South Africa Trip

We are planning a trip to South Africa. Planning to spend 4 days in Capetown, 2 days in Wineland, 2 Days in Durban and 6 days at Zulu Nyala. Seeking comments and recommendations of what to do and more importantly, what not to do.

Is this your first trip to South Africa? What time of year are you going? Cape Town is very nice, safe, friendly people, lots to see and do. The V & A Water front is a must. Take the cable car to the top of Table Mtn. Take a double Decker bus tour through downtown Cape Town, you will learn a lot about Cape Town. There's many beaches to see. Go whale watching, Great White shark diving in a cage. Drive down the coast to see the penguins in Simons Town. Go to the Cape of Good Hope. It's a very nice drive through a national park. Food is very cheap in South Africa along with most other things.

Stay away from Johannesburg, they will steel your car with you in it. A lot of crime there. Durban is ok I heard, never been there.

Which way are you flying to SA? A direct flight can be long. 17 hrs from JFK and 15 hrs from Atlanta. Both will fly direct to either Cape Town or Johannesburg, depending on the day you leave. If you don't like a long time in the air, break it up. Fly to Amsterdam, then to Cape Town, That's how we went.

I can go on and on here. South Africa is very nice. It's about twice the size as Texas and it's as far south of the Equator as Texas is north of the Equator, so the climate is about the same. Remember the seasons are opposite as ours.
www.sailhoneycat.com
Greg

Greg--I get confused as far as the seasons in SA. When is the best time to go to Cape Town and what would the weather be like that time of year, as far as temps??

We went in December, it was very nice and sunny. 70s and 80s. December is our beginning to winter ( we live in western NY) December in Cape Town is late spring. It only rained one evening when we were there. Remember that Cape Towns climate will be like Texas or the Carolinas. South Africa does have two ski areas in the mtns. They are open from mid June to end of August. I would think any time would be nice to go. Mike K has been there but I don't know what time of year he went.
www.sailhoneycat.com
Greg

Any advice to pass on from your request? What to do and not to do? looking for same information. sliwa54 Michigan

noticed golf as a hobby listed do you have any info on golf in South Africa/ premier clubs in peticular? hoping to get informed by someone who has made the trip!

any suggestions on pilots/planes for ariel tours appreciated

Go Shopping! shopping in Cape Town is relatively inexpensive due to the favourable exchange rate and comparatively low production costs. For the Tourist, jewellery is particularly inexpensive and as many of South Africa's most talented goldsmiths and jewellery designers live in Cape Town, their sought after creations will delight the ardent shopper. Textiles are well priced, in particular leather goods, sports and outdoor wear. The same applies to art works, antiques, books and wine.

Most shops will accept your international credit card and traveller’s cheques and nearly all major shopping centres have foreign exchange bureaux. You can draw money with your international bank and credit cards from almost any ATM (Automated Banking Machines) which are plentiful in Cape Town.

Just a quick message as to johannesburg being dangerous, ive been there several times and have never had problems. No one i know infact has had problems there, the reasons these stories come about is because certain people with their expensive camera's and expensive watches decide to go into a township to take pictures of people whom have nothing well offcourse then something is going to happen.

enjoy your trip

Would love to hear about your experiences as Zulu Nyala....I'm going there as well in the coming months

No, you did not mention Great White Shark diving in a cage. I don't care how safe the cage is purportedly to be I would not consider being that adventuresome. What other cities besides Capetown do you recommend visiting? I am definitely considering visiting that country within a year or two.

Petrico