BootsnAll Travel Community

My friend and I are going to South Africa mid March for 3 weeks next year and intend on using Baz's Bus to go from Cape Town up to Durban (then fly back to Cape Town for our flight home).

Could anyone give me advice about how long the journeys between these places are:

Cape Town - Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay - Knysna
Knysna - Jeffery's Bay
Jeffery's Bay - Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth - Coffee Bay
Coffee Bay - Port St Johns
Port St John's - Durban
Durban - St Lucia
St Lucia - Kruger
Kruger - Durban

Can you also advise the best hostels in these places where they stop off, how long you would advise staying there (i.e much to do?).

We don't want to run out of time to get to places so could do with the above information. Is there anywhere else that we should think of putting into our schedule.

Is it worth booking Baz's Bus before we get to Cape Town or should we just book it once we get there?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Many Thanks

Amanda

I can't remember the journey times that well, but you should be able to find a schedule on the Baz Bus Website.

Forget Port Elizebet- nothing there...Mossel Bay - if your pressed for time you can skip it or walk around for a day or two.

My FAVORITES:

Cape Town (at least 4 days) - Tons to due, In my mind the MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY IN THE WORLD

Jeffery's Bay (3 days - take a Surf Lesson)
Coffee Bay (hiking, Beach, drum making, As Authentic Africa as You can get on the baz bus tour).

Be careful because I was planning on 2 days in coffee bay and stayed for more than a week.

As for places to stay:

In Cape Town you have to stay at A Sunflower Stop. I worked there for a few months last year when I was traveling an its is one of the best hostels I've ever been in. The staff and the location is great! And it is really clean.

In Jeffery's Bay - you have to decide what your up for 1. Party 2. Chilling. If it's a party you want then you go to !. ISLAND VIBE 2. CRYSTAL COVE

Coffee Bay Bay - THE COFFEE SHACK!

Knysna and St. Lucia are beautiful! St. Lucia is popular with divers...

Kruger is amazing. Durban...not much to see.

Hope this helps.

I've never done the Baz Bus tour myself... but search southafricalogue.com for info cos Trekker did a baz bubs tour and wrote a couple articles... do an search! Also maybe PM Trekker and ask her what she suggests!

Dopey, I think that you need to take the Baz Bus tour and report back to us. You could use a few days off anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by static:
Dopey, I think that you need to take the Baz Bus tour and report back to us. You could use a few days off anyway.

i like your work... i agree whole heartedly

I've heard great things about the Coffee Shack and have stayed at BIBS International Backpackers in St Lucia... it has an awesome atmosphere, would recommend the hostel!

hey

drop me a PM I did the whole baz bus route over 5mths and wrote a bunch of articles on www.southafricalogue.com look under baz blogger.
I would be happy to give you advice over the phone too, I have helped about 3 people with their trips there.

Trekker

I spent three months in SA this year and your in for an amazing time! One question though, is it possible to start from Durban and end in Cape Town? The reason for this is because Cape Town is so much better than Durban, don't get me wrong Durban is great but Cape Town will capture your heart!!!
I took the Baz Bus as well and it's really worth the $, I travelled on my own and this is a great way to meet people and it's very very safe, the company always knows where you were and where your going because each hostel your at will book the next one you have planned for. Also there's a little book a.k.a. The Bible, it can be found at any backpackers and it has all the hostels and discriptions on them and the Baz Bus is affiliated with this book so you can sit back on the bus and pick out your next stops...and the best thing is it's FREE!!!

As for hostels......these are the ones I stayed at and loved.

Cape Town - Carnival Backpakers(on Long Street), fun and in the middle of everything!

Coffee Bay - Coffee Shack, amazing sightseeing and true SA roots with the village people, the staff are warm and friendly....stayed almost a week (wanted to stay more)

Jeffrey's Bay - Island Vibe, fun in the sun is all I have to say, had my first surf lesson there and then there's the Billabong warehouse!! Hostels location "A one".

Port Elizabeth - Sugar Shack, nothing much exciting there, could have been just bad timing but there's not much to see and do there!

Anyway hope this helps out.....I'm going back Aug 08 for another 3 months.....truely amazing place to visit!!!

Ter

How goes the planning Mandy, hope you guys are siked!!!!

Trekker