Patty

Our accountant emailed me last week and we owe the IRS a lot less than I thought we did, woo hoo!

And I've saved up enough miles for two tickets again. Now the only potential wrinkle in my plans is a possible pilot strike at Delta forcing the airline to go under and us losing our miles Well, half our miles, the other half is safely tucked away in other accounts waiting to be transferred to Delta but not until I know more about the pilot situation. I think (hope) it's all posturing on both sides but who knows. The arbitration deadline is April 15, so I should know either way by then. Everybody keep your fingers crossed for me!

If I have to buy our tickets, that's going to put a serious dent in our budget. I've yet to be able to convince Mark to fly premium economy on BA, let alone economy, so I don't know how I'm going to make that work. Actually I did think of one way > - when he first said no to PE, my reply was "I'll show you the pictures when I get back"

Naaah, I don't think I'd really leave him home.

Back to happy scenario assuming that our miles are safe, I'd like to go to Kenya and Uganda or Kenya and southern Tanzania this time. I'm leaning toward the latter combination right now.

Pardon my Rocco moment, but I've decided that if we go to Selous, we must stay at Sand Rivers, budget be damned! Plus I can rationalize the cost by calling this a belated 10th anniversary trip. I've looked at all of the other accomodations in Selous and there just isn't any other place that I'm totally infatuated with. My concern is whether we'll find any availability this season. If I can't stay at Sand Rivers, I ain't going to southern Tanzania I just can't see spending all that money to stay at a distant second (in my mind) choice accomodation. See, told you I was having a Rocco moment. Give me a few days and I might snap out of it

On top of that, we're limited to dates that have award availability. Am I just day dreaming that I can possibly make this all work?

Right now there are dates available to travel in early-mid June or mid-late October, but that might change in a few weeks when I'll hopefully be booking the tickets. Waiting is driving me bonkers!

June might be pushing it time wise since we'll have already been away for a week each in Jan and Feb and HAVE to go to Hawaii again later this month (family obligation). These trips to Hawaii are siphoning away time and funds for the really important stuff!

I really don't want to wait another year to return to Africa either, so I guess our fallback option is Kenya and Uganda.

OK I just had to post this to get it off my chest. What else am I going to do on a rainy Saturday but obsess about Africa? Thanks for listening!

LyndaS

Congratulations Patty! I am sure you will pull this off, we all know you can work miracles when it comes to frequent flyer miles, and I will bet you are just as good at getting camps that aren't available too!
We're flying World Traveller Plus on BA - I would imagine that is the premium economy you were speaking of? We had 300,000 pts on our American Express, which I thought about transferring to Delta (but a little risky I thought as I was doing this last November for May travel), or Continental, or Air Canada. But, as it turned out, Delta said I was too late for points redemption on the flights we needed, Continental said we were too early and Air Canada doesn't go to Nairobi. So, instead we were able to cash them in for $$$ credit at any American Express Travel agency - and this is how we justified going BA World Traveller Plus -our 300,000 points translated to 3000.00 CDn off of the airline tickets. We are looking forward to travelling in those nice big seats, that's for sure!
You know, Kenya and Uganda sounds real good to me - or even Kenya and Rwanda, that way if Sand Rivers is full, you'll have quite an exciting adventure anyways! Think of all those gorillas just waiting to be photographed.
Of course your other option is to climb Kili.....

Patty

Thanks, Lynda! Me climb Kili? Oh, no way. Sounds like pure torture to me and I have a horrible fear of heights.

Yes, I was referring to World Traveller Plus. We've flown Virgin Atlantic's version of it and I found it comfortable for a 10 hour flight, wider seats with about 6 additional inches of legroom plus leg rests.

You're right, I'm sure we'll be happy wherever we end up. I'm just excited at the prospect of going back which I didn't think we'd be able to do this year

cybor

Jambo Patty,
You do only have one life, so go and enjoy now

Unless you think you'll revisit in another life as a rich princess. The problem is you could come back as a pennyless servant or worse

Can you book 2 sets of flights - 1 FF and another as a just in case Delta goes under?
I do feel for you b/c I'm trying to figure out a way to get to ? Botswana all while
I'm supposed to be doing my taxes - I just
keep drifting back to Africa even though
it's not a good time to think about it or discuss with DH. I'll spring it on him once the tax sting lessens - it's good
for them to have caring wifes.
kwaheri;
Sherry
p.s. it's raining here in RI also.

safarilover

Hi, Patty

Can't think of a better way to spend "found money" than on an African safari.

You definitely want to stay at Sand Rivers. It's worth it although I read that the rates are supposed to go up drastically in May, but you might luck out and be able to book at the old rates. The lodge itself is wonderful, and game viewing is totally customized. We did not see any shared vehicles or boats.

In spite of how wonderful Selous was, I must say that Ruaha was magnificent, and the game viewing there was the best we had on the entire trip even though the area was lush with vegetation. Ruaha exceeded my expectations. We stayed at Mwagusi, which was wonderful, but not quite as wonderful as Sand Rivers. Along the way we met folks that had stayed at Beho Beho and thought that it was quite nice, too.

Leann

carolines

Hello Patti,

Am at work with little time to post but just thought I'd mention that we have booked Ruaha River Lodge at the enthusiastic advice of our travel agent (an Africa specialist) who has been there several times. The elephants hang around the riverside bandas and the guiding is apparently of a fantastic quality. There is a trip report posting here by rsnyder called "Mikumi, Ruaha, Selous Trip June 2005" and his photos are posted on Trip Advisor! (his review there is called "Ruaha River Lodge - a special place".)You won't believe the elephant photo!!! Our agent tells of an elephant grazing on the bush outside his stone banda, six inches from the open window, and listening to the stomach digesting the foliage!

