Africa

[zibazinski]

I’m thinking seriously about going next February. The expensive part is the airfare but I have DS’s girlfriend looking for me and she’s good with deals. Two weeks including Victoria Falls for a little over 3k and that includes a lot of meals. I’m scared and excited. It’s a singles travel group and I’ll have to share a room or it becomes very expensive but hopefully it’ll work out. I don’t think I’ll get a night owl because we have to be up at 5 or so for safaris. I wonder if I snore?

[NoNamePerson]

Did The Walk of the Penguin Mich and TD do the Africa thing? If I am wrong I apologize to The Walk of the Penguin Mich for tagging her. Having said all that I say go for it. I am envious to say the least.

[simser]

Ive done the Africa thing. It was fun, but i didn't like the group i was with. The early starts are not a huge problem, most people go to bed early. What side of the falls? Zimbabwe it's much more crowded, I enjoyed the Zambian side more.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Yep, TD and I went to Africa in Sept. 2016.  We spent 3 weeks in South Africa, one week on a safari that we ‘won’ from a private auction.  The reserve we were at was Zulu Nyala and it was pretty good.   We saw 4/5 of the Big 5, only never saw a leopard but leopards in the area were fairly transient.

You really want to get out early, particularly if you go in February.  You are going in the middle of summer, so you want to get out when it is still cool.  We used to roll out of bed, pull on clothes (pre coffee, usually they didn’t have the coffee out that early) and see animals.  A few hours later, we’d get breakfast, clean up and hit the lounge.  I met a lot of great people on our group in the safari, in fact a couple we met there came to our wedding a week later in Cape Town.

Once you get to Africa, it is incredibly cheap.  The biggest portion of the cost is going to be airfare.  We flew Emirates, coach and our route from Seattle, Dubai, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dubai, Maldives, Dubai (3 days) Seattle was $1400pp.  I snagged an incredible deal on that, but wish I had thought to look at the cost of business class.  I think our shortest flight was Dubai to Maldives, which was 7 hours.  I think out entire 5 week trip including everything was about $11k total.  Airfare and safari were $5k, 10 days at Meeru in the Maldives was $4000. Rest was food, hotels and car rentals.

[zibazinski]

Oct 17, 2018 13:01:30 GMT -5 simser said:

Ive done the Africa thing. It was fun, but i didn't like the group i was with. The early starts are not a huge problem, most people go to bed early. What side of the falls? Zimbabwe it's much more crowded, I enjoyed the Zambian side more.

I’m not sure

[zibazinski]

Oct 17, 2018 16:07:33 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Yep, TD and I went to Africa in Sept. 2016.  We spent 3 weeks in South Africa, one week on a safari that we ‘won’ from a private auction.  The reserve we were at was Zulu Nyala and it was pretty good.   We saw 4/5 of the Big 5, only never saw a leopard but leopards in the area were fairly transient.

You really want to get out early, particularly if you go in February.  You are going in the middle of summer, so you want to get out when it is still cool.  We used to roll out of bed, pull on clothes (pre coffee, usually they didn’t have the coffee out that early) and see animals.  A few hours later, we’d get breakfast, clean up and hit the lounge.  I met a lot of great people on our group in the safari, in fact a couple we met there came to our wedding a week later in Cape Town.

Once you get to Africa, it is incredibly cheap.  The biggest portion of the cost is going to be airfare.  We flew Emirates, coach and our route from Seattle, Dubai, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dubai, Maldives, Dubai (3 days) Seattle was $1400pp.  I snagged an incredible deal on that, but wish I had thought to look at the cost of business class.  I think our shortest flight was Dubai to Maldives, which was 7 hours.  I think out entire 5 week trip including everything was about $11k total.  Airfare and safari were $5k, 10 days at Meeru in the Maldives was $4000. Rest was food, hotels and car rentals.

A lot is included and it’s ten days. Three more if you add Victoria Falls. My girlfriend just took herself, her husband, and four adult children but all flew Coach from Atlanta to Johannesburg. She said it took her a few days to recover from that flight in coach. I don’t want to fly coach.

[Tennesseer]

zibazinski-probably off the beaten tour path, and also expensive for overnight stays, a side trip to the Giraffe Manor in Kenya would be a fun and interesting stop.

[zibazinski]

I’m sure the biggest expense will be the flight.

[zibazinski]

Oct 17, 2018 16:21:01 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

zibazinski-probably off the beaten tour path, and also expensive for overnight stays, a side trip to the Giraffe Manor in Kenya would be a fun and interesting stop.

I’m in a group so must go where they go. Another bad thing about no DH. But he wanted to go to Africa with me so in a way, he will be.

[zibazinski]

It’s Singles Travel Group

[zibazinski]

Okay. A little more info. Yes we are on the Zimbabwe side for the Falls and can ride on the Zambia river-optional. Also we fly into Capetown not Johannesburg and fly out of Victoria Falls if I go. Otherwise I fly out of Johannesburg. Are the Falls worth seeing?

