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Countdown...please post how long before you leave for Africa and your itinerary!!!

Countdown...please post how long before you leave for Africa and your itinerary!!!

Old Apr 10th, 2004, 09:22 PM
  #21  
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Liz,

Thanks for the kind words.

I am looking forward with great anticipation to your report when you get back. Seems that Shinde, I believe one of your destinations, is probably within about 5 miles of Kwando Kwara, so I am very interested in hearing about this area.

I can only hope that there is a Botswana in the cards for 2005, and if so, that it includes Kwando Lagoon, Kwando Kwara, Savuti and hopefully even Chief's Camp (not willing to pay Mombo prices, but would like to get in the same general area of Moremi).

I think the hardest part is going to be reading your glowing report of Botswana, and still having my safari being about 40 days out...resisting with every ounce of self-control the urge to dump Zambia for Botswana!

But, I do know that Zambia is also a magical place and that I have been well taken care of by Star Of Africa and Kaingo, and I am very grateful for their assistance in helping me return to Africa for a third consecutive year, when otherwise I may not have been willing or able to return this year, at least not so soon in the year, left to facing either high season pricing, or going so late in the year that I may have forfeited a 2005 trip.

I have loved reading about everybody's itineraries so far. You can just sense the excitement in most of the posts and there have been a couple of very interesting itineraries to learn from.
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Old Apr 12th, 2004, 06:15 AM
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Message: Upcoming East Africa Safari. \

Some 62 days to go! State College to Detroit to Amsterdam to Mt Kilamanjaro Airport and Arusha, Tanzania.
Afternoon and next morning At Tarangire NP. Nite at Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Serengeti NP with stop at Olduvai Gorge and two nites at Serengeti Sopa Lodge.
more of Serengeti NP and onward to Ngorongora Sopa Lodge for day in the Crater and part of day in the Ngorongora Conservation Area.
To Nairobi for overnite at Hotel Inter-continental and then to Mount Kenya Forests. One nite at Serena Mt Lodge. Lake Nakura NP at Lake Nakaura Lodge.
Onto to Masia Mara NP with 3 nites at Siana Springs Intrepids Tented Camp.
Amboseli NP at Amboseli Serena Lodge and then (whine, cry, etc) bact to central Pennsylvania. Had the photo album from 2002 visit out yesterday. Nothing like an appetizer!
Dick
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Old Apr 12th, 2004, 08:59 AM
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4 months away -- during our "rainy season" here in SW Florida.

2 nights - Westcliff Hotel in Jo'burg
Off to Maun, Botswana
2 nights -- Moremi Game Reserve
2 nights -- Savuti Elephant Camp
Then to Zimbabwe via Kasane
5 nights -- Vic Falls Safari Lodge
Return to Jo'burg
3 nights -- Michaelangelo
Onto Kruger Park
4 nights -- exact site to be determined - preference for Inyati or Mala Mala (unless Three Cities is kind enough to give us a deal on Hamiltons)
Lastly, to Capetown
1 night -- Cape Winelands
4 nights -- Mount Nelson Hotel

No tour operator. Mostly acquired thru LuxuryLink. Otherwise, self-styled.
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Old Apr 12th, 2004, 09:41 AM
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We leave from Los Angeles for our far-too-brief-adventure on July 24. Our itinerary:

1 night London
3 nights Lions Sands in the Sabi Sands
3 nights Phinda Forest Lodge in KwaZulu-Natal
3 nights private guest house in Cape Town
1 night London

As I said, far too short but I'm hoping it's just about right for my two sons, 15 and 12, who've never ventured outside the States. I'm also hoping that breaking up the flights with book ended single nights in London will make the travel a bit easier, but who knows?
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Old Apr 12th, 2004, 10:59 AM
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June 8-11 touring around Cape Town

June 12-13 Victoria Falls, Zambezi Sun

June 14-16 Savute/Linyanti Tent Camp

June 17-19 Okavango Delta Tubu Tree Camp

June 20-21 Johannesburg - then home
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Old Apr 12th, 2004, 12:05 PM
  #26  
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jrruff,

Just a suggestion (and speaking from experience)...you may want to contact the Michelangelo and propose that in exchange for one fewer night that they upgrade you from a junior suite to a premier suite. The cost works out to be about the same, but they have to spring for one less breakfast for two. They did this for me, at my request, and I loved the premier suite. They even threw in free pay per view movies and internet use in the business center.

