Itinerary Help - Botswana, Cape Town and Vic Falls

Old Jul 8th, 2010, 07:34 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Itinerary Help - Botswana, Cape Town and Vic Falls

Would like to spend approx 2 weeks on a trip. Have been in contact with Good Earth Tours. They asked what we would like to do. Can anyone weigh in on this itinerary.
Day 1 - Arrive Johannesburg - fly to Cape Town
Day 2-3 Cape Town
Day 4 - Fly to Botswana (MUB)
Days 5-6 Camp Okavango (Okavango Delta)
Days 7-8 Camp Moremi (Okavango Delta)
Days 9-10 Savute Safari Lodge (Savute Game Reserve)
Day 11 - Chobe Game Lodge (Chobe National Park)
Day 12 - Fly to Vic Falls
Day 13 - Vic Falls
Day 14 - Fly to Johannesburg
Pamo2 is offline  
Old Jul 8th, 2010, 11:27 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,215
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What do you think of it? Is this what you told Good Earth you would like to do? Why are you going to Africa? Lot of places you could go to for "2 weeks on a trip".

regards - tom
cary999 is offline  
Old Jul 11th, 2010, 07:26 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Pamo2,

I am pretty sure Good Earth is a Tanzania specialist. That is what they are best known for. Just make sure the consultant you are working with has been to Botswana at least a few times. Perhaps look for a few reviews online of trips they have planned to Botswana (NOT testimonials on their own web site).

1. I think your time in Cape Town is too short. Therefore, you should consider eliminating it and spending a day in Johannesburg before heading to Botswana.

2. I am sure if you are aware the flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg/JNB requires a 600am departure (400am wake up) in order to be in JNB on time for the 1010 am flight from JNB-MUB. In other words, I don't think your time in Cape Town will be restful at all. Perhaps reverse your itinerary and start with 2-3 days at Victoria Falls (skipping Vic Falls). It will save you travel time and get you well rested for your safari.

3. Why are you flying from Chobe Game Lodge to Victoria Falls? The rate at Chobe Game lodge includes a free transfer to Kasane/BBK. From Kasane, it is a 1h45m drive to Victoria Falls thats costs $65-$75 dollars per person. The flight is about 25 minutes and with the airport processes and the transfer from Vic Falls Airport/VFA to the Victoria Falls hotels the total travel time is about 2 hours. It is about $150 per person cheaper and a few minutes quicker to drive.

I bring this up because the itinerary you have planned is using Desert & Delta lodges which is the most cost effective permanent lodge chain in Botswana. Most people using D&D are not the type to fly from Kasane to Vic Falls for cost reasons.

Why are you only spending one night at Chobe Game Lodge/CGL? Perhaps replace one night in Cape Town with one more at CGL?

Your big animal viewing and game drives will take place at Camp Moremi and Savuti Safari Lodge. I am sure you are aware that Campe Okavango has no vehicles and you only do boating/water activities there. This may be what you are looking for but I suggest you spend three days at Camp Moremi minimum and find the time to do this by sacrificing something else on your itinerary or adding more time overall.

All Desert & Delta camps have nine people per vehicle in three rows if the camps are full. This is one reason they cost a little less but also one reason why some of our clients would opt for private vehicles with D&D or camps with six per vehicle. All D&D lodges are in national parks so you must be back in camp at sunset. Therefore - no night drives. D&D is an excellent experience and the above suggestions are some of the key differences from other lodge chains.

I can't provide much more information without knowing what time of year you are traveling. What you see and your overall experience will be greatly dependent on the time of year. Chobe Game lodge can offer MASSIVE herds of elephants in June-October.

I hope this helps.

Craig Beal
Safari_Craig is offline  
Old Jul 12th, 2010, 12:40 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Craig -- thanks for the tips...I am just starting to work on my itinerary so much of what you are saying I was not aware of. If you have a good tour company to recommend - i would be interested. I did see good reviews of Good Earth on this Forum. Thanks!
Pamo2 is offline  
Old Jul 12th, 2010, 12:55 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,675
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Good Earth is a reputable outfitter, but East Africa, Tanzania specifically, is what they do most of.

Suggest you work with a Southern African specialist... maybe go2africa, Pulse Africa or Safari_Craig can assist with others.

Unlike Safari_Craig, I wouldn't eliminate Cape Town as it's a keeper of a city with lots to do, but do add a day. But, I do agree, that if stopping at Chobe, one-days makes no sense nor flying to VFA, the drive is just too quick. I'd eliminate Chobe altogether. So an alternate route would be to do VFA first, then fly to the Delta and conclude in CPT.

