bluesphee,
I think that your trip will be wonderful! I have been to all East & Southern African countries,and although I love Tanzania & its my favourite, Nambia comes very close... not because of the wildlife, but because of the beauty & the people.

If you can manage a detour from Etosha,,?? I would definitely recommend a few nights in the Caprivi, it is completely different from the rest of Namibia and there you will definitely see 'WILD' there is 2 very nice parks there, Bwabwata National Park (only 3000 visitors a year) and Mahango National Park which borders botswana...

For SA Kruger is great, but honestly not my favourite because of all the tourists, cars, busses etc. so I think you will have a much better experience actually staying in one of the private lodges, as they have private concessions and your game viewing will definitely be better,..

If you cannot take that many days to fly all the way to Nelspruit or Phalaborwa for that leg of the trip. There is a (still very new) but wonderful park in the Cape area called ADDO ELEPHANT PARK and they claim to have the 'big 6' as a section of sea is marine protected. There is also allot of accommodation options there and really a very beautiful park.

Bluesphere,

We did our first trip to Africa in April '09. We flew to Johannesburg and rented a car(a small SUV from Hertz) and drove to Kruger. We spent one night at at Kirkmans Kamp because I couldn't get that night at the Kruger rest stop we wanted. We did two group drives which were wonderful. We then drove on into Kruger for three days and two nights before driving back to Johannesburg for our flight to Cape Town. The selfdrive safari was very easy and an absolutely wonderful experience. We loved the private camp but doing it ourselves was even better. The rest area accommadations were good and clean, a good value at $60US a night. The food was reasonable also. We saw many different animals and very close up on our drives. It was exciting and lots of fun.

After five days in Cape Town. we flew to Tanzania for a week long private safari which was also great, but still our favorite was the Kruger experience. The driving was not at all intimidating. There were good paved and gravel roads with many animals and no traffic. As far as the ease of driving is concerned, comparing it to driving in US National Parks is close with much less traffic in Kruger! Plus we met some wonderful South Africans in the picnic and viewing areas, by the way we are in our 60s.

If you want to read a daily report of our experiences and see pictures of our time in Kruger please visit our trip report at:

www.aroundtheworldin132days.blogspot.com

Click on April and scroll to down to March 29 for the beginning of the South Africa/Kruger part of the trip.

Your plans sound wonderful, but if you can work in Kruger you will love it.

I would cut down on your Namibia time. You could then go to Botswana for few days,then Victoria Falls. Fly out of Livingstone to Nelspruit on SAA. Then self drive to the Kruger, or go to Mala Mala.
Have fun!

Patty, I'm not sure, yet. Some of my friends on the Bots safari are going to Namibia afterwards. I may tag along, but it depends on if my roommate wants to go. I've got an extra week after the Bots portion of the trip in which to do something before I fly home. I haven't been to Namibia and my friends plan to be there during a full moon for photography over the dunes... sounds interesting!

Wow----I am just trying to figure out an itinerary here, and there is so much info. Sounds like one person's favorite is another's "not what I would do."
I'm thinking of going to South Africa solo. I like the idea of this western Capetown, Namibi thing. What makes one safari better than another? Kruger...these private reserves? And I don't understand the self-drive concept---can't you come across a lion or something? Isn't that dangerous?
I'd be traveling solo. My initial thoughts were 5 days in the Capetiwn area and 5 on safari

So often the case Stu, that Africa being such a huge place, with so many options and choices, in limited time,and we've all gone about it differently, that is exactly what happens.So when someone comes on with their idea of a tour, I'll never try and suggest something else.Doing that doesn't help, it only confuses the OP more.
Better to help the person get the most out of their choice.

