South Africa
I love travelling, a little too much! I’m already planning next years summer holidays, even though we said we’d take a year out!! I came across our itinerary for the South Africa trip we did a few years ago (with a 6 month old) and I thought someone might find it useful. The route was great – we went to Joburg first of all and then we did the Garden Route down to Cape Town. South Africa is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.. it’s absolutely amazing! Accommodation and food is so cheap, £7.00 for a three course meal and cocktails are £2.00! However, the closer you get to Cape Town the more expensive it gets! Below I have literally copied and pasted my planning from before we went, we didn’t end up doing all of the activities, so I have just ‘italics’ the ones we did actually do! We also did more activities once we got there, but of course I’ve forgotten some of the places. I, however, like having a basic plan and accommodation booked and then work around that! Just to note, we stayed in decent accommodation but definitely not fancy fancy places – apart from the safari!! I’ve also written a few comments down the side from what I can remember 🙂
Any questions feel free to get in touch!
Love
Kate xxx
Date |
Location |
Accommodation |
Things to do |
Comments |
11th Dec 2014 |
08:20 departure from Dublin |
Get the lounge pass – as there is unlimited food/drink. Free wifi and a shower to freshen up in between flights. |
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12th Dec 2014 |
Arrive Joburg at 08:40 |
Family |
Relax/Swim |
There’s no jet lag as there’s only 1/2 hours difference. |
13th Dec 2014 |
Family |
Soweto and Apartheid Tour |
http://www.sowetoguidedtours.co.za/contact-us.html This tour is definitely recommended – it took in the shanti towns and the Nelson Mandela Museum. |
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14th Dec 2014 |
Family |
Mangwanani Spa |
A really good/reasonably priced all day spa. |
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15th Dec 2014 |
Pilanesburg |
Ivory Tree |
This place is a little more expensive but sooo amazing! Food is all inclusive – there is an outdoor shower (ha!) and the safaris are just out of this world! You also don’t need any vaccinations at this safari either. |
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16th Dec 2014 |
Ivory Tree |
We also visited Sun City resort when we were here – it has a swimming pool, crocodile farm, rides etc.. |
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17th Dec 2014 |
Fly to Port Elizabeth |
Tsitsikamma Village Inn (£104) |
Fifth Avenue Tours |
Not the most amazing place to stay but central to everything. |
18th Dec 2014 |
Tsitsikamma Village Inn |
Tsitsikamma Storm River Suspension Bridge |
Tsitsikamma National Park is so beautiful – and so nice to go and have a picnic at and a swim in the sea. We also did the tree tops – which is zip lining through the forest. http://www.untouchedadventures.com |
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19th Dec 2014 |
Knysna |
Candlewood Lodge |
Robberg Nature Reserve for walks and scenery |
This accommodation again was okay, clean and inexpensive, breakfast included. |
20th Dec 2014 |
Knysna |
Candlewood Lodge |
Meerkat Adventures – de Zeekoe Reserve Cango Caves Bella Mia Pottery Ostrich Farm Rust & Vrede Waterfall Cango Wildlife Ranch Wilgewandel Hol Farm |
From Knysa we travelled to Oudtshoorn and did the Cango Caves – worthwhile seeing, and the Cango Wildlife Ranch – we ate ostrich here! You can also ride an Ostrich at the Ostrich farm.. which we didn’t do. http://www.oudtshoorn.com/oudtshoorn/dokumente/brosjure/ Dinner at Olive Tree – YUM! However, all food is sooo good and sooo cheap! It’s honestly so, so fresh and every meal we had was delicious. |
21st Dec 2014 |
Hermanus |
Abalone £225 |
Mosselbay |
This is a beautiful hotel.. definitely recommend!! |
22nd Dec 2014 |
Hermanus |
Abalone |
Whale watching White Shark Diving at Gaansbaii |
Depending on season you can watch the whales .. we didn’t see any! |
23rd Dec 2014 |
Stellenbosch |
Spier Hotel (£75) |
This is an amazing hotel….. definitely recommend!! Lots of wine tours here and the scenery is fab! |
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24th Dec 2014 |
Cape Town |
At V&A Waterfront |
Cape Town is so beautiful, and I felt very at home! Christmas isn’t commercialised which is actually lovely, we barely saw a Christmas tree up and on Christmas Day everyone was outside eating and drinking and just loving life! |
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25th Dec 2014 |
Cape Town |
City Lodge Pinelands |
Table mountain Aerial Cableway Hop on hop off bus PorcupineCeramincs Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary |
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26th Dec 2014 |
Cape Town |
Cape Point Lions Head Robyn Island |
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27th Dec 2014 |
Cape Town |
Signal Hill The castle of good hope District 6 museum Abseil Africa/Cape of Good Hope |
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28th Dec 2014 |
Fly to Joburg |
It was cheaper for us to fly back to Joburg than to fly from Cape Town .. a bit of a pain but was grand, and I was just so excited to have seen SA! |
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29th Dec 2014 |
20:30 leave Joburg |
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30th December 2014 |
13:40 arrive in Dublin |
Comments

1st Floor, The Georgian House, 14 The Square, Comber, Co. Down, BT23 5DT, N. Ireland