Roar lll
I am leaving on Saturday for the Prince Albert ll and then onto the Voyager for Captains. I posted this here so you can all consider this on and off the boards and send me emails once you decide the choices you wish to make. When I get back I will see where we stand and start the negotiation and booking process with South Africa.
Booking and Time Frames:
I need to book about 18 months to 24 months out to get the best rates and value for everyone so we need to get this set in the near future. So along with the names of those who want to go I also need people’s feedback on what they want to do, which group and then I will plan a trip based on the majority of peoples wishes. I think APRIL 2011 is the best time to go. I have had emails expressing this is the time frame preferred and since ROAR ll was September I think this is a good idea. We have excellent weather on LION in April with really perfect weather in the game parks.
Sorry, but I do not want to co-ordinate with a cruise in November. This is the WORST time to do a safari, rainy season, snakes are out and is the mosquito season as well.
Size of groups for the Safari portion
Most people want game parks only. There will be one night in JNB as we all gather from our international flights. With this in mind probably 8 to 11 nights on safari would be best with 4 nights each at the first two lodges. With four days at a lodge you are in the same lodge long enough that you can chose to skip a few game drives to enjoy the lodge towards the end of the stay.
I suggest a post optional camp for those who want longer, this stay can be 2 or 3 nights as each individual wishes as it is at the end of the trip and we can all return home separately. To go this far for less time does not seem sensible.
This time I will limit the options and numbers of people and try to maintain an even number of people at the camps with 6 per vehicle. Having a maximum of 6 per vehicle costs more we have to pay to bring in an extra vehicle to accommodate this rather than the normal 8 per vehicle. It is a long way to go and a lot of money to spend to be in a middle seat on the safari vehicle. It is also nice to take the whole camp. Not necessary just nicer. Once full with the correct number of people it will be wait list only. I am not going to expand it out to other game lodges as I did on Roar ll again.
Costs
I cannot even really estimate the costs at this time. We are talking 2011 here and I have no idea what the game parks and flight costs will do and I need to have an approximate number of people and start to negotiate. Rand exchange rate can make a huge difference in the costs as well. Once I have the numbers and negotiations with the lodges complete we can get an estimated cost for the safari in rand. This will be subject to renegotiation after 2011 rates are available, just as we did on Roar ll. We were able to do remarkable things on Roar ll price wise and this trip WILL cost more – particularly with more nights in the game parks rather than time spent in Cape Town.
Properties we suggest
There is a HUGE difference in the properties of course best comparison I can give is below. With the more expensive properties not only are the rooms and lodges nicer you also have better food and rangers.
• Chitwa Chitwa (8 rooms) and Lion Sands (6 rooms) being the Four Seasons,
Seasons in Africa Properties
• Leopard Hills (8 rooms) the Hyatt with the best game • Kings Camp (24 rooms) and Vuyatela (11 rooms)the Hilton
Game vehicles
Leopard Hills and Chitwa Chitwa have 8 rooms = 16 people – normally 8 per vehicle.
We will have two vehicles with 6 people and one vehicle with 4 people.
Lion Sands only takes 6 people per vehicle
Kings Camp normally has 8 per vehicle we will be sure we have only 6 per vehicle.
All are nice properties but there is a BIG difference between Kings Camp and Lion Sands of course. At this time Chitwa Chitwa is the bargain of the century right now. Stunning rooms and lodge, it has just reopened after a fire and is so well priced.
Best value is 8 nights at two or three Seasons in Africa properties this is where we get a pricing break. I may try to negotiate Vuyatela as an option if people look at that lodge and want that property. Kings Camp was popular with those on Roar and as it less expensive so I thought we may just use Kings Camp.
April 2009 pricing per person per night for an example at exchange rate of 8.0 rand to the US $
(Seasons in Africa) Kings Camp: $525 Vuyatela: $625 Leopard Hills: $900
Chitwa Chitwa: $750 Lion Sands: $1062
Plus a night in JNB will probably be necessary, all the charter flights, transfers, extra vehicles, additional extra expenses. Tips in the game parks are about $20 per person per day.
