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Botswana, Zambia & cape Town Sept. 10th

mil

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going single occupancy!
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy about it! the room all to myself, quiet, no compromise, no sharing... nothing! everything is all for Moi! I do things the way I like, I get up and do what I want, no need to entertain anyone! perfect!
2 full days in Dubai before flying to Lusaka and 2 full days at Cape Town on my own! once tour ends. It's going to be an amazing trip! Cannot wait.
Love it!!

Comments

PureLuxury

mil....I'm so happy that you're so happy. That is a great tour. Hopefully you have a small group. There were 16 in my group. I was the only one who added the Cape Town extension (front end). You will LOVE Cape Town. I recommend staying at the Cape Grace. Solo is my preferred means of travel...Peace and serenity.

Claudia Sails

Mil, that's hilarious. A group of us women just booked all 6 Cat 1 cabins on a Christmas river cruise next year. I sold my friends on it by saying "hey, you can go shop at the Christmas markets and not have to explain to your husband why you're buying that". It was a winner argument, plus having rooms to ourselves. Now if we can just contain our excitement for 21 months.

mil

Claudia Sails Hi ))
21 month OMG! that's too long.. but it will go by fast.
You guys came up with a good argument, and I'm sure husbands are planning some long golf retreat somewhere too. )
You will enjoy that trip like no other... Happy for you.

mil

PureLuxury Hi, long time no hear....
Yes! I'm super excited and happy that everything turned the way I wanted.- I love traveling on my own... it's so relaxing and enjoyable- after having to deal with customers all year long , I need my "ME" time..
Thanks God.- the other part-traveler, cancelled!.... it's all I can give thanks for... ))
Now, I'm finishing all the reservations - in Dubai: AIN- Ferris Wheel , Frame Building, Future Museum (just open) and the Opera House
( this is my 4th stop in Dubai- I've seen most of it.) also my Spa treatments in Dubai-Kempinski / O&O-Cape T.
I'm set!!!

British

Mil, the One and Only in Cape Town was a big disappointment to us, even down to the weird bathroom
We much prefers the Cape Grace. If you can’t stay there, at least try their fabulous food.

gladysorlando984

Agree with you British, the Cape Grace is awesome.

mil

I saw the Cape Grace and I do like it, I have stayed at the O&O Dubai and it is amazing... we'll see.

British

Yes, that’s it. You can’t put a bath mat in front of the shower door because it is too close to the floor. No towel rail near the bath or sinks. Must have been designed by a man 😀

mil

Yeap , that's the style, very sleek- and just you know .. you can ask for the mats and they will provide them.
a lot of hotels are doing that.

mil

Hello Ladies PureLuxury, British and gladysorlando984. Hope you're doing well...
I have a question did you all or did any of you took the Malaria & Typhoid meds for this trip. I did for K&T, but I was wondering if I need to for this one? I'm going next Sept. 10th, 2022. Please advise.
Also, did any of you visited The Elephant Cafe? anything to share? I have done my homework but wanted to hear from other's experiences. Any input will be much appreciated.
Thanks a million.

British

Our room in Zambia had lots of mosquitoes We always take malaria meds. Surely you do your own research on meds, not from people here on the forum.

mil

British hi,
Yes, I will take the final decision, I was asking to see what your guy's experience was, your answer helps a lot. I've taken Malaria before, no side effects and considering that we'll be at the Delta I think it should be appropriate.
What time of the year were you in Zambia?

British

It was a September

mil

British, Hi.
Good to know, I'm going Sept. too.
Thanks

British

Here’s me asleep in the Kalahari on that tour. I want to take the tour again

British

Well, the previous photo may not have been me. But these are. Fun times

mil

British..... love the pics! I'm going to do it, it has to be amazing. , my only concern is having to go potty. ) and now that I'm going solo.. I better have my bed in between 2 couples to be safe. )

AlanS

If you look closely at British's photo you'll see a dot on the horizon- that is the loo, just a short 15 min. hike away. (just kidding)

British

There are no animals or insects on the salt pan Mil! You just get out of bed and pee pee at the foot of the bed, it’s pitch black and no one can see you. As Alan said, there is a loo but it’s a hike in the dark and I doubt anyone uses it

If there are any cute single guys on the tour, you might get lucky 😀

mil

British, hopefully i won't meet them while peeing... at the salt pan

PureLuxury

Hello Ladies PureLuxury, British and gladysorlando984. Hope you're doing well... I have a question did you all or did any of you took the Malaria & Typhoid meds for this trip.

