South Africa help--six nights at Ngala Tented Camp too long?
Apr 27, 2015, 2:03 pm
#1
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South Africa help--six nights at Ngala Tented Camp too long?
We're going to be spending a little over three weeks in South Africa at the end of August and into early September (THIS August--I'm a bit behind in trip planning, but so it goes).
Ngala tented camp has availability for the last week of August, and if we book six nights we get a 25% discount. I'm trying to figure out whether that will be too long, and frankly what to do with the rest of our trip!
My current thoughts are to get to Cape Town shortly after we arrive in SA, and spend a week or so doing a bit of a foodie holiday, wine tasting and the like. I'm thinking we then go to Sabi Sands, and essentially finish up the trip at Kruger and at the Ngala tented camp...we would have two days to kill after Ngala, which we could spend in Johannesburg or more time in Kruger.
My big questions are as follows:
Are six nights too long to spend at Ngala?
If we do spend six nights at Ngala, and I book a second Safari-ish thing for Sabie Sands, ( which would actually happen first in the trip) how many nights should we spend at Sabie Sands? Do we need to go to Sabi Sands?
What's the best way to get from Johannesburg to Cape Town and back? I'm guessing we should fly, but I saw mention of a train...
We do intend to rent a car in Cape Town, and I'm perfectly happy with the idea of renting a car to drive from Joburg to/around Kruger as well, although finding accommodations might be tricky. Assuming all the roundels are long gone!
i've been reading everyone else's posts and have gotten some good ideas, very much appreciate the experts in this forum. Thanks for any suggestions! despite being fairly well-traveled and good at trip planning, I feel like I'm a bit over my skis here.
Ngala tented camp has availability for the last week of August, and if we book six nights we get a 25% discount. I'm trying to figure out whether that will be too long, and frankly what to do with the rest of our trip!
My current thoughts are to get to Cape Town shortly after we arrive in SA, and spend a week or so doing a bit of a foodie holiday, wine tasting and the like. I'm thinking we then go to Sabi Sands, and essentially finish up the trip at Kruger and at the Ngala tented camp...we would have two days to kill after Ngala, which we could spend in Johannesburg or more time in Kruger.
My big questions are as follows:
Are six nights too long to spend at Ngala?
If we do spend six nights at Ngala, and I book a second Safari-ish thing for Sabie Sands, ( which would actually happen first in the trip) how many nights should we spend at Sabie Sands? Do we need to go to Sabi Sands?
What's the best way to get from Johannesburg to Cape Town and back? I'm guessing we should fly, but I saw mention of a train...
We do intend to rent a car in Cape Town, and I'm perfectly happy with the idea of renting a car to drive from Joburg to/around Kruger as well, although finding accommodations might be tricky. Assuming all the roundels are long gone!
i've been reading everyone else's posts and have gotten some good ideas, very much appreciate the experts in this forum. Thanks for any suggestions! despite being fairly well-traveled and good at trip planning, I feel like I'm a bit over my skis here.
Last edited by karenkay; Apr 27, 2015 at 3:30 pm
Apr 27, 2015, 2:42 pm
#2
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You can get the 25% discount if you split your stay between 2 andBeyond properties so you could see if there is availability at any of their other lodges to split your stay. I have not been to Timbavati but have been to Sabi Sands. Guests who had been to both seemed to feel they were comparable and animal sightings were similar. I wonder if 8 nights in total might be a bit long - you could go up to the Victoria Falls for some variety?
Apr 27, 2015, 4:38 pm
#3
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Hi Karenkay,
I have been to every &Beyond lodge in Southern Africa except Exeter and Leadwood. I think six nights is too long at any safari lodge so I definitely recommend splitting. If you want to go to the Sabi Sands and still get the six night special (25% off) I recommend combining Ngala Tented with Kirkman’s Kamp. Kirkman’s Kamp is in the Sabi Sands and has the permanent Sand River flowing right through camp which is one of the best leopard habitats in Southern Africa. Three hour road transfers between the two camps are about $400-500 for two people or you can fly. If you can’t get Kirkman’s then Exeter or Leadwood are just fine.
The closest airport to Ngala is Hoedspruit and the airport code is HDS. It is about 90 minutes from Ngala and there is a non-stop flight CPT-HDS several times per week. The closest airport to Kirkman’s is Skukuza (SZK) and there are non-stops every day from CPT to SZK. SZK is 10 minutes from Kirkman’s Kamp.
I believe the 25% discount STARTS at four nights so you don’t need to stay 6 to get it. Ngala tented with Kirkmans should be around $3,000 per person with the transfer included. It is the same price if you book direct or with a qualified safari specialist>
If you want a bit more diversity then combine Ngala Tented with Phinda Vlei. Vlei is my favorite of the six properties on Phinda and the most exclusive but some would argue Forrest is. You can connect Ngala and Phina with a Federal Air shuttle for about $600 per person and you can access Phinda with a 1 hour road transfer for Richard’s Bay (RCB) but since you have to connect through Jo’burg to get from Cape Town/CPT to RCB you might as well fly non-stop from CPT-Durban/DUR and be driven three hours from there. Start at Phinda, end at Ngala Tented unless availability dictates otherwise.
