Amazing Trip

Richard Koziol

Greetings,

I was on the Aug 29th trip and all I can say is WOW! What a trip! We saw so much wildlife I am still in shock. the pace of the tour was fantastic. Always a new 'adventure' around the corner. Just when I thought the trip couldn't get any better, something new and exciting would happen. One day you pull up on a pride of lions and the next you see the wild dogs, then your in a boat, a plane etc.....Our tour director Susan was fantastic. She has great knowledge, enthusiasm and knows how to keep this tour moving long.

While your in Cape Town, if you have time I would recommend going to Signal Hill and Table mountain. The cable car ride up to Table Mountain is fantastic.

This was my first Tauck tour and I don't think it will be the last. The 'surprises' or things I didn't know that where planned were awesome. I tried to keep myself in the dark about the itinerary as much as possible and it made the trip that much more spectacular.

I feel like I lived a lifetime in the two weeks I was on this trip and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I cannot say enough great things about this tour, our tour director and Tauck for putting together such a great trip.

Feel free to PM me anytime if you want to discuss this trip or have any questions

SusGot

This is wonderful to hear! Worried about getting the proper shots and worried about the possibility of getting sick on the trip... Any suggestions from your experience. We are definitely going just want to take all precautions!

Richard Koziol

Hi Susgot,

My wife and I got all the shots and pills we should (Malaria, Hep A and B and Yellow fever) Yellow fever being the only required one. But alas we still got sick. Not even sure what we had but my wife had it for a day and I got it like a day later. Oh well.

But please be advised that we were the only ones to get sick out of 20 people. So I assume we came into contact with something that no one else did. who knows.

One last thing, if you told me I could take the trip all over again with the only condition being that I would have to be sick again, I would do it in a heart beat. This trip is that great!

Rich

JoWeber

sick? no one got sick on our trip....I ate everything, did not even take the malaria meds ( even thought everyone reccomends it) but is was not season for mosquitoes ...took my chances as i did not want the side effects from the medication. I did do Yellow Fever and typhoid and of course Hep a and Hep b.....I ate everything and did everything and no colds or stomach issues...never used pepto bismal etc....food was incredibly good.....gained 3 lbs in fact as the desserts were very yummy at the One and Only in capte own....and especially at Camp kalahari food ws 5 star!

Richard Koziol

Yea was really strange. Was 24 hour thing. First my wife then me. Oh well, could have just as easily happened here in the US too. Funny part was (and not trying to brag here BUT) we were the youngest folks on the trip. Go figure

As I mentioned before and I will say it again, this trip is fantastic and I would/will do it again. And to jojo's post. Yes the food is great as well. Really surprised me that IMHO Camp Kalahari was the most 'rustic' of all the places we stayed and still the food was fantastic. Guess I have alot to learn about cooking

KS

I am glad to hear that Camp Kalahari upped their game in the food department. In May, one day at lunch we were served 1/2 a sandwich! Everyone was absolutely shocked - and it was like a tea sandwich, nothing hardy. Also, we had our final dinner at Camp Kalahari and immediately I became nauseous and lost it all. For my tour, Camp Kalahari food was a real low point. My favorite part was toast with peanut butter. That's pretty bad.

And no one on our trip got sick from anything!

SusGot

Thank-you all for your comments! Looking forward this this trip! Sounds like you all really enjoyed it! Scheduled for the travel doctor this week!!! Thanks so much!

SusGot

KS we are going in May 2014 .. What would you recommend as far as clothing? Thanks for any help or suggestions!

Leo M

Hello Rush21122...Truly enjoyed reading your comments about your trip. I have read hundreds of submissions to this Forum and don't remember anyone saying they would gladly tolerate a day of sickness to take the trip again. Even so, I totally agree with you. Your passion for the safari is infectious. We return to Africa in seven weeks for our (4th) safari and your enthusiasm has us ready to board the plane tomorrow. Thank you.

Leo M

Richard Koziol

Hi Leo M

Thanks! 4th Safari. Wow I am jealous. My wife an I have been talking about when we can go back. Cannot wait. This trip was a milestone birthday for my wife. I am coming up on one myself. Probably going on safari again

Leo M wrote:

Hello Rush21122...Truly enjoyed reading your comments about your trip. I have read hundreds of submissions to this Forum and don't remember anyone saying they would gladly tolerate a day of sickness to take the trip again. Even so, I totally agree with you. Your passion for the safari is infectious. We return to Africa in seven weeks for our (4th) safari and your enthusiasm has us ready to board the plane tomorrow. Thank you.

