I liked Zambia and Botswana, but the S.A. part is touring … very liittle to do with animals. I’m sure some of the other Africa tours are animal intensive, But Z,B, and SA is a great tour but it is half touring and half safari. If you want a safari, K&T is a good bet.
Terrylynn Hi.
The k&T it’s all about animals 100%.
On B,Z,Cape Town , you also see animals but in specific areas… not everywhere as K&T.
But B,Z,Cape it’s amazing too, offers everything it wraps up what Africa it’s all about, very complete.
Thanks MIL -- I wanted to send you a PM after your most recent trip to Africa, but you have your settings set to PRIVATE, so I couldn't send you a PM. I followed your trip and photos - esp loved the flight you posted over the Falls.
We have taken K and T twice, the second time to add on the Rwanda Gorilla trek, but our favorite of 6 safari vacations is the Botswana, Zambia and South Africa tour because of the unique chance to sleep out in the Kalahari, interact with Meerkats, and see wild dogs….you will not see either of these animals on the K and T. We even saw a Honey Badger on that tour too, which is extra rare. We are going to Botswana again in November. Oh and no visas to mess about with before you go there either. You do need one for Zambia, but that is dealt with when you cross the border.
Expectations. Just because you see it here, don’t necessarily expect to see it there. On our Z,B, and SA trip we did see wild dogs (luck of the draw) but we were not offered the sleep opportunity in the Kalahari. Table top mountain in Cape Town is sometimes fogged in. I think you can count on the meerkats. This is not a trip to the zoo. We have had close encounters with ‘wild’ lions, had a rogue elephant in one camp, and almost hit a hippo going full speed across the Okavango. On one trip we were very close to a lion and a Doctor and his daughter decided to climb out of the top of the safari vehicle for a better view. Our driver/guide went nuts. In very few words he explained how that lion could have taken them off the top of the vehicle before they even saw him coming. You never put anything out of the vehicle that you have become attached to.
When people are pondering which AFRICA tour to take, seeing lots of animals is generally top of the list. This is often why those who have been to East Africa often recommend it as the number one place to go. In my experience on more than a few occasions, this is what I have observed….
The first couple of days, people see ‘lots’ of wildebeest and zebras which is why people say you see ‘ lots of animals’ there. But then after that, when the safari driver stops by another group of wildebeest and zebra….they often hang out together…the people start saying, ‘it’s just wildebeest and zebras, drive on, we want to see lions’ in fact, they often sound so rude when they say it. The drivers are so careful to give their tourists a great experience, maneuvering the vehicle so everyone gets good views and photos. I feel very bad for them.
In my observations, this in order is what people want to see…lions, lions and more lions, then leopards and cheetahs, then elephants, maybe giraffes next, or rhinos. After that, well I don’t think Buffalo or hyenas, hippos and warthogs, oh and various antelopes are thought about, oh and skip the birds, who wants to see the birds.
What I want is different to what SeaLord wants and that’s fine. I love the landscape, I love the way it makes me feel. I love to see those amazing baobab trees and wonder how so many animals tackle those very thorny acacia trees. I love to see those massive termite mounds. We’ve sat and watched a couple of dung beetles tackling a huge mound of dung across a dirt road, they get it so far and then it rolls back the way they had just pushed it, and even funnier, the opposite sex one, I forget which, sits on the top while the other does the work.
Birds, the birds are beautiful, think lilac breasted roller, Carmine bee eater and everything in between. Imagine how incredible it is to see a flock of thousands of Quelea birds, supposed to be the most abundant bird on the planet, and watch the hawks swooping down and picking them off in mid flight.
Back to earth…witness a cheetah running so fast to catch its prey, it’s like a blur, succeeding and then watch a hyena appear from nowhere and steal it. See a hyena grab the tail of a Buffalo who has been foolish enough to stray from it’s group and then watch it run towards its mates with the hyena still attached being lifted into the air and then the herd turn on the hyena and it runs off with tail between it’s legs. Spot a serval jumping up high to catch a bird. Even more incredible, spot an elusive honey badger, those very fearless creatures who will even challenge a lion. Just a few things I have observed. You sure have to keep your eyes peeled and not leave spotting creatures to your driver.
I love the people. On our last tour, the TD arranged for the women in our group to meet separately with the women in the Masai village and we could freely ask each other any questions. Try bargaining for that trinket with a Masai. Talk to your drivers, they are fascinating and very knowledgeable. They all have different interests and specialties. Politics, birds, you name it, they know it. Do you know that each driver is probably supporting about twelve family members.
