hla

I know this is a stupid question if we are going to Africa to experience a safari, but I need to ask for my children's sake. Are bugs in a lodge room a given? (This would be what is categorized as "luxury lodges" in South Africa in July). My children will be in separate rooms from us, and I need to know what to prepare them for both inside the rooms as well as on the safaris. Thanks for understanding.

matnikstym

here's a link to bugs from a week or so ago;
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34820502

hla

Thank you for your reply. That was the thread that actually made me think of this in the first place. Was wondering if insects in the room are a given in all lodges. That thread recommended bagging up shoes. Any other suggestions?

Roccco

Bugs will only be (possibly) avoided if staying at the very best luxury lodges, and I mean lodges as opposed to even the finest tented camps that will be unable to keep the bugs out.

For example, I do not recall any bugs in the rooms at Singita or Simbambili (Sabi Sand) or at Luangwa River Lodge (South Luangwa) or at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. However, even at the finest luxury tented camps bugs are an issue.

While I was at Mbuzi Mawe (a self-labeled luxury tented camp, and I guess compared to the majority of Tanzanian offerings it is luxurious) there was an older guest of about 65 who had caught a SCORPION in his shower and brought it in to management to release in a safe area. This was right before his wife was to take a shower.

The worst thing that has happened to me has been a couple nasty bug bites, this last time on both my hands and near one of my eyes. These bites took about 10 days to finally heal. I received these same bug bites once before as they both had the same characteristics.

At the end of the day, however, insects are a small price to pay for the wonders of Africa.

hla

Thanks again. And I agree, insects are a small price to pay.

While I (might) have your attention, what do you think of this itinerary:
4 nights Phinda Forest
3 nights Kings Camp
2 nights Madikwe Hills?
What are my transportation options between the camps?

Thank you!

Roccco

hla,

I think that is a very good itinerary...however, by simply switching to Ngala (like Kings Camp, also in the Timbavati reserve) and to one of CCAfrica's Sabi Sand camps (their Exeter camps are beautiful) you would qualify for some great pricing as you would get a long stay discount.

Then again, if you are dealing with an honorable agent, you will know that by staying 4 nights between Kings Camp and Madikwe Hills that you should be getting your fifth night free. This is a tremendous offer that I bring to the attention of my own clients looking to combine Madikwe and Timbavati or the Sabi Sand (it also applies to Leopard Hills).

I would advise you to fly between camps. You are paying so much per night for the accomodations that if you even miss a single game drive due to not arriving on time, you have just lost any savings you will gain by driving...plus, you will arrive much more refreshed if doing a strictly fly-in safari.

Good luck.

hla

Rocco--thanks again. Your expertise is invaluable. I will look into your suggestions.

santharamhari

hla,

When's ur trip....i will be at Phinda Forest Aug 16th.....

Hari

hla

Unfortunately, I won't be there until 2007. Please post a trip report and have a great time!

Ericka

Back to the original topic, I think that you should be prepared for bugs no matter how luxurious the lodges. At Singita, we had a swarm of mosquitos break into our bathroom (probably through a vent of some kind). It really wasn't a problem though because all of the accomodations provide a Doom-like bug spray that takes care of things very quickly. Also, we did not encounter any bugs in our luxury tented camps in Botswana - just luck I guess.

santharamhari

sure, will do........

Hari

PredatorBiologist

hla: this is slightly off this topic but it sounds like you are going to do a great job of preping your children. It occurred to me that you may want to consider buying some 2-way radios so they can actually call you if they have an issue arise. I'm not suggesting that this occurs in place of your prep work but you may relax better if you know they can call and that will prevent any temptation from wandering out of the tent at night which needs to be the first rule of what not to do.

cw

Good idea about communication with your children. I believe that Phinda has telephones in the room (according to the fact sheet). That would help ease any anxiety.

It's great that you're preparing them in advance.

CW

PredatorBiologist

Actually Madikwe Hills has phones too. I have spent much more time in tented camps in Botswana and Namibia which is where my head was at with 2 way radios. In S.A. may be as simple as dialing a phone.

hla

2-way radios are a great idea I hadn't even thought of. Thanks so much to everyone.

travelwmn

hla:
PredatorBiologist suggestion of bringing 2-way radios is an excellent one.

Just an FYI: I am a total supporter of bringing children on safari (our 10 year old son is joining us on one in September). I just want to make sure you realize that once you are escorted to your rooms at night, you must NOT leave them. It's not like at a normal hotel where you can just run across the hall. There are predators outside your room. I don't know the ages of your children, but this is the only thing I would be concerned about. Guards escort you to your room at night and back to the lodge in the morning. You'll have no contact with your kids during this time -- even if they are sick. It would have to be a true emergency to call up to the staff and have them send a guard so that you could get to your kid's room. If either of your children are young, I would consider each parent bunking in a room with a child -- at least at the first camp until you all get in a safari routine. If your children are older teenagers, then just ignore everything I've said!

Also, I have stayed at Phinda Forest -- you're going to love it. Yes, there are phones in the rooms, but I can't remember if you can call between rooms or not.

Jean_Valjean

We sprayed the room with the insecticide provided by the hotel just before leaving for dinner. After returning, we slept under the mosquito nets, with our pj's tucked in our socks. Maybe overkill, but we didn't get bit once by mosquitoes. Tsetses are a different story.