botswana camps
Nov 1st, 2006, 09:39 AM
#81
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Sherry: you take a bush flight to DVL. They have a private concession that I believe is 15,000 hectares that borders on the Central Kalahari Game Reserve -- you can see the famous Deception Valley from their property but they are forced by gov't rules to have a fence there. They are trying to negotiate a gate that would allow direct access and would have you in the heart of the reserve very quickly. Right now for the drive into the CKGR they negotiate a network of firewall roads and then can enter through a main entrance. This is why it is a whole day journey with a packed lunch. Hopefully in the future they will be granted direct access. The other game drives take place on their property which has at least 5 leopards and the lion pride generally in residence as well as lots of other wildlife.
Nov 1st, 2006, 12:45 PM
#84
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Sherry,
Bad luck about '07, but as you say, no surprise. I'm a little surprised by the '08 bookings; these places are popular but the popularity has rocketed since I last booked. I usually keep my dates fairly flexible, and don't set them in concrete until I've got what I want. But whatever you end up with, you'll have a magnificent safari for sure.
John
Bad luck about '07, but as you say, no surprise. I'm a little surprised by the '08 bookings; these places are popular but the popularity has rocketed since I last booked. I usually keep my dates fairly flexible, and don't set them in concrete until I've got what I want. But whatever you end up with, you'll have a magnificent safari for sure.
John
Nov 1st, 2006, 01:24 PM
#85
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John: I think a lot of provisional bookings take place where big operators or groups may hold space. I have done that before for group trips that I was going to lead. Often they are held until a certain time (6 or 9 months perhaps) before arrival at which time its deposit or release. With growing popularity I would imagine this kind of safety provisioning will grow.
I'm sure some agents on the board know more about that than I do -- of course I don't know if its safe to speak of such things anymore.
I'm sure some agents on the board know more about that than I do -- of course I don't know if its safe to speak of such things anymore.
Nov 1st, 2006, 06:34 PM
#88
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Yes, Sherry......i agree with PB, there may be lots of provisional bookings and space may open up....just get your TA to revert should WS get back to them regarding availability. I'm just glad i got my Zib booking for the first part of June. I only booked in September (a month ago)....
Hari
Hari
Nov 2nd, 2006, 05:24 AM
#89
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Well maybe Zib. isn't as popular as we think. I actually got an email from a TA who was not familiar with them. They promptly got removed from my contact list.
So far, I've got a few quotes that may be doable. Anyone know the UK $(don't have the key) to USD exchange rate today?
Thanks
*Nonsense - ignore as you had to be there
Gee cooncat, The Lady Keenya comment just slipped by me and I missed the whole innuendo thing, duhh. Although, if cooncat wasn't such a good handle this could have worked \
/
So far, I've got a few quotes that may be doable. Anyone know the UK $(don't have the key) to USD exchange rate today?
Thanks
*Nonsense - ignore as you had to be there
Gee cooncat, The Lady Keenya comment just slipped by me and I missed the whole innuendo thing, duhh. Although, if cooncat wasn't such a good handle this could have worked \
/
Nov 2nd, 2006, 05:48 AM
#91
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PB,
I enjoyed looking at your great photos again. They're not only well done but informative. I love your sense of detail and finding things (wildlife) that would normally be overlooked.
Question;
Did you see any tribeswomen?
sorry to comment on your pictures here as I would have liked to top your pictures for anyone who missed or would like to revisit.
Thanks;
Sherry
I enjoyed looking at your great photos again. They're not only well done but informative. I love your sense of detail and finding things (wildlife) that would normally be overlooked.
Question;
Did you see any tribeswomen?
sorry to comment on your pictures here as I would have liked to top your pictures for anyone who missed or would like to revisit.
Thanks;
Sherry
Nov 2nd, 2006, 05:59 AM
#93
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Sherry,
Take a look at their website www.linyanti.com they have put in their sightings for the month of October....go to camp news.
Hari
Take a look at their website www.linyanti.com they have put in their sightings for the month of October....go to camp news.
Hari
Nov 2nd, 2006, 08:00 AM
#94
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Sherry: thanks for the compliments -- I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures.
Women from local tribal areas work at DVL but they are not bushmen women (sounds funny but I think that would be the correct way to say it -- the fact is since they were the original people they didn't really have a term for themselves, they were simply the people. They were labeled as San but at some point it was degragatory to them so they prefer bushmen).
The owner of the camp somehow grew up in the vicinity of the bushmen culture and when the camp was founded they hired all bushmen (men and women) to staff it. Of course the culture is historically migratory and one day the owner woke up and the entire staff had just left. Because of this nature the support staff is local people and the bushmen trackers are free to come and go as they please. They also decide for themselves who will work as a tracker or conducting walks. They try to provide them with a good employment opportunity that is flexible enough to accomodate their culture needs. I found it all quite fascinating.
Women from local tribal areas work at DVL but they are not bushmen women (sounds funny but I think that would be the correct way to say it -- the fact is since they were the original people they didn't really have a term for themselves, they were simply the people. They were labeled as San but at some point it was degragatory to them so they prefer bushmen).
The owner of the camp somehow grew up in the vicinity of the bushmen culture and when the camp was founded they hired all bushmen (men and women) to staff it. Of course the culture is historically migratory and one day the owner woke up and the entire staff had just left. Because of this nature the support staff is local people and the bushmen trackers are free to come and go as they please. They also decide for themselves who will work as a tracker or conducting walks. They try to provide them with a good employment opportunity that is flexible enough to accomodate their culture needs. I found it all quite fascinating.
Nov 3rd, 2006, 10:23 AM
#95
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Have any of you had problems with TA's diverting from your wish list and suggesting irrelevant info?