Luxury Option Camps – Ken and Ngaire Escorts
Probably about $1500 more per person than Seasons in Africa Program
A group of 12 people is the minimum for the program to run. (2 vehicles)
The best size would 16 people (3 vehicles) - full camps at Leopard Hills and Chitwa Chitwa
• Leopard Hills (4nts) then Chitwa Chitwa (4nts) = Total 8 nights
• Post Lion Sands (2 or 3 nts) = Total 10 – 11 nights
Seasons in Africa Lodges – Susan and John Walsh Escorts
A group of 12 people is the minimum for the program to run. (2 vehicles)
The best size would 16 people (3 vehicles) - full camps except for Kings Camp
• Kings Camp (4 nights) Leopard Hills (4 nights) = Total 8 nights
• Post Chitwa Chitwa or Lion Sands (2 or 3 nights) = Total 10 - 11 nights
I am quite happy to do this with just 12 people (either program) or a maximum of 32 (two groups at 16 per group). NO LARGER. These numbers include Ken and me and Susan and John Walsh as escorts.
I think going to the Northern Part of Sabi Sands, for Chitwa Chitwa for the luxury group and for a post camp for the Seasons in Africa group is a good idea, something different with a short 10 – 15 minute flight from Leopard Hills and Lion Sands or 4 to 5 hour road transfer, so we will do the flight unless you prefer to drive. Cost will be about the same. Good game, different topography, this is where we had the best leopard of any lodge on LION, more chance of cheetah, and so few vehicles you can enjoy the sightings more, not having to leave a sighting to make room for another vehicle.
That said here is NO doubt that Leopard Hills has the best game overall. I believe everyone wants to spend some time at Leopard Hills so I put it in both programs.
NON GAME PARK OPTIONS
• Birkenhead House
• La Residence
• Cape Town – suggest V&A that worked out well.
Some want to visit Birkenhead House again and others want to stay at La Residence in the Wine Country. Ken and I LOVE these properties and are happy to go back if there are some that want to do this, probably pre safari would be best. I think a 2 to 3 night stay at Birkenhead House (straight to Birkenhead on arrival at the airport) and a 2 night stay at La Residence would suffice.
2009 cost factor per person
Birkenhead House – fully inclusive from $300 to $470 per person per night
La Residence – bed, breakfast, drinks $465 to $485
Plus flight between Cape Town – JNB and the transfers.
Samara between Johannesburg and Cape Town is also an option that could be considered. Two game drives each day but nothing like a drive on a real safari. Read my review. Probably not going to be an option for Roar lll, except on a very individual basis pre or post the main group.
New people who want to do Cape Town can simply fly in a few days earlier and do Cape Town independently. Then join up with those who are at Birkenhead House/La Residence or meet us at the airport when we fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg. I will not be doing the Cape Town portion again.
All this can be determined once I know peoples wishes.
So you can certainly post here if you wish and those that have been can share their views with other LCT’ers that may have interest.
However, please send me an email with your choices, time at Birkenhead House or La Residence if any, Luxury or Seasons in Africa group, post safari requested lodge requested for extended stay, so I can really ascertain in more details the overview of what everyone wants to do. Just posting will not confirm your wishes I do need an email from you please.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS. Cannot give any confirmation of any details regarding single supplements until I start getting real prices. Nearly all properties have single supplements, most are a % addition and not another full rate.
Seasons in Africa in the past has allowed the first two deposited reservations to not have single supplements but not sure if that will apply in 2010.
Read my web pages on the new properties and those you have an interest in.
CAPE TOWN AREA
La Residence – Franschoek- Wine Country
http://www.bkafrica.com/P_LaResidence_Report.htm Birkenhead House - Hermanus
http://www.bkafrica.com/P_Birkenhead%20House.htm V&A Waterfront Hotel – Cape Town
http://www.bkafrica.com/P_V&A_Waterfront_Hotel_Report.htm SAMARA
Samara (North of Port Elizabeth between Johannesburg and Cape Town
http://www.bkafrica.com/P_Samara_Report.htm GAME PARKS
DJUMA RESERVE AREA – NORTHERN SABI SANDS
Chitwa Chitwa
http://www.bkafrica.com/P_Chitwa_Chitwa_Report.htm Vuyalela
http://www.bkafrica.com/P_Djuma_Vuyatela_Report.htm SABI SANDS
Leopard Hills – Sabi Sands
http://www.bkafrica.com/P_LeopardHills_Report.htm Lion Sands – Sabi Sands
http://www.bkafrica.com/P_Lion_Sands_Ivory_Lodge.htm TIMBAVATI
Kings Camp – Timbavati
http://www.bkafrica.com/P_KingsCamp_Report.htm
