Itinerary finalized

Well, finally the itinerary has been completed. It's been interesting talking back and forth with friends and travel agents in South Africa... and the lingo. Let me tell you, it was quite a task to get everything lined up.

However, now that it's done, I am very happy with the outcome. I feel this trip is going to be the perfect recipe for what I want, a pinch of excitement, a dash of education, a bunch of relaxation and a heap of "Wow!".

A little information about the trip:

• We travel 10,465 miles in 24h 43m (2h 45m in layovers) to get to South Africa from Portland, Oregon.
• We cross 10 time zones. When it is 9:00am PDT, it will be 6:00pm ZAS
• We travel 10,592 miles in 28h 1m (5h 55m in layovers) to go from South Africa back to Portland.
• South Africans drive on the left side of the road.
• South Africa has two independent countries within its borders, Lesotho and Swaziland.
• Kruger National Park is the largest wild game preserve in South Africa.
• The "Big 5" are Lions, Elephants, Rhino, Giraffe and Water Buffalo.

Aug 1: Leave Portland 7:52am on United #250 to Washington, DC (2,320 mi; 5h-8m flight; 1h-45m layover). Catch South African Airways #208 to Dakar, Senegal (3,975 mi; 8h-25m flight; 1h layover).

Aug 2: Leave Dakar, Senegal on South African Airways #208 to Johannesburg, South Africa (4,170mi; 8h-25m flight). Spend the night with Alex and Michael Garcia at their home in Pretoria.

Aug 3: Tour Pretoria and outlying area. (Pretoria, South Africa)

Aug 4: Volunteer at Glen Afric (Glen Afric Lodge)

Aug 5: Volunteer at Glen Afric.

Aug 6: Volunteer at Glen Afric.

Aug 7: Volunteer at Glen Afric.





Aug 8: Leave Glen Afric and drive to Clarens, South Africa.(Clarens, South Africa)

Aug 9: Clarens, South Africa

Aug 10: Clarens, South Africa

Aug 11: Return to Alex and Michael Garcia's home on Pretoria.




Aug 12: Drive to Pestana Kruger Lodge to see the "Big 5". (Pestana Kruger Lodge) (Kruger National Park)

Aug 13: Pestana Kruger Lodge

Aug 14: Pestana Kruger Lodge

Aug 15: Pestana Kruger Lodge


Aug 16: Driver back to Pretoria. Dinner with Alex and Michael. Leave Johannesburg 8:05pm on South African Airlines #234 to London, UK (5,635 mi; 11h-20m flight; 4h layover) Catch Air Canada #855 to Vancouver, BC (4,707 mi; 9h-30m flight; 1h 55m layover)

Aug 17: Leave Vancouver, BC on Air Canda #8125 (250 mi; 1h-16m flight)