Garden Route assistance
 

I need some guidance for the Cape Town portion of my trip. My wife and I will be traveling to South Africa from April 30th to May 28th.

We need some assistance on planning the Garden Route portion. We have three nights free 5/21 to 5/24 and want to capture the best the Garden Route has to offer. We intend on renting a car from Alamo in Cape Town. Any recommendations that you have pertaining to lodging and what we should see during this period would be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance.

Our schedule.

04/30 – Depart JFK connect in London. London to JNB.
05/02 – Arrive in Johannesburg (4 nights @ InterCont Sandston)
05/06 - Depart Johannesburg to Singita 2 nights @ Lebombo & 2 nights @ Ebony.
05/10 - Depart Singita return to Johannesburg (Overnight in InterCon)
05/11 - Depart Johannesburg to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe (3 nights)
05/14 – Depart Vic. Falls to Namibia (7 nights)
05/21 – Depart Namibia for Cape Town (7 nights)
05/21 - OPEN no plans
05/24 - Hotel Le Vendom Cape Town (check out 5/28)

The Intercontinental Sandton for 4 nights?

Yes, the InterCon Sandton for 4 nights.

I'd suggest that you reconsider the Cape portion. I would either leave Windhoek for Port Elizabeth and aim to drive from there to Cape Town, or end the trip in Prt Elizabeth by dumping the car there and flying out of the country via via Johannesburg.

What is your perception of the garden route and what do you hope to see?
IMO the route to the garden route is best by travelling the helshoogte pass before cutting through the little karoo and the crossing the outeniqu pass into George, travelling the N2 from there to PE stopping at Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Knysna, Plett, Natures Valley, Cape St Francis, J Bay and on to PE.

Loved Singita - it was beautiful! here is my review of my stay http://www.bombasticlife.com/paf-sou...ita-sweni.html

mkhonzo is right - i don't know any other "garden route"

OR u can fly out of PE

i'll quote mkhonzo again:
<i>What is your perception of the garden route and what do you hope to see? </i>

IMO cut a couple of nights off CT
do the Garden Route properly

have fun

aby

Thanks for the advise. I will attempt to change my flight plans to arrive in Port Elizabeth. You asked what I would like to see along the Garden Route. Well honestly this is my wife's wish. Since we are traveling in May I don't think we will see any whales. I guess we just want to drive along the coast and enjoy the beautiful sites. I'm considering staying at the Plettenberg, Western Cape Hotel, or the Pezula resort. I have contacted them to see what they are offering during the low season. If I'm unable to change my flight plans how long is the drive from Cape Town to Hermanus and Knysna?

Finally has anyone use Avis car rental in either Cape Town or Port Elizabeth?

Thanks again for the assistance.

kcmann,

Going right back to Hari’s opening mail to you I also ask the question of 4 nights in Johannesburg? To do what ? Unless you have something specific in mind in terms of what to do in Jhb I would very strongly suggest that you consider shortening this stay that is if your airline bookings allow you to do so.

I would not advise that you fly out of PE to Johannesburg. As it is you have left yourself very little time for Cape Town and the Garden Route that is relative to the balance of your journey (hence the Jhb question). Arriving in Cape Town on the 21st and leaving on the 24th effectively gives you 3 nights in Cape Town an even though this would cutting things to the bone it should do. On the 24th I would leave Cape Town VERY EARLY as your detour through Hermanus on the way to Knysna will add another 1-2 hours on to your journey, that is with me making the assumption that you at least want to stop in Hermanus and explore the village. The total journey from Cape Town to Hermanus to Knysna would tae you between 6-7 hours to drive, When I Knysna you can book into Pezula and my suggestion would then be that you use this stop as your hub from which you can explore the Garden Route on the 25th, 26th and 27th. In other words take day trips from Knysna to the east (Tsitsikamma region), west (Wilderness region as well as Knysna itself. By staying at Pezula you will also be eliminating packing and unpacking on a daily basis as you move from place to place.

On the 28th you can travel the 70 km from Knysna to George and catch a flight from George airport to Johannesburg so as to leave from Johannesburg back home. In a nutshell the above advice means that you leave PE out of the equation completely as it does not warrant a visit if you are not going to the local game farms in the regions. (judging by your itinerary you have safaris well covered in other places before you arrive in Cape Town)

In terms of car rental I do not suggest you use Alamo as they have a limited amount of branches on the roads that you will be travelling in the Western Cape. Avis on the other hand have a branch in Cape Town and Knysna and in case anything goes wrong or you want to swop your vehicle they will be much more accommodating. Thus I would strongly suggest that you use Avis, Tempest, Budget or Hertz for car hire as these are the only companies that are reasonably spread out with outlets along the Garden Route

Hope you enjoy your stay in our great country as you certainly have are staying at some wonderful places along the way of your whole journey.

Very proudly part of the wonderful ((R))nation of South Africa

KCMANN,
Glad you see the wisdom in re-routing your flight.
Drive time to Hermanus from Cape Town is 2 hrs.
Drive time from hermanus to Knysna is 4 hrs.
Obviously these times depend on your stops for views and photos etc.

Suggest that if you can get it right to change the flights that you try and drop in to Cape St Franccis, NOt to be confused with St Francis Bay, go right to the end of the road+/_ 2 hours from PE, drive through Natures Valley, +/- 90 minutes from CSF.
These two areas are really beautiful places on the garden route and are not yet tourist traps as are Plett and Knysna.

I have used Avis from cape Town and in fact have driven that route in their car. I can't vouch for competitive pricing, but the car was just fine.

Oops mistake
my fast-scanning reading made me think u have 7 nights in CT excluding the &quot;Garden Route&quot;...

