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Outline of Parks in South Africa
Is there a kind soul who could outline the most popular game parks in South Africa for me? I have been researching information on the forum and am having a hard time figuring our what is what. Is there a map that lays out where each park/reserve is located? My family and I are considering a trip to South Africa at the end of Sept/beginning of Oct. We'd like to stay for two weeks: 3-4 nights in Cape Town, 4-5 nights on a safari and a few nights at Victoria Falls.
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These are exactly what I was looking for - Thank you! Any advice on how to narrow down the reserves? Our budget is around $500 per person a night and there will be three of us. Is that budget feasible? I would rather not stay in a tent camp...
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Look what PixelPower came up with.
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...und-kruger.cfm |
Don't miss the South African National Parks website www.sanparks.org. It is an excellent site. Robin
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Second C_R reference to SANP. Especially Kruger.
regards - tom |
What great references! This site really does have the most comprehensive set of travel minds. Now on to my next question - What is the ideal way to get around the country (flying, car hire, self drive etc.)? As I mentioned above, we'd like to spend time in Cape Town, probably in Sabi Sands (perhaps two different lodges) and to take a side trip to Victoria Falls.
In what order should we plan out our stops? There would be three adults. We are flying from the US, from Buffalo, NY. There is a flight on Delta via Atlanta into JNB but we don't want to spend any time there. Should we go right from JNB to Sabi Sands? Any advice is much appreciated. Feel free to tell me to start a new post. |
On arrival JNB, connect direct to CPT.
Spend your time here. Then fly CPT via JNB to (2/hrs) VFA (either the Zimbabwe or Zambia sides... Zambia flight goes into Livingston, whereas Zimbabwe is Victoria Falls). Now for "saving the best for last" - safari Fly back to JNB (you might require an o/n... there are nearby hotels all budgets); next day, either car rental for drive or fly to Kruger. It's a 5/hr drive on good roads. At Kruger you can choose self-drive and use park facilities/lodges, etc. or fly (1/hr) to one of the private reserves as Sabi Sands where all your activities will be done by the camp you choose. Than fly back to JNB for your homebound flight! While there is no Visa required per se for SA (they do stamp passport, but no fee... need 2/blank passport pages), there are Visas required for both Zim and Zam and believe there's still a Departure Fee from Zim. You'll have to check the respective country's website for current amounts. Good luck! |
I would try to spend 6 nights on safari - 3 at two camps each. I found 4 nights plenty in CT and Vic Falls was OK in two - unless there is an adrenaline junkie in your group. You said it's a family trip - any kids? Many camps don't allow children. With a $500/pn/pp budget, you should be able to stay in the mid-range camps in Sabi and Timbavati/others. CT and Vic Falls won't be that much so you can do more expensive camps. I would try to do safari last, but that's my preference. I also love tented camps - they are not a tent like we think of camping in the states. Most of them are ridiculously plush. I love being able to hear the sounds in the bush while falling asleep.
Flying is your only option - all of the places you are going are very far apart. Sounds like a great trip. (No need to start a new post) |
I just looked up South African Airways schedule and see that we can fly direct from JFK to JNB then connect to CPT. On our return flight, we can fly back from JNB.
So, to get around, it sounds like we should book a flight from CPT to Victoria Falls then from Victoria Falls to JNB. Is it silly to then drive ourselves from JNB to Sabi Sands? Of course then we will be stuck with the rental car for several days but is it worth looking into to avoid the flight to Kruger then a transport to whatever lodge we choose? |
To recap, you are thinking of going to Sabi Sands (where you would not need a car) and then on to Kruger for a self-drive, where you obviously need a car? Both Sabi Sands and Kruger?
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I apologize for not making myself clear. We want to visit Sabi Sands not Kruger (I used Kruger as a reference because I wasn't sure of the name of the closest airport to SS). I am not sure of what area, but so far Elephant Plains is near the top of our list.
Can we drive from JNB to Sabi Sands? We could then feasibly drive ourselves back for our return flight to the US. |
Yes, you can drive from JNB to Sabi Sand. It will take around 8 hours. Which results in your getting to your safari camp in time to miss the afternoon game drive but in time for dinner and bed. A $500 per person dinner and bed. Suggest you drive JNB to near Sabi Sand to Hazyview or Nelspruit, and spend the night in a $50 per person B&B. Next morning drive in to Sabi Sand, arriving camp about 11am. Also, rental cars in SA not as cheap as USA, last one from AVIS cost us about $80 per day.
But you see this driving essentially takes a day away. You could likely save that day by flying into Sabi Sand from JNB. Trade offs. Other than flying into a private Sabi Sand "airport" such as MalaMala, the closest commercial airport is at Skukuza (SZK), just inside Kruger. Federal Air flys to SZK. Your camp then picks you up there. Did that last year going to Kirkmans Kamp in Sabi Sand. regards - tom |
Thanks cary999 - Part of the reason we are looking into driving is because I would be worried having to rely on airlines (whether our flight is on time, cancelled etc). We would be coming in to JNB from Victoria Falls and were thinking it might be nice to drive. But, 8 hours is a bit far.
