South Africa: Safari in South Africa Meets Thread

acndis · Apr 25, 2016

Cousin Orville said:
My DS (12) and I are signed up for the July 22, 2017 ABD. We too are looking at the option of a 2 night trip up to Victoria Falls from Johannesburg before heading home. The Zimbabwe side appears to be most popular. We'll likely book with one of the groups that organizes the trip out of Johannesburg to keep it simple.

Cousin Orville,

I hope this means a trip report! It seems like my thinking is exactly one year behind yours. We are considering this one for 2018! We went with Australia for 2017.

Breckfamily · May 3, 2016

queenmother said:
We are signed up for June 11-20, 2016, family of 4 with a "to be" 16 and 19 year old. I am studying the flights from the Midwest and am considering a stopover in Paris for 2 days to run around and stretch our legs ( and climb the Eiffel Tower). It will break up the 17 hour flight at least going over. Then will probably book the 17 hour Delta Johannesburg to Atlanta for the way back. My 16 year old doesn't like long flights so I feel bad for him, but I hope he will fall asleep and watch movies like everybody else.
We loved the Peru ABD ad SW Splendors. Would also like to to do Scotland and Alps. I have been to Kenya in the 1980s and am excited to go back to the African continent!!
Anyone have tips about adding our own Victoria Falls excursion at the end? Safety concerns?
Michelle

We are also signed up for the June 11-20, 2016 trip. I have a 12,16 and soon to be 18 year old.

Big Boom · Jul 22, 2016

queenmother said:
We are signed up for June 11-20, 2016, family of 4 with a "to be" 16 and 19 year old. I am studying the flights from the Midwest and am considering a stopover in Paris for 2 days to run around and stretch our legs ( and climb the Eiffel Tower). It will break up the 17 hour flight at least going over. Then will probably book the 17 hour Delta Johannesburg to Atlanta for the way back. My 16 year old doesn't like long flights so I feel bad for him, but I hope he will fall asleep and watch movies like everybody else.
We loved the Peru ABD ad SW Splendors. Would also like to to do Scotland and Alps. I have been to Kenya in the 1980s and am excited to go back to the African continent!!
Anyone have tips about adding our own Victoria Falls excursion at the end? Safety concerns?
Michelle

We are going on the June 10, 2017 South Africa trip and would like to add a trip to Victoria Falls at the end. Did you see Victoria Falls after your trip? Was it worth it and what arrangements did you make? Thanks

Magic122 · Jul 23, 2016

Big Boom said:
We are going on the June 10, 2017 South Africa trip and would like to add a trip to Victoria Falls at the end. Did you see Victoria Falls after your trip? Was it worth it and what arrangements did you make? Thanks

We just got back from the July 8th ABD trip and it was AMAZING, We went to Vic falls before we headed to Cape Town and saw the falls and did an elephant experience. We used Wild Horizons for transfers and guides and they were fine. The economy is a shambles so there is a lot of people hustling for cash and couldn't find anywhere that took credit cards. Even the customs and immigration office requires $30/person in U.S. Dollars to get your visa to get into the country. Hope that helps.

Cousin Orville · Jul 23, 2016

Magic122 said:
We just got back from the July 8th ABD trip and it was AMAZING, We went to Vic falls before we headed to Cape Town and saw the falls and did an elephant experience. We used Wild Horizons for transfers and guides and they were fine. The economy is a shambles so there is a lot of people hustling for cash and couldn't find anywhere that took credit cards. Even the customs and immigration office requires $30/person in U.S. Dollars to get your visa to get into the country. Hope that helps.

How did your elephant experience compare to the Knysna Elephant Park ABD goes to? How much cash did you take on your Wild Horizons tour up to Victoria Falls?

Magic122 · Jul 23, 2016

We rode on elephants in Vic Falls so it was very different from the Disney experience of learning about and feeding them in Knynsa. We paid for the Vic falls hotels and activities in advance and then brought cast for tipping the guides. We didn't really do any shopping but there were 4 of us so needed $120 for the Zimbabwe entry visas and then about $70 for the two elephant guides and $30 for the guide at Vic falls.

Cousin Orville · Jul 24, 2016

Magic122 said:
We rode on elephants in Vic Falls so it was very different from the Disney experience of learning about and feeding them in Knynsa. We paid for the Vic falls hotels and activities in advance and then brought cast for tipping the guides. We didn't really do any shopping but there were 4 of us so needed $120 for the Zimbabwe entry visas and then about $70 for the two elephant guides and $30 for the guide at Vic falls.

