fgesicki

Dear Fodorites,
(You guys are awesome, used this site for New Zealand trip and could not be more impressed with the friendly and helpful people.)

My wife and I (mid-50’s) have read many threads over the last year and now are ready to jump in. We are looking for specific advice for a 13 – 16 day trip to southern Africa. This does not include international travel from the U.S. though we will gladly accept help on that.

Time: Last half of September to mid October or April to June 2009. We don’t think we can get accommodations for our spring 2008, but if that were possible we could go then. We don’t mind some rain but would like to avoid the heavy rainy season. Want to go when there is a greater chance of seeing a wide variety of wildlife, especially the big 5

We envision landing in Capetown to explore there for a couple days. Then safari to Okavango Delta, Linyanti and/or Chobe, proceed to Victoria Falls for a day. We also have read much about Phinda and Kruger. Our last stop would be Johannesburg for a day or two. Should this itinerary be reversed or should we depart from the arrival city? (It also appears from recent reading that Jo-burg is the arrival and departure city…is that right?)

We initially planned on $10 – 15,000 total, including air. If this budget is unreasonable, let us know because it can be adjusted.

We would like to stay at 3 to 4 camps. We do not want the very expensive luxury lodges.. Two nicer tent camps would be fine then maybe one or two small lodges. I like the accounts of small sites where wildlife are nearby. Mobile tent for one of the camps would also be a possibility. Is CC Africa’s Botswana Under Canvas mobile tents or permanent sites. The brochure makes that look inviting.

Do you typically find an agency that books the entire trip? Your advice is welcome.

Frank and Judy

HariS

Since you mention your interest in CCAfrica - you can book direct with them. I worked with an agent of theirs for a SA safari in 2006 and got very good service.

fgesicki

Hari,
thank you for the response. Did the CC agent also book international travel? Was it one-stop shopping? would you consider them a high or medium end cost or both?

atravelynn

Here are a weather links that include rainfall
http://www.uyaphi.com/afriweather.htm
http://www.uyaphi.com/botswana/weather.htm

The best times to view wildlife during the year is shown here.
http://www.africa-adventure.com/dsp_besttime.html

If you are going to mix and match properties, then using an agent makes sense. The cost is usually the same as if you booked directly.

I didn't think CCAfrica did international air. The CC Africa Under Canvas options in Botswana look like they are not mobile. The semi-permanent name means that they may not remain in that area all year but they don’t follow game, which would be mobile.

You can get a general ideal on pricing at www.e-gnu.com

Did you have plans in Johannesburg that would require a couple of days?

Starting in Cape Town looks good. So does your itinerary outline.

I consider CCAfrica high end for cost and for services delivered.

fgesicki

Atravelynn, thanks for the info. We don't have any need to stay in jo-burg if there's nothing special to see or do. What agency would you consider a medium range and recommend (if CCA is high end)? Do you think trying to do the trip we are considering for $15000 incl air a pipedream?

Frank and Judy
P.S. we enjoy your reports and postings. We feel like we know you! We appreciate your love for Africa and Foderites.

atravelynn

Fgesicki,

Thanks for the nice comments! Who knows, maybe we really will meet someday.

Usually sightseeing in Johannesburg is done as a day activity while in transit. A trip to Soweto is very worthwhile. I’ve wanted to go to the DeWildt Cheetah Center but have never been there on the days it is open. I spent a half-day at the Rhino & Lion Park, about an hour out of Johannesburg last time and enjoyed it.

For your costs—
Last June I had
4 nts Mala Mala with round trip flight from Joburg in no SS room;
a round-trip flight from Joburg and week at Phinda Forest Lodge, which got me some kind of slight long stay discount;
plus two nights with one a guaranteed room on morning arrival in Joburg at the airport;
and a private ½ day trip to Rhino & Lion Park.

So that was 11 nights on safari and it was $6 something, less than $7000. I don’t remember exactly because I made a few changes along the way, like adding on the Rhino & Lion Park trip and guaranteeing the room upon morning arrival.

So based on that, your $15,000 for two estimate seems reasonable.

June and into early July is not the high season for South Africa. I feel like I found a safari loophole (and others have said that too) because the weather was mostly fine, I saw lots of animals, it wasn’t too crowded, and the prices were less. Looking at right now Phinda Forest Lodge, it is about $450 in June vs. $740 in high season.

Here are a few other assorted approximate costs for places in areas you mentioned in high season. All are per person, per night:

Chobe Chilwero, $700; Duma Tau in Linyanti, $825; Baines in Okavango, $900; Camp Moremi in the Moremi part of the Okavango, $640; CC Africa’s Sandibe in Okavango, $800; Djuma Bush Camp in Sabi Sands, $425; Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, $1000; CC Africa’s Exeter Leadwood in Sabi Sands, $875; Djuma Bush Camp in Sabi Sands, $425; King’s Camp in Timbavati, $425; CC Africa’s Ngala in Timbavati, $825; CC Africa’s Phinda Forest Lodge, $740; Parfuri in Kruger, $600.

You mentioned Kruger. The Sabi Sands concessions border Kruger and allow off road access and fewer people, so you may want to consider Sabi Sands over Kruger. Lots of people do both and enjoy the two locations. I've never been to Kruger.

Back to $$$,I figure about $1500 per day for both of you on safari.

If you spend about 14 days on the ground minus let's say 5 for Cape Town and vicinity with all there is to do around there, minus 1 for Johannesburg, that’s approx 8 days for safari ( 8 x $1500 = $12,000). In non-high season, I bet you could get that down to under $10,000.

If your 6 days doing non-safari things with tours, transportation, food, lodging are (let’s say) $700 for both of you per day, then that’s $4200. I have not included internal flights.

If you don’t go in high season, I’d say about $15,000 for about approximately 14 days on the ground would work. But I’m just using estimates available on the internet.

For bookings, I used Eyes on Africa in Chicago last summer and would recommend them or go with them again. I think they can direct you to a consolidator for air. I used my own FF miles so I didn't get into that.

Fish Eagle in Houston has gotten some good reviews for service and value in Southern Africa. I don’t think they do air. I’ve never used them but have found the owner, Bert, to be very helpful.

Africa Adventure in Ft. Lauderdale has an in-house air department so they can book the whole trip for you—-land and air. I’ve used them and can recommend them and have a Southern Africa trip in the works with them. Having one company do everything worked out well for me a couple of times when problems arose and I needed to change all my airline plans shortly before leaving home or when a local African airline’s cancellation left me missing my international flight home in high season when available seats were booked up for days. Africa Adventure fixed up everything in both cases so I suffered no penalties, only minor inconvenience, and was not stranded anywhere longterm.

fgesicki

Great info Lynn. We are now thinking of just doing a safari trip ... maybe skip Capetown. The reason we want to go to Africa is for the safari experience so I think we may do 3 safaris and Vic Falls and fly in and out of Johannesburg. We'll be able to have a better safari experience then I think. We'll keep you posted.
thanks.
Frank and Judy

atravelynn

I would agree on maximizing the safari time. That maximizes the cost too.

Mashatu in Southern Botswana is owned by the Mala Mala people and has gotten some wonderful reports. It remains surprisingly affordable, but wonder how long that will last. I hope to get there before it shoots through the roof like the rest of Botswana.