South Africa

Likely_lad.

Does anybody have information about travel to and in South Africa?
I am planning to go next January, flying to Capetown and travelling the "Garden route" by rented car. I have only the vaguest idea of what to expect so any help will be useful.

Thanks

Likely lad.

Murtle

What kind of information are you looking for Likely Lad??? I have been to South Africa, have been to Cape Town and investigated the "Garden Route" before deciding not to do it on my own....!

However, SA beautiful weather was stunning, this depends of course on when you are planning on going....I went in Oct/Nov. The weather at the moment isn't so great.
Cape Town would easily rate as one of my top destinations for having been to and wanting to go back to. There is table mountain, cable cars take you up and down or for the more energetic you can walk up and down or a mix of the two!! There are penguins that you can go and see and a nature reserve the same way - I'll have to look up what/where they were! Robbin island is another trip possibly worth doing dependent on your interests.

People friendly, sometimes overfriendly - hold onto your personal belongings,
Mini cabs - not recommended
Remember that many people drink drive there, so keep an eye on the road (it's not just your driving you need to worrry about!!

Doh, just read - planning on going in January - in which case the weather will be wonderful...short of a freak bad weather patch!

Cape Town is on the boarder of the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic (?) i think - anyway, one side is beautiful and warm, the other side is so cold, it's like putting you feet in the freezer!!

HTH If you have any other questions shout or PM me

Murtle

robdog

Like Murtle says what are you looking for?. Beautiful country, good food, wine, scenery, roads are good they drive on the left, beware of driving at night in the more remote areas, as quite a proportion of the population think that using/having lights is for wimps, besides the odd animal having a wander. If you get as far as Kenton on Sea make sure you have a meal in Stanleys, [cheap and one of lifes eccentrics, resturant has fantastic views over the Bushmans River]. Before leaving Capetown make sure you drive along Chapmans Peak Highway.

Party_Animal

I've driven from Cape Town to Durban via Garden route and Transvaal. Port St John. Port Edward, slept in a converted train one night. Fabulous holiday pm me if interested. I can recommend some great digs.

researcher

we were lucky enough to be paid to do a project in Cape Town a few months ago. It was brilliant, so good we'd pay to go back. Although on expences we choose to stay in b&b's - a decision that we didn't regret as the quality of accommodation together with the advice and help we received from our host in CT was the best we've experienced anywhere in the world. If you want a recommendation I'd be delighted to pass it on. Everything can be easily arranged - travel is easy and cheap - but you must use common sense and local knowledge as the crime rate is very high (although we didn't have any bad experiences). Food is brilliant as is the wine. The countryside/beaches etc are stunning. Weather in January is superb - this is their peak season - and I'm told gets quite crazy!

VeryTrying_2

Murtle wrote:

There are penguins that you can go and see and a nature reserve the same way - I'll have to look up what/where they were!

I've been trying to remember this for the last few hours ..... Jackass Penguins, Boulders Beach.

They are some of the funniest things I've ever seen and totally ignore the people watching them. The humans are restricted to a wooden walkway across the beach and the penguins are free to roam. Fantastic!

Murtle

VeryTrying wrote:

I've been trying to remember this for the last few hours ..... Jackass Penguins, Boulders Beach.

They are some of the funniest things I've ever seen and totally ignore the people watching them. The humans are restricted to a wooden walkway across the beach and the penguins are free to roam. Fantastic!

yes that's them :T :T