Botswana and South Africa itinerary
 

We are taking our first trip to South Africa and Botswana. Not sure how many days to stay in each area. We have 14 nightsin total. Any comments or suggestions about the proposed camps or agenda greatly appreciated.

Cape Town: 3 or 4 nights (is 3 nights enough?) Staying at Liberty Lodge

Timbavati area: Tanda tula camp (they offer 4 nights, pay for 3!)

Sabi Sands: Either at Notten's or Simbambili for 3 nights

Overnight in Jo-berg to go to Botswana. Any decent hotel/B&B recommendation?

Botswana at Kanana camp (mixed activity camp). Should we spend 3 or 4 nights here?? It's really expensive so if 3 nights will give us a full experience we'd rather spend the extra night in Cape Town or Sabi Sands. If 4 nights is just plain BETTER, we'll go for it.

Thanks for any input!!

My advice is to skip Botswana and do South Africa only this trip. Do another couple of days in Cape Town and extend your stay in the Sabi Sands another two days perhaps breaking it into two camps or going to other private reserves around Kruger.
While Botswana in general and the Okavango delta there in particular is undoubtedly a fabulous safari destination, you need at least 7 to 8 nights at a minimum to appreciate it and make it worthwhile going there. If you like this safari perhaps Botswana would be a trip for the future.

We combined Mashatu in southern Botswana with Sabi Sands. Cost is much less than the Botswana delta camps. We also avoided the expense of light aircraft flights (you reach it by road after a short domestic flight in South Africa). It is certainly different from the Okavango Delta (to which we have not been), but was also different from Sabi Sands. No rhino or buffalo, but there were cheetah which we did not see in Sabi Sands. Saw lots of leopards in both places. SInce you already will have 7 nights in the Kruger ecosystem, I think another place provides a nice contrast. We had considered Phinda as another alternative, also much less than Botswana delta camps. I think we picked Mashatu in the end for the large elephant herds, and it did not disappoint.

Barbara,
Your choices of accommodations on safari are brilliant. I have been to Kanana and it is quite a little jewel. It is set in a beautiful spot on the Xudum River, it has the largest heronry in Okavango Delta, there are mokoros and boats to enjoy water activities, in addition to game drives and walking safari. I would plan on the following: 5 nights Cape Town, 4 nights Tanda Tula, 1 night at Johannesburg airport (if you are between flights) or in the city (depending on if you want to explore a bit?) and 3 nights at Kanana. With Tanda Tula, you will have had a complete safari experience. I would skip Sabi Sands - it is very expensive!

Happy Planning :-)

Thanks everyone!! After much deliberation (too much really) I think we'll go with Baraca's option. I was getting stuck on Sabi Sands, but hopefully the Timbavati area (Tanda Tula) will give us a good overall experience.
I liked the Mashatu game reserve idea, but it is land-based activity only. We'll go to Bots in the Delta area, at Kanana Lodge, because it will give water and land activities. Since we're giving up Sabi Sands, we'll now spend 4 nights in Bots, and 5 nights in Cape Town. So thanks for the advice. It really helps to hear other opinions.

Barbara
Baraca's suggestion is spot on - we live in Cape Town - glad you are coming here. The weather is cooling down - it rained a lot today but still wearing T-shirts and leggings. I see a lot of our local restaurants are now advertising their amazing value winter specials
Wishing you a fabulous holiday
Maeri