When, and where in Africa are you going?
 

Hi guys,

During one of my hunts for some trip report or other last weekend I came across an old post of Rocco's (2002 I think - I love reading Rocco's posts!) that he started - it was a request for 'where and when' itineraries from all of the Fodorites.
What a fabulous thread I thought, and too bad it wasn't still going!
If I may impose - can you guys all post your itinerary on this thread so that I will know who to chase for trip reports after???
Thanks!

I'll start-

May 26th 2006 to June 16, 2006
Kenya Tanzania, Zanzibar with Micato Tours (Stanley Wing Safari)

May 26 - leave Vancouver
May 28 - arrive Nairobi, David Sheldrick Wildife Trust, Grand Regency for two nights
May 29 - Nairobi sightseeing, Kiambethu Tea Farm, Karen Blixen estate, National Museum and Giraffe Center, dinner at the Pinto's house
May 30 - fly to Amboseli, two nights Amboseli Serena
June 1 - drive to Arusha, fly to Tarangire, 1 night Sopa Lodge
June 2 - drive to Ngorongoro Crater, 2 nights Sopa Lodge
June 4 - drive to Serengeti, visit to Oldavai Gorge along the way, 2 nights at Sopa Lodge
June 6 - Fly to Arusha, Nairobi and the Mara. 2 nights at Kichwa Tembo Camp - early morning balloon ride on 2nd morning.
June 8 - Fly to Nairobi, drive to Mt Kenya Safari Club, 2 nights, includes visit to Ol Pejata Game Park and Jane Goodall Orphan Chimp Sanctuary.
June 10 - Fly to Nairobi, 1 night Grand Regency, free day, (I'll think of something). Carnivore Restaurant in evening
June 11 - Fly to Stometown, Zanzibar, 3 nights at the Serena Inn.
June 12 - OUR 30TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!! Walking tour of Stonetown and market. Spice plantation tour in the afternoon.
June 13 - Out to see the Red Colubus monkeys in the Jozani Forest
June 14 - fly to Nairobi in afternoon, fly to London in evening.
June 15 - all day in London overnight at Shepiston Lodge in Hayes. Thinking of the Eye and Sherlock Holmes museum.
June 16 - Probably hang around Windsor for the day - evening flight home.
June 17 - write trip report for Fodorites.
June 19 - back to work to earn money for next safari.....

Happy anniversary! (A bit early)

My Zambia trip:
May 27-June 3 Chiawa/Old Mondoro, Lower Zambezi Nat. Park

June3-6 Chamilandu Bush Camp, South Luangwa Nat. park
June 6-9 Luangwa River Lodge
June 9-11 Tafika
June 12 Lusaka, Taj Pamodzi
June 13 - Home via Nairobi and London

Wow - only about three and a half months off..... wow. ((@))

Okay, I'll play too. I am jealous that everyone else so far is going before me, but it'll only get worse if I wait. :((

December 9th to December 25th,2006. Kenya.

Dec 9 Leave Bangkok
Dec 9 Arrive Nairobi, drive straight to Aberdere Country Club for two nights
Dec 11 Drive to Meru for 3 nights
Dec 14 Drive to Samburu for 4 nights
Dec 18 Drive to Laikipia for camel safari
Dec 21 Drive to Sweetwaters for two nights
Dec 23 Drive to Nairobi, shopping and eating
Dec 24 Nairobi sightseeing and shopping, return to Bangkok
Dec 25 Arrive Bangkok

The two Dec 9s are not a typo - we're coming the other way to most of you.
Of course I reserve the right to "do a Rocco" and change it and post another one (especially since I have not offcially presented it for feedback in this form) and the camel safari hasn't been arranged (too early) and I am just so-so about Sweetwaters (although it fits perfectly in every way) but I really do think this might be it.

I've been meaning to post our plans for several days now, but I'm too caught up in the preparations to sit down and do it. Thanks, Lynda, for starting this thread.

We leave the US midwest on Feb. 12, (just over a week!) and spend a day and a half in London.

Then fly to Jo'burg, drive to Kruger and spend 6 days in the park, staying at Berg-en-Dal, Letaba, and Mopani. Another day in the area outside the park, then to George for a day before we go to Tsitsikamma National Park for a couple of days.

Then up through the Little Karoo, staying in Ladismith this time but stopping off in Calitzdorp to sample and buy port and brandy. Then Franschhoek for wine and food, then back to Jo'burg and on home.

I'm already smelling Africa, to say nothing of dreaming it day and night.

No matter how many times we go, it's still a thrill!

OK, I'm in:
July 24,25 - London
July 25 - overnight BA flight to Nairobi
July 26 - Day in Nairobi, overnight at Norfolk
July 27,28 lloldia Lodge. Explore Lake Naivasha and Nakuru. Horseback riding
July 29 Aberdare Park. o/n Ark
July 30, 31 Samburu Park.Larsen's Camp
Aug 1,2 Ol Lokolokwe Sarara Camp
Aug 3 - Fly to Nairobi and on to Arusha, Arusha Coffee Lodge
Aug 4 Lake Manyara and Kifuru Lodge
Aug 5,6 Ngorongoro Crater and Crater Lodge
Aug 7,8 Drive through Manyara to Tarangire and 2 nights Swala
Aug 9,10,11 Flights to Mara and 3 nights at II Moran
Aug 12 Return to Norfolk and overnight flight to London and back to USA.
3 nights Moran (tent)

Looking for suggestions for London hotel that won't break the bank. Last time, we rented a flat in Mayfair and time before I stayed at the Blake -- rooms are too tiny, service too snobby. Would love to spend under $200 per romm as we need two rooms or a family suite that fits 4.

