No, it's my DH and I, if he gets up off the floor and stops sighing about the $$$ :((. I did take what he said under advisement though, and then booked exactly what I wanted - who says I don't listen.

I also have 2 friends who may be interested in tagging. Thing is, if they don't get on the stick they won't get space in the small camps. I learned early in life to never hold up the bus :)

Looks great, Sherry. Well done.

John

Looks great.

What a great itinerary. And long stays at all the camps.
Congrats on getting it all worked out!

This was a really informative thread. We need to have a camps/lodges index somewhere for future plans to Botswana and other countries. Might be helpful so we can reference back.

Hopefully, I'll get to Botswana one day!

Thanks. Yes a camp file would be great as the info. is all over the place. Too bad we don't have LyndaS. over here - although I do think she's got enough on her plate (if your reading this Lynda, don't get any ideas).

The help planning this with all of your input has been invaluable.

Sherry,
And what a bus ride this will be!

Good trip...Sherry

Hari

What happened to a tribal ceremony? I only picked up on this thread today. Surprised no one mentioned Zambia and all their ceremonies.

Two major ones in your time frame.One at end of July and another at the end of August, both very popular.

Then you are going to be at Mana Pools. There is a pack of wild dogs that have been denning near a camp the past 2 years. Would have been easy to tie in a canoe trip after a couple days at their camp.

Zambia has great waterfalls, not just a couple, but a whole slew of them, with great hiking, horseback riding at several places, and in the land where bush walking started. All this could have been combined with some great camps to enjoy wildlife.

LWB,
Where were you prior to me booking this :). I would have loved hearing more of your insights.

I will probably be adding something at the end of the above, either in the Kalahari or the pans for some tribal interaction (any suggestions there - think inexpensively).

I looked into Tuli which was cost prohibitive due to location, but would love to go there next time for some diversified activities. Prehaps I can then include Zambia at that time.

Re Mana Pools canoe trip;
We will be going out walking and out in jeeps btw, after paddling so maybe I'll luck out and see the dogs - which camp do they hang out at?
Thanks;
Sherry

The dogs have been seen near Ruckomechi Camp. http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/ca...dule=factsheet

With your current schedule, the only good ceremony at the end of July to see is at the Palace of Mwata Kazembe. The Mutombuku, which is in the Northern part of Zambia and would not make sense with that itinerary.You can find the exact location in Google Earth. Out of the other 10, 2 that I have dates currently do not fall in your August time frame and the other 7, no set '07 dates have been established. A big problem for tourists, which I am hoping to work my way through.

Send me your email address to luangwablondes at juno dot com and I'll send you place marks to open in GE, of a couple tribal ceremonies and their wikis to check out. A couple of the ones I plan on going to the next trip.

Will do, LWB. Thanks

Sherry,

What is the schedule on the Mana canoe trail. You canoe all day for 3 days? If so, where to where? and do you do night drives as well? sounds like a fun trip, either way.....

Hari

Hari,
It's a 4 day mobile camping trip starting at Ruckomechi and ending at Chikwenya. We'll mostly be paddling (I believe) in the am, and then be free to do guided hikes or go out in a vehicle later. I'm not sure about night drives. I thought we could, but now I can't find it it my mountain of info. I'll check that out.

Sherry, sounds like a fantastic trip.....

Hari

btw, I ending up using FishEagle, in case your wondering. Bert's easy to deal with, extrememly knowledgeable and has very competitive pricing.
Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sherry,

I got my planet earth dvd on Monday and thought of you the moment i saw the chitabe pack of wild dog.....have you seen it yet?

Hari

Hello again,
I will shortly need to send a deposit for my trip (see below) and have few additional questions. I plan on keeping the planned part of the trip the same unless a brainstorm stikes (it's happened).

Questions;
Has anyone been to Zibliaga lately or since the expansion(you out there Hari) my concern is that it's no longer the intimate camp that I originally invisioned - true?

I'm still on the fence about going to the desrt or pans. I'm intrigued with Planet Baobob due to price and proximity to seeing real people in Botswana. Anyone been there?

