If you can add Mkuze, it would be a plus but you still need to drive.
I thought we could fly from VAF - JBN - HDS and back to JNB - I also thought Mkuza has pickup and transfer? Am I mistaken?
I will pet Fatty and say hello to Ina at Sunrock from you.
Mkuze picks up at the airstrip. It's almost a 2 hr drive on excellent roads (albeit w/ fast trucks and oodles of wide turns) There is a Pick and Pay on the way for beverages, tho. I'm sure they have more transfers but I can guess they will be very expensive thru the lodge. Maybe you can ask via TA forums. (or go thru Phalaborwa--Kruger)
Mkuze is in Kwaa Zulu Natal, access is thru Richard's Bay RCB airport) or you can drive from HDS--looks like about 7 hours pending roads (never been that way) On the way is Piet Retief--sight of the famous Boer massacre by the Zulu. If you like to read, I recommend The Covenant, it's my # 2 fave book ever! It's long and wonderful for long flights. All of your party should read it--incredible insight to SA--geology, anthropology, sociopolitical issues and more, in novel form. Indigenous peoples, immigrants, traders, Boers, trekkers, rulers, politicians, etc.
Thanks for your advise. I checked the airfare for Victoria Falls, JNB and RCB and back to JNB to take our return flight to the US. It's doable. Schedule is not great get into RCB at 6:10 PM plus the 2 hour ride you mentioned and on the way back the plane for JNB leaves at 7:55 am, but also the 2 hr drive to get to the airport makes it for a very short stay at the Mkuze Fall Lodge.
I looked at some lodges near the Victoria Falls River Lodge - very pricey - I am dragging my feet somewhat since I am hoping something might open up for the 29th of Nov. so we can return with the others. I know, I shouldn't wait too long to make a decision. Everything else is booked for the trip.
I will look into getting my hands on "The Covenant" which sounds interesting and very apropo.. I will also recommend it to my fellow travelers. Good suggestion. A few years ago I read a book about some British family who was settling in Cape Town in the 17 hundreds and how they explored the African bush and established trading there. Quite an interesting saga.
That book might be a Wilbur Smith novel?
This trip looks so complicated to arrange! Good luck LLTF.
Kyshel - I did bookmark the Matrix ITA site - thanks for that link!
Yes, you are right, the author was Wilbur Smith. I couldn't remember the author or the name of the book, but the story stuck with me and I remember at the time I loved it and looked for more. He wrote a whole series of this saga.Quote:
Originally Posted by kyshel
Denise,Quote:
Yes, this was a tough trip to organize, but thanks to the help of kyshel I was able to muddle through. She has an excellent knowledge of the South African area and the various Safari camps. Her generous help was very much appreciated. We are all set. All intl. air, Lodges, and transfers are booked for the 4 of us. I was able to pull that trip together for half the price than a prominent travel agency, specializing in African safaris, has quoted us. Thanks to LL and kyshel's suggestion, we did pretty well. Also my ff miles helped a lot. Cut our airfare by about $3000. I just hope something in business or first class will open up with UN/LH/SA from MUC to CPT between now and November. The flight MUC-CPT is a LH direct flight but lasts 11.5 hrs. That will be the longest flight we'll have ever flown in economy class. I sure hope I can snag an upgrade by Nov.
The Matrix ITA Matrix - ITA Software was a great help.
I've only read one.The family was the Courtneys, I think? I'm going to read the whole series. I dislike hardbacks, but I might find this online. I got hooked on the one about Egypt, starting with The Quest, then River God and so on. Good stuff!Quote:
Originally Posted by LL_Travelfan
I'm glad I could help. Former member, jashermd was our resident Africa expert and I can only hope to follow in his "tracks". He taught me alot; along with TA experts and trial and error. We've been so fortunate to have some great buys on LL. I always grabbed one as soon as possible to get it before it went up. I got some real doozies! Thanks LL--but we NEED MORE, PLEASE!! I'll put in anotehr plea at property suggestions.
Here is a link to the whole series of the Courtneys Wilbur Smith - Worldwide Bestselling Author : Books and Films : The Courtney Novels. I really enjoyed these books. I also read some of the Egypt series, The Quest, and River God. I usually get my books out of the library.Quote:
Originally Posted by kyshel