Silver Whisper, Africa, Details, Options??

Appreciate the great insights, tips and comments we have received in the past from those on this Silversea CC board, plus on other Cruise Critic boards. Now, some, new, fresh questions!?!?

Just put down a deposit on a 13-day, March 23-April 5, 2015, #4507, Silver Whisper "adventure" from Mombasa, Kenya to Cape Town, South Africa. This would allow time prior to the cruise for some Kenya safari time, this cruise with stops in Zanzibar/Tanzania, three locations in and around Madagascar, three ports in South Africa and the finish in scenic Cape Town. Then, some more safari excitement in and around South Africa and maybe Botswana, after the cruise. Not cheap. Also challenging physically. BUT, we need to get these "things" done while we are young, health and active in our current mid-60's age range.

We enjoyed the Silver Cloud and Norway very much in July 2010 as detailed on the live/blog connected below. Here are my specific questions:

1. The Silver Whisper seems a little newer and larger than the Silver Cloud. Larger bathrooms with both shower and tub. Nice range of options with a lay-out much like on the Cloud. How is the Whisper these days for its condition, staffing, etc.? Any special pro/con differences with the Whisper versus the Cloud?

2. This 13-day Africa segment is a part of the much longer 2015 World Cruise. What are the pro and con factors for joining in as just a "segment" sailor on such a long, long cruise? Are there too many "cliques" already established on the ship or are they welcoming to "newbies" joining in for their "club" of long-established passengers on this overall journey? Other joining-in factors for being on such a World Cruise, added pluses and minuses that Silversea does on these longer types of cruises in such different parts of the world? On such Silversea World Cruises, what is the mix of the passengers as being from the U.S., UK/Canada/Aussie, other countries, etc.? How do they change or beef up the entertainment/speakers?

3. Any Africa super loves/experiences and/or where Silversea does some special things, super well for ship port stops/excursions at Zanzibar/Tanzania, Dzaoudzi/Mayotte, Nosy Be/Komba/Madagascar, Mahajanga/Madagascar, plus Richards Bay, Durban, East London and Cape Town in South Africa?

4. Is the safety/security situation heighten and/or changed by Silversea when traveling/docking in these parts of Africa given its closeness to Somalia, etc.?

5. Other tips, questions, suggestions for doing Silversea in these exotic parts of the world?

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 140,856 views. Nice to be hitting this high of a level for viewership. Appreciate the interest!!

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

We've got our deposit made on this cruise. Have until later November to do other research and before we need to finalize our payment with Silversea. Looking at post-cruise options for Botswana. Would appreciate any insights on the Silver Whisper, etc.

On Zanzibar, from the New York Times in their upcoming weekend Sunday morning travel section, they will have this headline: "36 Hours in Zanzibar, Tanzania". Helpful details and information are outlined.

Here are a few of the in-depth story highlights that will arrive on Sunday morning, plus that are now posted on-line: "The name Zanzibar conjures up visions of sultans’ palaces, paradisiacal beaches and winding alleyways leading to spice-filled bazaars. Indeed, this coral archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 23 miles off the eastern coast of Tanzania, still has many of the features that it did when it was an important trading center and its historic Stone Town served as the capital of an Omani sultanate. Zanzibar’s largest island, Unguja, is home to most of the cultural attractions, many of them found in beguiling Stone Town, which was awarded Unesco World Heritage status in 2000. In recent years, there’s been a concerted effort to restore and give new life to the city’s distinctive structures. Palaces have been turned into museums and cultural centers, and grand Swahili mansions have been reborn as restaurants and boutique hotels. Yet the coast still offers the 'delicious view' that the explorer Sir Richard Burton recorded, of a 'cocoa-fringed shore of purest white, and the sea blue as a slab of lapis lazuli.' "

Lots of details, options and potentials are outlined in this profile. Here is one of the highlights to consider: "Wandering down the narrow lanes of Stone Town in the late afternoon, past coral rag houses and dimly lit curio shops, might be this city’s simplest pleasure. Many buildings date to the 19th century, and their most striking feature is their ornate doors. Carved out of mahogany or teak, some Zanzibari doors are adorned with brass spikes, while others have intricate patterns, like vines or lotus flowers, etched onto them. Standout portals include the golden door at the House of Wonders, the entrance to the Old Fort, and a collection of doors on Baghani Street. A map of Stone Town’s finest doors can be bought for $4 at the Gallery Bookshop, while a refreshing mango and coconut smoothie (4,000 shillings, or $2.55, at 1,570 shillings to the dollar) can be ordered to go at Lazuli, a tiny cafe with a turquoise door."

