Luxury safari advice and how to allocate nights for a 2 week SA trip
 

We're looking at the various safaris and interested in opinions on a luxury safari. The ones that look interesting are Singita, Ulusaba and Londozi (sp?). Any other thoughts, including ones that are maybe slightly less expensive? We do want a really nice lodge experience. likely Sabi Sands or Kruger location.

Regarding night allocations, we're thinking as follows: Cape Town - 3 nights, wine region - 2 nights, safari - 4 nights, Durbin - 3 nights. The remaining three nights would be at our friend's ranch.

Appreciate any thoughts as we're kicking of our planning.

My husband went to Singita (for a work gig - rough eh?) and loved it. Nothing to compare it to as far as safaris go but he's traveled the world and thought it was top notch.

Check out Elephant Plains for a less expensive option - we thought the accomodations were great (we stayed in a luxury room and the honeymoon suite across our 4 nights). The price difference seems to be more about the food. Our food was average to good, depending on the meal. Drinks were extra but very inexpensive. We periodically saw Singita game trucks on our drives, so we're all seeing the same animals!

From an itinerary perspective, I think your schedule sounds about right. While we didn't do Durbin, we split our trip up very similar to the rest of your trip and felt it was the right amount of time. (I just posted my trip report if you're interested...)

Have a great time!

My $0.02 is that a proper safari should be at least 6-8 days. It gives you an ability to experience a couple of different areas/camps, with different landscapes, animals, etc.

Cape Town is very enjoyable for 3 nights, and the wine country is lovely for 1-2 nights. I would suggest that you spend more time on safari and skip Durban (we drove the Garden Route from Cape Town to PE, thoroughly enjoyed it, but it was *nothing* compared to being on safari).

If you had 6-8 days, you may even consider Botswana. It is incredible -- pristine wilderness w/amazing wildlife. Here are some of our photos from several years ago : https://picasaweb.google.com/alan.judy.albumn/Botswana

We're going to Tanzania next Feb and can't wait!!

I agree with linjudy on thus one. If you're going to overspend, overspend in Botswana. I also agree on the safari time, too. Durban can wait.

I've had great experiences at the luxury lodges and the less expensive lodges (still very nice!) but prefer less luxury, more game viewing.

You don't say when you plan to go.

Sabi Sand Reserve is the best safari location in all of Africa. Try to do 5 nights safari.
Consider also in Sabi Sand camps MalaMala Rattrays -
http://www.malamala.com/rattrays.htm
and Leopard Hills -
http://www.leopardhills.com/

regards - tom

www.kenya.com/great_migration_overview.asp

Tanzania for the Grand Migration for me

most incredible thing I have ever seen.

April May June in upscale lodges best

for ginormous wildlife experience of a lifetime.

www.zicasso.com for bids for upscale

It is all good though www.porini.com good upscale also.

flysaa.com great upscale Kruger on sale right now too...

Happy Hunting!

Thanks for the advice and think we will adjust more towards safari. We're going in April 2012. Reason for Durbin is traveling part-time with South African friends and they have a beach house there so more about chilling with friends. Regarding safari - wrestling with the cost versus # of nights. I'm big on luxury (never met a Four Seasons I didn't like....except Santa Barbara) so really want to do a nice camp with luxe room and food.

Since we haven't been to Africa before, think we're going to stick with South Africa on this one and save Botswana and Tanzania for another trip. Thanks and I'll check out the lodges above.

"... wrestling with the cost versus # of nights."

Lodges like Singita at $1,700 pppn are only for those who never wrestle (their body guard does that for them) and fly in in their private jet. MalaMala Rattrays, Leopard Hills at $1,000 pppn has more luxury than you will believe. And many other camps like Kings Camp, $600, is simply marvelous with wonderful food and staff.
http://kingscamp.com/

regards - tom

Sounds like a good plan. Just so that you know, I've also never met a Four Seasons I didn't like, and Mombo in Botswana has all of them beat! :)

A major lodge that has not been mentioned here yet is Lion Sands. The game drives are great, the food is amongst the best in Sabi Sands and the rangers are fantastic. The rooms have all bee remodeled and new ones have been added. There are two lodges at Lion Sands, Ivory Lodge which is the ultimate in luxury and privacy and River Lodge. Both are excellent. I suggest you check out their site also.

Mike

Hey!! Mike is back from safari!
Another good one I'll bet, take any pictures?

regards - tom

Hey Tom, I took just under 8000 and I am working on them now. I will be posting some stuff soon. I have another trip to Canada coming up, so my posts likely will be after I get back.

I had a great time and had several firsts including my first pangolin!

Mike

Mike - A pangolin!!?? Can't wait to see!! Every time a ranger asks what we'd like to see, I always reply "pangolin!!". I'm going to keep going back until I see one.

Here s/he is

http://www.pbase.com/mytmoss/image/137106673

http://www.pbase.com/mytmoss/image/137106672

http://www.pbase.com/mytmoss/image/137106669

My ranger also always laughed when a guest asks for pangolin. This was the first time he could deliver!

Mike

I'm a Four Seaons junkie, but agree Mombo camp has them all beat.

We stayed three nights at Lion sands Ivory in Sabi Sand for our first safari experience. The property, food, service was amazing. We saw the big five and were mightily impressed. Then we went to Botswana and were blown away. I don't think I'll ever go on safari in SA again having experienced Bots. In fact, we're going back again next year (and adding Namibia). I'm a big fan of Wilderness Safari camps and we enjoyed our time at both Little Mombo and Little Vumbura. Next year we're returning to Little Mombo and adding Zarafa Camp.

We did love the Cape Winelands where we spent three nights, as well as several nights in Cape Town at the lovely 12 Apostles hotel.

Everyone want to come upon a pangolin. Me too!
Ask any guide and that's the first one mentioned... so very rare to encounter.

Thanks for those pictures, Mike. Nice sighting - not just a fleeting glance (which at this point I'd be happy with).

TJinSOMA - Botswana is very convenient to get to from Cape Town. Pretty much the same as getting to the Kruger region through JNB. Easy. All of the suggestions above are good ones.

Great photos, Mike.

Though the 2nd one reminds me of an overripe artichoke.

Don

Thanks for the advice. Botswana sounds great, but I think we'll stick with SA this trip since somewhat convenient for friends in Durban. The lodges look great and $1000 a night is a little more in our comfort zone.