Christmas in South Africa:Any Advice?

Arequipa

Hi there! I hope you are well!
I was travelling through Central America over the summer & fancy some sunshine & travel in the middle of a cold, Northern Winter.
I am focusing in on South Africa for a few reasons: is only 2 hours ahead, realtively easy to get there & is a really efficient way of getting to the sun (ie heading directly south!)

I literally have 2 weeks off: 23rd December through til 8th of January 2012.
I will be travelling alone & plan on joining an adventure tour group like GAP or INTREPID.
I am very active;love the outdoors, hiking, cycling, surfing...also love wildlife, amazing scenery, experiencing new cultures, meeting new people.

So my options are;

1)10 days along the Garden Route from Capetown to Durban:http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/UBOH#overview

2)15 days Joburg to Okavengo Delta--Victoria Falls--Kruger---Joburghttp://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/UBOQC#overview

3)Finally Mozambique Getaway:http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/Ybom#overview

so what do you think?
Do you recommend heading to South Africa over Christmas?
For your first trip to Southern Africa would you travel the 'Garden Route" or opt for a 'wilder' inland trip?

I appreciate your advice and feedback!

Dave

sarkozy

First of all, I don't think going to southern Africa for Christmas is mad at all. It's a great thing to do and the best time of year to be down there. I lived in Lesotho for a year and a half, so I know the region a bit.

Firstly, it depends on what sort of holiday you're after. All trips have a lot to offer.
Personally, though, I'd find the Cape Town to Durban tour the most pedestrian. Cape Town is a nice city, but you could be anywhere, same with the wine region and you can get decent SA wine anywhere; Addo and the surrounding area is all nature reserve/canned hunting; Durban is nice but just a modern sub-tropical city on the beach. The only exception to this is that Lesotho is on the tour, but I can't see exactly where it goes; by the looks of things, it enters at the southern crossing, probably visiting Sethlabetebe national park, which is mountainous and remote and then by the looks of things, taking the Sani Pass into South Africa, which was/is a moderately dangerous road and the highest pass in southern Africa. I also say Lesotho because there, more than the western cape where you'd spend most of your time, it's 'real Africa'.

But the other two tours take you to more 'real Africa'.

The Jo'burg/Krueger/Vic Falls trip looks good too. Definitely more remote but more 'safari-intensive'. Personally, I get board of safari and there's a perfectly good nature reserve where you can see all you need to in less than two hours (Hluhluwe). I'd also prioritise Swaziland for cheap reserves; a poorer country but with good tourist infrastructure. But if you have a dream of safari, go for it. Luckily, it's a fairly remote tour - you'll be mostly out of cities and you get to feel and smell the region in all its diversity.

The Mozy/Bots/Zim trip looks great. Mozambique, the home of piri piri chicken. Maputo is a fantastic city, but I never went up-coast. Friends rented a house by the beach in Tofo and it sounded like heaven. In the Maputo fish market, I got the best seafood I've had in my life - you buy fresh fish by the weight and get a bar behind the market to cook it up. Also, the Cardoso hotel in Mozambique does incredible caipirinhas, as does 'Rodisio' on Julius Nyerere Avenue. Along the coast, there's lots of opportunities for diving (including coral reefs), sailing, maybe not windsurfing. Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world, so it's more of a real experience than South Africa (where the grinding poverty and inequality is more concealed). Alas, I never made it to Zim, but so many people raved about it and I still want to visit the ancient Shona ruins. Again, the nice thing about this route to Vic Falls is the diversity you'd encounter, the remoteness and sense of adventure.

This last one would be the trip I'd do. You could also look at a tour that includes magical Namibia but much love to Mozambique.

Some important things about South Africa. The beer is good, particularly Hansa Pilsner and the Namibian lager Windhoek (genuinely one of the best in the world). You'll also be invited to lots of braais - Afrikaans for BBQ. Usually, everyone brings meat and beer, women make sides, and the grill goes for hours and hours into the night. Importantly, you'll need to eat boerewors (a beef sausage spiced with cloves among other things) and anything else on the braai. You might also eat chakalaka (a spicy relish originating in the townships). On top of that, you might also eat ostrich/zebra/kudu/oryx/springbock/other-cloven-hoofed-animals. Maybe even some pap - maize meal.

