Durban hotel info & help choosing Orient Express Botswana or South Africa safari!
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 20
Durban hotel info & help choosing Orient Express Botswana or South Africa safari!
Going to South Africa for 1st time in September. Staying 5 days Durban & would like to stay in lovely hotel on the beach, but am picky about decor. Protea Edward & Royal Hotel decor doesn't look so great. Anybody stayed there? Other ideas not too far from congress centre? Any new hotels opened recently in Durban? Then a week's safari staying at 3 different places. CCAfrica have proposed Phinda (Vlei Lodge, but is Forest nicer?), Londolozi (Pioneer, but is Tree Lodge nicer?) & Royal Malewane. Want beautiful places, no kids, views, swimming, lots of animals nearby, villages if possible, delicious food & romantic! All suggestions welcome! My husband chooses Orient Express Botswana with Eagle Island, Khwai River & Savute camps. This involves some extra wasted travel time. Any advice welcome. Budget not too relevant for this trip! Thank you!
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,553
If budget is not a concern, then you should be looking at places like Mombo, Kings Pool and Jao, all Wilderness-Safaris camps.
Mombo - $2,400 per night?
Kings Pool - $1,800 per night?
Jao - $1,800 per night?
Here is the website to these lodges:
www.wilderness-safaris.com
These camps definitely seem superior to Orient Express Lodges.
Phinda and the Sabi Sand will offer great game viewing, but only Botswana will give you the exclusivity and luxury that you seem to be looking for.
If you are looking for a good agent, I have found TAGA Safaris to be very helpful. www.tagasafaris.co.za
Good luck.
Mombo - $2,400 per night?
Kings Pool - $1,800 per night?
Jao - $1,800 per night?
Here is the website to these lodges:
www.wilderness-safaris.com
These camps definitely seem superior to Orient Express Lodges.
Phinda and the Sabi Sand will offer great game viewing, but only Botswana will give you the exclusivity and luxury that you seem to be looking for.
If you are looking for a good agent, I have found TAGA Safaris to be very helpful. www.tagasafaris.co.za
Good luck.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,766
Agree with Rocco that the Wilderness options suggested probably meet your criteria better. Check out Eyesonafrica as a potential agent also. Their website has loads of photos from most camps and also some great hotels in South Africa.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 20
Thanks for links to agents. Both have good ideas, but will do only South Africa this trip.
Have decided not to travel too far as don't want to waste much time flying.
Will start off at Phinda. Does anybody have preference for lodges there?
Then Londolozi maybe & same question.
Finish stay at Royal Malewane.
Any other suggestions welcome. Thanks.
Have decided not to travel too far as don't want to waste much time flying.
Will start off at Phinda. Does anybody have preference for lodges there?
Then Londolozi maybe & same question.
Finish stay at Royal Malewane.
Any other suggestions welcome. Thanks.
