| Cricket- South Africa 09:40 - Mar 10 with 1236 views | YorkRanger |
A while off but been contemplating going across in 2026 for some sightseeing and taking in a bit of the England tour.
Would appreciate any insight from the well travelled crew on here on where to go, dos and don'ts and best way to book travel. Cheers |  | | |  |
| Cricket- South Africa on 10:32 - Mar 10 with 1159 views | Konk |
I was chatting about this yesterday with a mate who has just returned from South Africa. He absolutely loved it and did a classic Garden Route trip. We did 18 days there about 15 years ago and thought it was an absolutely incredible place. People from every background were ridiculously friendly and helpful, the scenery is stunning, great wildlife, the food and drink are great, the driving is easy, and it's brilliant value for money.
You do have to keep your wits about you with valuables etc, and South-African friends advised getting taxis pretty much anywhere after dark, as well as limiting driving at night, but we had such a good time there. Highlights of the trip for me were Cape Town, Kynsna, Franschhoek, Montagu (only a small place, but so peaceful and relaxed), and Addo National Park. |  |
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| Cricket- South Africa on 10:52 - Mar 10 with 1127 views | johann28 |
Fabulous place - great for cricket of course; some 'must sees':
* Stellenbosch wine region - and look out for Stellenbosh wines on the menu; classic grapes are Pinotage & Merlot/Cab Sav blends (red) and Chenin Blanc or Chardonnay blends (white).
* Apartheid museum Johannesberg
* Kilipiviersberg (sic) Nature Reserve
* Cape town - if God wanted to design a city this is it. Check out the local seafood (all of it!), Bunny Chow: street food originally from Durban; Bredies: stew with meat and veg; Seven Colours: a truly fabulous traditional dish
Enjoy!! [Post edited 10 Mar 19:13]
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| Cricket- South Africa on 12:45 - Mar 10 with 1030 views | Superhoops2808 |
Truly jealous
When I retire (not too far off) this will be on my list to do
Cricket (Cape Town) - Safari - Durban (for some sun) is my plan
Want to do 2 - 3 weeks there |  | | |
| Cricket- South Africa on 19:46 - Mar 10 with 894 views | PlanetHonneywood |
Assuming its still cheap and the rand low, I booked trains direct, saved a packet, as opposed to going through agents etc.
Jo'burg to CT, great journey. CT great place but as mentioned, keep your valuables out of prying paws. |  |
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| Cricket- South Africa on 23:52 - Mar 10 with 776 views | qpr1976 |
Did the Cape Town test 2015/16, when Stokes & Bairstow smashed 196 in the morning session alone !
Spent 2 weeks there, brilliant city. Had an apartment in the V&A harbour area. Safe and lively.
Downtown was nice too but as mentioned above, remove jewellery, watches, etc.
Table Mountain a must, as is Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Simon’s Town, Boulder Beach (penguins), Cape Point/ of Good Hope.
Amazing restaurants, great food, relatively well priced. If you want to pm me, I’ll provide a list of the best ones we went to (assuming they still there….)
Go for it. |  | | |
| Cricket- South Africa on 07:24 - Mar 11 with 650 views | Konk |
If you do go to Cape Town, then do the Cape Point day trip with this mob: https://www.convoytours.com/cape-point-tour/
I thought the guide/business owner was going to be a bit too wacky for me and that it would be hard work being in a mini-bus with him all day, but he was such a good laugh and a lovely fella. When he dropped us back off at our digs, I was genuinely gutted to think I would never see him again! Really knowledgeable and the day is timetabled to avoid the crowds. | |
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| Cricket- South Africa on 08:14 - Mar 11 with 613 views | qpr1976 |
| Cricket- South Africa on 07:24 - Mar 11 by Konk |
If you do go to Cape Town, then do the Cape Point day trip with this mob: https://www.convoytours.com/cape-point-tour/
I thought the guide/business owner was going to be a bit too wacky for me and that it would be hard work being in a mini-bus with him all day, but he was such a good laugh and a lovely fella. When he dropped us back off at our digs, I was genuinely gutted to think I would never see him again! Really knowledgeable and the day is timetabled to avoid the crowds. |
The Two Oceans restaurant at Cape Point is Very good too. Not your average tourist trap cafe. Proper restaurant with great food and stunning views. You’ll probably need to book ahead to avoid a lengthy queue. | | | |
| Cricket- South Africa on 08:52 - Mar 11 with 561 views | Rsole |
Good stuff - great wine and food, good value for money, amazing mix of people, good weather.
Scenery is amazing, just think of the pictures from Newlands. Vineyards are great day trips from
Cape Town.
