You're right about the low mileage levels required for a ticket to Africa on CX. I'll share the best deal yet.... Diner's Club for the past two years has been offering double British Air miles and CX is a partner, so I booked an open jaw in first class SFO-CMB (Colombo, Sri Lanka which the HKG-CMB leg is "J" class) and the return JNB-HKG-SFO. My return is good for a year and stopovers are allowed in HKG in both directions. The total mileage required is 140,000 which because they were transferred Diners Club points only cost me 70,000 real points.

I bought a RT First Class ticket in CMB CMB-BKK-NRT-SFO-SEA using JAL over the Pacific for $2300RT (CI,OZ,KE are even cheaper) and will fly back next year. Stopovers are only allowed in SFO and SEA and the other cities can be transfer points for less than 24 hours. A first class OW from CMB to JNB is around $800. So, for about $3100 and 70,000 miles I got two vacations....a first class SFO-CMB and first class SFO-JNB.On my return SFO-CMB JAL is paying for my overnight connection in SIN and we fly "P" class from SIN-CMB.

Sri Lanka BTW is a great vacation spot and the Maldives ($170RT from CMB) has some of the best scuba in the world. First Class Air fares originating in CMB are great deals and a well kept secret for many.

Antone