Headed to South Africa/Zimbabwe for 2 weeks. I have most of my itinerary in place, but a couple blanks to fill in.

So far:

day 1:
arrive 11am CPT, Treehouse Boutique Hotel, couple's massage already scheduled, dinner at The Waterside Restaurant, crash.

day 2:
Driver for 8 hour tour. WHERE SHOULD WE GO? At our age, we probably won't have another trip to South Africa. Like gorgeous views, want to see the high lights.

day 3:
Driver picks us up from Treehouse Hotel, drives us to Franschhoek, visiting a couple wineries along the way. Stay at Academie Street Boutique Hotel. Dinner?

day 4:
We have all day in Franschhoek. Anyone have experience with the Wine Tram? Should we hire driver for the day? Is there enough to do in Franschhoek--our hotel is right there? Must do wineries? Eleven Restaurant?

day 5: transfer from Academie hotel to CPT, fly to JHB, car transfer to Pretoria, staying at Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel.

day 6: begin the four night Rovos Rail trip to Victoria Falls (6, 7, 8, 9), meeting friends, celebrating a big bday.

day 9: end Rovos tour at 10am. Hotel tbd--any suggestions? Tour of Victoria Falls + evening cruise still to be booked, any recommendations?

day 10: transfer to VFA for bush plane transport to Linkwasha safari 4 nights (10,11,12,13).

day 14: bush plane to VFA arriving at 11am, our flight back to US departs at 2pm. Anyone have experience with bush plane transfers? How often are they canceled or late? Kind of worried about catching our flight home.

Is this too much for two weeks? We are fit couple mid-60s. Any suggestions are most welcomed--thank you!

I've stayed at Akademie Street and Wilderness' Linkwasha (on different trips) both superb and, of course, very different from one another.

Will this be your first time "on safari??"


I think you might consider cutting one day from Franschhoek and adding one to CapeTown, if possible. You have almost no time in CapeTown; a highlight of Africa. Stay there Day Three. Much better allocation of time than two days in Wine Country.


If not, not a problem. Hiring a driver will allow you to visit wineries reachable by car. Plan a great meal, perhaps, at BABEL, in the BABYLONSTOREN wine estate. Book well in advance. Restaurant standards are very high in Wine Country, CT and much of SA..tons of fantastic places to eat and drink wine.


https://babylonstoren.com/babel

THE classic day trip is to the Cape of Good Hope. One of the best day excursions I've ever taken. it's a pretty standard trip and you might see whales, visit the penguins, etc etc.
Just stunningly gorgeous scenery I will always remember; I've done that drive three times and would go again. Guide standard, again, is about the highest I've encountered, anywhere.

Table Mountain is another highlight of CT, IF you have time and if weather cooperates.
There are many great drivers you can hire; do this as soon as possible because the popular drivers book up early.

When you say "bush planes" you mean the little planes used for the transfers from cam to camp and to the airports, I think. They usually run on schedule and they will make every effort to get you to your departure point in time. Have you flown on this type of plane before? Possible anxiety about the flying?

My strongest recommendation for LInkwasha is to book a night in their "Star bed sleep out, where, you will sleep in a comfy bed on a well-appointed platform under the stars in the middle of the bush. Animals are prevented from climbing to where you will be sleeping so do not worry!! Bring binocs.


Your guide will be sleeping within shouting distance so you will not be stranded but there are few experiences on earth as grand as being above the plain, hearing the animal noises, seeing the stars, etc etc. I did not want to close my eyes the entire night. Book as soon as possible because this is highly in demand. You'll be be driven out after dinner, depending on season, as I recall, and spend the night; there are toilet and washing facilities, and you'll have a cold box with drinks and snacks and whatever you ask for..... I try to do sleep outs whenever they are offered by the lodge/camp. It's great that you have four nights at Linkwasha..... am happy to answer any questions. We visited in 2017, I think, one off our last safari trips before Covid, , on a trip where we stayed at (I think) four camps in Zimbabwe.

Which side of Vic Falls do you want to stay on???

Many hotel options; I am happy to discuss my experiences there.
In general, I much prefer the safari experiences to time spent in Vic Falls but the boat trip should be great..many options for that.

Who planned your trip..a travel planner, or is this an organized tour, or did you plan yourselves?

I've not taken Rovos Rail but I did take the Blue Train from CT to Pretoria..long story.

LINKWASHA Star Bed platform at dusk!!!!! So fabulous you do not want to close your eyes for one minute!! Travel in the vehicle to the platform in your sleepwear.note my appropriate animal pattern pjs. Do not forget warm hat, gloves, socks, etc etc.

Thank you, great info you've shared, really appreciate it!

I do wish we had an extra day in Cape Town. Perhaps we'll have our driver (booked already!) take us to Table Mountain before taking us to Franschhoek?

We did a safari in Tanzania in February 2020 with Maasai Wanderings (amazing!). The StarBed sounds exciting, we'll have to try it. I'm okay on small planes (did them in Alaska and Tanzania), except for the claustrophobia part of it... My husband does fret about making flights/connections. (We all have our phobias I guess?). Thanks for reassurances about how the small planes try to get us there on time.

Just snagged lunch reservation at BABEL.

This trip all started when a young adventurous friend of mine decided to take the Rovos trip for her 40th bday and invited us along. I planned/booked the rest of the trip around that 4 night Rovos train for just my husband and me.

I'm not that into Victoria Falls but would feel silly to miss seeing it since we're RIGHT there! Which side should we stay on?

The Linkwasha travel company say they will book a tour of the Falls and an afternoon sunset cruise on the Zambezi (is this gonna be super-touristy?? any suggestions?). Also, when you booked the safari, do you remember if you worked with what seems to be a third party, "wilderness destinations," rather than directly with Linkwasha? My son booked the Tanzania trip, so I'm not familiar with this process.

Love your PJ's!

Thanks for all the great info. J

I'll come back later with more, but which side to stay on at The Falls depends on which side the flow is highest at the time of year you will be there.
I'll go into some ideas later tonight or tomorrow.

All of my Southern Africa trips were planned with Lisel Matthews a principal off SOUTHERNDESTINATIONS.COM in CapeTown. She is a true safari expert down to which rooms to book at which lodges. But whoever you booked with will be able to help you; just do not leave the Linkwasha sleep out til the last minute; book its as soon a you can.

Yes, see if you can visit Table Mountain on the way to the Winelands. The main thing is the views and the cute little dassies. (I never heard of them before I went there!)

Wilderness owns Linkwasha; they are one of the major players in southern African safari lodges.

Partner is nudging me so have to get ready to go out..more later...