30 days in Africa!! Since you mentioned safari and good game, the following suggestions are scarce on city time with no beach time.

2 nights Cape Town If you wanted to spend time in Cape Town to enjoy everything it has to offer, you could easily allot 4 days to a week.

4 nights A Sabi Sands private concession camp near Kruger in South Africa. I liked Mala Mala, which is legendary for excellent wildlife, especially leopard. Rattray’s is the upper end accommodation at Mala Mala. Main Camp was very nice. There are many other Sabi Sands options.

2 Victoria Falls, either in the city of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls Hotel or in Livingstone, Zambia at The River Club, Tongabezi or similar.

9 nights Botswana—Since you wanted upper end, Mombo or Little Mombo on Chief’s Island in the Okavango Delta is about $1500 pp/pn. and a top of the line accommodation. It has excellent wildlife and is world renowned, but I don’t think the diversity of species (such as cheetah and wild dogs) is quite as outstanding as it used to be. Vumbura Plains is also a top of the line and also is in the Okavango Delta, offering both land and water activities. Kings Pool is further north in Botswana in an area called Linyanti, also known for great wildlife. These 3 accommodations are all Wilderness Safari properties and are labeled 6-Paw, for the finest permanent luxury tented camps. 6-paw means sorbet between courses, photo CDs made from your memory card for you, etc. I usually stay a step down in accommodation and am still wowed by the luxury, loveliness and amenities available.
I’d do about 3 Kings Pool, 3 Vumbura, and 3 Mombo.

8-9 nights Tanzania--The southern part of the Serengeti in Tanzania is the best for Feb. I’d recommend a top of the line mobile tented camp such as TUC-Tanzania Under Canvas through CC Africa or Nomad’s mobile tented camps. These are luxury tented camps that follow the migration. For Tanzania, I’d do 2 nts Lake Manyara, staying in the Tree Lodge, 1-2 nts Ngorongoro Crater, staying at Sopa Lodge for the private access road or the ultra luxurious Crater Lodge, a CC Africa property. Then the mobile in the southern Serengeti for 4 nts. That means TZ is about 9 nights because you’d need at least a day on arrival or departure in Arusha. Don’t know the nicest place there but I’ve visited Serena Mountain Village Lodge in Arusha (I think that’s the exact name) twice during the day and it was very nice. A private safari for two is a common arrangement.

Depart from Dar

That’s around 26 days and you’d need some internal transport days

In Botswana, I mentioned Wilderness camps, since those are the ones I’ve been to. CC Africa also has lovely Botswana camps and if you chose CC Africa for part of Tanzania, you might have a better deal going with them in Botswana. They also book certain Sabi Sands properties. Kwando and Sanctuary operate in Botswana too and would have great camps and wildlife.

These suggestions include no Zanzibar time for beach or interesting city and that might work well for you if you are leaving from Dar.

I assumed you might want to see Victoria Falls, which would be easy to do. If not, you could do another safari location or stay longer, maybe in the Serengeti.

This link shows what parks are best when and the animals you may see there.
http://www.africa-adventure.com/best_time_to_go

This would be a trip for an ample budget. Lesser accommodations would still be very comfortable would allow you to see the same animals but at a lower cost.

The Botswana properties and especially Southern Serengeti may book up quickly, so I wouldn’t delay.

You'll have a fantastic time.

Wow! Cool - here's a good suggestion, take me with you!!!! I can arrange to be out of work at that time I think.....

Seriously, you will get lots of good advise on this forum, what a great trip you are going to have. Spend at least 4-5 days in Capetown exploring the coast, the winelands, the penguins at Boulder Beach, the sea lions at Hout Bay and of course the Cape of Good Hope. Hylton Ross does good tours - either private, or join in small groups whichever you prefer.

Then I'd take the train up the Garden Route to wherever it goes and spend some time up in Kruger & vicinity.

On the other end, do the Northern Route in Tanzania (Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti) - save at least a week for that. There's some pretty neat animals to meet up there!

