Thanks, Marcie; I can't keep up with who I can fly, on what miles, lately. Half of Mark's big numbers are on Delta, half on AmEx.

We have always said that if we went back to Africa we would want to go to Mala Mala.
The game drives that are fun go through the jungle-dirt fields and not paved roads. Paved roads make you feel like you are at the zoo.
I am at work and can't read through this thread right now. I will do it tonight. When we flew to Africa from the West Coast we took the Polar route and landed in Germany. We left our safari bags at the airport and toured Germany and Switzerland for a week. We could only take 22 pounds each on the safari.We exchanged bags at the airport before flying off to Africa.

Hello all - I'm new here and just wading through the profusion of interesting posts. Marcie referred me over here from Cruise Critic where we are also discussing the cruise/safari combo in the Silverseaarea. SS has an intriguing looking Capetown - Capetown cruise in Dec. 05 - it includes a stop in Namibia (which looks really fascinating!), and an opportunity to spend night at Phinda, a private reserve in Kruger (although I can only imagine that that is one expensive shore excursion!)
Unfortunately it doesn't sound like December is the ideal time to visit South Africa for game viewing due to weather, school holidays etc.
Just beginning my research and looking forward to learning more from you all. I have cruised on Seabourn - Indonesia in '98, former Sea Goddess in '00 to Turkey & Greece and coming up in December to Thailand and Burma. I'm sure Silversea, Radisson and Crystal will be in our future plans.

Welcome Leslie! I'm glad you're here. Hopefully, we can all learn together. It's not looking like we'll be going until Spring of '06. If you can wait a few more months you can join our group!

Hi and welcome, Leslie! We are getting really excited about this possiblity, hopefully you can wait and plan with us.

Yet another good website...
These all look great....
http://www.tagasafaris.co.za/south-african-game-reserves-lodges.htm

Thanks for the welcome. There's certainly a lot of information and possibilities out there. I'm not in a rush to plan and appreciate your offer to plan along with you.

Another web site to take a look at is Conservation Corp Africa - they have great looking properties and an admirable mission statement.(Lodges include Londolozi and Phinda which Silversea uses in their add-ons.)

http://www.ccafrica.com/

I am going to go search on Amex Departures Magazine web site - I bet they've done some in depth Africa articles with lodge recommendations. Not sure how far back their archives go.
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Leslie

Leslie B: Welcome to lct! Sounds like you and Marcie will be the experts on Africa before all is done. Can't wait to read further posts from the two of you from your research. I guess first we have to find a cruise that goes from Capetown and go from there? I'm all for an independent booking of the safari part pre-cruise. Just wish we knew what the 2006 schedules were. If Radisson goes to Africa in 06, no telling when we will get their schedule!

Does anyone know if cruises for Antarctica leave from Capetown? All this safari planning sounds great but I am still trying to schedule Antarctica. Maybe we can do both at once!

Interesting twist Marc...!!
Olivia, I suspect that if RSSC offers anything going to So. Africa in 2006 it will be part of the World Cruise which means it may be too long of a segment for many. I'm guessing the maximum cruise time which will work for many is going to be 11ish days. If I had to guess, I think Silversea is going to be the best (maybe the only) option. Only time will tell.

Bingo - for all you Amex Departures subscribers - the July/August issue '98 cover was "The Southern Africa we love". It looks like you have to log in to the site with your partial AMex card number. I would cut and paste here, but that's probably plagiarism.... I can summarize if there is interest.
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leslie

Leslie, just give us the link! I think most of us are on AmexPlatinum.

That is so neat; I didn't know you could go back like that!

Olivia, try this:

Departures, I hope

Marcie, that article says we are looking at the wrong time of year; can we move off to Sept/Oct of 2006?

Marcie, I read that article that Pam sent. Where did you get the idea that March was best? I am up for any month where we will see the best of wildlife viewing! I would assume that the cruise lines would schedule the same.

Pam,
Everything I've been reading says our summers (their winters) are too cool and rainy and our winters (their summers) are too hot. Fodors and Frommers books both recommend shoulder seasons and Spring as a good time as the hotel/air fares don't go back up again until around March 31st.

Actually, it doesn't matter to me...I guess we'll have to let the cruise schedules dictate.

Remember, we're talking South Africa....each country has different "good months"...the Southern part is the most consistent and is really OK all times of year.

Editing to add the following:

Because the weather in Africa is often upredictable - the rains can sometimes be heavy one season, sometimes they can fail altogether - this information is a rough guideline only. You can find more detailed weather information on a particular country under Country Information.

Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe - summer rainfall from late October to early April; cool to warm dry sunny winter days from May to early October

Lesotho - summer from November to January and winter from May to July, with predominantly summer rainfall from September to April

Kenya - summer from December to March and winter from July to September, with long rains from March to May and short rains between November and December

Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia - summer from around December to March and winter in Malawi from June to July; in Tanzania from March to May; and in Zambia from April to August. All three countries have long rains from November to April

Moçambique - summer from October to March and winter from April to September, with high summer humidity and showers between September and April

South Africa - summer from September to April and winter from May to August, with summer rainfall in the north and winter rainfall in the south

Swaziland - summer from September to April and winter from May to August, with predominantly summer rainfall

LOL! I keep forgetting that *we* don't necessarily get to dictate when we go. Hmmmmph!

Oh, and I guess I'd better say right now that Mark's weight would probably keep him/us from being able to fly on one of those tiny little planes. We did it in Fiji with no problems, but that's always a possible problem.

Outfits, shoes, butlers and messuers.. okay Marcie.. this one sounds perfect.. wonder how many suites they have.. looks like the table is set for "the group" in the picture..

You guys are terrific.. there is a wealth of safari info here to go through.. this trip is one I have wanted to do for years.. and so really excited.

Need a few quiet hours to peruse this info..
our dance card is open for 2006..

As far as timing goes, in "our" summer, their "winter", which sounds like the best time to go to view animals, all these ships will be doing Alaska, Med, Northern Europe, etc. so I think we're looking at other times of year - Silversea is there in March and December of '05 - I don't know if they go to Africa annually. Seabourn does the Seychelles in November '04 and '05, but not S. Africa.

Does anyone have past Radisson brochures showing where they went when they did Africa?

I picked up a Silversea brochure the other day with an insert with pre/post land program pricing; it would appear that independently booking is the way to go from a price standpoint:

Wildlife of Lodnolozi by Micato:
4 nights pre cruise ranges from $3970 - $4870 pp depending on time year & whether you're an air/hotel guest or cruise only. Post ranges from $4885 - $5335 pp.

Victoria Falls & Chobe Game Reserve by Micato:
5 nights - $4265 - $5190 pp pre / $4610 - $5190 pp post.

---------
Leslie

Leslie, those prices sure do seem high! I'd have to agree, we may be better off just arranging our own group price. Our group is going to be large enough that I'm sure we can get some good pricing. As for time of year, again we're open. Some may have time restraints with work or family...not us. The cruise will dictate the timing.

Count us in for combo cruise/safari. We would prefer RSSC but would do other line if RSSC doesn't have the right itinerary.

Bill (and Nancy)

Looks like we are Really On African Roll here now.. get it ROAR cruise?
do you love it?

Claudia, I love it! That's simply too good!

And, even though we are devoted to cruising, we might think about a luxury resort somewhere on land that we could retire to after we finish "roughing it" if the cruise lines don't cooperate.

Someone on CC mentioned this company who arranged their safari on Silverseas..
Have so much information in this Africa file I started will take months to go through it..
anyways..
They are called Micato Safaris
http://micatosafaris.com/toc.html

Claudia, this is a very good company that Silversea uses BUT I've also heard from very reliable sources that they are probably the highest priced for exactly the same itinerary as other tour companies arrange with equally good qualifications (if we end up booking outside a cruise line)

Well ..... looks like the unanimous preference is a cruise with a short stay in one of South Africa's luxury lodges. For us, it's a case of "been there, done that", and we are looking in a different direction: a longer safari (at least 10-12 days) in East Africa, primarily Tanzania and maybe Kenya (private vehicle and luxury accommodations all the way). This would have to be in late September-early October, the best time for safari in those areas, with maybe a pre-safari few days in Europe, to get adjusted to the time change. As a post-safari, a short cruise is an option, provided we can find one at that time of the year, but for us it's not a priority; frankly, after 125 at sea on the World Cruise, I think we will be pretty much "cruised out" for some time, we enjoy diversity in travel mode, and some trips can ONLY be done on land!
Mahe (Seychelles) was on last year's Mariner's World Cruise itinerary, and we had an overnighter there. Gorgeous beaches (but all pretty much the same) and not much else. Also, quite a distance from Capetown, they are actually much closer to Kenya. So, we may go with a post-safari cruise, if the logistics work out, or just unwind at some beautiful resort on one of the islands. We are shooting for October 2005, unless we get really crazy and do it this year.