And, as mentioned, time of year and budget would help with further input.
sandi is offline  
Old Jul 12th, 2010, 01:50 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Pamo2
Are you American? If so, where do you live? I can possibly recommend someone you could meet face to face to plan your trip as I know many of people in the safari industry this side of the ocean.
Craig Beal
Safari_Craig is offline  
Old Jul 14th, 2010, 04:33 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I live in Denver, CO, USA....so if you do have a recommendation I would welcome that.
Pamo2 is offline  
Old Jul 14th, 2010, 06:19 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,528
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The biggest draw back of those D&D lodges will be lack of off-roading. You are basically driving the same routes you can self-drive/camp or similar... Private vehicle in these lodges? Doesn't make any sense at all...
HariS is offline  
Old Jul 14th, 2010, 06:53 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Why spend the time and money to fly from Johannesburg to Cape Town? I flew from LA to Amsterdam, spent a few days there to get over jet lag (same time zone as SA), then flew directly to Cape Town. Later, after Vic Falls, I flew to Johannesburg, then directly to AMS, then home to USA. Much more convenient-the flights are long enough already, for me.
We spent 5 days in Cape Town, and loved every minute of it. There is a lot to do and enjoy in that area. I join the others in encouraging you to increase your time there.
I think it is nice they have you for 2 days in each camp, but we found three was even better. I have never stayed at the camps you are looking at, so can't comment on that aspect. But for me, I would prefer 3 days at fewer camps-not as much travel time and more viewing time. Just my opinion. You will have a great time whatever you decide!!
karn is offline  
Old Jul 14th, 2010, 07:27 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
PamO - I will give you three recomendations:

The closest is Rothchild Safaris which is actually in Denver - http://www.rothschildsafaris.com/index.html They are a good outfit.

The next closest is NATHAB in Boulder http://www.nathab.com/

The next closest is Cherri Briggs in Steamboat. She owns http://www.exploreafrica.net/

Rothschildsafaris is owner operated and so is Explore. NATHAB is owned by a private equity firm but the founder is still CEO. All are experts on Botswana. Cherri Briggs is a recognized safari expert by Conde Nast every year so her price may be a bit higher (this is a guess as they are all competitors and I have never booked with them!). All are respected and reputable in the industry.

Check them out and see what service you get!

Craig Beal
Safari_Craig is offline  
Old Jul 16th, 2010, 06:34 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the tips everyone! Cape Town does look interesting to me. I love wine country so I want to do that. Someone told me overnight in the wine country. I would laso like to see the penguins and maybe go on a Whale Watching tour -- are those worth it? I would like to add more time to C-Town. Had not thought about the routing directly to Cape Town -- thanks Karn. And Craig -- I will look up those folks.
Pamo2 is offline  
Old Jul 16th, 2010, 06:44 AM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also -- I am somewhat open on the time of year to go. I have been told late summer and early fall (usa time) is best.
Pamo2 is offline  
Old Jul 16th, 2010, 07:58 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
September would be perfect. The flowers would be blooming in the wine country and the southern right whales would be calving from the shores of hermanus. the temps in Botswana will be nice (October will be 90-100 each day).

Go in September!

Craig Beal
Safari_Craig is offline  
Old Jul 26th, 2010, 09:54 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with Craig, September would be a good time to visit. from your itinerary, I would leave out Camp Okavango (no game drives as Craig already explained) and perhaps add a night in Cape Town and a night at Chobe Game Lodge instead.
The Desert and Delta lodges quoted to you are a nice combination over different areas, but as someone else pointed out they do not offer night drives and no off-road driving, due to being in the national parks. Still, you will have excellent game viewing if you combine Camp Moremi, Savute Safari Lodge and Chobe Game Lodge.
A camp that is similar in price (a bit cheaper in fact) to Camp Moremi, as possible alternative, is Stanley's camp. Also a tented camp, and the tents are even more basic than at Camp Moremi. But they have the advantage of offering night drives as well as off-road driving, due to being on a private concession. And they have an elephant interaction experience as an optional extra, should that interest you. But, Stanley's is not a Desert & Delta camp so you lose the long-stay benefit of staying with Desert and Delta camps (at least, the agent loses that benefit). Most of the bigger lodge chains provide incentives to stay within the chain, and one of the things I would try and find out from whatever agent you choose to work through, is whether they are truly independent and impartial, or predisposed to always recommend a specific lodge chain. Some of the bigger chains of lodges operating camps in the Okavango are Desert and Delta, Wilderness Safaris, Sanctuary, AndBeyond, Kwando, Ker&Downey, Orient Express, etc. It's not always bad to stay within one lodge chain, sometimes you get very good long-stay specials that way. But I would recommend choosing an agent who knows and sells camps from various lodge chains and is not committed to selling only one chain of camps.
(And this is just a general comment, not a criticism of Good Earth or any other agent).

Onne from Wild Wings Safaris
wildwings is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SAmerRich
Africa & the Middle East
19
Oct 22nd, 2017 12:04 PM
prattsthepooh
Africa & the Middle East
10
Jun 7th, 2016 07:26 PM
winnick
Africa & the Middle East
30
Feb 20th, 2010 04:58 PM
Staycee33
Africa & the Middle East
15
Mar 23rd, 2009 05:06 PM
kak113
Africa & the Middle East
25
Nov 29th, 2007 04:17 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -