Cape Town Travel Forum

Hi all,

I'm planning to do a self-drive trip from Cape Town to Victoria Falls in June and I have most of it worked out. However, I'm still on the fence about the first eight days of the trip. Below are two itineraries between Cape Town and Windhoek: Can you tell me which one would be preferable? (I don't mind driving, so the longer drive in itinerary #1 isn't a major issue to me.) Itinerary #2 costs about US$300 more (the car is only slightly cheaper; the CPT-WDH flight is about $175 per person.)

Itinerary #1

Day 1: Arrive Cape Town 11AM. Table Mountain
Day 2: Robben Island, V&A Waterfront
Day 3: Daytrippers Tour to Cape Point
Day 4: Wandering around Cape Town
Day 5: Drive to Springbok, SA
Day 6: Drive to Fish River Canyon
Day 7: Fish River Canyon
Day 8: Drive to Sossusvlei

Itinerary #2

Days 1-4 as above.
Day 5-6: More Cape Town wandering (maybe a Great White breaching tour and/or a visit to the townships?)
Day 7: Fly to Windhoek
Day 8: Drive to Sossusvlei

Any information would be useful!
Thanks!

sounds good , i would fly Cpt- Wdh and get more things done in Cape Town, its a long drive and unless you are keen on road trips- I personally would just fly, its probrably safer than the long drive.

It is a long drive and you haven't allotted enough time for it... there are some beautiful areas along the way, the terrain is vastly different to the Cape's... far less green and mountaineous etc.

Given the time allotment I would fly from the Cape to Windhoek. It would be a shame to *fly* through the West Coast of South Africa in a car.

I realize that I haven't allotted enough time for the Western part of South Africa, but one can only do so many things. This will be a four week trip and we're ending up in Victoria Falls. Sometimes certain things must be passed by.

I guess the real question is: Would you rather spend four days in Cape Town, one in Springbok and two near Fish River Canyon or six days in Cape town and one in Windhoek (a place that we're already staying for a night about a week later).

Yes I understand, is just a shame though :)

I would go for your first option!

I would agree with Jenniflower. Option 1 would be the better one and the Fish River canyons is realy a magnificent site.

I would agree with Jenniflower. Option 1 would be the better one and the Fish River canyons is realy a magnificent site.

Just be aware that a lot the roads in Namibia are not tarred. Unfortunately we never made it to Fish River Canyon while living in SA but have heard it's fantastic. We flew from Cape Town to Windhoek (1 night) and then drove from there to Sossusvlei (2 nights), then Swakopmund (2 nights), then Etosha (3 nights) then back to Windhoek. A lot of dirt road on that trip although, we still did manage it ok in a normal car (not a 4WD). Windhoek is nothing special so if those are your choices, go with Fish River Canyon.