I will advise you to be careful and not use your Visa/Mastercard debit card (if you have one). Either someone at the Michelangelo, the very good Indian restaurant right outside the Michelangelo or a clerk at a gift shop in Sandton Square somehow got all my information after I used my card to pay and literally EMPTIED my bank account. When I left Joburg for my five night safari in South Luangwa, Zambia, I had a considerable amount of money in my personal checking account, and by the time I returned to the Joburg airport, I couldn't even pull out 100 Rand from the ATM! Eventually I got all my money back but it did ruin a day in Joburg and instead of having about six hours free to go into Sandton or elsewhere for a leisurely day, I was on the phone for a few hours with Wells Fargo and then with American Express (cash advance). I have heard that there is a belt that some use where they can very discreetly just swipe your card and then, BAM!, they have all the information they need to charge up your card at less than honorable places. I had all kinds of furniture, liquor, sporting goods, appliances and other stuff charged to me. Took about a week but got it all credited back.

Back to your itinerary, I am not aware if you are in a suite or in a standard room at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. If in a standard room, you may want to bargain for a suite in exchange for one fewer night, as five nights is a very long time for Victoria Falls. Also, remember to take a lot of American Dollars (or Euros) to Zimbabwe, as they have no interest in their own money, and will charge you triple the price if you pay in Zim dollars over other currencies. You will likely have to exchange some money. Ignore the warnings and have your guide, or someone from the hotel, take you to a money exchange where you will get best rates.

You have a very nice itinerary, but by cutting a night here and there, it will prevent it from becoming stagnant, and possibly allow you to add one more camp in Botswana.

Good luck.
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Old Apr 12th, 2004, 12:30 PM
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Hi all,
I've never been to Africa, but these itineraries are very helpful--I'm trying to get it together to go this July. I suspect that as a traveller I'm somewhere between you Fodor's types and the Lonely Planet people, at least financially (I realize that I'm making a perhaps asinine assumption there). Does anyone have any suggestions in terms of a first-timer's trip? I'm leaning towards either Tanzania or Namibia, can only be away from work for 3 weeks tops and I'd be flying from California.

Too vague? In any case, thanks again for all the very specific information on this forum.
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Old Apr 13th, 2004, 09:36 AM
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Kenya and Tanzania in 53 days!!!!
LAX to Nairobi (via Amsterdam)
-Nairobi (Giraffe Manor/Norfolk)
-Amboseli (Tortillis Camp)
-Mount Kenya (Mount Kenya Safari Club)
-Masai Mara (Bateleur or Govenor's Il Moran)
-Serengeti (Kirawira)
-Ngorongoro Crater (Crater Lodge)
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Old Apr 13th, 2004, 10:09 AM
  #29  
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Maun 143 and counting! Black tie in the boma! And a good post when I return. Have fun, Liz!!!!
 
Old Apr 14th, 2004, 10:48 AM
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Wow! Fun thread!

We're in the very preliminary planning stages of our Oct. honeymoon to SA, but here's what we've got so far:

4 nights in Ballito - Flop on beach (recover from wedding), explore Durban and surrounds

4 night Imfolozi Wilderness Trail

1 night Hlhluwe (Hilltop) - game drives

2 nights St. Lucia / Sodwanna Bay - hippos, snorkeling, crocodiles, et al.

4-5 nights Cape Town - city sites, peninsula, winelands

4-5 nights Garden Route

Sadly... fly home!
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Old Apr 14th, 2004, 11:33 AM
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We are leaving on June 25th for our first African safari. We'll go to Kenya and Tanzania for a 12 day safari and then 3 days in Zanzibar for some beach time. Flights are booked and Vintage Africa is in the process of booking the safari!
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Old Apr 14th, 2004, 01:31 PM
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What a great forum! This thread certainly has gotten me excited....too bad my trip is over a year away

I'm planning a Botswana trip for June 12-24 of 2005. Past posts here have been such a great resource so far - glad I stumbled upon this....
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Old Apr 15th, 2004, 11:34 AM
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Just over 5 months until my honeymoon in Tanzania!

