In preparation for our early-March trip to South Africa for 2 weeks, I've done extensive research on the various threads here at FT (as well as Google
). I think I've read ALL the threads in the various forums! Found the following thread extremely helpful:
http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/000028.html
So I think I have a pretty good idea on how to divide our two weeks and have come up with the following schedule. My remaining questions are mostly logistical in nature (e.g. where to book reservations).
Day 1: Arrive JNB ex HKG on CX. Our flight arrives ~8am. Plan to catch a flight onward to Cape Town.
Q1: On which airline should I book my JNB-CPT flight and where (online) should I book? Approximate cost?
Day 2-5: Stay in Cape Town for 4 days
For this part of our trip, I'm depending on the 2004 edition of “Frommer's South Africa” by Pippa de Bruyn for guidance in and around Cape Town. I picked Frommer’s because I like the way it’s organized.
We'll be staying at the new ArabellaSheraton. There’s a timely and useful thread on this hotel in the Starwood forum.
Q2. Any other suggestion for reading materials? Please share your favorite restaurants, bars, clubs and specially nightlife venues.
Day 6-7: Rent a car and drive to Hermanus along the Garden Route and maybe visit a couple of wineries along the way. Staying at Sheraton Western Cape.
Q3. Rental car company suggestion? Should I book it with a major rental companies in the U.S. like Hertz or Avis prior to arrival or wait until I get to Cape Town. Approximate cost? What additional insurance coverage required for a U.S. driver with auto insurance? Do the car rental insurance coverage included with Amex Platinum and Diners Club cards help?
Day 8: Drive back to Cape Town. Stay 1 more night at ArabellaSheraton.
Day 9: Fly CPT-JNB. Stay 1 night in/around JNB.
Q4. Suggestion on where to stay (noting that I’m SPG Plat and HHonors Diamond, so naturally I’m inclined to stay at one of their hotels). What to see?
Day 10-12: Kruger National Park for a Big 5 safari.
Q5. Should I pre-book our Safari or book it when we arrive in Cape Town? Approximate cost for a combination 2-day KNP tour + 1-day private game lodge. The tour company I contacted by email is quoting ZAR 5,000 per person sharing or ZAR10,000 for the two of us. Is this about right?
I’m sure I will have more questions as hopefully this thread gets responses. Thanks in advance for helping make our South Africa trip a memorable one.