We are planning our first trip to South Africa for June 2008. Game viewing is our main interest. We have 19 nights and a budget of approx $15000 for hotels/car hire , not including flights or spending money We want a mixture of grades of accomadation, maybe one reasonable/cheaper lodge and one more expensive for our last few days.
Thinking of spending 5 nights in Cape town, staying in a B+B,( twentytwo or An african villa) then flying up to Mpumalanga, hiring a car and spending 4 nights at a lodge in the Timbvati area then 4 nights in either Hippo hollow or the Rissington Inn (? self drive into Kruger) before spending 5 nights in the Sabi sands then flying back to joburg for the night and back to Australia.
Questions: 1.Is our budget realistic?
2. Which lodge, camps to stay in. I am so confused and they all look so good. We like the idea of no fences and no electrics but we also like our comfort.
Your input is greatfully received and I would just like to say how much I am enjoying reading the forum.
Many thanks

Your budget is absolutely realistic (btw, I assume $7,500 per person, not $15,000 per person...but if I'm wrong, can I be adopted?).

We are going for 16 nights, and our cost excluding int'l air, spending money, and a few days with a private guide in Cape Town (but including our inter-Africa charter flights) is $10,000 per person. But, we're staying at two Singita properties for a total of 4 nights. Substitute Mala Mala and you knock off $2,000 or so per person.

Our itinerary:

- 3 nights Cape Grace in Cape Town
- 2 nights Grande Roche in the winelands
- 6 nights Phinda (3 at Rock, 3 at Vlei)
- 2 nights Singita Ebony
- 2 nights Singita Lebombo
- 1 night Saxon in Johannesburg

Our TA was Kyle from Africa Adventure Company. He was wonderful and very patient with our ever changing itinerary (trying to keep Singita in while keeping to our budget).

Hills, your itinerary sounds fantastic!
What month are you traveling?

Thanks Hills.
Your trip does sound great. We are thinking of either ulusaba or mala mala for the last 5 nights. Its so difficult choosing!
I am glad to hear we are in the right budget area.
Are you flying into the Sabi sands?

Carla, we're going in six weeks and 2 days. I can't wait.

kimac, we're flying regular commercial flights from Jo'burg to Cape Town. Then when we leave Cape Town for Phinda, we take a commercial flight to Durban, then a charter flight from Durban to Phinda. Then charter flights from Phinda to Singita, between the two Singitas, then back to Jo'burg at the end. We were able to book the two commercial flights as part of our international itinerary, which seemed to save us some money.