Roccco: What's the latest?
Jul 29th, 2004, 09:05 AM
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Roccco: What's the latest?
Dear Roccco,
Hello! I see we meet again--last time it was in planning Zambia. My husband and I are going to India and Bhutan in January. Just wondering what your current plan is for India. We're thinking one week India and two weeks Bhutan. I'd like to hear the current status of your plans. Thanks!
Hello! I see we meet again--last time it was in planning Zambia. My husband and I are going to India and Bhutan in January. Just wondering what your current plan is for India. We're thinking one week India and two weeks Bhutan. I'd like to hear the current status of your plans. Thanks!
Jul 29th, 2004, 11:00 AM
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Owl,
Hi, good to see you!
Now that I have had three consecutive years of Southern Africa, the Africa bug is (only slightly) under control and I have a very nice itinerary planned for next March in Rajasthan. I am keeping it to 15 nights to allow for a 10 night trip in October/early November to Cape Town & the Sabi Sand, God willing.
Anyway, here is my India itinerary, scheduled around the Jaipur Elephant Festival and Holi celebrations:
New Delhi, 3 nights at Imperial Hotel in Heritage Suite.
Agra, 2 nights at Amar Vilas (an Oberoi hotel) in luxury room with balcony with Taj Mahal view.
Jaipur, 3 nights at Raj Vilas (an Oberoi resort) in luxury tented room.
Ranthambhore (a national park with tigers, sloth bears and all kinds of other wildlife), 3 nights at Vanya Vilas (an Oberoi resort) in luxury tented room.
Bundi, a beautiful looking little town (88,000 people) with supposedly the finest castle/fort in all of Rajasthan, 1 night at Haveli Bruj Bhushanjee. This is on the way to Udaipur so it makes it very convenient.
Udaipur, 3 nights at Udai Vilas (an Oberoi resort) in luxury lakeview room with semiprivate pool.
All of this will be on a private, custom tour with car and driver throughout.
Let me know if you need any help with an agent. I have spoken to quite a few but after upsetting the establishment by posting my Zambia prices, I do not want to post prices publicly anymore. If you need any help just post your e-mail and I will e-mail you with some info.
I see you are going to Bhutan. It looks like a fabulous place but I must agree with the others that say that 3 weeks is a very long time for Bhutan. Perhaps 2 weeks in Bhutan and copy and paste my 2 week itinerary?!
Hi, good to see you!
Now that I have had three consecutive years of Southern Africa, the Africa bug is (only slightly) under control and I have a very nice itinerary planned for next March in Rajasthan. I am keeping it to 15 nights to allow for a 10 night trip in October/early November to Cape Town & the Sabi Sand, God willing.
Anyway, here is my India itinerary, scheduled around the Jaipur Elephant Festival and Holi celebrations:
New Delhi, 3 nights at Imperial Hotel in Heritage Suite.
Agra, 2 nights at Amar Vilas (an Oberoi hotel) in luxury room with balcony with Taj Mahal view.
Jaipur, 3 nights at Raj Vilas (an Oberoi resort) in luxury tented room.
Ranthambhore (a national park with tigers, sloth bears and all kinds of other wildlife), 3 nights at Vanya Vilas (an Oberoi resort) in luxury tented room.
Bundi, a beautiful looking little town (88,000 people) with supposedly the finest castle/fort in all of Rajasthan, 1 night at Haveli Bruj Bhushanjee. This is on the way to Udaipur so it makes it very convenient.
Udaipur, 3 nights at Udai Vilas (an Oberoi resort) in luxury lakeview room with semiprivate pool.
All of this will be on a private, custom tour with car and driver throughout.
Let me know if you need any help with an agent. I have spoken to quite a few but after upsetting the establishment by posting my Zambia prices, I do not want to post prices publicly anymore. If you need any help just post your e-mail and I will e-mail you with some info.
I see you are going to Bhutan. It looks like a fabulous place but I must agree with the others that say that 3 weeks is a very long time for Bhutan. Perhaps 2 weeks in Bhutan and copy and paste my 2 week itinerary?!
Jul 29th, 2004, 11:09 AM
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Owl,
Just in case you missed my trip report, I had a fabulous time in South Luangwa last month (and a not so great time in Lower Zambezi National Park).
Chichele Presidential Lodge was the highlight of my visit to South Luangwa, and I honestly put it in the same league as Singita.
However, Kaingo was also very, very good, and I would return to Kaingo in a heartbeat.