You'll have a fantastic time.

Arequipa's a nice spot, eh?

Arequipa

Hey Sarkozy! Thanks so much for your reply: I really appreciate it!
Yea Arequipa is a cool town in Peru: I was there in July 2010; spent my birthday there actually;fab night out: got really drunk! Then woke up the next morning for trip to Colca Canyon completely unprepared & hungover:was such a laugh!

The issues I have now are: the tours only depart if a minimum of 4 people book; as of now 4 people are booked on the Garden Route, 1 person on the Delta trip & noone as yet on the Mozambique Getaway.
I think all three trips offer different elements; the 1st 1 is a more modern, civilised look at the Garden Route;nice cities, beaches, wineries...
the 2nd trip is attractive because of all the camping in wilderness & the wildlife:maybe a bit too much safari?!
The 3rd trip is a great balance of historical towns, beautiful beaches, safari etc...but it is a relatively new trip & there is a warning about potential '

,Warning - this is a new trip for us!
While we've had a team of researchers travelling in the area to put together this trip, it still must be remembered that this is a relatively new trip for us. To be frank, we expect some things to go wrong. When we head to new destinations, we usually find there are more pleasant surprises in store than unpleasant ones, but the warning is sincere. If it concerns you then we recommend that you wait for a year until we get any bugs ironed out.

This might be honest: I think they have run a few trips, but have been travelling in the area for a long time now...but it might put off some people from booking...

So,as of today I can book the Garden Route today but have to wait for numbers to increase on other trips.
Intrepid will transfer you for free onto another trip up to 2 months before, but flights are non-refundable & non-transferable!

Would travel solo, but think a tour would be so handy as accomodation & transport is all sorted!

Thanks for reading!

Arequipa

sarkozy

Unless you're driving yourself, public transport's not great down there, and I don't recommend getting local mini-bus taxis for anything more than local travel. For the most part, local/regional transport is doable, but it takes so much time. If you've only two weeks, it's simply not worth roughing it.

If you can book the Garden Route trip and swap to one of the others if enough people sign up, great, that leaves you some flexibility to switch. You're right about the GR trip being a 'modern', easy trip, I do hear the GR route is beautiful though. And the Drakensberg *is* spectacular, as are the Lesotho highlands. The GR trip goes to Lesotho, so at least you see another country, and a poorer one (Lesotho); more exciting are the trips to Mozambique and Zim/Bots.

If you end up going on the GR trip, get back to me about Lesotho and I'll see if I have any tips, depending where you go.

Arequipa

Yea, here is the route for the Garden Route Tour...starting in Durban & finishing in CapeTown...i would have an extra day/night in Capetown to explore which would be nice before the trip back to cold, Irish Winter!
I will keep in touch with the tour company re bookings.
Gap do a few tours in this area but they didnt spark my interest as much. One went up the Mosquito coast, but Sth Africa, Botswana, Zimba & Mozam interest me more!

Thanks fo my your advice!

Arequipa.

qambathilodge

My advise as a South African, take lots of photos when your in Cape Town its a lovely Place, JHB is very different thought, its a fast paced city, so make sure you can handle it.

sarkozy

qambathilodge wrote: »

My advise as a South African, take lots of photos when your in Cape Town its a lovely Place, JHB is very different thought, its a fast paced city, so make sure you can handle it.

It is? I dunno. Cape Town has the edge as a short-term visitor, Jo'burg's cooler. But even in my very short time there, I made some buddies in the art scene.

Bloemfontein is deadsville.

Sean Bateman

sarkozy wrote: »

Jo'burg's cooler

An outrageous claim.

Jo'burg's a kip. A backwards dump that wouldn't be worth visiting even if the rest of the world had been nuked.

Focus on Cape Town, do the Garden Route and hit Durban too.

sarkozy

Ah come on. Jo'burg is a kip, but it's he hipper city. BUT ... I'd still choose Cape Town any day.

