How should we divide our days in South Africa?!
May 5th, 2006, 01:33 PM
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How should we divide our days in South Africa?!
This 15th of July I will get the chance to finally visit South Africa for the first time for 18 days. What will make this trip differant from all the holidays that I have taken in the past is that this time my husband and I have decided to take our 3 and 5 year old daughters with us.
We know we want to go to Cape town since we plan to see:- two ocean aquarium, monkey town, cape point, century city (ratunga theme park), kirstenbosch botanical garden, robben island, table mountain, boulders penguins, tea at mount nelson, township tour of langa, world of birds, castle of good hope, and just strolling the waterfront.
We also would like to do the garden route and do the following:- whale watching, cango caves, ostrich farm, cheetah breeding station, seal island, outeniqua choo train and my husband wants to go shark cage diving.
Lastly we plan to go for a safari in the ulusaba private game reserve. We chose this place because it is very child friendly and even has a kid club.
I have 18 days for this trip so any idea how shall I divide it?
We know we want to go to Cape town since we plan to see:- two ocean aquarium, monkey town, cape point, century city (ratunga theme park), kirstenbosch botanical garden, robben island, table mountain, boulders penguins, tea at mount nelson, township tour of langa, world of birds, castle of good hope, and just strolling the waterfront.
We also would like to do the garden route and do the following:- whale watching, cango caves, ostrich farm, cheetah breeding station, seal island, outeniqua choo train and my husband wants to go shark cage diving.
Lastly we plan to go for a safari in the ulusaba private game reserve. We chose this place because it is very child friendly and even has a kid club.
I have 18 days for this trip so any idea how shall I divide it?
May 6th, 2006, 02:50 AM
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Hi browning,
I am unable to help regarding Cape Town and the garden route, but I have been to Ulusaba, but I was there in 2002, I was unaware of the camp being child friendly. I would be very surprised if they take kids gameviewing as young as your kids are, as that is expecting too much from kids to have them sitting and reasonably quite for so long. You also have to remember that the animals are wild and you are in an open vehicle, not something I feel most 3 year old would grasp! The youngest child I have taken is 8 and she was old enough and we had a vehicle to ourselves. 4 days is a good amount of time but I would check what the kids are able to do.
Having spent 3 nights in Cape Town with an 8 & 10 year old, both girls, I easily think you could spend up to 10 days in Cape Town, I guess you will be a bit more limited with your girls being so much younger.
Sorry I cannot be more helpful.
Kind regards,
Kaye
I am unable to help regarding Cape Town and the garden route, but I have been to Ulusaba, but I was there in 2002, I was unaware of the camp being child friendly. I would be very surprised if they take kids gameviewing as young as your kids are, as that is expecting too much from kids to have them sitting and reasonably quite for so long. You also have to remember that the animals are wild and you are in an open vehicle, not something I feel most 3 year old would grasp! The youngest child I have taken is 8 and she was old enough and we had a vehicle to ourselves. 4 days is a good amount of time but I would check what the kids are able to do.
Having spent 3 nights in Cape Town with an 8 & 10 year old, both girls, I easily think you could spend up to 10 days in Cape Town, I guess you will be a bit more limited with your girls being so much younger.
Sorry I cannot be more helpful.
Kind regards,
Kaye
May 6th, 2006, 03:06 AM
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KayeN,
Thanks alot of your reply
I know that my kids would be too young to fully understand what a game drive is all about but I read somewhere if we request our own vehicle the lodge will allow us to have a kiddie drive where they dont get too close to the animels.
Thru this website I have also just discoverd jaci's lodge in the madikwe. They have specialized kid safaris and seem to have alot of activies for the little ones.
My mother has decided to join us in this trip so my husband and I are3 delighted because we will have another hand to help with the kids Hopefully this trip will be easier to plan npw since we will rotate with who states with the girls when we do muesums and township tours.
Thanks alot of your reply
I know that my kids would be too young to fully understand what a game drive is all about but I read somewhere if we request our own vehicle the lodge will allow us to have a kiddie drive where they dont get too close to the animels. Thru this website I have also just discoverd jaci's lodge in the madikwe. They have specialized kid safaris and seem to have alot of activies for the little ones.