For many people, going on a tour, is the best for them.No hassles in having to plan and arrange itineraries and accommodation and transport.And in such a scenic country, it is really great to be carted around,kick back, and keep your eyes out the window and watch adventures reel out past your windows.And on GAP tours, it is always possible to ask your guide to stop so you can get out and investigate something you've spotted.In fact our guide encouraged that.
Sure, it costs more.But well worth it.
We've also done self drive in Namibia.And that didn't work out so cheap because you don't get the same deals on accom. as the tour guys get.Sure you can camp, but there's some really great lodges to be enjoyed.
Self drive is hiring a rental vehicle(you don't always need a 4wd,depends where you are going and if you'll be mainly on sealed roads or not)and taking off .You'll probably have prebooked your accom, have a preplanned itinerary, as in such a short time, you need to maximise your touring with no stuffing around.You'll count yourself lucky if you do come across a lion...
Personally we enjoy a mix of group tour, which gives us less hassles, a chance to meet self minded other travellers,and then a week or two of independant self drive.
Best of both worlds.
My best advice-10 days just ain't long enough.
But if that's what you've got, try for 2-3 in Cape Town, the rest then exploring places close in the Western Cape area.Or fly across to Kruger.Or take in Addo.

StuQ-

You're back!! Have you decided anything yet? Spring or summer? 10 days or longer? I thought we lost you.

What makes one safari location better than another is the quantity and quality of wildlife viewing. That's why so many of us love the Sabi Sands area outside Kruger. A self-drive could be dangerous if you get out of your vehicle. Not allowed (and would be quite dumb). Eles are a whole other subject. You would really be better at a private game reserve where all of your needs would be taken care of since you are solo. I still think 3-4 days Cape Town and 5-100 days safari around Kruger would be perfect for you - if you get a driver (not that expensive) for Joburg to Kruger area it is a pretty drive. Let us know what you decide.

StuQ

<i> What makes one safari better than another? </i>
You answered it: <b>Sounds like one person's favorite is another's "not what I would do."</b>

That's why you just need to focus on what would make a good trip for you, which is more difficult when you have not been to that destination. But Africa does have something for just about everyone's tastes if you plan well up front.

"Quantity and quality of wildlife viewing" is certainly one way to judge a safari destination, as Christabir notes. You can also factor in certain species of animals or birds, the level of guiding, remoteness of location, type of habitat, ability to stay out all day, usinging an open vehicle, opportunities to walk or canoe, intimacy of lodging with natural surroudings, or (the opposite) sturdiness of solid walls, animals in camp, or lack thereof, camp management, types of guests the place attracts, and for some people the variety and quality of spirits at the bar.

If you do Western Cape & Namibia, you probably couldn't do the Kruger/Sabi Sands area too, unless you just flew into Namibia for about 3-4 nights to see the massive sand dunes.

I wholly agree with Christabir's response to your self drive questions and concerns.

Give a couple of companies a call and post what they provide for some more direction. There are many options for a fantastic solo first trip to South or Southern Africa.

Hi StuQ,

I don't think there is such thing as "one safari that is better than another." Everyone is unique and their interests and experiences are unique. So, as atravelynn has said, you really have to look at what would make a good trip for you.

As you can see from above, I really like driving myself around in Kruger. It's really quite safe if you stay in your car. Elephants are the scariest animal to deal with, so I always give them their space. I really don't think safety concerns should rule out a Kruger self-drive.

However, I always travel with my wife and not alone. I would imagine a solo traveler would want to travel with a tour group.

I tend to advocate the self-drive option in Kruger when people are concerned about costs, as the original poster of this thread did when they asked about a Kruger extension to their trip. I was a young, inexperienced traveler when I made the decision to follow up on my childhood dream of going to Africa. I almost didn't go after I saw the prices of some of the tours and lodges. It was so frustrating. I know others who have been turned off to the idea of a safari trip because they feel they are too expensive. Economical, personal options like the Kruger self-drive are not as easy to find.

"Economical, personal options like the Kruger self-drive are not as easy to find."
Agree Gritty, and with your/that whole posting. Except for that killer flight(s)over to South Africa, it is really very easy to see what you have seen all your life on the National Geographic Channel - live, up close and personal!!!

regards - tom

We plan to self drive in Kruger for our first trip to South Africa in July, August and September 2010. In addition to the many useful comments on this Forum, I also stumbled across a wonderful self drive resource called Guide Your Own Safari, a 248 page e-book which can be easily downloaded, written by Bruce Whittaker.