Lots of nice pictures, maps and other specifics are included. I'll be copying these details and saving in my computer file on my laptop to prepare for our planning late March 2015 visit there. This media coverage gets one very excited about visiting this famed location with its exotic name/reputation.

Full story at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/04/travel/36-hours-in-zanzibar-tanzania.html?hpw&rref=travel

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Just back from doing a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure on this ship and getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for much more information and lots of wonderful pictures on these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 55,053 views for this fun posting.

Don't know anything about the Whisper Terry but you have picked wisely post cruise.Botswana is amazing.Naturally I have done a trip report-

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/trip-reports-and-trip-photos/a-botswanan-adventure-50060.html

The Whisper is usually in very good shape and well staffed as it is the annual WC ship.

Great report, drron.

Don't know anything about the Whisper Terry but you have picked wisely post cruise. Botswana is amazing.Naturally I have done a trip report-

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/trip-reports-and-trip-photos/a-botswanan-adventure-50060.html

duct tape: The Whisper is usually in very good shape and well staffed as it is the annual WC ship.

Appreciate the connection from drron29 for Botswana. Will save that link and check it out. Great comments and insights from duct tape for why the Whisper will be in good shape and well staffed. Very helpful info!! Keep it coming. Always like hearing and learning more.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19' date=' 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from [b']Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik[/b]. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 170,107 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

I haven’t done the bulk of this cruise (Mozambique- SA), but did do a couple of these ports on an Indian Ocean cruise on the Wind a little while back.

I see you will be barding in Mombasa. You probably will go straight from a hotel to the ship. But if you do need somewhere to visit, Fort Jesus (originally Portuguese, then British) is a World Heritage site, and well worth seeing, especially the 16th century Portuguese graffiti. Also worth a stroll around the Old Town. Not as beautiful as Stone Town in Zanzibar, but some wonderful but run down buildings.

In Zanzibar, the main tour is a walking tour of Stone Town – do get a guide, or you will be lost in minutes. But I can also really recommend the trip (usually offered by the ship) to the spice plantations. It is a wander through the rain forest, where spices are planted in small clearings between the trees. The trip was so good, we voted it worth the entire cost of the cruise.

And in Nosy Be, although the trip to see the lemurs is a little touristy, it is a must do. The lemurs are delightful – at first you think that they must be a tame group, until another troupe decide that the one you are making a fuss of has had its time – and pile in with wild shrieks and drive them off to get their turn at the fruit. Yes, the villagers make their living from selling things to tourist, but that it the point – if they did not have this tourist trade, they would cut down the forest for farming and the lemurs would die out. And some of the embroidery etc. on sale is lovely in any case

I haven’t done the bulk of this cruise (Mozambique- SA), but did do a couple of these ports on an Indian Ocean cruise on the Wind a little while back. I see you will be barding in Mombasa. You probably will go straight from a hotel to the ship. But if you do need somewhere to visit, Fort Jesus (originally Portuguese, then British) is a World Heritage site, and well worth seeing, especially the 16th century Portuguese graffiti. Also worth a stroll around the Old Town. Not as beautiful as Stone Town in Zanzibar, but some wonderful but run down buildings. In Zanzibar, the main tour is a walking tour of Stone Town – do get a guide, or you will be lost in minutes. But I can also really recommend the trip (usually offered by the ship) to the spice plantations. It is a wander through the rain forest, where spices are planted in small clearings between the trees. The trip was so good, we voted it worth the entire cost of the cruise. And in Nosy Be, although the trip to see the lemurs is a little touristy, it is a must do. The lemurs are delightful – at first you think that they must be a tame group, until another troupe decide that the one you are making a fuss of has had its time – and pile in with wild shrieks and drive them off to get their turn at the fruit. Yes, the villagers make their living from selling things to tourist, but that it the point – if they did not have this tourist trade, they would cut down the forest for farming and the lemurs would die out. And some of the embroidery etc. on sale is lovely in any case

Appreciate these good, added info items for these areas in Africa. Keep the excellent tips and ideas rolling along.