My mother has decided to join us in this trip so my husband and I are3 delighted because we will have another hand to help with the kids
Hopefully this trip will be easier to plan npw since we will rotate with who states with the girls when we do muesums and township tours.
May 6th, 2006, 08:11 AM
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Agree with previous email. Ulusaba was definitely not child friendly when we were there! In fact, more for the trendy set. So many other lodges that offer kiddie activities, painting, own ranger etc. Would definitely not recommend children of that age on an open vehicle safari especially in that area as they go "off road" & animals can come up really close & what if you came across a kill??!! Definitely then only on an exclusive vehicle as I suppose they would give you at no charge (which it usually is) - check that out that it is guaranteed & at no extra cost. Remember to pack layered clothing. The early morning/late afternoon game drives are extremely cold, particularly due to wind chill factor. Bring gloves, scarves, woollen beanies, caps & t-shirts (days are warm). Rather don't use them than wish you had brought them along & you will be forced to shop at the lodges' overpriced tourist boutiques!
May 6th, 2006, 12:15 PM
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Hello Browning,
One thing to think about is whether you feel comfortable giving your children anti-malarials. Whilst most people have no problems with the drugs, some people prefer not to give them to their children as the likelihood of side effects is higher in young children. The Sabi Sands, where Ulusaba is located, is a malarial area.
If you are comfortable giving your children anti-malarials, I would suggest one of the CCAfrica lodges (Ngala or Londolozi) over Ulusaba. CCAfrica are particularly well-known for the quality of their children's programmes.
http://www.ngala.com
http://www.londolozi.com
If you would prefer a malaria free safari, you have a number of options in SA. I would recommend a lodge in the Eastern Cape as this would be a natural combination with Cape Town and the Garden Route (as opposed to Madikwe, which will is quite remote and not easily reached).
There are a number of excellent family-friendly options in the Eastern Cape, some of which are Big Five reserves. One of the best is CCAfrica's Kwandwe
http://www.kwandwe.com
Another great option is River Bend Lodge, in the Addo Elephant Park:
http://www.riverbendlodge.co.za/
For a gentler experience, you may prefer Bushman's Kloof:
http://www.bushmanskloof.co.za
Given what you would like to see and do I would recommend the following, assuming you have 18 nights in Africa and want to take things at a reasonably leisurely pace:
Cape Town (5 days)
Gansbaai (shark diving) 2 days
Hermanus (whale watching) 2 days
Garden Route/Little Karoo (5 days)
Safari (4 days)
If you would prefer more time in Cape Town, you could take one day from the Garden Route and add it to Cape Town.
For the Garden Route, I would recommend basing yourself in one town and doing day trips from there. Given your interest in the steam train, Knysna makes a logical choice.
Cheers,
Julian
One thing to think about is whether you feel comfortable giving your children anti-malarials. Whilst most people have no problems with the drugs, some people prefer not to give them to their children as the likelihood of side effects is higher in young children. The Sabi Sands, where Ulusaba is located, is a malarial area.
If you are comfortable giving your children anti-malarials, I would suggest one of the CCAfrica lodges (Ngala or Londolozi) over Ulusaba. CCAfrica are particularly well-known for the quality of their children's programmes.
http://www.ngala.com
http://www.londolozi.com
If you would prefer a malaria free safari, you have a number of options in SA. I would recommend a lodge in the Eastern Cape as this would be a natural combination with Cape Town and the Garden Route (as opposed to Madikwe, which will is quite remote and not easily reached).
There are a number of excellent family-friendly options in the Eastern Cape, some of which are Big Five reserves. One of the best is CCAfrica's Kwandwe
http://www.kwandwe.com
Another great option is River Bend Lodge, in the Addo Elephant Park:
http://www.riverbendlodge.co.za/
For a gentler experience, you may prefer Bushman's Kloof:
http://www.bushmanskloof.co.za
Given what you would like to see and do I would recommend the following, assuming you have 18 nights in Africa and want to take things at a reasonably leisurely pace:
Cape Town (5 days)
Gansbaai (shark diving) 2 days
Hermanus (whale watching) 2 days
Garden Route/Little Karoo (5 days)
Safari (4 days)
If you would prefer more time in Cape Town, you could take one day from the Garden Route and add it to Cape Town.
