Hi everyone,

I’m planning a solo trip to Chile in mid-November (around 15 days) and would love some honest feedback on this itinerary. I won’t be renting a car.

Itinerary:

- Day 1–3: Santiago + day trip to Valparaíso

- Day 4–7: Easter Island (4 nights)

- Day 8–11: San Pedro de Atacama (4 nights)

- Day 12: Back to Santiago

- Day 13–14: Puerto Varas / Lake District

- Day 15: Back to Santiago, evening departure

Must-do activities:

- Diving on Easter Island

- Stargazing in the Atacama

- Photography (landscapes, moai, desert, volcanoes and lakes)

Questions for those who have been / locals:

- Does this itinerary feel too rushed, or is it realistic at a reasonable pace?

- Is mid-November a good time for these regions (weather, wind, rain, crowds)?

- Any issues with diving on Easter Island in November (sea conditions, visibility, operators)?

- Are flights between Santiago and Puerto Montt reliable and frequent? Is getting to Puerto Varas easy without a car?

- Are 4 nights in Atacama enough or too many? (planning Valle de la Luna, Altiplanic Lagoons, Tatio Geysers + stargazing)

- Any particularly scenic spots I’m missing that would be worth adjusting the itinerary for?

- Any general logistics tips or things people usually underestimate?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi everyone!

I’m planning a 15-day solo trip to South Africa this November and would love some feedback on my draft itinerary. My main highlights are Johannesburg, a 4-day Kruger safari, and getting my PADI Advanced Open Water (AOW) certification in Cape Town.

Here is the high-level daily plan:

High-Level Itinerary

• Day 1 - Johannesburg: Land at JNB (11:25). Gautrain to Rosebank, drop bags, afternoon visit to Constitution Hill. (Stay in Rosebank)
• Day 2 - Johannesburg: Morning at Apartheid Museum, afternoon Soweto History Tour (Vilakazi St / Mandela House). (Stay in Rosebank)
• Day 3 - Johannesburg: Morning Rosebank Sunday Market, afternoon Maboneng Precinct. (Stay in Rosebank)
• Day 4 - Kruger: Early Uber (~06:00) from Rosebank to JNB Airport for 07:00 Kurt Safari shuttle pickup. Drive to Kruger, check-in at Umbaba Eco Lodge, sunset/night game drive.
• Day 5 - Kruger: Full-day open-vehicle Kruger game drive.
• Day 6 - Kruger: Full-day open-vehicle Kruger game drive.
• Day 7 - Kruger: Sunrise game drive in Kruger. 11:00 shuttle back to JNB (ETA ~17:30). Evening flight from JNB to Cape Town.
• Day 8 - Cape Town: Dive Course Day 1
• Day 9 - Cape Town: Dive Course Day 2. Late afternoon Lion's Head sunset hike.
• Day 10 - Cape Town: Dive Course Day 3.
• Day 11 - Cape Town: Table Mountain Aerial Cableway & Bo-Kaap neighborhood.
• Day 12 - Cape Town: Cape Peninsula Tour (Chapman's Peak, Boulders Beach penguins, Cape Point).
• Day 13 - Cape Town: Morning Robben Island tour, afternoon Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
• Day 14 - Johannesburg: Morning flight CPT --> JNB. Afternoon tour of the Cradle of Humankind (Sterkfontein Caves).
• Day 15 - Johannesburg: Souvenir shopping at Rosebank Craft Market. Flight home from JNB (19:40).

Specific Questions & Logistics Concerns

1. Cape Town Diving & School Recommendations: Is Cape Town a good diving destination in early November? Which specific dive schools/operators do you recommend (preferably around V&A Waterfront, Sea Point, or Simon's Town)?
2. Compressing AOW (2 Days vs 3 Days): My draft schedule currently allocates 3 days for the Advanced Open Water course. If I complete all the e-Learning/theory online before arriving, is it feasible to complete the 5 required ocean dives in 2 days instead of 3? Do you know reputable schools that accommodate a 2-day setup, and if so, what should I add to fill the freed-up day?
3. Day 4 Morning Pickup Logistics: Kurt Safari picks up at JNB airport at 07:00 AM. I plan to stay in Rosebank for all 3 nights and take an Uber to JNB around 06:00 AM on Monday. Is Uber readily available in Rosebank at 06:00 AM, and is ~35 minutes a realistic commute time at that hour?
4. Day 7 Transfer & Flight to Cape Town: Kurt Safari shuttle drops off at JNB Airport around 17:30. What departure time should I target for my domestic flight to Cape Town? Is a 20:30 or 21:00 flight safe, or is traffic returning from Kruger prone to major delays?
5. General Flow & History Tours: Does the overall pace feel balanced? I currently have Constitution Hill, Apartheid Museum, Soweto, and Robben Island—are all four worth doing, or is there significant historical overlap? Is the Cradle of Humankind trip on Day 14 worth the detour?