Jun sometime, can't remember the dates.

Mombo - 6 nights
Vumbura Plains - 4 nights
Duma Tau - 3 nights

July 2006

Hluhluwe and Kgalagadi

There are too many parks, and I don't like to repeat until I've seem them all.

I am in the unenviable position of having no trip to Africa booked nor a definite plan in the pipeline.

We're very strongly hoping we will be able to do a trip to Africa later this year, though we're not yet sure whether we'll be visiting Zambia or Tanzania and Kenya. That will depend on budget, time and what deals we can get. We'll likely travel in the low season to bag lowest prices.

PS :`( :`( :`( :`( :`( :`( :`( :`( :`( :`( :`( :`(

May/June 2006 - Botswana:

- Lebala (7 nights)
- Lagoon (1 night)
- Kwara island (4 nights)
- Mala Mala (6 nights)

August 2006 - Namibia:

- Great namibian safari (Kulala/Skeleton Coast research camp/Palmwag rhino camp/Damaraland/Ongava) (12 days)
- Wolvedans (4 days)

September/October 2006 - Botswana:

- Lebala (10 nights)
- Duba Plains (7 nights)

April 2007 - Botswana:

- Duba Plains (7 nights)
- Mombo (7 nights)

June 2007 - Botswana:

- Mombo (7 nights)
- Selinda (7 nights)
- Jacana (3 nights)

Everything is booked except Selinda (the booking period isn't open yet)

After that it's time for some financial recovery ...

Kavey,
Me too :((

AmyH,
I'd be interested to hear about your stay at Larsens and Sarara when you return. Have a great time!

Not too far off for me:
March 7-leave Hilo, Hawaii for San Fran
March 9-San Francisco-London (lunch with Kavey on the 10th)
March 10-London-Lusaka, Zambia
March 11-13-Tafika Camp, South Luangwa
March 14-16-Puku Ridge
March 17-21-Luangwa River Lodge (birthday at Luangwa River Lodge)
March 22-Lusaka, Intercontinental Hotel
March 23-25-London 3 nights
March 26-London-San Francisco
March 28-SF to Honolulu to Hilo and home!
March 29-Decide where to go next time

Well, I think Johan has everyone beat, hands down.

Like Napamatt, I don't remember our dates. Leave SF June 15th, returning, um 2 weeks later?

Arusha: 2 nights Moivaro
Tarangire: 2 nights Mawe Ninga
Ngorongoro: 1 night Wildlife
NCA: 1 night Olduvai Camp
Serengeti: 1 night Ronjo Camp
Serengeti: 3 nights Nomad camps
Arusha: 1 night Moivaro

I was worried about possibly needing to schedule knee surgery when booking this trip. All that worry was for nothing and now wish I had made the itinerary longer. Ack: the downside to planning so far ahead. Next time...

And Amy, we stayed at Kifaru in 2004. I think management changed right after we visited, so I'll be interested to hear your impressions. The food was really good when we were there, by the way.

We don't have any definite plans but are talking about going to Namibia in August. If we go, my two youngest will also be going (they'll be just turned 12 and almost 10 by then). This trip will certainly be different than my other solo trips.

I am definitely drooling over Johan's plans. What a dream year(s) you'll have, Johan!

I was trying not to look at johan's plans ;)

Johan

Need a bag carrier?

If we're posted planned and booked itineraries then

January 2007

Mala Mala Main 5-6
Rattrays 3-4

September 2007

Mala Mala Main 3
Little Mombo 3
Kings Pool 3

This last trip has six of us travelling together, thus Little Mombo.

Spring 2006
Namibia Trip - Self Drive - Fly in Camps

Day 1 - Windhoek - Hotel Heinitzburg
Day 2,3 - Etosha - Mushara Lodge
Day 4,5,6 - Etosha - Ongava Lodge
Day 7,8,9 - Damaraland - Mowani Mtn. Camp
Day 10, - Cape Cross - Cape Cross Lodge
Day 11,12 - Swakopmund - Hansa Hotel
Day 13,14,15 - Sossusvlei - Sossusvlei Mtn. Lodge
Day 16 - Windhoek - Heinitzburg
Day 17,18,19 - Charter Flt. to Skeleton Coast,
Skeleton Coast Camp
Day 20,21.22 - Charter Flt. to the Far North - Serra
Cafema Camp
Day 23 - Windhoek - Heinitzburg
Day 24 - head for home

DJE,

You gonna love Serra Cafema and Skeleton Coast!!! Unbelievable landscapes!

It's an excellent choice to end your trip at Serra Cafema.

The quads there are are a real must... I was there when that film crew got lost last year in June.


Matt,

You have some great trips ahead!!!
It seems that you like Mombo and Mala Mala a lot and I can understand why!


To everyone else:

I know that I am very lucky to be able to go that much to Africa.
I'll definitely write some detailed trip reports and post some pictures after these trips.

Greetings,

Johan

Johan,

Any more details on the lost film crew?

You are right, LyndaS, it is time for a new one of these.

Aug 06
Duba Plains 4
Vumbura 2
Selinda 4

Patty - we will post about Larsen's and Sarara for sure. Really looking forward to the conservation camp at Sarara.
Sundowner - we are taking our 13 and 11 yr old kids. They are bringing deflated soccer balls and pumps and soccer jerseys and we will be visiting either two schools or villages (schools may not be in session) to deliver the goods and play.
Leely- Kifaru looks like a welcome respite between parks, although we go from there to Crater Lodge, so its not like we will be roughing it right after. Hoping we can do another horseback game ride while at Kifaru.

For those staying in London (matnikstym), where are you staying?