[thyme4change]

I have no input, but just want to note my jealousy. We are talking about going in 4 years for my husband's 50th birthday. It seems overwhelming.

[zibazinski]

Hence my nervousness. I’ve never traveled out of the country alone and to Africa of all places. I really wanted Australia and NZ but that trip is over with this group. Anyway if I can get a not too horrible airfare I’m going to do it. I think. I’m such a chicken

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 18, 2018 19:03:02 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Hence my nervousness. I’ve never traveled out of the country alone and to Africa of all places. I really wanted Australia and NZ but that trip is over with this group. Anyway if I can get a not too horrible airfare I’m going to do it. I think. I’m such a chicken

When I feel the chicken feathers starting to show up I always say "what is the worse that can happen" and can't think of a thing that would stop me so go for it

[zibazinski]

Oct 18, 2018 19:46:42 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Oct 18, 2018 19:03:02 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Hence my nervousness. I’ve never traveled out of the country alone and to Africa of all places. I really wanted Australia and NZ but that trip is over with this group. Anyway if I can get a not too horrible airfare I’m going to do it. I think. I’m such a chicken

When I feel the chicken feathers starting to show up I always say "what is the worse that can happen" and can't think of a thing that would stop me so go for it

🦁 Lion. Big, hairy you know what that eats you!!

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 18, 2018 20:29:31 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Oct 18, 2018 19:46:42 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

When I feel the chicken feathers starting to show up I always say "what is the worse that can happen" and can't think of a thing that would stop me so go for it

🦁 Lion. Big, hairy you know what that eats you!!

But think of the story that your kids will have to tell your grandkids~~once upon a time granny went to Africa

[Shooby]

Go for it and have a great time!

[simser]

Thyme, if you're in phoenix (for some reason I think you are), we could do coffee sometime and I could help you get started.

Zib, that's a good itinerary- what do you do between Cape Town and the Falls? Are you going to the Okavango Delta? That was something i really wanted to see on my trip.

I enjoyed the Falls. I liked the Iguazu Falls better, but i just love waterfalls. And waterfalls with warthogs and baboons...

I should also mentioned that I went by myself. I spent 10 days with a tour, and then 4 days on my own, knowing no one in Mauritius. I have to be honest, I'd rather be by myself usually. I was so scared the first time I did it- I remember saying "the worst thing that can happen is that i sit in my hotel room alone, which is what i do at home anyways" and now it's my favorite way to do things. Im more nervous about a trip when I'm going with other people!! Maybe Australia isn't out of the picture.

[zibazinski]

Well the trip ends at the Falls. They don’t even get you back to Johannesburg so I’m thinking of either skipping it or getting myself back to Johannesburg so I can get home from there. Getting home from the Falls is a bitch.

[zibazinski]

No direct flights to Cape Town. I’m going to talk to the agent that did our trip to Costa Rica and see what she can do. Flying to Heathrow and sitting there for 9 hours just doesn’t work.

[simser]

Oct 19, 2018 5:57:00 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

No direct flights to Cape Town. I’m going to talk to the agent that did our trip to Costa Rica and see what she can do. Flying to Heathrow and sitting there for 9 hours just doesn’t work.

I did a long layover in Heathrow and got out and enjoyed London. I did the British museum and platform 9 3/4 on a 6 hour layover.

Delta may have non stop from Atlanta to South Africa. And it's a quick flight from the Falls back to SA.

[zibazinski]

Oct 19, 2018 9:39:32 GMT -5 simser said:

Oct 19, 2018 5:57:00 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

No direct flights to Cape Town. I’m going to talk to the agent that did our trip to Costa Rica and see what she can do. Flying to Heathrow and sitting there for 9 hours just doesn’t work.

I did a long layover in Heathrow and got out and enjoyed London. I did the British museum and platform 9 3/4 on a 6 hour layover.

Delta may have non stop from Atlanta to South Africa. And it's a quick flight from the Falls back to SA.

They do but it's to Johannesburg so I've decided instead of flying all over the world to get to Cape Town it makes more sense to round trip to Johannesburg and then one way to Cape Town. I think I'll skip the falls. After you add in airfare and all it gets a bit overpriced and overwhelming. 

[weltschmerz]

Oct 19, 2018 5:57:00 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

No direct flights to Cape Town. I’m going to talk to the agent that did our trip to Costa Rica and see what she can do. Flying to Heathrow and sitting there for 9 hours just doesn’t work.

Why would you just sit there?

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Flights within South Africa are incredibly cheap.  Our Durban to Cape Town leg was only $60.  You can fly into Johannesburg and out of Cape Town rather than spending a day doubling back.

There are direct flights to Cape Town on Emirates.  It connects through Dubai (which is an incredible airport, that puts any US one to shame) and I’d fly them again in a heartbeat.  Even their cattle class is heads above any US airline.

Whatever you do, try not to backtrack in South Africa.  The distance between Cape Town and Johannesburg is not insignificant.  South Africa is a pretty big country. 

[zibazinski]

Ok