Thanks in advance for your insights and recommendations!

Hi everyone!

I’m planning a 15-day solo trip to South Africa this November and would love some feedback on my draft itinerary. My main highlights are Johannesburg, a 4-day Kruger safari, and getting my PADI Advanced Open Water (AOW) certification in Cape Town.

Here is the high-level daily plan:

High-Level Itinerary

• Day 1 - Johannesburg: Land at JNB (11:25). Gautrain to Rosebank, drop bags, afternoon visit to Constitution Hill. (Stay in Rosebank)
• Day 2 - Johannesburg: Morning at Apartheid Museum, afternoon Soweto History Tour (Vilakazi St / Mandela House). (Stay in Rosebank)
• Day 3 - Johannesburg: Morning Rosebank Sunday Market, afternoon Maboneng Precinct. (Stay in Rosebank)
• Day 4 - Kruger: Early Uber (~06:00) from Rosebank to JNB Airport for 07:00 Kurt Safari shuttle pickup. Drive to Kruger, check-in at Umbaba Eco Lodge, sunset/night game drive.
• Day 5 - Kruger: Full-day open-vehicle Kruger game drive.
• Day 6 - Kruger: Full-day open-vehicle Kruger game drive.
• Day 7 - Kruger: Sunrise game drive in Kruger. 11:00 shuttle back to JNB (ETA ~17:30). Evening flight from JNB to Cape Town.
• Day 8 - Cape Town: Dive Course Day 1
• Day 9 - Cape Town: Dive Course Day 2. Late afternoon Lion's Head sunset hike.
• Day 10 - Cape Town: Dive Course Day 3.
• Day 11 - Cape Town: Table Mountain Aerial Cableway & Bo-Kaap neighborhood.
• Day 12 - Cape Town: Cape Peninsula Tour (Chapman's Peak, Boulders Beach penguins, Cape Point).
• Day 13 - Cape Town: Morning Robben Island tour, afternoon Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
• Day 14 - Johannesburg: Morning flight CPT --> JNB. Afternoon tour of the Cradle of Humankind (Sterkfontein Caves).
• Day 15 - Johannesburg: Souvenir shopping at Rosebank Craft Market. Flight home from JNB (19:40).

Specific Questions & Logistics Concerns

1. Cape Town Diving & School Recommendations: Is Cape Town a good diving destination in early November? Which specific dive schools/operators do you recommend (preferably around V&A Waterfront, Sea Point, or Simon's Town)?
2. Compressing AOW (2 Days vs 3 Days): My draft schedule currently allocates 3 days for the Advanced Open Water course. If I complete all the e-Learning/theory online before arriving, is it feasible to complete the 5 required ocean dives in 2 days instead of 3? Do you know reputable schools that accommodate a 2-day setup, and if so, what should I add to fill the freed-up day?
3. Day 4 Morning Pickup Logistics: Kurt Safari picks up at JNB airport at 07:00 AM. I plan to stay in Rosebank for all 3 nights and take an Uber to JNB around 06:00 AM on Monday. Is Uber readily available in Rosebank at 06:00 AM, and is ~35 minutes a realistic commute time at that hour?
4. Day 7 Transfer & Flight to Cape Town: Kurt Safari shuttle drops off at JNB Airport around 17:30. What departure time should I target for my domestic flight to Cape Town? Is a 20:30 or 21:00 flight safe, or is traffic returning from Kruger prone to major delays?
5. General Flow & History Tours: Does the overall pace feel balanced? I currently have Constitution Hill, Apartheid Museum, Soweto, and Robben Island—are all four worth doing, or is there significant historical overlap? Is the Cradle of Humankind trip on Day 14 worth the detour?

Thanks in advance for your insights and recommendations!

Hi everyone,

I’m heading to Kruger National Park soon with a Canon R6 Mark II (full frame). My current plan is to bring just one lens - the RF 100-400mm - and leave it permanently attached to avoid changing lenses in the dusty safari jeeps.

However, I'm second-guessing myself. My main worry is about close encounters. If an elephant, lion, or giraffe walks right up alongside the vehicle, is 100mm going to be way too tight on a full-frame sensor?

