worldcup_fan

As a follow-up to previous discussion in April and helpful feedback from this forum, I wanted to ask for recommendations to add a 4th location to an existing itinerary.

Current itinerary for early June 2010:
2 nights Savuti
3 nights Duba Plains
2 nights Chitabe

That portion of the itinerary is reserved with a group of friends / family. My parents arrive in Jo-Burg 3 days before the scheduled safari and they're trying decide where to head. Some options being considered:
(1) Just add 2 more nights at Savuti or add 2 nights at Duma Tau to limit travel (I generally think 3 nights is good and 4 is too much, but wanted to see what others think)
(2) Add something else in the delta: Vumbura Plains or Mapula (wilderness is offering very good rates which are below Mapula rack rates) (my parents are not interested in Mokoro)
(3) Add something in the Pans or somewhere else in Bots
(4) Go somewhere in South Arica with rhino since they'll already be at JNB (they will arrive at JNB by 9am on Wednesday and don't need to leave for Maun until Saturday. Is the travel manageable?)

Thanks!
Josh

worldcup_fan

oops...I meanted Little Vumbura instead of Vumbura Plains in option #2

atravelynn

I would not stay less than 4 nts at Duba Plains in case the lions head to territory where vehicles cannot get. They don't stay long, but could be away for a day or two hunting buffalo. At Duba there is not a lot of other animal action besides the lion-buffalo encounters to entertain you if the lions are gone. Although it is a great place for aardwolf and 13 bat earred foxes in a day is common. Some great birds too.

Also if the lions just killed before you got there, they may not be interested in hunting again for a couple of days, especially if there are not many cubs in the pride. That was my case and I am glad I had 4 nights.

If you still have spare time after an addition to Duba, I'd stay 3 nights each at Chitabe and Savuti.

If your parents are not interested in a mokoro or in a boat ride on the delta, then I like your itinerary and would not try to add a water camp.

You can get to the Sabi Sands, where white rhino are pretty common, in one day from Joburg. I took a midday flight from Joburg to Mala Mala, which would work with a 9 am arrival. I'm sure they could get to somewhere in Sabi Sands or Kruger by nightfall on Wed. If they stayed Thurs and Fri, they could leave on Sat and overnight in Joburg, then depart for Maun on Sunday.

If your parents did not visit a South Africa safari destination in the days before heading to Maun, what else would they do? I think a safari destination in the Sabi Sands/Kruger area would be a great way to utilize those first days in Africa.

You mention a Pans camp. You might even consider staying at Makgadikgadi Pans or similar instead of either Chitabe or Savuti because April is not the most wildlife abundant time in either Chitabe or Savuti. But it is the time when the desert comes to life so you'd be hitting the Kalahari and vicinity at a very good time.

I don't know how much time you can add to your trip. If the budget allows, I think this would be ideal.

Sabi Sands or Kruger up front Wed-Fri and out Sat
3 Savuti
3 Chitabe
4 Duba
2-3 Makgadikgadi Pans, Nxai Pans, or Deception Valley

Not necessarily in that order for Botswana.

Have a great family trip whatever you decide.

worldcup_fan

Lynn - Thank you for the suggestions and Sabi Sands idea / Kruger info. Your suggested # nights per camp would be great.

I realized that my 1st post wasn't clear on a few items that may affect the recommendations.
(1) the safari will be in early June (so the linyanti should be in much better shape)
(2) the Savuti / Duba / Chitabe # nights and order can't be changed because we have 8 people locked into that portion of the itinerary. my parents are just arriving ahead of the rest of the group
(3) my parents would need to catch the JNB-Maun flight Saturday morning

Given the Saturday maun flight vs. sunday maun flight, do you think it would be worth going to sabi sands if they could only do 3 game drives. Arrive Sabi Wednesday then have 2 thursday + 1 friday with a friday night flight or drive to overnight at JNB? I'm assuming there wouldn't be a flight option to catch the JNB-Maun connection on saturday

Thanks again!
Josh

cary999

"....Arrive Sabi Wednesday then have 2 thursday + 1 friday "

As you realize, you will spend two nights in camp (Wed and Thrs) for only 3 game drives. Those game dives may cost you $300 (or double that) <b>each drive</b> per person when you add in air to/from JNB Sabi Sand. Myself, I would not do it. Got to be something better/easier/closer to JNB.

regards - tom

cw

If they flew to Sabi Sands on Wednesday mid-day, wouldn't they be at a lodge for the Wednesday afternoon drive as well, making it 4 game drives total (one Wed., two Thurs., and one Fri. morning)? I think it would be worth it viewing-wise if the cost to them isn't prohibitive.

spassvogel

I would add additional nights to either Duba or Savuti or divide the rest in between them.
I would definitely not add another location but extend the stays as mentioned before.