In the Sahara you will meet the bushmen and in Namibia the Himba people in their village, mostly naked as the day they were born.
In Namibia we went to an orphanage and the Matron’ cooked us lunch. We all went to a shanty town and were proudly invited into a woman’s home made from cardboard boxes. We’ve been to schools, visited inside Masai homes.
Jobs at hotels and lodges in Africa are prestigious, you will probably get your room more thoroughly cleaned than in the US.
Before you go to Africa, watch lots of African wildlife shows, learn about the different animal behaviors so you can recognize what they are up to when you see them. Learn the differences between the antelopes. I can tell a Bushnell’s zebra from a Grevy’s Zebra, can you ? I can spot a Fish Eagle meters away now.
Learn about the climate you are visiting.
There are distinct differences between safaris in East African and Southern Africa.
In East Africa, eg. Kenya and Tanzania, vehicles like Toyota Land cruisers are used, stripped down inside with canvas type covered seats. There is either a pop up top or a top that comes off. It’s standard practice to take off your shoes, stand on the seats and poke your head out of the top to take photos. Some people therefore find it easier to wear slip on shoes so they don’t have to think about tying laces when they get out of the vehicle at the end of the trip. The vehicles are not allowed to go ‘off road’
In Southern Africa countries, the vehicles can be quite different. They are like a Ford F 150 type with an added platform with seats on top. It is a truly open vehicle, with either a completely open top or a canvas top. The seats tend to get higher the nearer you get to the back ones. You must not stand in these vehicles when you are out, you must stay seated. It can also be more difficult to get into this type vehicle as some have narrow steps along the vehicle and then you have to climb over the sides. But in Southern Africa, the vehicles can go ‘off road’ as many of the lodges are on private reserves. If an animal is spotted, the driver happily speds off over the vegetation, driving over trees which pop upright again after they have been driven over. There might be less animals but you can get up close and personal with them. I’ve been in the middle of a circle of zebras in this type of situation and in another have a baby rhino come right next to us and Mom come along to check us out and nudge her baby away. You will see lots of elephants in Botswana. So less animals but more intimate encounters and like I said, more chance of seeing wild dogs. We saw a hyena den and pups on one of these trips. They look so cute but of course they have lethal jaws. Of course the drivers know exactly which animals they have on the reserve and where they normally hang out.
I would like SeaLord, never want to waste time in my own time going to a winery in Africa, a winery is a winery and they are the same anywhere, go somewhere unique, it’s Africa!
I’ve been lucky enough to visit Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. The most beautiful was Rwanda, the most spectacular was Namibia, but our favorite is Tanzania which is where we first left a piece of our hearts behind and they are still there.
My ranking/preference of seeing the animals is slightly different than British's. Here's mine (based on a single tour - K&T Classic Safari):
1) Lions
2) Elephants
3) Rhinos
4) All the rest, seeking wide diversity and there is plenty. I'd say you easily see in excess of 25 varieties of birds and animals, probably closer to 50.
What is most special to me is seeing the large animals in their natural environment; witnessing survival of the fitness (😢); seeing the animals interact with each other (or not). I was lucky being able to witness the Migration one afternoon on the K&T tour - an unexpected thrill. Another afternoon our guide offered an extra drive; only 4 of us went. We watched a pride of lions hiding in tall grasses while encircling wildebeests and zebras. The lions were quite savvy and strategic. We watched for several hours. I hope to return.
When I went on the Elegant SA tour in 2012 there was n such thing as a room upgrade either. We stayed at the Cape Grace hotel in Cape Town and the rooms were very nice.
We are going on Elegant Adventure in September 2024 and we were given the option to upgrade our room, which we did. Upgrades are limited and we decided to upgrade rather than opting for a small group tour (only an 8 person difference in size). Question—is arriving one day early in Cape Town sufficient or should we add one more day prior to the tour start?
