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Why so brief...
Quote:
Originally Posted by LHR-HUB
But seriously - 3 days
Thanks guys for all the suggestions so far - this is just what I hoped for. I am sorry to offend you all with the brevity of the trip, but we can't leave until after the kids are in school on Monday morning and must be back before the end of school on Friday - 3 kids for 4 nights is as much as we can reasonably expect of Granny!
I think those of you who say that that rules out complicated itineraries have hit the nail on the head. We want something convenient, and suitable for first-timers. We are both quite prepared to become hooked!
We want something convenient, and suitable for first-timers. We are both quite prepared to become hooked!
Realize that the most convenient may cost more. As KenJohn mentioned Federal Air is one of the quickest and easiest ways to get from JNB up into the Kruger area like a Sabi Sands reserve. You can catch flights departing sometime in the noon-2pm period that take you right to a landing strip near your lodge and you get there in time for the evening game drive around 3 or 4pm. Morning game drives are so early that you're back by 8 or 9 am and you have time for breakfast before catching your noonish Federal Air flight back to JNB. Between that first and second night you get one full day for a grand total of 4 safari game drives. Once back to JNB hop their free shuttle back to the main JNB terminal and you're on your way. All that said, Federal Air operates to very costly safari lodges and the transfer itself can cost lots and lots of money.
That said, the basic Federal Air charter to Sabi Sands area works for lots of options so you can shop around for deals.
I can only speak from experience of Lion Sands in the Sabi Sand reserve. They have a more mid/high range River Lodge and the super high-end Ivory Lodge. My experience was with the Ivory Lodge and it was just perfect. I have nothing but great things to say about it. That said, check out the list of places served by Federal Air on that link above and do some research yourself about all the lodges.
This zoo has no fences, does not feed its animals.
Yes, but if you chuck in some 600 predator-naïve blue wildebeest (Sabi-Sands) or 1,500 zebra/impala/kudu (Madikwe. The flavor varies depending on market prices) annually, that arguably constitutes feeding. Madikwe's lion population is about double carrying capacity, and they do have to eat.
Programs: UA 1K/Million Miler, SPG Platinum, Mourning the Untimely Death of Clear Registered Traveler
Posts: 12,702
Quote:
Originally Posted by kokonutz
I'm in the process of putting together a 3 or 4 night safari for November. It's my first and my GF's second safari.
Based on our budget and recommendations here and elsewhere we've more or less settled on using http://www.andbeyond.com/ (formerly ccafrica).
Just trying to decide if we should do permanent tented or lodge, likely Ngala Tented Camp or Kirkman’s Kamp, respectively.
Anyone have recommendations?
FWIW, after working with an &beyond consultant we decided to try the Exeter River Lodge. Seems to have the advantages of a small tented camp but also the advantages of lodges. We shall see!
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I'm in the process of putting together a 3 or 4 night safari for November. It's my first and my GF's second safari.
Based on our budget and recommendations here and elsewhere we've more or less settled on using http://www.andbeyond.com/ (formerly ccafrica).
Just trying to decide if we should do permanent tented or lodge, likely Ngala Tented Camp or Kirkman’s Kamp, respectively.
Anyone have recommendations?
In September we went on 3 safaris in SA.
The first safari was one night at Kuzuko Lodge (near Addo National Elephant Park). We had to drive on 50km dirt road to it from a highway turn-off. We started to question the wisdom of the tour agent recommending it to us. However, when we arrived it was like a paradise. The lodges were beautifully appointed in a really remote area. There were not many guests there - maybe it was the dirt road? They have their own reserve areas, and the game drive did not go into the Addo Park at all - which is another 80km away.
The second safari was 4 nights at 2 different Phinda lodges - andbeyond people own groups of lodges in Phinda and the game reserves there. We had a good time at Phinda - accommodation was very luxurious. We saw lots of animals on game drives - including cheetahs (loved them) and a black rhino! One couple on our game drives at Phinda spent 3 nights at Ngala Tented Camp and they said it was good. They took a charter plane from Ngala to Phinda.
The third safari was 3 nights at Kirkman's Kamp at Sabi Sand. The accommodation at KK was not as luxurious at at Phinda, but still very nice. The game drives did not cover large areas like at Phinda, but we got to see all the big 5. The reason was that KK was not allowed to traverse into Kruger. If the animals happened to move into KK areas, then we coud track them. But, we were not allowed to search for them in areas belonged to other landowners or Kruger. At Phinda, andbeyond owns the land so we could go anywhere within the reserve to track the animals.
The accommodation at Kuzuko was fenced so we could walk from lodges to reception for meals. But, there was no fence around lodges at Phinda or Kirkman's so we had to be escorted to and from our lodges at night time. We saw animals wandering around lodges - kudus, nyalas, monkeys, baboons, warthogs, waterbuks, and a hippo one early morning grazing on the lawns at KK.
The meals at all safaris were OK - I would not rate them as excellent. Certainly there were a lot of food and drink - and plenty of water bottles provided.
We found the game drives were quite intense and exhausted - each lasted for a minimum 3 hours. The roads were very rough - dirt roads with lots of rocks or sand, and many water puddles. My back certainly felt it, but I was excited about each game drive.
Our plans include a Federal Air flight to Hoedspruit then a 'short' drive to the lodge.
Only SA Express flies to Hoedspruit, which is not really near Exeter, and certainly not the closest commercial airport. FedAir flies to private airstrips at private game lodges throughout the lowveld + Madikwe. presumably they will fly you to the nearest airstrip, which I believe is at Leopard Rock. A tricky airstrip that one, I might add.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johan rebel
Only SA Express flies to Hoedspruit, which is not really near Exeter, and certainly not the closest commercial airport. FedAir flies to private airstrips at private game lodges throughout the lowveld + Madikwe. presumably they will fly you to the nearest airstrip, which I believe is at Leopard Rock. A tricky airstrip that one, I might add.
Johan
Ah. Well. Alls the better!
&beyond have kept the actual details from us so far...not that I mind. As it should be, my idea of luxury is simply showing up and having all the details already sorted.
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Programs: UA 1K/Million Miler, SPG Platinum, Mourning the Untimely Death of Clear Registered Traveler
Posts: 12,702
Quote:
Originally Posted by johan rebel
Only SA Express flies to Hoedspruit, which is not really near Exeter, and certainly not the closest commercial airport. FedAir flies to private airstrips at private game lodges throughout the lowveld + Madikwe. presumably they will fly you to the nearest airstrip, which I believe is at Leopard Rock. A tricky airstrip that one, I might add.
Johan
FWIW, I was just reviewing the vouchers and it appears we are on a FedAir (daily) charter JNB-Ulusaba Airstrip next Wednesday.
I do have to say, after traveling well over a million miles I haven't been this excited about a trip in a long time.
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