South Africa Travel Guide

The Affordable Southern African Safari in 14 Days

Though it ain't gonna come cheap, the Great African Safari experience needn't empty your wallet.

Days 1 to 4: Botswana: Okavango Delta

Begin your bush adventure in the heart of the Okavango Delta by flying from Johannesburg (where you'll have to overnight with the current flight schedules). The next day fly into Maun and charter a flight to Oddballs, a 20-minute flight away, where per-person rates start at $200 a night; or arrange a 3-day all-inclusive camping trip from Oddballs' base; at press time this would run you in the region of R4,800 ($665/£340), including your flight from Johannesburg. If you have a bit more cash to splash, opt for one of the private camps in low season, like CC Africa's Sandibe Safari Lodge, with a rate of $730 for two, all-inclusive. Better still, stretch your budget a bit and book one of the six tents at Linyanti Bush Camp in peak season, when game-viewing is superb, for $1,320.

Day 5: Johannesburg

Head back to Johannesburg to soak up the hustle and bustle of Africa's most vibrant city, picking up the majority of your luggage at your bed-and-breakfast. Enjoy a night out on the town in the neighborhoods of Melville, Melrose Arch, or Newtown, before heading to the Kruger area for 4 or 5 days of game-viewing.

Days 6 to 10: Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park lies just 5 hours from Johannesburg, and it's a pleasurable drive, particularly if you take in the Escarpment. You could head straight for Rissington Inn, a good place to base yourself if you want to make day trips into the park. Better still (and cheaper), spend 4 nights in the park: Rates at rest camps start at around R475 ($65/£35) for a comfortable, clean en-suite unit. If you can book well enough in advance, a safari tent with river view at Lower Sabie is the one to snag, followed by a two-bed bungalow with river view at Olifants (the latter will run you R600/$85/£40); spend 2 nights at each. Alternatively, if your budget can stretch this far, take a look at augmenting your national-park experience with a 2-day sojourn at the main camp at Rhino Walking Safaris (R4,200/$585/£300 double, all-inclusive), a fabulous private concession within Kruger itself, or Umlani Bushcamp (R3,300-R4,500/$460-$625/£235-£320 double, all-inclusive) in the adjacent Timbavati Reserve -- effectively the same game-viewing land, as it shares an unfenced border with Kruger.

Days 11 to 14: KwaZulu-Natal or Cape Town

Head south to the subtropical landscape of Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, and join one of the Wilderness Trails, considered the best on-foot safaris in Africa. The reserve is located in the pristine 25,000-hectare (61,750-acre) Umfolozi wilderness area. Armed rangers will take you within spitting distance of a large variety of wildlife, and you will experience a really basic bush camp. If, on the other hand, you've had enough of wildlife tracking, fly direct from Kruger to Cape Town, booking into African Villa (R640-R1,280/$88-$178/£45-£90), The Fritz Hotel (R425-R800/$60-$110/£30-£57), or Daddy Long Legs (R450-R700/$62-$97/£32-£50). Spend a day exploring the peninsula, with a stop to view the penguins at Boulders beach, and you'll see plenty of baboons and antelopes at Cape Point. Time (and energy) permitting, take a trip out to Hermanus via the scenic Gordon's Bay coastal route. During whale season (Aug-Dec) you're guaranteed sightings of nursing southern right whales en route. Spend your last 2 days leisurely shopping: In addition to the V&A Waterfront, you should visit the Cape Quarter and stroll the length of Long Street and Green Market Square in the center of town.