Return to SA August 2010
 

Hi, we went to SA on a family holiday this time last year and had a great time. Thanks to everyone on here who give advice to the questions I posted!. We did CT, route 62, and a safari in Madikwe which was amazing.

We are planning to go back end July / early Aug next year to do some of the same but also different things, i'm just not sure what.

Want to do CT and the garden Route, taking in the whale watching and were thinking of moving onto Kazu Natal / Durban area. Think we ant a bit of touring and somewhere to relax after (nice beach?). Is this an area that is recommended for families (children 11 and 14), is it safe for british tourists etc and what is there to do up there. Also, from what I have read and heard the Wild coast isn't that safe and the roads and dodgy, would you agree with that?

Many thanks

With World Cup occuring June 11 to July 11 in South Africa, you might want to reconsider the timing. There will be lots of soccer fans who want to add some safari and sight seeing. You may encounter inflated prices, crowds, and booked accommodations.

The further you can push your trip into August, the better I would think.

You may want to consider Phinda if you are going to KwaZulu Natal. In addition to typical safari game drives, activites range from walking to homestead/village visits to canoeing that would appeal to kids, along with adults.

Along with whale watching, maybe some Great White Shark watching as well.

It's pretty cold for beach activities, as you know from your previous trip.

Thank you, good point about the World Cup. I was thinking that it would all be over but you are right, many will stay on.

Will have a look at Phinda as an option.

Is there any whale watching at that time of year? I thought the whales (certainly in the Hermanus area) are more likely to be October/November)

We usually go to Cape Town in January/Feburary, when I know there arent any whales, but as I said, I think that they tend to be later in the year than August.

When we combined some time in the Cape (Cape Town, Garden Route, Addo) with Kwa Zulu Natal, St Lucia, Ndumo, Ithala and Kruger we decided not to drive the Wild Coast but took an internal flight from Port Elizabeth to Durban. We made two hire car bookings, one for each leg. That worked well anyway as we booked a standard small car for the Cape and a larger, 4 wheel drive for the dirt tracks in the safari parks in the East.

Thanks for all your comments. Will the whales be there? Like the idea of doing an internal flight and two car hires. Its a minefield trying to work out an itinary but will have a go!