Upcoming Trips...Let's hear all about them!

Where are you off to next? South Africa? Botswana? Tanzania? Zambia?

Tell all...where are you staying, when do you leave, is this your first visit to Africa, etc.

Personally, here are my plans for this November:

D'Oreale Grande Hotel, Emperors Casino, Kempton Park, Johannesburg (1 night)

Linyanti Bushcamp, Linyanti Reserve, Botswana (3 nights)

Baines Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana (3 nights)

Chiefs Camp, Mombo Concession, Okavango Delta (3 nights)

Kwando Lebala, Kwando Concession, Botswana (2 nights)

Kwando Lagoon, Kwando Concession, Botswana (2 nights)

Kwando Kwara, Kwara Concession, Botswana (2 nights)

Michelangelo Towers, Sandton, Johannesburg (1 night)

Sabi Sabi, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa (3 nights)

Mateya, Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa (2 nights)

????, Sydney, Australia (2 nights in a 5* hotel somewhere in the Harbor or Historic Rocks area...any suggestions?)


I am very excited about this trip as it will be my first time in Botswana, my 4th time in the Sabi Sand and my first time in Sydney. The weather should be very hot, but I am just happy to be going and I will enjoy some comfort (Air Conditioning and Plunge Pool) once I get to the South African lodges.

Biggest challenge of this trip will be the weight limits since I take along two DSLR camera bodies, 3 - 4 lenses, other camera gear and my laptop.

I look forward to returning with a trip report following this safari.

Rocco--unfortunately, we don't have anything planned at the moment, as we are selling our house and moving to Florida and thus money is an issue..

BUT, wow, what an ambitious itinerary for you! Sure looks like a huge amount of moving around!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Shocked.gif" alt="" /> I get kinda tired just looking at that itinerary! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" /> I see you're finally getting to Botswana, but not quite making it to Mombo! Chief's should be good though. What company is Linyanti Bushcamp and Baines Camp, as I haven't heard of those before.

I know one of our BVI members just got back from Africa, so will try to get them to post a report of some kind. Actually the bvi member lives in bvi, but they were on vacation in africa.

Hi guys,

It is really not too much moving around...the length of the trip just makes it appear so.

With 3 nights at Linyanti Bushcamp (www.africanbushcamps.com), this should be a moderately lengthed visit for my first stop.

Then, with 3 nights at Chiefs Camp and 3 nights at Baines Camp, both in the Okavango Delta, those 6 nights should combine very well.

Finally, with the four nights split between Kwando Lagoon and Kwando Lebala (they are separated by only 18 miles which is about an hour drive apart), those four nights work well.

Unfortunately, I could not make Kwando Kwara work in connection with the other Delta camps and this will be a bit disruptive to return to the Delta for only two nights, but then again, I suppose it will be good to get one last look until next time which could be at least a couple years as I will be making two trips next year (one to Zimbabwe for three weeks and the other to Zambia for three weeks).

What I always try to do is save my South African safari as my dessert. I love the luxury safari experience of South Africa but let's not pretend that you are in the wilds of Africa the same way that you are in Zambia or Botswana. But that is okay and it is nice to have the creature comforts that the South African lodges often provide (telephones, heating/air conditioning, internet access, near guaranteed Big Five gameviewing, easy access to Johannesburg airport, etc.)

So, with 3 nights at the highly esteemed Sabi Sabi (which is a bit dizzying with my first night at Selati Camp, my next at Little Bush Camp and my final at Earth Lodge) and then 2 nights at Mateya (reputed to be in the same luxury caliber as Singita), I should get a great dessert!

Then, given that I live in Los Angeles and it only adds a couple hours to the journey, I have chosen to fly Los Angeles to Sydney to Johannesburg and on the return I will spend two nights in Sydney. Sydney is a fascinating city, but I would be lying if I did not confess that it was mostly to tick off continent #6 with only Antarctica remaining. Hopefully Antarctica comes in February 2008 and then I can die...well, I would prefer another 50 years, if possible (after all, I am only 35), but if I do die, ah, oh well, at least I made it to all 7 continents! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, forgot to sign in...that last post obviously belongs to me.

Rocco--We need to do a South Africa camp the next time, I think, just to see how the other half lives.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

Leaving Hilo Hawaii Wednesday for:
1 night San Francisco, fly SFO to London, London to Johannisburg SA. Flying up to LIvingstone, Zambia and driving across the border to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe for an overnight at Ilala Lodge. Pick up the next morning for 2 nights at Ntwala Lodge and 3 nights at Susuwe Lodge, both in the Caprivi strip of Namibia and run by Islands in Africa. Flying to Kasane Botswana and driven back to Vic Falls. Picked up by AfricanBushcamps for a 4 night stay at Somalisa camp in Hwange, Zimbabwe. Fly back to Vic Falls for an overnighter at Victoria Falls Hotel, then on to Johannisburg, London, SFO and a couple nights there with family and back to Hilo. This will be my third trip to Africa, first time to Zimbabwe.

First, welcome to TTOL! Hope you find a 'home' here and continue to contribute regarding your future trips!

Your trip sounds great! Have a great trip and please post a report upon your return!

will do Carol!
Thanks!

I'm going to South Africa in January together with an american friend. We're staying for 40 days. To get around we'll rent a car, and most likely the route will look a bit like this:
- Cape Town
- Oudtshoorn
- Knysna
- Port Elizabeth
- East London
- Durban
- The Drakensberg
- Swaziland (Mbabane)
- Kruger NP (10 days in all)
- Pretoria
- Kimberly
- Upington
- Springbok
- Citrusdal
.. and then back to Cape Town.

If anyone have some good suggestions. Feel free to share them!

Sounds like a very interesting trip. Where all are you staying, meaning hotels, tents, combination, etc.

We'll most likely stay in hostels, since we're on a tight budget. Yet some nights we'll spend in some more expensive places.. cause we're worth it, hehe.

We were thinking about tents, but I'd rather use a bit more getting a bed.

I don't blame you for wanting more bedding -- man 40 days sounds great! Maybe one of these days......... When we went to Botswana, we thought 2 weeks was really long (not long enough, but what can I say) and we spent almost a year arranging it so we could do it. I don't even want to think about trying to arrange 40 days.

I've been organizing for almost 8 months, so I'm quite prepared

When I get the time I can write more about the plans..

Yes, think it would be helpful to others to go over how you made plans for a trip like this. Thanks