My husband and I booked our plane tickets to South Africa and need help with the itinerary and booking inter-Africa flights and game reserves.
Below is what we were thinking in terms of itinerary. I would love to hear your thoughts around if we have too little/too much time in a place or if we should consider other places instead of what we have in mind.
We will be arriving in Capetown on 5/13 at 10 am and leaving from Johannesburg on 5/25 at 8 pm; so we have about 13 days.
2-3 days in Capetown
2-3 days in Kruger National Park (need to find a game reserve)
2-3 days Victoria Falls with a day trip to in Chobe National Park in Botswana (safari)
3-4 days in Mauritius
What is the best routing order for this itinerary? We were thinking Capetown -> Mauritius -> Kruger -> Chobe/Victoria Falls but are open to any order that makes the most sense.
We will be using points to book hotels in Capetown and Mauritius.
What is the best way to book inter-Africa flights between locations and game reserves/lodging in Kruger and Victoria Falls/Chobe?
Any recommendations on reserves/lodges? We are looking to spend $300-$400 (total, not per person) per night. I realize this may be a low amount but not many people are traveling and it is winter. Any suggestions on places we should check out?
Thank you in advance for your help!
Need help planning trip to SA/Kruger/Chobe/Vic Falls/Mauritius in May!
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I don't want to sound pessimistic, but it sounds like too much in too little time. Most flights in Southern Africa require you to go via Johannesburg. I am almost certain that Cape Town to Kruger will require 2 flights - one to Johannesburg and a separate flight to Kruger. This will cost at least half a day - perhaps longer. Similarly, we found Kruger to Vic Falls required us to go via Johannesburg - once again nearly a day in travel time. Vic Falls to Mauritius via JHB will be the best part of a day again. The flight to Mauritius is about 4 hours each way, add to that a couple of hours at the airport before flying and transfers each way - again nearly a lost day.
Hopefully some experts can give you further advice, but I suggest looking carefully at all flight schedules before booking. We though Mauritius was a nice relaxing end to our holiday, but I would suggest that with only 13 days you consider dropping the Mauritius leg this trip. The rest will then be more manageable.
Only my humble opinion. Good luck - let us know what you decide - and happy planning!
I've been interested before in safari camps in the Kruger area, specifically the Timbavati Reserve. So out of curiosity I looked up the following on the internet for some basic info. Since the "Preview" button here is not now working, I'm going to post this list not knowing how it is really going to show. If it is God awful, I'll re-post it if and when the Preview gets fixed. Here goes-
TIMBAVATI RESERVE SAFARI CAMPS,
SOUTH AFRICA
Rates are 2009 in USD pppn (10:1 ZAR to USD)
Gomo Gomo http://www.gomogomo.co.za/frameset.html
Rates $120-$170
Kambakhu http://www.kambakulodge.co.za/
Rates $210-$265
Kapama http://www.kapama.co.za/_en/default.html
Rates $160-$275
Kings Camp http://kingscamp.com/
Rates $350-$420
M’Bali ???
Motswari http://www.motswari.co.za/index.php
Rates $250-$320
Ngala http://tinyurl.com/bajcs2
Rates $290-$460
Royal Malewane http://www.royalmalewane.com/location.html
Rates $885
Tanda Tula http://www.tandatula.co.za/
Rates $345
Thornybush http://www.thornybush.co.za/
Rates $234-$685
Umlani http://www.umlani.com/
Rates ???
Of course the other large well know reserve bordering Kruger is Sabi Sand. Several safari camps there also.
regards - tom
To say again what PRLCH said, your itinerary shows no travel time. For example getting from Capetown to Kruger camp will take one day of travel, maybe more. Take about one day off for travel to each location.
regards - tom