England Cricket in South Africa

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by Mido, Aug 13, 2018.

  1. Mid

    Mido Well-Known Member

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    Has anyone on here done an England cricket tour to South Africa? Me and the Mrs are planning on going next winter and want to start planning it.

    Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated? There doesn't seem to be much information out there yet. Think we'd probably go out after Christmas so would likely miss the Cape Town test but really fancy doing it as a tourist.
     
  2. pompey_red

    pompey_red Well-Known Member

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  3. Jack Tatty (Formerly LouisBalfour)

    Jack Tatty (Formerly LouisBalfour) Well-Known Member

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    Gooch Gatting Lamb Dilley and some others did in early 80s.

    Dont think it went down well.
     
    Merde Tete likes this.
  4. Mid

    Mido Well-Known Member

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    Cheers mate had a look at those types of things but think we might want to be a bit more bespoke and do it our own way as the mrs isn't really into cricket so needs to be a holiday with a bit of cricket rather than a cricket holiday.
     
  5. dreamboy3000

    dreamboy3000 Well-Known Member

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    Be careful you don't get ripped off, like the England fans going to Sri Lanka......

    https://www.barmyarmy.com/news-engl...ns-againstrip-offsri-lanka-ticket-prices.html
     
  6. BorderTerrier

    BorderTerrier Active Member

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    Yeh been twice to Cape Town for the Tests. There is plenty of time to get there after Xmas as the Test Match doesn't start until 2nd or 3rd of January.

    If you goi to Cape Town book your flights and hotels independently as there is no need to use a tour company for something so easy. Tickets you just go down to Newlands as soon a you get there and get them for all 5 days as they're dirt cheap even is you miss a day or two, as are drinks (£1 a pint/glass of wine), food (£5 fabulous steaks), and everything else. Only expensive thing is flights with it being the Xmas/NY holiday season. Do fly from Manchester though, its; not direct but you can go with a small wait via Heathrow, Amsterdam etc. Not worth driving to HRW. Cape Town is a brilliant city, in fact unmissable if you like cricket and can afford to get here. So much to do outside the cricket as well. No safety issues encountered, even pissed up wandering about in the early hours.

    Tour companies are an expensive waste of time in my opinion. Best places to stay are in the city centre where all the nightlife is; apartment hotels are great, spacious and not pricey. Newlands is out in the sticks but it's a cheap taxi there and back each day. We will be back for the 3rd time New Year after next all being well...West Indies to fit in before that fingers crossed. PM me if you have any more detailed questions and I'll do my best to point you the right direction. Enjoy!
     
  7. Mid

    Mido Well-Known Member

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    Extremely helpful that mate, might take you up on the PM once I've had a more detailed look into what we want to do whilst over there. Had it in my head that the boxing day test was in Cape Town but with it be it being in the new year that will probably make it much better, I couldn't quite persuade her to go over for Christmas Day but might be able to do New Year. Presumably there's plenty going on in Cape Town on NYE like most other major cities?
     
  8. Dod

    DodworthRover Well-Known Member

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    Ive been twice and will be going again in 19/20 too. Basically book yer flights early as possible ie January ish. Boxing day test is durban so u need to stay ideally in Florida road area or on promenade but near casino side of the prom. Cape town stay anywhere in like a fifteen minute radius of long street or if your loaded try the waterfront locations which is like meadowhall full of shops bars restaurant.
     
  9. BorderTerrier

    BorderTerrier Active Member

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    Cape Town on NYE is amazing, one massive party going off. Lots of the bars have balconies overlooking Long Street where you can get a perch and watch it all going off below. In fact the whole duration of the Test Match is a big party, brilliant bus & restaurants (Nelson's Eye one of best steak houses in world), sports mad locals, dead friendly to talk to. Some really cool roof top bars not to be missed, plus afternoon tea at Colonial Hotels for a bit of refinement. Then you can go an see the penguins on Boulders Beach, cable car up Table Mountain, wine tours, great white shark cage experience, helicopter tours, Robben Island, V&A Waterfront for shopping, more drinking/eating etc, play cricket on Camps Bay beach New Yers Day with the locals. Garden Route is great if you want to get out of the city. It's all like a giant playground designed for maximum fun really, plus the most stunning cricket ground in the world.
     
  10. Mid

    Mido Well-Known Member

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    Thanks again, really helpful information that think you've made our minds up!

    Have you ever done any sort of safari whilst you're over there? We're interested in something like as well that but not sure whether you can do it from a Cape Town base or if we'd have to stay elsewhere for a couple of days.
     
  11. Mid

    Mido Well-Known Member

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    Brill cheers mate
     
  12. Terry Nutkins

    Terry Nutkins Well-Known Member

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    Stay well clear of any company offering packages for cricket tours, they’ll have your pants down.

    Do it yourself and you’ll save gazillions.

    I’ve not been to SA but been on two tours to Oz to watch England. Both times did it myself, at about 10% of the cost of the packages.
     
  13. Dod

    DodworthRover Well-Known Member

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    No probs. Flights about 700 via joburg and i had a fantastic apartment for 400 quid a week in cape town bearing in mind its new year. Can also recommend fire and ice hotel for the location and comfort plus they host there own nye street party too. Also the Dubliner bar on long street has all the sport on and a live band every night till one am and steak and chips fifty rand. Whisky was around 1.50 and Stella Guinness etc local brews less.
    Any internal flights book via kulula.com
     
  14. BorderTerrier

    BorderTerrier Active Member

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    Yes mate, we went to Garden Route Game Lodge whilst we were over there. It's a lovely drive (about 4 hours one way) and you stay overnight (or 2 if you want) and facilities re stunning. However, like all other "safaris" driveable from Cape Town they are relatively small and closely managed (separating fences to stop big cats eating everything else, rangers/vets to look after animals etc). They are nothing like the big ones around the world which are red in tooth and claw. I guess if you've never been on one then it's fine, you see the animals in the "semi-wild", accommodation is top notch and so is hospitality/food. However, if you want an easy, cheaper and all round "cuddlier" experience then Garden Route Game Lodge is fine. https://grgamelodge.co.za However if you can find the money and time then Kruger will be a thousand times better (if you are not put off by animals killing each other!). You'll have to fly there and back though as it's a long long way from Cape Town,
     
  15. Tyk

    Tyketical Masterstroke Well-Known Member

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    Hi mate. We did South Africa with England in January 2005, although we only went to one test, the one in Cape Town. We did the organisation and everything ourselves, as it was significantly cheaper than buying in to part of a tour; we’d done a tour to the West Indies the winter before and although it was really nice having everything all organised for you it wasn’t worth the significant extra cost in our view.

    Cape Town is absolutely amazing. Loads to do, best things we did were night out in Camps Bay, Table Mountain and wine tour to Stellenbosch, but there’s absolutely loads to do and I’d thoroughly recommend it. Possibly the most picturesque cricket ground in the world as well.

    You should definitely go for it mate!
     
  16. Terry Nutkins

    Terry Nutkins Well-Known Member

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    Whooooooa, where the **** have you been, looking like.
     
  17. BorderTerrier

    BorderTerrier Active Member

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    I’ve been Hide & Seek UK Champion last 3 years running.

    To be honest got balled off with everyone arguing with each other on here & also developed a serious Fantasy Football obsession at the same time, along with being busy with other things generally. Still read the BBS though, it has its moments! Although like Viz, it’s not as funny as it used to be....
     

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