Leo M

Leo M

Hi Again Rush...We did exactly the same thing after our first safari. Tauck whet our appetites for Africa. Every night afterward we had the same discussion..."when can we return?" In our case, we returned home in February and were back in Africa by October. The next trip took us to the remote and seldom visited Tanzanian National Parks of Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale. Our fourth safari will start on the second anniversary of our first safari.

Correct, we are averaging a safari every six months. We can't keep that pace up forever but it has been an incredible experience so far. Based upon the enthusiasm contained in your Forum posts, I would not be surprised if you and your wife do what we have done. Africa is an addictive mistress.

I do hope you are able to go again....Leo M

Gordo722

My wife and I went on the Oct 17th Botswana, Zambia and South Africa trip and were just amazed at how well it was coordinated and all the sites and trips, every day was and adventure. The other people on our trip were wonderful. This is a trip of a lifetime. We want to thank our Tour Director Christopher for making it a really unforgettable Adventure. Well Done!

drjenny

SusGot--we are also going on the May 2014 trip. Love all the positive comments here. We cannot wait and are headed to travel doc this month. I've been reading everything Tauck has to offer as far as clothing, luggage, and what to expect. Have never been so excited for a trip before!

Sunseeker

Rush...so very happy to read your comments on the BSZ Tour. I am so axious. Our flight will be very long and up and down a lot.
I have a question about bathroom facilities out on safari...are there any? Are they decent. Somone posted a photo of a toilet seat by a tree....should I expect that?
Did you get to be up close and personal with the meerkets?
I will probably have lots of questions for you before September.
Hope you don't mind.
Sunseeker

Richard Koziol

Sunseeker wrote:

Rush...so very happy to read your comments on the BSZ Tour. I am so axious. Our flight will be very long and up and down a lot.
I have a question about bathroom facilities out on safari...are there any? Are they decent. Somone posted a photo of a toilet seat by a tree....should I expect that?
Did you get to be up close and personal with the meerkets?
I will probably have lots of questions for you before September.
Hope you don't mind.
Sunseeker

Hi Sunseeker,

Yes you do get up close and personal with the meerkats. As a matter of fact I have a picture of a pregnant one sitting and leaning up against me. I have another photo of me standing next to my wife with a meerkat standing on my head. The meerkat was originally standing on my wifes head and when I went and stood next to her the meerkat took advantage of me being taller and climbed from her head to mine.

Feel free to email me at r_koziol@yahoo.com with any and all questions. Believe me, there is nothing more I like doing than talking about this amazing trip. I had other plans for my next milestone birthday but I am pretty sure those plans have changed and I'll be going back on this trip

As for the bathroom facilities, I think that photo may have been posted for fun. PM me and I'll send you the photos I took of the facilities we had in our tents.

We flew from Newark to Amsterdam to SA. Next time I think I'll make my connection in the US. Nothing against Amsterdamn just personal preference to connect in the US.

Cheers!

SusGot

Hi drjenny
Glad to hear from a fellow traveller. Are you on the May 25 th tour? Seems like it is just around the corner! Can't wait! I am from New York State in the Catskill mountains! Thanks for posting!

JoWeber

Yes you get to sit with the Meerkats or should I say they sit on you! Just make sure you take your sunglasses off and they will come right to you! Enjoy!!!!!!!

Jforcht

how do you dress on safari? Do you change clothes for dinner? Do you eat dinner on safari inside a tent or outdoors

Richard Koziol

Jforcht wrote:

how do you dress on safari? Do you change clothes for dinner? Do you eat dinner on safari inside a tent or outdoors

Hi,

Well at Camp Khwai dinner was at the lodge. Same at Camp Kalahari. While I was at the Royal Livingstone I had dinner in my room one night and the other night was on the train. I just wore my safari clothes to dinner. If I remember correctly most people did. Sometimes the afternoon safari's got back late so we just went straight to dinner. If you get back when it is dark (which can and has happened) your not allowed back to your tent without a escort so for me I just stayed in the lodge right after the safari and had dinner. Most of the time dinner was with the group.

