ah, Hari, we'll have to compare notes. Can't wait to hear about your trip.

Rocco, Simbambili looks great from your photos. I love the leopard shots - very soulful expression on her. But as you see, my husband is set on Phinda. Anyone know what the price difference is between Grumeti River Lodge and Sabora tented camp?

Eben has the rack rates for Grumeti and Sabora listed on his website http://www.go-safari.com/Serengeti/serengetilodges.htm

Patty, that's exactly what I needed, thx. Does anyone know if the rates have increased a lot for 07 for the River Camp? I'm being quoted $750 PPPN for Grumeti River Camp while the 06 rack rate is $630 pppn. Am trying to decide between this camp and Sabora.

I would love to hear from the person who posted the photos on Eben's website as to how they felt about Sabora. It's obviously lovely but do you see as many animals? Is there anything to see from your tent?

I think Eben took those pics himself. If someone else took them, they're generally listed as Copyright: followed by that person's name on his site. I don't know if he has stayed there.

You're right, it has Eben's name. I'm unclear how he'd take those photos if he didn't stay there...?

I take pictures of other camps too if they're in the vicinity of where I'm staying or I know we'll be driving by at some point, both to satisfy my own curiousity and to share here. The majority are very welcoming, have no problems with you taking photos (more publicity for them), and will give you a tour showing you the inside of a tent/room or two as long as they're not fully occupied.

In Eben's case, he does have his own safari company, but in general anyone can visit other camps and take photos, at least in East Africa where my experiences are limited to (I've only had one place refuse).

I am in intinerary h*ll. I think it's something like this now:

NAMIBIA: windhoek
Sossusvlei (either S. Desert Lodge or Mt Lodge or?) 2nts
Wolwedans Dune Lodge 2 nts

Windhoek to jnb/SA
Phina 2 nts
Malamala 3 nts

Jnb to Kenya/Tanzania
Tanzania safari x 8 nts (2 nts crater lodge/3 nts mobile camp, maybe CCAfrica/2 nts grumeti river camp or Grumeti reserves

The order of countries had mostly to do with availability although now that there have been changes, that may be open to change as well. I've heard not to end this trip with grumeti river camp as it's not as special/luxurious as many of the other places. Due to cold sensitivity, I'd rather have the crater earlier in the trip than later if it's possible.

Comments?

Oh gosh, just cross out that last post. For any newbies, this is what itinerary planning is like for a 3 country private safari a year ahead - lots of back and forth.

The new plan is the order we all originally wanted:
East Africa, Namibia, SA.

In some order it will be:
Crater Lodge
CCA mobile tented camp (to save over the private tented camp and also because we couldn't get either of the two guides we requested)
Grumeti River Lodge

Namibia 4 nts (in some order)
Little Kulala or Sossusvlei Mt Lodge with
Wolwedans Dune or Serra Cafema
(I'm doubting we'll do Serra Cafema as it will be an expensive 3 hour small plane transfer)

SA stays the same but we'll do Phinda first and end at Rattrays