Hi all. I'm sitting here on a Sunday morning worrying about what I missed in planning our first safari this August. I'd appreciate any input....here's the itinerary (family of 4...teenagers 14 & 17).

4 nights Capetown, Tarragon Inn (table mtn, robbins island,cape point, hermanus for whales)

2 nights new Rocktail Beach Camp (snorkeling, horseback riding)

4 Nights Phinda Forest (Rhino tracking..anybody know the minimum age on this??, Cultural experience)

4 Nights Kirkman's Kamp

Thanks!!

The penguins at Boulders Beach, Simons Town (on the way to Cape Point) &lt

good call Carla. I forgot to put them on my list!!

jgoebel
you should not forget to go up table mountain as soon as you can. if the first day is a clear one - go up and don't postpone it. the next day might be the "table cloth" on top or very windy and it's impossible.
so - give it a go asap!

waterfront is missing....would have lunch there respectively go a bit earlier and do it prior or after robben island.

jg
regarding minimum age for rhino tracking: i have no idea but would assume your kids are fitting in the scheme anyway!

fitness is the major point as you have to be fit for running and maybe climbing a tree if the rhino is in a bad mood that particular day ;-)

Don't miss Stellenbosch. Take the metro PLUS out there (and make sure you don't enter an empty carriage.)

Spend a night or do it as a day trip. The town is wonderful, the University very cool, and every restaurant is a wonderful testament to South African cuisine.

nigel

Have you checked with CCA about the age for Rhino Tracking? On their website some of these show min.age 16 and others 18.

http://www.ccafrica.com/specialist_safaris.asp?id=1#5

Carla - I just e-mailed CC Africa about the age minimum. I saw the 16 year old minimum that you directed me to, but I think that's for the Rhino DARTING safari, which I believe is a different thing

Divine54 - I'm going to use the old rule that I don't have to run fast, just faster than the slowest guy in the group!!

jg

......Divine54 - I'm going to use the old rule that I don't have to run fast, just faster than the slowest guy in the group!!

good luck to you!

i wouldn't be faster anymore than a 17year old teen

There was a family that did the rhino tracking while I was at Phinda Rock. The youngest looked about 14, but was very mature. So if the age limit was higher, they might have let him go anyway because they saw that he could follow instructions and was unlikely to freak out. They went on the last day of their trip.

I was in Cape Town a few weeks ago - Penguins were adorable (lots of babies), I saw 2 whales from the road, Cape of Good Hope was very cool - but DEFINITELY watch out for the baboons. They are everywhere, and they will absolutely steal food from you (had one come up behind me and snatch my lunch). The waterfront is fabulous, and Table mountain is very cool. The baboons were not.... . Have a great time - it is gorgeous there...

We did the walking safari at Phinda and the minimum age was 16. I would assume that would be true for any sort of animal tracking activity, but it's always safest to check with CCAfrica.

I assume the admonishment not to enter an empty carriage on the Metro Plus to Stellenbosch is for safety reasons, but if that is the case, how safe is any carriage?

jgoebel,

Firstly, You have an awesome itinerary! You will NOT be dissapointed! I feel that the combination of Phinda and Kirkman's Kamp is great!

Speaking of Kirkman's, I'll be there for 3 weeks in July! Can't wait!!

Please ask for Giles at Phinda forest and for Malcolm at Kirkman's. Probably 2 of the best rangers in South Africa!!

Enjoy!

KL

KL - thanks for the encouragment. We're getting more excited by the day. I will go ahead and e-mail CC Africa to request the rangers you mentioned!

-John

Warren is also a great Forest/Vlei guide.

hi jgoebel,

based on our experience last july with our kids aged [then][9 & 16] I'd say the following, based on your itinerary:

CPT - kirstenbosch gardens [only if it's a nice day, and best at lunchtime when more of the garden wil be in sunshine]

lunch at the restaurant at the cape [excellent food considering that it's a tourist trap]

the slave house museum, next to the cathedral by the company gardens.

sorry i can't help with the rest - after CPT, we went to other places.

Regards, ann

Hi annhig -- Do you mind if I ask a follow-up question on your post? You say that Kirstenbosch is best at lunchtime, but if you had to choose between early morning and mid-afternoon (in July), when would you go? Thanks!

Hi Isobel,

that's a hard one.

we got there about mid pm in July, and wasted some sunshine having a snack in the cafe.

so by the time we started going round, there were quite long shadows. even so, we were there for about 2 hours and realy enjoyed the gardens, which are spectacular, any time of year. or day.

if it's a nice day, I think I'd go in the morning - the light will get better, not worse.

another tip - leave time for the gift shop. there were things there -specifically some beautiful elaborate china - that we loved and said we'd get later in the trip. we never saw it anywhere else.

regards, ann

To follow up on annhig's last comment - we got some beautiful gifts in the shop, the flower-themed tea-towels were lovely and easy to transport!