Mil...I did take the Malaria drugs. No issues.

Also, did any of you visited The Elephant Cafe? anything to share?

mil...I visited the Thorntree (sp) Elephant Sanctuary in Zambia. It was a great experience. I had a chance to feed the elephants and play with the baby elephants--they have the softest ears - feels like velvet. It was so funny, one of the babies was having a good time with us and was getting left behind from the pack. They stopped and called for him and when he realized he was being left behind, he politely excused himself and trotted away to join his pack. It was an adorable scene.

What time of the year were you in Zambia?

miI took this tour mid-December. It is summer time and the weather was perfect. We did not have any rain. Everything was decorated beautifully for the Christmas holidays. Boxing Day is very big in South Africa.

BTW, since you're a spa girl, you'll really appreciate the spa at the Cape Grace (another plug for the Cape Grace Hotel - it is fabulous). When I was there, I had a treatment named Spice Trade Journey. It was inspired by the spice trade route (India to Kenya) embarked upon by the sea fares of the middle ages. I remember my skin felt like butter afterwards and I was so relaxed that I had to be awakened when it was finished.

This is a great tour and your extension of Cape Town will be the cherry on the top!

mil

PureLuxury,
Hello my friend... to start , I want to thank you for all the info.

a- I checked my records and I won't need the typhoid med. booster yet. it's every 5 years and I had my first dosage 4 years ago. -

b- I will get the Malaria- 1st time I didn't have any side effects, so I'm not worry about having any now.

c- I will look into the Thorntree Elephant Sanctuary and will choose the best one. I was planning to do the speed boat ride to the elephant cafe for lunch that way a get to enjoy some fun while cruising the river. Playing with a baby elephant, WAO! that is my dream.

d-I hope weather is good in Sept., if it doesn't rain , I'm happy. I'm into photography and do prefer sunny weather.. I don't care the heat , but please no rain...

e- Yes!! I treat myself well, I do normally 1 Spa treatment on arrival day, 1 in the middle of the trip and last one on the last day before departure. This time since I'm spending 2 days in Dubai and then to Livingstone .. I'll wait to be at the RVF hotel for the 1st one. skip #2 and just wait for Cape town to do the Cape Grace before flying back. I'm going to check out the Cape Grace one tonight.
In cape town I'm planning on doing the Hop on/off , to see the area, also the wine region and the markets. some coffee shops , the aquarium and the Kirstenbosch Botanical....I already got all the tickets for both Dubai & Cape T -
and after this marathon, I'm sure I will need a great massage.....

F- I also have reserved the camera lens I want for this trip and I have bought all the tickets for Dubai, so I'm pretty much all set.

I'll keep you posted. Have a great evening.
Mil.

PureLuxury

Hello Mil...I'm assuming you're staying at The Royal Livingstone in Zambia--another fabulous property. The grounds are absolutely beautiful.

When in Cape Town, you can also ask The Cape Grace to arrange your tours. I'm sure a hop/on, hop/off option will be fun. Kirstenbosch is lovely and the wine tour was very nice. Hopefully you have time to go to Cape Point (Cape of Good Hope).

If you're planning to go up to Table Mountain, ask the hotel to make the reservations. There was a long que and I was escorted to the front of the line. Also, the Cape Grace offers a service (assuming they still offer this service) to escort you to/from the airport as well as escort you attractions within a certain distance from the hotel in a 7 series BMW. It was a nice drive and the driver provided a tour along the way. (yep, I'm still advocating for you to stay at the Cape Grace, although, I know someone who stayed at the O&O and said it was quite lovely. The Cape Grace just has a great location and views.

