another itinerary review question .. =)

Hi all ... planning for October 2015. How does the below itinerary look?

All other comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated as this is a dream trip i would love to make happen for my husband and I and really want to start booking things! Would love some expert tips and suggestions

Sat Day 1: Leave JFK

Sun Day 2: Land in Capetown Around Noon

• pick up car

• recover

Mon Day 3: Capetown

• Table mountain the 1st clear day.

Tues Day 4 : Capetown

Wed Day 5 : Capetown

Thurs Day 6 : Capetown

• Day trip to winelands with tour

Fri Day 7 : Gansabbi or Hermanus

• - Shark Dive or Whale watching

Sat Day 8 : Gansabi or Hermanus

• shark dive or whale watching

Sun Day 9 : Fly to Nelspruit to get to Hazyview

• Drive to Hazyview

• Elephant encounter?

Mon Day 10 : Hazyview

• Blyde river canyon

Tues Day 11 : Safari @ Elephant Plains

Wed Day 12 : Safari

Thurs Day 13: Safari

Fri Day 14: Leave Africa

Sat Day 15: Land in JFK

Sounds good to me..why not?

I'd divide a first trip more or less half between CT (and around)and Kruger area,and that is what you have done.....I don't know Hazyview,but all the other places you mention are well worth the trip for me.

I'd choose Hermanus over Gaansbai as a place to stay a couple of nights.

I guess you 'leave Africa' from Joburg?

Looks to me that you will have a car for 4 days without using it - get it on day 6 for touring the Cape and winelands.

Yes,that's tue..I missed the car part.Not a lot of use if you are staying inside CT for those days.......

thank you all for suggestions and comments. I was under the impression a rental car was best for getting around capetown to visit the sights? Would it also be more cost effective to have a car as oppose to taxis?

Hi,
I am not an expert and had no chance to stay for this long, however I should highlight:

Fri Day 7 : Gansbaii or Hermanus
- Shark Dive or Whale watching
Sat Day 8 : Gansbaii or Hermanus
shark dive or whale watching

Would recommend both and you are totally right to spend 2 days (1-1) for/with these.
However the driver who might take you to Gansbaii, will let you some minutes to see whales on the Hermanus-route,
it is not the same (was not for us) as doing it on a boat.

You can visit Cape Agulhas (the Southern tip of Africa) as well (on Tue/Wed/Thu). Worth to see, especially at around twilight. There is no crowd (and the place is better than Cape Point - IMHO), can be done via a half day tour (I can give you names who would take you there). You also can stay there for a night (at a hostel) for a reasonable price and also visit Struitsbaai, Stanford, Muizenberg. Their coastal is brilliant and scenic.
At Table Mountain do not miss the Viewpoint(s).

OP...depends what you want to see in CT (and around).Also depends where you are going to stay in CT.

ForTable Mountain,the city centre (museums etc.),the Waterfront,Robben Island...you don't need a car.Esp. if you are staying in the centre (eg Gardens to Green Point more or less,and anywhere in between).

Cape Point,the Winelands,Hermanus etc....it will be useful.Not essential..you can visit all of these by either bus,train or private shuttle bus (or of course taxi if you prefer).

Hi bobbie.pellegrino,

Regarding the table mountains have a look here:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/africa/South%20Africa/atm-machine-johannesburg-airport-before-pickup?page=1#post_21500676

Greetings
Mike