We just returned from the Elegant South Africa tour in May. We went a few days earlier to enjoy Capetown. Because I had been there before (part of the Botswana, Zambia, Capetown tour) and my husband had not, I wanted him to see Capetown and I wanted to try to do some things that I missed before. We stayed at the Cape Grace Hotel, which was at the waterfront and was amazing (but it's being re-done now). So, it may be more difficult for you to get to the waterfront. In any case, we went to Robben Island and Tabletop Mountain. I had been to Tabletop Mountain on my own before (was not included in the Botswana trip), but was included in the South African Elegant Adventure. We were lucky we went, as it was closed during the time our Tauck tour would have gone. We also went to the Jewish History Museum and synagogue. Others have gone to the wine country. On the Botswana tour, we had a nice tour of Capetown with multiple stops as well as a visit ti to the District 6 museum. The city tour on the Elegant South Africa trip was really nothing (no stops), but they did include a nice visit to botanical gardens. I would suggest a nice city tour and a visit to the District 6 museum. Certainly worth it. Just my thoughts.
We did a walking tour of the downtown area. Very interesting and then the next day we did the hop on hop off bus. There are several routes and you can even transfer between them. We really enjoyed it. Stopped twice at beautiful beaches. One for lunch and another for a walk. Our tour with Tauck included Robben Island. It’s a great tour
We took the Emirates flight from Orlando to Cape Town a few years ago. Great airline and a great Business Class lounge in Dubai, but we had a long layover.
mil, I followed your suggestion and contacted Emirates. I can fly out of Johannesburg with a layover in Dubai before we return to Miami. It's too early to book, but this looks like a great choice using Amex points. Does anyone have experience with Delta direct to Cape Town? They seem to be super expensive with points or dollars. Thanks for the lead to Emirates
janet_dzubow, Glad you enjoyed your tour. What time did they get you back to Johannesburg airport for departure? Trying to plan a flight out of Johannesburg at the end of the tour. Tauck recommends 3 hour lead time at the airport. Just not sure what time I can book a flight. Thanks
Sandman, Hi!
Glad to hear I was able to help. Emirates it's excellent and you will have peace of mind, no strikes, no delays, great service and no fights on board, etc.
Flying out of Johannesburg? So,the tour ends in Johan.?
The layovers in Dubai are always short 2-3h. and with the Duty-free , it's super fun and the B.Lounge , Amazing!! go straight to the Moet & Chardon Bar... Heaven.
I have to book my Namibia for 2024 early this Sept. 2023 for that one I do have on my way to.. 9h. layover Uff. but between the shops and also the lounge Spa + sleeping rooms I'll be fine. I'll take a book or do some media work.
Okay, if you need anything else, I'm here.
Have a great evening.
The flight from Victoria Falls left at 2 pm and arrived in Johannesburg at 3:35 pm. Then you have to collect your large suitcase (if you decide to do that-not a big deal) and then go through customs and immigration. They were strict at customs. I had bought a pair of salad tongs (not sharp) at the Elephant Camp and they took the fork part (dull edge) and left me with one round server. I had put some souvenirs in my carry on. Crazy.. I thought they would be ok in carry on, since Johannesburg airport can be sketchy with respect to airport theft. Our flight to Newark ( United) was at 8 pm (direct). No problem there. Our flight was delayed, but eventually took off. There is also a baggage check at the gate, so you need some time for that. Some who had connecting flights missed the connections.
Mil, thanks again. We intend to spend a few days in Dubai before we continue home. Emirates said they allow this "open jaw" on reward bookings, so we want to take advantage of the opportunity to visit Dubai. Have you spent any time there?
We did the two night stay in Dubai a couple years ago, on our return to the US. If it is during Ramadan, everything is deserted until sunset. We took a camel ride to the desert for dinner and they wouldn't start serving until sundown. That was well worth the stay over. During the day everything was closed up and deserted, but you still could walk around the big mall, small streets and did a tour of the sites. We stayed at a Marriot.
Sandman, Hi!
Yes, Emirates allows open Jaw and also if you make a stop either way in Dubai, they don't add the airport tax to cost of ticket.
If you need info on Dubai , IM me. I have been in Dubai 4 times, love it and also, I have friends living there now.
Please!!!!!!!!!!! whatever you do, DO NOT MISS: THE MUSEUM OF THE FUTURE! It is AMAZING! and nothing like any other.
Comments
We did Z,B & SA eight years ago and K&T in 2019. I agree with Sealord. You will see a a lot more animals in the K&T tour. I hope you get Susan W!
Terrylynn Hi.
The k&T it’s all about animals 100%.
On B,Z,Cape Town , you also see animals but in specific areas… not everywhere as K&T.
