Shujbhar

I am a bit confused - I am exploring possibilities for booking a stay at a game lodge in Kruger in October, and so contacted some agents in SA. Have got some quotes from them, but then I find that the same property is also available on Expedia and Hotels.com, at a much cheaper rate. These rates are incl 2 Game Drives and Breakfast, but not the other meals, it seems. Does anyone have any experience or views on what this means. Does the 2 drives mean 2 per day, as is standard it seems in the safari packages? Any idea what the extra charges will be for things like the snacks, lunches, dinners etc? Will most lodges offer al carte pricing for these? Many thanks!

Safari_Craig

Can you give one example (i.e. name the lodge)?

Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond

christabir

Check the camp's website or contact them directly for what is available. They sometimes offer self catering or fully inclusive or a combo. Do you plan to do all of the game drives or are you using it as a place to stay and self drive to do other things in the area? Do you want to cook? (bring your own food) If not, go fully inclusive.

Shujbhar

Craig - the lodge is Shishangeni
Christabir - we plan to do all the game drives i.e. 2 per day as far as possible. We havent really thought of cooking - good question whether its self-catering. All I know from the accomodation website (not the property's website, just to be clear) is that it is a "standard" room, with breakfast. Maybe it would help me if you have an idea how much lunch, dinner and other meals, + game drive if needed would add per person. Many thanks for your replies

christabir

If you plan to do everything, go fully inclusive. They aren't going to make a la carte pricing less than fully inclusive.

Shujbhar

Gotcha...thanks. I managed to get a couple of options for package deals. But they dont include sundowner drinks - funny when each website talks about it, but it seems the cost is extra! Can any one tell me what these drinks cost in a mid range game reserve?

sandi

As to the "sundowners" - it's usually the expensive camps that include these in their rate, not so the lower priced properties. If I have to pay, I figure prices based on what I'd pay at home (NYC) and know is will be less.

christabir

We drink on safari - Amarula with our morning coffee break all the way to bedtime. In a three day stay we've never had more than a $100 bar tab. Usually half that. Funny, my husband's high end scotch is less than my vodka and tonic because they charge the vodka and the tonic separately. the drinks are cheap. They charge for water, too. I bring a bottle and drink the filtered water available at all camps we've been to. No problems. No matter where we travel, even domestically, my husband takes a pepto pill twice a day. He's very sensitive to water changes and has never had a problem drinking the filtered water, or using the ice, eating fruit, etc in S Africa.

Laundry is an extra charge, too. We do our own. I take a little washing powder and do laundry every three days. Don't leave drying clothes outside when you're not there, though! The monkeys and baboons are thieves!

cary999

Love Amarula in my morning hot chocolate!!
And for sundowner a gin&tonic!! The only time I drink G&T is on safari!!!

Whether camps charges for bottled water, soda, beer/wine, and/or laundry varies a lot by camp. Split about 50/50 I'd say. I don't worry about it, what's another $100 matter???

regards - tom

Shujbhar

Thanks Sandi, Christabir and Cary!