Coming tomorrow from the New York Times in their Sunday Travel Section, they have this headline: "52 Places to Go in 2014" with Cape Town, South Africa, at the top of their list for locations to visit this year.

Among the story highlights: "A place to meditate on freedom, and the creative life that followed. When Nelson Mandela was incarcerated at Robben Island prison, he found inspiration in Cape Town. 'We often looked across Table Bay at the magnificent silhouette of Table Mountain,' he said in a speech. 'To us on Robben Island, Table Mountain was a beacon of hope. It represented the mainland to which we knew we would one day return.' Cape Town’s importance to Mandela, who made his first address there as a free man, will doubtless draw many visitors in the wake of his death. Cape Town is celebrating design in all its forms, hosting architecture open houses, welcoming the public into artists’ studios and folding the annual visual arts spectacular Design Indaba conference in February into the design capital program. Cape Town is again reinventing itself, and the world is invited to its renaissance."

This story also has details on Namibia as ranked sixth with this notation: "Africa’s latest conservation success story is a boon for travelers." In the 19th position in the world, they had Laikipia Plateau, Kenya, with this heading: "A pristine slice of biodiversity is home to a new luxury eco-resort." At 39th is Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with this highlight: "On the African coast, music thrives in a commercial capital." Lots of interesting highlights and options for Africa and the World!!

Full story at:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/01/10/travel/2014-places-to-go.html?ref=travel

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Back from doing a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure on this ship and getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for much more information and lots of wonderful pictures on these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 58,142 views for this fun posting.

Appreciate these good, added info items for these areas in Africa. Keep the excellent tips and ideas rolling along.

 

Coming tomorrow from the New York Times in their Sunday Travel Section, they have this headline: "52 Places to Go in 2014" with Cape Town, South Africa, at the top of their list for locations to visit this year.

 

Among the story highlights: "A place to meditate on freedom, and the creative life that followed. When Nelson Mandela was incarcerated at Robben Island prison, he found inspiration in Cape Town. 'We often looked across Table Bay at the magnificent silhouette of Table Mountain,' he said in a speech. 'To us on Robben Island, Table Mountain was a beacon of hope. It represented the mainland to which we knew we would one day return.' Cape Town’s importance to Mandela, who made his first address there as a free man, will doubtless draw many visitors in the wake of his death. Cape Town is celebrating design in all its forms, hosting architecture open houses, welcoming the public into artists’ studios and folding the annual visual arts spectacular Design Indaba conference in February into the design capital program. Cape Town is again reinventing itself, and the world is invited to its renaissance."

 

This story also has details on Namibia as ranked sixth with this notation: "Africa’s latest conservation success story is a boon for travelers." In the 19th position in the world, they had Laikipia Plateau, Kenya, with this heading: "A pristine slice of biodiversity is home to a new luxury eco-resort." At 39th is Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with this highlight: "On the African coast, music thrives in a commercial capital." Lots of interesting highlights and options for Africa and the World!!

 

Full story at:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/01/10/travel/2014-places-to-go.html?ref=travel

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Back from doing a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure on this ship and getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for much more information and lots of wonderful pictures on these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 58,142 views for this fun posting.

Hi Terry, lovely to see your continued enjoyment of your travels and like some the Whisper is a perfect size. Perfectly formed! :D

I don't know how much of a Freddie Mercury fan you are but I suspect if I were taking the wife to Zanzibar she would want to do a visit to FM sites. I'd prefer an Abba tour myself but for some reason they don't do those in Zanzibar.

