Question is there interest in what I have below should I pursue this further??

As we have a waitlist and people who wish to join ROAR and we may not have enough cancellations to accommodate them I am considering an additional group to leave prior to the original ROAR group to arrive on April 14. 3 nights Capetown, Rovos Rail and 3 nights in Singita in Boulders.

I am holding that space now.I think this is a better idea than an overflow group as Singita is such a great property and I think most want to stay there.

This in a shorter version of 8 days with one day less in Cape Town and one day less in Singita. Of course anyone can come in early and stay late on their own but this will offer a less expensive alternative for those who wish to do a shorter “formal” safari program. Additional nights are available to extend either Cape Town or Singita if you wish. Also Victoria Falls could still be added.

I think Rovos Rail and Singita are really “must haves”. I looked at the blue train that is a little less expensive but the Rovos Rail and Singita are truly the BEST.

I know Cape Grace is THE hotel in Cape Town but it is a very expensive property. I may find a property in Cape Town that will be less expensive than Cape Grace and still very nice. Everyone has suggestions of course and it can get very confusing and people can get their feelings hurt if their suggestion is not taken. So I will make this decision alone once I visit Cape Town in October and actually see the properties I will decide to either stay with Cape Grace or offer an alternative for less cost. I will only consider properties I actually visit and see with my own eyes.

I can ask Ker & Downey if we can have flexibility if I get an equal number of people selecting Cape Grace or the less expensive option if I decide we should offer a different property.

If we use Cape Grace this will drop the price to around $7300 a person before my rebate. If we dont use Cape Grace it could go another $500 or even lower per person.

I was trying to do the second group after the first group so I could be with both groups for the entire time. However, the Rovos train messes everything up and the Capetown - Rovos -Singita is the best way to do it.

If we do this I will be accompanying this group from April 14 through to April 21 when I will leave Singita to fly back to Cape Town and meet the original ROAR group. I will then take the train with the original ROAR group and stay with them though the time at Singita.

Linda from my office will be in Cape Town the entire time with the Original ROAR group so the original ROAR group will have a Brown and Keene person with them during the first four days.

So please let me know if anyone else has an interest besides those already on the waiting list so I can determine whether to proceed or not.

Ngaire,

Exceptional plan for the waitlist folks...Thanks
for a creative, client first solution..we're so very fortunate to be with B&K!

Wes

This is great! There is lots of time to build momentum for ROAR I (I call it that because it is the earliest), and it gives the ability to Ngaire to shift people up from the waiting list keeping the larger ROAR II (original group) full, while enticing others to join the first group. Of course, as airline time approaches there will be frozen itineraries, but it is a long way off! I also like that you could go on the first trip if the time/money thing is critical, but even then, could add on both ends on your own for a truly wonderful custom land cruise! Ngaire, your brain works well after just coming off a cruise!

If I may ask, how many are on the waitlist?

There are seven people right now.

You are one truly awesome woman.. are you saying you are going to check out all the ROARING "planning" in October next month? Like a trial run( sort of?)

Yes, 9 - 10 days in South Africa running from camp to camp not one night in the same place as I understand it. Seeing as much as possible also going to Victoria Falls and a few camps in Botswana. Leaving in October and will be back a week before MINT.

I will be well versed by the time I get back. I posted that a few days ago. Just did not feel comfortable taking 36 people somewhere that I did not know. Plus I am pretty excited about South Africa and am seriously considering adding this to what I offer. Select properties only not all properties.

Ngaire; If you're going ahead of time, take a look at the Radisson. It's on the water and it's a really nice hotel. Also, the Table Bay Hotel, but that's just about the same price as the Cape Grace and the Mount Nelson.

Ngaire, The Twelve Apostles Hotel may also be worth taking a look at if time allows.

I dont have a lot of options. I am doing this through Ker & Downey - I need to use them to see how well they handle things. I am "in their hands". I dont even know the itinerary except when we leave and return. I know it is no more than one night in any place and we are going to see about three to four game parks a day. So it is going to be rush rush rush. So they will have my time scheduled completely and I will only see the properties that they select. I will see Singita Boulders and Ebony, Lombomo, Royal Malewane, Leopard Hills, Londolozi those I know for sure in Kruger area. Also Livingston in Victoria and several properties in Botswana. I think I am staying at Table Top.

Dying to hear how you like Leopard Hills! That was a wonderful property from the brochure we got in doing our research. It was just too small!

And if you can look at Ulusaba.. that was our other favorite..
Marcie:
Twelve Apostles Hotel got some pretty rotten reviews.I think they even came from one of the folks at CCAFRICA..but, maybe I am wrong about where we read it..anyways they didn't give it the high ratings like Cape Grace...

There was a thread awhile back on Fodor's board that was a sparring between Twelve Apostles fans and foes. Maybe that's what you remember? There were many good stories, too.

Well hopefully I will get to see Twelve Apostles and I am also going to see if there is time to see the one the Wes found. It looked good.

