Hello Olivia,

Yes I have been and it was the best trip ever! The company I used was Nomad – Africa – which is a partner with STA Travel – they offer a whole load of trips all over Southern and Eastern Africa – their prices are incredible and the mix of travelers they attract is really good. They are the backpackers way to see Southern Africa. Feel free to call my specialist 800 line if you want to speak about anything related to Southern Africa.

Happy Travels –

Jeremy
1-800-217-1889
Profile: Traveler
South Africa Expert

Hi Olivia!

South Africa is fantastic – there are so many very different experiences that it has to offer – everything from safaris to tribal rituals to wine tastings. I went on an adventure camping trip from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls and back to S. Africa, and it was the most incredible trip of my life. The camping aspect was fantastic – since a safari is about nature, it’s great to be sleeping “outdoors” and really be able to absorb everything going on around you. Nomad is a well-trusted and fun company to have that experience with — local guides are invaluable, especially in places like the Okavango Delta in Botswana where you’re further away from modern facilities. That said, even non-outdoorsy people should be fine with a trip like this, since nearly all the campsites have full bath and restaurant/bar facilities. By the end of our trip, my girlfriends and I were quite friendly with bugs and dirt, as well as with the diverse group of people we met. Our photos are almost unbelieveable — I daresay you’ll never see a more dramatic sunset. It would have been well worth it even if it had cost twice as much.

If you have other questions for me, feel free to call me directly at 1-800-222-9853.

Thanks!
Carley

Hey Olivia,

I tell you, if you’re looking for a great trek/camp time in SA, the place to go is the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape Province. It’s about three hours each way from both Port Elizabeth and Durban. I’m just going to cut and paste something I previously wrote about it, so my bad if it’s written a bit dramatic.

The region is made up of hills which rise and fall into the ocean at abandon. They offer a challenge to negotiate and ensure a feeling of accomplished exhaustion at the end of every day. Soil quality in the Wild Coast is poor and cattle grazing is popular, so expect dozens of cows to dutifully stare at you on any beach or hill. The blue-green Indian Ocean is laid constantly in view of your trek and you can cheaply buy tasty fish, crayfish, or other seafood from locals along the way.

Xhosa is the spoken language of the region, so if you travel with a guide, which I recommend but is not a necessity, try to get someone who speaks this. This will make it easier for advice and you will probably be able to negotiate with locals to stay in an empty cow-dung hut for the night so as to avoid putting up a tent. Speaking of the locals, remember that you are in their backyard. Try not to make a fool out of yourself. Don’t liter, and pick it up if you see it. This is a largely unspoiled area, and its best to try to keep it that way.

Typically, hikers travel between the cities of Port of Saint John’s and Coffee Bay. These are popular backpacker destinations, and the Baz Bus, South Africa’s backpacker’s bus system, travels to both of these. Rumor had it that the South African government is going to try to open the Wild Coast up to heavy tourism, so get there by the end of 2008 if at all possible.

I’m sure a quick google search would give you a way better run-down than I did, but this may be a start. I would REALLY recomend it if you’re down there. It’s unlike any other part of the coast that I visited down there when I studied abroad last spring. Oh, and I would recomend quickly researching just how the Xhosa got shoved to that particular part of the country during apartheid; it explains a lot.

Regardless of whether or not you visit the Wild Coast, have a FANTASTIC visit in SA. It’s difficult not to love.

p.s. You look really cute in that picture