There are some that are organised.

http://www.getyourguide.co.uk/zanzibar-city-l872/freddie-mercury-tour-t24528/

Hi Terry, looks like good pick. Hope the situation in Kenya and in particular Mombasa will have improved by the time that you join the Whisper. What is the US Gov's advice at present. You should definitely go visit the Lemurs in Nosy Be, agree it's touristy, but we'll worth it. If you are going to stop in Cape Town before onward travels then strongly recommend the Cape Grace. We will be there prior to joining the Whisper for its final WC leg, so might even get the chance to say hi.

TLCOHIO, did a cruise on Cloud a few years back and had a wonderful time. Along the way we did a side trip from Richards Bay to the Phinda

game reserve. It was great. We ended in Cape Town and took a 3 day SS post cruise trip to wine country. Tasting brandy at 11 am on Christmas Eve morning!

Terry, Cape Town is indeed a beautiful area and in some ways it is the San Francisco of this part of the world. Do spend a few days there touring around. Something that is easy to do is to take the hop on hop off buses. There are two different routes and both are really great. One of them will stop at the Botanical Gardens which are absolutely exquisite and also take you all around the cape. The other one focuses more on the downtown area and also take you to Table Top Mountain and a portion of the Cape.

There are certainly lots of options for safaris both pre and post cruise so be sure to do a lot of research on this as I know you will do.

Ironically, we are visiting Madagascar for the very first time (two ports) in March of next year on Crystal Serenity and will be returning to South Africa again a few days after that.

Keith

Terry, Cape Town is indeed a beautiful area and in some ways it is the San Francisco of this part of the world. Do spend a few days there touring around. Something that is easy to do is to take the hop on hop off buses. There are two different routes and both are really great. One of them will stop at the Botanical Gardens which are absolutely exquisite and also take you all around the cape. The other one focuses more on the downtown area and also take you to Table Top Mountain and a portion of the Cape. Ironically, we are visiting Madagascar for the very first time (two ports) in March of next year on Crystal Serenity and will be returning to South Africa again a few days after that. Keith

Appreciate these added details, insights, tips and ideas from ALL of you on this thread. Very interesting and helpful. Cape Town sounds great!! Keep this type of info flowing and rolling along. Am copying and saving key highlights in my files. Now that Keith is back from his great around the World adventure, I'll try to reach out and share some more information in the coming weeks.

Seeing things in the natural setting is clearly the best. Our Zoo in Columbus just opened on May 20 a new "Heart of Africa" area. It is a 43-acre region, allowing more up-close, "natural-setting" samplings of Africa. None of the old "cages" and this new set-up has 130 animals representing 20 species, including lions, cheetahs, ostriches, wildebeests, gazelles and vervet monkeys. Betty White was here for the grand opening, along with Zoo Director Emeritus Jack Hanna. We have not there to visit, yet. Clearly, Zoos are not ideal and perfect for the animals and visitors, but, they do allow so many to sample these types of unique animals close to home. Not everyone, like hopefully we will do in early 2015, can afford the time and money, however, to get to Africa for a personal visit.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 144,395 views. Nice to be hitting this high of a level for viewership. Appreciate the interest!!

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Terry,

Thanks for this link which I had missed .

Yes, CPT is really very interesting and there are wonderful side trips around the point and in the other direction, into wine country. Do allow yourself some time there.

There is a June 19, 2014 travel advisory from the US State Dept re: Kenya which is not happy reading. Paula

I would be very nervous about Kenya. I am really surprised that the cruise is starting there let alone visiting there.

I didn't have a great feeling on our last visit to Mombasa which I believe was in 2010 nor even in 2007 but things have continued to turn worse there. I realize there are issues whenever you travel but there are certain places that are far riskier than other places. I would take the travel warning seriously.

Keith

My guess is that SS will eventually amend their itinerary and avoid Kenya. I sure wouldn't want to take a chance with Mombasa as a port. Actually this is why we dismissed the segment as a possibility...a shame because this is an area which we have never visited.

My guess is that SS will eventually amend their itinerary and avoid Kenya. I sure wouldn't want to take a chance with Mombasa as a port. Actually this is why we dismissed the segment as a possibility...a shame because this is an area which we have never visited.