I had one suggest Zambia rather than Bots. Another tell me that most people go to Bots. for less time and I should shorten my trip. And lastly, another divert completly and suggest that I go on an elephant safari - what? This is like asking for a porsche and being told that you need a VW or a new pair of shoes
.
I feel like these people are suggesting that I am a delusional women who can't grasp the concept of the logistics or $$ volume that this entails. Although I am likely delusional about some things(lots really),I am not when it comes to Afreekah
I knew full well that this trip was going to set me back quite a few notches north of 10Gs.
I have just knocked the above vendors off my list.
End of vent, back to work!
Sherry
I had one suggest Zambia rather than Bots. Another tell me that most people go to Bots. for less time and I should shorten my trip. And lastly, another divert completly and suggest that I go on an elephant safari - what? This is like asking for a porsche and being told that you need a VW or a new pair of shoes
.I feel like these people are suggesting that I am a delusional women who can't grasp the concept of the logistics or $$ volume that this entails. Although I am likely delusional about some things(lots really),I am not when it comes to Afreekah
I knew full well that this trip was going to set me back quite a few notches north of 10Gs.
I have just knocked the above vendors off my list.
End of vent, back to work!
Sherry
Nov 3rd, 2006, 12:12 PM
#96
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Hello,
Well, I'm now redeemed from Fodors Siberia -- though between that and my Tanzania trip I haven't been keeping up with what's been going on here.
It sounds like you've gotten a lot of good advice here Sherry -- you've got a very nice itinerary. Hope it all comes together for you!
BTW, I have NEVER claimed to be the resident expert on Botswana -- and thought that said claim was self-evidently silly enough that it wasn't worth acknowledging. Like everyone, I've learned a lot here, and continue to do so. I don't think there is a resident expert -- we all have different areas of knowledge.
Cheers,
Julian
Well, I'm now redeemed from Fodors Siberia -- though between that and my Tanzania trip I haven't been keeping up with what's been going on here.
It sounds like you've gotten a lot of good advice here Sherry -- you've got a very nice itinerary. Hope it all comes together for you!
BTW, I have NEVER claimed to be the resident expert on Botswana -- and thought that said claim was self-evidently silly enough that it wasn't worth acknowledging. Like everyone, I've learned a lot here, and continue to do so. I don't think there is a resident expert -- we all have different areas of knowledge.
Cheers,
Julian
Nov 3rd, 2006, 04:53 PM
#99
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Hi Julian and welcome back!
You caused quite a stir when you got the boot. I suppose your not at liberty to tell us why - shame.
Would love to hear about your trip when your rested up. I also would like to hear your thoughts on L. Vumbura.
Best;
Sherry
You caused quite a stir when you got the boot. I suppose your not at liberty to tell us why - shame.
Would love to hear about your trip when your rested up. I also would like to hear your thoughts on L. Vumbura.
Best;
Sherry
Nov 3rd, 2006, 06:32 PM
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Hmmm, Sherry, I'm not an agent so no list to scratch me off, and I haven't been to Botswana yet, but, I hope you were just having an off-moment snit when you compared Zambia to a VW. I think the suggestion was offered as an alternative to Zimbabwe for canoeing.
I do hope to visit Botswana someday, but, nothing I've read so far on this wonderful forum nor the pictures I've seen of wildlife and camps would put Zambia behind Botswana, or any other Africa destination in terms of wildlife or camps, certainly not the places we stayed.
Cuz, while we didn't see wild dogs, we had quality lion sightings every day and night, ellies everywhere, very up close and personal, leopards, plus too many other critters in the air, on land, in and under the water, to count. First class camps with accomodations for no more than 8, and on almost all drives we were the only vehicle on a sighting, night drives, guides who showed us things that I haven't seen discussed in many hours of perusing this wonderful forum, canoeing, including a too close incident with a hippo (That was more thrill than any Porche you will ever drive, but not recommended), and first class accommodations (eg, Chiawa rated in the top 10 Africa camps by Conde Nast).
Would love to do Mombo one day, but have a hard time imagining that it could offer any more than what we just experienced. And, perhaps less, since we had wonderful (well, the hippo incident should more properly be counted as memorable) water-based experiences that do not appear to be replicated in Botwana, since I gather that, while the mekoro rides sound nice, they do not equal the Lower Zambezi in terms of game-viewing. So, "harumph" to your Porche-VW metaphor. <g>.
Jim
I do hope to visit Botswana someday, but, nothing I've read so far on this wonderful forum nor the pictures I've seen of wildlife and camps would put Zambia behind Botswana, or any other Africa destination in terms of wildlife or camps, certainly not the places we stayed.
Cuz, while we didn't see wild dogs, we had quality lion sightings every day and night, ellies everywhere, very up close and personal, leopards, plus too many other critters in the air, on land, in and under the water, to count. First class camps with accomodations for no more than 8, and on almost all drives we were the only vehicle on a sighting, night drives, guides who showed us things that I haven't seen discussed in many hours of perusing this wonderful forum, canoeing, including a too close incident with a hippo (That was more thrill than any Porche you will ever drive, but not recommended), and first class accommodations (eg, Chiawa rated in the top 10 Africa camps by Conde Nast).
Would love to do Mombo one day, but have a hard time imagining that it could offer any more than what we just experienced. And, perhaps less, since we had wonderful (well, the hippo incident should more properly be counted as memorable) water-based experiences that do not appear to be replicated in Botwana, since I gather that, while the mekoro rides sound nice, they do not equal the Lower Zambezi in terms of game-viewing. So, "harumph" to your Porche-VW metaphor. <g>.
Jim
