tjhome1

Super report, great detail, so useful. Glad you had no regrets at all - Thank you for taking the time to share.

deladeb

Thank-you for taking the time to post and include so many helpful details!

61luv2travel

deladeb - your welcome! Have found the forums so helpful over the years for planning and getting ideas. I like to pay it forward -though the sheer length of this report might be a bit overwhelming.

progol

bookmarking - thanks for your detailed trip report! A safari trip is high on my long list of places to visit and I hope to do it within the next 2 years. Very helpful.

annhig

I found this TR by chance about an hour ago and I have had a very happy Christmas Even reading it; thank you so much for posting it. Our one visit to SA was about 10 years ago and though I'm sure things have changed, the logistics of getting around seem to be more or less the same.

And I loved the detail!

peggionthego

Thank you so much for a fabulous trip report! We were in southern Africa at about the same time (also stayed at Rattrays in MalaMala and ate in La Columbe in Cape Town)so I could relate to much of what you wrote and now you have "shamed" me into thinking I need to share a trip report as well. It is wonderful for travelers to help other travelers!

61luv2travel

annhig and peggieonthego - thank you for your comments. It is always fun and exciting to get feedback on trip reports. I realize that mine is probably too long but it helped me to extend the wonderful memories from the trip. My husband and I are still torn as to where to go next - we have a lot on our wish list but we keep feeling it will pale in comparison. Also we were able to show our son the trip photos when he was home for the holidays. He promptly grabbed some of the best to use as screensavers. He couldn't believe what we were able to see on safari.

Konak

I'm finding your post months later, but I'm wondering when you traveled. I'm trying to decide whether to go to Botswana in November/December or April/May. What were the temps in Botswana? I know it will be hot, but did you feel comfortable, especially for sleeping?

deladeb

61luv2travel- Do you recall roughly the cost of your great adventure (not including the flight to and from)?Thanks

jlovesg

Thanks for all the info., love hearing about your trip.! This will be our first time in Africa and I was not thinking about Botswana until I read your post.

ekscrunchy

I just found this report and wanted to mention how timely it is since my sister and her husband got back a few days ago from a mammoth trip, also planned by Liesl Matthews, who I've used three times now for my own marvelous southern African forays. Thank you so much for writing!

To Konak I will say that I've been to Bots in both May and October and both are so fabulous, it barely matters. I was not uncomfortable due to heat or cold even once during those trips, or any other, because I knew what to pack.

I'd go when I could get the best pricing if you are looking at the top-price tier of lodges, which are mind-blowingly expensive in Botswana,, especially. But before you pass out from the prices, do remember that they rates include all food and drinks, all activities and guides, lodging, and some transfers. And it is certainly not essential to visit the MOST pricey lodges to have a mind-blowing experience. (Last year (2017) we were in Mombo, Zarafa, and Vumbura Plains and I can say, and my sister can echo, these were the very best trips of a lifetime of travel).

mlgb

Thanks for the report. A group of us are heading over there next year and I need to think about addons.

soufmargh

Thanks for writing this report, I definitely enjoyed reading it! I'm hoping to be able to take a month trip through south Africa, I'm from the northern part, Morocco, and I've been to most of the north African countries. I've always wanted to visit the Southern region as it is very different from the north but I'm still trying to plan it and figure out which itinerary to follow. This report will make it much easier for me, Thanks again!

marlene_

I am also curious as to which month you took your trip.

61luv2travel

Sorry for the late reply - I hadn't checked back in a while.

Our trip was taken in early Sept 2017 - I have to say that Botswana was somewhat hot, but not unbearably so. The hottest part of the day was the mid-afternoon and we would cool off at the pool which felt great. We did not have any problems sleeping at night and we did not have AC. I do remember hearing that October is "suicide" month as that is one of the hottest months?

With respect to the prices I do remember feeling as if my eyes were going to pop out of my head when I first started looking at the cost of the top tier camps in Botswana. However, after going through the choices pretty extensively and then also with Liesl's guidance I was able to find a happy medium.

Finally, I would say the total cost of our trip (minus the business class fares via Emirates) was about $25K for me and my husband (so slightly more than $12.5K per person) - that included all of the internal flights, meals and activities in Cape Town as well as the all-inclusive safari camps as well as some heavy duty travel insurance (which I am happy to note we did not have to use). This was definitely the most expensive trip we had ever taken but it was worth it to us.

Hope that helps.

deladeb

Thanks for the info!

shouldbewriting

Thank you so much for this wonderful report!

We’re going to Cape Town and Botswana next fall (already been to Sabi Sand) and your depth of detail is so useful. Glad you had such a great time!