Hi Terry, I have been reading this thread with interest as I have just returned from a 33 day tour on an adventure truck travelling from Johannesburg to Nairobi. Stayed in many National Parks in Botswana, Zambia and Tanzania including the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater but the highlight of the trip for me was staying in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. It is about a 20 minute flight in a small plane from Maun and we stayed in permanent tent. The guides take you out into the Delta on their mokoros and you can go on guided walks. Nothing better than lying in your tent at night listening to hippopotamus and lions and other animals going about their business. Regards Elaine.

Appreciate from Keith and what is shown above for the concerns about Kenya. Yes, that is a challenging part of the world. But, we are eight plus months away from our schedule departure time. Lots can can happen, both good and bad.

Am sharing the above good comments and follow-up items from Elaine on the Africa CC Board. Really loved her mention about Okavango Delta in Botswana. We are planning on two different safari camps in Botswana, including for the Okavango Delta. Planning to stay at Camp Morel near the Xakanaxa Lagoon, Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve. Am also planning for a couple nights at Savute Safari Lodge, Savute Channel, Chobe National Park, Botswana.

We will continuing to work ahead for ALL of our planning with this late March-April 2015 Africa (Kenya-Zanzibar-Madagascar-South Africa-Botswana) adventure. The more one learns, the higher the excitement levels rises. Keep the great sharing going and the wonderful info flowing.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 146,522 views. Nice to be hitting this high of a level for viewership. Appreciate the interest!!

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Greetings Terry

My partner and I are South Africans and are frequent SS cruisers.

If you have the chance in Richards Bay, visit the www.isimangiliso.com wetlands park, it is really well worth the visit, and Richards Bay is only a 2 hour drive from Durban, your next port. Richards Bay also will have a few game reserves, but the wetlands far surpass such visits.

Durban is a vibrant melting pot of cultures, especially with isiZulu (you would have met the isiZulu in Richards Bay) and Indians. There is plenty to do here, both historically and culturally, if you have a chance to enjoy high tea at the Oyster Box or Beverly Hills Hotel in Umhlanga Rocks (20 min drive from the port), it could be most relaxing and the drive will allow you a greater urban perspective of Durban.

East London, sadly has very very little to offer, am sure there may be a tour to Inkenkwezi Game reserve, don't build your hopes too high. Eastern Cape is the area of the isiXhosa, and Mandela's burial place is about a 2 hr drive north from the port, but as yet is not open to the public. The drive would give you a total perspective on how the isiXhosa rural people live.

Cape Town, well am sure you will enough info at hand, if you have the chance to spend a night or two in the winelands (Franshoek) check out www.laresidence.co.za just voted Conde Nast no 1 in the world best boutique hotel, absolute gem! It will be peak local and international season in SA when you are here, so bookings can become congested up to 9 months in advance esp in CT.

All the very best and enjoy SA, my personal email is rdmcc@webmail.co.za if you require any further info.

Ernest and Ramsay

Greetings Terry. My partner and I are South Africans and are frequent SS cruisers. If you have the chance in Richards Bay, visit the www.isimangiliso.com wetlands park, it is really well worth the visit, and Richards Bay is only a 2 hour drive from Durban, your next port. Richards Bay also will have a few game reserves, but the wetlands far surpass such visits.

Durban is a vibrant melting pot of cultures, especially with isiZulu (you would have met the isiZulu in Richards Bay) and Indians. There is plenty to do here, both historically and culturally, if you have a chance to enjoy high tea at the Oyster Box or Beverly Hills Hotel in Umhlanga Rocks (20 min drive from the port), it could be most relaxing and the drive will allow you a greater urban perspective of Durban.

East London, sadly has very very little to offer, am sure there may be a tour to Inkenkwezi Game reserve, don't build your hopes too high. Eastern Cape is the area of the isiXhosa, and Mandela's burial place is about a 2 hr drive north from the port, but as yet is not open to the public. The drive would give you a total perspective on how the isiXhosa rural people live.

