Upcoming South Africa trip
 

In April, my husband and I are planning a trip to South Africa. We will arive on the 3rd of April in Jburg. On the 13th we start a photo safari near Durban. We plan to fly directly to Cape Town when we arive in South Africa and will have from the 3rd until the 13th to see the area. I am trying to decide if we should just drive to places in that area like the Garden Route and end up back in Cape Town or end up in a different city and then fly to Durban. I am having trouble with the distances and how long it will take to get where.

I am blind and my husband is sighted. I am not sure how I got stuck with the planning part but it looks like it is my job since he gets to drive.

You are fortunate to have so much time, well done.
I would suggest that you drive tthe garden route ending in Port Elizabeth and fly from their to Durban or Richards Bay, whichever suites your safari plans best.

The drive from Cape Town to PE is around 750 Km's. Without stopping that is around 9 hours of driving.

I would suggest that you get a map and decide which routes you are going to take and make two strategic hotel bookings two days apart, give yourself five days to complete the drive. In between if you pass through an area, which grabs your attention, you could find a B&B and spend the night there...sort of travelling off the cuff, but with a plan.

I'll be happy to give you some ideas on places to visit, but before I do, perhaps you could let me know what you enjoy and I can offer routes through those places.

Of course like everyone else going to South Africa I am interested in Animals and plants. I especially love to get close enough to touch. We like staying in not very fancy places but we are willing to spend a little more on wine and food.

If you like you can email me directly at www.adaptivetech.net. Actually your suggestions pretty well match my beginning of a plan.

Garden route is great, we travelled there last year after leaving Cape Town. Try the bed and breakfasts, list is long and we had some sensational hosts. Hemanus is really nice - right along the coast and Stellenbosch is a great University city with lots of great B&bs within walking distance of town centre

You have a web address, let me know your email and I will pull up some old notes and send them to you.

On my recent trip, just outside Plett i discovered an elephant back experience, noted a monkey land in the same area. Although I didn't visit those, would think that they might offer the interactive animal experience.

My email address is [email protected]

Monkey Land?! Can you email me too please?

You can try Knysna elephant park 10k before Plettenburg. You can feed the elephants & then pat them afterwards. Great fun! www.knysnaelephantpark.co.za

But if you want the real thing there is always Addo Park about 1 1/2 hours from P.E.

Both are great.