I plan to be in SA in Mid-September. Because my wife works for an airline we fly on a standby basis. Not knowing exactly on which day we could arrive I am hesitant about buying tours and safari beforehand on the Internet. Is there a big cost difference if we procure all our tours in SA? Also will I find good tour operators there?

Ruben,

If you are looking for safari accomodation, and particularly if you are looking to stay at some of the best game viewing areas in SA.....you need to book your accomodation not only well in advance, but, you need to specify firm dates.......

While, i'm sure you can find a great tour operator in SA...you will still need to book the trip well in advance, just like you would anywhere else in the world.

Hari

While I've never flown on a pass internationally, I have done so domestically in the States. While is works pretty well if there is space and good weather, I've spent full days at the airport, returned home only to start the process over the next. Give me a break... never again. I'd rather pay for a ticket and have a guaranteed flight/seat.

I'd definitely book ahead for SA to get the accommodations you wish and where, but absolutely build in a day (even two) at the front end (arrival) and at the conclusion, in case you don't get the flight/s you need. Especially, if you'll be on connecting flights in Europe. And if flying into JNB and then to CPT, take these connections into consideration, as well. You may get on one flight and not another... but I'm sure you and your wife are quite familiar with this snafu!

Hi Ruben

I also work for an airline and we flew stand-by Frankfurt to Cape Town onto Windhoek last month. We are 4 including our 2 kids. These are my three basic rules:

- check with the airline in advance how the planned flight looks like (but you never know...everything might happen !!)
- avoid flying on weekends but tue/wed instead !
- book your tours/safaris 2-3 or even 4 days after your planned arrival in SA, just to be on the safe side !

Then, if you can fly eariler you will find easily how to fill the first days in SA !!

We landed in CPT early morning at around 5:30 and we had booked our accomodation in Windhoek just for the next day so nobody was expecting us that day. We could have stayed that first day in CPT as extra day but it was heavy rain and windy so we decided to fly immediately, still stand-by from CPT to sunny Windhoek. From there we booked the first open night.!! We spent that first extra day for walking, shopping etc....

At the end of the trip we then flew back on wed stand-by WDH to JNB onto Franfurt ! We again called SA the day before just to see the flying chances the next day !!!

Good luck !!

Based on what you have said, I would contact one of these SA companies:

www.africanadrenalin.com Jo'burg
www.wildfrontiers.com Jo'burg
www.e-gnu.com Capetown office

In that order.

Fabio's plan is quite perfect....

Ruben

an additional option might be buying extra ID reduced stand-by tickets with other airlines via other gateways to JNB or CPT so that you have more option and do not get stuck at your airport if you do not make it on your planned first flight. Example, if you intend to fly JFK-JNB, also buy:

JFK-LHR-JNB or CPT
JFK-FRA-JNB or CPT
JFK-CDG-JNB or CPT

ID stand-by tickets are always 100% refundable !!