Travel to South Africa in August

Hello,

I'm new to this group but have tried to read some old posts covering
the subject. Some were very helpful, so let me now ask a few questions,
hoping for some more hints.

I'm flying in August for a professional meeting in Cape Town. August is
winter there, right? So:

(a) What kind of weather to expect?

(b) If it's winter, why do organizers insist on reserving the hotel as
soon as possible, preferably right now? More than that, they also ask
not for a deposit, but for an actual pre-payment of the full hotel
stay. Is it customary?

(c) I've gone through some hotel reservation sites. Looks like _all_ of
them demand a pre-pay. Again, is it customary, and why? I'm certainly
_not_ going to pre-pay half a year in advance. If the conference is in
August, when do you think I should seriously think about reserving a
room? Is it really such a big problem?

(d) I'd like to stay a few days in South Africa (not necessarily Cape
Town) after the conference but don't think will have more than 4 days
to spare. What do you suggest for me to see? A visit to the Kruger
Park?

(e) I'm located in the southern US. The best connection for me is the
direct SAA flight from Atlanta. However, the fares are rather less than
favorable. $2,000 minimum. Is this what it should be?

Thanks, jrk

jrk wrote:

> I'm flying in August for a professional meeting in Cape Town. August is
> winter there, right? So:
>
> (a) What kind of weather to expect?

Could be unpleasant - it's the worst month of the year with
wind, rain, temperatures in the 50's (farenheit) sometimes.
But that's just some days. Others are OK.

> (b) If it's winter, why do organizers insist on reserving the hotel as
> soon as possible, preferably right now? More than that, they also ask
> not for a deposit, but for an actual pre-payment of the full hotel
> stay. Is it customary?

I say yes. Just as it is here in the US in many places if you book
directly with the hotel and want the lowest rate.

> (c) I've gone through some hotel reservation sites. Looks like _all_ of
> them demand a pre-pay. Again, is it customary, and why? I'm certainly
> _not_ going to pre-pay half a year in advance. If the conference is in
> August, when do you think I should seriously think about reserving a
> room? Is it really such a big problem?

I would not prepay a room in Cape Town in August unless this
is such a huge event - or one of several running concurrently - that
hotels will all be jammed. I don't kow what your budget is, but
there are moderately priced hotels for $100 US all over town.

> (d) I'd like to stay a few days in South Africa (not necessarily Cape
> Town) after the conference but don't think will have more than 4 days
> to spare. What do you suggest for me to see? A visit to the Kruger
> Park?

Here, you need to do a lot more independent research before asking
questions so broad. Kruger is 1000 miles (or more) away - like a
huge US state park, with lodges, tenting areas, rustic campgrounds..
things
that travel agents don't do for you. The private safari camps just outside

Kruger are more commonly visited by Americans, but they are expensive.
Really expensive. Some of the posters here may have some good ideas
for safaris.

East of Cape Town, you could do the shark cage diving in Gansbaai.. 2
hours
away, easy to reach with your rented car - B&B's there. Great whale
watching
in August there as well. The winelands are no more than an hour's drive
from Cape Town - beautiful country with a complete range of accommodations

and no real need for a guide - though if the budget allows it, one would
be helpful.

> (e) I'm located in the southern US. The best connection for me is the
> direct SAA flight from Atlanta. However, the fares are rather less than
> favorable. $2,000 minimum. Is this what it should be?

A good agent can get you a consolidator ticket on SAA for about $1850 -
$1875,
including all taxes. Tell them to contact Mcabee in Atlanta for the
ticket.
You can't. Mcabee only sells to agents. And, if you choose, that could be
flying in to
Cape Town, back from Johannesburg, with you handling your travel
within SAfrica separately. Actually, the British Airways tickets from
the US are cheaper by about $125, but you have to go through London
and the trip is longer. SAA is a really good airline, more leg room, good
dining, individual entertainment screens at your seat, etc. I recommend
it.