Thanks, that helps. I'm looking into those options after the ABD flying from Johannesburg.

Jess_S · Jul 27, 2016

Since the first post in this thread says it's okay to post South Africa questions here, hopefully this one is not out of place. How far in advance is it necessary to book? I see that the 2017 adventures are already all wait-list only (except the adult only trips).

sayhello · Aug 1, 2016

Jess_S said:
Since the first post in this thread says it's okay to post South Africa questions here, hopefully this one is not out of place. How far in advance is it necessary to book? I see that the 2017 adventures are already all wait-list only (except the adult only trips).

Wow. That's very unusual for all departures to be waitlisted. (Although there aren't that many departures). I'd suggest calling ABD and finding out if they are truly full or if a Travel Agent has a hold on them until they get 14 people signed up (at which point it becomes exclusive to the TA).

And yes, questions are totally acceptable and encouraged on the Meets threads!

Sayhello

Jess_S · Aug 1, 2016

sayhello said:
Wow. That's very unusual for all departures to be waitlisted. (Although there aren't that many departures). I'd suggest calling ABD and finding out if they are truly full or if a Travel Agent has a hold on them until they get 14 people signed up (at which point it becomes exclusive to the TA).

Thanks! I'll try calling as you suggested. I'm hoping to coordinate a multi-generational trip in 2018. Even going through a tour company, this will be the most logistically involved trip I've planned.

Calling will give me the opportunity to let ABD know that I'd love a family friendly departure in a month other than July or December. I may be in the minority in willingness to take my kid out of school -- but given that this is probably a once in a lifetime trip, I would rather go during the best possible weather months (which -- according to my research -- are the months where the adult only trips are scheduled in 2017).

AnnaNewyorkny · Aug 10, 2016

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

Sayhello

Hello. Did you check credit card card rewards. ? That's a help to travel.Also booking in advance like I did could save you money and prices can be refunded. ANNA TORRE ROCKY POINT NY :sunny:

sayhello · Aug 10, 2016

AnnaNewyorkny said:
Hello. Did you check credit card card rewards. ? That's a help to travel.Also booking in advance like I did could save you money and prices can be refunded. ANNA TORRE ROCKY POINT NY

I use credit card rewards to lessen the cost of the ABDs. This year I took almost $1200 off the price of my ABD by using Disney Rewards Dollars. So no rewards left for airfare.

What do you mean by "prices can be refunded"? Southwest is the only airline I know of that refunds the difference if prices go down.

Sayhello

Cousin Orville · Nov 10, 2016

*WDW*Groupie* said:
I am looking at booking a trip to Southern Africa as well. We will be staying on the Zimbabwe side as there seems to be more to do. There are loads of activities -- especially thrill-type adventures if that's your thing (bungee jumping, white water rapids, etc). Since you are going in December you will be able to do Devil's Pool or Angel's Armchair -- our friends did the Devil's Pool and rave about the experience. There is also the elephant back safari for a half day that you can do and visit the local markets. We will definitely do the helicopter flight over the falls as I've read it's spectacular.

I'd give the area at least 3 nights / 2 days. Easy transfer from Johannesburg to Livingstone airport; going to Cape Town I believe you have to transfer again in Johannesburg. If you are still planning this pre-trip you should book the hotels soon as Christmas is peak season in Southern Africa and the hotels fill up very quickly.

We might see you there! Still trying to decide if I can ditch my family and make a trip over the holiday break.

Did you ever make plans to add on Victoria Falls? Was curious what tour group you're going with?

*WDW*Groupie* · Nov 10, 2016

Cousin Orville said:
Did you ever make plans to add on Victoria Falls? Was curious what tour group you're going with?

I paid our deposit several weeks ago, so we are now locked into our itinerary (once the deposit is paid they book and pay for internal flights).

