Can anybody advise on safari to SA

Vinnie K

Hey Folks,

So im trying to plan a 2 week safari to Africa. I was hoping i could get some first hand experience from someone. I dont know much about where to go or what month of summer would be best, i know that our summer is like there wet season but that wouldnt bother me. I've been told that Kruger park is to place to go? I wouldnt mind guided tours for a week and then rent a car for another or something like that. I would also like to do a kinda walking safari where someone would bring you snake catching/spotting as im really into reps. Where the best place to book it from ect.. Anyway, hope someone here can give me advise, any would be helpful!!
Thanks in advance,
Vinnie.

Vinnie K

Surely someone can give me some advise?? Planning on booking it in the next 2 weeks so all advise will be appriciated.
Vinnie.

C.O.Y.B.I.B

Hi Vinnie ,

Did this in August last year and did a lot of research so here goes ....


We flew into Capetown and spent 6 Nights here , then flew to Mpumalanga Airport (Beside Kruger) with Nationwide and spent 5 nights in a Game reserve within Kruger called Bongani . This was a large reserve with all the big 5 . They also do walking tours through the bush and tours of the main Kruger Park . There are lots of Lizards and some snakes which the trackers can find and point out , inc. Black Mambas . I spent early September in the game reserve and weather was nicely warm in morning (approx 10-15c) in the evening it was usually a bit warmer and during the day , it got up to 30-35c.
We then flew back to capetown for 3 nights in the wine regions.
I booked Safari through CCAfrica who were very helpful and have offices in the UK. I booked international and internal flights myself. CCAFrica organised pickup and dropoff from the airport in Kruger. If you decide to fly into J'Burg , a lot of Safari companies will have tours starting here and will pick you up at the airport or hotel in J'Burg . We avoided this due to bad experiences we heard about from other people with J'Burg in general. If you are only into the Safari side , I would reccomend a 2 centre holiday i.e. a few days in a private Game Reserve on the edge of the park and few in the centre of the Kruger Park. Transfers are easily arranged and CCAfrica own 5 or 6 resorts in and around Kruger. Capetown weather in August/September is the same as Irelands in August /September .

Any more questions , I'll be happy to help as I remember how hard it was to get good info.

MS

Vinnie K

mscull wrote: »

Hi Vinnie ,

Did this in August last year and did a lot of research so here goes ....


We flew into Capetown and spent 6 Nights here , then flew to Mpumalanga Airport (Beside Kruger) with Nationwide and spent 5 nights in a Game reserve within Kruger called Bongani . This was a large reserve with all the big 5 . They also do walking tours through the bush and tours of the main Kruger Park . There are lots of Lizards and some snakes which the trackers can find and point out , inc. Black Mambas . I spent early September in the game reserve and weather was nicely warm in morning (approx 10-15c) in the evening it was usually a bit warmer and during the day , it got up to 30-35c.
We then flew back to capetown for 3 nights in the wine regions.
I booked Safari through CCAfrica who were very helpful and have offices in the UK. I booked international and internal flights myself. CCAFrica organised pickup and dropoff from the airport in Kruger. If you decide to fly into J'Burg , a lot of Safari companies will have tours starting here and will pick you up at the airport or hotel in J'Burg . We avoided this due to bad experiences we heard about from other people with J'Burg in general. If you are only into the Safari side , I would reccomend a 2 centre holiday i.e. a few days in a private Game Reserve on the edge of the park and few in the centre of the Kruger Park. Transfers are easily arranged and CCAfrica own 5 or 6 resorts in and around Kruger. Capetown weather in August/September is the same as Irelands in August /September .

Any more questions , I'll be happy to help as I remember how hard it was to get good info.

MS

Thanks so much m, im gonna have a good look through that site this eve at home, and ill prob have a few q's for you if thats alrigt:D. Ya theres not a whole lot of info on the interweb, as in peoples opinions and what not. Thanks again.
Vinnie

C.O.Y.B.I.B

No Worries Vinnie , ask away

Board-in-work

Hi,

If you fly into Cape Town, 6 days out of a 2 week holiday is probably too much to stay in one city. You could fly into Cape Town, then hire a car - then after a couple of days in Cape Town itself - Table Mountain - V&A Waterfront - you should hit the road, and explore - for example - Cape Point -the meeting of the Pacific and the Indian Oceans is excellent - Cape Alugas - think the furthest South in Africa - Simonstown is down there too - brilliant little penguins, and whale watching. You can also do cage diving if you're brave - great whites....There's also great wine regions around the area - Stellenbosch, Paarl, Robertson (very cheap wine). Robben Island is a good thought provoking tour - guided by ex-prisoners - see Mandela's old cell etc - Or you could head East towards Knysna, which is a nice little town, Jeffries Bay (surf) - Hit Port Elizabeth, and Fly up to Kruger for a Safari, you could even fly up into Zambia (avoid Zimbabwe) from there - Vic Falls, and there are plenty of Safari's in Zambia too. The road to Port Elizabeth is spectacular, or you could hang around, based in Cape Town - and do a tour of that region, then fly up north to Kruger, or Zambia. The weather in South Africa is reversed - their Winter would be during our Summer time, but in saying that - their winter would be better than our summer! It's probably a bit cooler in Cape Town overall. Being their winter tho - is better - as there is less vegetation for the animals, ensuring lots of close ups with elephants etc....

Enjoy