I see John's name in the who's here list...I will let him make the new forum :)

The brochures that we received say that dinner on the train is "dress". We had questioned this - nothing got past us ... they require dinner type dress ( but not formal..although I suppose there are those who do that type of thing, just like an Orient Express, but in any event it looks like you men in the group would need a coat

Marc - Regarding attire on the Rovos train trip, Pat & I certainly don't want to bring along coat and tie to dine on the train. Perhaps our group can simply be the "African safari casual" group and not surrender to the Rovos website's hints about dressing for dinner.

I hope that someone will update the Roll Call for this trip, now that it has been reserved and deposited.

We look forward to lots of fun discussions about the trip.

Cheers, Fred

Hello from New York! I need to pop in every few days to see what''s happening!! I'm so pleased that our ROAR group just took off!! We are all going to have such a great time!
Freddie, I found out from Tiffany that men do NOT need to wear a coat on the Rovos train. Some can if they want but it is not required. CCC will work just fine. Tom was thrilled to hear that!

I will probably bring a coat if that is what the standard attire is. The heavy part of informal dress will be the black shoes. I will probably want those in Cape Town anyway.

Marcie -

Thanx for the reassurance that ASC (African Safari Casual) will be acceptable on the Rovos train. We had started to go into major twitch mode about bringing jackets (and black shoes, Marc!!) on this trip. Frankly, I don't think that black shoes will go with my Jungle Jim safari duds. Fortunately, there is plenty of time to debate the issue of REI/Patagonia outfits vs. traditional safari suits before the trip occurs.

I am also beginning to research the malaria pill altenatives. Larium very often causes unpleasant side effects (Pat & I both went mildly psycho in China taking Larium; but that may just have been due to an excess of Sichuan spicy noodles!!) But before we all take off in April, 2006, there may be some better options available. This forum will continue to be a good source of info on the travel medicine issues.

Cheers, Fred

Here is the roll call as requested. Normally people sign in on their own so I hope no one minds that I posted this. I took off the last names.

BOULDERS
1. Marc and Arlene
2. Olivia and daughter
3. Anne and Gary
4. Suzanne and hopefully Sheri
5. Lawrence
6. Marcie and Tom
7. Joanna and Tony
8. Leslie and Brad
9. Pam and Mark


EBONY
1. Andrea
2. Wes and Ida
3. Bill and Nancy
4. Ron and Linda
5. Ngaire and Ken
6. Mary Ellen and Jim
7. Judy and John
8. Fred and Patrick
9. Maurice and Amira

Dont forget a waitlist is available. Things happen in 20 months!!!

Oh MY GOD!! :ohmy:

VOF all over again!!! :D

Suzanne, Sheri, and Lawrence!!!

Adding in Marcie and Tom...

....do you think they have Scary-oke in South Africa? :D

I was talking to a friend of my daughter's last night, who is a nurse with the County Health Department. She told me that there IS a new anti-malarial drug out that is far, far safer to take than Larium. I've forgotten what she told me the name of it is, but at least there is one.

Keep us posted Pam. I've never taken an anti-malarial drug before, but I don't think I need anything else to make me more nuts than I already am!!

The pictures on the Rovos Rail web site show people VERY dressed up, but those people can't have been about to go on safari! There will probably be an option to store luggage since you can't take much on the small plane that flies to Singita, so some may decide to dress up.

We will have at least half of the train so nobody will look out of place in their ASC or CCC attire.

For those of you branching off into more research - so much fun - the fodors message board is a treasure trove of information. Especially look for posts by "safarinut".

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=4

WOO HOO!!

I have a roommate again!!

Sheri, we can do it, one day at a time. $15 a day, like Marc said. All we need to do is cut out one bottle of chardonnay a day (meaning we'd be down to one). It's doable and we'd save on calories (and braincells!).

Have I told you how much you will love warthogs?

Sheri,

I thought the white water rafting sounded so much fun too. Something I read said that the zambezi rapids are a once in a lifetime trip. Why don't you try to help me talk Marc into it? Or... if that won't work, you and I could go. ;)
Sheri, you have plenty of time to save for this... you have to try to make it. Like Marc says... VOF all over again.


Arlene

okay, Pam, as part of the research group, you now must research this new drug for all of us.

Sheri, just put one ten and one five in a jar every day. Gosh, for my wallet's cash, that is a lot! Hope to have you with us!

I used Chloroquine last time in Africa. I sure hope there is something better. At least something we don't have to take for as long.

Marc, what is Chloroquine? Malaria stuff? I didn't know you had already been to Africa.

Yes, it is an old anti-malarial drug. I was in Kenya in 83. One of the side effects of the drug is that it causes flare-up of psoriasis. There is also another drug called Primaquine. Don't know anything about that.

I promise, I will call Janice and find out the name of this drug; she said we also won't have to take it for nearly as long as the previous drugs. I didn't really force myself to retain it since we DO have a few months of planning ahead of us.

She also recommended highly that we have Hepatitis vaccines. I've had the B series, but she said there is a two/in/one called TwinRix or something along that line. She said my Mark should have that because of his diabetes.

Is this the drug you are talking about in this Newsgroup post?