Thank you all three (so far) guys who responded. Great help.

As to the specifics:

>
> Is this a big convention? Are there others going on at the same time?
> Surely you can get a good deal when you register with the convention
> itself. But I also find your experience difficult to stomach.
>

No, it's not that big. Around ~500 people, I should think. That's why
I've been rather surprised by insisting on pre-payment rather than a
deposit. Plus, the prices I find on the internet are about 20% lower
than the "special rates" arranged by the convention (but also requiring
a pre-payment). My budget is around $100-120/night. I guess I'll wait
until much closer to the actual trip.

>
> No, Kruger park is a flight and a drive away. Stay in Cape Town there
> are many things to do and see around the town. There are wine tours in
> Stellenbosch and Franschoek for instance, there's Cape of Good Hope and
> Cape Point, there's Simonstown and False Bay, Robben Island, Table
> Mountain, Kirstenbosch gardens, a visit to a township.

Actually, I plan on flying direct (via JNB) to Cape Town first, doing
the business part, and then remaining there for an extra weekend to do
at least some of the trips recommended above (I may be able to do some
more during the conference, too, depending on the program and on the
weather.) Then, I plan to fly to JNB and do the Kruger park. No,
safaris in private parks are not on the agenda. But I hope I'll find a
reasonable arrangement to do a 3-day tour of the park. Then fly back to
the US from JNB.


> >(e) I'm located in the southern US. The best connection for me is the
> >direct SAA flight from Atlanta. However, the fares are rather less than
> >favorable. $2,000 minimum. Is this what it should be?
> >
>
> Can't help you there, I'm afraid :-)

Thanks to the other poster for referring to McAbee. I know the company;
used their services before. In my case, I do live in nothern FL, so
need to add the short flight to and from Atlanta to the total fare.
Looks like $2,000 is what to expect.

By the way, there used to be a non-stop flight ATL-CPT when the SAA was
flying the B747s. For a while it was the longest non-stop flight in the
world (around 16 hours). On the way back, the plane would make a stop
at Cape Verde due to the prevailing jet-stream. Once they replaced the
747s with A340s, they land at Cape Verde both directions, and fly only
to JNB.


Again, many thanks. You may expect a report some time in late August.

jrk

jrk wrote:
> Thank you all three (so far) guys who responded. Great help.
>
> As to the specifics:
>
> >
> > Is this a big convention? Are there others going on at the same time?
> > Surely you can get a good deal when you register with the convention
> > itself. But I also find your experience difficult to stomach.
> >
>
> No, it's not that big. Around ~500 people, I should think. That's why
> I've been rather surprised by insisting on pre-payment rather than a
> deposit. Plus, the prices I find on the internet are about 20% lower
> than the "special rates" arranged by the convention (but also requiring
> a pre-payment). My budget is around $100-120/night. I guess I'll wait
> until much closer to the actual trip.
>
> >
> > No, Kruger park is a flight and a drive away. Stay in Cape Town there
> > are many things to do and see around the town. There are wine tours in
> > Stellenbosch and Franschoek for instance, there's Cape of Good Hope and
> > Cape Point, there's Simonstown and False Bay, Robben Island, Table
> > Mountain, Kirstenbosch gardens, a visit to a township.
>
> Actually, I plan on flying direct (via JNB) to Cape Town first, doing
> the business part, and then remaining there for an extra weekend to do
> at least some of the trips recommended above (I may be able to do some
> more during the conference, too, depending on the program and on the
> weather.) Then, I plan to fly to JNB and do the Kruger park. No,
> safaris in private parks are not on the agenda. But I hope I'll find a
> reasonable arrangement to do a 3-day tour of the park. Then fly back to
> the US from JNB.
>
>
> > >(e) I'm located in the southern US. The best connection for me is the
> > >direct SAA flight from Atlanta. However, the fares are rather less than
> > >favorable. $2,000 minimum. Is this what it should be?
> > >
> >
> > Can't help you there, I'm afraid :-)
>
> Thanks to the other poster for referring to McAbee. I know the company;
> used their services before. In my case, I do live in nothern FL, so
> need to add the short flight to and from Atlanta to the total fare.
> Looks like $2,000 is what to expect.
>
> By the way, there used to be a non-stop flight ATL-CPT when the SAA was
> flying the B747s. For a while it was the longest non-stop flight in the
> world (around 16 hours). On the way back, the plane would make a stop
> at Cape Verde due to the prevailing jet-stream. Once they replaced the
> 747s with A340s, they land at Cape Verde both directions, and fly only
> to JNB.
>
>
> Again, many thanks. You may expect a report some time in late August.
>
> jrk

