OK, other than cruising does anyone share our love of going on an African Safari ? We are in the middle of planning another one.

Yes, We loved it and want to go back some day. We were in South Africa at Kruger National Park and stayed at Sabi Sabi lodge. It was absolutely wonderful and an experience of a lifetime.

Sodey

On our first Safari, we were told that if we wanted an old world Safari to stay away from Kruger National Park (2002) at that time we were told that on the game drives we would encounter many land rovers and camps that would be open to 20-30 people, so we went with small camps in Botswana and Zimbabwa that only took 8 couples, now I undertand that at Kruger they have really cut down on the number of people and a camp like Mala Mala is really only 16 couples or Ratatray is 8 couples. We don't want to be out there with a lot of Land Rovers, we have seen pictures of 30 or more Land Rovers at one time! We also love CapeTown. What camp did you stay at ?

Sabi Sabi has 3 camps. They have a great web site so make sure you go to it.

We never saw any other land rovers while we were out in the park unless we were meeting for a "Boma". We got to see the big 5 plus many other animals up close including a Chetah that ran right past me about 10 feet from where I was sitting. Anyways, we never felt like we were crowded in the park. It's a huge park.

sabi sabi www.sabisabi.com is a private game reserve. Very high class . We stayed at Bush Lodge for 4 nights

Sodey

Beautiful camp, there is nothing like a Safari vacation, I just hate the flight over to get there.

The flight there was bad yes. But the flight from Johannesburg to Atlanta was a nightmare. We spent 21 hours on the plane. We first flew to Capetown and then to some island for refueling and then on the Atlanta.

Going there, Atlanta to Capetown was about 11 hours.

But, I would go again in a heartbeat to revisit Kruger and Sabi Sabi.

Sodey

Thanks for letting us know Kruger is not a traffic jam. I will say camps all aroung Kruger as beautiful.

I just priced out the Bush Lodge. It is all inclusive (food, drinks, snacks, 2 safaris/day etc...) also it is A1 First Class all the way.
Low season costs $535/person per night. So for 3 nights (that's 6 safaris) it would be $1600 per person. That isn't cheap but do-able. I can't see spending more than 3 or 4 nights in the bush. (at least not a $535/nt/person)

Sodey

If the cruise ships get much larger, as seen by the deck plans for the new Oasis of the Seas, they will be setting up Game reserves so that African Safaris may become a thing of the past!! Super Bowl games will also be held at sea!!
What else might they do??

BillyBuzzy

Boy, I can tell your ready for Sept 20th, your out of control!! It's the only way to be, we are right behind you with Sept 23rd, I can't stand it....I want to go now!

janfred-I was out of control immediately after I booked! We actually have 6 cruises booked over the next 2 years and psyched over each and every one! The longest we have been ashore over the last 52 years has been 13 months "on the beach" as they say the worst 13 months of my life and I am retired USAF!

BillyBuzzy

Janfred-Forgot to mention-Enjoy your cruises.
we are booked for the Inaugural cruise on the Carnival
Dream in 2009 but our Oasis plans are still undecided. Solstice is herself going to be an awsome cruise!
We love that Motion of the Ocean!

Bon Voyage,

BillyBuzzy

Hey, billybuzzy I am retired AF too ! Did you book the Solstice? I think that is going to be fabulous. We were so confused if we should book Oasis, it is SO not a kind of Ship we would normally do, we were thinking of the new HAL ship Ms. Eurodam but last minute we said, Oh, heck let's go crazy and try it ! I have to say 5700 passenger's is nut's LOL It looks like Las Vegas on the ocean, yicks...it will be a blast I am sure.