The 'fresh plan' sounds much better.

Joburg-Kruger-George-(drive to CPT)-Joburg seems like the best option, i.e. 3-4N Kruger, 4N Garden Route, 4N CPT.

It is possible to book it all through a single company. I use Go2africa. They arranged my internal flights as well as road transfers (e.g. from George to Knysna) with a car and driver.

If you're happy to do your own driving in Kruger then you can book accommodation through SANParks - it is way cheaper than the private lodges but obviously you miss out on all the luxuries that they offer. They have a huge variety of accommodation that is really well priced. There are a few restaurants scattered throughout the KNP and a few places selling food / grocery supplies in Kruger itself. The link to check on accommodation prices and availability is http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger...ailability.php

Elizabeth - you do know that advertising is not allowed here, don't you?

Hello sudhir kochhar

I travel South Africa for a living - its my job. I would leave out Sun City definitely and rather recommend Kruger Park for at least 2 nights but instead of staying inside the park (which can be pricey and the accommodation not that great) would rather stay at Hazyview and then drive the 12km to the gate in the morning. Definitely do Sl Lucia and the evening estuary boat trip. Drive to Durban and then fly to East London or Port Elizabeth and get an operator to work out a tour from there to Cape town designed around your requirements and interests. It need not be overly priced. Your Garden Route Tour would include Port Elizabeth, Plettenberg Bay (you ould stay in Plett for 7 days and not do all the activities), down through Knysna, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Cape Agulhas, the Stellenbosch Winelands and finally Cape Town. A trip down to the Cape Peninsula and up Table Mountain are a must.
I am aware of all the comments above but this is what I would recommend. hope this helps. Let me know if you need more info.

Hi Allan,

More choices !

Till now the plan is as follows;

1. Land at Cape Town, check into a hotel at Camps Bay, and give CT 4 days. Cover interesting spots and also Stellensbosch and Franschoek, as a day trip from there. Enough days, or should we make them 5?

2. Do the Garden route via Route 62 ( being more scenic than N2? ), cover Oudtshoorn and Cango Caves, drive down to Mossel Bay, drive on to Wilderness or Knysna and base ( Wilderness or Knysna ? ) Cover Garden route upto Storms River, while doing Monkeyland and BirdsofEden. This will involve back and forth travel, is it okay and enjoyable or should we have another base, besides Wilderness / Knysna? Our interests being Nature, Landscape, Beaches, activities ike Scuba Diving and snorkeling, water surfing, hang gliding, kiting, etc ( Will the weather in Mid June allow these activities and are they available at this time? ) After all this we drive back to George to fly to JoBurg. Any other airport which won't involve this back and forth travel? We are allocating 4 days to this sector. Enough?

3. Possible to visit 'Tiger Canyon' at Karoo? From where and how much time?

4. From JoBurg, we'll take the Panorma route and do the 3 Rondovales, Bourkes Luck Potholes, Gods Window, Blyde River Canyon, and, overnight at Hazyview at Hippos Hollow. Early next morning, we'll do a hot air baloon ride in Hazyview before going on to Kruger. Possible?

5.. At Kruger, we plan to spend 2 nights at Kirkmans Kamp, and 2 at Ngala Tented Camp. Okay?

6. Where can we fit in St Lucia, and, the Evening Estuary Boat Trip?

7. Can you recommend some reasonably priced B&B accommodation at Knysna, close to, or, on a beach, having sea facing rooms? Also, at the place you recommend as a second base on Garde route.

Thank you

I highly recommend Amanzi Lodge in Knysna. It is right in front of the lagoon. Our room had a great view and the owners couldn't have been nicer!

We did a 5 week self drive trip in SA a couple of years ago and used a South African self drive operator (Selftours) to help us plan and book it. Contact them and see what they can suggest http://www.selftours.co.za/

Personally, I would choose Wilderness over Knysna. Many do not agree with me, but we actually moved from Knysna a day early and added a night at Wilderness instead.

You mention "Beaches, activities like Scuba Diving and snorkeling, water surfing, hang gliding" - June is winter time and it will be decidedly chilly at that time of the year. The water down there is cold even in summer - I think the beach / water activities will not be enjoyable due to the cold.

Lastly, "we'll take the Panorma route and do the 3 Rondovales, Bourkes Luck Potholes, Gods Window, Blyde River Canyon, and, overnight at Hazyview at Hippos Hollow". I would suggest that covering all this on one day departing from JHB will be pushing it.

I have just had a further look at your requirements and compared it to what we did some years ago. Picking and choosing from our trip, you could put together something like this:

Fly JHB to Hoedspruit or Nelspruit. Hire car and see the game. We did 4 nights self drive in Kruger (2 nights at Satara and 2 nights at Letaba). Then 2 nights in Gomo Gomo.

Then fly to Capte Town. Hire car. 5 nights. (visit C.T and Winelands from here).

Drive to somewhere along Garden Route for 4 nighst. (Somewhere like Knysna or Wilderness would work.)

Return hire car at George airport and fly to JHB for return.

This is about 16 nights.

See our trip report here for some ideas.
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-mauritius.cfm

I lived in Oudtshoorn for several years and would recommend that you skip Mossel Bay and drive over the Outeniqua Pass into George - it is a beautiful pass. The Robertson Pass (the one to Mossel Bay) is nothing spectacular.

When in Knysna area make sure you do the Tree Tops Tour - zip lining 30 m above the ground from tree to tree. Fun Experience.

5.. At Kruger, we plan to spend 2 nights at Kirkmans Kamp, and 2 at Ngala Tented Camp. Okay?

re the above:-
I have been to both and you will be guaranteed of really good informative guides and trackers at both lodges as well as great sightings. The plus side to staying at these lodges vs doing a self-drive is that you get to do late night drives which offer something very special.

Having said that though, we did a 2 day self drive in Kruger with our boys and saw the Big 5 plus many other animals. I think the main difference though is the information that the guides are able to share with you - their knowledge of the bush is phenomenal.

2 nights at Kirkman's Kamp and 2 nights at Ngala will be ideal. 3 different lion prides were seen at kirkman's last wednesday, 6 different leopards in 2 game drives and a pack of wild dogs are denning about 1km from the lodge.

Ngala has been equally good. Massive herds of buffalo, a coalition of 9(yes nine) male lions and it looks like another pack of wild dogs will be denning there aswell. 3 dominant male leopards seen very frequently and very good general game

andBeyond boasts on having some the best guides in the business. you will not be disappointed.

Regards,

NN