I used a 18-270 lens and got great shots. You're so close to the animals. I got perfect close up and distant shots. It's the same lens I've been using for over a decade now. I don't bother with switching lens anymore.

-Robin

British

We used the Cape Grace BMW to visit Kirstenbosch Gardens which we loved. It was not part of the Elegant South Africa tour as it is now. There was a great gift store there too. Our Elegant South Africa tour took us to Robben Island to visit the prison where Mandela was held, we had a wonderful local guide who was always chosen to take dignitaries and the rich and famous around.
We also loved the Christian Barnard museum, they pick you up from the hotel as part of the ticket.
There is a lovely craft market in a warehouse building. Tauck stopped taking people to maybe the markets you are describing Mil because of aggressive stall holders and I think crime. I’ve researched them in the past and they don’t get a good wrap for products or atmosphere.
The ride to Simons Town to see the Penguins and the Cape Point and lighthouse will take at least half a day. It can be rainy weather there especially as you are going in early Spring. Cape Town was dull and a bit rainy when we were there in a September. We’ve been there three times I think.
I believe you say you have just two days there, in my experiences you won’t have enough time to do all the things you have booked, unless you run in and out and don’t make the most of what is offered. If it was me, I’d skip the wine tour because a wine tour is a wine tour and they are pretty much the same wherever you go, I”d want to do the more unique things like those mentioned above and of course Table Mountain.
We have stayed at the Cape Grace and the One and Only. I can only describe the difference as staying in an impersonal no atmosphere hotel…One and Only, nice though it may be…..to a lovely boutique hotel where they really care about you and you feel special and service is king. I did have a spa treatment at the Cape Grace.

PureLuxury

mil British Agree with everything British stated. My tour included all of the places British mentioned. I felt really special when I first entered the Cape Grace as I was greeted by name - of course, this is probably because the driver picked me up from the airport and they knew exactly when I was driving...but I felt special indeed. I was offered tea in the lovely library prior to being escorted to y room.

DebiHoran90

I may have to look at this trip again. We went 2 years ago and we didn't have an option to sleep in the salt pans! I would have loved that!

British

It depends when you go, if it’s the rainy season, obviously it’s not an option

Sealord

It occurred to me that they might not offer it when there is a full moon … it would be like daylight out there. We were not offered the sleep out option. But, it was one of those rare nights when we had sunset and moon rise at the same time. And that only happens during a full moon. We did return at full speed on our ATVs by moonlight.

mil

Hello ladies.
Thanks for all your info. and suggestions. There is always something new out there to be discover...
In this tour we stay at the O&O hotel, no chance to switch to the Cape Grace and I do like the O&O brand, so I'm okay with the hotel selection.. Too bad there isn't a Four Seasons, they are amazing.. I have visited several and love them. I'm a FS gal. )
British I'm staying 2 xtra days after tour ends.. so I'm actually having almost 3 days free to explore.
In my calendar of xtra-non (tour) included activities , which I always do one.
I figure it will be enough time .@ Cape.
There I have 2 free afternoons (while in tour) 2 full days and the 1 morning on departure day, I have to do the check in at airport at 5:00 pm , so it should be enough & remember now I'm going solo , so I can manage my time accordingly.
I've been traveling on my own for 30 years now... ( no tours) , doing my own logistic etc.. it's just the last 7 that I decided to become part of the TAUCK family. (37 years of travels out of pocket and another 15-20 traveling with my family ( parents paying for it) and the more I travel , the more I love it!
I don't spend money having therapy- laying down in a couch..my therapy is to travel - meeting new people, seeing new places, enjoying other cultures and eating great food. )
The choice is :"obvious".
Thank you ladies, if something else comes up , feel free to advise .
Robin, yes I'm staying at the Royal Livingstone Zambia. I will do the Elephant Cafe, it works better for me, timing is tight with the welcome dinner at 6:00pm- so, I've booked my visit.

mil

Sealoed, lovely pics.
But now I'm tortured... I'll check the weather-channel website and will checkout the moon faces for next Sept.
It would be sad if it doesn't happen... also, question.. Does Tauck provides the head covers? they are all the same.
Thanks guys.