While you are in Africa, you could:
Visit Cape Town, South Africa
Back in 2017, our friends went and spent four days and three nights and really enjoyed it. You would have to book your own flights from Johannesburg, South Africa to Cape Town on South African Airways which is a great airlines.
On the first day they were in Cape Town, they toured Cape Town on the Hop On Hop Off bus to see the highlights as well as to go to Table Mountain. Table Mountain is a must see when you visit Cape Town.
They used a local tour company, I & F Elegant Country Tours (www.ifafricatours.co.za), for a full day tour to the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, and Penguins. They also went on a full day winery tour that can be coordinated with airport drop-off for return flights to Johannesburg. Here is a Tip: Plan this wine tour for the last day as the tour van has to go by the airport in Cape Town and has no problem dropping you off for your next flight.
Their suggestion for hotels in Cape Town would be to find one in the area of the waterfront where there are many restaurants within walking distance.
November 2017 Update:
Susan and I have been looking at going early in 2018 for an excursion to Cape Town. If our math is correct it adds about $1,000 to the cost of the basic Mission 2018 itinerary. Here are the links to our current plans, in case you would like to go with us. We would leave Atlanta on March 25, Sunday and connect in JNB on March 26th to go on to CPT. Long, long travel trek getting to CPT, but the next day would be an easy one doing the Hop on Hop off bus. TIP: I take cat naps on the bus. Here are the links to our plans:
ATL to JNB to CPT
We will leave on March Sunday 25th arrive on Monday 26th at 9:20 pm -- Then return to JNB on March 30th. The round trip to Cape Town adds about $250 per person.
Back in 2017, our friends went and spent four days and three nights and really enjoyed it. You would have to book your own flights from Johannesburg, South Africa to Cape Town on South African Airways which is a great airlines.
On the first day they were in Cape Town, they toured Cape Town on the Hop On Hop Off bus to see the highlights as well as to go to Table Mountain. Table Mountain is a must see when you visit Cape Town.
They used a local tour company, I & F Elegant Country Tours (www.ifafricatours.co.za), for a full day tour to the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, and Penguins. They also went on a full day winery tour that can be coordinated with airport drop-off for return flights to Johannesburg. Here is a Tip: Plan this wine tour for the last day as the tour van has to go by the airport in Cape Town and has no problem dropping you off for your next flight.
Their suggestion for hotels in Cape Town would be to find one in the area of the waterfront where there are many restaurants within walking distance.
November 2017 Update:
Susan and I have been looking at going early in 2018 for an excursion to Cape Town. If our math is correct it adds about $1,000 to the cost of the basic Mission 2018 itinerary. Here are the links to our current plans, in case you would like to go with us. We would leave Atlanta on March 25, Sunday and connect in JNB on March 26th to go on to CPT. Long, long travel trek getting to CPT, but the next day would be an easy one doing the Hop on Hop off bus. TIP: I take cat naps on the bus. Here are the links to our plans:
ATL to JNB to CPT
We will leave on March Sunday 25th arrive on Monday 26th at 9:20 pm -- Then return to JNB on March 30th. The round trip to Cape Town adds about $250 per person.
HOTEL in Cape Town: $80 per night includes Breakfast, 3 min walk to hop on hop off bus
www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g312659-d1027294-Reviews-Holiday_Inn_Express_Cape_Town_City_Centre-Cape_Town_Central_Western_Cape.html
www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g312659-d1027294-Reviews-Holiday_Inn_Express_Cape_Town_City_Centre-Cape_Town_Central_Western_Cape.html
Hop on Hop off bus about $14 per ticket
www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g1722390-d13009370-City_Sightseeing_Cape_Town_Hop_On_Hop_Off_Tour-Cape_Town_Western_Cape.html
www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g1722390-d13009370-City_Sightseeing_Cape_Town_Hop_On_Hop_Off_Tour-Cape_Town_Western_Cape.html
Cape Peninsula Tour about $75 per person
www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g1722390-d11447193-Cape_Peninsula_Tour_from_Cape_Town-Cape_Town_Western_Cape.html
www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g1722390-d11447193-Cape_Peninsula_Tour_from_Cape_Town-Cape_Town_Western_Cape.html
An all day wine tour with lunch included
www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g1722390-d11990524-Full_Day_South_African_Wine_Tour-Cape_Town_Western_Cape.html
www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g1722390-d11990524-Full_Day_South_African_Wine_Tour-Cape_Town_Western_Cape.html
Visit Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls is another place that is easy to reach from Johannesburg via South African Airways. A group of three couples did this with us in 2017 and we all really enjoyed it. We took South African Airlines from JNB to VFA and paid about $300 per seat. We spent two nights in this really wonderful place called, Vitoria Falls Safari Club. The rooms were amazing and the view from our private balcony was fun. It over looked a "watering hole" that critters would come to and drink. There are pictures below to give you a taste of this excursion. We paid for a "tour guide" for the falls, but if I ever go back, I will just walk as that is all we did with the "tour guide". He was pleasant and of course new lots of facts, but you really don't need a guide. The path is well marked an all you do is just follow it all the way around and back always taking a left turn at each chance you have.
We opted for the big blowout they have at one restaurant on the grounds called the Boma. It is basically a big buffet that costs more than I personally got out of it, plus they do this kind of jungle drum concert and even hand out bongos for the patrons to beat. The night before we had a nice meal in the main restaurant over looking the "water hole" and really had good service and a good meal. If you like meat cooked over a spit, like lamb and really loud jungle drums then this is must do for you.
The town of Victoria Falls looked like a tourist trap and was far enough from our rooms that we never even made a point to visit it. The room had a mini bar fully stocked with wine and beer all included in the room price. So I will end my recommendation here with a few pictures and to begin the photo tour, here is our actual itinerary as we took in 2016. All the time you need to see Victoria Falls.
Victoria Falls is another place that is easy to reach from Johannesburg via South African Airways. A group of three couples did this with us in 2017 and we all really enjoyed it. We took South African Airlines from JNB to VFA and paid about $300 per seat. We spent two nights in this really wonderful place called, Vitoria Falls Safari Club. The rooms were amazing and the view from our private balcony was fun. It over looked a "watering hole" that critters would come to and drink. There are pictures below to give you a taste of this excursion. We paid for a "tour guide" for the falls, but if I ever go back, I will just walk as that is all we did with the "tour guide". He was pleasant and of course new lots of facts, but you really don't need a guide. The path is well marked an all you do is just follow it all the way around and back always taking a left turn at each chance you have.
We opted for the big blowout they have at one restaurant on the grounds called the Boma. It is basically a big buffet that costs more than I personally got out of it, plus they do this kind of jungle drum concert and even hand out bongos for the patrons to beat. The night before we had a nice meal in the main restaurant over looking the "water hole" and really had good service and a good meal. If you like meat cooked over a spit, like lamb and really loud jungle drums then this is must do for you.
The town of Victoria Falls looked like a tourist trap and was far enough from our rooms that we never even made a point to visit it. The room had a mini bar fully stocked with wine and beer all included in the room price. So I will end my recommendation here with a few pictures and to begin the photo tour, here is our actual itinerary as we took in 2016. All the time you need to see Victoria Falls.
We highly recommend that you wear clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting wet. Also the tour was a two hour walk, so wear shoes that can get wet and don't cause blisters.
I will be adding some odds and ends that are possible in Johannesburg, South Africa in the coming days, so be on the lookout!