camps in Timbavati - they have a great reputation for excellent rangers and a more casual atmosphere. For more options in Sabi Sand check www.sabisand.com.

Christabir, thank you very much. Right now, we are leaning towards Kirkman's but still evaluating options and will look at Arathusa.

Hi Tripplanner!

EP and Arathusa offer great value and, as Christabir, points out, Arathusa has a nice waterhole which is a wonderful benefit for guests.

Ngala and Kirkmans are both really lovely camps. This is a popular pair for our clients. The benefit of pairing these is the discount derived from doing a long stay. If you paired Kirkmans with Arathusa, you would obviously not benefit by the AndBeyond long stay discount. So I think that unless there is something steering you away from choosing either Ngala or Kirkmans, I would keep them paired as they are similar in level of service, ranger knowledge, food, number in the jeep etc. Other pairings would not be as equal on that front.

On another note, let's look at traversing area. EP and Arathusa are in the northern section of Sabi Sand. Kirkmans is in the southern section. EP has less traversing area than Arathusa. While Arathusa and Kirkmans have a similar amount of traversing area overall, Kirkmans benefits by having the Sand River which really adds a wonderful element to game drives and viewing. The Sabi does not flow as far north to EP and Arathusa.

Hope this helps you as you finetune your incredible trip!

Best
Dianne
Africa Direct USA

Thanks Dianne. Very helpful. I am looking at only staying at one of these.

Enjoy SA. I have been over 10 times and explored most places you want to see in terms of game parks (Sabi Sand, Kruger, Phinda, Zululand, and Madikwe) and cities in the country, in addition to safari in Bots and Namibia. To put it mildly, I'm crazy about the country. But I disagree about skipping Joberg and I am always curious why folks are not interested in learning more about the history of the country and the world. Why Joberg...Cradle of Mankind, Soweto (Nelson Mandela's house, Desmond Tutu's house, authentic Black African cuisine, Hector Pieterson Museum to learn about the Soweto Bantu education uprising, fascinating street life, rich history and much more), the Apartheid Musuem (stunning architecture and rich history), great shopping for authentic crafts, fabulous hotels in beautiful neighborhoods, Liliesleaf Farm, Nelson Mandela Square, a look at many cultures in one place allowing you a look into the country's future without ignoring the all too painful past. It's a great city and worth more than just transiting through IMO. And I'm just scratching the surface with the above ideas. I happen to love all the other places you are considering visiting. My last visit was waking up this past Christmas morning in the Okavanga Delta and New Year's Eve staying at the Cape Grace in Capetown watching the fireworks on the V&A waterfront. And, of course, many days in Joberg in between. Best of luck in planning.

Lolazahra, appreciate the advice and suggestions on Johannesburg. Right now I'm budgeting 2 or 3 nights in the city, depending on whether or not we will venture into the Drakensbergs.

Tripplanner001,

I think you will be happy dedicating 2 to 3 nights to Joberg, especially since you are "looking for a well-rounded experience in SA with many elements." There are cultural and historical aspects/elements that you can experience in Joberg that no other city in the country can provide. Most tour companies who understand Joberg, can amp up your trip and provide you with a rich, safe and rewarding experience. You have received fantastic advice from other posters about the rest of SA, please do not hesitate to ask me more about Joberg.

Lolazahra, thank you for the offer. I will for sure take you up on it when I'm thinking of things to do. Any suggestions of where to stay? Looking for a nice boutique property with character in a safe neighborhood walkable to restaurants and unique shops.

Hi Lolazahra,

We will be in SA this July... and i'm still planning our return from Elephants Plains to Johannesburg. We will still have two nights 25 and 26 and three days before our flight home 7pm.
I read your posts here along with everyone's and with your experience of being to SA 10 Times, can i please ask your (and everyone's!) opinion on this possible route back from Kruger park?

I found this suggestion below.

So, after we exit Sabi sand by Gowrie gate returning from EP (25th), do you think it is a good idea to enter the KNP again and drive around and maybe exit by another gate closer to the Panorama route(??)

Then we can get to the northern part of the Panorama Route, driving via Hoedspruit and the Strijdom Tunnel and then turning left onto the R532. Stopping at The Three Rondavels (Blyde River Canyon view point), Bourke's Luck Potholes, Berlin Falls, and a few other view points, and make it to Graskop by sunset... (?)
Then the suggestion continues with heading back the following morning to do the short R534 loop north of Graskop to view the Pinnacle and God's Window, and perhaps came back south to stop at Lisbon Falls, before making our way to Johannesburg.

If we do this and stay overnight in Graskop. We will have one more night and day before flying home(7pm).
Where would you suggest to spend them? (incl Johannesburg)

Will it work for example, if after a night at Graskop, in the morning of 26th, we will drive to Soweto, tour there, and stay for a night somewhere there..?

