Fly Drive to South Africa

[Sgt Bilco]

Looking at some big holiday options for next year as me and Claire have a significant birthday each.

Almost pressed the button on Cuba but found out that if I go there, I won't be able to get back to the US on an ESTA so that's not happening.

We've been looking at a Fly Drive in South Africa from Capetown along the garden route and a safari at the end. I'm good with it but Claire is worried about safety in SA as you hear all sorts of horrific stories. Anyone done it?

 

[tanneman]

Go to Namibia or Botswana and enjoy visiting the game reserves.

In SA it is not only the crime (which may usually be violent) one must content with but also the fact that there may be no electricity for up to 12 hours a day.

Edit.

You can rent a 4x4 in Windhoek and drive around to your heart's content. In Botswana the camp sites are not fenced so you can get a better view of the Hyenas at night when you barbeque

 

[squibb34]

Well, you two certainly know how to pick them.

I have a couple of long term neighbours, one Cuban (imported by NHS) the other from RSA. From their feedback, there is little doubt that Cuba is reasonably safe, a fun place to visit, whereas RSA has become downright dangerous, to the extent that, despite the desire to return to see old friends/relatives, even that has now been taken off her agenda. HMG advice, which pretty well reflects what my neighbour says, doesn't read well either ........ https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/safety-and-security. Life may be something of a lottery, but why put yourselves in harms way knowingly. The US renewed branding of Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism seems so out-of-date, whatever the back story - such a shame.

Failing that, any other ideas? H&J suggest ......... https://www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk/blog/milestone-birthday-trips

 

[Mjhb]

I have no connection to this company, other than it popped up in my Facebook feed and I started following them whilst researching fly-ride in Africa.

I have, however, travelled extensively in Botswana and Namibia: both are outstanding and highly recommended.

Home of Namibia Motorcycles - Namiba Motorcycles

Namibia Motorcycles, Guided Tours, Rentals & Sales for motorbike adventures in Africa, professionally tours, road trips & Royal Enfield sales

namibiamotorcycles.com

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[tanneman]

I think you can fly Frankfurt to Windhoek. Either rent a 4x4 there or fly from Windhoek to Maun in Botswana where you can opt to fly to one of the game reserves or rent a 4x4 there to go and visit the game parks.

Maun is a hub or as the locals describe it, it is a drinking town with a tourist problem

 

[BillN]

After reading the HMG guidelines in the link posted above it would put anyone off going to SA

We have been goings for some years - 8 weeks every Feb Mar - never had a problem - we stay in a place called Knysna 5 hours drive from Cape Town east along the Garden Route - been on a few "soft" Safari's - and visited lots of towns in the area.
Electricity cuts are now a big problem but we have an "inverter" - batteries if you like which means that we manage perfectly well and most are now going this route.......... and shops and restaurants are doing the same ........

Car hire is very cheap - we paid just over £10 a day this year for a Toyota 4 door petrol saloon, unlimited mileage - get the (top up) extra motor insurance in the UK - and you need medical insurance - by UK standards eating out is very cheap and the climate in "their" summer months is very good.

The flight is overnight and SA on the same time zone so jet lag is minimal

Always look forward to going - just keep your wits about you, head down and don't do anything stupid ........ it's their country

 

[tanneman]

Knysna is a posh part of the world. Can fly to George if you don't want to drive. Beaches around there is lovely.

 

[BillN]

Knysna is a posh part of the world. Can fly to George if you don't want to drive. Beaches around there is lovely.

did that a few times but it's a pain flying to Joberg, carting your bags across the Airport to the domestic terminal and changing flights, especially on a tight schedule when flights from the UK can be delayed - and it's not any quicker - the flight to Cape Town is much more pleasant.

 

[richardbd]

I rode from Nairobi to Cape Town late last year nd then spent another two weeks along some of the dirt roads of there Garden Route.

Never felt threatened in ny country we crossed - including SA.

 

[wilbjr21]

Well Chris, to be honest, there's nothing about Africa (except Morocco) that appeals to me.

New Zealand, if you want the Southern Hemisphere, is wonderful. I shipped my own bike there for six months but there are plenty of bike rentals for a shorter period (cheaper).

