It sounds like we will be crisscrossing each other’s paths.

We start with Franschoek & Stellenbosch. Then fly up to Windhoek early on May 2 for the long drive – 5-6 hours of 70kph gravel roads to the Sossusvlei area for 3 nights. I went very manly & rented a Toyota Hilux for this part. Drive back to Windhoek (same slow roads) for one night on May 5 & then we fly to Kruger SZK.

Here we are self-driving & staying in the Sanpark camps – Skuzuka & Lower Sabie for 2 nights each in pre-booked cabins. This is the part that I am really looking forward to. Doing our own animal-watching drives with a couple of organized bush walks with the rangers. Cooking burgers on a braai etc. Then we have 2 more nights of spoiling at a private deluxe camp in Kruger: Hamilton’s Tented Camp for a pith helmet & khaki shorts Old Boy experience.

Then we puddle-jump to Johannesburg for a night in Sandton on the 12th to break bread with Willem, before heading to Cape Town the next day for our last nights in SA.

Ian

Edit: And my Salisbury trip tonight was cancelled this morning by my customer due to a family death.

Jeez, Ian. You make me look like a complete amateur :) I usually just jump in a rental car and then figure things out from there. Well, at least when solo. When I have the wife, things are a bit more planned out.

Your trip sounds great. Have you been to SA previously? You are going to seriously fall in love with Stellensbosch and Franschoek. I hope the surrounding mountains are lush green for your visit. It is an amazing area full of charm. Make sure you dine at the French Quarter in Franschoek at least one evening.

I'll get in touch as we get closer to see if its possible to meet up.

No I'm going on my own for my own reasons. I'm interviewing some people there. But I love Japan and saved up enough money to spend about a month there this year.

We will be just at the start of their fall. Off-season rates kick in May 1. And yes, I already had the French Quarter in my sights but it appears there should be lots of choice.

Ian

And yes, I plan ahead. I like certain creature comforts & my spouse likes even more. And with all of those prerequisites in place, I start planning 12 - 18 months out. ;)

Keep an eyeball on my itinerary & let's see if we can cross paths. It would be cool.

Ian

Ian I have to intervene right here, as friends don't let friends cook burgers on a braai - you could get hurt for being seen doing that 'round these parts! I'll have to give you a crash course in the traditional South African "braai" before you arrive! :D

While you are at it why not fly to Europe cheap?

An icelandic airline is offering low cost trips from eurpore to north american to Iceland.
(but once you are in iceland, why not hop to the other contientent?)

Wow Air promises flights to Europe for less than $100 | Montreal Gazette

May is slap bang in the middle of the rainy season in Franschoek (Cape town and surrounds is a winter rainfall region), so you are virtually guaranteed lush greenery. I'll be praying to the gods of weather to spare you a wet and dreary Franschoek by the same token!

Ha! I am very good at embarrassing myself. :D

Ian

Richard, there may well be good news regarding the Victoria Falls yet.

The Northern parts of South Africa have had very good rain over the past few days. I just dropped the guys at Mapungubwe a note to ask about the Victoria Falls catchment area. If substantial rain fell there you may find that the falls are not quite a dry as the pictures you most recently saw. Still keep in mind though that the Falls are typically at their lowest ebb during our winter, so will not be quite as spectacular as you could expect in Dec-Feb, but may at least not be only a trickle.

That's good news, Willem. Thanks. But, I'm not going until I can see the falls in their full glory. I have time :)

I think I'm gonna miss you in Namibia. I'm flying in on May 6, leaving May 7. I have 27 hours on the ground. Rented a car, but not sure where I'll go. Probably Walvis Bay.

Actually, I think our itineraries are reversed... I start in Johannesburg, then on to Namibia then Cape Town area. Leaving South Africa May 10 for the baltic states.

You are right. We are reversed. And fyi, all of the travel boards stress to drive really slowly in Namibia. Most rental companies will not insure for roll-overs or any speed above 70 kph.

Ian

Are you sure you want to go to Walvis Bay? We are staying at the X just south of Solitaire which is 4 - 5 hrs sw of Windhoek. We will day trip to Sossussvlei (S) which is about 1 1/2 hours from our lodge: Moon Mountain. I know people that have gone & it is visually stunning. Look it up on Google images.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1460076160.jpg

Ian

I'd rather stick a fork in my eye than fly coach, leave alone international. I haven't had a lot of travel in my jobs, but it still burned me. It is torture to me to sit in a seat with 300 of my closest friends right on top of me, being served nasty food and not being able to go anywhere but the stinky bathroom for 12 hours.

The great thing about living in the Bay Area is that I can get a good taste of other countries right here.

I may change my mind if I can afford business class for private travel ...

G

Ha ha, that's important. You go hungry in RSA if you can't cook on a braai.

My BBQ, excuse me, braai, skills improved hugely after four months on the road in Zim and RSA. I'm the best braai man amoung my friends :D

If curious it was a surfing trip to J-Bay but I thought I'f visit my old aunt Jessie and look around while I was there. I liked Paarl and Stelenbosh particuarly.

Have fun Richard!!!!!

Here's more detail of Sossussvlei & Deadvlei. The only way to get to Deadvlei for sunrise is to stay at Kulala Desert Lodge in the park. We decided to sleep in & stay elsewhere.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1460109100.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1460109202.jpg

An amusing map of Cape Town.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1460109357.jpg

Ian

More accurate than you can imagine! :D

Yeah, its really the only destination I can find in that area. I'm not really too much into the desert, so more interested in the coastline. I will probably do this route, which is less than 12 hours. Should be plenty doable in my 27 hours on the ground.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1460152874.jpg

I had no idea there was a large Jewish population in Cape Town! I have one night there and can't wait to get to Fork to enjoy their menu and a couple glasses of SA red wine on the patio.