aferraro

Hi everyone,
My husband and I are planning a trip to South Africa (depending on what other areas offer, we could broaden our trip to cover more than just SA) in March(ish) 2017 and are looking for some help finding some adventure activities. We are already planning on doing a safari and go shark cage diving, but beyond that, nothing really is jumping out from what I have seen. We really wanted to do Devil's Pool at Victoria Falls but since it's the rainy season, Devil's pool is off the table. We are seeking adventure beyond zip lining and bungee jumping - something such as Devil's Pool that is unique to the area and exciting (possibly with a little added danger element

Is there a great place to scuba dive/snorkel? Is there an opportunity to rent a car and go off-roading somewhere? Somewhere we can white water raft in the cannons of Africa?

Any insight/ideas are greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
A

inspiredexplorer

Paragliding or hang gliding Table Mountain comes to mind. Also I would think skydiving over Victoria Falls or over the Namib Desert (if you expanded to include Namibia) would be pretty incredible and a unique experience.

christabir

Check out this trip! He did most of the work, the posters just helped with the logistics. It's a great trip if you want to do all (or some of) the fun stuff they are doing.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...th_Africa.html

Get in touch and tag along (kidding) - it looks like tons of fun. They are doing everything you ask about, plus so much more. Have a look at www.dityboots.co.za for other ideas. Sodwana Bay has excellent scuba/snorkel.

aferraro

Thanks so much for the insight! We are most likely adding paragliding to our itinerary while in Cape Town. Good recommendation.

Christabir - that itinerary sounds fun (and exhausting!). Thanks for sharing it, i'm following along now and am looking into many of their activities.

For now, here is what we were thinking:
3 Nights Cape Town - Paragliding TM, seeing the sights
2 Nights Hermanus - Shark cage diving, possible whale watching (we will be there in March and I know the main time for whale watching is June - Nov. Is there even a small chance we see any? Anything else we can do in Hermanus?)
3 Nights Vic Falls - Possibly WW rafting, depending on the water. We also heard about Micro Lighting, which seems fun: http://www.shearwatervictoriafalls.c...es/microlight/
3 Nights Botswana - Safari

Looking at the itinerary, does this seem like enough time (or too much time?) in each area?

Any recommendations welcome!

Thanks, all!

christabir

I don't recommend just three nights in Botswana. The minimum I'd spend is five (six is better, more even better) nights in two lodges - in a wet and a dry lodge. It's expensive to get to - charters and private transfers - and expensive to stay. They also have very few rhinos so it's best to combine with Kruger so you can see them at this dangerous time for them. For a short itinerary, I'd stay in S Africa. I didn't enjoy Vic Falls so I would do those activities in other locations. VF/Zambizi might be too high for WW rafting and other activities in March.

I mistyped the website - it's www.dirtyboots.co.za.

In March there's WW rafting in Blyde River Canyon and the Drakensbergs in KwaZulu Natal. There's hot air balloons and other nutty flying experiences available. KZN has whale watching, as well as scuba/snorkel (top ten in the world in Sodwana Bay) and lots of other fun water and land activities. See www.stlucia.co.za for my favorite fun town on the edge of the fantastic iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

I would do:

Four nights in Cape Town (I don't recommend shark cage diving as it teaches sharks to associate food with people. That's why it's banned in most of the world.) Four nights gives you enough time to see/do most of the great things to do.
Fly to Durban - spend 4 (or more) nights doing the fun stuff available
Fly Durban to Nelspruit - spend three nights in a private lodge adjacent to Kruger.
Fly home

Just my opinion, but rethink Botswana for just three nights. You could do CT, VF/Chobe, Kruger. Don't miss rhinos.

Lolazahra

Ever think of going next door to beautiful, stark, remote Namibia. We did a South Africa / Namibia trip a few years back and it was incredible. Namibia is awesome to drive around, you can go off roading, dune buggying across the desert, and sand boarding down amazing sand dunes. Seeing Sossusvlei at sunrise, a natural wonder of the world, will also have your heart pumping in amazement. It's just an hour flight from Joberg to Swakopmund.

diannelovestravel

HI there aferraro!

Some thoughts...

March is "High Water" time for Victoria Falls. As a result, Devil's Pool is not open as you know. They do have Angel's Pool which offers a very similar experience although you are not AS CLOSE to the edge but very close anyway. If you want to see pictures, you can PM me and I will send you some to see.

White water rafting may not be something you can do either. During High Water season, they raft Rapids 11 thru 25 but they typically suspend rafting in March April May. The Boiling Pot Hike is another great activity but not open as well at this time. As for microlight flying, this is subject to weather conditions and this could be suspended at last minute notice. It would be a shame to plan on participating in any of these activities and then not be able to. Shearwater is an excellent operator, as is Wild Horizons, and I use them for client bookings. I would check on all points first.

Having said that, if you are determined to go, you could plan on Flight of the Angels (helicopter flight) over the Falls as a substitute for micro light experience, albeit not as "edgey" as you might like. The Bridge Swing is a cross between a bungee jump and a huge swing. Not many like it in the world and that could be great fun. Again, Angel's Pool may be a good substitute for Devil's Pool. Activities can be bundled for better package rates.


With regard to Botswana, it is expensive, even when it is not high season, and is best when you can go longer than 3 nights. The beauty of Botswana is to experience more than 1 location as the country has so many different landscapes from Salt Pans to the Delta and everything in between. That's not to say it can't be done, just my thoughts..

If your heart is set on Bots, then perhaps you could start in Vic Falls for a couple nights, then go to Botswana for 3 nights then fly from Maun to CPT for a 4 night stay in Cape Town then fly home. You could also do this in reverse: Cape Town stay then fly CPT to Maun to your lodge in Botswana. Spend time in Bots then end your trip in Victoria Falls.

Another possible itinerary for you could be to do 2 nights in Vic Falls, then fly to Cape Town for 4 nights, then fly from there to one of the reserves in the Greater Kruger Area such as Sabi Sand, Timbavati or Manyeleti.

And another alternative might be to do 4 nights in Cape Town, fly to Durban and transfer to Phinda which is a great safari reserve, then end your stay at Thonga Beach Lodge. Beautiful intimate lodge with fabulous scuba and moderately priced.

As for Cape Town, there's Paragliding as you mentioned. There's also Abseiling which is for adventurous souls as well as Kloofing which is an activity that includes hiking, boulder hopping, wading, swimming, climbing, sliding down natural slides and jumping off cliffs 50-60ft or so. Just a few more thoughts. There are really lots of fun things to do there for sure!

Happy to help!

Best
Dianne
Africa Direct USA

capetown324

A good paraglide is Para-Taxi!

Also go up Table Mountain and buy some Table Mountain Chocolates to bring home yumm

Best !