I own a 24-105mm f4L as well, but I really don't want to deal with the hassle and dust risk of swapping lenses in the field with only one camera body.

For those who have done Kruger with just a telephoto lens:

- Did you find 100mm on the wide end to be manageable for close animals, or did you miss a lot of shots because they were too close?

-Is it worth the hassle of packing the 24-105mm just in case, or should I stick to my single-lens plan?

Would love to hear your real-world experiences. Thanks!

​Hey everyone!

​Planning a 2-week trip to Australia this November and would love some feedback on my itinerary, logistics, and weather conditions.

​I’m a solo traveler and diving/photography enthusiast, and I’ll be flying between all three destinations to save time. Here is my rough breakdown:

• ​Sydney (5 days): Standard city exploring, coastal walks (Coogee to Bondi), and maybe a day trip to the Blue Mountains.
• ​Uluru (3 days): Sunrise/sunset tours around the Rock and Kata Tjuta.
• ​Cairns (approx. 7 days): 3 days will be dedicated to getting my PADI Advanced Open Water (AOW) certification on the Great Barrier Reef. The remaining days will be for exploring the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, or just relaxing.

​I have a few specific questions for the community:

1. Itinerary: Is there anything you would add / remove / do differently?​
2. Pacing and logistics: Does this feel too rushed for a 2-week window? I know there are direct flights from Sydney to Uluru and from Uluru to Cairns, so that should save me full travel days.
3. ​November weather and diving:
   • ​I know November is the transition into the wet/stinger season in Tropical North Queensland. Is diving still great for an AOW course? How is the visibility usually before the heavy rains hit? (Also, what are the odds of catching the annual coral spawning?)
   • How brutal is the heat/flies situation in Uluru by mid-November? Any specific survival tips for the desert at this time of year?
4. ​Dive shop recommendations: Any highly recommended dive shops or liveaboards in Cairns for completing the AOW course?

​Open to any tweaks, suggestions, or hidden gems you think I should add. Thanks in advance!

​Hey everyone!

​Planning a 2-week trip to Australia this November and would love some feedback on my itinerary, logistics, and weather conditions.

​I’m a solo traveler and diving/photography enthusiast, and I’ll be flying between all three destinations to save time. Here is my rough breakdown:

• ​Sydney (5 days): Standard city exploring, coastal walks (Coogee to Bondi), and maybe a day trip to the Blue Mountains.
• ​Uluru (3 days): Sunrise/sunset tours around the Rock and Kata Tjuta.
• ​Cairns (approx. 7 days): 3 days will be dedicated to getting my PADI Advanced Open Water (AOW) certification on the Great Barrier Reef. The remaining days will be for exploring the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, or just relaxing.

​I have a few specific questions for the community:

1. Itinerary: Is there anything you would add / remove / do differently?​
2. Pacing and logistics: Does this feel too rushed for a 2-week window? I know there are direct flights from Sydney to Uluru and from Uluru to Cairns, so that should save me full travel days.
3. ​November weather and diving:
   • ​I know November is the transition into the wet/stinger season in Tropical North Queensland. Is diving still great for an AOW course? How is the visibility usually before the heavy rains hit? (Also, what are the odds of catching the annual coral spawning?)
   • How brutal is the heat/flies situation in Uluru by mid-November? Any specific survival tips for the desert at this time of year?
4. ​Dive shop recommendations: Any highly recommended dive shops or liveaboards in Cairns for completing the AOW course?

​Open to any tweaks, suggestions, or hidden gems you think I should add. Thanks in advance!

​Hey everyone,

​I’m looking for some advice on how to improve my breathing stamina. I’ve been swimming for 4 months and I am currently taking lessons. My coach says my technique is good (body position, leg kick, and head movement are all fine) and my freestyle pace is around 1:42 - 1:44 min/100m (ofc this is calcualted by my watch based on the time it takes me to complete one length).

​The issue is that I cannot seem to swim more than one length at a time. I can do one 33-meter length well, but then I need to stop and rest for about 15-20 seconds because otherwise I get out of breath.

​If I try to do two lengths in a row without stopping, I run out of breath and I'm forced to stop around 3/4 of the way into the second length. I already exhale underwater, and I have tried slowing down my pace to see if it helps, but I still get out of breath anyway.

​Since my coach confirms the technique is fine, I'm trying to understand how to overcome this barrier and train myself to manage my breathing better between consecutive lengths.

​Has anyone experienced something similar when starting out? Any tips on how to improve this aspect?

​Thanks in advance!

​

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