sbsmittee

We have an exclusive booking (12 guests) for three nights at Little Bush (Sabi Sabi) for next April. We were going to spend two nights at Camp Jabulani prior to going to Sabi Sabi, however, now we are having second thoughts. Do you think it's worth a couple of nights at Camp Jabulani or should we try somewhere else? If somewhere else, do you have any suggestions as to lodges around the same price range R4200.00 per person per night.

Thanks.

safarimama

YES, go there. I LOVE Camp Jabulani, but go there after Little Bush Camp and get the Big Five out of your system if that is important to you. You won't see as much game in Kapama, but the units are incredible and the ellies ... oh my!! The little ones will just capture your hearts. Despite what everyone says about elephant back safaris, I admire the way Lente Roode saved those ellies from Zimbabwe to be companions to Jabulani. It's a tearjerking and a true story. And Jabulani is the king!

You will also get a behind the scenes tour of the Endangered Species Center and you have a chance to go inside the cages and pet the cheetah cubs. This applies only to guests who stay at Camp Jabulani.

Go for it,

sbsmittee

Thanks. I LOVE elephants and really want to visit Camp Jabulani. However, some in our group want to visit another lodge. We will see. Again, thank you for responding.

pippa13

petting cubs means they become too tame to be relised in to the wilds. the are bred in captivity for captivity!
the danger of taking part in such an activity is that these animals might most probably end up in the hunting industry.

so pls think twice before you decide on such an encounter!
is it really adding such a value to any safari experience??? it's not a safari experience at all. it's a zoo thing.

EBS: there are so many educational information available to people who really care that's not necessary to repeat al the cons.

safarimama

Pippa,
In all due respect, please check your facts before spewing out garbage. Check the philosophy of The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre here:
http://www.wildlifecentre.co.za

Lente Roode's organisation is all about conservation and releasing cheetahs back into the wild. She's been doing this successfully for a very long time. Cheetahs are her passion and there's NO WAY she would ever let one of them be harmed in any way.

I'm frankly tired of your sermons.

atravelynn

sbsmittee,

Where do the others want to go? Or do they have nowhere in mind, but just don't like Jabulani? What are the objections to Jabulani?

Maybe you could split up for part of the trip if your interests diverge.

sbsmittee

Thank you for the replies.

atravelynn - They really do not have another lodge in mind. A suggestion was made to use the days at Camp Jabulani to visit a lodge where the game viewing may be better. This will probably be most of our guests one and only trip to South Africa so, since I am responsible for the planning, I want to make it special. Here is our itinerary so far. We need to put down deposits next week and I want to make sure that everyone will enjoy the trip but am worried/nervous.

Cape Town - Cape Grace or Waterfront Apts. (5 nights)
Oudtshoorn - LaPlume (1 night)
Knysna – Pezula (2 nights)
Johannesburg – Michaelangelo (2 nights)
Camp Jubulani (2 nights)
Little Bush (3 nights)


Any suggestions?

safarimama

The road transfer between Kapama and Sabi Sabi is about 4 hours. If seeing the Big Five is most important, stay at Mala Mala for 5 nights. I still think that your choice of camps is marvelous. I LOVE Camp Jabulani and if you go there first then Sabi Sabi will build up to a great finish. Don't fret this; I think you've done great in your selection of camps.

sbsmittee

Thanks.

I am going to get pricing for Mala Mala Main and Londolozi Pioneer. We will then make a FINAL decision.

sbsmittee

Also, can you visit Soweto, Apartheid Museum and Lesedi Cultural Village in one day while in Johannesburg? If so, we may be able to subtract a day there and add it to the safari portion of our itinerary. If so, that will give us six days to see the Big 5.

napamatt

Hopefully in six days you'll see much more than the Big 5.

sbsmittee

Yes, hopefully, we will see more than the Big 5. I have my fingers, toes and eyes crossed. So, wish us luck.

pippa13

@ safarimama
first of all: i don't know you so you don't me, right.
so pls let's keep a kind of code of conduct which certainly doesn't include becoming personal and offending each other.
i don't know your motivation for this kind of reaction.
i am just sticking with the facts when it comes to cheetah's demands.

second:
i myself have visited kapama several times in order to make sure it's not an isolated incident that they keep cheetahs in enclosures - which are rather cages - of very small size: approx. 20m by 20m square. because i am very much in to the cheetah topic for many years i would not condcider this by far sufficient.

i don't care which name is behind it, whether the person claims to have knowledge or points out a "success rate". i just evaluate by using my common sense when it comes to cheetahs.
it's simply not enough to feed them and provide shelter.

maybe in the earlier days that was sufficient when most people didn't know about cheetah's minimum demands.
but thanks god that has changed! at least for a cheetah caring community!

pippa13

@ sbsmittee
based on your interests you can easily spend at least half a day at the apartheid museum which is extremly educating - they have also a exhibition on steve biko right now and i don't know how long they will have it - they have a steve biko memorial in CT in case you are keen on that and missed it in jnb.

for soweto a halfday tour seems to be sufficient.
would suggest you have a look at

http://www.face2face.co.za/

we use jimmy's face2face since 1996 and he never let us down!
very reliable company!