Kulefu Tented Camp in Lower Zambezi was in a pretty sorry state of affairs and I would not return despite an excellent staff and managing couple. It just doesn't receive the support it needs from Star Of Africa. I would return to the beautiful Lower Zambezi NP, however, staying at Sausage Tree Camp or Kasaka River Lodge. I visited Kasaka River Lodge and it was very beautiful.
I did post a photo album of my Zambia trip and it is posted on Ofoto. Here is a link if you have time to see it:
http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.js...p;sort_order=0
I could not believe all the elephants everywhere (much more than last year). Overall it was a wonderful trip and the best value in Africa for wildlife viewing, as far as I am aware.
Just in case you missed my trip report, I had a fabulous time in South Luangwa last month (and a not so great time in Lower Zambezi National Park).
Chichele Presidential Lodge was the highlight of my visit to South Luangwa, and I honestly put it in the same league as Singita.
However, Kaingo was also very, very good, and I would return to Kaingo in a heartbeat.
Kulefu Tented Camp in Lower Zambezi was in a pretty sorry state of affairs and I would not return despite an excellent staff and managing couple. It just doesn't receive the support it needs from Star Of Africa. I would return to the beautiful Lower Zambezi NP, however, staying at Sausage Tree Camp or Kasaka River Lodge. I visited Kasaka River Lodge and it was very beautiful.
I did post a photo album of my Zambia trip and it is posted on Ofoto. Here is a link if you have time to see it:
http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.js...p;sort_order=0
I could not believe all the elephants everywhere (much more than last year). Overall it was a wonderful trip and the best value in Africa for wildlife viewing, as far as I am aware.
Jul 29th, 2004, 11:35 PM
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Roccco,
Thanks for the reply. I liked your Zambia pics. Looked like fun!
As for India, how much did you look into comparing the National Parks. I'm interested in tiger sighting, and was wondering whether Ranthambore Nat. Park is the best place to go. Did you look into any of the others? One website suggested that Kanha was the best for tiger sightings. Any ideas? Thanks!
Thanks for the reply. I liked your Zambia pics. Looked like fun!
As for India, how much did you look into comparing the National Parks. I'm interested in tiger sighting, and was wondering whether Ranthambore Nat. Park is the best place to go. Did you look into any of the others? One website suggested that Kanha was the best for tiger sightings. Any ideas? Thanks!
Jul 30th, 2004, 05:01 PM
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Owl,
The only other national parks that really interested me were Corbett National Park and Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, neither are convenient to the rest of my itinerary.
Yala National Park looks amazing and has a very high concentration of leopards and other wildlife.
Corbett National Park has more tigers than Ranthambhore, but I don't believe they are as concentrated in a single area.
Ranthambhore works out very well because it is only a half day drive from Jaipur and then it is possible to travel to Udaipur as long as you stop in Bundi or Chittorgarh for a night.
I really wanted to do an entire trip with no flights and I have been successful. Once I land in New Delhi, it will be 15 or 16 nights of uninterrupted time on the ground, driving to each destination, instead of spending time at airports, etc.
The only inter-India flight that I have is on my last day when I finish up in Udaipur and have to fly back to India.
I do think that I will try to get to Yala National Park and Sri Lanka in the next few years, as it does seem like a very interesting place.
Nepal, for whatever reason, just does not really appeal to me, although they do have at least one highly regarded national park for tiger viewing and other wildlife viewing.
The only other national parks that really interested me were Corbett National Park and Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, neither are convenient to the rest of my itinerary.
Yala National Park looks amazing and has a very high concentration of leopards and other wildlife.
Corbett National Park has more tigers than Ranthambhore, but I don't believe they are as concentrated in a single area.
Ranthambhore works out very well because it is only a half day drive from Jaipur and then it is possible to travel to Udaipur as long as you stop in Bundi or Chittorgarh for a night.
I really wanted to do an entire trip with no flights and I have been successful. Once I land in New Delhi, it will be 15 or 16 nights of uninterrupted time on the ground, driving to each destination, instead of spending time at airports, etc.
The only inter-India flight that I have is on my last day when I finish up in Udaipur and have to fly back to India.
I do think that I will try to get to Yala National Park and Sri Lanka in the next few years, as it does seem like a very interesting place.
Nepal, for whatever reason, just does not really appeal to me, although they do have at least one highly regarded national park for tiger viewing and other wildlife viewing.
