Where to go in South Afrika?

[EDELWEISS]

So right now we are talking about mixing a short 5-7 day hunting safari with another 5-7 days of sightseeing in Southern Afrika. We'll be hunting in the Eastern Cape region; but I promised HeadShrinkHer we'd also do some sightseeing besides the hunt. Im kicking around ideas like Victoria Falls but that means travelling with rifles to Zambia or Zimbabwe. Additionally or instead Im thinking Sun City. Personally Id LOVE to see Zululand, Rorks Drift, Isandwana and/or some of the Boer War sights.

HeadShrinkHer isnt a hunter but she likes the outdoors. We had a great time in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. So when shes tired of following us in pursuit of a 40" kudo or helping bait a lion... Ive talked to the PH and he can arrange spa and shopping days. Still I am trying to convince her how cool it will be to stand beside be as we face a charging____________together empting mags and piling up brass at our feet, and how sexy she'll look in her "She Safari" gear with a pith helment....oooop sorry for the mental drift.

So what else am I forgetting? We'll probably fly into Jo'burg then hop a flight south to Port Elizabeth for the hunt. Conversly Victoria Falls are only supposed to be a few hours drive north from Jo'burg. NOTHING IS SET IN STONE YET

[Scott Vandiver]

So right now we are talking about mixing a short 5-7 day hunting safari with another 5-7 days of sightseeing in Southern Afrika. We'll be hunting in the Eastern Cape region; but I promised HeadShrinkHer we'd also do some sightseeing besides the hunt. Im kicking around ideas like Victoria Falls but that means travelling with rifles to Zambia or Zimbabwe. Additionally or instead Im thinking Sun City. Personally Id LOVE to see Zululand, Rorks Drift, Isandwana and/or some of the Boer War sights.

HeadShrinkHer isnt a hunter but she likes the outdoors. We had a great time in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. So when shes tired of following us in pursuit of a 40" kudo or helping bait a lion... Ive talked to the PH and he can arrange spa and shopping days. Still I am trying to convince her how cool it will be to stand beside be as we face a charging____________together empting mags and piling up brass at our feet, and how sexy she'll look in her "She Safari" gear with a pith helment....oooop sorry for the mental drift.

So what else am I forgetting? We'll probably fly into Jo'burg then hop a flight south to Port Elizabeth for the hunt. Conversly Victoria Falls are only supposed to be a few hours drive north from Jo'burg. NOTHING IS SET IN STONE YET


I went last year and spent 6 days around Kruger and Thornybush Game preserve. I looked into going to Victoria falls but it was at least a 2 day event. I did not feel comfortable driving that far at night across the bush. Cape Town was pretty cool, and Shark alley was great even if the water was 55 degrees.
Enjoy your trip

[Seadragon]

Edel,

If you get to the KZN battlefields, don't overlook Spioenkop, probably the battlefield with the best view anywhere in the world, and pretty unspoiled to boot. For the price of an air-ticket from Australia I'll come and do my Spioenkop battlefield tour for you (Churchill, Ghandi and future SA president Louis Botha all in the same engagement, pretty awesome)! For my money Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is as good as Kruger. There's a nice private game park in the middle of the KZN battlefields, with fancy accommodation, that your bride will likely enjoy (I forget what it's called, but Google will reveal all). And if you're around there do plan to spend some time in the Drakensburg - I ran a conference at Cathedral Peak Hotel in the Burg, and the Swiss delegates were sufficiently impressed to skip half the conference to go walking! For some different terrain to hunt in (assuming you're hunting in the more coastal parts of the Eastern Cape), I'd recommend the Karoo, in the area near Graaf Reinet - that's some of my favourite terrain in the world, right there.

[Danneskjold]

Hluhluwe-Mfolozi does 5 day guided walks through the reserve, camping out there amongst the wildlife. When I did it, we saw 4 of the Big 5 (no leopard); almost walked into a white rhino.

If in Johannesburg, the Lion and Rhino Park is nearby (and just around the corner from Kloofzicht Spa and Lodge, which my wife recommends). There's also the Military Museum which you'd probably enjoy, which is in a nicer part of town (I'm sure there are spas and other girly places nearby).

The Drakensberg is nice all over, and if you want to visit civilisation then Cape Town is the prettiest city by far (as long as you don't go during the rainy winter). Cape Town also allows you to get on a boat and look for breaching Great White Sharks in False Bay.

If you want to dive with sharks, Aliwal Shoal south of Durban is the spot.

If you're near Phalaborwa, my father in law works on a game farm nearby. And then you can also drive into the Kruger and spend a morning at a restaurant overlooking a densely populated waterhole.

[Boetman]

Ja Man, finally.

Bloemfontein has the VroueMonument, The Tank Brigade has an museum and Bloem is very central. If you are in the eastern Cape, Ill take you out for FellowDeer all year and in Hunting season, well you know the options:wink:
Best City is Cape Town, and the Garden route Towns. Very Civilized. EasternCape has HogsBack and Rhodes, which are tourist attractions. Depends on what you wanna do. If you want, you can leave your guns in my spare safe, its legal as long as you give me a letter of safekeeping.
We have never been the type for Spas and that kinda thing (We prefer Roughing it) but I will ask E to find out about those things in the Eastern Cape.

Shot Bro, Cant Wait.

[Red Ryder]

I was at Sabi Sands private game reserve about 10 years ago with my son and it was SPECTACULAR. Near Kruger. Saw all the Big 5 up close, slept in French colonial bungalows, had night rides into the bush in open range rovers...everything a non-hunter would enjoy. Richard Branson's estate sits on a hill overlooking the territory (if that gives a reference for a bon vivant who knows something about quality travel!).

We hunted with Krys Wessels of Kukuzans in Bethlehem and have nothing but good things to say about him, his 12,000 acres and the game we hunted. Amazing. He also took us to the Drakensberg Mountain area where I got my kudu and near the Golden Gate area for eland.

Hoping to go back in the next few years. Happy trails!

[Danneskjold]

I forgot to mention: you can probably also get a temporary import permit for a pistol, and if you legally possess a firearm in SA you may carry it concealed.