But B,Z,Cape it’s amazing too, offers everything it wraps up what Africa it’s all about, very complete.
Thanks MIL -- I wanted to send you a PM after your most recent trip to Africa, but you have your settings set to PRIVATE, so I couldn't send you a PM. I followed your trip and photos - esp loved the flight you posted over the Falls.
We have taken K and T twice, the second time to add on the Rwanda Gorilla trek, but our favorite of 6 safari vacations is the Botswana, Zambia and South Africa tour because of the unique chance to sleep out in the Kalahari, interact with Meerkats, and see wild dogs….you will not see either of these animals on the K and T. We even saw a Honey Badger on that tour too, which is extra rare. We are going to Botswana again in November. Oh and no visas to mess about with before you go there either. You do need one for Zambia, but that is dealt with when you cross the border.
Expectations. Just because you see it here, don’t necessarily expect to see it there. On our Z,B, and SA trip we did see wild dogs (luck of the draw) but we were not offered the sleep opportunity in the Kalahari. Table top mountain in Cape Town is sometimes fogged in. I think you can count on the meerkats. This is not a trip to the zoo. We have had close encounters with ‘wild’ lions, had a rogue elephant in one camp, and almost hit a hippo going full speed across the Okavango. On one trip we were very close to a lion and a Doctor and his daughter decided to climb out of the top of the safari vehicle for a better view. Our driver/guide went nuts. In very few words he explained how that lion could have taken them off the top of the vehicle before they even saw him coming. You never put anything out of the vehicle that you have become attached to.
terrilynn Hi, not sure why it's showing private I will say hello via message to you so you can respond. More than happy to help.
When people are pondering which AFRICA tour to take, seeing lots of animals is generally top of the list. This is often why those who have been to East Africa often recommend it as the number one place to go. In my experience on more than a few occasions, this is what I have observed….
The first couple of days, people see ‘lots’ of wildebeest and zebras which is why people say you see ‘ lots of animals’ there. But then after that, when the safari driver stops by another group of wildebeest and zebra….they often hang out together…the people start saying, ‘it’s just wildebeest and zebras, drive on, we want to see lions’ in fact, they often sound so rude when they say it. The drivers are so careful to give their tourists a great experience, maneuvering the vehicle so everyone gets good views and photos. I feel very bad for them.
In my observations, this in order is what people want to see…lions, lions and more lions, then leopards and cheetahs, then elephants, maybe giraffes next, or rhinos. After that, well I don’t think Buffalo or hyenas, hippos and warthogs, oh and various antelopes are thought about, oh and skip the birds, who wants to see the birds.
What I want is different to what SeaLord wants and that’s fine. I love the landscape, I love the way it makes me feel. I love to see those amazing baobab trees and wonder how so many animals tackle those very thorny acacia trees. I love to see those massive termite mounds. We’ve sat and watched a couple of dung beetles tackling a huge mound of dung across a dirt road, they get it so far and then it rolls back the way they had just pushed it, and even funnier, the opposite sex one, I forget which, sits on the top while the other does the work.
Birds, the birds are beautiful, think lilac breasted roller, Carmine bee eater and everything in between. Imagine how incredible it is to see a flock of thousands of Quelea birds, supposed to be the most abundant bird on the planet, and watch the hawks swooping down and picking them off in mid flight.
Back to earth…witness a cheetah running so fast to catch its prey, it’s like a blur, succeeding and then watch a hyena appear from nowhere and steal it. See a hyena grab the tail of a Buffalo who has been foolish enough to stray from it’s group and then watch it run towards its mates with the hyena still attached being lifted into the air and then the herd turn on the hyena and it runs off with tail between it’s legs. Spot a serval jumping up high to catch a bird. Even more incredible, spot an elusive honey badger, those very fearless creatures who will even challenge a lion. Just a few things I have observed. You sure have to keep your eyes peeled and not leave spotting creatures to your driver.
I love the people. On our last tour, the TD arranged for the women in our group to meet separately with the women in the Masai village and we could freely ask each other any questions. Try bargaining for that trinket with a Masai. Talk to your drivers, they are fascinating and very knowledgeable. They all have different interests and specialties. Politics, birds, you name it, they know it. Do you know that each driver is probably supporting about twelve family members.
In the Sahara you will meet the bushmen and in Namibia the Himba people in their village, mostly naked as the day they were born.
