I'm planning next year's trip and will be hunting in SA and Namibia. Can anyone think of any reason to do one or the other first?

I'll be traveling from/to the US. I am thinking of flying in to JB, drive to my hunting, and then either drive or hop from Capetown to Windhoek. My hunting in SA is about halfway between JB and Capetown.

Any thoughts?

This is doable, RODell, but I would not suggest that you try it alone as driving distances are long. Sounds as if you are hunting in the Orange Free State or the Karoo.

What you may find that works is to rent a fairly stout vehicle at the airport in Joburg. Google and seek details from a few of the many rental businesses there. Be sure they know that you are going to take the vehicle to Namibia and leave it off there -- unless, glutton for punishment, you plan to drive back to the RSA and turn the car in. In this scenario you would drive from the hunting area to the Namibian border, spend the night and then carry on into Namibia to where you plan to hunt.

Plan B would be to hunt in the RSA and visit Cape Town, always worthwhile, and then drive from Cape Town to Windhoek or wherever in Namibia you seek to hunt. In that case you could let your outfitter pick you up in Joburg and fly from, say, Bloemfontein to Cape Town, rent in Cape Town, something I've done, and drive to Namibia, planning to spend the night either on the South African or the Namibian side at/across the border and carry on the next day to either drop the car off and meet your outfitter in Windhoek or, more expensively, drive to the hunting area, hunt and do some tourism in Namibia (Etosha Pan-Swakopmund-Sossusvlei or what have you.

Regards, Tim

Safari time is too valuable to spend on this long of a drive unless you have plenty of time and just want to see the sights.

A good travel agent can get your flights as part of a package and the Joberg to Windhoek leg will cost you very little.

I would fly it !

Driving from Cape Town along the West coast would be a trip you will never forget. This is something I would strongly recommend if you have the time for it over and above your hunting time.

You will pass the diamond fields which is a restricted entry area and lots of wheat and grape farming properties. My brother has a small grape farm in Clanwilliam which is about halfway between Cape Town and the Namibia border at Onseepkans. From there you can reach Sossusvlei(highly recommended) which is at the tip of the Namib desert. You have to get a tag to go in but it is time well spent.

The Kgalagadi National Park would be a must if you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

If you need any more info you are welcome to contact me.

It is a lot hot drive.

Like going through Utah and Narvada during summer on the dirt roads.

Also watch out for all the donkeys.

You need some time to make it a nice trip.