Natasha its so good to hear from you. I've been telling everyone about the only other canucks I met on my travels. I know what you mean about being here in body but still being there in spirit - and my body isn't exactly digging the -15 temps right now either! Say hi to Ty for me - can't he get a job there for you too? But then would run the farm :)

Keep in touch

mountainhippie you are officially on ignore...

whiskey

ellaminowpea - love your screen name... you're just missing "cue"

a great way to learn one's letters!

I just caught on to the name ellaminnowpea. I used to think it went lemon yellow pea.

Sorry for that 180 degree turn from the mind of a 4 year old, Whiskey. If you are going cold turkey, then you won't see it anyway.

May is not far off. Could be great bargains with the poor economy. How about South Africa since the rand is favorable to the dollar now?

qrs tuv..

Thanks Lynn - How is May for SA - and I guess maybe I should ask which areas? I probably should start a separate post for any SA questions - I'm fairly flexible in terms of where I go but always like to go away that time of year to celebrate [or is it forget] my birthday and would really like to make it back to Africa. But by the same token I don't want to go then just for the sake of it, if its really not a sensible time of year?

and *your* dollar may be doing OK against the rand but we have the coloured funny money north of the 49th parallel :) Although who knows - by the time May rolls around we may be at par with the US again!

Whiskey,

I've never gone then. The closest was end of June.

I believe it is low season rates, though, in game areas and that helps.

If you went to SA for safari activities, you’d probably head to Kruger or the neighboring private reserves of Sabi Sands, maybe Timbavati.

Here is some info from Mala Mala, which is one of the better known and larger Sabi Sands concessions. It’s the only place I stayed in that region and I thought it was great. The weather would be similar throughout the area. Here’s a Mala Mala weather link. Little rain in May.
http://www.malamala.com/weather.htm

As for whiskey and other spirits, you have to buy those along with soft drinks at Mala Mala. As a water drinker that did not affect me.

I just saw this on the MM website for pricing. Not bad. Other places may follow suit.

“MalaMala Game Reserve, in view of declining exchange rates and the deteriorating world economy, is pleased to announce the decision of the Directors to hold 2008 rates from now until 31st December 2009. All existing bookings confirmed at the 2009 rates will be amended and re- invoiced at the existing 2008 rates. “

You can check May or any month from the past years in their cyber diary for wildlife viewings. Mala Mala has a rep of having some of the best wildlife viewing in the region, or anywhere. That’s why I picked it. Also because early booking meant no single supplement.

http://www.malamala.com/wildlife_Diary_archives.htm

Other Sabi Sands accommodations have similar wildlife sightings. The area is one of the best anywhere for leopard.

I also stayed at Phinda, a cheetah conservation area nearer to Durban, and really like that. Its 55,000 acres are fenced. A highlight there was 3 rhino tracking trips, if you enjoy that sort of thing.

Happy planning.

SA safari in May. In May of 2007 I stayed at three safari camps in SA. Here is link to my Fodor's trip report -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35016274

Briefly, it was very good, as good as a Sep safari. More green but not so much as to obstruct game viewing.

And WOW, MalaMala backing up 2009 rates!!!! Aahh, but reason is they quote in USD!!! Other SA camps that quote in Rand will have the discount automatic due to exchange rate. That is, MM finds themselves over priced when the exchange rate is considered. But maybe some of the other camps will still go back to 2008 rates?

regards - tom