So Federal Air flies from JNB to the various lodges in Sabi Sand? I went on their website and see that they refer to this as a shuttle service. There are no prices mentioned but I am assuming the cost is mega bucks. What other airlines fly from JNB to Sabi Sand area besides Federal Air and SA Airlink? |
Don't have flight schedules from VFA back to JNB, but you might have to overnight JNB before going onto Sabi, especially if by road. If early* enough in day and with good flight connection you can get to Sabi in time for afternoon game drive. Otherwise, I wouldn't want to get there any later.... you'd be spending $$$$ for dinner and sleep. Better to go early morning.
*still arriving from another country you have to go thru Immigration/Customs, collect luggage.... before driving or connecting to a flight... can take up quite a bit of time. We used Airlink on our visit... on time both directions. |
Here's couple of costs but may not be exact itinerary you're looking at. From last Sep 2009, flight on SAA to or from JNB to HDS $190 each way. From MalaMala site info about flying into their airstrip AAM - http://www.malamala.com/waytogo.htm , cost for Fed Air flight is $313 person. Note also on that site MM says driving time from JNB to MM camp is 5.5 hours, my 8 hours a bit long. You would still have to leave JNB by 9 am to be sure and get the MM afternoon game drive. And note other drive times there - http://www.malamala.com/waytogo3.htm The safari camps know how to get to them.
But, but, MalaMala airstrip is for them, not for all of camps in Sabi Sand. Many camps in Sabi Sand use the Skukuza, SZK, Kruger airport or have their own little airstrips. It gets messy and confusing and I think the best answer is from the safari camp itself. Like how MalaMala tells you several ways to get to them from several places. Pick a camp you like and call them and ask how they recommend/choices for getting to them. They should know if anyone does. Don't take what you see here as perfectly accurate. Don't even take for 100% what your TA tells you. Some of them make arrangements for you the easiest way for them. And I have many times been on safari with others whose TA simply told them wrong about flights and availability. Sorry, it's a hassle if you really want to get everything right. I'm happy to spew everything I know about it :-) regards - tom |
Thanks Tom - I appreciate all of your advice. I've been reading several of your posts on lodges and they have helped me to narrow down our choices.
Since we are coming from Victoria Falls, it looks like we do have to overnight in JNB. What a pain in the a$$! |
Yeah, but overnight in JNB is easy. The Intercontinental Hotel is like 30 yards from terminal, just walk to it. But rooms are $$$$, $350 night. The Sun Intercontinental is a 5 minute shuttle ride away. Last two years I've been staying at the Emperors Palace Complex which has choice of four hotels and an easy 10min shuttle ride.
http://www.emperorspalace.com/peermo...mperors-hotels On flying into to JNB (from USA) we always stay overnight JNB before heading out next day to safari camp. Gives a few wonderful hours to stretch out on a real bed after leaving home 30 hours ago!!! regards - tom |
Southern Sun O.R. Tambo is about 15 times the distance (maybe 450 yards) as Intercontinental with a complimentary shuttle, complimentary wine/olive/cheese bar in the evening, and hadeda ibis in the garden.
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OK Kcapuani, I'm going to throw in my 2 cents. I think you can make better use of your time changing around the order of your itinerary. If you take the SAA flight from JFK, you can immediately connect to a flight from JNB to LVI (for Vic Falls). Start your trip here.
Then you can fly direct from LVI to Nelspruit (MQP) while avoiding JNB on this leg. This flight operates every M,W,F. I would think you can get road transfers from whichever lodge in the area you decide to stay at. You can also fly direct from MQP to Cape Town, and finish your trip there. I'm a "dessert first" kind of person, so I don't see a need to save the safari for last! I recommend that you use a trusted travel agent for such an important trip, and someone who can help you with these details. Good luck with your planning! |
pumpkin123 -
Does Nelspruit have Immigration control? As you describe you'd be flying from one country to another; I don't recall seeing Immigration when we arrived MQP from JNB! |
They must, it's an International Airport.
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MQP, from this seems like there is, although they mention customs but not immigration.
http://www.mceglobal.net/AboutKMIA/F...0/Default.aspx regards - tom |
Thanks tom/cary999 for the link.
Seems, except for the 1/flight from LIV, all others are in-country - JNB, CPT, DUR. Maybe Customs is same as Immigration? Guess then, OP has to check this option. |
Well, to throw a wrench into all of this, we were hoping to fly in and out of Zimbabwe (VFA). I've read the falls are best viewed from the Zimbabwe side.
From further research, it seems like we should fly from JFK to CPT, spend time there, then on to VFA. The airfare from JFK to VFA with a connection in JNB is about $150 more than a flight from JFK to CPT, then a separate flight from CPT to VFA five days later. Whew - All those airport codes! |
Sure does get "messy" !!
But if you want to be sure it is arranged the best way for you, you yourself have to do some research on it. regards - tom |
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