Advice Needed Please....Cancel or Reschedule??
 

Dear Fodorites: I am unsure about what to do and would like your advice. I have been planning a trip to South Africa and Botswana for my daughter's college graduation for almost a year. We are to leave Dec. 26, 2009 and visit the following: Mala Mala, Camp Kalahari, Little Vumbura, Mombo and Vic Falls. Obviously, all is paid in full. Due to the sudden failing health of my mother in law, it looks unlikely that we can make this departure. As far as rescheduling, I was thinking that the end of May/early June might be relatively good (I have always been Nov-Feb because I cannot travel during June-Oct because of work), but my daughter's employer (hooray, she has a job in her major before graduation), says that May-June is not good for them but that she could go in March-April. My question(s), is May-June a good time (leaving out the issues w/ the World Cup), what about March-April, or should I just suck it up, cry a lot and cancel?? AAC is willing to work with me to change dates and there will not be too many change/cancel fees other than the airline tickets, and I do have trip cancellation insurance. Any and all advice welcome. Thanks.
Pat

LV and Mombo are delta areas, so technically March/April will be just before the bulk of the okavango floods hits the delta areas. Mombo on Chief's island - if you can still access areas that are not impacted by the floods ......... go for it! Kalahari should be at it's best during the rains ...... so again March should be good.

My vote would be March/April given your choice of camps....

I don't have any recommendations for you,but I just want to say I'm sorry for your situation. Don't cancel outright though....I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time no matter when you go.

HariS - Thank you for the input, I am not quite sure why I had dismissed Mar-Apr as a good time to go.

Lillipets - Thank you for your kind words, I am hoping that we won't have to cancel as I am not sure when we could re-schedule this mother/daughter trip, since she will no longer be a student with free time to travel.

When I saw the post and your name attached, I was so disappointed. I wish the best for your mother-in-law.

Do you think the issues causing you to cancel now will be resolved by March-April?

I'd go March/April because your Botswana camps are in the delta. If you were going to Selinda/Linyanti, then that wouldn't be my suggestion. You may have a little more rain that time than end of Dec. But it is not like you were booked for the height of the dry season in your first plan, anyway.

Look at the weather in Mala Mala. Mar-Apr is good.
http://www.malamala.com/weather.htm

There should be max water in the falls.

If the employer says no to May-June, then don't do anything to jeopardize a job in this lousy job market.

Everything points to March-April if I were you.

atravelynn - Thanks for the message, it really is a good feeling to hear from the names I have seen so often on this site. Unfortunately, the situation with my mother-in-law has only one solution; she had a slight stroke in late Sept., turned 95 last month and decided after her birthday that she was just too tired to carry on. The decline has been incredibly rapid, and she may not even last until Christmas, that is why everything is so up in the air. As I mentioned earlier, I have only been to Africa in Nov-Feb, and had never even thought about Mar-Apr (dumb, now that I am reading your response).
Thank you so much for your input, you have no idea how much I appreciate you taking the time. I will look at the Mala Mala link, maybe that will help cheer me up.
Thanks again, I will keep eveyone posted.

atravelynn, HariS and Lillipets: Just wanted to thank you again for your input and update on the situation. My mother-in-law passed away peacefully in her sleep last week-end, services tomorrow. I will not be cancelling or rescheduling the trip now, we will depart SFO on Dec.26. Hopefully, I can post a trip report that won't bore everyone to sleep.
Thanks again.

Pat

I am sorry about your mother-in-law. Hope you were able to enjoy Thanksgiving together. Ninety five years is pretty good as is a peaceful death in sleep.

I'd like to add my sympathies for the passing of your mother-in-law. I hope you have a wonderful trip and it provides many pleasant experiences to help soften the loss you've just experienced. I'll be looking forward to hearing about your trip.

debwarr- Thank you so much for your kind words. My daughter and I are starting the packing (repacking) preparations. It is a new experience for her not being able to bring everything including the kitchen sink! I had put all of my preparations for the trip aside, so now I am pulling everything back out, and the excitement is beginning to grow....2 weeks until flight time!! Hopefully, I can write a trip report that won't put everyone to sleep. Thanks again.

Pat

Scruffypuma, I'm sorry for your family's loss. Yes, 95 years of life is a good run, and she was fortunate to have had a gentle death. Hopefully, you and your daughter can relax on your safari and enjoy the experience. I'm sure you'll be thinking of the good times you had with your loved one, even as you enjoy all that Africa has to offer.

Thank you, ShayTay. Helen always enjoyed slide shows (dating myself here)after I returned from a trip, so we will think of her when we see all of the wild things Africa has to offer. My daughter is actually coming home tomorrow to pack, as it is her only day off between now and Dec.26th when we leave...a change from her usual 1am finishing touches the night before departure. I am beginning to feel like it is really going to happen.
Pat

Scruffypuma, I'm so sorry for your loss. But glad to hear that your MIL passed away peacefully in her sleep aged 95. That's a passing we can all hope for, one day long in our futures.

I'm glad too that you'll be able to go on your trip as originally scheduled, albeit with sadness in your hearts for your MIL. But I'm sure the natural wonders you will see will lift your spirits.

Perhaps, you can raise a glass to your MIL somewhere special along the way?

I like Kavey's suggestion.

Kavey and atravelynn: What a great idea! I called my daughter and she said to thank you. We will definitely raise a toast (or several....) to Helen while we are on safari.
Kavey, thank you for the suggestion.
Pat

You're welcome...