Cheers!

Rich

amydavis

Awesome experience... I had similar kind of experience while I visited Krugar national park and Mauritius in the last summer. Great moments with my friends, we enjoyed a lot by watching animals, plants, some small creatures like green frogs, snakes wow ... then moved to Mauritius, their I booked a private villa at bookmauritius-villa.com and enjoyed my remaining days with peace, love & adventures @ocean , my trip was for 18 days and I enjoyed every moment... South Africa is one of the best place if someone is looking for adventure and peace at the same place..

Nick of Skara Brae

Here is a link to my travel blog for the April 2014 trip:

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog/sirnick/2/tpod.html

I hope it will be helpful to those planning to take this wonderful trip in the future.

Tauck Emily

Nick of Skara Brae,

Thank you for sharing your blog. It looked and sounded like you had a wonderful time in Africa.

Best,
Emily

jdurkin

Thanks for sharing, Nick. You have some wonderful shots. I haven't made it to the Okavango, yet. It is definitely on my list.

Cheers,

Jan

AlanS

Wow, Nick, great blog!! Thanks!

I have added that trip to my bucket list. We are taking the Kenya/Tanzania trip next spring. Hopefully my wife will like it so we can take the Botswana, South Africa & Zambia trip too someday!

TravelGuy

Nick --

Thanks for sharing your beautiful pics -- we're doing the same tour in September-- we'd like to know the five things you enjoyed the most and the five things you didn't really like -- and, any tips you'd like to share about clothing, shoes, equipment for the trip, etc.?

British

I just want to ask you Nick if you actually live in Skara Brae, I went there a few years ago while visiting a friend who was living in Wick for 18 months and found it fascinating. I managed to take a rare 'air miles' trip when we discovered some miles we didn't know were still good, an epic, Philly to Amsterdam then up to Aberdeen and then a really small plane up to the north. I booked what looked like a decent overnight hotel on the internet for Aberdeen and it turned out to be the sort where all the oil rig guys stay. Getting accosted by a drunk at the checkout desk about 5am was not fun, especially as there was no one at the desk, and the bar was still in full swing a few feet away. Ah the joys of single travel, where is your hubby when you really need him--- earning money for the next Tauck tour while I swan around the Orkneys!

jdurkin

British wrote:

Ah the joys of single travel, where is your hubby when you really need him--- earning money for the next Tauck tour while I swan around the Orkneys!

Quite right, too!

While researching river cruises on another site … I think I might have an answer to your principal question, British. No, but I sit to be corrected by the primary source.

As for the river cruises, IMHO Tauck wins hands down, but in Australia there are factors afoot, unfortunately, that diminish Tauck's market share.

Cheers,

Jan

drjenny

We just returned from this trip. WOW...absolutely amazing and wonderful. I would recommend this trip to anyone who is considering a trip to Africa. Every day was a new adventure, and I was so sad for it to end. Someone mentioned listing 5 best things and things they would change, so I'll give it a try
BEST:
1. the accomodations-everything from the hotel rooms, to the tents, to the wonderful staff was perfect. our tour director debra was fantastic.
2. the activities-every day is full of activities, with time in between to rest or do your own thing. just enough to not get bored, and not too much that it wears you out
3. the food-always great. the best meals were actually at camp kalahari, the most remote place you go!
4. the service-impeccable at all times. I cannot say enough good about the staff at ALL the different stops
5. the sights-I never imagined that it would be this great in person. Everyone on our tour was discussing how we would never truly be able to explain how fantastic this trip actually is
CHANGES:
I would recommend going a day early to zambia. this will (hopefully) avoid any air travel mishaps, and it gives you a chance to have one extra night at the Livingstone to enjoy more of the activities there. Other than that, Tauck has provided a perfect vacation!!!

please ask any questions about this trip!!!

Leo M

Good job Nick. You just reminded me we need to go back to Okavango...once was not nearly enough...Leo M

TauckTim

Hi drjenny,

I'm so glad to hear you had such a wonderful time on your trip! And thanks for the change suggestion; we take those quite seriously.

Best,
Tim

TravelGuy

drjenny:

Thanks for your list.

We are taking this trip in September. Was there any concern about needing some sort of ankle protection to prevent snake bites?