Le_Dieux

Sean Bateman wrote: »

An outrageous claim.

Jo'burg's a kip. A backwards dump that wouldn't be worth visiting even if the rest of the world had been nuked.

Focus on Cape Town, do the Garden Route and hit Durban too.

Having lived in Joburg & PE for nigh on 16 years, may I give my opinion?

I totally agree with SB...get in and out of Joies as quick as possible. Its a dump, and Your life aint worth nowt there.

Cape Town is a fantastic place to go. I would suggest basing Yourself there for 3-4 days ( keeping in mind You only have 2 weeks ). The wine route You can do as a day trip from CT. Then the Garden Route, i would suggest meander down it at Your leisure. There are some amazing places on the way ( Mossel Baai, Wilderness, George to name a few). But also, when You get to George, You MUST go 60kms inland and spend at least 2 days in Oudtshoorn. At that stage I suggest if You do go there, BEWARE of the furnace temperatures. Though only 60 kms from the coast, Oudtshoorn is in a valley, and the temps can go up over 45c, which could be anything up to 25c warmer than on the coast. But its well worth 2 days there, all the ostrich farms, and not to mention the Cango Caves which are also worthy of a visit.

As I lived in PE, which is only 800 kms from CT, I'm not well clued up any further than EL, so would not like to say much, but if You do stop here and there on the GR, I think You will nearly have used up the 2 weeks by the time You get to PE.

Whatever, enjoy the break, just stay SAFE!

Le_Dieux

OP

On reflection, I would suggest the following ( based on only 2 weeks there)

Fly direct to & from CT avoiding Joburg altogether. Spend a few days around CT, but don't go the wine route just yet. Hire a car ( I would NOT recommend the mini taxis anywhere in SA). Then do the GR, and as I say in the previous post, hit the places I suggest, along with Knysna, You must stop there for a while. Then I would suggest head down as far as Port Elizabeth ( PE ).

Spend a couple of days there ( there is a magnificent beach in Bluewater Bay, which is about 10kms outside PE on the EL highway). Then head back up to CT, but when You get to George, head inland over the Outiniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn, stay there for a couple of days, then head up what is locally called The Langkloof, otherwise known as the R62, which will lead You onto the Wine Route on the way back to CT. Here's the link for the Langkloof: http://www.route62.co.za/

Personally, I don't think 2 weeks is enough for this trip. Another thing I don't know is, what sights interest You, so I am only basing my info on what I know & like.

Another thing: I don't know if You are into Test Cricket, there is ALWAYS a TEST match on January2 in Newlands, and the setting for this ground is among the most picturesque anywhere in the World - overlooked by Table Mountain.

PM me if You need any more info, and I'll help wherever I can

Good luck, and as I say, STAY SAFE.

Arequipa

Hey! Thanks so much for your replies: I appreciate it!
I have been researching away in the interim...
The Intrepid tour of the Garden Route is now guaranteed to depart; as 4 have booked: the tour goes from Durban to CapeTown & I would be able to spend an extra day in Capetown before my flight home which would be cool.

The other 2 trips with Intrepid up the Mozambique Coast & the Safari trip through Botswana & Victoria Falls are not yet guaranteed as they need 4 bookings!

I am fairly set on doing a group adventure tour because all accomodation and transport is included and maybe I am a bit anxious about travelling alone!!

One more trip has stood out for me; this one is with GAP: I was thinking I could fly into Capetown for a couple of days beforehand, set the sights and then fly up to Windhoek to start this tour:http://www.gadventures.com/trips/delta-and-falls-experience/DCW/2011/

This tour is only for 10 days but seems interesting:
http://media.gadventures.com/media-server/thumbs/dynamic/admin/maps/2011/DCW_jpg_800x800_q85.png

I am fairly fit, love the outdoors, cycling, hiking,beaches and surfing... I also love wildlife, camping, beautiful scenery etc...!!

There seems to be an issue with safety in certain areas, but I imagine being with a tour group will be advantageous!

Will just have to narrow anything I book down to 23rd Dec ---8th January!

Thanks so much!

Arequipa

Just bumping this thread up!