South Africa

[phr33k]

Thinking of going next year. After the World Cup so the prices have come down a bit. Anyone been? What can you reccomend doing out there? I'll be going with my twin Brother, we'll be 22 by the time we go so want a bit of adventure.

[VxDuncan]

phr33k said:

Thinking of going next year. After the World Cup so the prices have come down a bit. Anyone been? What can you reccomend doing out there? I'll be going with my twin Brother, we'll be 22 by the time we go so want a bit of adventure.

Plenty to do out there! At 22 I'd say you were typical of a lot of the students who go out on Gap years, hences the whole area is geared up for you.

The classic route is overland from Vic Falls to Cape Town, via the okavango delta, capavari strip and through Nambia. Plenty to do and see. Vic falls is an extreme sports mecca with grade 5 rafting, bungy jumping etc. All manner of ways to kill yourself. Nambia is pretty hot too with sand boarding, quid biking, sky diving etc. Then there's the great white shark diving off the cape...

I'd look at overlanding if I were you - the likes of Dragoman/Kumuka/GAP/Oasis/Overland Club/Acacia Overland/Exodus/On the go etc all do truck based trips in that area. for £300-1000 pounds + a local payment of $300-1000 you'll get 3 weeks from cape town to vic falls or the opposite, including all meals, camping and entrances to national parks. Not exactly unexplored territory, but good fun! Just watch the inclusions - a lot of those operations muck about with the prices to include some things and not others. The wild variation isn't as much as it first looks - the cheaper operators will charge you on the ground for park fees etc.

[Pints]

It might be worthwhile taking a look at some older threads in the South Africa forum section. This question has been asked before and has stoked some interesting discussion and debate.

[Big Al.]

Take a look at the SA forum here

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...

Lots of info and good advice.

[v15ben]

We're sending loads of young people out to SA at the moment. The Garden Route plus safari and plenty of adrenalin activities seems to be a good way to combine things.

With the tour operators check whether they include park fees in the price and also what their policy is on tipping. Some companies tell you how much you will tip on the day you arrive. It is allegedly discretionary but some companies will take it from you whether you like it or not.

Also check out the Baz Bus. Very flexible way to travel from Jo'Burg to Cape Town and take in Swaziland or the Drakensburgs then cover the entire coast route if you want to.

Let me know if you want some more accurate prices of the stuff STA do. We have some cracking cheap flight and deals at the moment

[phr33k]

Thanks guys. My apologies - I didn't look far enough down the page to notice the SA forum! It all sounds very exciting I can't wait! Lots to save my money for now!!