Bad stuff - you will probably experience some form of petty theft or fraud if you are not wary, especially in the evening.
Don’t rent a nice car - it will draw attention in the cities if new and shiny. Get secure parking. Taxis at night are a better idea, although avoid the mad taxi minibuses like the plague !!!
Don’t let your credit card leave your sight in a restaurant or bar, they’ll clone or use it in a couple of minutes.
Some precautions - tell your bank you are going, they can add a flag on your cards.
Get some good insurance that covers specifically covers SA by name.
Check that the hotels have good security (it makes a big difference, especially in places like Sandton, Jo’burg.
Advice
It’s a big place and flying into one airport and back from another might be better if you go north to southbound vice versa.
Jo’burg to Kruger is another internal flight to consider subject to budget.
Personal experience is that I could live without another trip to Jo’burg but pretty much everywhere else out of the regularly visited places is worth it.
I’d probably do Newlands and Durban for the cricket because of the environment and all the other activities you can do around the game (in case we call it in again !).
You’ll have the trip of a lifetime hopefully and will almost certainly want to go back or visit one of the other neighbouring countries for an another level of adventure. |  |
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| Cricket- South Africa on 09:06 - Mar 11 with 547 views | cpgerber |
I grew up in South Africa and went to high school in a town in the Garden Route area. That's when I became a QPR fan when I subscribed to the quarterly newsletter of The Cure and read in one that Robert Smith was a Cure fan. At the time we had Wegerle, who was born in SA, so I figured those two connections are enough for me to pick QPR as my team too.
Studied and worked in Stellenbosch before moving to NL, so I know that area pretty well.
Its a big country and offers a lot, so it really depends on what interests you. I did a road trip with the kids 2 years ago covering he garden route, part of the Eastern Cape and then headed inland to show them what "wide open plains" really means.
Wine tours, wild-life watching, beaches, hiking, adventure stuff, city life... its all there, so pick decide what you want to do before picking places to go.
All of that said, I am biased of course, but Cape Town and the Western Cape region offers the most imho. Around Cape Town there are plenty of things to see and do, great restaurants and its the only province that is still maintained to some degree and you won't see deteriorating infrastructure etc.
If you fancy golf, the Garden Route is absolute mecca with some of the best courses in the country. |  | | |
| Cricket- South Africa on 09:21 - Mar 11 with 512 views | cpgerber |
| Cricket- South Africa on 08:14 - Mar 11 by qpr1976 |
The Two Oceans restaurant at Cape Point is Very good too. Not your average tourist trap cafe. Proper restaurant with great food and stunning views. You’ll probably need to book ahead to avoid a lengthy queue. |
La Colombe best dining experience you will find in SA. I actually recommend doing lunch, as its in a beautiful settings and especially in summer, its lovely. You _definitely_ have to book long in advance. It used to be on some list of top 50 restaurants in the world and regularly voted best restaurant in SA. It compares to and even exceeds some michelin star restaurants I have been too. Expensive in SA terms, but in euro or pound, I think its superb value for money and if fine dining is your thing, an absolute must-do.
https://www.lacolombe.restaurant/la-colombe
In fact, I see they claim on their website:
"LA COLOMBE AWARDED BEST RESTAURANT IN AFRICA BY THE WORLD'S 50 BEST"
[Post edited 11 Mar 9:21]
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| Cricket- South Africa on 09:34 - Mar 11 with 480 views | Metallica_Hoop |
Cape Town is amazing, I've been twice.
Good shout out for Stellenbosch, a tour there in one of the Dutch ones introduced me to Pinotage.
Just driving around to Chapmans Peak etc is fantastic viewing.
Jo'burg was a shithole when I spent two weeks there but might have improved since but you can go to an old mine and the 'Cradle of Mankind' while in the area.
Port Edward and the Kruger Park are beautiful if you have the time. [Post edited 11 Mar 9:35]
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| Beer and Beef has made us what we are - The Prince Regent |
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| Cricket- South Africa on 09:36 - Mar 11 with 469 views | TheChef |
Another upvote for Cape Town, beautiful place.
Obviously the flight is long and usually expensive but once there everything is pretty cheap and the food and wine is great. |  |
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| Cricket- South Africa on 11:56 - Mar 11 with 382 views | qpr1976 |
| Cricket- South Africa on 09:21 - Mar 11 by cpgerber |
La Colombe best dining experience you will find in SA. I actually recommend doing lunch, as its in a beautiful settings and especially in summer, its lovely. You _definitely_ have to book long in advance. It used to be on some list of top 50 restaurants in the world and regularly voted best restaurant in SA. It compares to and even exceeds some michelin star restaurants I have been too. Expensive in SA terms, but in euro or pound, I think its superb value for money and if fine dining is your thing, an absolute must-do.
https://www.lacolombe.restaurant/la-colombe
In fact, I see they claim on their website:
"LA COLOMBE AWARDED BEST RESTAURANT IN AFRICA BY THE WORLD'S 50 BEST"
[Post edited 11 Mar 9:21]
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Pigalle was our favourite restaurant, but the V&A is full of great eateries.
