brandywine

Jasher,

Do you know if Londolozi be available from CCAfrica next year after March or so? I thought the rumour was that CCAfrica and Londolozi have not renewed their agreement, has this been settled?
If CCAfrica will not been managing LZ, then who will be?
I would appreciate any info. you might have about that, Thanks.

ABC,

For two weeks time (including flying time, so maybe 12 nights in SA?), I think you will want to decide whether to spend most of the time in Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route, and then maybe 4 nights at one safari camp. Or spend maybe 3 nights Cape Town, 2 nights Franschhoek, and about 7 nights for safari, so you could try two different safari camps, maybe 4 nights Sabi Sands and 3 nights Phinda or something like that. Just depends what your main interests are.

santharamhari

brandywine,

My understanding is, one of CCAfrica's lower priced Londolozi camps wont be with them any longer.....not the whole Londolozi reserve, which is one of CCA's flagship properties. Although, CCA have taken into their wing other Sabi Sands reserves like Exter.

Hari

Zenz

Brandywine,
C.C.A's lease with the owners expires on the 28/2/2007. The owners Dave and Shanny Varty with their children are going to run Lodolozi as a family concern.

jasher

Hello,

Zenz is correct - the Vartys will be re-assuming management of Londoz from March 2007. This goes back to Londoz's roots as a family-owned and run lodge. While it's sad that Londoz and CCA are parting ways when Londoz was CCA's original founding lodge, I look forward to seeing what the future may bring to Londoz.

Believe me, I'm keeping a close eye on this as Londoz holds a very special place in my heart -- my first stay there was also my first trip to Africa as an independent traveller. I'll let you know when I hear anything.

Cheers,
Julian

brandywine

Thanks Zenz and Julian. I guess that was my impression of what was going to happen, but had not really heard for sure. Julian, yes I know how much you like LZ, so hopefully you will have a chance after new management takes over to give it a try and let us know.

santharamhari

oh, ok.....thanks Julian

Hari

jasher

Hello Brandywine,

That's the plan -- probably in May 2007.

Cheers,
Julian

abcdc

Ok, based on everyone's very helpful feedback, this looks like our draft route - please critique!!

Day 0 (Tuesday May 1)
Departure from DC to Cape Town

Day 1 -3 (Wednesday May 2 - Fri May 3)
Capetown @ Cape Grace or Cape Heritage

Day 4 (Sat May 5)
Rent car, depart Capetown for Garden Route (how long is drive time?)

Tsala Treetops Lodge

Day 5: (Sun May 6)
Tsala

Day 6: (Mon May 7)
Depart Tsala for Franschoek/Wineland areas (how long is drive time?)

Quartier Francais

Day 7 & 8: (Tues May 8 - Wed May 9)
Winelands @ Quartier Francais

Day 9: (Thu May 10)
Return from Franschoek to Capetown; catch flight to Jo’burg same day?

Jo’burg PM - need rec

Day 10: (Fri May 11)
Catch charter, depart for Singita

Day 11 & 12: (Sat May 12 & Sun May 13)
Singita

Day 13: (Mon May 14)
Fly back to Capetown

Alternate hotel in C’town? Close to airport?

Day 14: (Tues May 15)
Depart for US

petlover

I will be going in February for the first time. The TA We used is http://www.bkafrica.com/ (ask for Ngaire, pronounced Ny-Ree). She has an 800 # and is so knowledgeable of all the hotels and camps. She has personally stayed at dozens and dozens of camps in South Africa. She also set up flights and private charters within South Africa. I can't say enough good things about her expertise and service. She is located in Dallas and works with an affiliate in South Africa so you have the best of both worlds.

Happy Honeymooning!

petlover

Should add that there are 6 African specialist in this office in case Ngaire is out. Ngaire has visited 48 safari camps and will ONLY recommend one that she has personally visited/stayed at.

brandywine

ABC,
Why are you flying all the way back down to Cape Town after Singita? You could spend Monday night at Singita giving you 3 nights there, which would be much nicer. Then take the Fed Air flight from Singita to Johannesburg on Tuesday mid-morning or afternoon, and take a flight from JNB back to USA on Tuesday evening (that is, most flights depart JNB for USA or Europe in the evening).

abcdc

We thought that having airfare into one town and out of another would be more expensive than the roundtrip in and out of one location. I'd be happy to be proven wrong ;-)

brandywine

I think almost all international flights come into JNB, then you get a domestic flight to Cape Town, so shouldn't really be a price difference to fly to Cape Town and out of JNB. At least in our case, it did not make any difference.

Here is a link to one of Selwyn's discussions about getting to Tsala that might help you:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34791516

toddsmom

Our married children are on their honeymoon now in South Africa. We used a company called Classic Africa and I cannot recommend them high enough. Pierre was the kindest person and made this itinerary fit perfectly. Our kids were supposed to go last summer but South African Airways went on strike and there was no way to get them there within their time limit to get home to their jobs, so it had to be postponed to this summer. Pierre and Margaret worked so hard to get them there but it didn't work out and they were instrumental in working with me to get every penny back from the travel insurance company. They tailor made their honeymoon. We hear from the kids nearly every few days and they are going to the most interesting things and truly going in style. They said their guides and everything is just perfect. The interesting part is that we went to SA with A&K a few years ago and spent many thousands more and didn't stay at nearly the luxurious places that the kids are---Cape Grace, Rovos Rail, Mala Mala, Colonna Castle, etc. Feel free to email me at [email protected]. Classic Africa is truly great. Don't listen to the other comments on the board from years ago. I couldn't be more pleased.

jillllybean

Though it's not our honeymoon, it's our anniversary I was asking some similar questions looking for just the right safari camp. I started off with about 10 places in mind, then slowly started to narrow it down, finally to two...Singita or Mateya. I couldn't make up my mind going back and forth but yesterday I decided on Mateya. The price was much less than Singita yet several have written it's even nicer. It has two other big things going for it, it's in the maleria free zone and it has the very rare wild dogs that Roccco has talked about here on Fodors. You may want to consider it. I've googled and read other great reviews and looked at the brochures (first hand experience will always win out over brochures but it was still fun looking at photos). Anyway, just wanted to add some food for thought because I was going through so much of what you're going through now trying to plan your honeymoon.

jillllybean

Adding, you may also want to read tripadvisor.com for helpful information on various safari camps. Besides Fodors, it's another good source of info.