Bon Voyage Cooncat!!!
 

Hope I didn't already miss you...I figure you must be leaving in the next 48 hours.

Have an awesome time...I have word that the two Fodorite couples at Luangwa River Lodge right now are doing very well.

Your time has FINALLY come!!! :)

Cheers.

Have a blast!!! Trip report and pics on your return, please........

Hari

Yay! Have fun and do not forget to take notes for all of us back here wanting to live vicariously through your trip report!!! :D :D :D

Have a great trip! Looking forward to hearing all about it when you return!

THANKS EVERYBODY!!! I leave on Thursday! Still a couple more sleeps to go - thankfully because I'm not quite ready! I will be sure to say a proper goodbye before I go!

((@))

Hi Cooncat,

Leaving Thursday gives you plenty of time! I wish you the very best of gameviewing, then nothing else matters!

Kind regards,
Kaye

Cooncat, we leave on Thursday too, though not anywhere quite as exotic! We're off to Islay in Scotland for a long weekend for my hub's birthday! Bon Voyage to me too! :D

Sharon - you'll be right on my tail, leaving the day after me. Boo-ho-hoo, we're going to different places. Know this will be a great trip for you with or without tangled hair. Safe trip and Safari njema!

Sharon - have a great time and a lovely experience. Will be thinking of you while in Botswana...

Hi Sharon -

Have a blast. Good luck with all the photography!

James

sharon (and sandi and canechick) --have a great trip.

I'm totally jealous, no trips in the near term except work related, darn!

Cooncat - I hope you can get some sleep between now and then. Have a great time and be safe!

Kavey - You and your hub have fun as well. I have fond memories of Scotland. We gave our oldest son the middle name Skye, after some great time we spent there.

sandi & Canechick (and Cooncat) - Have mercy on the homebound and let us know a little about your trips when you get back.

Kavey - No details on your trip needed, unless related to the sea air aided malting and peat (not Pete) fire smoked drying of certain grain-based products ultimately being vended as liquid refreshments. ;-)

Cooncat,
Safe and happy travels.
Enjoy and find the dogs for me!

Sherry

Sandi, Bon Voyage to you too!!! I can't keep track!!!

Favor, cool name!

Cooncat,
It seems as if I haven’t known Fodor’s without you planning your first trip to Africa. I wish you wild dogs and safari njema.
Safiri salama. (I don’t know any Bemba)

Cooncat, have a FABULOUS time and don't forget to give us a taster when you get back. Bon Voyage.

Imelda

Have a wonderful trip, Sharon!

Shucks! Thanks again, everyone! I know - it does seem like I've been planning this trip for the last 10 years!

I'm sure it will be easier next time around! :-D

Sharon,

Looks like the Wild Dogs are waiting for you!

http://www.robinpopesafaris.net/itsmonday/content/

Hopefully they stick around for a couple more weeks. Wonder if the Fodorites at Luangwa River Lodge have been lucky enough to see the wild dogs?

I'm sure you will be running on adrenalin the next few days in anticipation of a fabulous experience. Safe Journey and Enjoy!

Okay, cooncat: ready, set, go! Can you believe it? You're going to Africa!

Have a wonderful, wonderful time.

((@)), it's been a fun year, you've kept me laughing and smiling ever since you decided to "bite the bullet" and go to Africa. Hard to believe it's finally here! I wish you the best trip ever, travel safe, have fun and enjoy it all! :):):):)
Aloha nui loa,
Dennis

Bon Voyage Cooncat from me too!!! Looking forward to seeing pictures and reading a great trip report as I think Botswana and Zambia will be our next African destination!
Have a great time, and get lots of pictures of wild dogs for us.

Will wave as your returning plane passes ours on our way to Lusaka!

((@)) Have a great trip! What's the final itinerary?

I'll wave to you from the air -- I leave Thursday from JFK via Frankfurt to St. Petersburg for the White Night's Festival.

Michael

Thanks guys! Yes, Dennis, it has been a trip hasn't it? And hopefully the wild dogs will be there to greet me. Maybe they'll even fetch me my slippers! ;-)

Michael: 7 nights Lower Zambezi Nat. Park:
5 nights Chiawa/2 nghts Old Mondoro Bush camp

9 nights South Luangwa National Park:
3 nights Chamilandu Bush Camp
3 nights Luangwa River Lodge
3 nights Tafika

First, a day in London with Jasher!
((@))

I noticed that "next time around" comment.
Have a wonderful time on #1.

Cooncat - Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!!!! it's here - have a great time. Tell us what you think about the bladder showers, the wild dogs, first safari. We will be waiting.

Are you even able to sleep?!

<<Are you even able to sleep?>

X-A-N-A-X........ahhhhhhhhhh :-D

Hope I'm not to late to offer my good wishes as well. If your trip report is half as fun as your planning, we are all in for a treat! Have a wonderful journey.

Cindy

Have a wonderful trip. As a new poster, I've greatly enjoyed reading your messages.

Can't wait for the trip report.

cw

Thanks again guys... not too late, I have two more sleeps to go! :-D

Well let me get my well wishes in here too! Have an awesome time and great fun.
I can't stand it that so many of my fellow fodorites are going to Africa soon. I'm so green with envy. :& Can you tell?

Thanks Divewop - I'm jealous of you and all of your travels already in Africa! Give a girl a chance to catch up! :-D

OK - off to hopefully complete the packing, with the exception of last minute items. Egads - this is nervewracking.

A quick question - I want to swap out my north face "puffy jacket" for a really warm fleece vest. With layers, like a longsleeved shirt and gloves and something for my ears, wouldn't that about cover it? I mean, if it warmd up within an hour? And remember I live in the Midwest where it REALLY gets cold. TA!
((@))

I'm pretty thin-blooded and I've always just brought a fleece jacket, and worn that over a long sleeve shirt w/ a tee underneath so I can undress as the day gets warmer. It seems to work fine for me.

I did buy a nice fleece hat at one of the CCAfrica gift shops that I've taken back with me when I go. It comes in handy since most of the warmth escapes from your head.

And sometimes the guides will have blankets in the jeeps for the guests.

cooncat - I was born in Minnesota and find a fleece jacket with long sleeve turtleneck and gloves good to anything down to freezing. Even lower if I know the sun's on it's way soon. Have fun!

Cooncat,

Here's hoping you spend lots of time with the dogs in luangwa.

Hari