2 & 3. you’ll get used to driving on the left side very easily – at least i did. mind you, when you get back to canada, you’ll have to get used to drving on the right side;-) so don’t hesitate and hire a car (compare avis, budget a.o. on internet), it’s by far the best and cheapest way to visit. roads are OK, not to much traffic (except for cape town)

4. don’t pick the atlantic beaches to swim – far too cold. however, southern beaches in february are OK, gordon’s bay, walker bay, and more to the east vlees bay, mossel bay

5. you could get tours from hotel, but that will be more expensive than doing it on yourself – hire a car

6. february can be very hot, but it will just be warm on the coast. sunny, blue skies, don’t forget your suntan

7. book yourself online. if you know where you want to stay, search for "accomodation" combined with the name of the city on yahoo. but you can even get your accomodation while you tour. you’ll easily find b&b or hotel in about every single city or village. this leaves you with the possibility to "go where you like". that’s how i always do it …

8. no doubt: addo park (about 80 km north of port elisabeth) (http://www.addopark.com/) if you want to stay in the park, make shure to book asap. no need for malaria pills in western cape – neither for eastern cape if you do go to durban

1. You only have 10-12 days and you have planned many things. You might consider skipping Durban, Garden route and focus on Western Cape. Plenty things to do in the area, you have listed some. Add Table mountain, Robben Island, Hout Bay, Paarl, Simonstown, and other cities in the wine district.

2. You better drive on the left hand side

3. Hire a car and you have the most flexibility

4. Too cold to swim in the ocean, as you mention. But hotels have nice pools.

5. Lots of tours offered, consider taking a wine tasting tour so that you don’t have to drive yourself Ask the concierge or buy the trip when you visit V&A Waterfront. many tour companies have sales officies thers.

6. Summer. Nice and warm.

7. Look at tripadvisor.com and read reviews. Contact hotel directly. Buy flights on internet or through travel agent if you’re unsure.

8. Kruger is the best option but it is 2h flight from Cape Town.

Have a fantastic trip !!

Additional details:

About the car. If you have a drivers license then you can certainly drive safely in South Africa. I don’t know how they drive in Canada so I can’t compare.

My impression of South African traffic is that it’s a bit more aggressive and there are lot of bad drivers on the roads. But as long as you drive safely you’re ok. It takes a few hours to get used to the traffic but then it’s a breeze

Go for a car hire, you will enjoy the flexibility.

Additional details *****************

Well Cape Town is in Africa
No but seriously, CT is a modern western-style town with restaurants, shopping malls and luxury hotels. Beaches are good but if you are after a luxury hotel with a connecting nice sand beach, then CT isn’t the best choice. There are so much fun things to do on the peninsula: wine tasting, table mountain, robben island, cape point, botanic garden, excellent restaurants, hip pub and bars, cricket, Ostrich farms. Just cruising in a car and experience all those gorgeus small towns. Lunch at Hout Bay hotel.

I’m drooling now, but my flight for CT isn’t until Dec 25

2.Driving on the right hand side would be suicide.

3.Hire a car, by far the cheapest and most practivcal.

4.The garden route has many good swimming beaches. YOu can swim at Clifton and Camps bay but the water is freezing. Durban has very warm water.

5. No, rather just visit the places on your own.

6. In Durban it will be very Humid, Cape Town is very dry and the hottest month of the year and there will be a fair amount of wind.

7. http://www.sa-venues.com

8. Addo Elephant National Park

And no you don’t need a malaria shot if you are only going to visit South Africa. Other countries like Mozambique and Botswana yes…but not South Africa!

In the North West Province is an oasis in the bush called Sun City and Lost city. Don’t know why you don’t have it on your list! It has a Game area called Pilansberg with 5star accomodation!
http://www.gh-sa.com/safari-pictures/large/Sun-2520City-2520from-2520air.jpg
http://www.suninternational.com/Destinations/Resorts/SunCity/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.knet.co.za/pilansberg/index.html

Please see this links as it is my favourite places in my country!
http://www.elephantsanctuary.co.za/
http://www.lion-park.com/home2.htm
http://www.lion-park.com/activities2.htm
The rates are soooo ceap and the experiance once in a lifetime!

In the Western Cape there is a fossil park – very entertaining!
http://www.dst.gov.za/publications-policies/magazine/vol5_html/vol5_8

Kimberley is the oldest town in South Africa. It is where the big hole is – diamond mine.
http://www.thebighole.co.za/
http://www.jewishweb.co.za/weekends/the-big-hole-kimberley/the_big_hole_kimberely.JPG

2.) You will easily get used to driving on the left hand side. Our cars is also right hand drive so you’lll catch the feeling easily. You can hire a Sauveur if you don’t get along the first day.

3.) TAXI IS NOT AN OPTION! PLEASE! Just trust me. There is Hotel shuttles but I would recommend car hire. This is available at the airport.

4.) You can swim at Clifton and Camps bay…the water is just extremely cold! Durban’s water is warm.

5.)You can ask…but only a couple of hotels offers this service. Have a look at this site.
http://www.sa-venues.com/national_tour_guides.htm

6.) REAL HOT! Get loads of sun screen! It can reach a scorching 45 degrees celsuis! No rain in Cape Town but possibility in Durban and the North part of South Africa.

7.) Online shouldn’t be too difficult but to rest assured I’ll ay book a travel agent. Please do not keep valuebles in your suitcase but rather on you like in your handbag.

8.) No malaria shot needed. See top.

ENJOY your trip! Have fun!
Please email me if you need websites or town names or ANYTHING else! I would love to help!