South Africa for 17 days

Hi All,
I've just booked my ticket from Dubai-Johannesburg- Dubai (Via Nairobi) with my wife & 3 children (ages 6, 4 & eight-month old). I will be be traveling between the 16th Dec & 2nd Jan. I know its peak season. I want to focus my time in SA between, J'burg, Kruger NP, Drakensberg (if time permits) & Capetown area. Any advice from you will really benefit me.

Thanks & Regards
Hameed

Reply for Natalie2

*Hi Hameed,
Sorry for my late answer, altough Im on the TT almost daily, I always forget to check my messages.

With about two weeks in South Africa you have a good amount of time, but you cant do it all of course, and as you will be travelling with children, its especially important not to rush (and not having to move accommodation every night). I would probably leave out the Drakensberg and concentrate on Krüger NP, Cape Town and the surrounding areas and 1-3 days in Johannesburg and/or Pretoria. As you know, you will be travelling in Peak season, so you want to book your accommodation (and internal flights) asap !

One possible itinerary could be:
Arrive in Joburg and spend 1-3 days there. A guided tour to Soweto and the Apartheid Museum are my two "must sees" there. For other ideas of what to do, especially with kids, have a look at http://www.getaway.co.za/activities/kids-things-to-do-school-holidays-johannesburg/.

Rent a car and drive to Krüger NP. Visit the Panorama Route on the way and maybe stop there for a night. Spend 3-5 nights in Krüger (or/and in a nearby Private Game Reserve). If you want to stay in a restcamp, book immediately, a lot of them will probably be fully booked since months. The excellent SANP website is full of information on the camps, activities, gate times, what animals to look out for where etc. Besides self-driving in Krüger, I would also go on 1-2 guided game drives (but I think one of the adults will have to stay in the camp with your kids).

Either drive back to Joburg, return the car there and fly to Cape Town. Or the more comfortable but more expensive option: return the car in Hoedspruit or at Kruger Mpumalanga and fly from there to Cape Town.

There is so much to do and see in and around Cape Town that you can easily spend 1 week there without getting bored for a second. For accommodation, you could stay in a serviced apartment (for example in the Cape Quarter or maybe in Camps Bay if you want to stay near the beach).

If you are looking for ideas on what to do and see in and around Cape Town, please let me know.
Cheers, Nathalie*

Nathalie's given you great advice. It's a very busy period - three long weekends in a row - so I would book ahead. Especially Kruger Park and where ever you're going to be for new year.

Thank you Natalie & Ghalied. I've jsut booked with Honeyguide tented camps for 1 nights from the 20-21 Dec. I'm also planning to go on a self-drive day visit to KNP on the 19th. Should I have to pre-book my entrance fees now or should it be fine if I do it at the gate at the time of arrival?

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