But word of mouth in our hotel receptions led us to both Mama Africa and Nelson's Eye in downtown area. The latter was amazing and probably the best steak I've ever eaten.
I'm tempted to visit Port Elizabeth should it be selected for a Test match.
Anyone, been there ? What's it like ? | | | |
| Cricket- South Africa on 12:09 - Mar 11 with 361 views | cpgerber |
Port Elizabeth is really dull. I was there 2 years ago and shocked at how the city has deteriorated due to lack of maintenance.
The Addo National park close to it is actually worth a visit (we spent two nights) if you do not have the time to travel all the way to the Kruger Park for proper game watching.
If you are going for cricket, I'm sure you can find places to fill your evenings with, but there are way better options as a tourist destination. [Post edited 11 Mar 12:12]
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| Cricket- South Africa on 22:04 - Mar 11 with 146 views | The_Beast1976 |
I'll be there. It'll be my 5th England cricket tour of SA, and been 8 times in all. You gotta go. You'll love it. One of my favourite places in the world.
Just booked a full Ashes tour of Australia next Winter too | | | |
| Cricket- South Africa on 23:04 - Mar 11 with 113 views | qpr1976 |
| Cricket- South Africa on 12:09 - Mar 11 by cpgerber |
Port Elizabeth is really dull. I was there 2 years ago and shocked at how the city has deteriorated due to lack of maintenance.
The Addo National park close to it is actually worth a visit (we spent two nights) if you do not have the time to travel all the way to the Kruger Park for proper game watching.
If you are going for cricket, I'm sure you can find places to fill your evenings with, but there are way better options as a tourist destination. [Post edited 11 Mar 12:12]
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Thanks.
Doing Ashes later this year.
I’ll swerve PE in favour of Galle instead at some point. | | | |
| Cricket- South Africa on 23:10 - Mar 11 with 107 views | qpr1976 |
| Cricket- South Africa on 22:04 - Mar 11 by The_Beast1976 |
I'll be there. It'll be my 5th England cricket tour of SA, and been 8 times in all. You gotta go. You'll love it. One of my favourite places in the world.
Just booked a full Ashes tour of Australia next Winter too |
I take it you’ve booked a full tour package which includes match tickets ?
I’m there for Adelaide & Melbourne, but have booked flights & accommodation seperately, so need to find a way of getting match tickets for those 2 tests. Apparently only available tgrough Cricket Australia, unless you know otherwise….? | | | |
| Cricket- South Africa on 23:22 - Mar 11 with 97 views | The_Beast1976 |
| Cricket- South Africa on 23:10 - Mar 11 by qpr1976 |
I take it you’ve booked a full tour package which includes match tickets ?
I’m there for Adelaide & Melbourne, but have booked flights & accommodation seperately, so need to find a way of getting match tickets for those 2 tests. Apparently only available tgrough Cricket Australia, unless you know otherwise….? |
No, I always travel independently. Have never booked a tour package for any tour anywhere. I've been following England away for 20 odd years and have travelled to most Test series innl that time, along with a few hundred Barmy Army mates, so I get 'looked after' when it comes to match tickets in Australia.
However, tickets for the first 3 Tests should all make it to general sale, so you should be fine. It's likely to be the first 2 or 3 days at the MCG for which tickets could become an issue. Your best bet is to set up an Australian Cricket Family account using a friend's address in Australia (assuming that you have friends there). This should guarantee you a ticket before the remainder go to general sale.
However, if that isn't an option then fear not because they may well all make it to general sale (in which case you just log in when they go on general sale and grab yours). Alternatively, there are always tickets kicking around when you get over there. Just go into the pubs frequented by English fans and there's usually always spares to be had if you ask around.
In summary, one way or another you'll be fine for tickets so don't worry too much. [Post edited 11 Mar 23:27]
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| Cricket- South Africa on 23:30 - Mar 11 with 76 views | The_Beast1976 |
| Cricket- South Africa on 23:04 - Mar 11 by qpr1976 |
Thanks.
Doing Ashes later this year.
I’ll swerve PE in favour of Galle instead at some point. |
It's only 3 Tests this time unfortunately, so PE is unlikely to be hosting a Test this time. It'll probably be Centurion, Cape Town, Johannesburg. | | | |
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