In Namibia we went to an orphanage and the Matron’ cooked us lunch. We all went to a shanty town and were proudly invited into a woman’s home made from cardboard boxes. We’ve been to schools, visited inside Masai homes.
Jobs at hotels and lodges in Africa are prestigious, you will probably get your room more thoroughly cleaned than in the US.
Before you go to Africa, watch lots of African wildlife shows, learn about the different animal behaviors so you can recognize what they are up to when you see them. Learn the differences between the antelopes. I can tell a Bushnell’s zebra from a Grevy’s Zebra, can you ? I can spot a Fish Eagle meters away now.
Learn about the climate you are visiting.
There are distinct differences between safaris in East African and Southern Africa.
In East Africa, eg. Kenya and Tanzania, vehicles like Toyota Land cruisers are used, stripped down inside with canvas type covered seats. There is either a pop up top or a top that comes off. It’s standard practice to take off your shoes, stand on the seats and poke your head out of the top to take photos. Some people therefore find it easier to wear slip on shoes so they don’t have to think about tying laces when they get out of the vehicle at the end of the trip. The vehicles are not allowed to go ‘off road’
In Southern Africa countries, the vehicles can be quite different. They are like a Ford F 150 type with an added platform with seats on top. It is a truly open vehicle, with either a completely open top or a canvas top. The seats tend to get higher the nearer you get to the back ones. You must not stand in these vehicles when you are out, you must stay seated. It can also be more difficult to get into this type vehicle as some have narrow steps along the vehicle and then you have to climb over the sides. But in Southern Africa, the vehicles can go ‘off road’ as many of the lodges are on private reserves. If an animal is spotted, the driver happily speds off over the vegetation, driving over trees which pop upright again after they have been driven over. There might be less animals but you can get up close and personal with them. I’ve been in the middle of a circle of zebras in this type of situation and in another have a baby rhino come right next to us and Mom come along to check us out and nudge her baby away. You will see lots of elephants in Botswana. So less animals but more intimate encounters and like I said, more chance of seeing wild dogs. We saw a hyena den and pups on one of these trips. They look so cute but of course they have lethal jaws. Of course the drivers know exactly which animals they have on the reserve and where they normally hang out.
I would like SeaLord, never want to waste time in my own time going to a winery in Africa, a winery is a winery and they are the same anywhere, go somewhere unique, it’s Africa!
I’ve been lucky enough to visit Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. The most beautiful was Rwanda, the most spectacular was Namibia, but our favorite is Tanzania which is where we first left a piece of our hearts behind and they are still there.
My ranking/preference of seeing the animals is slightly different than British's. Here's mine (based on a single tour - K&T Classic Safari):
1) Lions
2) Elephants
3) Rhinos
4) All the rest, seeking wide diversity and there is plenty. I'd say you easily see in excess of 25 varieties of birds and animals, probably closer to 50.
Mine is :
Elephants, Lions, Hippo and the rest.... always a welcome surprise as long as they are not - 2 legs Toxic hyenas.
Happy Monday.
On K&T, I loved it all, including the birds. I’m not a birder, but the variety and colors of the various birds were spectacular.
beautiful pics, JeanP
What is most special to me is seeing the large animals in their natural environment; witnessing survival of the fitness (😢); seeing the animals interact with each other (or not). I was lucky being able to witness the Migration one afternoon on the K&T tour - an unexpected thrill. Another afternoon our guide offered an extra drive; only 4 of us went. We watched a pride of lions hiding in tall grasses while encircling wildebeests and zebras. The lions were quite savvy and strategic. We watched for several hours. I hope to return.
Beautifully stated, British
When I went on the Elegant SA tour in 2012 there was n such thing as a room upgrade either. We stayed at the Cape Grace hotel in Cape Town and the rooms were very nice.
We are going on Elegant Adventure in September 2024 and we were given the option to upgrade our room, which we did. Upgrades are limited and we decided to upgrade rather than opting for a small group tour (only an 8 person difference in size). Question—is arriving one day early in Cape Town sufficient or should we add one more day prior to the tour start?
LIONS!
****
Jan, add more days!
Jan, what British said!