SV

spassvogel

Ah - something else regarding flying to Maun:
Try under any circumstances to get a morning flight! The afternoon flights more and more encounter delays which might ruin your first safari day!
Somehow Air Botswana has got problems with these flights..........

SV

cary999

cw - true what you said, SAA has flights out of JNB that get you to Sabi Sand or Timbavati reserves in time for the afternoon game drive. Cost would be around $300 round trip air. So 4 game drives for two nights in camp, $300 air plus $400 camp night plus $400 night is $1100. Divide by 4 game drives is $275 per drive. Says the ex-math teacher!!!!

Aren't there some private game farms within a short days drive of JNB, not that expensive, that would be accepatable and better than nothing?

regards -tom

atravelynn

So you are going in June. I saw April and thought that's when you were going. That was just a discussion.

Somehow I thought you had Thurs and Friday for game viewing in South Africa, with a Saturday departure. If you only would have Wed and Thurs morning, those calculations on how important the rhino are to you are in order.

There is Rhino and Lion park just outside of joburg. I went there and the rhino roam around very big areas at will. Some of the predators are in smaller enclosures, but the rhino roam along with some wildes and ostrich and some other species.

LAleslie

I'd also vote for adding more nights to the camps you have if possible. 3 nights always better than 2...

Safari_Craig

world_cup fan:

many good ideas above. the only thing missing here is the price discussion. hopefully your agent applied the stay7pay6 special wilderness safaris is offering to your booking. this special ends on august 31 for anyone not under deposit. i suggest your parents get under deposit by this coming friday to save about 15% on their trip. also, there are some unpublished specials your agent may have access too that will further enhance the value. all end on friday of this week. i have no idea if wilderness will extend these offers past friday.

craig beal

HariS

Unpublished specials? care to clue us in on this?

cary999

Yes, I just love Wilderness. They assign you an agent so you can't get price comparisons. Even though we have heard (here) the price can vary between agents by 15%. Now they don't publish specials? So that it makes it even more difficult for price comparison. Well, it's their business so it's their rules - but I don't have to play their game.

regards - tom

Safari_Craig

hi hari - unpublished special offers have to remain that way. they are in the hands of wilderness safari's destination specialist management companies in the USA. they can't be published or posted on web sites.

tom - wilderness safaris has at least ten destination specialist management companies in the US. although they will put you in touch with one agent based on a web site inquiry, if you can find the other ones you can easily shop around. people do it to my company all the times. it is a normal part of doing business. how was your safari? sorry if you already posted something as i have not looked. i was gone for the last two weeks.

craig beal

Safari_Craig

i think wilderness safaris business practice has been great in preventing their experience from becoming a commodity!

craig beal

cary999

I tried contacting two different Wilderness agents here in USA and it did not work. I was bounced back to one agent. Maybe I just don't know how to do it.

Yes, if it's not a "commodity" you can make it sound special/unique and up your price. Good business practice.

Very happy to say that I am -not- back from safari!!!! It is still in future, leaving USA this Friday for South Africa . Back Sep 20, give me a few weeks to sort photos and put together trip report. It's fun to wonder what the trip will bring, what now unknown adventures, sights, discoveries, photos. It must be that and the serendipity of safari why I love it.

regards - tom

Safari_Craig

have fun tom!

craig beal

amycyma

I'll add my 2 cents

I would add additional nights to Savuti and Chitabe or as Lynn Suggest Duba Plains. I was in Botswana this past May June. I stayed at both Savuti and Chitabe 3 nights and it was perfect. Additionally I did 2 night stays at Kwetsani and Camp Kalahari in the Pans.

I found the 2 night stay in Kwetsani to be just right, and could have done another night at CK.

I loved the Pans, and if that is something you definitely want, go for it, otherwise I think it better to add days onto the places you already are staying.

amy