Lets get the basic plan down first. Then we will fine tune the dates. I only put those dates there to clarify my thoughts. We will do a poll with the dates - based on the properties we decide on and the rates.

We hold off any choice in Cape Town until I look at the Victoria and Albert again and also one other hotel that is in the waterfront I have never seen The Commodore. I also want to look at the Cullin (new name now) again and see how it goes at the Radisson with TUSK. Stayed at the Radisson once but lets see how it is with a group. I will post an analysis of all four and base rates and we can vote.

Mark, all the suites at Mateya are the same. Those people staying at Mateya will have an upcharge for that property. It should be 10 of those from Singita.

At Madikwe Hills all the primary suites are the basically the same and then there is "Little Madikwe" This is like a family suite with two rooms and common lounge. They call it the Presidential Suite too, same thing. I did not get to see this suite when I was there it was occupied. When you take it separately you can have a private chef and take your land rover from a different spot. When we take the whole lodge it wont be done like that, no private chef or different area for the land rover. As I understand it the rooms are the same, it is just that there is a private lounge. This is similiar to what Al and Betty and Gerry and Peggy had at Ebony. I will determine later if there is an upcharge for that once I get all the pricing.

Perhaps the ROARERS should get first choice, they blazed the trail, they took the risk so should they have the first option. I dont want to make that decision 100% but that may be fair. I dont think all the ROARERS will be coming back. So there will be space for newcomers. Then it will be first come first served with deposit in hand.

As to Singita and extra rooms. I dont think we can worry about having the whole camp. It is nice but not absolutely necessary. It wont ruin the trip if there is another couple or two along. It may be more at Singita and not a full camp at Leopard Hills. We just let those chips fall where they may.

There is another lodge at Madikwe called Makeyane which is also very nice but a long way from Madikwe Hills and Mateya. I thought it was great until I saw Madikwe Hills and Mateya. HUGE glass windows looking over the river and big decks. No plunge pool. It is even cheaper as I remember. So if it did get to where those extra rooms at Singita were wanted we could put the last people to book at Makayane. That would be six people.

One thing is that this group will be "split up" we wont all be together all the time, like we were in Cape Town and Rovos Rail.

Not everyone is going to Cape Town, Hermanus will be limited to 22 at a time, different camps, so if it grew by another six to 40 it would not be too bad. That would only be five more than we had on ROAR. The only issue is getting through the airports and luggage on the transfer from Cape Town to Johannesburg to Federal. We know how that all works now and with the tags it should be much easier. That is an option if we have that many who want to come.