Author Topic: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report  (Read 43500 times)

Offline ponash123

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 473
  • Total likes: 264
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #120 on: September 09, 2015, 12:39:17 PM »
Thanks!

Offline Yaalili

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 12764
  • Total likes: 473
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 157
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Crown Heights, NY
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #121 on: September 09, 2015, 01:13:39 PM »
Awesome pics Ponash123, looks like you had a trip of a lifetime.

Offline VacationLover

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 1669
  • Total likes: 242
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #122 on: September 09, 2015, 01:17:56 PM »

I am trying to figure out, the person who took this picture (assuming it was you) wasn't scared the lion will jump up? seems like if that did happen there is no safe way to get to the vehicle.

Overall this is one of the best TR's I've ever read

Offline Marco Polo

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 13121
  • Total likes: 49
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 104
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #123 on: September 09, 2015, 01:24:40 PM »
Could be there were multiple jeeps driving around.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline ponash123

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 473
  • Total likes: 264
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #124 on: September 09, 2015, 01:25:01 PM »
I am trying to figure out, the person who took this picture (assuming it was you) wasn't scared the lion will jump up? seems like if that did happen there is no safe way to get to the vehicle.

Overall this is one of the best TR's I've ever read

I did take this picture from the opposite jeep.

2) The animals don't see individuals in the jeep, they just see one large entity that they don't want to attack. That's why no one is allowed to stand up, for then they see a human form. The morning that we arrived there was an incident where someone stood up and made noises at the lion, which then started attacking. I don't think anyone was hurt but it was a bad situation.

Offline Chapshnell

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 4818
  • Total likes: 275
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 12
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: BP
  • Programs: Delta Skypesos, AA Shilling, AS Pounds.
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #125 on: September 09, 2015, 01:27:28 PM »
Are the guides fluent in English?

Offline ponash123

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 473
  • Total likes: 264
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #126 on: September 09, 2015, 01:37:04 PM »
Yes. They all know English and converse with each other in Afrikaans.

Online Yehuda57

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jan 2014
  • Posts: 4891
  • Total likes: 14679
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
    • Squilled
  • Location: Brooklyn
  • Programs: Official Dansdeals salad correspondent
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #127 on: September 09, 2015, 01:38:57 PM »
The more dangerous safari OP did was the boat ride. Hippos kill far more people than any other mammal.

One is more likely to die from a bee sting browsing DDF than getting chewed up by a lion on a safari. #funfact

Offline AharonInIsrael

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 1168
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Israel
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #128 on: September 09, 2015, 01:52:06 PM »
Wow! This is really amazing! Looks like a lot of fun.
I just pictured hanging out in a cabin trying to sleep and getting woken up by the roar of a male lion. A bit scary :)

Offline ponash123

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 473
  • Total likes: 264
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #129 on: September 09, 2015, 01:54:21 PM »
Wow! This is really amazing! Looks like a lot of fun.
I just pictured hanging out in a cabin trying to sleep and getting woken up by the roar of a male lion. A bit scary :)
I think that was one of the coolest parts

Offline AJK

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 25419
  • Total likes: 721
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: United Concierge Key; Delta Global Services; American Chairman; US Airways 1K; Hilton Sapphire; Hyatt Tritium; Marriott Californium; Starwood Kryptonium; Hertz Plutonium; National Adamantium, Avis Executive Proactanium
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #130 on: September 09, 2015, 01:57:12 PM »
This TR brings back great memories.

CPT is just stunning, and on that drive to the Capes we ran out of superlatives.

Though I must say, it looks like you had more luck with the animals. We didn't a rhino, but we did see leopards.

P.S. Any chance your first name is Penina?
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline AJK

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 25419
  • Total likes: 721
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: United Concierge Key; Delta Global Services; American Chairman; US Airways 1K; Hilton Sapphire; Hyatt Tritium; Marriott Californium; Starwood Kryptonium; Hertz Plutonium; National Adamantium, Avis Executive Proactanium
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #131 on: September 09, 2015, 02:03:37 PM »
Also, I may have missed it, but how did you pick Kapama? And which suite did you end up staying in?
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline ponash123

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 473
  • Total likes: 264
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #132 on: September 09, 2015, 03:08:16 PM »
We booked everything through a tour operator. They suggested Kapama and after looking into it, we were quite happy with what we saw. And after the fact as well.
They have regular and luxury suites, we stayed in regular.

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 12818
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #133 on: September 09, 2015, 03:39:49 PM »
Rates aren't crazy at all - $400 for a couple (especially with all food included :() for 2015. $470 for 2016.
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline ponash123

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 473
  • Total likes: 264
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #134 on: September 09, 2015, 03:42:27 PM »
Rates aren't crazy at all - $400 for a couple (especially with all food included :() for 2015. $470 for 2016.
When you go to actually book here it's a bit higher, R6500 for a couple, which is about $530. Still not bad.

Offline stbaum

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 1336
  • Total likes: 60
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #135 on: September 09, 2015, 03:47:44 PM »
Rates aren't crazy at all - $400 for a couple (especially with all food included :() for 2015. $470 for 2016.
When you go to actually book here it's a bit higher, R6500 for a couple, which is about $530. Still not bad.

one night/one day?
My greatest achievement? I am fluent in FRIENDS quotes

Offline ponash123

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 473
  • Total likes: 264
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #136 on: September 09, 2015, 03:50:14 PM »
Yes

Online Dawie

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2015
  • Posts: 1611
  • Total likes: 491
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: KBLM
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #137 on: September 09, 2015, 07:03:32 PM »
The Rand is 13.88 as we speak, excellent time to go to SA
it's like a 30% off sale until prices catch up

Offline Chapshnell

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 4818
  • Total likes: 275
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 12
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: BP
  • Programs: Delta Skypesos, AA Shilling, AS Pounds.
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #138 on: September 09, 2015, 07:07:48 PM »
The Rand is 13.88 as we speak, excellent time to go to SA
it's like a 30% off sale until prices catch up

was looking today at the currency conversion.. looks looks a steady decline since 2011 for sure..
I attached from google...

Offline Yehoshua

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 10172
  • Total likes: 213
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
Re: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Trip Report
« Reply #139 on: September 09, 2015, 07:10:42 PM »
was looking today at the currency conversion.. looks looks a steady decline since 2011 for sure..
I attached from google...
It was holding at 7.5 average for a long time; now's a great time to do with it over 13 and getting higher.