Just returned from an almost 2 weeks trip in South Africa. It's our first safari (Kruger) and we didn't expect it to be that easy to spot animals. Some came really close to the road sides. Probably our expectations were low but we were quite happy to spot four of the big five and other animals both on the organised sunrise/sunset drives and self-drives. Other places we visited in South Africa were interesting too.
Here's our brief itinerary:
Cape Town (Simon Town, Penguin Colony, Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope, Lion's Head hike, Table Mountain, Robben Island) - Garden Route (Cape Agulhas) - Plettenberg Bay (Robberg Nature Reserve Hike, Giraffe View Safari, Ocean Safari was cancelled due to weather) - Overnight Train from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg - Johannesburg (Day tour to Soweto, Apartheid Museum, Roof of Africa) - Panorama Route (Graskop, Pilgrim's Rest, Mac Mac, Lisbon and Berlin Waterfalls, Blyde River Canyon Viewpoints) - Kruger National Park (Safaris) - Cullinan Diamond Mine - Johannesburg
Notes:
- We stayed in Simon Town instead of Cape Town
- Rented a vehicle from Cape Town airport on arrival and returned the vehicle at Port Elizabeth
- Due to safety concerns, we didn't self drive inside Johannesburg city. We joined a guided day tour to see Johannesburg and spent two nights at a safe part of the city. We then rented a vehicle from Johannesburg airport and self-drive to Panorama Route and Kruger before returning to the airport and fly home.
Suggestions:
- Read up on South Africa before the trip to have better appreciation of the country (e.g. read Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela or watch movies like Goodbye Bafana, Invictus)
- If I have only one week, I would choose to visit Cape Town and around before flying to Skukuza for Kruger. I feel this gives a good balance of outdoor activities, animals, mountains and oceans.
- For Kruger, above posters have given good tips. Bring a good zoom camera if you are into photography. Binoculars are helpful.