Cape Town & wine country in July? Help...

Old Oct 22nd, 2017, 12:16 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cape Town & wine country in July? Help...

Hello,
My hubby and I are planning a trip to celebrate both our 50th bdays next summer. We are limited to July /Aug time frame b/c of kids schedule (they will be in camp so it will be adult only). Ideally we are thinking mid-July for 2 weeks.
I have avoided CapeTown in the past this time of year due to rainy season. I know they have experienced a severe drought (along with fires) and the weather is very unpredictable but wondering if anyone can give an opinion on going this time of year given this and any other reasons? If we do go, what wine region is most recommended?
We are thinking of spending 5 nights in Cape Town & Wine region and then heading to a safari or reversing the order depending on travel availability.
Also not sure yet where we will go on Safari. About 15 yrs ago I did a safari landing in Joburg and then going to safari's in South Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe. Absolutely loved it in every way but would like to do something different if anyone can make a recommendation on a really good option that also has somewhat easy access from Cape Town so we're not traveling the whole time.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
JES28 is offline  
Old Oct 22nd, 2017, 02:00 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There’s no easy access safaris near Cape Town but there are direct flights to Kruger.

Maybe a Phinda/Ngala Tented or Kirkmans combo. Easy and very different ecosystems. I prefer Tembe Elephant Park in the area near Phinda because it’s community owned and staffed making for a more interesting stay. There’s so much to do in KwaZulu Natal, we rent a car and do everything we can fit in. The public and private game reserves, St Lucia for the fun activities, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Sodwana Bay, San Art and beauty in Giants Castle, the beaches and mountains....You can fly direct from a CPT to Durban too.

Or Mashatu/Mala Mala. Excellent combo with a charter flight between them. Two excellent reserves, great wildlife viewing. Add Pafuri Camp or The Outpost in northern Kruger in the middle with private transfers for an almost perfect 10 night safari.

Weather doesn’t prevent me from going anywhere, except extreme heat. Cape Town is a wonderful city. Especially for the penguins.
christabir is offline  
Old Oct 22nd, 2017, 03:43 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I spent a summer in Cape Town many years ago. The weather was not bad and as you say it can be unpredictable. It is such a lovely city though that I would not let it put you off. Last year we went to Franschhoek and had 2 nights there and loved it.
tjhome1 is offline  
Old Oct 23rd, 2017, 08:11 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you tjhome, that is encouraging! Franschhoek looks breathtaking. Did you go to any other areas for comparison or is that what you most recommend?
Thanks so much Christabir, I will look into these safaris and will definitely plan to see the penguins!! Is there an area of the city you recommend staying?
JES28 is offline  
Old Oct 23rd, 2017, 09:18 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As you stated the weather is near impossible to predict, of course we are desperate for a very rainy winter but who knows. Normally our winters can still be sunny but chilly but that is no guarantee.
Franschhoek is a great region for a wines and it has fabulous restaurants.
For areas to stay in Cape Town, are you comfortable driving yourselves or will you be using other transport. It could be easier to stay near the waterfront or Gardens.
Safari options really depend on budget and as Christabir says there are not many options near Cape Town. An expensive but quite easy option is Tswalu as its a direct flight to the lodge but it's not cheap.

Sandy - owner - Love Africa Travel
loveafricatravel is offline  
Old Oct 24th, 2017, 04:44 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for your input Sandy, we are usually comfortable driving anywhere as long as the car isn't more of a hassle with parking etc. That's a great reco for Tswalu - being a direct flight. I wasn't thinking about Cape Town being winter which means early sunsets as well...I'm wondering if we should think about a different area and save CT for when we can go during a better season. I may take a look further North for July.
JES28 is offline  
Old Oct 31st, 2017, 10:42 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
You could also fly to Port Elizabeth and do a safari at one of the private game reserves between there and Grahamstown, which is what we did, though we drove there along the Garden Route and then flew home via Jo'burg.

We really enjoyed our two nights at Shamwari and the one rather different night we had at the Schotia reserve but I have no way of comparing them with the Kruger experience of course. Also near by is Addo which is great for elephants.

with our Shamwari booking we got three free nights at the Raddison on the water front in CT so it's worth seeing if there are deals like that going if you fancy something high end.

Good luck!
annhig is offline  
Old Nov 28th, 2017, 06:44 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That's fantastic advice Annhig, we will look into this!
JES28 is offline  
Old Nov 28th, 2017, 11:45 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,370
Received 79 Likes on 8 Posts
July/August really is ideal for the northern parks like Kruger or Phinda, since it's the dry season, there's less foliage to block views, no bugs, and sunny and warm days and cool evenings. You could also look at Madikwe, on the Botswana border near Gaborone, which is a considerably shorter drive from Joburg than Kruger NP or the various private reserves in the area.

That said, flights to Port Elizabeth from either Joburg or Cape Town are quite inexpensive, and you won't pay a premium on a one-way car rental between PLZ and Cape Town. Addo Elephant National Park is terrific, and the drive down the coast along the Garden Route is spectacular.

If it was me (and I've done this precise trip) I'd fly into Joburg, get a car and drive out to Madikwe for a few nights (maybe 3-4 tops) then back to JNB and fly to Port Elizabeth. Get a new car and tour Addo (self-driving) then west to the Winelands and Cape Town. The driving is quite easy and very scenic, and giving the Addo - Winelands part 2 or 3 days would give you plenty of time to sightsee along the way. You could stop, for example, at Jeffreys Bay, a major surfing destination, or divert to Cape Agulhas and/or Hermanus before hitting Franschhoek and/or Stellenbosch. Here's a possible map - https://goo.gl/maps/WGd5HZfpaT12

I'd do the trip as late into your window as possible; the weather can improve markedly between mid-July and mid-August, getting better the farther south you go.
Gardyloo is online now  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
francolf
Africa & the Middle East
45
Jan 1st, 2016 07:08 AM
drgough
Africa & the Middle East
9
Mar 6th, 2015 11:17 AM
jgourdji
Africa & the Middle East
11
Jul 26th, 2008 01:16 AM
j330
Africa & the Middle East
4
Jan 13th, 2006 09:35 AM
whereto
Africa & the Middle East
7
Aug 14th, 2002 01:33 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -