Africa Info needed

I have just returned form 3 weeks in So. Africa. It was amazingly wonderful and the people are so friendly. I can suggest 2 lodges of the several that I was staying at, and a wonderful travel agent or 2.

Ronel van Deventer -- or was most helpful setting me, (56yrs young traveling alone) up at the most incredible places near the Kruger. Ask her about Monwana and Nyala Lodges. Both were places I will return to for animal viewing (saw the big 5 easy), company of guests and the rangers and trackers were the best of any safari I was on. Learned more from the Ranger at Nyala in 2 days than anywhere else, very nice people, very nice accomodations.

Also, Kathryn Goodale -- , set me up with a Victoria Falls lodge, and has great packages for safari on the Zambizi River into Botswana as well as other places in southern Africa.

Both of these agents are keen on what you want and making it happen. Both gave me the best prices, best advise, best experience. But, look at the Monwana or Nyala web sites. I can't say enough about these 2 places as well as Ronel and Kathryn, 2 pretty cool intuitive people.

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Hi Guys I am South African living in Guatemala and would recommend seeing the Drakensberg, the Southern part is gorgeous, Himevelle, Dargle, Loteni and Injasuti are our favourites. These areas are very natural and not very touristy. These national parks have great hiking trails, clear strema for skinny dipping in and waking up to a herd of Eland grazing no more than 10m away is an incredible experience. Another lovely part of SA is Cape Agulhas where the two oceans meet. Cape Agulhas and neighbouring Struisbaai are lovely natural towns where you can still walk along the pebble beaches and see shells and live rock pools. Winter there can be bittersweet with cold wind and rain but the flowers are incredible that pop up in the town from May through to September and the whales are awesome. There are lovely areas surrounding this Southern most town and some OK bed and breakfasts or self catering options. Of course Cape Town is lovely but very touristy. We have never been fans of the Kruger park because of the heavy tourist load. An alternative that is not on such a large scale but is just as good in my book is the Pilansberg National Park. We got to see all the big five there and most often had them all to ourselves. They have fantastic camping sites. It is a much smaller park of course but you can see some good sites. Hiring a car would be a good thing to do as the roads are in good condition and drivers are relatively well behaved (believe me compared to South America and West Africa SA drivers are a dream). There are endless possibilities and when driving yourself you get to pass through incredible and funny country towns. One of my favourite drives is from JHB - Augrabies falls -Cape Town. This countryside is incredible but you need to take your time. Augrabies is full of natural occuring rose quartz. Quite incredible to see it lining the roadways. Augrabies is an incredible Landscape and the national park here offers some interesting activities.

I have mentioned areas that we love to visit when home, they are often neglected a mention in the tour guide books but for me they are lovely and untouched areas. Hope it helps

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