steeliejim

Well, it looks like it's going to happen--going back to Zambia! Turns out setting up our itinerary in Zambia might have been easier than getting there and back.

We arrive arrive Chiawa on the Lower Zambezi Oct. 2, staying for 3 nights until Oct. 5,

Then transfer to Old Mondoro Oct. 5 (Ruth is even up to canoeing the Chifungulu Channel again. Wants to say hello to her hippo friend (from a distance this time--we hope).

We then leave Old Mondoro Oct. 10 for
Kaingo/Mwamba Bush Camps in So. Luangwa Nat. Park for 8 nights (not sure about the split in nights between the bush camps as yet). We'll also sleep one night out in the elephant hide at Kaingo.

Here's the problem: BA, which we used last year from San Francisco has no seats available 9 Oct. arriving into Lusaka Oct. 10, and has no seats available coming out Oct. 19 (we would have had to spend an extra night in Lusaka anyway).

Our options are to arrive a day (or days) early, and leave a day later spending the extra nights in Lusaka, or find another way to get there and back.

There are several options but they all include flying on 3 different airlines (at least) and landing in different countries such as England,So. Africa, Kenya, and others. I am concerned about so many country and a/l changes. Do we have to clear customs in each country, collecting baggage and rechecking? Is it lots more of a hassle and does it increase the chances of lost luggage by having to change airlines so much? Do we have to go through customs at first arrival in each country even if only to change planes? I know these might seem naive questions for you experienced travelers, but we are relative newbies at going to Africa and would like alternatives other than BA.

Hari, Luamgwa blondes, Green Drake, Lynn, Sharon, Alin, others, help, please.

Jim

Patty

If you're traveling on one ticket with bags through checked to your final destination, you don't have to clear immigration/customs and claim/recheck bags in Heathrow or Nairobi, though you may need to change terminals in Heathrow and go through security and you'll go through gate security in Nairobi. I haven't transited through Johannesburg but assume since you're connecting international to international, you can remain airside and not go through South African immigration/customs. Again, this is assuming bags through checked.

I'd look at it as a good excuse to spend the extra time in Zambia

Good luck!

hills27

Just flew through Jo'burg and noticed that you don't have to go through immigration/customs if you are connecting to an international flight and your baggage was checked through.

steeliejim

Thanks Patty,

Makes sense

Yes, any excuse to stay longer in Zambia--except we're already pushing it w/r to how much time we will be gone.

HariS

Hi Jim,

I agree with Patty, try to get there earlier and relax in Africa!!!

I agree....nothing like flying direct into the country you wish to get to.

Hari

GreenDrake

I will join the spend the extra night in the South Luangwa crowd.

I imagine you will already be spending one night in Lusaka in order to catch the morning flight to LHR. Rather than 2 nights in Lusaka, I would stay the extra night at Kaingo/Mwamba and if space not available, make a visit over to Flatdogs or Wildlife for a night at a price close to what you would pay for a Lusaka room.

atravelynn

I spent a night at Lilayi Lodge near Lusaka, which you could consider for if you need a place to overnight. It was a small, private, fenced property with many antelope. There were vervets running around and a nice pool.

Like the others, I'd just add a day to make things work. On the front end that could even be considered smart planning with the delays and cancellations that seem to occur so frequently.

Ruth's willingness to canoe the Chifungulu Channel says a lot about the beauty and allure of the channel and of the courage of Ruth.

Let us know what you do!

steeliejim

Thanks all for the ideas. Yes, I tend to agree about getting into Zambia a day or two early and staying an extra day or two at the end if necessary. Seems to me the BA flight into Lusaka from London is later this year. Last year we were able to get in the afternoon/night drive at Chiawa on arrival. That was when we saw the mom leopard protecting her cubs and kill from the hyenas.

It would be difficult to get there in time this year for the evening drive, so another reason to get there a day early.

I am curious about the difficulies/risks associated with multiple a/l's. How has the luck been with luggage? I did lose my fly rod with BA last year (never showed up), but I gather that is as much a function of going through Heathrow as anything else. How have others done w/r to checking luggage through to the final destination on multiple a/l's Intuitively, it seems to me that the risk of bags being misplaced becomes higher the more stops and a/l changes one makes.

Jim

HariS

Hi Jim,

There was a recent article that someone posted a link to.....had a lot of stats about BA and missing luggage! I think BA has had a bad record in recent times......anytime, i have a connection i usually check to see if they can track on the computer to see if the bags have been loaded on the second flight. My experiences with Emirates has usually been fantastic! they are very helpful to give you information......unlike, Delta/continental etc etc., where they just snap at any question you have....

Hari

matnikstym

jim-just curious. why would you need BA on 9 October when you will be arriving at Chiawa 2 October and already be in Zambia then? Something's wrong with those dates?

You could fly to JNB and then up to Lusaka, but it is nice to arrive in Lusaka and off you go to LZ or Mfuwe.

You're not going to LRL this time?

As far as risk with multi airlines, I'll let you know when I get back in October. Flying Aloha to Honolulu, China Airlines to Hong Kong, Emirates to Johannesburg and SAA up to Kruger.