Karen, I don't know. I'll call Janice next week and ask her the exact name of it. Of course, by the time we need to actually think of taking a drug, there may be a half dozen even newer ones out there. She did say that with this one, you only have to start taking it one day before you leave home.

Oh, and she said tetanus boosters, too, which I know I'm going to have to have because it's been a while.

When I was researching I found a post on an African thread about anti Malarial drugs. I printed it out but it is at the office. I will post it when I go in tomorrow. I did take larium last time and had no side effects at all. However, everyone can be different.

No shots are "required".

I had everything for my trip to Kenya, Yellow Fever, Hepatitus, Tetanus, plus other things. Only thing "required" was yellow fever. One of the reasons I waited to go to Africa was I did not want all the shots. However, we decided to do all the "recommended".

As I was waiting for Ken to get his shots I noticed they recommended a bunch of things for New Zealand as well. Now that really did crack me up - WHY???

I hate shots, but I think I am due for that tetnus thing, too. I worry more about spiders and snakes than Lions and animals like that (knowing how to shut the door) I really don't like surprises.

Ugh, tetanus. I'm due in 2006, but the last time I had it done my arm swelled up for about 2 weeks. Luckily I have my annual drs appointment coming up - she & I will have lots to discuss!

Some health information here.

Best thing to do is go to a travel medicine clinic (sometimes part of hospitals - sometimes independent) - not yet - maybe 6 months before the trip. They keep current on what's needed where. I think different malaria drugs are effective in different parts of the world - so what might be recommended for S Africa could be different than for the Amazon, for instance.

-------
Leslie

Sorry, drive-by medical advice.

The common medications used for anti-malarial prophylaxis are primaquine, mefloquine (Lariam), and a new medication atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone). Primaquine is not used much any more and therefore, mefloquine has been traditionally the most commonly prescribed anti-malarial medication. Chloroquine is an ancient anti-malarial medication and is no longer used much because of increasing resistance by malaria to it.

Mefloquine is generally well tolerated by most people - its biggest negative is that it has to be begun 1-2 weeks before travel, used throughout travel, and ended 4 weeks after travel concludes. It's also contraindicated with people with psychiatric disease as it may aggravate these conditions.

Malarone is a new medication - it's being primarily used to treat chloroquine/mefloquine resistant malaria. It is also used for malarial prophylaxis. Its biggest advantage is a shorter course of treatment - it's begun 1-2 days before travel, used daily throughout travel, and can be stopped 7 days after finishing travel. It does NOT have the contraindications for psychiatric disease but DOES have an additional contraindication for patients with kidney impairment and pregnant/breastfeeding women.

As always, newer medications have a tendency to be more expensive. They also tend not to be covered by health insurance - your own situation may vary.

FWIW.

Masaki

Masaki, I'm sure I am not alone in the fact that I appreciate your drive-by medical advice! I wish you and Amanda were going to be able to go with us; I'd love to meet the two of you.

Masaki,

Thanks for the info. Drive by anytime

The information I copied said basically what Masaki did. The new medication has less side effects and is the one to use but EXPENSIVE. Now "how" expensive I dont know but it sounds worth it to me.

However when I took Larium neither Ken nor I had not a single side effect at all so I know we tolerate that very well.

By the time we go maybe the new pill wont be so new and will be less expensive. There may also be a new alternative on the market as well.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone..it's so nice to be wanted!! Who was it at the Academy Awards some years ago...Sally Field? "You really like me!"

I just played the lottery...if i win the big one, maybe I'll treat you all...to a drink!!
<img border="0" alt="[beer]" title="" src="graemlins/beer.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[beer]" title="" src="graemlins/beer.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

My little ROAR jar isn't near full enough yet though... :(

ROAR Team,

Ida and I are truly excited about joining all of
you for a "Trip of 34 Lifetimes" and that number
includes you Sheri...so save, save, save!

Olivia, our friends did not commit...I thought I had them convinced Friday night, but they must still want a cruise/safari package..Ngaire is right tho, this is a Supreme Land Cruise like no
other...and to top it off, we get to share it
with all you special people.

Wes & Ida

Claudie,

One more thing, a special thanks to you for
all your planning and energy in making this
trip happen...and to think you are not booked and have to work on your husband...well I'll be happy to call him and "work on him" too...just tell
me when...

Wes

Thanks Wes! This is what I have been doing to Al...
<img border="0" alt="[c]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[c]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[c]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" />

Sheri, you gotta do ROAR!

Bill and Nancy

....believe me...I AM working on it...bought my lottery tickets today...cleaned all the change out from under the couch cushions...workin' on it! :)

Sheri - buy some for me too! :)

Masaki

Doug and I are waitlisted.

I'm so thrilled about the progress of ROAR!! This whole thing has just taken off with such a fabulous group coming! It's hard to believe how far ahead we have to plan for such a trip! Like so much in life...good things are worth waiting for!
Sheri, We are counting on you! Andi & Doug and others who are waitlisted...hang in there!!

OK planners.....get working on a third lodge. Can't have suzie, andi, and doug on a waitlist!

Leopard Hill or Ulusaba are high on the list along with Lion Sand Ivory. We really need more people to consider a second lodge so we will have to see what develops.