We would have liked to book a stay at Sand Rivers, too but ran out of time available. Our agent advised Ruaha as the game is so much more abundant there
and not at all skittish.

Only 300 more "sleeps" and counting!!!

Patty

Asante, Sherry! The conservative side of me says to play it safe, wait out the two weeks and see what happens. I was feeling very anxious but am feeling much better now since I posted earlier.

Leann and Caroline,
Darn, now you two go and complicate things when I thought I had such clarity Seriously, thanks for your comments. I'm usually so indecisive and thought I'd settled on Selous, but now may have to consider Ruaha too.

Leann, from where did you fly to Ruaha and how long was the flight? In addition to my OCD and acrophobia I'm a bit of a claustrophobe. I especially don't do well in hot, cramped environments. I'm OK on shorter flights in small aircraft, just unsure how well I'd do on a longer one. It's something that only started to affect me in the last few years, and I have a hard time accepting it or knowing how to deal with it except to avoid putting myself in such situations. I checked Coastal's schedule today and was surprised to find it listed as 3 hour flight from Dar! :0

dlo

Patty
It was 2 hours from the Highlands lodge to Dar.I biased but having used Foxes i imagine Ruaha River Lodge would be as good as there other camps.It is on my long term list.

matnikstym

CONGRATS Patty! Hope your husband goes along with it! Good luck!
Dennis

Leely

Congrats, Patty! I must say I'm not at all surprised. If anyone can do this, you can.

I remember one of Dick Snyder's comments from his southern TZ trip report: that if there were some easy way to do it, his ideal E. Africa trip would be a Serengeti/Ruaha combo. (Yes, I'm paraphrasing.)

Patty

Thanks, Dennis & Leely!

dlo,
Did you book this portion of your trip directly with Foxes? If so, was your contact Jane?

dlo

We booked right through Jane.Everything was great and they get back to you super fast.If you inquire let me know the rates for Ruaha as i am trying to figure out a way to get back next year so i would be curious.

Nyamera

Patty,
Congratulations on the money discovery and the excellent use of smileys! I’d go to the Mara and Selous.

safarilover

Patty

We flew from Arusha to Ruaha since we had been in the Serengeti first. It was a direct flight on Coastal because we were the only two passengers. I must admit I had a few concerns about the short flights within Tanzania, but I was impressed with Coastal's planes and pilots. The planes accommodated 12 passengers and looked new and in good condition, and the pilots seemed very professional. The flight from Arusha was the only time the luggage was weighed. Our bags were a little overweight; and while they didn't charge us per se because we were the only two passengers, the ticket agent did ask us for a "little something for the boys." We gave him $5 and he seemed satisfied. For the rest of the flights we took off from dirt airstrips where there were no scales.

Our last flight was from Selous to Dar on Zanair. I think it took about 1 hour and 45 minutes, and the plane was full. All in all, I was not as pleased with Zanair as I was with Coastal. If Coastal is listing that flight as 3 hours, perhaps they make some stops along the way.

Caroline is right that there is abundant game in Ruaha, and it is not skittish. I was very surprised that the animals there seemed more relaxed and less skittish than they were in the Seregenti. And the guides were superb.

We paid about $310 pp/pn for Mwagusi and about $430 for Sand Rivers.

I would really try to do both of these parks if you can. It took me eight years go finally get to southern Tanzania, and I was not disappointed. My only regret was that I couldn't stay longer.

Leann

Patty

Nyamera,
Thanks, I'm glad you approve of my smiley use

dlo,
So far the rates that I've gotten for October from Foxes Safaris are -

Ruaha River Lodge $245pppn
Selous Safari Camp $465pppn

Flights (one way)
Dar-Selous $130pp
Selous-Ruaha $270pp
Ruaha-Dar $300pp

I've also been corresponding with Jane. Is it OK if I email you with some questions?

Leann,
Thanks for your additional comments. Those seem like very good rates for Mwagusi and Sand Rivers, particularly in comparison with the rates that I've gotten for Ruaha River Lodge and Selous Safari Camp. Did you book everything through ATR? From your other posts, it sounds like you weren't happy with MKSC and ATR's promotion of their camps. Would you personally use ATR again or recommend them as an agent for a southern Tanzania booking? Thanks.

safarilover

Patty

On the positive side for ATR I should say that Lenny who did our itinerary quite willing to keep revising it until it was workable for us. He responded very quickly to emails and even called me from London a few times. On one occasion I spent about an hour on the phone talking to him.

I was also quite pleased with the thoroughness of the itinerary ATR prepared and the detailed pricing of each hotel, flight, etc. And, of course, our safari went very smoothly.

What I wasn't pleased with was the TMKS vehicle and guide and the promotion of their preferred camps. Having said that, yes, I would recommend them, but be prepared to request a vehicle in good condition (if they have any) and an enthusiastic guide. Our guide's name, by the way, was Simon; and while he was pleasant and a competent driver, he seemed disinterested in being a guide. Once while we were watching a leopard off in the distance, he made a call on his cell phone!

Leann

LyndaS

Patty-
Did you read RuthieC's report by any chance? (I'm sure you have, but, just in case....)
There is quite the discussion on Foxes after her report, even includes some correspondence from Jane!
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34489525

dlo

Patty
Thanks for the rates.My email is [email protected].I'm trying to figure out a way to do a cheap safari next year so i amy have some questions on Kenya for you,if thats ok.

atravelynn

Hope it works Patty with no April Fools.
All of the other comments have been educational.

cooncat

Patty: two more things to consider:

1) Selous or Rouaha PLUS Mahale

2) Adopting me!