First-time vistor to SA: independent or package tour?

My wife and I really crave a trip to SA in the next six months, but can't
decide whether to do it ourselves or book a tour. Our primary goal is see
big game (the "Top 5" and others) in the bush (and have a private bath at
night!). We have traveled independently in many parts of the world, but
usually take tours in "exotic" countries where there may be a serious
language barrier or unusual risks. One of our ideas is to fly into Cape
Town, rent a car and drive to one or two lodges in the so-called
malaria-free zones in the capes or the Garden Route area. (If possible, we'd
like to avoid the anti-malarial treatment.) Does this approach seem
practical? And given the higher altitudes of these particular lodges, which
months would be reasonably comfortable and still offer good viewing?

If you prefer to be independant and do things your own way, the South
Africa is, by no means, an "exotic country" with "serious language
barriers or unusual risks".

The vast majority of people with whom you will come into contact in a
tourist context will speak good to excellent English.

Apart from driving on the left hand side of the road (I'm guessing
you're from the USA), driving in South Africa is very easy. All main
arterial roads are very good, and apart from some nutcases on the
roads, it's much like driving anywhere else in the first world.

As far as unusual dangers are concerned, the probability of getting
into any kind of danger while you are at a tourist destination or on
the main roads between them is extremely small.

So, if you're the kind of people who hate to do things at other
peoples pace, and are sick and tired of the
Fat-old-lady-from-Dayton-Ohio asking questions like "So who's the
president of Africa?" , then I'd recommend doing the trip
independantly.

Regards,

Marc - Johannesburg
On Tue, 11 May 2004 22:04:13 -0600, "Jim"
wrote:

My wife and I really crave a trip to SA in the next six months, but can't
decide whether to do it ourselves or book a tour. Our primary goal is see
big game (the "Top 5" and others) in the bush (and have a private bath at
night!). We have traveled independently in many parts of the world, but
usually take tours in "exotic" countries where there may be a serious
language barrier or unusual risks. One of our ideas is to fly into Cape
Town, rent a car and drive to one or two lodges in the so-called
malaria-free zones in the capes or the Garden Route area. (If possible, we'd
like to avoid the anti-malarial treatment.) Does this approach seem
practical? And given the higher altitudes of these particular lodges, which
months would be reasonably comfortable and still offer good viewing?

On Tue, 11 May 2004 22:04:13 -0600, "Jim"
wrote:

My wife and I really crave a trip to SA in the next six months, but can't
decide whether to do it ourselves or book a tour. Our primary goal is see
big game (the "Top 5" and others) in the bush (and have a private bath at
night!). We have traveled independently in many parts of the world, but
usually take tours in "exotic" countries where there may be a serious
language barrier or unusual risks. One of our ideas is to fly into Cape
Town, rent a car and drive to one or two lodges in the so-called
malaria-free zones in the capes or the Garden Route area. (If possible, we'd
like to avoid the anti-malarial treatment.) Does this approach seem
practical? And given the higher altitudes of these particular lodges, which
months would be reasonably comfortable and still offer good viewing?

South Africa is a great country to visit independant. We don't like
the 'bushopping' way of travelling and prepared our trip at home and
'guestimated' times to see/do things and made a list of where we would
be at which dates and some preffered accomodation. Our travel agent
(who specialises in SA travel) then made a list of availlable
accomodations and after our approval booked all guesthouses and
hotels. He also booked our flight and renatl car (cheaper than what we
found :-) ).
From then on we where on our own... we enjoyed South Africa a lot and
hope to go back.. Next time we will not book accomodation in advance
though, as we found nothing was fully booked in July (except 'the
parks').
I have a travelogue of our trip(s) on my website (see sig).

On Wed, 12 May 2004 13:47:12 +0000, Maurice ON4BAM
wrote:

Hi Maurice,

Disi you have a chance to get on 2m or HF while you were here?