OR should I reconsider and stay another night in the park (from 25 to 26) and from 26 to 27 in Graskop and drive to jnb on 27 for 7pm flight home?...

Thank you!

Africa, here we come!!

Just confirmed and paid our deposits for the most expensive portion of our trip - the once-in-a-lifetime safaris. Working with a local travel agent, we will be staying at Kirkman's Kamp in Sabi Sands for 4 nights followed by 2 nights at Ilala Lodge at Victoria Falls and 3 nights at Chobe Under Canvas. We're pumped!

Now to the other portions of our trip: Cape Town, the Winelands, and Johannesburg. We are looking at 5 nights in the Mother City, 2 or 3 nights in the Winelands, and 2 or 3 in Johannesburg.

Johannesburg: Any suggestions on a nice boutique hotel in a safe neighborhood with the ability to walk to shops and restaurants?

Drakensburgs: Now that we are not going to the Okavango Delta or Impalila Island, we are thinking about perhaps 3 or 4 nights in the Drakensburgs. Which section offers the best in terms of variable scenery accessible from day hikes? We won't be hiring a vehicle so the challenge will be getting to and from Johannesburg. Suggestions appreciated.

We're 10 months away, but could not be more excited. Thanks for getting me this far already.

Any thoughts on my two questions below? Thanks.

Johannesburg: Any suggestions on a nice boutique hotel in a safe neighborhood with the ability to walk to shops and restaurants?

Drakensburgs: We are thinking about perhaps 3 or 4 nights in the Drakensburgs. Which section offers the best in terms of variable scenery accessible from day hikes? We won't be hiring a vehicle so the challenge will be getting to and from Johannesburg.

Could you tell us what you are doing? I go to S Africa for safari, and just can't imagine spending what looks like a lot of time in cities and hiking. I know your budget is pretty tight and you don't want to self drive, so staying in areas that are more convenient would be better. I haven't spent any time in Joberg so can't help with a hotel. We did stay at the hotel at the Cradle of Humankind and it was very nice, all inclusive. If you don't have a car, I'm not sure how you could possibly stay in Drakensburgs.

So i would head down to Kwazulu Natal for lots of fun things to do, and very inexpensive places to stay. You will spend some of your budget and time getting there, but logistically will work better for you. Fly to Richards Bay (or Durban, cheaper flights but more expensive road transfer) and contact one of the lodges in Zululand Rhino Reserve to pick you up (we love Rhino River Lodge). Most of the lodges are under $150 pppn all inclusive except fror drinks, and in a huge, over 25,000 hectare, big five reserve that has excellent cheetah, rhino (obviously) and lions, plus they just released wild dogs. Stay for three nights and then get a ride to St Lucia.

St Lucia is my current favorite place. It's is the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a unesco World Heritage Site. Ride horses with Impala and zebra or on the beach, kayak with hippos and crocs, night safaris, whale watching, snorkel/scuba and too much more to mention. Oh yeah, gorgeous beaches on the gorgeous, warm Indian Ocean!! There are many self catering and full service lodges (cheap) with a nice supermarket right in town. Lots of good options for restaurants. Everything is in walking distance, and the tours you schedule can include a ride to the venue. Love it. Just don't walk off the main drag at night - there are lots of hippos who come into town to eat. Such a fun place.

Then arrange a ride (there's a shuttle if you prefer) to Richards Bay and fly back to Joberg to fly home.

Instead of the Zululand Rhino Reserve you could go on overnight hiking trips in Hluhluwe imFolozi National Park. They are highly recommended by the experts, with excellent guides in a very important park. Over on safaritalk, a group just came back and Game Warden wrote an excellent trip report, but it was the most basic, longest camping hike. I would do an easier one! He also did a good trip report for his St Lucia visit that makes me want to go back even more.

I just think without a car you should reconsider things a little. The above is a relatively inexpensive option that could be your favorite part of the trip!

Have fun planning, and please let us know what your current itinerary is so we can help.

Christabir, right now, we have:

Cape Town - 5 nights
Winelands - 3 nights
Sabi Sands (Kirkman's Kamp) - 4 nights
Victoria Falls (Ilala Lodge) - 2 nights
Chobe (Chobe Under Canvas) - 3 nights
Johannesburg - 3 nights

I have 7 nights of safari total between Sabi Sands and Chobe, so I think I am good there. Wanted to add some hiking and thought about the Drakensburgs given the proximity.

To trip planner 001. I would definitely go to the SA wineries. I too have been all over world tasting wine and live near the wine country of California. It is always fun to taste wines from different terroir and the scenery in the Winelands is amazing- more beautiful than California wine country! They make some very good reds and I think the whites are getting better. We did not buy any wines except what we thought we could drink while on vacation. We were NEVER pressure to buy wine. In fact I have always been more pressured to buy wine here in the US.

Zinfanatic, thanks. My current thinking is to base in Franschhoek, do some wine tasting, hiking in the surrounding areas, shopping, and just relaxing.