Cape Town, well am sure you will enough info at hand, if you have the chance to spend a night or two in the winelands (Franshoek) check out www.laresidence.co.za just voted Conde Nast no 1 in the world best boutique hotel, absolute gem! It will be peak local and international season in SA when you are here, so bookings can become congested up to 9 months in advance esp in CT.

All the very best and enjoy SA, my personal email is rdmcc@webmail.co.za if you require any further info.

Ernest and Ramsay

Appreciate so much these very helpful comments and suggestions from Ernest and Ramsay. Very good!! Yes, I might be following up by e-mail in the next couple of months as our overall planning comes together more and we need added specifics on some of the port options.

Keep up the excellent sharing and flow of interesting information.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Back from doing a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure on this ship and getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for much more information and lots of wonderful pictures on these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 63,466 views for this fun posting.

Terry, this is the same leg we are interested in but we are too security-concerned to stay in Mombasa, Kenya pre cruise so have been looking at including the previous segment which embarks in Singapore [We have visited most of those ports previously.] ---or---taking an organized safari. I remain interested in your and others' thoughts/experiences. Paula

Appreciate this added follow-up from Paula on another thread on this SS Board. Our plan is NOT to stay overnight in Mombasa. We would be in Nairobi and at the Maasai Mara National Reserve doing safari experiences. Then, the morning of our cruise departure, March 23, we would fly from Nairobi direct to the Mombasa airport. Then immediately to the ship/docking area. Our plan is keep our time in Mombasa at a minimum. Nothing is perfect or 100%, but we believe this helps to minimize the risks, depending on how future "activities" evolve.

We encourage Paula and others to consider joining us on this exciting "adventure". BUT, not too dramatic to get in the middle with the wrong kinds of danger. Below are some of my visuals on our research and planning. Off Wednesday to Colorado with one of the couples that traveled with us during our Australia-NZ travels earlier this year.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 175,927 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

In getting ready for our March-April 2015 Africa adventure, including Kenya, Zanzibar, Madagascar, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana, here are some examples of our “work” in preparing. First, are some of the library books that have been checked out to read and research these areas and the many options there to consider. Not as many travel books are possible for Africa compared to what is available for most parts of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, etc. The next two pictures are from our Columbus Zoo (like in Jack Hanna) that just opened this spring a new “Heart of Africa” area. You can see the cute giraffes in their open, natural area and one of the signs in this area based on the flag of Kenya. Cute and interesting?:

My partner and I also have this itinerary booked, but I'm a bit anxious about leaving from Mombasa. I contacted a friend who lives in Nairobi to ask if I should be concerned, and her reponse was that the situation was very "fluid". She said anywhere that I was likely to go in Nairobi would be safe enough, but that her husband did not recommend spending the night in Mombasa. His recommendation was to fly from Nairobi into Mombasa the day the ship sails and to transfer directly to the ship.

Given that even folks who live there are saying that Mombasa isn't safe, I'm wondering how likely Silversea will be to change this itinerary to avoid Kenya. Anyone with a crystal ball (or experience in this region) want to hazard a guess?

My partner and I also have this itinerary booked, but I'm a bit anxious about leaving from Mombasa. I contacted a friend who lives in Nairobi to ask if I should be concerned, and her reponse was that the situation was very "fluid". She said anywhere that I was likely to go in Nairobi would be safe enough, but that her husband did not recommend spending the night in Mombasa. His recommendation was to fly from Nairobi into Mombasa the day the ship sails and to transfer directly to the ship. Given that even folks who live there are saying that Mombasa isn't safe, I'm wondering how likely Silversea will be to change this itinerary to avoid Kenya. Anyone with a crystal ball (or experience in this region) want to hazard a guess?

Glad to hear that our friend from Atlanta is booked on this cruise. Agree that coming to Mombasa on the day of the cruise departure makes sense as the best, basic strategy. We will all continue to monitor things closely, talk with people have had experiences in Kenya, etc.

