I finalized my trip back at the end of February, after receiving some helpful advise from this forum. I am using Go2Africa, and I have to say so far they seem very responsible and a pretty good value. Mia is my travel consultant. When I started working on seriously planning this trip early in Feb., I was surprised that some of the properties were already booking up, so that hastened my decision to get on the booking. Our (my husband and I) itinerary is as follows:

June 30- Arrive in Joberg and overnight at the Southern Sun O.R. Tambo Hotel.

July 1- Fly to Livingstone,arriving at 12:55PM and meet our road transfer to the Chobe Game Lodge where we will be spending 2 nights. (I had wanted to start with these 2 nights at the Royal Livingstone, but they were booked on these days, so my travel agent switched the start to Chobe.)

July 3- Transfer by road back to Livingstone to spend 2 nights at the Royal Livingstone Hotel.

July 5- Fly back to Joberg and spend one night at the Southern Sun O.R. again. (There were no connecting flights to Kruger the same day.)

July 6- Fly on the 11:30AM Nelair charter to Djuma Vuyatela for 2 nights. (We were originally supposed to fly on a 9:30AM flight on Fedair, but I was just informed that Fedair no longer flies to Djuma so the 11:30 flight is our only option- I'm not too happy about that.)

July 8- Fly from Djuma to Kruger Mpumalanga Airport on onwards to Capetown where we will spend 3 nights at the Radisson.

July 11- Fly from Capetown to Joberg and connect on to the US.

One of my main worries and a question here for Fodorites: how much time might it take us to get our bags and clear customs in Zambia? I know the drive to Chobe is about 1 1/2 hours. I am anticipating about 1 hour to clear customs, so that should put us at Chobe around 3:30 PM, just in time for the 4PM game drive. I am a little worried, however, that if there is some delay, we would miss the game drive, and we will be quite upset. Are the lodges somewhat flexible regarding the times they go on drives? Do they wait a little for you if you are delayed?
My agent seems to think we shouldn't have trouble making the drives on time both at Chobe and at Djuma. I guess it's way too late for us to change anyway, but it might ease my mind a little to hear someone else say it doesn't take too long to clear customs in Zambia. My agent says she will arrange the visa waiver for us, although, she also kind of said, she cannot absolutely guarantee it. I've read some recent posts here about the visa waivers not going through. Also, considering that I am traveling into Botswana and back into Zambia, do you think I will have to get a visa?

Thanks for your help. I will be sure to post a trip report when I return.

sorry that I cannot help you but would suggest you to re-post this thread in the Zambia and Botswana forum rather than South Africa !

ooops my comment was just related to your concerns and worries on game drives in Chobe and Zambia questions !

Sorry to see that you have so many days flying and staying in hotels rather than on game drives.

I have been to Royal Livingston Hotel and Chobe Game Lodge. Both were nice. Not sure if you will make the 3:30PM game drive the first nite at Chobe, but will cross my fingers that you do. Don't remember the time frame for customs, but do remember our ride to Chobe resulted in bus having a flat tire that delayed our arrival. Not sure but are the game drives at Chobe at 3:30PM or 4:00PM during the July (Winter months)? You might want to send the lodge an email or ask when you arrive if not too late to see if they might have a jeep that can drive you out to join another jeep already on game drive. Sometimes the game lodges will do this.

Are you planning to do the River Boat Ride on Chobe River? ... it is a very good way to see elephants, hippos, etc. The Chobe Game area has lots of very colorful birds and lions as well.

I suppose you will be doing the walk around the Falls which is worth seeing at least once. The Royal Livingston is very nice hotel and was basically a rest stop on our trip ... they have a nice pool and restaurants. There wasn't much else to see in the village ... we did take another boat ride down the river there ... didn't see much except hippos as I recall. Helicopter ride over falls ok.

Not familar with Djuma hotel. Maybe you will get in a few game drives there. Possibly 3, depending on the flights coming and going.

It is a shame that you don't have more time for the game drives as this is probably the best part of going to Africa, at least for me and my husband.

Capetown is nice but 3 days might be a little much. But there is a lot to see and I'm sure you will enjoy the sites.

Sounds like a good way to get a feel for Africa and quite a variety and I'm sure you will be going back someday to spend more time there. Have a great trip!

-Granny Joan

banshee, our first trip to Africa was JNB to Royal Livingstone Hotel 2 nts, then Botswana, SA and then 5 nights in CT. We loved the RL for getting over jet lag. The outdoor restaurant is beautiful, and we looked up at the stars and said - "Can you believe it, we're in AFRICA!" I wish you could have started your trip there too, because Granny J is right, everything pales next to being in the bush. But there is lots to do there. We did the walk to the falls, a 4x4 river cruise where we saw hippo but also elephants bathing in the water, a croc on the shore, eles on the shore - it was much better than the large Sundowner boat because you could get closer. We also visited a royal village which was interesting. Spend an hour just relaxing in the hammocks, watching the monkeys in the trees. But don't let them run into your room - really.

We don't recall the visa process being very long for us, but who knows.

We filled our 5 days in CT and I'm sure you'll have no problem. It's also great at the end because there is wonderful shopping there.