For in between, I will have to give way to other experts as as I have never been to Botswana or Zambia - yet.

Oh - yes, while in Dar, do save a few days to see Zanzibar - explore Stonetown and relax on the beach - you will be tired after all!

Thanks atravelynn & LyndaS.
Since the planning is part of the fun of traveling, we are looking forward to working on and finalizing the plans . LyndaS, would like to take you with however I believe that we will have some weight restrictions on flights.
Are we in for lots of rain in Feb?

If it were truly only weight restrictions that prevented you from taking stowaways, I'd be on a diet tomorrow. LyndaS probably wouldn't need one.

Feb is not the dry season, but it is before the heavy rainy season. Of course weather is becoming more unpredictable.

Check out these links for temp and rain. Feb is an ideal time for the Serengeti, in the south to see the migrating herds. The wildebeest calves are usually born late Jan or Feb, into early March.

http://www.classicescapes.com/sa-weather.html
http://www.classicescapes.com/bw-weather.html
http://www.classicescapes.com/ta-weather.html

If you search through these trip report indexes for Feb trips, you’ll read about fantastic sightings and see wonderful photos in Feb. Rain may be mentioned but it does not ruin a whole trip and rarely even a whole outing.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=4&tid=34860283

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=4&tid=34858382

For doing such a good job on the East Africa Index, if there is only room for one stowaway, I yield my spot to Lynda.

Ahhh, Lynne, that's so sweet - thanks! I would have to diet though - BIG time!

Good suggestions you gave for ggctheworld (I am betting that stands for 'gotta go see the world') for the trip by the way!

I would throw in some beach time in Zanzibar before the Northern Tanzania route - it would be a good time to just r & r in between safaris - that's recharge and regroup.

Speaking of diets, how is the food on Safari?

I think the 2 of you should get together and join us!

Then you can find out what the gg is.

"Food on safari"

- diet before leaving for Africa

- eat dessert first!

With the wonderful quality of food, Lynda and I might make weight on the way over, but after a month, we might be too heavy for the trip back.

Well, that's one way of staying in Africa that we'll have to share with Nyamera, another fodorite who is trying to find a way to remain there long term.

gg = get going? google guy? google girl? green goddess? gorgeous geologist?

If I get it right, do I get to join you?

'Gidget & George see the world?'

Started the diet today. I like the idea of starting with dessert.
Getting close on the gg.
How about footware?
Hiking Boots or flip flops?

As usual, Lynn and LyndaS have offered great advice. Sabi Sands, the Delta, and the southern Serengeti will combine for a fantastic safari experience. I haven't been to Cape Town or Zanzibar, so I can't offer any advice there. However, since you have an entire month (lucky you), adding those locations and also Vic Falls, will round out your itinerary nicely. As Lynn and LyndaS mentioned, make sure you leave adequate time for the southern Serengeti. You might catch the migration during calving season if you're lucky.

Grace and Gerald?
Gina and Gary?
Gorgeous Grandparents or maybe Grateful Grandkids?

Hiking boots are needed if you do something like gorilla or chimp tracking in Uganda or Rwanda, or if you plan on extensive walking safaris. An escorted bird walk around the camp/lodge midday wouldn't require boots.

I use thin, unbulky flip flops for around my tent and the shower. I don't walk around outside in them much or wear them in the vehicles. I prefer not to expose my skin to insects (though there are few) or prickers/thorns (also few).

Regular tennis shoes are fine.

Grandma and Grandpa

Thanks for all the help.
Although the Grandma & Grandpa apply, Lynne's Gina & Gary was the closest.

It is actually Gary & Greta.

Do you really think sneakers are OK ? What about wet weather? How about a pair of lightweight goretex hiking boots?

We are narrowing down the itineraries and will let you know as we go along.

Has anyone of you tried Rovos Rail or the Blue train? We may want to get from Cape Town to Johannesburg this way.