jrk wrote:
> Thank you all three (so far) guys who responded. Great help.
>
> As to the specifics:
>
> >
> > Is this a big convention? Are there others going on at the same time?
> > Surely you can get a good deal when you register with the convention
> > itself. But I also find your experience difficult to stomach.
> >
>
> No, it's not that big. Around ~500 people, I should think. That's why
> I've been rather surprised by insisting on pre-payment rather than a
> deposit. Plus, the prices I find on the internet are about 20% lower
> than the "special rates" arranged by the convention (but also requiring
> a pre-payment). My budget is around $100-120/night. I guess I'll wait
> until much closer to the actual trip.
>
> >

> > No, Kruger park is a flight and a drive away. Stay in Cape Town there
> > are many things to do and see around the town. There are wine tours in
> > Stellenbosch and Franschoek for instance, there's Cape of Good Hope and
> > Cape Point, there's Simonstown and False Bay, Robben Island, Table
> > Mountain, Kirstenbosch gardens, a visit to a township.
>
> Actually, I plan on flying direct (via JNB) to Cape Town first, doing
> the business part, and then remaining there for an extra weekend to do
> at least some of the trips recommended above (I may be able to do some
> more during the conference, too, depending on the program and on the
> weather.) Then, I plan to fly to JNB and do the Kruger park. No,
> safaris in private parks are not on the agenda. But I hope I'll find a
> reasonable arrangement to do a 3-day tour of the park. Then fly back to
> the US from JNB.
>
>
> > >(e) I'm located in the southern US. The best connection for me is the
> > >direct SAA flight from Atlanta. However, the fares are rather less than
> > >favorable. $2,000 minimum. Is this what it should be?
> > >
> >
> > Can't help you there, I'm afraid :-)
>
> Thanks to the other poster for referring to McAbee. I know the company;
> used their services before. In my case, I do live in nothern FL, so
> need to add the short flight to and from Atlanta to the total fare.
> Looks like $2,000 is what to expect.
>
> By the way, there used to be a non-stop flight ATL-CPT when the SAA was
> flying the B747s. For a while it was the longest non-stop flight in the
> world (around 16 hours). On the way back, the plane would make a stop
> at Cape Verde due to the prevailing jet-stream. Once they replaced the
> 747s with A340s, they land at Cape Verde both directions, and fly only
> to JNB.
>
>
> Again, many thanks. You may expect a report some time in late August.
>
> jrk

Hi jrk, I hope you will read this before you get to South Africa. I am
part of an tour operator in South Africa and you do NOT have to pre-pay
in full so far in advance. The norm is a 10% deposit at the time of
booking and the rest around 30 - 60 days before arrival depending on
certain aspects. Secondly, you may be able to get better flight rates
on the internet or from our partner in the US who deals with South
Africa on a daily basis and often have specials. Cape Town is great and
you are able to see a lot, but I would suggest you see some of the
African wildlife when in Africa! You may feel deprived when youre here
and in the vibe, but cannot change your arrangements to get to at least
the Kruger Park. I do not want to advertise on this forum and therefore
if you want any assistance from me please advise me here and I shall
give you my contact address.