I've summarized each of our destinations in two-part blog posts:
- Kirkman's Kamp: Our Wild Introduction to South Africa (Part One)
- Kirkman's Kamp: Our Wild Introduction to South Africa (Part Two)
- Cape Town: The Mother City of South Africa (Part One)
- Cape Town: The Mother City of South Africa (Part Two)
- Grootbos: Natural Paradise by the Sea (Part One)
- Grootbos: Natural Paradise by the Sea (Part Two)
andBeyond: Luxury Ecotours
There are several ways to experience Africa, with tons of different tour groups, lodging options, and nature reserves. To simplify planning, we set up most of our itinerary through a travel company named andBeyond.
andBeyond offers guests the standard African adventure: authentic safaris, marine exploration, and a chance to see the hustle and bustle of Cape Town. However, the unique twist about this travel company is the luxury aspect, most of its lodging options are 5-star hotels and spas. Yes, even on the nature reserves!
By booking through andBeyond, we knew we were getting the most "glamour" out of our African adventure.
Packing, Pills, and Passports
There are many articles out on the web regarding what to wear on traditional African safaris. I summarized my own packing list in this blog post. We found out there were no strict rules on what to wear. In fact, many guests were in very casual clothing out on the game drives.
Most destinations in Africa are relatively modern, but it's recommended to visit a doctor to get the proper immunizations. This will depend on the areas you plan on visiting. We used the CDC website to get information on what was required prior to our trip. Our doctor also provided prescriptions for travelers-diarrhea and seasickness.
Be sure to double-check your passport's expiration date. Many countries require a valid passport that doesn't expire within six months after your visit. Unfortunately, I waited too long and had to get a new passport expedited. It's expensive, so take care of this early on...
Getting There
For our international flights, we flew Emirate Airlines. They are known for exceptional service and it definitely lived up to the hype! We were provided meals, drinks, and a wide selection of entertainment.
Note: Emirates charges extra for reserving seats. It is not included in the standard flight ticket.
To get to South Africa from Seattle, we flew over 25 hours on three flights. It was 14 hours from Seattle to Dubai. Then, after a 4-hour layover, we flew 8 hours from Dubai to Johannesburg. After one more 4-hour layover, we flew a small plane from Johannesburg to Skukuza.
After our last destination, we flew 9 hours from Cape Town to Dubai. Then, 14 hours from Dubai back to Seattle.
Be prepared for a long journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
I've received some frequently asked questions about our trip, so I've decided to share them here. I'll try to keep this updated as much as possible as they keep coming in.
Did you really get close to wild animals?
Yes. Land and sea. We could easily reach out and touch some of them. Not advised to do so...
How much did it cost?
Because we decided to go the "luxury" route, lodging, food and domestic flights through andBeyond came out to about $8000 a person. Flights to and from South Africa via Emirates came out to about $1200, including a seat-reservation fee.
Was it as dangerous in Cape Town as everyone says?
I don't think we spent enough time in the city proper to see the "dangerous" side of Cape Town. We were sheltered, spending most of our time in very touristy areas. Our lodging, The Twelve Apostles Hotel, was out of the way as well.
What was your favorite food?
There's was no shortage of good food in any of our stops, but my favorite was the braai, or African barbecue, at Kirkman's Kamp. It's grilled meat, which is something I'd enjoy in any country!
What was your favorite part of the trip?
If there's one place I'd like to visit again, it's Kirkman's Kamp. We saw plenty of animals while we were there, but there's just way too much to see, we barely scratched the surface!
What was your least favorite part of the trip?
While it was an exhilarating experience, I could have done without the boat ride in Shark Alley. My wife and I are prone to seasickness.
Great Experiences, Great Company
I'd like to take this time to thank our good friends John and Angeline Ocampo for allowing my wife and I to accompany them on this South African adventure. They took care of everything from planning to payment, and provided many of the photos for these blog posts.
There's nobody else we'd have rather shared this experience with!
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