Southern Africa trip - 5 weeks April / May 2015 starting in KZN
 

We (Hubby and I, with our 2 adult daughters for the first 2 weeks) are in the early stages of planning our return trip next year to South Africa. All comments and advice will be willing read. Thanks to Christabir for some great ideas already!!
We will start with a night near JHB airport to get over the flight from Australia.
Then 1 night Didima DBB, followed by 3 nights in a self catering chalet at Champagne Castle. We were last there 27 years ago on honeymoon, so a trip down memory lane. We took the night in Didima as we could not get 4 nights at Champagne Castle. (Also, we stayed 5 nights in Didima on our last trip 6 years ago).
Then 3 nights in Hluhluwe in Hilltop in a self catering chalet. (This takes us into Easter).
To this point we have already booked. We are then thinking of staying 4 (or 5) nights at Bushwillow in their self catering chalet. Use this as a base for seeing St Lucia, Cape Vidal etc. Not sure about the 5th night as our daughters fly home from Durban International Airport the next day and wondered if we should stay closer to Durban that night. Any suggestions of somewhere closer to the airport than Hluhluwe area???
After that we have 3 1/2 weeks that we at this stage have no idea where we will go. We have visited The Cape and Kruger many times, and love both, but thought we may go somewhere different. We thought about Mozambique, but I gather that is wet season. Thought about Malawi, but are finding it difficult to get information on "do it yourself" trips up there. Of course, Zanzibar has always been a dream destination of ours, so perhaps Tanzania may be an option. We have been to Vic Falls (Zimbabwe side) twice, and are tempted to see more of that beautiful country. Our last trip to Africa was mainly Namibia, which we adored, so probably that is not on the list for this time. It is a wonderful "dilemma" to choose where to go, and would to love what have been favourite experiences of others.

Sorry for the typos ..... would love to hear what have been favourite experiences of others.

Hi, have you considered staying in South Africa and driving from Durban to the Western Cape by car? Just a thought

Thanks for your idea Elisabth54. We were seriously thinking of Kalagadhi National Park, but camps we selected are already booked up. We think Zimbabwe may be a bit "risky" as I have been advised by a cousin who did it in a convoy of 10 cars, that doing it alone is not advisable. We have been toying with doing the Western Cape (as we love it there). As I want to visit my 104 year old grandmother who lives near Bloemforntein (Dewetsdorp), that puts another spin on things. Driving from Durban to Western Cape I gather we would go through the old Transkei (not sure what it is called now). I have heard that the roads there are pretty bad? Do you have any input on that?

<<Not sure about the 5th night as our daughters fly home from Durban International Airport the next day and wondered if we should stay closer to Durban that night.>>

If you want to stay closer to the airport, Ballito, Salt Rock or Shaka's Rock are very nice areas. If you want to stay closer to Durban itself, I can recommend a B&B called the Neuk, which is a delightful house and walking distance to several great restaurants.

Thanks for the recommendation Odin. We have actually booked at Manaar House in Umhlanga ( http://www.manaarhouse.co.za/ ) which looks very nice and I gather is a good distance to the airport. We will try to get to Ballito, Salt Rock and Shaka's Rock for a little look around.

Now just got to figure out our next 4 weeks. We are thinking 5 - 7 days in the Cape Winelands at a lovely self contained cottage outside Stellenbosh at a place whose name I have temporarily forgotten.