In that random way that I was gently planning a mobile safari in Botswana, I've just won an 8 day trip to Botswana and South Africa(though I have to pay for it). The trip is:
Four nights at any two of Orient-Express Safaris three camps.
Three nights at the Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town.

I have to take it between 3 Jan and 31 Mar 2008, and the cost is 2700 GBP for two (so about USD 5400) though we'd have to pay for flights as well. Does this sound like a good deal, is it a good time to go, and if so, which of the three camps would you recommend (already been to Savute Ele Camp, but happy to go back).
I'm supposed to get back to them today as to whether or not I want to accept, so I'd be very grateful for advice asap please!

I don't understand what you've WON if you have to pay for the accommodation and flights yourself?

Sounds more like you're being sold a discounted trip under the guise of a competition win to me.

Hence the sort of. It's basically a closed bid auction, and I appear to have bid the highest price. The rack rate's apparently 7000GBP, so it appears like quite a good discount

I guess it depends on how often they actually sell at the rack rate. I find that some places do sell quite a lot of rooms/ berths/ trips at their rack rate whereas others sell very few at that rate and their average rate is much, much lower...

It might be worth shopping around and seeing what you could get that same stuff for through regular channels before committing.

Sounds like you won a bid on Luxury Link. All properties are Orient Express including the Mt Nelson. 2 of the OE camps are in the Okavango Delta; Eagle Island and Khwai River and the 3rd Savute Elephant camp. I have only stayed at Savute Elephant Camp and Mt Nelson. Both were great and Im sure the others are nice. However I was in Botswana during August/September which is high season and the game viewing was very good. Im not sure how it will be during the time you go.

That's the problem - I was at Savute Eeephant cam in July this year, and it was good, but I'm not sure how good it will be in March.
Plus, I did a quick calculation on cost and assuming you get the rooms at the price they all quote on their website, I'm only saving about 700 GBP (plus the intercamp flights but i don't know how much they cost).
I can't decide!!!!!! I'm not good at quick decisions!

If that's all you are saving I'd not bother myself... it's not a large percentage to be saving when you're compromising the season you have to travel not to mention the uncertainty of flight prices.

Personally I'd leave it and invest some time in deciding exactly what you want, exactly what your budget is and then researching, with the help of the board, how to maximise your budget and get a fabulous trip!

If you were the top bidder, don't you have to take it? If not, I'd wait and bid on something later in the season if that's what you like. If you're stuck with it, might as well go.

Some comments on Orient Express:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=35030670

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34881592

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34763724


Here is what I found on e-gnu.com

$506 Ele camp & Khwai

$775 Eagle Camp

Mt Nelson $921 for single, but that was the least expensive room

4 nts on safari $775 x 4 = around $3200 plus $400 transport, estimate = $3600

3 Mt Nelson $921 x 3 = around $3000

That’s about $6600 or less if you use the most expensive safari camp and the least expensive Mt. Nelson room, which may be the one you get.

If you could stay at a more expensive Mt Nelson room (they go up to about $2000 per night for one person) then what you bid would look more attractive.

It seems as though you are getting the biggest bang for your auction buck on the Cape Town hotel. For me, that’s not where I would want the bulk of my auction winnings to go.

I personally would not take the deal.

If Matnikstym is right and you have to take it, then go and have fun. I am sure there will be something incredible that happens on your trip that makes it all worthwhile because that’s Botswana. As you can see by this chart, it is a nice time to go. Maybe not the best, but alright, and Savute appears to be excellent. I've read wonderful accounts of Botswana travels during those time.
http://www.africa-adventure.com/dsp_besttime.html

Here’s weather
http://www.uyaphi.com/botswana/weather.htm

Fantastic, rockabelle!!!

Fantastic, but I don't think I'm going to take it. I don't really want to go to Cape Town - if I spend that much money, I'd rather be on safari the whole time. (Plus, idiotic other half was in the delta in Feb and March last year and, while he enjoyed it, doesn't really want to go back this soon). So I think it's back to the drawing board for a mobile safari.

If anyone else wants it, however, let me know, as I don't suppose there's any reason why I can't transfer it on.