HariS

Dennis,

But, if you are staying at all those places you won't worry about missing bags? Hope you enjoy Emirates...and hopefully you haven't seen many recent movies as they have all of them and you get a chance to catch up!

matnikstym

Hari-I'm only staying at those places on the way home, not going. At least the first 8 days are self-drive through Kruger so if the bags don't make it, oh well!
Looking forward to Emirates, though wish you could pick seats beforehand. I'll be in the air to HK at the 24 hour Emirates online check-in time.

GreenDrake

Jim not a whole lot experience flying mutliple connections with multiple airlines to Africa. Just a sample of one - flew Boston-LHR-JNB-Lusaka RT. BA to London and SAA from JNB to Lusaka.

I checked my luggage all the way through and luggage arrived in Lusaka on the way out and Boston on return. Did not have to go through customs in JNB.

I no longer buy any 2 piece fly rods that I have to check separately. All mine are now 4 or 5 piece and I put them in my checked luggage. Still run the risk of losing luggage, but I just feel the risk of theft when they are in rod cases as stand alones increases.

Are you going to be doing some Tiger fishing this trip?

africaddict

Jim, there's always the Qantas flight to Sydney and then the QF63 direct to Joberg, then transit to Lusaka same day. O'night @ Lusaka IC or Padmozi. Then first flight to Mfuwe, you don't miss a game drive that way, on the way home o'night @ Flatdogs, before first flight out to Lusaka.
This is what we're doing in 7 days time, were off for 9 nights Kaingo/Mwamba, 5 nights Tafika, ending last night @ Flatdogs.
(Except for the US bit, we go straight from Sydney direct, as we live there) ;-)
We'll compare notes when we return, (including the Ele hide as well )
Cheers
Marc

steeliejim

Alin,

You are quite right. Sheesh. I need you to look over my shoulder and proof read so I don't make such dumb mistakes.

The lack of availability on BA is on Oct. 1.

We would have loved to go back to LRL, but there were conflicts re. dates and availability between LRL and Kaingo/Mwamba. Their remoteness and the ability to hang out during the day at the hides esp. appeals to us, so something had to give.

We wanted to try something a bit different this time around (although I suppose not going to someplace totally different in Africa, like Botswana, Rwanda, or Tanzania, some might raise their eyebrows at that statement) We still have hopes of at least seeing Victor, Philomon, Sean and MaryAnn at some point during our stay in So. Luangwa Nat. Park.

So, now that we have our itinerary in place, and thanks to sll of your help, I hope to have flights settled by tonight.

Marc, we'll be really anxious to hear about your trip. Yes, Flat Dogs looks interesting. Obvioiusly not wilderness being that it is right at the entrance to So. Luangwa Nat. Pk, but, on one of our drives, Victor somehow sensed that we might find giraffes there. And, so we did, a whole herd (or "tower") that we hung with for over half an hour. Very cool.

Staying there the last night before leaving is an interesting idea I hadn't thought of.

And, yes, GreenDrake, this time it's 4-piece rods that I can put into my luggage. Plural, because I'm taking an extra outfit to give to Roelof at Old Mondoro (he really got excited about the prospect of learning to flyfish for tigerfish). He and Helen are going to be there for certain for much of Sept. and, hopefully still there when we arrive. No guarantee, though, because they may have to return to SA before we get there.

Sorry we'll be missing you--unless you want to "pop" over to Kaingo/Mwamba.

Jim

Patty

I don't think you'll have any greater risk of delayed/lost luggage with a multi-airline itinerary vs an all BA itinerary right now. BA has had some serious luggage issues lately. Be sure to pack any essentials and what's necessary to get you through the first few days in your carry on (unfortunately, this is made even more difficult due to the UK one bag security restriction).

A recent report from someone who spent their whole safari without luggage http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=35049589

nyama

Jim, I suggest you have a look at Kaingo's Elephant Hide during daytime before deciding to stay a night there. It's a small and very open platform which might cause problems to people who have problems with heights, especially at night. I spent a wonderful and fantastic night there, and although I had the whole place for myself, I had to move very carefully on the remaining space around the mattress. I guess with two people it will get a little complicated...

nyama

PS: here is an ultra-wide angle shot of the place,
ftp://www.podszuck.de/po/podszuck.de...antHide-2.jpeg

cooncat2

Hi Jim - Just saw this post and it looks like others have given you good advice. I would consider Mfuwe Lodge or Wildlife Camp for that last night. I haven't seen Flatdogs, but Mfuwe Lodge is close to the airport as well, and the staff there is really great. Even thought you can see part of it from the main road, it's not loud at all, and you are out and about yourself when there would be "traffic." I loved watching all the baboons and mongooses on the property.

Anyway... I am so utterly jealous and wish I could join you.

FYI - The ellie hide at Kaingo was damaged in the flooding and so they were to rebuild it. So it may be bigger now, who knows. You could have Jules send you a photo - I'm sure she would. They also built a new, enlarged deck off the river that is thatch roofed and looked to me like a place I would want to spend a long time!

Keep us all posted on the plan!
Sharon

nyama

Sharon, it's a tree hide and depends on suitable tree trunks - you can't just simply enlarge it. Unless they've found a better tree, the refurbished hide will nearly look the same. Statics basics.