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I can't recall the genesis of this trip. About a year ago I think I was looking at the map for somewhere I hadn't been before, and where I could see interesting things. Namibia had always be of interest, and I noticed Intrepid had a 'Premium Namibia' 10 day tour. I'm more and more attracted to tours these days, especially in non-first world countries. I was happy enough driving around Chile last December and Japan a few months ago, but I decided I'd see a lot more on a small group tour here, being driven around with everything organised.
So that was the first plank.
What else then. I've been to South Africa many times for work and had driven around a lot of it - mainly the south (wine areas) and around Jo'burg (gold mines). What else? Been to the countries in southern and east Africa except Angola and the new-ish South African 'homelands' and visited game parks in Kenya/Tanzania. Madagascar was put aside for a separate visit.
Not much appealed. Looking at the timing of the flights from/to Oz - and knowing that I want at least a day between beginning and finishing a tour and the arriving/departing flights, there was going to be a 4 day gap at the start. Somehow I decided to visit the Madikwe game reserve in NW South Africa.
At this stage I brought in my trusty travel agent and asked them to construct an itinerary with QF flights SYD-JNB, onward flight to Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, driver to Madikwe, a nice lodge there, then out and flights to Windhoek where I would join the tour, then back home.
Then the fun began. The TA asked "Why would you want to start at Gaborone? There's nothing there". And in addition to the flight cost, its going to cost $900 to get to the game park and back and also a border crossing which might be lengthy.
HOW MUCH? Its an hour or two - almost a thousand bucks in the third world country? I started a thread asking for alternatives but none were forthcoming and we found no alternative to the expensive drive.
TA came up with plan B. There is a 'shuttle' air service between Madikwe and JNB which seemed to be the usual way of getting from JNB. So the TA priced some lodges and the flights and we came up with Tau Lodge. Flights A$1,200 there and back.
www.taugamelodge.co.za
Live web cam
Three nights was moderately expensive and, coupled with the flights, it had better be good! So everything was locked in about 6 months ago. Almost.
About 6 weeks ago the flight people said that I was the only passenger each way, so if no-one else came forward I'd need to pay for two. Ummmm ... no.
So I and the TA start pricing hire cars - again I started a thread on this, but in the end I couldn't get comfortable with the cost/insurance/safety/rental car usual hassle equation.
So final, plan C. TA comes up with Day Trip Daytrip: Private Car Transfers with Sightseeing essentially a private car transfer - they operate around the world. Lock it in; A$800 for two four hour transfers. Meh. I'm on holiday. Flight people then come back and say a pax has popped up for one of my flights and they'd put a flight one way, car return package for ... A$1,000. Nick orf.
As usual, I've got some health things to look after. Not serious this time - arthritis in a finger knuckle and in foot. Got the finger injected with steroi_ on Monday and the foot will be done tomorrow. Finger not doing so well, but still has a day or so to take full effect; Saturday is a rest up foot day and fly out Sunday.
HBA-SYD QF J
Rydges at SYD
SYD-JNB QF J
Premier Hotel at JNB
Car JNB-Tau Lodge return
Tau Lodge 3 nights, 2 game drives/day, full board
JNB-WDH SAA J
Pre tour night in The Weinberg THE WEINBERG
Premium Namibia tour
Post tour night in The Weinberg
WDH-JNB Airlink J
Premier Hotel at JNB
JNB-SYD-MEL-HBA QF J
HLO
Namibia will be country #99, but who's counting
So that was the first plank.
What else then. I've been to South Africa many times for work and had driven around a lot of it - mainly the south (wine areas) and around Jo'burg (gold mines). What else? Been to the countries in southern and east Africa except Angola and the new-ish South African 'homelands' and visited game parks in Kenya/Tanzania. Madagascar was put aside for a separate visit.
Not much appealed. Looking at the timing of the flights from/to Oz - and knowing that I want at least a day between beginning and finishing a tour and the arriving/departing flights, there was going to be a 4 day gap at the start. Somehow I decided to visit the Madikwe game reserve in NW South Africa.
At this stage I brought in my trusty travel agent and asked them to construct an itinerary with QF flights SYD-JNB, onward flight to Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, driver to Madikwe, a nice lodge there, then out and flights to Windhoek where I would join the tour, then back home.
Then the fun began. The TA asked "Why would you want to start at Gaborone? There's nothing there". And in addition to the flight cost, its going to cost $900 to get to the game park and back and also a border crossing which might be lengthy.
HOW MUCH? Its an hour or two - almost a thousand bucks in the third world country? I started a thread asking for alternatives but none were forthcoming and we found no alternative to the expensive drive.
TA came up with plan B. There is a 'shuttle' air service between Madikwe and JNB which seemed to be the usual way of getting from JNB. So the TA priced some lodges and the flights and we came up with Tau Lodge. Flights A$1,200 there and back.
Tau Game Lodge | Luxury Big 5 Safari Holiday | South Africa Holiday
Tau Game Lodge, a South African luxury safari lodge in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. Big 5 game safaris, and state of the art event facilities too
www.taugamelodge.co.za
Live web cam
Three nights was moderately expensive and, coupled with the flights, it had better be good! So everything was locked in about 6 months ago. Almost.
About 6 weeks ago the flight people said that I was the only passenger each way, so if no-one else came forward I'd need to pay for two. Ummmm ... no.
So I and the TA start pricing hire cars - again I started a thread on this, but in the end I couldn't get comfortable with the cost/insurance/safety/rental car usual hassle equation.
So final, plan C. TA comes up with Day Trip Daytrip: Private Car Transfers with Sightseeing essentially a private car transfer - they operate around the world. Lock it in; A$800 for two four hour transfers. Meh. I'm on holiday. Flight people then come back and say a pax has popped up for one of my flights and they'd put a flight one way, car return package for ... A$1,000. Nick orf.
As usual, I've got some health things to look after. Not serious this time - arthritis in a finger knuckle and in foot. Got the finger injected with steroi_ on Monday and the foot will be done tomorrow. Finger not doing so well, but still has a day or so to take full effect; Saturday is a rest up foot day and fly out Sunday.
HBA-SYD QF J
Rydges at SYD
SYD-JNB QF J
Premier Hotel at JNB
Car JNB-Tau Lodge return
Tau Lodge 3 nights, 2 game drives/day, full board
JNB-WDH SAA J
Pre tour night in The Weinberg THE WEINBERG
Premium Namibia tour
Post tour night in The Weinberg
WDH-JNB Airlink J
Premier Hotel at JNB
JNB-SYD-MEL-HBA QF J
HLO
Namibia will be country #99, but who's counting
Last edited:
I think all of us are nursing sore bums and backs!
Excuse me?
and the line was pretty slow. Only two counters open for foreigners and the counter I was sent to, the young lady kept up a constant conversation with the two young blokes hanging abou the back of her booth. She managed to put my passport on the scanner, type a few things into the computer, stamp the passport nd hand it back to me with only the barest glance at me.