For the Garden Route, I would recommend basing yourself in one town and doing day trips from there. Given your interest in the steam train, Knysna makes a logical choice.
Cheers,
Julian
May 6th, 2006, 07:38 PM
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Hi browning,
Yes I just looked up your latest suggestion of Jaci' Lodge and that did look good for kids as young as your girls. The girls I take on holidays are my nieces so I do tend to be more cautious with their safety, but thankfully they are older now. I do this gameviewing once or twice a year, and I no longer take malaria tablets in winter, I definitely do in summer. I don't know about malaria tablets with kids that young, I would almost think it would be wiser not to go to a malaria area so Jaci's is sounding all the more attractive. Even in winter, I have got dengue fever so you need to be aware of what risks you will be taking. That was in an area not known for dengue fever so please go see a travel specialist. Your mum will be a great help. I have been on a vehicle with a 4 year old, and to be honest, she was a nightmare and it was not her fault. Her Dad had no idea of what a 4 year old is capable of and it was always sad to see her being almost dragged from the vehicle with a nanny after her short "gamedrive". So I guess some kids are more adaptable than others with staying with strangers.
I wish you good luck with your planning.
Kind regards,
Kaye
Yes I just looked up your latest suggestion of Jaci' Lodge and that did look good for kids as young as your girls. The girls I take on holidays are my nieces so I do tend to be more cautious with their safety, but thankfully they are older now. I do this gameviewing once or twice a year, and I no longer take malaria tablets in winter, I definitely do in summer. I don't know about malaria tablets with kids that young, I would almost think it would be wiser not to go to a malaria area so Jaci's is sounding all the more attractive. Even in winter, I have got dengue fever so you need to be aware of what risks you will be taking. That was in an area not known for dengue fever so please go see a travel specialist. Your mum will be a great help. I have been on a vehicle with a 4 year old, and to be honest, she was a nightmare and it was not her fault. Her Dad had no idea of what a 4 year old is capable of and it was always sad to see her being almost dragged from the vehicle with a nanny after her short "gamedrive". So I guess some kids are more adaptable than others with staying with strangers.
I wish you good luck with your planning.
Kind regards,
Kaye
Jun 3rd, 2006, 11:41 AM
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Canonly tell you about Cape Town. You will easily fill your time here - its awesome and very pretty. Keep inmind it will be winter and also i think Ratanga Junction will be closed. You must see Cape Point, Chapmans Peak Drive, Stellenbosch and Franschoek as well as the water front and hout Bay and the city sites. Enjoy
Jun 4th, 2006, 07:07 AM
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A couple of comments on a previous comment.
You can see both whales and sharks from Gansbaai, therfor spending two days in hermanus and two in gansbaai is "overkill", I would suggest that you do a morning on a shatk boat, dedictaed to finding the GWS and then another morning on a whale boat, no cages, just cruises looking for the SWW and Cape Fur Seal, mix in a few dolphins and othe sea life. This would cost you two nights in the area.
With kids I would suggest that you give Grootbos some serious consideration, they have many kid friendly activities suitable for the ages of yours. I'm sure that you appreciate that their age would not make them suitable candidates for boating.
Then Bushmanskloof...this is nowhere near the eastern Cape. Fact is it is in the Cederberg mountains three hours north of Cape Town. I don't believe that it is a childrens environment. The game drives there are good for general game that is endemic to the western Cape with a very slim to remote chance od seeing leopard. The bushmen paintings are quite outstanding.
So back to your time split.
4 days in Cape Town.
7 days Garden Route.
2 days, panarama drive to the sabi sands.
3 Days Sabi Sand.
Day one: Peninsula tour, which incorporates a seal trip at Hout Bay and the scenic chapmans peak drive. Gets you to the peninsula where you turn around heading back on the fals bay side. Lunch en-route with a stop at Simonstown, padlle for three hours into the lkate afternoon. Kids go and play at seaforth beach after visiting the penguins at boulders. Paddler meets you at Seafroth and you continue back to the hotel.
day two. morning up the cable car, see table mountain. either hit the shops after lunch and finish at the Mt Nelso for a wallet busting high tea. Or go to Robben Ilsand.