We are flying KLM via Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro, overnighting in Arusha, then spending 3 nights at Klein's Camp and 2 nights at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. From there, on to Zanzibar, where we will stay 4 nights at Mnemba and 1 night at the Serena in Stone Town. Then a quick hop to Dar es Salaam, where we catch the KLM flight back to Amsterdam. We'll spend 1 night there at the Hotel de l'Europe, and fly home the next day.

We booked the Africa portion, including domestic transportation, via CCAfrica...I was very impressed with Londolozi, also a CC Africa lodge, when I stayed there a few years ago, and so far I have been equally pleased with their services for this trip.

I can't wait...wish I could leave tomorrow!
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Old Apr 16th, 2004, 10:52 AM
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Great thread Rocco!
We leave late Dec 2004 for 3-4 weeks.

Leave US to Heathrow and onto Johnnesburg Holiday Inn 1 night

Djuma Bush Lodge 3 nights

Victoria Falls Hotel 2 nights

Xigera Camp 2 nights

Deception Valley Lodge 2 nights

Commodore 3 nights

Parkes Manor 3 nights

Klippe River Country House

Roggeland 2 nights

We have not yet paid a deposit, so would be interested in your input Rocca or anyone else who has previous experience. We have used Greenlife SA. Thanks everyone. Look forward to hearing all your reports!!

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Old Apr 16th, 2004, 11:37 AM
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Mincepie,

If you are going to Djuma Bush Lodge, you should instead consider Nkhoro, located within the same boundaries as Djuma but probably $100 per night less for a couple sharing in similar accomodations.
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Old Apr 16th, 2004, 11:43 AM
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2 months before we leave!!!
Lax to london to Nairobi
2 nights at The Intercontinental Hotel
2 nights Amboseli- Serena Lodge
1 night Mt Kenya- Mountain Lodge
2 nights Samburu- Serena Lodge
1 night Nanyuki- Sweetwaters Tented Camp
1 night Lake Nakuru- Lake Nakuru Lodge
3 nights Masai Mara- Mara Simba Lodge
8 Nights Mombasa- Voyager Beach Resort
Back to Los Angeles
Has anybody been to any of these places?
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Old Apr 16th, 2004, 12:03 PM
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Katj232, I was at Samburu Serena last August, and thought it was excellent. Really nice rooms along the river, the crocodile feedings drew many crocs and the game drives were great. If you search for my screen name, you can find my Uganda and Rwanda trip report, which includes my trip to Samburu at the very end, and I describe my game drives in Samburu (great cats -- lion, cheetah and leopard).
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Old Apr 16th, 2004, 05:07 PM
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Mincepie,

One other observation. It looks like you are cheating yourself by not including more in Botswana. Perhaps you should consider scrapping Sabi Sand to stay 3 nights at a reasonably priced lodge such as Kwando Lagoon or Kwando Kwara.

I stayed at Djuma Vuyatela, and it was somewhat disappointing, and that is Djuma's upmarket lodge, so I cannot imagine Djuma Bush Lodge being any better.

Plus staying at a third camp in Botswana would have you hopping around a little bit less. I can see you getting burned out before you even get to Cape Town, otherwise.
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Old Apr 17th, 2004, 06:58 AM
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Three months to go!

Boston-Amsterdam
Amsterdam-Nairobi for 2 nights
Elephant Watch Camp in Samburu 3 nights
Mombasa 1 night
Satao Tented Camp - Tsavo East 5 nights
Nairobi - 1 night
Ol Tukai Lodge - Amboseli 7 nights

Can't wait.

Jan
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Old Apr 17th, 2004, 02:06 PM
  #40  
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Jan -

You're definitely going to have to tell us about your stay at Elephant Watch Camp, as SusanLynne had been asking about this camp a few weeks back. And this area is off the usual track you! How come only 1-nt in Mombassa? And where will you be staying here?

And, of course, you'll be visiting your ellees in Tsavo and Amboseli. That's wonderful - you'll have to update us on the situation there. Have a wonderful time.
 

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