South Africa & Victorian falls

[Homeaway72]

We are discussing a potential trip to SA next year and will meet father in law there, he is travelling from OZ. Not sure what is the best time to go? Thinking of Easter but DD1 said she could not go in The Easter as she has to study for her A levels, she is happy to stay at home but It would be a shame to miss this trip.

Is February half term a good time? How long do we need there? We also want to do a Safari? Can we book everything directly or will be better through agency? Do we need to rent a car?

Bump

I’ve never been but a family member went to Victoria Falls and on Safari many years ago and loved it. She didn’t go to South Africa on that trip. She stayed in the Elephant Hills resort near to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and then a couple of other places in Zimbabwe.

I’d imagine getting all the way to the falls from South Africa would be quite a trek. Even if you were up somewhere like Kruger National Park (which is about as close as you can get and still be in South Africa) you are still over 900km away from Victoria Falls.

If you only have half term then you might want to think about choosing either South Africa or Zimbabwe rather than both.

If you want safari go on the summer holidays. Much higher prices then in Zimbabwe as it’s high season.
I tried to plan a week long trip to Victoria falls/hwange and couldn’t make it work with the flight times

We've been to vic falls, on safari and capetown in one trip. Internal flights are involved but it was the most amazing holiday and there was plenty of time for everything in just over a fortnight.
Thoroughly recommend SA-based travel agent Go2Africa; they have on-the-ground knowledge that makes the world of difference and provided exceptional service including through some travel issues when airlines cancelled flights etc.

We did SA > Botswana > Zimbabwe and it was fabulous. I think it was 12 nights. Booked through Audley Travel. Flights home were a bit of a pain (Vic Falls - Johannesburg - LHR and the first leg was really quite delayed, so a long layover in JB was a blessing!)

February in SA is lovely although probably hot by UK standards.

I was assuming that OP was talking about a one week trip as she mentioned February half term. I realise now that I hadn’t considered that her daughter might be in private school with a two-week half term. That would give them a lot more wiggle room.

Easter is nice as it's late summer. February is the hottest time of the year. But then Easter is peak season and February is not. Price wise you will get more for your money in Feb.

You will probably need to fly to Vic Falls, flights are easy enough to book and fly regularly.

Where are you looking for go for safari? If you are going to a lodge with game drives you may not need a car for that time, but you could do self drive.

I think an absolutely minimum time would be 2 weeks if you can. You will have travel time from the airport to your first stop which you need to cater in for as well. You can fly in to Johannesburg or Cape Town and then travel on from either of these.

If you want to have a look about for costings and routes for internal flights, look at thee airlines - FlySafair, Airlink, Cemair (smaller but they fly to some more remote places) and Lift.

I've been to Vic Falls as part of a safari trip to Zambia. Can't recommend Zambia enough but it's not cheap (and safari season in South Luangwa national park is broadly warm May to mega hot October).

For Vic Falls you might want to check what the water levels will be like at the time of year youre planning. If you do go to Vic Falls then a helicopter flight over is fab but definitely pick one that goes thru the gorges too. Incredible to think the Falls are moving back (s l o w l y obviously!).

Two UK companies I can recommend are Expert Africa or Yellow Zebra Safaris.

We went in October, because it’s in the dry season, so the animals have to go to the remaining waterholes. We’ve been twice. First time to Great Zimbabwe, Hwange, Chobe and the Okavango; and second time South Luangwa, Arusha, up the Great Rift Valley to Ngorongoro crater, the Serengeti and Olduvai Gorge). The heat was dry so it didn’t bother us; but it was cold in the mornings round the Ngorongoro crater.

PS - forgot we went on the Zimbabwe side of Vic Falls

Thank you all. I don’t know much about it. I guess we can base ourselves near Victoria falls and do the Safari and activities from there. No need to ho to SA.

We can do around 10 nights. Hopefully that’s enough. Easter is better but would love DD1 to come with us and she said she will be studying at Easter time for her exams so February is the only other choice.

@Homeaway72 we are planning a very similar trip next year. We have been advised the best time to see the falls is better April and June which is the worst time for your daughter unfortunately.
We've been to SA several times so won't be doing a safari as done several previously. We are hoping to do a Zambezi River cruise and then fly on to Maldives/Madagascar. We both have big birthdays next year and a significant wedding anniversary so would like to celebrate them in style!