South Africa

[Mrspanic]

In the early stages of planning a winter trip to SA. Our 4 will be between 5 and 15. can anyone helpm with the following please /

1. Am thinking night flight, or will we just not sleep ? Won't be flying first (!) but might be able to do premium economy or just the teeniest possibility of business. (We have NEVER gone long haul en famille before, so would be able to push the boat out a bit for this, given the length of the flight).
2. Which airline can people recommend ?
3. We want to incorporate a few days on safari; i know a lot of places don't take small children (youngest 2 will be 5 and 10). Where can we go that will take tham - fancy a bit of luxe...

looking forward to your assistance, all you seasoned travellers...can't wait to book this and wrap it all up before dh gets cold feet about sharing airspace with noisy little ds3...

Hiya,

Def do an overnight flight - if nothing else it is one less nights accomodation to pay for!
I usually fly overnight to SA (I am from there so go back often) and although I only grad a few hours sleep my LO sleeps OK. I have only ever flown economy but obviously the better you can afford, the easier the flight.
Most kids on the flight seem to sleep fine.

I usually fly with Virgin or South African Airways.

I dont know much about the safari aspect, but I am sure someone will be able to help!

You will love it, great place

Sleep...thank you ! Have just looked at flights and we'll be doing premium economy. At those prices I'd rather spend the "saving" on better hotel rooms I think.

Would def recommend overnight flights - we went when ours were aged 6 and 8 and quite wriggly. They'd flown longhaul to the States but S. Africa was longer. We flew Lufthansa via Frankfurt as it was the cheapest. Swiss and Air France are also supposed to be good. Ours didn't sleep much but they at least got the message to be generally calmer when the lights went off!
Was the most wonderful holiday and we too are planning a trip there this winter. We didn't do a safari as when I looked into it I realised that children under 8 are often not allowed on the game drives and that one adult must stay behind with young children at the base camp (which kind of defeated the object) so i would make very sure that your youngest child will be allowed to do the safari, as it would be an expensive mistake! We did some mini-drives through elephant reserves etc and even that was tricky as times as the kids are so fidgety in the game trucks (and you're constantly being told to keep them still!) The Addo elephant park is meant to be very good for younger kids as you drive your own car through.

Defo an over night flight. There's tonnes of movies and programmes so should keep the children busy if they cant sleep.

I have flown with BA, who are pretty good with kids. Virgin was okay, just didn't like the air hostesses attitudes! There's also an option of going via Dubai or Qatar, it extends the flight by about 6hrs and the stop over is usually in the middle of the night. Its not great, but do-able if it means the cost of the airfair is lower. You'll need to book tickets sooner rather than later as the prices will get more expensive.

Where are you planning to fly to? Joburg or Cape Town? If you are flying to Joburg you could go to the Kruger Park, its about 5hrs by car away. You can drive your own car around or do a tour. If you are driving yourself, you can stop as often as your children require as there are quite a few rest camps. There are also lots of private reserves around that area too.

I'm a SAcan and am very

1. Most flights to SA are overnight - leave 8/9 at night and arrive in SA early in the morning - not so bad leaving, but arriving at Heathrow early in the morning is grim... You can do a stop over, but usually it makes more sense to pay a bit extra to avoid it... 11/13 hours in the plane...and premium economy does sound the way to go

2. British Airways, Virgin and South African Airways fly directly to SA. They are much of a muchness when it comes to cost, but I did find SAA were better when it came to helping me disembark/clear customs when I was travelling alone with my two... Virgin airlines were usually cramped and my husband has never forgiven the Virgin cabin crew member who knocked his head when he was sleeping and DIDN'T SAY SORRY!!!!

3. The other thing to think about is that the only international airports in SA are Jhb or Cape Town. CT is another 2 hours flight from Jhb but the airport is much easier to navigate through. I suppose the thing I am trying to say is that if you have an onward flight it is usually quite a struggle to get through customs and get booked onto your connection... the internal flights in SA can be nightmarish...

Sadly, my only brush with wildlife in SA was when my parents took us to the Kruger Nat Park when we were little - didn't pay much attention, more interested in my book than the game, but my mum did manage to hit a Springbok with my dad's car [smile}.... so cant really help out there...

Hope this ramble helps...

Thanks for all this ! Will try to book soon; poss fly to CT and spend a few days maybe nearish to Plettenberg Bay area, then see some wildlife either a car drive away (is self drive easy ?) or fly to Joburg and then on to somewhere in the Kruger, flying back from J to London. Really want a non stop flight thogh I see it would be WAY cheaper to fly Emirates via Dubai...

We're going on our first family trip in July, but my kids are mid teens, so hopefully a little easier!

I got loads of information from the Tripadvisor website forums.

One thing to remember is that Kruger is in a malarial area, so you would be advised to take precautions.

Have fun planning!

Mrs P we went to SA over Christmas and new year just gone.

Went business class as only have 1 dd and dh is very very tall. Cheapest was Air France (via Paris) to Joburg. Stayed in Joburg for a few nights, went to Pilanesberg Nature Reserve which has all the Big 5 but is 1.5 -2 hours from Joburg (much nearer than Kruger and smaller but great for first time); also went to Soweto.

Then flew internal flights Joburg to Cape Town SA Airways (also business class but as flight only 2 hours not necessary)

Stayed in Cape Town over Christmas and did usual eg Table Mountain; Cape Point; Boulders beach, etc etc

Then went to Grootbos, a private nature reserve near fab beach. Here we did horse riding; whale watching by boat etc etc. This was 2 hours outside Cape Town, through the Wine and Garden Route via Hermanus. Stayed there for New Year, then reversed all flights.