Gary and Greta,
I take flip flops, clogs, and a pair of running shoes on safari. I actually find I wear the clogs more than anything else. A pair of lightweight gortex hiking boots isn't a bad idea, although probably unnecessary, unless of course it rains heavily and then you'll probably be glad you had them.

Gary and Greta,

In a vehicle if it rains, you'll likely be given a poncho to cover up with.

Feb can be very hot so you'll want your feet to be able to breathe.

How about gortex walking or tennis shoes rather than boots. I am not trying to send you to the shoestore.

Thanks all once again.

On the shoe topic, you have been a great help. We happen to have the goretex sneakers so we are all set on that front.

The shoe store won't get us, I think the camera store will. I know that there are lots of threads about cameras.
I have read many.

I am still not sure if a 300mm lens is good enough. It seems that most of the serious photographers use 400mm as a minimun. These cameras and lenses are really heavy!

What have you been using? Are you happy with the results?

Kings Pool in February is a horrible choice. The wet season is a difficult time in the Linyanti, most animals are in the mopane and tough to find. I would stick with the delta, or ask questions about the Kalahari on this board, but steer clear of the Linyanti in February. Savuti may be ok, but I haven't been at that time of year.

I only had a 300 and was happy. Now I have a digital P&S.

300mm, 400mm lens. Not really that much difference and you can make up the difference by cropping the 300mm image.
If you're not working with your digital images to improve cropping/composition, color, sharpness, etc., then you are not realizing half of the capability of using a digital camera. Doesn't matter whether it is a DSLR or P&S.

regards - tom

Just a thought... at the end you could fly from Joberg to Pemba in Mozambique and relax on the Northern beaches there which are meant to be amazing and there is a connection Pemba to Dar

Since you have the time, you should consider taking the Rovos Rail from Capetown to jburg. It is a two day trip and well worth it. The train is just wonderful. It is quite luxurious and brings you back in time. The service is exceptional and the countryside is beautiful. We took the trip last August in between Safaris and it was definitely a highlight! We also stayed at Boulders Singits; the pinnacle of luxury and service. Hope this helps-

I think you may need to extend to 2 months to include all these interesting activities.

LyndaS: It's my first time on a safari too - Tanzania in October (coming fast!). I just booked a hot air balloon safari! I'm very excited about it, but I did read a post of yours about the balloon that concerned me a little...how high would you say the basket is that you have to jump in an out of? 3 feet, 4 feet? I guess I just assumed it opened on one side or that they had a step ladder. I'm a larger lady and worried about the weight limit already (trying to lose some before I leave of course), but I wasn't worried about hoping over the basket until I was searching the posts here and read your description.

Hi Carrie-

Not to worry about the balloon ride! I know how you feel though, because I agonized for months - for the same reasons, as I am a plus size lady.

For our balloon ride, we had to get in the basket as it was standing upright - and get out as it was standing upright also. It was about up to my shoulders, there is a foot 'hole' in the side, but that didn't help me much. I got my foot in there and just could not swing my leg over - it's quite a hoist. But, not to fear, two guys came over from the ground crew and more or less 'hoisted' me in. Once I got up on the side of the basket (sitting) it was easy to get inside as the seat is there for you to step on.

In the reverse, getting up over the side was not a problem from the inside - because the height of the seat is perfect for standing and throwing your legs over - but once I was up there, I was sure I was going to break a leg if I jumped down. Again, two guys saw me and came over and helped me out.

Don't worry about the weight issue - the pilot eyeballs every one and tells you who to stand with, in each section of the basket. Hubby Jim is a lot smaller than I, so we were a perfect match in one section of the basket!

To put it in perspective, see this picture of Jim and I infront of the basket, we are standing about a foot in front of it:

http://www.pbase.com/lyndas/image/96253159

Hope this helps! It was a fabulous experience, I reawlly enjoyed it and will do it again someday!

Lynda, thank you so much! This does help me know what I'm in for. I think I'm going to need help too..it's higher than I thought. I'm sure it will work out and I'm looking forward to it!