The Guide features practical advice, routes and helpful information about Kruger as well as other African Parks. And as an added bonus, Bruce and his wife Wilma offer personal consultations on any questions you might have via email. To make this even easier, Wilma is happy to do your Kruger bookings for you as they are licensed to provide that service. It's really quite amazing. Wilma saved me countless days of research and made my trip planning so much easier than I had expected.

The Guide and Whittakers can be found at

http://african-safari-journals.com

Their site also has lots of trip reports from a variety of people in different countries so it's fun to read as well.

I encourage anyone even thinking about a self drive to at least go to their web site.

boudecca

Hi all,

I wanted to report back what we finally decided. We are doing a longer trip than originally planned through GAP in September. We are now starting in Zambia at Victoria Falls, then go through Botswana, Namibia and end in Cape Town. It is their Dunes Delta and Falls Discoverer trip. Here's a link:
http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/DZDD

We managed to work out the amount of vacation time to do this longer trip and felt it was worth our extra money than just doing Namibia and South Africa. We're really excited to do more Safari-style travel in Botswana including the Okavango Delta. It's also going to be incredible to see Victoria Falls.

Of course I'll report back on our trip sometime after it's done!

Oh and one more point. We did the reverse tour that ends in Cape Town since that will put us in Cape Town at the end of September instead of the beginning of September. We should hopefully get better weather that way. Hopefully Namarqualand will still be in full bloom.

Hi Bluesphee,

I think your choice of trip is an excellent one. This route is still what I consider the best that Africa has to offer (and September is probably the best time to do it). I normally recommend the route in the other direction, but there are good and valid reasons for your choice.

It also allows you to make the most of Vic Falls, because the flow will be decreasing quite quickly at that time, and the three weeks will make a difference.

Remember to arrive some days before the GAP trip to enjoy Vic. The trip leaves Livingstone on the first morning, so you won't have time to do anything. Vic Falls is one of the big adventure capitals of Southern Africa. Worth spending a day or two there.

And leave some days in Cape Town at the end. Also worth at least three or four days.

Enjoy and have an awesome time.

This is a great thread and sounds like a fun trip to a beautiful place!

My first ever trip to Africa was to Namibia and we loved it and it just made us want to return. Perhaps you might want to compare another couple of Namibia tours to see if there are other options too? Explore/Exodus/Adventure Company or similar offer group tours covering all the usual highlights.

Hi Bushkid0,

You said:
I normally recommend the route in the other direction, but there are good and valid reasons for your choice.

It does seem like the reverse route of what I am doing is the more popular way of doing this trip. Is there any reason for this? I can't think of a single trip I've been on where it would have made a significant difference if I reversed it. I've already booked it and am not looking to change it but just thought I would ask for other people reading this thread wondering the same thing. Thanks again for everyone's input!

I've been many times to Africa and while I have perhaps said "Namibia is fantastic yada yada yada but maybe not your first trip to Africa" I've sort of re-thought that and said "Why Not?" The fact is it remains one of my favorite trips to Africa...we saw loads of wildlife from rhinos to elephants to giraffes to oryx and on and on...all in osme of the most spectacular scenery you can imagine...it is a magical place...we were in Serra Cafema, Palmwag Rhino Camp, Skeleton Coast, Etosha and Sossusvlei...AMAZING! And Cape Town is own of the great, most beautiful cities on the planet with so much to do....I say, go for it.

I always find discussions about when and where to go in Africa mind-boggling. I've been once to South Africa, Botswana and
Victoria Falls. Chosen because friends had gone to Botswana and it has great animal viewing. I have yet to find anyone who has gone anywhere in Africa, even on business with no safari or tourism involved and not have enjoyed the experience.
I think no matter where you go you will come back having had a completely new view of the world. Some of the things you were really looking forward to won't be all you'd thought they would be and others that you weren't expecting will be wonderful. So talk to people and go on the forums and then realize no matter where you go,you will most likely want to come back. We went in 2008 and were there when President Obama was elected, the excitement everywhere we went was infectious. Next year we're going back to Namibia with OAT.

Hi all,

We are heading out on our trip tomorrow and I just wanted to say thanks again to anyone whose helped me on this forum! The advice we have received has been invaluable. After a lot of thinking about it we are finally leaving and are super excited!

I will report back how our trip went of course.