GET PACKING - Backpackers Travel Blog

Addo Elephant National Park - Addo (08 February 2008)
Departing Port Elizabeth fully loaded, we had a short hop, skip and a bump or two journey to the Orange Elephant Backpackers in Addo which is only 45 minutes away. Our prebooked accommodation was one of their garden cottages and our host, John was as helpful as ever. On his advice we headed straight for the Addo Raptor and Reptile Centre for the best snake and crocodile tour we have seen (The long list includes top international shows) Darren, the snake handler and guide is a cross between ‘Crocodile Dundee’ and ‘Steve Irwin’ of Africa. He has an unbelievable knowledge and bond with his scaled friends. Arrive with phobias and leave with photographs no one at home will believe. Addo Raptor and Reptile Centre have a large collection of eager participants from Africa’s most poisonous reptiles to beautiful birds of prey. The Addo Raptor and Reptile rehabilitation and recovery centre is a must visit attraction and well worth the small R40.00 price tag. Don’t forget your camera.

We decided an early evening and dinner at the Orange Elephant Restaurant was in order… This was not to be, as The Herald Addo Mountain Bike Race was scheduled for the following day and the cosy Orange Elephant Pub (where the thirsty herds gather) was abuzz with mountain bikers partaking in some last minute carbo-loading. John was behind the grill and sent us a message from the kitchen “we are famous in the Sundays River Valley for our rump steaks…” They were definitely a prime cut, grilled to perfection and the portions are for the hungry, so much so that we had a steak roll or two planned for Saturday’s adventure around the Elephant Park.

Saturday was an early start, with a cup of coffee or two with John and a couple of early rising fellow backpackers. John is a wealth of information and local knowledge and he pointed us towards the Addo Elephant National Park with a good idea of which waterholes would produce our wish list of animals we would like to see. (Elephant, Lion, Hyena, Rhino, Buffalo and Eland) The Addo Elephant Park is an easy game reserve to self drive with help from the wonderful map you receive at the entrance gate (7h00-18h00). We had a collection of wonderful sightings of Elephants, Mountain Zebra, Kudu, Warthogs and Red Hartebeest before lunch which we enjoyed at the Park Restaurant before re-entering the Park for our afternoon quest to complete our animal sighting list. We headed for a high lying waterhole called Carols Rest to find a large herd of Cape Buffalo enjoying a much needed drink and rest bite from the hot Addo sun. Except for a long distant sighting of Eland, unfortunately we did not complete our list. But the adventure filled day we enjoy is very hard to beat and we will return…

Get Packing

Backpackers from the following countries do not require tourist visas:

Nationals of EU countries, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Leichtenstein, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, St Helena, Swaziland, Switzerland, Uruguay, US and Venezuela for visits of up to 90 days.

Nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Comoros Islands, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Gabon, Guyana, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Jordan, Korea (Rep. of), Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Namibia, Peru, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Thailand, Turkey (except holders of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus passports, who do require visas) and Zambia for visits of up to 30 days.

For Backpackers from other countries and more information:
Services to foreigners
General visa information
Supplemental visa information
Visa application form

All backpackers require a valid passport to enter South Africa. The passport must have sufficient pages for entry or exit stamps - AT LEAST 2 BLANK PAGES FACING EACH OTHER. If your passport doesn’t have this, then you may not be allowed to enter South Africa.

All backpackers must be in possession of a valid return ticket.

Yellow fever certificates are required if the journey starts or entails passing through the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America.

General Travel Advice
Although South Africa has had well-publicised crime problems over the last few years, it is worth remembering that most tourists are completely unaffected, and that there is strong evidence that the situation is rapidly improving.

Crime
As with every place that you travel to throughout the world, you should be aware at all times of what is going on around you. By adopting a few simple, common sense precautions you will lessen your chances of becoming a victim of any form of crime:

Thefts from cars, especially the easily-identifiable hire cars, is quite common, so always lock your car up when you leave it, even if only briefly going into the petrol station to buy a drink, and don’t leave anything on show.

Don’t flash expensive jewellery or camera equipment around, and keep your bags under the table when at a cafe or restaurant.

Avoid carrying large sums of cash around with you - most places take credit cards, or just take out enough cash from the ATM to cover you for a couple of days. Don’t count your money in the open.

Do not allow strangers to assist you in your transactions at an ATM. If the card appears to be stuck, immediately call the number that can usually be found at ATMs for assistance. Be alert at all times. Only use ATMs in areas that are well lit.

Some areas of certain cities are unsafe to walk in after dark, so check with your hostel for local advice.

Backpackers Transport
Only use recommended taxi firms or make use of the Baz Bus or Backpackers shuttle - ask your backpackers to recommend a company to you.