Just have to be sure that Ker& Downey uses them too. In order to have things seamless you need to stay with the same operator for everything, transfers, hotels etc etc. Some of the smaller hotels dont work with the tour operators.

I asked to see Ulusaba. I have such a rushed time, so not sure how it is all going to work. I have to be back with a week to spare before MINT.

Ngaire, hope you will get to see Ulusaba. I think it is owned by Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Atlantic. As I remember, this was Claudia's favorite, just too small for our growing group!

Yeah, we kept calling that "Richard's Place".

But we did discover that a lot of the lodges at Ulusaba were connected by loooong "bridges" and there were a lot of walking AND a lot of stairs.

I think it was that it was the first "lux" lodge we had received info on when Marcie thought up your vacation extraordinare..
They offered gorgeous rooms, plunge pools a stunning spa ( where we were always sure if that was the place choosen, we would find our "Jungle Belle" Pam..)
and they stocked every room with full bars with 1/5ths..of booze..so even if there were no animal sightings you were assured of them.
LOL

I know there have been some drop outs and additions from the waitlist. How do we stand? Are there truly enough for a second group or is it looking like just the one group?

thanks,

Marc, I am waiting for several things.

I will only do a second group if we have enough on the waitlist to warrant it. At this time we dont. We have 5 people on the list now. Others may yet drop out of the original ROAR and take up space there. I have the second group all held and I put down the deposits under a different type of contract so I can get my money back if it does not come to fruition. They allowed that since the first ROAR group was sold out.

If we have enough on the LCT list that want to go then I might put this out to my regular client list and fill up a second group. I just dont feel I can even consider doing that until I have been to Africa and done my "scouting" trip so I have more knowledge.

I leave on October 25 arrive in Capetown on October 27. I was able to use frequent flyer miles although it is taking me two days to get there with a 12 hour layover in Zurich. At least it is business class.

I spend a night in the Winelands area at Cellars Hotel, a night at Cape Grace, a night at Ebony, a night at Royal Malewane, a night at Livingston at Victoria Falls. In Botswana a night at Mombo and night at Shinde. I fly home on November 3. Going to be a whirlwind lots of small charter flights between game parks. MAXIMUM Luggage per person 22lbs. Plus probably no time for laundry as we wont arrive until late and then leave fairly early the next day in each spot. Hope I get in at least one or two game drives. During my time I am also going to do a site inspection of Lebombo (Singita property), Leopard Hills, Ulusaba, Londolozi and others.

I dont think I am going to be able to see the Rovos Rail the only missing link but you cant do everything in just 8 days.

So once I get back I will know more. Ken is in charge of photos and we are going to do a screening on MINT. The Mariner will set up a screen so we can run them large size from Kens computer.

We will take pictures galore of Cape Grace, LOFT rooms in particular as opposed to regular rooms, EBONY and BOULDERS, the grounds, the cabins etc etc.

Ngaire, thanks! Looking forward to your report.

Now I really wish I was going on MINT! Will you be able to post the pictures to the board?

Suzie, we won't be on MINT, either, so you and I will just have to nag and whine for pictures.

Thanks for all your hard work, Ngaire.

I wish I could come say "hello" to you in Zurich, but, unfortunately,I'll be back in the US.

If you are looking for some things to do to while away the 12 hours, you can store your luggage in Zurich airport and take a train (15 minutes) to Zurich main station and walk around. It is a lovely city. If you need restaurant recommendations, let me know.

We are working on getting a day room hotel at the airport so we can at least shower and watch TV and fill in the day. We spent a day in Zurich last year and YES, it is a lovely city. Since we dont leave until around 11.00 pm this would make the time much more comfortable.

Zurich is a wonderful city to have to layover in

I love ANYWHERE in Switzerland. When we go on ROAR we're hoping to do a stopover for a few days there!

I have a site for day rooms ( I am sure Ngaire will have her own ideas) but in any event found this- used them for Rio since we aren't staying there after our cruise. Perhaps it would come in handy for anyone who needs to get a day room at a city or airport hotel ..they book for every country.
http://www.airportstay.com/

Love Zurich. We stayed there for a week in the early 90's and had some exciting adventures :rolleyes: Went everywhere on the metro and met some fascinating people.
One of my favorite cities.

Claudia. Thanks for that site I sent in a request not seen that site before. We will compare what they come back with to the requests I have sent in.

Suzie & Pam, another non-MINTer here, crossing her fingers & hoping Ngaire will send her the photos too!

Of course we will. In fact we will probably copy a CD and sent it to anyone on the ROAR list or on the waitlist so you have full benefit of our scouting trip.

Thanks Ngaire - you are the best!

Ngaire - I will be interested in your impression of Royal Malewane - I just saw a show on the Fine Living channel that showed some shots of the lodge. I thought it looked better in our brochures and on the web site than it did on the TV show.