Good luck!
Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond
I have been to every &Beyond lodge in Southern Africa except Exeter and Leadwood. I think six nights is too long at any safari lodge so I definitely recommend splitting. If you want to go to the Sabi Sands and still get the six night special (25% off) I recommend combining Ngala Tented with Kirkman’s Kamp. Kirkman’s Kamp is in the Sabi Sands and has the permanent Sand River flowing right through camp which is one of the best leopard habitats in Southern Africa. Three hour road transfers between the two camps are about $400-500 for two people or you can fly. If you can’t get Kirkman’s then Exeter or Leadwood are just fine.
The closest airport to Ngala is Hoedspruit and the airport code is HDS. It is about 90 minutes from Ngala and there is a non-stop flight CPT-HDS several times per week. The closest airport to Kirkman’s is Skukuza (SZK) and there are non-stops every day from CPT to SZK. SZK is 10 minutes from Kirkman’s Kamp.
I believe the 25% discount STARTS at four nights so you don’t need to stay 6 to get it. Ngala tented with Kirkmans should be around $3,000 per person with the transfer included. It is the same price if you book direct or with a qualified safari specialist>
If you want a bit more diversity then combine Ngala Tented with Phinda Vlei. Vlei is my favorite of the six properties on Phinda and the most exclusive but some would argue Forrest is. You can connect Ngala and Phina with a Federal Air shuttle for about $600 per person and you can access Phinda with a 1 hour road transfer for Richard’s Bay (RCB) but since you have to connect through Jo’burg to get from Cape Town/CPT to RCB you might as well fly non-stop from CPT-Durban/DUR and be driven three hours from there. Start at Phinda, end at Ngala Tented unless availability dictates otherwise.
Good luck!
Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond
Apr 28, 2015, 12:35 pm
#4
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I did six nights at Ngala last November, and didn't think it was too long. But then again, I'm not a typical safari guest.
The main advantage Ngala has over most competitors in the Lowveld is the size of its traversing area (just shy of 15,000 ha), which allows one to explore in different directions and avoid the B5 lineups. That's easier said than done, though, given the very limited interests of most visitors. A degree of collusion with a guide who relishes an opportunity to get away from the rat race will do the trick.
The game viewing at Ngala was up there with the best. I was rather surprised at the number of leopards we just chanced upon while pottering about in areas devoid of other vehicles. We had similar luck with lions of quite a few occasions too.
Johan
The main advantage Ngala has over most competitors in the Lowveld is the size of its traversing area (just shy of 15,000 ha), which allows one to explore in different directions and avoid the B5 lineups. That's easier said than done, though, given the very limited interests of most visitors. A degree of collusion with a guide who relishes an opportunity to get away from the rat race will do the trick.
The game viewing at Ngala was up there with the best. I was rather surprised at the number of leopards we just chanced upon while pottering about in areas devoid of other vehicles. We had similar luck with lions of quite a few occasions too.
Johan
May 5, 2015, 6:09 am
#5
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thanks for the responses, guys. travel planning took a back seat to life for a few days, but hopefully i'm back on the case. really appreciate the help.
actually, i do have a question. we're generally independent travelers, but i'm leery of renting a car to drive from one camp to the other. should i be? is there a benefit to doing the $400-500 road transfer rather than renting a car?
actually, i do have a question. we're generally independent travelers, but i'm leery of renting a car to drive from one camp to the other. should i be? is there a benefit to doing the $400-500 road transfer rather than renting a car?
Last edited by karenkay; May 5, 2015 at 6:20 am
May 5, 2015, 1:19 pm
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The only downside of renting a car is that it is a waste of money to park it at a game lodge where you will have no use for it.
I often rent a car, but only when I have an opportunity to use it at the lodge I'm staying at.
You will have to do the maths on the cost of rental vs. transfers, but HDS-Ngala should cost you a lot less than US$ 400-500. Last November Ngala themselves drove me to Thornybush for R500, they were going shopping in Hoedspruit anyway.
Johan
I often rent a car, but only when I have an opportunity to use it at the lodge I'm staying at.
You will have to do the maths on the cost of rental vs. transfers, but HDS-Ngala should cost you a lot less than US$ 400-500. Last November Ngala themselves drove me to Thornybush for R500, they were going shopping in Hoedspruit anyway.
Johan
May 11, 2015, 4:58 pm
#7
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Not sure if my post is too late but we have a trip coming up next month. We also have six nights at Ngala but have split this 3 nights at Ngala tented camp and 3 nights at Ngala Lodge.
Also, we are going to Kruger before this so are renting a car at Skukuza and then dropping it off at HDS airport where the Ngala people will pick us up.
You could potentially stay in Sabi Sands, then get a lift to Skukuza and pick up a car and drive to HDS and drop it off. This might be a hassle though, outweighing the savings from just getting &Beyond to transfer you.
Also, we are going to Kruger before this so are renting a car at Skukuza and then dropping it off at HDS airport where the Ngala people will pick us up.
You could potentially stay in Sabi Sands, then get a lift to Skukuza and pick up a car and drive to HDS and drop it off. This might be a hassle though, outweighing the savings from just getting &Beyond to transfer you.