We are going on our own. I couldn't find a tour that worked with our dates (I should redact this comment as Nat. Geo family had a trip to Tanzania that would've worked but the bathrooms at 2 of the "camps" didn't have running water, so there is NO WAY I could consider it) -- we are flying to JNB from Amsterdam (after the Rhine River cruise). We are staying at Singita Sweni for 3 nights, then flying to the Sabi Sands Private Reserve to stay at (my favorite) Singita Ebony for 4 nights. From there we will be driven to Nelspruit Airport for our flight to Cape Town, where we will stay at the Cape Grace for 4 nights. We have private tours booked for 2.5 days; on our free day we are going to the Cheetah Sanctuary for a private cheetah cub walk (already booked). We will then fly from Cape Town via JNB to Livingstone (Zambia) where we will stay at the Tongabezi Lodge for 3 nights (according to the agent at Singita they send all of their clients to the Zambia side of the falls -- I loved the look of the Tongabezi so I went with her suggestion!).

I used the agent working with Singita to book the lodgings after I did extensive research (including sourcing the flight from Nelspruit to Cape Town to avoid having to go through JNB).

There are so many wonderful agents, both here and in South Africa, who can book the leg from JNB to Victoria Falls for you. I preferred to use an agent there, just in case something went wrong I would at least be in the same time zone as my agent. It really is a matter of personal preference.

I will message you with a link to the itinerary prepared. We are so excited for this trip. Cue "Circle of Life"!

I am seriously hoping we encounter some teenagers for my daughter to socialize with on our trip.

Cousin Orville · Feb 5, 2017

*WDW*Groupie* said:
... on our free day we are going to the Cheetah Sanctuary for a private cheetah cub walk (already booked)...

How are you getting to the Cheetah Sanctuary? Are you planning a taxi or arrange for a driver?

*WDW*Groupie* · Feb 6, 2017

Cousin Orville said:
How are you getting to the Cheetah Sanctuary? Are you planning a taxi or arrange for a driver?

Either a taxi cab or Uber. Not sure at this point. Definitely not renting a car.

Are you heading there as well? I hope they have some cubs. They didn't have any in December and are hoping for a spring litter!

Cousin Orville · Feb 6, 2017

*WDW*Groupie* said:
Either a taxi cab or Uber. Not sure at this point. Definitely not renting a car.

Are you heading there as well? I hope they have some cubs. They didn't have any in December and are hoping for a spring litter!

Possibly. We have some free time before everything gets started with ABD. I was looking into the Cheetahs, a tour through one of the townships, or the Old Biscuit Mill which seems a popular thing Sat mornings.

Also in discussion with another tour company about adding Victoria Falls. I've gone back and forth on that one.

heart · May 19, 2017

Please add to roll call July 7, 2018.

Before that will look forward to Cousin Orville's trip report this year!

ABDGurl · Jun 5, 2017

Cousin Orville said:
Possibly. We have some free time before everything gets started with ABD. I was looking into the Cheetahs, a tour through one of the townships, or the Old Biscuit Mill which seems a popular thing Sat mornings.

Also in discussion with another tour company about adding Victoria Falls. I've gone back and forth on that one.

Cousin Orville...my husband and I are going on the SA ABD this year. Just curious...have you looked into any of the vaccination recommendations from the CDC for South Africa? We will be taking anti-malaria, but wondering about HepA and Typhoid which can possibly be contracted by food/water. Doc says highly unlikely to be contracted, but wondering what others are doing.

Cousin Orville · Jun 5, 2017

ABDGurl said:
Cousin Orville...my husband and I are going on the SA ABD this year. Just curious...have you looked into any of the vaccination recommendations from the CDC for South Africa? We will be taking anti-malaria, but wondering about HepA and Typhoid which can possibly be contracted by food/water. Doc says highly unlikely to be contracted, but wondering what others are doing.

My son's pediatrician, who is from South Africa, wasn't concerned. He felt in July (winter) there was no need for antimalarials. He didn't recommend the typhoid vaccine. We both already have the Hep A & B vaccines, so he didn't address those. Nevertheless, we're still planning on getting the typhoid vaccine at a travel clinic. Probably overkill, but it will give me peace of mind.

South Africa: Safari in South Africa Meets Thread

DIS Veteran

Earning My Ears

Earning My Ears

Earning My Ears

Inventor of Air Cooling

Earning My Ears

Inventor of Air Cooling

DIS Veteran

Have Camera, Will Travel

DIS Veteran

Earning My Ears

Have Camera, Will Travel

Inventor of Air Cooling

DIS Veteran

Inventor of Air Cooling

DIS Veteran

Inventor of Air Cooling

Mouseketeer

Earning My Ears

Inventor of Air Cooling

Share this page