Will we be eternally sorry if we do not take the pre-trip extension to Kruger? Our trip starts on June 1st, 2009.

no.
BTW, what are you talking about?

regards - tom

I F you are flying to SA and won't come back for a considerable number of years: YES!
But it depends on what you mean by "Kruger"?

SV

Ultimate Africa? And, not visiting Kruger? Do tell what the itinerary is? Which country/ies, parks, cities, etc. What does the Kruger pre-trip consist of? No. of days, staying where? Addtl cost?

Sandals, your ultimate Africa trip looks like it includes Botswana, Zimbabwe and the Caprivi Strip in Namibia.

It also appears that the pre-trip Kruger trip is to Parfuri for 3 nights at about $1400. I have never been to Parfuri, but for a one and only trip to Kruger I’d probably choose something else, unless you were keen birders or wanted to do a walking safari.

I’d suggest something like Elephant Plains or Arathusa in the neighboring private Sabi Sands Game Reserve, which are the unfenced private reserves next to Kruger where game roams freely. You can go off road to view animals and the area is known for leopards. You’ll also probably see rhino here, which you probably will not on the rest of your itinerary. But particular species can never be guaranteed.

It looks like the room rates for EP or Arathusa are much less than Parfuri from online rates.

Napamatt, a frequent traveler to South Africa just returned from Parfuri, among other places. Here is his report.

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...ris---long.cfm

I’m copying one of his comments from the report on Parfuri, that you will see if you read the entire report.
“Overall – Certainly a birders paradise. Not mammal country, though we were assured that leopard, Lion, cheetah and even wild dogs are to be found in the area. The natural beauty of this region itself is a reason to make a visit to the camp and it combines well with Mashatu. I personally am unlikely to make another trip to Pafuri.”

Here is a link to Napamatt’s photos. The album starts off with many shots of the lovely accommodation in Parfuri.

Here are some other Parfuri comments

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-mala-trip.cfm

Will you kick yourself for skipping Kruger? You could also kick yourself for not going to Tanzania to see the wildebeest migration in June or because you missed the gorillas or chimps. No way can you see it all.

If you have the time and the money, I would check about adding a Sabi Sands accommodation. It is easy to book this small segment directly. Maybe OAT would even do it for you. If you do it on your own, you could add it before or after, whichever worked best.

I thought you asked about kicking yourselves and that's why I wrote about kicking yourselves. You actually used the terms "eternally sorry."

Thanks so much , atravelin,.