Highlights –
- meeting up with Warren at the airport
- wine tasting tour
- Cape of Good Hope/Cape Point tour
- District Six Museum and visiting the townships
- Visiting Robben Island
- couchsurfing with Hannes for 3 nights
- couchsurfing with Christal for 5 nights
- climbing Lion's Head at sunrise and walking around atop Table Mountain
- people watching at cafes
- lunch in Camp's Bay
- whale watching in Hermanus
- cage diving with Great White sharks in Gansbaii
- riding an ostrich in Outdshorn
- petting cheetahs
- Rasta homestay with Brother Paul in Knysna
- horseback riding in Storms River
- sandboarding, partying, and shopping in Jeffrey's Bay
- Addo Elephant National Park safari
- wineball and hanging out at Buccaneers hostel in Chiantsa
- Xhosa village tour at Bulungula
- dinner and dancing at a Xhosa village in Coffee Bay
- hiking to rock art in the southern Drankensberg Mountains
- riding in a Land Rover up the Sani Pass, hiking and exploring the Kingdom of Lesotho (including a beer at the highest pub in Africa)
- 5-day safari to Kruger Park (seeing all the animals, especially the lions, and buffalo during the game walk)
- staying at Bob's Bunkhouse
- touring Soweto township near Johannesburg
- Apartheid Museum
- eating a smiley (sheep's head) to complete a dare
- 7-day camping trip to Botswana's Okavango Delta (mokoro rides, seeing lots of elephants, hanging out with Dion (guide), and getting to know Ingrid, Richard, and Peter)
- Johannesburg city tour
Lowlights –
- being forced to buy an onward ticket upon arrival at the Cape Town airport in order to enter the country.
- almost having my pocket picked while waiting for a bus on the sidewalk in Cape Town
- not seeing a leopard in Kruger Park (to complete the Big 5 sightings!)
- my first night camping in the Delta – little sleep, cold and wet
Eating –
South African wines, capuccinos, kudu, eland, ostrich (eggs and meat), malva pudding, bobotie, smiley (sheep's head), pap, sausage, Jungle (granola) bars, braii (BBQ) foods, avocados, salads w/chicken.
# of Days Couchsurfing –
8
Average Cost Per Day –
$77
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking uses and recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours
- Skyscanner for researching flights
- Hostelworld for booking hostels
- Airbnb for renting rooms and homes
- Rail Europe for train passes
- World Nomads for travel insurance
Wow looks like you had an amazing time exploring South Africa. Is there anything you didn’t get to do? I love your photos as well!
Wow looks like you had an amazing time exploring South Africa. Is there anything you didn’t get to do? I love your photos as well!
Happy New Year Dave! Can’t wait to read your blogs on Cairo and Europe!!! Stay safe and have fun :)
Happy New Year Dave! Can’t wait to read your blogs on Cairo and Europe!!! Stay safe and have fun :)
Hi,
Awesome… South africa is a beautiful place to visit.Love its great blend of wildlife and nature….
Thanks for sharing.