Traveler Postcard – Jessica in South Africa

Traveler Name: Jessica Spiegel, staff writer for BootsnAll
Destination: South Africa (Cape Town 3 nights, Hermanus 1 night, Wilderness 1 night, Durban 2 nights, St. Lucia 3 nights, Phinda Private Game Reserve 2 nights)
Dates: 4-17 December 2011

How much did you spend?

This trip was hosted by South Africa Tourism – but I gathered price information to give a rough estimate of the cost of doing the kind of trip I did. Note that there are cheaper options for accommodation, too, including hostels (called “backpackers” in South Africa) just about everywhere that range from $16-20 for a dorm bed. For those with more time than money to spare, The Baz Bus is a cheap way to get around the country instead of flying within South Africa. And even a visit to the famous Kruger National Park can be done for very little money – if you drive yourself on a DIY trip you’ll only spend $50-70 per day.

Accommodation: 12 nights = $1750

• Cape Town (3 nights) at $150 per night = $450
• Hermanus (2 nights) at $100 per night = $200
• Durban (2 nights) at $100 per night = $200
• St. Lucia (3 nights) at $100 per night = $300
• Game Reserve (2 nights) at $300 per night (including game drives & meals) = $600

Flights within the country: $565

• Johannesburg-Cape Town flight $165
• George-Durban flight $300
• Durban-Johannesburg flight $100

Tours and activities: $436 (ZAR3486, roughly ZAR8 to $1)

• Boulders Beach admission – ZAR35
• Table Mountain aerial cableway – ZAR195
• Cape Point Lighthouse & round-trip funicular – ZAR132
• Cango Caves – ZAR69
• Cango Ostrich Farm – ZAR65
• Durban township tour – ZAR950
• iSimangaliso safari & hippo cruise – ZAR795
• St. Lucia turtle tracking tour – ZAR795
• St. Lucia horseback safari – ZAR450

Food and drink: $50 per day X 12 days = $600

Total trip budget (excluding airfare to the destination): $3351

Plan your own trip

• Book a South African safari trip
• Look for cheap airfare to Johannesburg
• Find a hotel in Cape Town
• Read about the world’s most dangerous animals