South Africa - Cape Town, garden route & safari
If you love food and wine, stunning scenery, wildlife and adventure, South Africa is most definitely for you. There is plenty to suit all ages and interests. With only a 1–2-hour time difference, jetlag is not a problem. It is convenient to get to with excellent airfares available with many airlines and it is excellent value for money.
Where you visit in South Africa will depend on how long you have for your trip, the time of year that you travel and your own personal interests. The most popular option for first time visitors would be a self-drive itinerary from Cape Town to the Cape Winelands, continuing along the garden route to Port Elizabeth and finishing with a safari to see the Big 5.
There are also private game reserves close to Cape Town if you are short on time, as well as fantastic game viewing at Kruger National Park where you can cover more ground and see a greater variety of landscapes. Victoria Falls can also be accessed by a short 2-hour flight from Johannesburg or 3-hour flight from Cape Town.
South Africa has always been very popular with couples, however I travelled with my 2 friends and it was a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime holiday, with lots of fun and great memories. The roads are very good and with driving on the same side as Ireland, it was so easy. (If you are not interested in driving, I can also arrange transfers or a scheduled tour for you instead.)
Being in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are the opposite of Europe. We travelled in May and experienced very pleasant temperatures with plenty of sunshine, although we did feel the cold in the mornings and evenings whilst on safari.
In Cape Town, we stayed at the bustling V&A Waterfront area, which has lots of restaurants, bars, shops and the Two Oceans Aquarium. It is also the gateway to Robben Island (tours need to be booked in advance). If you are travelling at a time of year with warmer temperatures, you could consider staying in the lovely seaside suburb of Camps Bay.
We took the hop-on hop-off bus and the cable car up Table Mountain. Check the weather beforehand to ensure you get the best view, as Table Mountain can be covered by cloud (known locally as the tablecloth). Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is a lovely way to spend an afternoon and The Old Biscuit Mill offers a Saturday market and food stall. You can also visit the penguins at Boulders Beach, which is a 45 min drive away. A short scenic helicopter flight offers a unique view of this amazing city.
Franschhoek is situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands, just 45 minutes from Cape Town. This area is home to a large number of vineyards and is known as South Africa’s gourmet capital. The Franschhoek Wine Tram is a fabulous way to experience a number of vineyards at your own pace. You can also prebook a half day or full day wine tasting tour.
Our first stop on the garden route was Knysna. The drive from Franschhoek takes approx. 5 hours, so we set off after breakfast and arrived in time for lunch. In Knysna, we stayed at a property on the water’s edge with fabulous views of the lagoon. We visited the town. You can also hike in the surrounding nature reserves or take a boat cruise.
Our next stop on the garden route was Plettenberg Bay, a short 45 min drive from Knysna. We stayed in the forested Crags area with stunning views. We visited Monkey land and the Elephant Sanctuary, where we got to brush the elephants and walk with them. Plettenberg Bay is known for its pristine coastlines and beaches. We did a boat trip on our last day & seen seals & dolphins. If you’re lucky enough you could also see whales.
Tsitsikamma National Park is located between Plettenberg Bay and Port Elizabeth. Here you can take a waterfall zipline tour, segway or quad bike tour, or go abseiling. The most popular short walk is the 2km Storms River Trail which leads to the Storms River suspension bridge.
We stopped off at Addo Elephant Park for a short self-drive adventure and then continued to our private game reserve on the Eastern Cape. There are many fantastic lodges to choose from. Our suites were luxurious and very spacious. The food and wine was exceptional, as was the warm friendly service.
The wildlife we seen on our game drives here included: white rhino, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, elephant, lion and warthog. My friend also had an unexpected guest visit her outdoor shower one evening – a very cheeky monkey!
We also took a short flight to experience game viewing in the Timbavati area of Kruger National Park. We spent a number of nights at a private game reserve. Kruger is a vast open area. We had a ranger and tracker on our game drives. The wildlife we happened to see in Kruger National Park included: Lion, leopard, buffalo, wildebeest, warthog, elephant, crocodile, hippo, a number of different antelope, as well as kingfishers & eagles.
Safaris in South Africa typically include 2 game drives per day (early morning and late afternoon) with plenty of downtime for relaxing, plus all meals & beverages. The average stay would be 3 nights, but you can of course stay longer, depending on budget. Safaris on the Eastern Cape are malaria-free, whereas during the wet summer months at Kruger National Park antimalarials and deet spray are recommended. National Park entrance fees are paid locally at Kruger National Park.
If South Africa or an African safari has always been on your wish list, please get in touch.