Day three: Robben Ilsand in the AM, lunch and walk at Kirtsenbosch Gardens. If you want to do it a little differently have the concierge run out ro Woolworths to put together a picnic hamper. and find shady spot in the gardens for lunch. The kids will love this as there are a few streams with tadpoles and myriad other creatures to delight them. Take a spare set of clothes for the kids.
And if you are not sheets to the wind in the PM, pop into the castle en-routr home.
Day four: Winelands, hic!
Next seven days: Garden route;
First two nights Grootbos. **This assumes that on arrival you'll do a bot trip.
Next five nights: Drive the route ending up in Port Elizabeth. You can figure the route, but suggest for starters that you head inland from swellendam, up rye 62 with your target being Oudthoorn. O/N here, suggest Oulap, but then you know what you like so...
Full day at Oud/n. Afternoon drive through the Outeniqu pass into George. Either stay there or find something in Wilderness, Sedgefield or Knysna.
Suggest that you spend four nights around these pasrt doing day trips to plett, titsikama and so on.
You can do the choo choo to for an afternoon.
Ending up in Port Elizabeth. This is an overnight stop, so you can get on an early flight to JNB, pick up a care and do the two day drive through the escarpment before hitting the Sabi Sands for you safari.
On the panarama your objective is Pilgrims rest as the northern/eastern extremity before you head se to the sbi snds. Take two days and over night somehwere like, Pilgrims, Sabie or Hazeyview.
You can see both whales and sharks from Gansbaai, therfor spending two days in hermanus and two in gansbaai is "overkill", I would suggest that you do a morning on a shatk boat, dedictaed to finding the GWS and then another morning on a whale boat, no cages, just cruises looking for the SWW and Cape Fur Seal, mix in a few dolphins and othe sea life. This would cost you two nights in the area.
With kids I would suggest that you give Grootbos some serious consideration, they have many kid friendly activities suitable for the ages of yours. I'm sure that you appreciate that their age would not make them suitable candidates for boating.
Then Bushmanskloof...this is nowhere near the eastern Cape. Fact is it is in the Cederberg mountains three hours north of Cape Town. I don't believe that it is a childrens environment. The game drives there are good for general game that is endemic to the western Cape with a very slim to remote chance od seeing leopard. The bushmen paintings are quite outstanding.
So back to your time split.
4 days in Cape Town.
7 days Garden Route.
2 days, panarama drive to the sabi sands.
3 Days Sabi Sand.
Day one: Peninsula tour, which incorporates a seal trip at Hout Bay and the scenic chapmans peak drive. Gets you to the peninsula where you turn around heading back on the fals bay side. Lunch en-route with a stop at Simonstown, padlle for three hours into the lkate afternoon. Kids go and play at seaforth beach after visiting the penguins at boulders. Paddler meets you at Seafroth and you continue back to the hotel.
day two. morning up the cable car, see table mountain. either hit the shops after lunch and finish at the Mt Nelso for a wallet busting high tea. Or go to Robben Ilsand.
Day three: Robben Ilsand in the AM, lunch and walk at Kirtsenbosch Gardens. If you want to do it a little differently have the concierge run out ro Woolworths to put together a picnic hamper. and find shady spot in the gardens for lunch. The kids will love this as there are a few streams with tadpoles and myriad other creatures to delight them. Take a spare set of clothes for the kids.
And if you are not sheets to the wind in the PM, pop into the castle en-routr home.
Day four: Winelands, hic!
Next seven days: Garden route;
First two nights Grootbos. **This assumes that on arrival you'll do a bot trip.
Next five nights: Drive the route ending up in Port Elizabeth. You can figure the route, but suggest for starters that you head inland from swellendam, up rye 62 with your target being Oudthoorn. O/N here, suggest Oulap, but then you know what you like so...
Full day at Oud/n. Afternoon drive through the Outeniqu pass into George. Either stay there or find something in Wilderness, Sedgefield or Knysna.
Suggest that you spend four nights around these pasrt doing day trips to plett, titsikama and so on.
You can do the choo choo to for an afternoon.
Ending up in Port Elizabeth. This is an overnight stop, so you can get on an early flight to JNB, pick up a care and do the two day drive through the escarpment before hitting the Sabi Sands for you safari.
On the panarama your objective is Pilgrims rest as the northern/eastern extremity before you head se to the sbi snds. Take two days and over night somehwere like, Pilgrims, Sabie or Hazeyview.
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