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Are you deliberately picking 'difficult' places in an attempt to convince Claire that 3 weeks on a bike in Alaska isn't such a bad idea after all?

 

[TLSgazza]

Chris.
I'm thinking of going back to Vietnam or maybe Cambodia possibly Christmas this year. I'd like to travel a bit more than last time.
Amazingly beautiful countries and I never felt unsafe there at all.
Worth a thought.

 

[Hun]

Thumbs up for a Namibia fly drive. We have been several times and love the country and the people. Lots of different things to do/see from desert to sea to wildlife, and lots of it. You can camp or stay in some outstanding lodges. (Tell them up front it is a celebration trip and they often provide chocolates, flowers and champagne). Check out Native Escapes, based in the UK but with lots of experience of putting together some great trips.
we have also visited Capetown a few times, very safe but you need to keep your wits about you. The same as in some UK cities!

 

[robertotoole]

Well, you two certainly know how to pick them.

I have a couple of long term neighbours, one Cuban (imported by NHS) the other from RSA. From their feedback, there is little doubt that Cuba is reasonably safe, a fun place to visit, whereas RSA has become downright dangerous, to the extent that, despite the desire to return to see old friends/relatives, even that has now been taken off her agenda. HMG advice, which pretty well reflects what my neighbour says, doesn't read well either ........ https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/safety-and-security. Life may be something of a lottery, but why put yourselves in harms way knowingly. The US renewed branding of Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism seems so out-of-date, whatever the back story - such a shame.

Failing that, any other ideas? H&J suggest ......... https://www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk/blog/milestone-birthday-trips

SA people living in the UK always want to tell us the country is on the verge of civil war and if you go there you'll be killed instantly. They need to keep telling themselves that to justify having left one of the greatest countries on Earth for cold, damp, miserable, stupidly expensive Britain. I take my children there for a month every year. It's safe, cheap, a much higher standard than the UK, and everything runs like clockwork. They even manage to adapt well to the inevitable power cuts (we'll be having them in England in a few years time, I bet we don't cope so well).

 

[robertotoole]

I recommend the West Coast Way, up from Cape Town, stay at Langebaan, Simons Town, Namaqualand, into the Karoo, and up to the Green Kalahari. The one limit is that you can't take a motorcycle into the national parks that have the big five. But you can easily swap to a hire car for that. South African National Parks is the world's best.

Book online at SANParks.org, stay in big five country for £100 a night. Do it yourself, don't use a tour operator. I visit every year. Usually Kruger Park, Kgalagadi, and a mix of other locations.

Best kept secret: Mapungubwe National Park on the Limpopo - wildlife, archaeology and beautiful self catering accommodation.

Sometimes we go up to Botswana, as my wife is from there. Try FlyAirlink.com for good internal and regional flights. Vic Falls and Chobe are awesome too.

If anyone wants advice on Southern Africa, I can help.

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

We flew into Jo’burg, picked up a Toyota camper then drove to Cape Town and flew home from there. That’s over simplifying it a bit because we spent 3 weeks doing it and visited a lot of places but as a one off I’d highly recommend it.

 

[Lord Snooty]

Toured there in 2006 for 17 days, had a fantastic time, it's even better value now due to the value of the rand to the pound.

 

[G&T]

Had my credit card cloned by a hotel in Jo’burg...oh what fun they had

 

[simondippenhall]

Hi Chris.

Rode all around S Africa (when doing my London/capetown/Bulgaria ride ending 2019 and last November 2022 rode from Johannesburg for a month. Jim rode all the way across from Namibia to join me.

Neither of us have had any issues in South Africa, travelling in a far more exposed way than a car.

As they say, just go do it….and enjoy.

 

[Arsey]

I’m in a gated secure compound in Johannesburg as I type this .
Come here regularly for work .
Lovely weather , very cheap , great food BUT probably the last country I would come to on holiday .
Only recently a colleague went for a run outside the compound and was stabbed . Crap runner obviously.
We’re even supposed to not use Ubers as they get attacked.
Numerous colleagues have been mugged over the years . Beautiful country but one I’d avoid for a holiday .


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