Travel America or Cape Town/ safari?

[sweetlebeetle11]

Just looking for some thoughts ... we have a big wedding anniversary next year and we also both turn 50. We have spoken a lot about what we would like to do to celebrate this and have narrowed it down to either road tripping across California stopping at various locations OR do south Africa and stay a few nights at a game lodge. We are going to take DC with us (13, 10) but we are torn as to which destination would be best. Any one done either and can recommend/ give thoughts ?

What time of year? We've done both and loved both!

We did (roughly) - San Fran, Tahoe, Yosemite, Sequoia, Carmel, Monteray back up highway 1 to SF in May/June and it was fab.

In SA we did - Cape Town, Franshoek, Sanbona (game reserve), Hermanus, Simonstown in September, which was also lovely but on the early side for good weather. We were lucky with some nice warm days, but the sunset was early so less daylight, and it was chilly on the 5am safari trips.

Both were amazing holidays which I would happily repeat. We covered a lot more miles in CA, but the driving was part of the journey, and the scenery was spectacular. Also stunning scenery in SA, but none of the drives were as long.

Thank you so much for your reply. We would be going July August time and it would be for two weeks. I love the idea of visiting wine estates and I know the kids would enjoy the safari etc but then again I absolutely love American and it's also a big contender. It's so hard to choose between as they are so different. I don't think the weather would be as good in SA in July Aug so that might get factored in. What mth did you California? Was weather nice etc?

July/Aug will be winter in SA. It may be wet, and it probably will be cold. But I guess CA will be super hot! We did CA at the very end of May/start of June - it was lovely weather (but the Tioga pass over Yosemite only opened the day before we went after the winter snow, and it was FREEZING at the top of the pass!).

If July/August I'd go to California. We looked at SA in the summer, but the bits I'd want to do can be cold in the UK summer and I really don't want to be muffled up in jeans and a jumper every evening on holiday.

While game viewing in SA in July/August will probably be okay, the overall weather won't be great and if you are in the Cape, you can expect it to be chilly and wet (drought permitting) or on the highveld (eg if you go to Kruger Park or similar) it will be dry but very very cold at night and not terribly warm during the day.

On that basis, I'd personally choose the American road trip and save South Africa for another time (I highly recommend SA in October, February or March or even early April).

If budget is part of your consideration, then SA would probably be a better bet - it's expensive to get there, but once you arrive, all other costs will be massively lower including accommodation, car hire, food, entertainment etc.

We went to SA (Cape Town) in July/Aug and it was warm in the day and chilly evenings. Prices for direct flights were £1000 plus. We flew via Istanbul for £495 and had 3 days in the city seeing the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar etc before flying on to Cape Town. Our car hire was ridiculously cheap in CT. A brand new car for £15 a day. We had a fabulous trip.