Would it be logistically easy enough to get to from Chitabe at the end or better to put in the beginning of my trip from Joburg?

Has anyone been to Planet B. as well as Sans or Jacks, if so, how does it compare (I imagine that it's not as posh but that's not a concern unless you tell me that I'll be sleeping with goats or on nails)

All opinions will be appreciated.
Thanks ahead.

Here's my current itinerary:
PROVISIONAL ITINERARY:
ZIMBABWE & BOTSWANA

22 July 2008:
JOHANNESBURG
Southern Sun - 1 night

23 July: VICTORIA FALLS
Ilala Lodge - 1 night

24 July: MANA CANOE TRAIL
3-night/4-day Mana Canoe Trail

27 July: Victoria Falls
Matesi Water lodge - 1 night

28 July: SELINDA-LINYANTI
Ziblianja Camp - 5 nights

02 Aug: OKAVANGO DELTA
Little Vumbura Camp - 3 nights

05 Aug: MOREMI
Chitabe Trails Camp - 5 nights

10 Aug: DEPARTURE OR
Add on a desert extension

Hi Sherry,

Funny, your post came thru just as i was going to shut my computer down.

Zib next year, is going to still be a 3 room camp. It will be luxurious, perhaps. Although, when i was at Zib they weren't sure yet of the design of camp and no concrete plans yet with regards to the style of camp. It all depends on the pricing, as for next year they are going to be significantly more expensive. If you have already spoken to your agent about the pricing and you are comfortable with it, you may as well go ahead!

Chitabe i would imagine is one of the closest camps to Maun, so it doesnt make a difference if you start or end there!

Hi Hari,
Glad I caught you. How luxurious is luxurious? Hope they don't ruin it or price me out.
Where's your trip report and pics?

Would love to hear from anyone else as I'm getting close to sending $$$.

2008 rates for Zib are on the new Selinda website.

It's US$ 1335 pppps. :-D

PS: forgot the URL, www.selindareserve.com/rates.html

Sherry,

You can find information on "Wild dogs kwando/selinda".....but, only information on the animals.

Rgds,
Hari

Well Nyama, you've depressed me with the Zib. pricing.... Why such a jump? Also, Is that site quoting Wilderness prices?

I agree with you cybor--that is depressing. And they say this on the website:

"What we want to create is a camp where people will want to stay for a month."

At those prices???

A month, I wish! That would be over $40k, PLUS a S/S cost for me. If I hit the lotto I will pick 5 of my favorite Fodorites and reserve the entire camp, so be nice to me! :D

cybor, sorry for depressing you, but I guess you are not the only one who is depressed by the latest developments in Selinda - many of former Selinda clients (including me) are certainly not happy about all this.

Wilderness prices? Better would be "wild prices". The Selinda website has nothing to do with WS, and Selinda is not owned by WS. WS are only marketing Selinda on their own website, maybe because of their good relationship with the Jouberts, and maybe because the CEO of the 'Selinda Consortium' is Colin Bell, their former CEO.

But Sherry, when you spoke with your agent and came up with a plan....did you already deciede the final price of your trip? If so, then....you should be okay.

afrigala/John,
I just returned from Savuti and can report that the cheetah brothers are doing well. They had just killed an ostrich and were spitting out the last feathers when I left them. One had a slight limp (hind leg) but it didn't look too serious. Still only two in the coalition unfortunately. They did have an encounter at the watering hole with elephants, the winner was... We have already booked our return to Savuti for next year. Regards, Chuck

Chuck,
Any conparison between Savuti and Zib?

Hari,
No, all I have is a provisional booking reserved with a small deposit at the above mentioned camps.
I will have to pay the difference for the 2008 prices and hope to keep my original deposit if I have to choose other camps if Zib.
It may now be out of my league - I've got 5 days there.

Who the hell can afford those ridiculous rates? I thought that that was what Mombo was for.

