South Africa: Safari in South Africa Meets Thread

[sayhello]

Please post here if you would like to talk with anyone else who has signed up to travel to South Africa with ABD.

You can also share information/ask questions about the South Africa: Safari to South Africa ABD.

Please try and keep this thread on topic to discussion and questions about the South Africa ABD. Off topic posts will be deleted or moved.

Thanks!
Sayhello

Roll Call:

Previous:

• Jun 27, 2012 - figmentfan2009
• Mar 28 - Apr 6, 2015 - couture1, 2 daughters (10 & 12) & son (9)
• Jun 27 - Jul 6, 2015 - CruisingGoddess & DH
• Jun 29 - Jul 8, 2015 - richflour & daughter (9)
• Dec 19 - 28, 2015 - laenie (Elaine), DH & DD (21)

 

[jjpenguin]

I'd be happy to answer questions about South Africa in general as I am now living in Johannesburg

 

[figmentfan2009]

So... we are leaving on the 27th. Anyone else on that adventure? Any tips or hints?

 

[figmentfan2009]

HELP!!!!

Okay... anyone know if I fly on South Africa Airlines... can I have a carry on and a personal item if I fly economy class? I can't find anything on the SAA website... other than I can have one carry on as long as it is under 18 pounds.

I want to have my meds (my daughter NEEDS to have her meds) but I don't want to have to root in an overhead bin if I NEED to get her meds... I've never been on an airline where I have to worry this much about how much my backpack weighs... Anyone???

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

HELP!!!!

Okay... anyone know if I fly on South Africa Airlines... can I have a carry on and a personal item if I fly economy class? I can't find anything on the SAA website... other than I can have one carry on as long as it is under 18 pounds.

As you discovered, their web sit specifies one carry-on with no mention of a personal item.

Good information here; you can take a personal item as well as your carry on bag:

http://www.flysaa.com/za/en/Documents/baggage/may_i_travel_with_this.pdf

Passenger traveling in Economy Class will only be allowed ONE piece of cabin baggage not exceeding 56cm in length by 45cm in width and 25cm in depth, and one additional personal item.

Passenger traveling in Premium Class will be allowed TWO pieces of cabin baggage not exceeding 56cm in length by 45cm in width and 25cm in depth each, and one additional personal item.

Passengers carrying musical instruments shall be allowed to carry such instrument as a second piece of hand baggage.

Additional personal items are:
Purses, baby changing bags, laptops in a thin satchel and slim line brief cases.

Larger laptop bags and standard/bulkier briefcases will NOT be considered a personal item and will count as a normal piece of cabin baggage.


Even if you could only take on one item, all you would have to do is remove the meds from your bag and put in the seatback or under the seat in front of you after boarding, or even before boarding if it is a small bag.

 

[richflour]

we will be going JUNE 29-july 8 2014
dad and daughter (9)

 

[Grifdog22]

We took the direct flight from Dulles and found this airline to be great. One personal item of the size specified (for us backpacks) and my DD and DW took huge purses that were as big as a backpack. No one blinked. The service in economy was great. They were pleasant, attentive, and fed us repeatedly when asked. (The lamb stew was surprisingly good with a nice complementary bottle of wine).

Be careful at the airport in Johannasburg - see our previous post about the assistance Disney offered two years ago for this...

Since our trip I have only heard positives from others who have traveled to South Africa about SAA. Enjoy the flight, and the ABD trip is fantastic. Please tell Craig (the South African guide who we still are in regular correspondence with) a big "Hey!" from the Griffins.

At Kapama, ask, and he'll also arrange (adults only) for you to do a little bush walking with a ranger, too. WAY WAY COOL!

At table mountain, don't let them rush you off the top until you are ready to go. Take your time - it's quite the place.

I should have written a trip report - this was our favorite of the 3 ABD so far...and I cannot imagine any trip could ever be better.

ABD cut some of the things we found overwhelming - but apparently they weren't that popular. The hands on in the train museum, for example (Climb aboard, climb in and around, explore) remains the most childish fun I've had in years.

We'll be happy to answer any questions. Enjoy!

 

[richflour]

Which other abd have you taken?

 

[Grifdog22]

We have been to ABD Costa Rica, ABD Peru, ABD South Africa, and we are signed up for ABD Winter Wonderland (Yellowstone) over Christmas this year.

Do go to South Africa with an appetite. We all gained weight. My PETA/veggie daughter lost her dedication to no meat when she smelled my Zebra steak at Knysna. She ended up eating the whole thing, and began a tear like a Lioness into the meats. On our trip, the Knysna dinner (rent the restaurant) was included. That changed - ask Craig to send you to the place they chose. I cannot remember the name...

 

[richflour]

Did you fly south african air?
I know it will be different but what price range did you pay for the flight?

 

[Grifdog22]

We flew SAA from Dulles in DC to Johannasberg, changed planes to Cape Town. Round trip ran us, with taxes, etc. about $1025 each. We were economy all the way...

It's costing us that much to fly from Dulles to Wyoming for the ABD Christmas in Yellowstone...overseas carriers always seem much cheaper. Our trip to Peru was cheaper on airfare from DC to Lima than from DC to Atlanta. Go figure!

 

[sayhello]

We flew SAA from Dulles in DC to Johannasberg, changed planes to Cape Town. Round trip ran us, with taxes, etc. about $1025 each. We were economy all the way...

It's costing us that much to fly from Dulles to Wyoming for the ABD Christmas in Yellowstone...overseas carriers always seem much cheaper. Our trip to Peru was cheaper on airfare from DC to Lima than from DC to Atlanta. Go figure!

OMG, not when you're going to Europe! My flight to Greece was close to $1600!

Sayhello

 

[ILUVALASKA]

I just returned from a four week tour of South Africa- Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. I was not with ABD. What an amazing experience. I will be back!

 

[CarrianneB]

We are close to booking summer if 2015. But we are still evaluating our options. We loved peru, and everyone that had done multiple abd's said this was the best!'

 

[momto3gr8boys]

Did you fly south african air? I know it will be different but what price range did you pay for the flight?

We flew SAA JFK-Joberg-Cape Town and it was $1400 RT, economy class. That didn't include our internal flights once we got to CT. But I can't say enough wonderful things about SAA!! They made 17 hours of flight time completely bearable! Fantastic service!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Ron Nelson]

we are going at the end of july 2015, i am curious to know if the inter flights are actual jets or are they like the twin props we took in costa rica?

 

[CruisingGoddess]

Just booked for Jun 27-Jul 6, 2015! DH and I are childfree and it's our first escorted tour. Looking forward to this trip though it's such a long way off!

 

[Ron Nelson]

it is official, we cancelled our Africa for next year do to the Aboli virus and rebooked for Germany July 10-18.

 

[sayhello]

it is official, we cancelled our Africa for next year do to the Aboli virus and rebooked for Germany July 10-18.

I've moved you from this Meets thread to the one for Germany.

By the way, it's spelled ebola virus.

I know people love the Germany trip. Hopefully you can reschedule Africa at a later date.

Tobi

 

[couture1]

Hello All! We will be on the South Africa trip departing 3/28/15.
I will be traveling with my two daughters (10,12) and my son (9)
Anyone else going?