'73 de ZS6HZ

On Wed, 12 May 2004 16:11:56 +0200, Marc Lurie
wrote:

On Wed, 12 May 2004 13:47:12 +0000, Maurice ON4BAM
wrote:

Hi Maurice,

Disi you have a chance to get on 2m or HF while you were here?

'73 de ZS6HZ

Yes!!
There's a picture of me in the rental car making QSO's from the Hill
Top lodges at Hluhluwe with a zebra 2 meter away from me ;-)
I did packet and APRS from Pretoria and Durban. Not a lot of activity
though on 2m :-( ... maybe next time (2m + echolink from the rental
car from VK4 to ON while on holiday is fun!!)

On Wed, 12 May 2004 13:47:12 +0000, Maurice ON4BAM
wrote:

Hi Maurice,

Did you get a chance to get onto 2m or HF while you were over here?

'73 de ZS6HZ

On Wed, 12 May 2004 13:47:12 +0000, Maurice ON4BAM
wrote:


I have a travelogue of our trip(s) on my website (see sig).

I just noticed the sig was not attached :-( it is now... :-)



Bye Maurice
--
Hamradio: ON4BAM / M0CIL / 9H3Z http://www.qsl.net/on4bam
Travelstories from Alaska, Scotland, South Africa,Iceland,
Faroe Isl., Australia and IOTA activations

Maurice ON4BAM wrote in message . ..
On Wed, 12 May 2004 13:47:12 +0000, Maurice ON4BAM
wrote:


I have a travelogue of our trip(s) on my website (see sig).

I just noticed the sig was not attached :-( it is now... :-)



Bye Maurice

You can check out http://www.penguin.co.za for bookings for the Cape
Twon region of a bnch of activities as well

On 25 May 2004 05:07:51 -0700, (Captain K) wrote:

Maurice ON4BAM wrote in message . ..
On Wed, 12 May 2004 13:47:12 +0000, Maurice ON4BAM
wrote:


I have a travelogue of our trip(s) on my website (see sig).

I just noticed the sig was not attached :-( it is now... :-)



Bye Maurice

You can check out http://www.penguin.co.za for bookings for the Cape
Twon region of a bnch of activities as well

You replied to the wrong poster... I'm not coming to SA this year :-)



Bye Maurice
--
Hamradio: ON4BAM / M0CIL / 9H3Z http://www.qsl.net/on4bam
Travelstories from Alaska, Scotland, South Africa,Iceland,
Faroe Isl., Australia and IOTA activations

Hallo Jim,
You should have no problem doing a self-drive tour of SA. The best time to
visit the Cape Town and Garden Route area depends on what you want to do. If
plants and flowers is your thing, do it during September. If you like the
beach and outdoors, try March- April. Your suggested route is perfect for it
would allow you to do R62 which is the longest wine route in the world, the
Cango Caves and ostrich farms in Oudshoorn, the Garden Route itself and then
the Addo Elephant Park. There are plenty of other private lodges in the
Eastern Cape.
Hiring a car and stopping along the way is no problem. Most towns have info
centres with all the necessary info on guest houses, eateries, sites to see
etc. Just take your time, ask the locals for help and be cool - you will
have ball of a time.
Koos Greeff

AFRIKA SAFARIS
Specialist Safari Operator.
http://www.afrikasafaris.co.za
Tel/Fax: +27 (27) 2161 071


"Jim" wrote in message
...
My wife and I really crave a trip to SA in the next six months, but can't
decide whether to do it ourselves or book a tour. Our primary goal is see
big game (the "Top 5" and others) in the bush (and have a private bath at
night!). We have traveled independently in many parts of the world, but
usually take tours in "exotic" countries where there may be a serious
language barrier or unusual risks. One of our ideas is to fly into Cape
Town, rent a car and drive to one or two lodges in the so-called
malaria-free zones in the capes or the Garden Route area. (If possible,
we'd
like to avoid the anti-malarial treatment.) Does this approach seem
practical? And given the higher altitudes of these particular lodges,
which
months would be reasonably comfortable and still offer good viewing?