Just one, on a 2 month cruise via Cape Town

by Tom Engel
(China)

Hi,

In October I will come to Cape Town on a cruise ship. We will stay in your city for three days before traveling on to East London and Durban. FYI I am an American living in China.
During our stay I wish to visit a good park close to Cape Town to see the Big Five.

Many years ago I spent 3 weeks in Kenya visiting most of the large animal areas. I would also like you to suggest other interesting things to do which in Cape Town.

Keep smiling,

Tom Engel

Alison's reply

Hi Tom,

Wow, you are cruising to Cape Town – that’s awesome! I would love to know what cruise line are you using ?

When you travel on to east London and Durban I imagine that will be a continuation of the cruise, not land-based?

When you say ‘a good park close to Cape Town to see the Big Five’ – I must warn you that the parks near Cape town are nothing like the Serengeti or Masai Mara. In fact, you may find them a little underwhelming if that is your expectation.

The very best and largest of them is Sanbona, a sister reserve to Shamwari (of Animal Planet fame). It is about 2.5 hours drive from Cape Town and I would definitely recommend an overnight stay there.

Otherwise it’s day trips to smaller parks where the lions do not roam and hunt for themselves…

A possible exciting alternative might be to visit Hluhuwe/Imfolozi some hours from Durban (I’m not sure how long your stay there is? That is an awesome, huge and wild Big 5 park famous for its part in saving the rhino from extinction.

As to interesting things to do while in Cape Town, I highly recommend visiting the penguins at Boulders beach, whale watching from Simonstown and watching the great white sharks if you are at all interested in them?

I’m not sure how much of my site you have read, but check out the Attractions page as a starting point.

Warm regards from a chilly World-Cup-hungover Cape Town!

Alison