We also strongly advise against visiting any township on your own, but if you are interested in doing a township tour, there are many reputable operators who can arrange a tour for you.

Tours And Safaris
Use only registered, qualified tour guides.

South African Medical Information
AIDS and HIV is a massive problem in South Africa, It is advisable to take your own set of ’single use’ sterile medical equipment with you - small travel kits can be bought from all good South African chemists and camping outlets. Don’t be afraid of asking to use them if you have to visit a dentist or doctor, especially in more remote areas - people do understand tourists’ concerns over this matter, and are not easily offended.

Malaria is prevalent through some areas of South Africa, and it is advisable to check with your doctor before travelling, to find out what malaria tablets you need, and when you need to start the course and ensure that your vaccinations are up to date The Cape is malaria free.

Backpacking with Children
For children travelling with friends / grandparents etc but without the parents, the parents would need to supply a letter giving permission for the child(ren) to travel.

Gansbaai backpackers - Gansbaai
Fairy Knowe Backpackers - Wilderness
Dijembe Backpackers - Stormsriver
Orange Elephant Backpackers - Addo
Swellendam Backpackers & Adventure Lodge

Backpacking Adventures Of The Cape Backpackers Team
Shark Diving Tour - Gansbaai & Hermanus (21 January 2008)
Departed from Port Elizabeth at 04h00 and travelled straight to Gansbaai Backpackers which overlooks the Gansbaai Harbour. Gansbaai Backpackers is ‘The Shark Diving Capital Of The World’ and the local hangout for film crews and the prefered stopover for adrenalin junkies. The Gansbaai Backpackers owner Rene, pointed us in the right direction and helped us with our Gansbaai tour itinerary:

Shark Dives
Birkenhead Brewery Tour
Raka Wine Estate
Cheese Farm
PADI Scuba Diving
Hermanus Meander

We decided to book at shark dive with Shark Diving Unlimited for 07h00 on Tuesday, after Rene mentioned their Shark Dive Special Offer (Caged white shark dive and dorm accommodation - R850.00) What a rush!!! One of the few times you appreciate being behind bars… Shark Diving Unlimited is a family run shark diving company. They where great, full of knowledge and interesting shark facts and the sharks weren’t to bad either. They are the only PADI scuba diving operator in the area(offering dive courses as well), so we booked a scuba dive for Wednesday morning. (this was the first time Sam hit the water LOL) The Seal Dive is a must, even with the sound track from JAWS playing in my head the entire time.

Salt water really builds up the thirst, so Birkenhead Brewery (a short 20mins drive) was our port of call, for a brewery tour, tasting and ‘liquid lunch’ (they do have a full restaurant as well)

The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering around Hermanus, famous for being the best location in the world for ‘Land Based Whale Watching’ (Whale Watching Season is July - September). That evening we joined in the Indoor Braai (BBQ) with Rene and fellow travellers (it’s in the middle of the new Pub), The pub has a panoramic view of the Gansbaai Harbour.

The weather was overcast on Thursday so we headed for a local Wine Estate called Raka, with a stop over at the Cheese Farm enroute. (They have a great selection and some cheeses I’d never heard of). Most of the Raka wine range has received awards and after the tasting we sellected a couple of bottles for our Deli Style Dinner of excellent cheeses, pickles and biscuits (and loads of wine of course). The backpackers has a sundowner deck on the roof of the pub which is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset…sipping on a glass of Raka Sharaz.

Gansbaai Backpackers is well worth a visit.

Friday morning saw us wave goodbye to Gansbaai Backpackers (we’ll be back!!!) and head towards Napier (close to Cape Agulhas). I could not resist a visit to the NEW Napier Brewery which I’d heard about. Craigan who owns Suntouched Inn gave us the Brewmasters Tour and joined us for a tasting. (we should have spent the night or week LOL)

We collected a couple of beers and hit the road… Next stop Fairy Knowe Backpackers, Wilderness (Paradise Of The Garden Route) This is a favourite stop over for us, as it is half way between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and the thatched ‘Afro-Bar’ is always a great gathering point for travellers. Jorg, the inhouse flight instructor is the ‘local paragliding master’. So after the second Napier Lager we had booked an earlier morning Tandem Paragliding jump with him. What an experience and with his hand held camera contraption we have memories to savour. Our jump was over the ‘Map of Africa’ which is a section of the Touw River which has shape a route which looks just like the map of Africa from above. (jump price Only R400.00 - What a pleasure!!!) Dependant on the weather, there are loads of different paragliding jump sites in Wilderness.

Next Stop Port Elizabeth, Ahhhhh…

Until our next Backpackers Adventure.

Get Packing!!!