dunromin

Hi Bill, In January 2023 We stayed at Motswari https://newmarkhotels.com/accommodation/motswari-private-game-reserve A private game reserve next to Kruger. The private reserves in this area have removed their fences so the animals can roam across a vast area. There is a local airport at Hoedspruit with regular flights to Jo'burg and Cape Town; Motswari arrange a car to pick you up for the 1 hour or so journey to the reserve. There is an airstrip at Motswari apart from a few wildebeest we didn't meet anyone who had used it. We declined the afternoon game drive when we arrived having just completed 24 hours of travel and we were staying for 5 days but the offer was there. There were 3 hour game drives morning and evening each day and we had the same crew, the 4x4 had 9 seats but only 6 are used unless you are a large party. For some drives there were just the 2 of us with our driver/guide and tracker. We didn't go with a list of must-see, which was useful as one of the most interesting visits was to a jackal family (who knew they were matriarchal), and in the end saw everything even leopards. Our travel agent put a package together including the cruise. In the UK there is a strong incentive to do this as the agent (or failing that the credit card company) picks up the tab if anything goes not to plan. The food and the staff were first class. The accommodation is very comfortable and quirky, some of the lodges have outdoor showers (visible only to the birds and the monkeys). The bar overlooks a dry river bed (when we visited) and a watering hole so you can watch the various animal visitors over your coffee, tea or cocktails depending on the time of day. Motswari costs about $500 and up a day for two depending on season, then there are tips and conservation fees. Our flights and transfers were about another $800 for 2. We flew out of J'burg connecting to our London flight and then back to Cape Town to pick up our cruise. Our internal flight had a 20Kg limit on bags but you can upgrade and take more with you.

We have been on 3 Viking trips in Vietnam, China and Ukraine and we are about to go on our first ocean cruise with them. The only discounts we managed to get were one for early booking, the repeat customer discount and £50 when we used a travel agent. They did give us a good discount on the next cruise for sticking with a booking made before covid, but I think the circumstances and the discount are exceptional. As Viking include flights there is little risk in them handling the booking, I also found their flight department very helpful with routings and dates enabling us to organise our own extensions and stopovers with little or no impact on cost. The service is exceptional from the meet and greet at the airport, the way the luggage disappears and reappears in your cabin or hotel room and the friendly professionalism of the Viking team.