South Africa

Irish Gunner

Hey

Going through the brochures and we decided we will check this out

We where looking at booking with Trailfinders as never had a problem with them

Are there others ?

Also best places to go and what to see & is it better to fly internally or hire a car
Thinking of either going this sept or next jan

Any good websites for info ?

Cheers

katnip

We covered Cape Town and Johannesburg before. We pretty much got taxi's or shuttle buses around cape town, don't get the cheap one's - they're dodgy and dangerous. There's a great nature reserve called Pilanesburg near Sun City. If you want to see the country, you could hire a car and take the 2hr drive up there from Johannesburg. The car rental is dirt cheap and very efficient. Be warned you have to have nerves of steel to drive on the highways. The roads are fantastic, but the drivers slightly crazy. If driving across the country, be aware that the speed limit slows down radically at interjunctions as you don't have the right of way. Police will reularly catch unaware tourists for speeding at these junctions. It's sad but true that if you're caught they will expect a bribe.
The usuals in Cape Town are really interesting - Robbin Island, Table Mt, etc. There's a good spot for whale watching - Hermanus - up the coast. It's best inn November but I don't know if they'll still be there in January.

Irish Gunner

Cheers

Hear that Johannesburg is not the safest in the world. Thinking of flying into Capetown and maybe onto Durban.
What are the safaris like ?

Thinking of going in Sept / Oct so hopefully should be warm and not swarming with tourists as I believe this is off peak

Also best places to book flights etc. Booked with Trailfinders before but calling them is like calling Elvis.....

Anyone book anywhere else

Thanks

egan007

Just back 2 weeks ago and can HIGHLY recommend it.
To get a good deal shop on the net and book things seperately and directly.
Flights direct from dublin are available with slattery sun.

Jivin Turkey

I was there last year with my GF and I cant recommend it highly enough. We flew to Port Elizabeth via Johannesburg and then drove to Cape Town on the garden route.

Definately do a safari. Where you do it depends on where you go. Kruger Park is supposed to be the best, its up on the east coast close to Johannesburg and relatively close to Durban. We went to a park near Port Elizabeth called Kariega which was class. It only has 3 of the big 5 but as it is quite new, but the accomodation and park itself were total luxury. We also stopped in Addo Elephant Park which has all big 5. In Addo (and also Kruger I think) it is mainly concrete roads that you drive around, while in Kariega you went out in proper safari trucks so we were off road for the entire time, it felt so much more like you were actually out in the wild.

Other nice places that I would definately recommend (all along the garden route) would be Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Stellenbosch (although dont stay in the town which is a bit tacky, there is lots of nice cottages and things outside nearer the vineyards). Cape Town was a great way to end it too. If you go there, go up Table Mountain as soon as the weather is good (even the second you arrive). The weather in September can be a bit unpredictable and mist at the top of the mountain means that it shuts down, and this is a more common occurance than you would think. Get up it as soon as you can! Robben Island is also a must.

Dont have any qualms about driving (assuming you have a full licence). I found it easy as they drive the same side of the road. And in particular on the eastern cape there seemed to be very few cars. No word of a lie, we drove for 80km at 11am on a Monday at speeds of up to 140km an hour and only encountered 5 other cars on either side of the road. :eek: And dont forget to beep at all the baboons you see.

Who are you going with? Other half? Mates? There is plenty for whatever you are into regardless. Expect lots of nice food, cheap booze, and a fairly relaxing holiday. It was the first holiday Ive been on that coming back into work I actually felt like I had had a proper holiday and not needing another. We were still out every night though, it is just so relaxing!

michaelanthony

I'm going in May/June for 3 weeks. Swiss are doing Dublin to Johannesburg on those dates for E550. We're going to Sun City, then flying down to Cape Town. Then we're driving the Garden route to Port Elizabeth. Then driving up through Lesotho and the Drakensberg mountains. Then flying back to Johannesburg.

Merrion

Then driving up through Lesotho and the Drakensberg mountains

There's a restaurant/hotel at the top of the Sani pass that's worth a visit as the bar balcony juts out over the Drakkensberg sheer face...and if you have time in Lesotho I thoroughly recommend Malealea.

pickarooney

Went a few years back, flew in and out of Cape Town. After a few days in CT we got a coach to Durban (my favourite city of the trip), then on to Jo'burg for a night before hiring a car to drive through the Drakenbergs and up to Kruger Park - amazing experience - and back to JB. Train to Maputo, stayed a few days then back through Swaziland for a bit (pissed rain the whole time ) and bussed it back to Cape Town again for a few days' R&R before flying home.

saibhne

Went to college in SA for a while, Best trips I made were off the beaten track - you could try out Hogsback which is westish of Port Elizabeth, where Tolkien hung out whilst writing Lord of the rings - very eerie.
Can also recommend the Maleela lodge in Lesotho that another poster linked to above, pony trekking there is great - exquisite scenery.
Also in that neck of the woods on the border of Lesotho/South Africa is a place called Rustlers Valley, a very hippy new age retreat where you can live the natural life for a few days. Teepees and massages etc...
Definitley drive, the country is so varied in scenery and climate that at least you get to see more.
Also definitley do a Safari - best for me was Kruger - it's just so big and if you have hired a car you can drive in and rent a chalet in the park itself. I'd advise booking beforehand though. You can then jump in your car and drive around the park by yourself and go looking for the animals you want to see - no need to get tours.

Have a great time!

the vivster

ya i lived in jo.berg for 3 months and u wat u hear is right its extremly unsafe and dangerous not much in my opinion to do there its like the working capital. i was also in cape town i loved it there and think iys beautiful. also went skiing in a place called botswana thats more like kinston than any where else but we were up the mountains and it was so gorgeous

the vivster

ya i went in safari there to it is the best and u see all the animals only a few feet away its amazing and a must do while in s.a

ricey

the vivster wrote:

ya i lived in jo.berg for 3 months and u wat u hear is right its extremly unsafe and dangerous not much in my opinion to do there its like the working capital. i was also in cape town i loved it there and think iys beautiful. also went skiing in a place called botswana thats more like kinston than any where else but we were up the mountains and it was so gorgeous

more like you lived in southill then south africa...ha
In something like this