Selwyn D has read the dates more carefully
consider his advice !!!
Selwyn is one of The experts, a CT citizen &amp; guide (the best is to take him along if available)

Selwyn, thanks for the advice. But I think you have my dates off. As it stands now, we are scheduled to arrive in Cape Town on May 21. We are in the process of trying to change this to fly into PE from Namibia. Our current itinerary has us traveling along the garden route from May 21 to May 24th.

I have reserved a car with Avis. I have another question. If I’m unable to change my flight and we are scheduled to arrive in Cape Town @ noon. Do you think it’s wise to start driving to Pezula or would you recommend something closer? We would probably take the most direct route to the hotel and do a scenic trip on the way back to Cape Town on the morning of the 24th of May.

Finally, pertaining to the four nights in JNB. All I can say is &quot;I know&quot;. First of all the safari did not have any availability until May 6th. Since we were scheduled to arrive on May 2nd, we planned on just sleeping for the day then seeing the sites. I have a friend that lives in JNB and they will more than likely show us around. We had to overnight again on the night of May 10th because the flight departing to Vic Falls from JNB leaves @ 11:30 or noon. We do not leave the safari until 10:00 or 11:00. (They say it's a one and a half hour flight) Thus, I'm unable to make the connection; another night in JNB. Believe me, I wanted to cut this down however; I still could not quite get it to work out any other way. I know there's not that much to see in JNB and the crime is high. I guess we will just relax in the Sandston another night.

Kcmann,

Sorry about me getting the dates wrong but strictly speaking they still work out if you start your Garden Route journey <b>in George</b> starting on May 21. I still strongly suggest that you try to fly to George and <b>not PE</b> from Namibia if this is possible. (this will definitely mean taking two flights from Namibia and another city such as Jhb or CT)

It is possible to make it to Pezula from Cape Town if you leave Cape Town after 12h00 but you will have to go full blast to make it before dark. Thus you have to ask yourself the question as to whether it is not worth investing in a flight from Cape Town to George (60 minutes + lets say 60 minutes of airport waiting time + collecting a car at George airport + 60 minutes to get to Pezula from George airport) as opposed to 5-6 hours of flying driving which will more than likely tire you and thus not set a good base for the balance of your Garden Route journey. I know that I would certainly opt for the fight as opposed to the car drive if the flights are available and can be afforded.

If you do not fly then you can travel to Knysna via the N1 followed by the R62 crossover through the Tradouw pass and move onto the N2 at Swellendam.. The second way to travel would be via the N2 straight to Knysna. The N1 route is definitely longer but in my opinion the more scenic route. I must add that others might disagree with me re which route is more scenic. If you travel at 12h00 from Cape Town to Pezula there is no question in my mind that you should take the N2 route simply because it is a lot quicker ride. You can then return via the N2, R62 and N1 route.

As far as the Johannesburg 4 dayer is concerned what more can I say other than I understand. :'(

Hope this helps you in your planning so as to ensure that you enjoy your Garden Route and Cape Town visit.

Very proudly part of the wonderful ((R))nation of South Africa

No need for glum faces when referring to Jo'burg. :-) There's lots to do! And I say that as a Durbs boy. I'm going to plagiarise a list from a fellow citizen who is (with some justification) almost fanatical about the wealth of options. Although it covers not only Jo'burg but surrounding areas. (I'm also reminded of an article I've saved about Cape Town that I think was published in SKYF in 1998 and reprinted the same year in SA City Life. But it's VERY rude, so I won't reprint it here. :-) ):

NORTHERN TSHWANE
Tswaing Meteorite Crater

PRETORIA CITY
Voortrekker Monument
Fort Schanskop
Union Buildings
Kruger House Museum
Melrose House
Church Square and Kruger Statue
State Theatre
Pretoria City Hall
Transvaal Natural History Museum
Smuts House
Sammy Marks House

HARTBEESPOORT
Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris
Van Gaalens Cheese Factory
Ostri-San
Welwitschia Country Market
Chameleon Village
Dam wall
De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre
Lesedi Cultural Village
Elephant Sanctuary

MIDRAND
SA Mint - Coin World
African Reptiles and Venom
Lipizzaners

CRADLE OF HUMANKIND
Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve and the Wonder Cave
Sterkfontein Caves
Old Kromdraai Gold Mine
Heia Safari Ranch (Tribal Dancing)
Witwatersrand National Botanical Gardens
Krugersdorp Game Reserve

JOHANNESBURG (NORTH)
Lion Park
Ngwenya Glass Village
Sandton City
Montecasino

JOHANNESBURG CITY
Constitution Hill (including Johannesburg Fort)
Top of Africa
Museum Africa
Diagonal Street and the Muti Shop
Oriental Plaza
Santarama Miniland
SAB World of Beer
Planetarium
War Museum
Johannesburg Zoo

JOHANNESBURG (SOUTH-WEST)
Apartheid Museum
Gold Reef City

SOWETO
Regina Mundi Church
Hector Peterson Memorial
Mandela House Museum
Wandi’s Tavern
Freedom Square

EASTERN GAUTENG
Premier Diamond Mine (Cullinan)
Nan-Hua Buddhist Temple (Bronkhostspruit)
Kghodwana Ndebele Village
Loopspruit Wine Cellars
Site of Battle of Bronkhorstspruit

SOUTHERN GAUTENG
Rondebult Bird Sanctuary
Marievale Bird Sanctuary
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
Heidelberg Motor Museum

A LITTLE FURTHER AFIELD (2 hours drive)
Pilanesberg Game Reserve
Sun City

Well said ArthurSA. Only a well travelled South African person or a National Tourist Guide would know that there is lots to see and do around Jo'burg. kcmann, take the advice given by ArthurSA and let us know. You will be staying over so you might as well check things out.
Good Luck
iknowcapetown.com