RTW trip - built around Tanzania and South Africa

Old Nov 23rd, 2005, 03:15 AM
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RTW trip - built around Tanzania and South Africa

We leave on Dec 23rd for our RTW trip with One World, with the Tanzania organised through ATR.

After eight months of planning, it is all coming together.
Our itinerary is:
Dec 23 Sydney – Toronto
Meeting up with our 14 yr old daughter who has been living in TO with my brother’s family since August. Letting her go was the hardest thing I have ever done, but the best. We will spend Xmas with family. She is travelling on with us.
Dec 28 Toronto – London – I’ve paid for an upgrade to World Traveller Plus
Staying at the new Ibis London City in the City.
Dec 31 London – DAR – as it NYE, I’m hoping that there will be lots of room on the BA flight. Right now that appears to be the case.
Tracey from ATR has arranged for us to leave all our unnecessary luggage with Coastal at the DAR airport, so that problem is solved (we're doing 4 continents and two hemispheres - so a big issue was winter clothing).

01-Jan Fly : Zanair : Dar es Salaam international to Arusha
Accommodation : Arusha : Moivaro Lodge
Safari : Tanzania Northern Parks : overland safari
02-Jan Accommodation : Karatu : Gibbs Farm
03-Jan Safari : Ngorongoro
Accommodation : South Serengeti : Olduvai Tented Camp
04-Jan Accommodation : Central Serengeti : Ronjo Flycamp
05-Jan Accommodation : Central Serengeti : Ronjo Flycamp
06-Jan Accommodation : South Serengeti : Ndutu Lodge
07-Jan Accommodation : South Serengeti : Ndutu Lodge
08-Jan Accommodation : Ngorongoro : Serena Lodge
09-Jan Fly : Zanair : Manyara to Zanzibar : via Arusha
Accommodation : Zanzibar Island : Pongwe Beach
10-Jan Accommodation : Zanzibar Island : Pongwe Beach
11-Jan Accommodation : Zanzibar Stonetown : Dhow Palace
12-Jan Fly : Coastal : Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam
Fly : TC7908 : Dar es Salaam to to South Africa
12-18 Jan Staying with friends outside Durban
18 Jan Fly to Capetown
18-19 Jan Caledon Villa STELLENBOSCH
20-23 Jan Accommodation: The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel
23-Jan Tour with Selwyn
24-Jan Fly: Capetown-Victoria Falls
Accommodation: Mercure
25-Jan Fly: Vic Falls – Jo’burg – Sydney
26-Jan Sydney on Australia Day.

We've bought all our clothes and I'm in the process of buying the "Rocco" vests online. Ended up with quite a lot of Columbia. Lots of stone & khaki.
Shopped around for Malarone.
Our camera is a Fuji 5000. Not the best with it but I’m sure we will be happy. My daughter also has an old Minolta SLR. She has a small IBM X20 thinkpad with her so we use that to hold the photos.
I have a pair of binoculars foreach of us of varying quality.
We have two small paklite soft bags that convert into backpacks that we bought 15 yrs ago. We will also take a larger backpack plus a light duffle to repack safari gear for the trip.
Hopefully, with the safari vests we can carry everything.
Are there any glaring omissions? Any next to last minute advice?
Thank you for all your help. What will I do next year. Right now I haunt this site trying to glean any tidbits. In particular, and apologies to any omissions, Sandi, Patty, Leely, Rocco, Bat, Marius, CHSL and Amfs (our first ATR trip reporter). After Amfs’ wonderful and candid trip report, I got right onto ATR and told them that bad food was not acceptable. Hopefully, when we are there in January,it will be improved.
Sarvowinner is offline  
Old Nov 23rd, 2005, 10:20 AM
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Have a wonderful trip.
J
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Old Nov 23rd, 2005, 10:27 AM
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Oh, Sarvo, what a trip!I bet you can't wait to get going...

Safari njema.
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Old Nov 23rd, 2005, 10:40 AM
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So exciting--can you believe it was months ago we were posting our proposed itneraries and now you are a month away from leaving? Thanks for taking care of the food issue for us!
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Old Dec 19th, 2005, 01:10 PM
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Just a few days now. Bon voyage!
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Old Dec 19th, 2005, 01:39 PM
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What an absolutely marvellous way to see in the New Year and how wonderful that you'll be spending Christmas with your daughter (and brother too) after the separation and then going on to do this wonderful trip!

Have a truly special time and do tell us all about it when you get home!
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Old Dec 19th, 2005, 03:55 PM
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Hope you have a fantastic trip!
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Old Dec 19th, 2005, 06:13 PM
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I wish I had time to get excited . I have so much to get done at work before we leave. oNce I'm on that plane - it will really sink in. Thanks for all your help. Patty - your trip sounded antastic. Are you already planning your next?
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Old Dec 20th, 2005, 11:20 PM
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Sarvowinner,

Have a great holiday!

Looks like a wonderful itinerary, and as a fellow ATR customer I am really looking forward to your trip report next month. I am down to about 65 days before my trip and I have not yet even had the chance to hunger for Africa yet...still quite content from my last trip.

The weather in Cape Town and Durban should be beautiful in late January.

Please take lots of photos!
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Old Dec 21st, 2005, 05:12 AM
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What an adventure! Have a wonderful Christmas and TRIP!
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Old Dec 22nd, 2005, 03:13 PM
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It is so exciting--have a wonderful trip.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2005, 06:26 PM
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Have a great time and travel safe!
Dennis
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Old Dec 26th, 2005, 07:15 AM
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We are in the process of booking a trip in the northern parks of Tanzania for June 2006 and are considering many of the same accomodations. I would love to hear whqat you have to say about them. Is "ATR" African Travel Resources? They are one of my top picks at this point. Any other companies to consider? I would love to hear about your trip. We may have already booked the safari before you get back and have a chance to respond. If any others have some operators to recommend, that would be great.
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Old Dec 26th, 2005, 08:02 AM
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janejean,

I have booked the following itinerary through ATR:

Moivaro Coffee Lodge (3) I am doing the Kiliminjaro Half Marathon nearby so I felt I needed three nights in Arusha.

Manyara Tree Lodge, Lake Manyara (2)

Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater (2)

Olduvai Camp, NCA (1)

Nomad Masek, NCA/Serengeti (2)

Nomad Piaya, Serengeti (2)

Mbuzi Mawe, Serengeti (2)

From there, I am doing a 5 night Zanzibar extension, although since I was not entirely pleased with ATR, I booked my extension through Africa Serendipity (www.africaserendipity.com)

Palms Zanzibar (3)

Serena Inn (2)

My main complaint with Africa Travel Resource is that I have not had any contact from them after my initial booking and deposit, until now, 5 months later, when my final payment is due. Despite the fact that I have paid $7,000 up to this point, I have not received any brochures in the mail, any welcoming package or anything. ATR is an established company and I do feel like I paid a premium to go through them so I was expecting a bit more.

I do think you would be well served by considering Africa Serendipity for your safari. I had this previous assumption that Nomad's camps were the absolute best camps for an exclusive experience (maximum of eight guests), but there are a couple other similar companies out there that may be nicer than Nomad. ATR has a very strong connection with Nomad, and ultimately it was this connection that led me to choose ATR over all others but, as I mentioned, there are other safari operators, other than Nomad that are highly reputable.
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Old Dec 26th, 2005, 09:56 AM
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Rocco,

THanks for the info. I will check them out.
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