Am having lunch Wednesday with the former Columbus Zoo Director to pick his brain for ideas on this amazing part of the world. He has visited Africa countless times and worked closely with Jack Hanna to make our Columbus Zoo one of the best in the U.S. Will share some of my notes from our luncheon here on this link after that luncheon.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Super loved Dubrovnik!!! See more details and lots of great visual samples/examples at this link. Have had over 22,533 views on this posting and appreciate those who have tuned-in and dropped by.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227

Greetings Terry

 

My partner and I are South Africans and are frequent SS cruisers.

 

If you have the chance in Richards Bay, visit the www.isimangiliso.com wetlands park, it is really well worth the visit, and Richards Bay is only a 2 hour drive from Durban, your next port. Richards Bay also will have a few game reserves, but the wetlands far surpass such visits.

 

Durban is a vibrant melting pot of cultures, especially with isiZulu (you would have met the isiZulu in Richards Bay) and Indians. There is plenty to do here, both historically and culturally, if you have a chance to enjoy high tea at the Oyster Box or Beverly Hills Hotel in Umhlanga Rocks (20 min drive from the port), it could be most relaxing and the drive will allow you a greater urban perspective of Durban.

 

East London, sadly has very very little to offer, am sure there may be a tour to Inkenkwezi Game reserve, don't build your hopes too high. Eastern Cape is the area of the isiXhosa, and Mandela's burial place is about a 2 hr drive north from the port, but as yet is not open to the public. The drive would give you a total perspective on how the isiXhosa rural people live.

 

Cape Town, well am sure you will enough info at hand, if you have the chance to spend a night or two in the winelands (Franshoek) check out www.laresidence.co.za just voted Conde Nast no 1 in the world best boutique hotel, absolute gem! It will be peak local and international season in SA when you are here, so bookings can become congested up to 9 months in advance esp in CT.

 

All the very best and enjoy SA, my personal email is rdmcc@webmail.co.za if you require any further info.

 

Ernest and Ramsay

Did my partner and I meet you on Silver Cloud a few years back? You told us to fly to Pinda and we did. You have a plane also and a former BA pilot?

Sorry Phinda

From this past weekend's USA Today, they have this headline: "What to expect on your first African safari" with these highlights: "Nothing prepared me fully for the actual experience. You don't need to bring a lot of anything. Take half (or less) of what is suggested. You'll be flying in small planes between camps, you need to limit the weight of your luggage to 33 pounds. Every lodge and campsite on the trip offered professionally done-the-same-day laundry, included in the price. You could get by with what you wear on the plane and two changes of clothes, period. Avoid bright colors (tsetse flies love blue). Khaki and tan are the way to go, even if they're not your colors. You expect to see all sorts of animals in the wild. That's what a safari is all about. But you'll sometimes be mere feet away from elephants, zebras, lions, hippos and other game. Do not get out of your Land Rover to get any closer. The animals won't like it. And neither will your guides."

Great, useful ideas and insights. Here are some more: "Sleeping in tents is not what you think. They're deluxe tents, with firm mattresses, hot and cold running water, exemplary service, fine furnishings, and thoughtful touches everywhere. Nothing in my tour operator's 'Planning Information' booklet to suggest the range and quality of the cuisine we'd be enjoying. For dinner, all it says is you get a 'sit-down, three-course meal'. It was incredible how, in the middle of nowhere, the camp and lodge chefs were able to create delicious gourmet meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, expertly served along with fine South African wines. No copywriter could adequately describe how warm the East Africans I met are. I've traveled everywhere, and I've never felt so welcomed. In every camp and hotel, at the airport, in the villages we visited, they are simply the warmest, most accommodating people I've ever encountered."

This piece really gets one excited for doing some safaris during our March-April 2015 Africa adventure. This includes stops in Kenya, Zanzibar, Madagascar, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Clearly, not all camps are exactly the same. BUT, this writing gives a good and exciting preview for roughing "IT" in Africa. Check out the full story. I've copied and saved this writing to my laptop for the our trip file.

Full story at:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2014/07/26/africa-kenya-tanzania-safari/13169543/

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 150,895 views. Nice to be hitting this high of a level for viewership. Appreciate the interest and follow-up questions/comments!!

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923