South Africa, Safari in Maasai Mara Kenya, & Mauritius (UA J, SA J, XAK, LX J, AC J)
YVR-ORD-IAD-DKR-JNB-CPT-JNB-MRU-JNB-NBO-MRE-NBO-ZRH-LHR-YVR
Links to my previous trip reports:
A family trip to Westin Playa Conchal, Liberia Costa Rica, Aug 2013
Buried Treasure: UAE Empty Quarter and Beyond to Huvadhoo Atoll, Maldives (UA Y, EY J/Y, Q2 Y), Nov 2012
The Time Share Presentation, F RTW, Spain, China, Thailand, May 2012.
A visit to Macchu Picchu and Valle Nevado, Peru and Chile. Sept 2011
Travel after the Revolution of January 25, 2011. Egypt. May 2011
A Step Back in Time: The Twilight of Burma, a visit to Myanmar Sept 2010
Trip Planning / Preparation:
Introduction:
Time for another great trip – this one taking us from North America to South Africa. I had last been to South Africa in 1998 at the end of Apartheid but the opportunity hadn’t presented itself until now to go again. In addition, it was timed with a slightly round, traumatic birthday.
The scope here was to maximize an Aeroplan Africa Reward, which allowed for 2 stopovers, in addition to the point of turn around. This ticket was actually booked as a Vancouver to Mauritius ticket with stopovers in Johannesburg and Nairobi, with a separate paid ticket between Johannesburg and Cape Town (since the reward ticket doesn’t allow back tracking).
The ticket was booked at 11 months out and by some stroke of luck, flexibility and 30 very frustrating hours of searching, I was able to get 2 reward seats in business for ALL 10 segments. Taxes, fees and YQ came to $849 per ticket, in addition to 150,000 Aeroplan miles per passenger. Hotels were booked with mostly reward points through SPG (outright reward redemption and Cash and Points) and Hyatt Gold Passport points for a total of 420,000 reward miles spend for this trip.
YVR-ORD-IAD-DKR-(ORD-GRU-JNB)-JNB-MRU-JNB-NBO-ZRH-LHR-YVR on UA, SA, LX, AC (business reward redemption)
JNB-CPT-JNB on SAA Economy (separate paid ticket)
WIL-Ngrende Airstrip-WIL on Air Kenya (separate paid ticket)
In this report:
Vancouver Airport Transborder Maple Leaf Lounge
United Business Vancouver - Chicago O'Hare
United Club Chicago O'Hare - Concourse B7 & C17
United Business First Chicago O'Hare - Sao Paolo International "Cancelled"
IRROPS Re-booking & Intercontinental Chicago O'Hare
United Business Chicago O'Hare - Washington Dulles International
Lufthansa Senator Lounge - Washington Dulles
South African Airways Business Class Washington Dulles - Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport Dakar
Dakar Technical Stopover
South African Airways Business Class Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport Dakar - O.R. Tambo Johannesburg International Airport
South African Airways Baobab Lounge - O.R Tambo Johannesburg Terminal A Domestic
South African Airways Economy Class O.R. Tambo Johannesburg – Cape Town international
Westin Cape Town
Cape Town / Cape Point
The Test Kitchen
Le Quartier Français - Franschhoek
Western Cape Winelands
The Tasting Room
South African Airways - Cape Town Cyobab Domestic Lounge
South African Airways Economy Class - Cape Town - O.R. Tambo Johannesburg
Hyatt Regency Rosebank Johannesburg
Soweto & Informal Settlement Tour
SAA Baobab Premium Lounge - OR Tambo Johannesburg
South African Airways Business Class O.R. Tambo Johannesburg - Mauritius
St Regis Mauritius
Air Maurituis Amédée Maingard Lounge
South African Airways Business Class Maurituis - O.R. Tambo Johannesburg
South African Airways Business Class O.R. Tambo Johannesburg - Jomo Kennyata Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya
Fairmont Norfolk, Nairobi
Air Kenya - Wilson Airport - Ngrende Airstrip
Fairmont Mara Safari Club
Safari Time 1
Safari Time 2
Air Kenya Ngrende Airstrop - Nairobi Wilson
Swiss Air Business Nairobi - Zurich
Swiss Air Arrival Lounge - Zurich
Swiss Air Concourse D Lounge (non Shengen) Zurich
Swiss Air Business Zurich - London Heathrow Terminal 1
Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Lounge - London Heathrow Terminal 3
Air Canada / SAS Lounge - Heathrow Terminal 3
Air Canada London Heathrow - Vancouver International