Any questions about Capetown and Singita, we'lll be happy to share our experiences. One of this board's members (HRPROF) is a veritable fountain of knowledge on South Africa - am I right, Ted? I'm surprised you haven't popped up on this thread!?
Oggia (Maria)

Harry's Camp could be an excellent choice. They are currently closed for renovation but when they re-open they are suppose to be very luxurious and in the same league as Singita, but hopefully less $, pure luxury, only 14 bungalows etc.! This is in a great location.
http://www.amatikulu.com/malamala_harrys_camp.htm

More photos as it exists now: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/green/gly06/html/sa_harrys.htm

"full air-conditioning" :hyper:

Just returned today from a Lindblad trip to the Sea of Cortez (with 3 Grandsons) to catch up on this lengthy thread - it is timely since we leave next Monday for Africa - will be there for a month - South Africa, Botswana and Kenya. Have never combined a cruise and safari, but it sounds great. Some comments, for what they are worth: If you are looking for luxury and guaranteed sightings of the big 5 with limited time go to one of the SA lodges - we have been to Singita, Mala Mala and Ulusaba - all very nice and good wildlife. Negative? Too much human intrusion. If you want herds of plains game and a chance to witness the migration (a true wildlife spactacular), it's Kenya and Tanzania. If you want outstanding wildlife and minimum human intrusion go to Botswana, esp. the Okavango Delta. Mombo camp is our favorite - 18 guests - tents are 40 feet long - never see more than 1 other vehicle on a sighting. It is wonderful. Matt Lauer appeared there this year on "Today" show - we couldn't believe it. It's not cheap (ranks up there with Singita) and books up a year ahead. So, hurry!

Two more comments re safari. In all countries we have visited, safari camps and lodges provide one day laundry service (out in the morning back at night) so clothing requirements are at a minimum. Virtually all are informal (Mt. Kenya Safari Club requires a coat and tie - what a pain - stay in a cottage and have room service!)On our trip over the next month, Joan and I will pack in duffles which could be carry ons - those and photo equipment will be consistent with the small aircraft we will be flying on.

Air conditioning?? Camps in both East Africa and Southern Africa provide hot water bottles at night! Am I right, Irv?

hrprof, we've been waiting for you! Where will you be staying this time in South Africa? We have been up to our ears in websites.

JHP
This trip will focus on Botswana and a return to Kenya (haven't been to East Africa for quite a while) - because of flight scheduling, we will have a few days following our return from Nairobi to Johannesburg - have arranged to spend that time at main camp at Mala Mala. Coincidentally, we were in Africa on 9/11/01 - had to extend our stay then for 5 days. We spent the time at Ulusaba. I think that the Rock Lodge at Ulusaba may be the lodge one poster described as being on a plateau. It has a spectacular view. Any SA stay demands time in Cape Town - plan 3 days if you can. Cape Grace is a world class hotel - stay there if you can.

Ted

Thanks so much Ted for sharing your experience with us "newbies". I think (others feel free to correct me!) that we're pretty set on doing South Africa as this for us is kind of a "Safari 101" expedition. I think a 3 nighter sounds just about right.

We are looking for a nice stay in smaller, more private accommodations, but also trying to be somewhat price sensitive too. I don't think we are up for any loooooong drives to get to where we want to ultimately stay and will most likely be considering one of the scheduled South Africa Air(or whatever) flights from Johannesburg to get us within reasonable proximity to our lodging.

I know that these camps book up early...which certainly can present a problem without knowing any 2006 cruise schedules. Others, please feel free to add input...this isn't MY TRIP. It's our trip!

Thanks Ted ( and all) for any info you can provide.
We are looking for a reserve we can take over with our group..only..how ever many we will ultimately be..

Thank you

I love it! That should either bring us "new friends" in hordes, or send people away screaming in terror.

It certainly sounds like you are headed to a SA game lodge in the Sabi Sand area - about a 1 hr flight from J'burg by air link or charter. None of these lodges are inexpensive. My experience is that Singita is the most expensive at about 2K per night for a couple. Mala Mala is probably the best value at about 1/2 the rates of Singita. Ulusaba fits in between the two. You might consider Castleton at Singita - a separate facility taking 12 guests - groups only - we looked into this when we took our family to Africa last year. the other lodges take larger numbers of people - main camp at MM takes 50, I think. We make many of our arrangements through Wilderness Safaris - they have an excellent web site. Just search on any engine (I don't know how to indicate a link!

Thanks hrprof, just one more link we can look into! The only problem we have is that we don't know how many will be with us. So far, may 14 or so, but it may grow or deplete, that is the problem. Thanks for your link to your TA!

Pam: LOL at your comment! Are we really that bad?

Olivia, WE know we aren't that bad, but active imaginations could run rampant. LOL!

Pam, if we "take over" whatever lodge we choose (if we can even get it by the time RSSC comes out with the schedules), I'm sure that they will love our little innocuous group!

They will probably come out with an incredible African Safari cruise combo...........