Chuck,

Hi! Good to hear that the boys are well. May i ask, what dates you were at Savuti? i am asking this as i am trying to ascertain the duration of time they hv spent in the duma tau/savuti concession(for my potential future trips). When i was at Selinda they crossed over into the WS concession on the morning of june 5(according to my notes) and as on june 16th they were still in the concession, and getting ready to leave. Appreciate any feedback on this!

Thanks
Hari

Cybor,
I have not been to Zib but I can give some very recent information on Savuti. The new tents are really fabulous, they do a Monday night traditional dinner in an attached Boma (fantastic experience) and the staff, as in all of the Wilderness Camps we have visited, go the extra mile to make you feel welcome. The Hide at the exge of the watering hole at camp, is not operational because the eles have become very territorial. Camp mamagement are afraid the vehicles will be attacked bringing guests down to the hide and the hide isn't rally that much protection. Actually the game viewing was such that it made little difference. They do have another hide at Rock Pan which offer great opportunities. In the four days we were there, we spent three days with the Wild Dog Pack (11 dogs) two days with the Cheetah brothers, 2 days with the lion pride, and two days with two different leopards. When I say days I mean several hours with each and 1/2 day with each of the leopards and with the cheetahs. He observed an incredible interaction between the Wild Dog Pack and a band of Hyena. The Hyena tried to steal the Dog kill but the Dogs beat them back (Biting their private parts) and chasing them into the water. It was so funny that I almost forgot to press the shutter. We enjoyed Savuti enough to book it again for 2008. Whichever camps you finally settle on, try and stay 3 days or longer at each (4 days is ideal). At Savuti, try and do sundowners at Rock Pan, wonderful photographic opportunity. As a last minute addition I should mention that the Dogs had not yet denned but were getting ready to do so. The alpha female is heavy with pups so things might be even better next year.
Regards, Chuck

Sorry, should read "We observed an ......." Someone please make this Forum more user friendly :-)

Hari,
Regarding the Savuti Boys, we were in Savuti on June 8-11 and saw the Boys on June 9, 10, and 11. They made a kill (Ostrich) on June 10th. Brandon, the Wilderness Manager for all of the Classic Wilderness Camps was at camp and he told us that Ostrich was a very unusual prey for these two. They were in good shape and on the night of the 10th made a half hearted attempt at catching an impala. When they failed, they began to stalk one another (great fun). On the evening of the 10th they were quite full, having eaten 1/2 an adult ostrich each, and then visited the watering hole at Rock Pan. The elephants objected and it was amazing to watch the elephants chase them into the bush. The Boys took it all in stride and waited for the herd to leave before visiting the hole for another drink. Good luck catching up with them, they are among the more interesting cheetahs we have ever been fortunate enough to spend time with.
Regards, Chuck

Hi Chuck,

Appreciate your information. On june 16th....when i was leaving Lebala i was joking with the camp manager that the moment i leave the boys WILL come back.....sure enough, i get on the plane and i had to open my big mouth and ask the couple seated next to me,"what camp are you guys coming from?" they mentioned duma tau and the two boys and that they were "energized" with a fresh meal and that they were ready to move on.....true, i felt ready to jump off the plane!

Thanks
Hari

Hi Chuck
Last year I saw the brothers stalk Ostrich (unsuccessful) between Kwando Lagoon and Lebala. I did ask my guide, Steve, if it was not unusual for the boys to do this and he replied that he had seen them kill Ostrich several times.
Later at night we had an Ostrich almost
falling into the vehicle as it was being chased by a young Hyena.

Hi Michael,

I am sure you are going to see them in September. My sister and her family spent an entire day with them between Lagoon and Lebala on june 2nd.

Rgds,
Hari

I think they have a picture of one of the boys on an ostritch kill in one of the two camps.....

Hi Hari

I certainly hope to see them in September.
Have booked Spencer as a private guide for both Lagoon and Lebala and will spend a lot of time looking for the dogs and the brothers

Hi Michael....he promises to keep a watch on the two boys until next year.

On one of the days, we went tracking all day, up and down the concession to see if they were back.....but, these two boys seem to be hiding from me!