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 $$$.