Well,the final countdown has begun:

May 18 JFK to Jo'burg
May 19 Grace Hotel, Rosebank
May 20-22 3 nights @ Phinda Forest Lodge
May 23-24 2 nights @ Singita Ebony
May 25-26 2 nights @ Londolozi Tree Camp
May 27 Depart Jo'burg and arrive in
USA on May 28

Thanks to all for the invaluable advice over the past few months. I look forward to posting a few good stories upon my return : )

Girlpolo,

Have a great trip. You are staying at some pretty great places. I know you have already been to Singita, but how about Phinda and Londolozi???

Phinda looks very nice to me but a bit out of the way for solely a visit to Phinda.

Did you consider staying at Singita LeBombo or did you just wish to stay at the same place as last year???

Also, were you pressed for time or did you simply choose to skip Cape Town this time around???

Were you able to get any discounts at these very exclusive lodges or did you pay rack rates???

Thanks.

Have a truly wonderful trip - looking forward to hearing back and sharing photos if you're willing.

I am sure your trip will be really special!

At Phinda Forest Lodge, be sure to meet Benton, Kenny G and Jabu. The game drives are superb, both morning and night. Have a good time! And when they tell you not to walk to the lodge without an armed escort, heed the advice. Lots of animals all over the place.

Kavey: thanks so much for the good wishes. I'll be sure to post my pictures online!

Roccco: I've never been to Phinda or Londolozi, so I'm really excited to visit. Phinda requires another plane ride, but I wanted to visit a diferent area of South Africa. I'm returning to Singita because I was able to get one free night (during my last visit, there was a recurring housekeeping issue; so Singita was generous in offering me a complimentary night this time around : )
Singita is $800/night, Londolozi is $525/night and Phinda is $285/night. I am traveling alone this time, so these are rates for a single.

itleyen: thanks for the good advice for my visit to Phinda! I can hardly wait for the game drives.

Girlpolo,

Wow, those are great rates for these places...it's as if they didn't charge you a surcharge for travelling solo.

Hey!!!...I had a recurring housekeeping issue too at Singita...yeah, that's the ticket...if I could get one free night I would give up my night at The Lanzerac Manor, spend two nights at Singita and only two nights (instead of three) at Vuyatela.

Where did you ever find such a good rate for Phinda???

Best of luck on your trip. I am very interested in seeing how Londolozi matches up to Singita.

Girlpolo, have a wonderful trip. I wish I could hear about it before my trip but I'll be a few steps behind you. If you have a chance, drop me a line at [email protected] before you go.

Roccco: To get these desirable rates, I booked through www.classicafrica.com
Margaret and Pierre Faber have always been superb at putting trips together. Fortunately, the price quotes I received in December 2002 were honored, even though the dollar has continued to weaken.

In all seriousness, I did have housekeeping issues at Singita and e-mailed them the moment I returned last May. It was a pleasant surprise to receive the comp. night : )

Girlpolo

Have a "great" trip and can't wait to hear about it. I've heard only great things about Londolozi-friends of mine were there & loved it.
Wish you a great & safe trip-Bon Voyage