Hello,

I remember reading that a number of other Fodorites will be in Botswana in June/July 2006, and now that I've booked I was wondering who else might overlap with me. My itinerary is as follows:

In 20 June out 24 June - Duma Tau
In 24 June out 28 June - Little Vumbura
In 28 June out 3 July - Mombo
In 3 July out 5 or 6 July - Vic Falls (lodge TBA)

I can't wait!

Cheers,
Julian

I will be just down the block, when I'll be in Chikwenya (Mana Pools) on from June 30 til July 3.

Congrats, Julian!
You must be feeling excited?

Hi Kavey,

Excited...and poor!

Cheers,
Julian

Hi Michael,

For some reason I had the idea that you were one of the people who would be in Botswana around that time -- guess I was wrong!

Cheers,
Julian

Julian--virtually the same itinerary we did in May this year, except Vic Falls was at the beginning, and we stayed at Savuti instead of Duma Tau--but both are in the same area. It should be GREAT! Enjoy..
Carol

Jasher - congrats on getting it booked Which operator did you choose?

Ironically, I will be departing on 6/19!

I booked through Eyes on Africa. They booked my last Botswana trip as well, and I've had a very good experience with them.

Cheers,
Julian

Julian

I am there just before you.

Matt

Yes, I will also be in Botswana, but the far southwesternmost corner (Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park), and I'll primarily be in SA, but may cross into Botswana.

Actually, just got quote for Chikwenya and the air charter is outrageous, so I may reconfigure itinerary since a short stay in Chikwenya won't adequately amortize flight cost.

But I will be in Africa during the same period, just not 100% sure where.

Michael

Matt,

You were the other person I thought I might overlap with -- bugger! Are you at Mombo right before me? I seem to remember that you are going to Mombo...

Cheers,
Julian

I'm at Mombo much earlier in the month.

Julian,

Sounds like a great itinerary. I really like how you have chosen to spend 4 - 5 nights at each camp rather than rushing around from camp to camp. I could use some of that discipline in the future, but at least I will be within possibly a 10 minute drive between Kasaka River Lodge to Chongwe, giving me essentially six nights in this part of the Lower Zambezi.

Hi again Rocco,

I have to admit, I originally considered sandwiching Chitabe and Kewtsani in there as well, but then realised I was spending a lot of time on planes rather than on safari...

Your Zambia itinerary sounds great, by the way!

Cheers,
Julian

Eyes on Africa's site looks interesting. I hadn't reviewed them yet.

For your previous trip(s) with them and this one, did you choose Discoverer or Adventurer?

Thanks

Hello,

I did a custom itinerary rather than a scheduled departure, so I didn't choose between Discoverer and Adventurer. In style, my trips are more in the Discoverer model -- I left camping behind with my scouting days!

Cheers,
Julian

We're in Duma Tau 6/17-20, the LV until the 24th, the Chitabe Main until the 28th. We thus may see you at the landing strip at DT and LV, you coming in, we leaving. Ciao, L

jasher -- all their itineraries are tented camps tho. Correct? Thanks!

Hello,

Most of EOA's set itineraries use Wilderness camps (most of which are tented, though Duma Tau is canvas rooms with thatched roofs). However, since I did a custom itinerary, I also booked Londolozi and Madikwe Safari Lodge through EOA which are not tented camps. So if you wanted to do a custom itinerary and mix tented and non-tented EOA could definitely do it for you.

If you want to find out more, give Nicky and James a call -- if you mention my name, they'll know what itinerary you're talking about. I travelled with them to Botswana followed by Madikwe and Londoz in June/July 2005.

Cheers,
Julian

In looking at possible options for Botswana for June 2006, I'm getting recommendations for Wilderness Safari's "Great Wilderness Journey" which is Discoverer style plus a few days extra at the front end in Cape Town. Would it come out more cost effective for us to select a few camps and develop our own custom itinerary instead rather than this scheduled group departure?