It was completely fab even when the computers all went down at Joburg airport on way home and they wrote out our tickets by hand

Cape Town to Grootbos by road, btw!!

We flew KLM to Cape Town from Amsterdam. Very good service and if you join the Fly Blue club you get to skip the check in cues and you can check in online before you even go to the airport.

I am South African expat . I would definitely go for cammelia's suggestions. Personally I think the Kruger is overrated and you are much more likely to see the animals in one of the smaller reserves.

Joburg (now called Gauteng with a soft g) is a city like any other in the world. I lived there for 10 years and would give it a miss if you really want to see SA.

If you went to Boulders Beach in Cape Town to see the penguins, make sure you walk ever such a little bit further to get to the beach where you can actually swim and sit around with the penguins who will just ignore you. You have to pay to use the beach but it is worth it. I tried to add a picture but can't seem to do it.

KLM has taken over Air France recently. Air France cheaper.

If I were you I'd totally forget about Jo'burg (horrible place)

Cape Town is beautiful and green, there is loads to do, Bird World, Blouberg area and beach is fabulous with great scenic view of Table mountain, V&A waterfront area is amazing with loads to do and some amazing mime artists , drives inland to the wine route, you MUST go to Spiers wine farm as they have a cheetah sanctuary attached where you can stroke one if they're in the mood, Campsbay, Houtbay (fab fish and chips), Robbin Island, casino with a gazilion retaurants etc, botanic gardens, Table Mountain can be climbed, takes a full day and my ds did it aged 10, or take the cable car.... can you tell I loved it

be careful driving as security is an issue there, don't have your windows down when at junctions etc. I was fortunate we visited family who know the pitfalls!

If I were you I'd totally forget about Jo'burg (horrible place)

Cape Town is beautiful and green, there is loads to do, Bird World, Blouberg area and beach is fabulous with great scenic view of Table mountain, V&A waterfront area is amazing with loads to do and some amazing mime artists , drives inland to the wine route, you MUST go to Spiers wine farm as they have a cheetah sanctuary attached where you can stroke one if they're in the mood, Campsbay, Houtbay (fab fish and chips), Robbin Island, casino with a gazilion retaurants etc, botanic gardens, Table Mountain can be climbed, takes a full day and my ds did it aged 10, or take the cable car.... can you tell I loved it

be careful driving as security is an issue there, don't have your windows down when at junctions etc. I was fortunate we visited family who know the pitfalls!

oops sorry, heavy hand...

You need to have 2 non marked and consecutive passport pages in each passport on arrival into SA (although it states one some SA passport officials are insisting on two clear pages). Bear this in mind also.

Would suggest you fly direct to SA on BA. Do not go via Dubai either as this airport is still being rebuilt and transitting there is chaotic.

Panama Jacks Brilliant!

Oh dear, the cheetah I stroked at the Cheetah Outreach beside Spiers died this year , he held the world sprint record...

Expect BA to lose your luggage and have some spare clothes and toiletries in your in cabin luggage

Hi, I am expat, I agree with all whent over last year with my 12month old and flew there during the day and back at night and would not make the mistake of a day flight again.

Can I make a sugestion as well as a child and teenager I have been to the Shlushluwe/Umfolozi game reserve quite a few times and have also been to Kruger and would honestly say that going to Umfolozi is MUCH better. We use to go to the Umfolozi side, it is two game reserves that become one big one a couple of years ago. It is well known for its rhino breading programme. The difference between Umfolozi and Kruger is that you will see much more at Umfolozi, because it is smaller. WE got to a stage on our holidays where we stoped stopping for buck and rhinos because you see them so often. When we went to Kruger we drove around for a day without seeing much where you are morelikely to see animals in Umfolozi.

If you were wondering Umfolozi is in Kwa -Zulu Natal, If you do go in that area you can also go to Shaka Land, where the Shaka Zulu movie was made, it is a tribal villigage where you get to experience the traditional dancing and food of the Zulu's.

I appologise if this is a long post and would like to offer my help. I studied Tourism in SA so have a lot of unused knowledge that you can use.

PS. We flew KLM and they were really good especcialy with having my dd with us.

I stayed in a very good hotel in Joburg with a swimming pool overlooking the zoological gardens, and had some nice spa treatments. Also wouldn't have missed visiting Soweto (we went with a tour guide on a private visit, just me dh and dd)

If you just go to Cape Town, its like visiting Disneyland Paris and thinking its the real France or USA

The V & A Waterfront? Its just a naff shopping mall

I totally agree about the V & A Waterfront. Total waste of time. But try to make a point of going to the Blue Peter restaurant in Blouberstrand area (Sorry can't remember the actual address) It is right on the beach... just a small quiet road between you and the beach. Lovely food etc and you can even sit on the lawn to eat. With a picture postcard view of Table Mountain and Robben Island (Where Mandela was in prison). Sunset is glorious.

I think Soweto is becoming a bit of a tourist attraction too. If you want an experience of townships Guguleto and the Cape Flats will be quite an eye opener.

MrsPanic - if you are going to SA please make sure that your luggage is secure and you have good locks on suitcases - it is a well known/documented fact that there are crime syndicates operating out of the airports and items of value do go missing... if you can help it, don't take too many high value items or put them in luggage...

Well we liked the Aquarium at the waterfront, as well as the boat trips that you can do from there, we shopped in the market area but not the expensive boutiques

And the chap that mimics people as they pass was hysterical

But Soweto has the only street in the world where 2 Nobel Peace Prize Winners live/lived (Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela). And you can go in Nelson Mandela's house. And see Winnie Mandela's fortified house with bullet proof glass windows. And go in the Hector Pietersen Museum.......