We just returned from the Elegant South Africa tour in May. We went a few days earlier to enjoy Capetown. Because I had been there before (part of the Botswana, Zambia, Capetown tour) and my husband had not, I wanted him to see Capetown and I wanted to try to do some things that I missed before. We stayed at the Cape Grace Hotel, which was at the waterfront and was amazing (but it's being re-done now). So, it may be more difficult for you to get to the waterfront. In any case, we went to Robben Island and Tabletop Mountain. I had been to Tabletop Mountain on my own before (was not included in the Botswana trip), but was included in the South African Elegant Adventure. We were lucky we went, as it was closed during the time our Tauck tour would have gone. We also went to the Jewish History Museum and synagogue. Others have gone to the wine country. On the Botswana tour, we had a nice tour of Capetown with multiple stops as well as a visit ti to the District 6 museum. The city tour on the Elegant South Africa trip was really nothing (no stops), but they did include a nice visit to botanical gardens. I would suggest a nice city tour and a visit to the District 6 museum. Certainly worth it. Just my thoughts.
We did a walking tour of the downtown area. Very interesting and then the next day we did the hop on hop off bus. There are several routes and you can even transfer between them. We really enjoyed it. Stopped twice at beautiful beaches. One for lunch and another for a walk. Our tour with Tauck included Robben Island. It’s a great tour
We took the Emirates flight from Orlando to Cape Town a few years ago. Great airline and a great Business Class lounge in Dubai, but we had a long layover.
for the last 7 years, I only fly Emirates- Will not change it for any other.
mil, I followed your suggestion and contacted Emirates. I can fly out of Johannesburg with a layover in Dubai before we return to Miami. It's too early to book, but this looks like a great choice using Amex points. Does anyone have experience with Delta direct to Cape Town? They seem to be super expensive with points or dollars. Thanks for the lead to Emirates
janet_dzubow, Glad you enjoyed your tour. What time did they get you back to Johannesburg airport for departure? Trying to plan a flight out of Johannesburg at the end of the tour. Tauck recommends 3 hour lead time at the airport. Just not sure what time I can book a flight. Thanks
Sandman, Hi!
Glad to hear I was able to help. Emirates it's excellent and you will have peace of mind, no strikes, no delays, great service and no fights on board, etc.
Flying out of Johannesburg? So,the tour ends in Johan.?
The layovers in Dubai are always short 2-3h. and with the Duty-free , it's super fun and the B.Lounge , Amazing!! go straight to the Moet & Chardon Bar... Heaven.
I have to book my Namibia for 2024 early this Sept. 2023 for that one I do have on my way to.. 9h. layover Uff. but between the shops and also the lounge Spa + sleeping rooms I'll be fine. I'll take a book or do some media work.
Okay, if you need anything else, I'm here.
Have a great evening.
The flight from Victoria Falls left at 2 pm and arrived in Johannesburg at 3:35 pm. Then you have to collect your large suitcase (if you decide to do that-not a big deal) and then go through customs and immigration. They were strict at customs. I had bought a pair of salad tongs (not sharp) at the Elephant Camp and they took the fork part (dull edge) and left me with one round server. I had put some souvenirs in my carry on. Crazy.. I thought they would be ok in carry on, since Johannesburg airport can be sketchy with respect to airport theft. Our flight to Newark ( United) was at 8 pm (direct). No problem there. Our flight was delayed, but eventually took off. There is also a baggage check at the gate, so you need some time for that. Some who had connecting flights missed the connections.
Mil, thanks again. We intend to spend a few days in Dubai before we continue home. Emirates said they allow this "open jaw" on reward bookings, so we want to take advantage of the opportunity to visit Dubai. Have you spent any time there?
We did the two night stay in Dubai a couple years ago, on our return to the US. If it is during Ramadan, everything is deserted until sunset. We took a camel ride to the desert for dinner and they wouldn't start serving until sundown. That was well worth the stay over. During the day everything was closed up and deserted, but you still could walk around the big mall, small streets and did a tour of the sites. We stayed at a Marriot.
Sandman, Hi!
Yes, Emirates allows open Jaw and also if you make a stop either way in Dubai, they don't add the airport tax to cost of ticket.
If you need info on Dubai , IM me. I have been in Dubai 4 times, love it and also, I have friends living there now.
Please!!!!!!!!!!! whatever you do, DO NOT MISS: THE MUSEUM OF THE FUTURE! It is AMAZING! and nothing like any other.
https://www.visitdubai.com/en/places-to-visit/museum-of-the-future
Also, do the teatime at the Burj Al Arab. It is a great experience, and you get to see the hotel inside.
https://insideburjalarab.com/en
Have a lovely day.