my travel agent is saying it's fully booked (even though the website shows availability).

While I will likely just try and book it myself and suck up the lack of any kind of deal, since I have now had my heart set on MM, my agent has asked if we want quotes for other lodges.

gameviewing was the highest priority, and rattray's was out of our budget, so what would you recommend for October 2008? It is our honeymoon so romance wouldn't hurt either.

my initial thoughts based on all the trip reports i've read (in no particular order and being unsure of the costs) would be:

Selati at Sabi Sabi
Londolozi
Lion Sands
Exeter?

thanks in advance. i so don't want to start over, and at this point I think my fiance would suggest paying whatever to avoid hearing about it anymore!

If you have heard of any "deals" at MalaMala, let me know
Add Leopard Hills to your list of camps. I've been there, May 2007, it is very nice (plusher than MM) and game viewing just as good as MM. But is significantly more $$$. (Those two camps, MM and LH are the only two I have been to in Sabi Sand Reserve. So, no comment on the others on your list.).

regards - tom

tom-
I was thinking that the travel agent was getting some sort of a discount / package price on the rack rate.

but if not, and they still have the availability, then i will just book it myself.

I was working with a south african agent recommended by my coworker but that has gone to pieces so I'm starting over.

Well, true the TA working with MM does get some kind of commission, they have to to stay in business. But I have never seen any deals at MM for discount, not even like, stay 6 nights for the price of 5. Have I been missing out here - anybody????
I have had deals at other camps where I/we stayed 5 nights for cost of 4.

One other thing about MM booking. I tried last Feb 2007 working with the MalaMala reservation office directly. For an April or May booking. But found them un-responsive. Even though it was off-season and I'm a returning guest. Went to other SA camps instead.

regards - tom

I've only stayed at MalaMala (3rd time will be in July) and Notten's (1 night) so I can't help you with choosing other camps. If I were you I would just pick up the phone in the morning and call MM and see if they have a room available on your dates (keep the time diff in mind). It's much quicker to call than to wait on emails to go back and forth.

As Tom mentioned, I'm not aware of MM offering any type of "deals". MM does pay a commission to travel agents just ike most other camps.

Good luck!
Cindy

Kirkman's might be a good alternative. It used to be part of the MalaMala reserve and has some overlapping game areas with MM. The lodge is administered by CC Africa.

kak113,
The only place on your list I've been to is Londolozi. I was at Tree Camp in 2003. I really enjoyed it. Game viewing was fantastic, and rooms very luxurious. It was not one of my personal favorites only because I prefer tented camps as opposed to the cottages/bungalows and I don't have much use for a plunge pool particularly since I usually travel when it's winter there.

The bungalows were very spacious, there was a fridge in the room that they kept stocked with my favorite white wine, and always had a bottle of my favorite red on the counter. The bathrooms are huge, with large soaker tub, and there is a nice outdoor shower. Each room has a private plunge pool, several with fantastic views. It was really very nice, and I did like it alot, I just have slightly different preferences for the accomodations themselves. However, accomodations aren't the main reason for my choice of destination, and based on my experience (although dated), I'd give high marks to Londolozi. I have never been to MalaMala, so I can't make a comparison with that camp.

In 2003 Londolozi was operated by CCAfrica and service was impeccable. My guide was excellent, the food was great, and we had several meals in the bush, which I really enjoyed. I believe ownership/management has changed, so I don't know if the camp is the same as when I was there or not. Others may have more recent experiences to report. If you want me to dig out some old photos and post them to a website for you, just let me know.

Dana

Great suggestion Cindy, call them. Easy to do, I've talked with various SA camps and Kruger and Avis SA many times over the last couple of years.

regards - tom
ps - Cindy, you and Carla started counting the days yet?????

I agree about calling them. I have called a couple times and it was very easy (plus I just love hearing their accents) Sometimes those reservations are provisional.

Tom...172 to go! &lt

Why not Kirkman's, they share some of the same driving areas as Mala Mala.

I loved Exeter Leadwood, but if it's full all 8 of you will be in the same vehicle, meaning one row of 3 across. The Dulini vehicles were 6 people, individual bucket seats with armrests for everyone.

Nancy

I am a huge fan of Lion Sands and I love the place. I just came back from my 3rd trip there. I also have been to Exeter. Exeter is good, but Lion Sands Ivory Lodge is better. Also Lion Sands has tree houses where you can stay overnight which lots of honeymooners seem to love. Feel free to email me if you have any specific questions.

Mike Moss

thanks all.
crisis has been averted. we can stay 2 nights at main camp and 2 nights at sable. even with the upcharge for sable, it's still more reasonable than my other options and after reading this board for so long, I was pretty set in my ways.

Sent the deposit off today so honeymoon is set! 9 months from today until the wedding, 9 months and 3 days until we fly to SA!

So, how did you get it? Your TA, or did you call yourself, or?

regards - tom
ps - likely that you'll stay all 4 nights at Sable, I'll bet.

Congratulations kak113. Glad you got it worked out.

TA. After I sent an email pointing to the fact that there was avaibility on the site for the Main camp luxury suite, she came back with that and the Sable option - they were being quite good about my budget and thought for the same price as the Mala Mala room they could offer me something comparable, but I'm just as happy to pay a little premium on the room. it's quite easy to just add here and there once you start looking at such a pricey trip.

I did read that you and others were upgraded, so that would be nice but I'll just be happy to be there.

Again, thanks to all for the itinerary insight.

For romance, intimacy and a personal touch I would have gone to Londolozi. It's head and shoulders above Mala Mala Main camp in those regards...as well as having much better guides.

IMHO of course.

Better guides than MalaMala? I'd have to see it to believe it. Maybe I'll get to Londolozi some day.

reagrds - tom

Work direct with Mala Mala. I did and they were superb.
Good Luck!