Safari experiences
Discussion
Very much like another thread going on at the moment, I'm trying to work out where to go on Honeymoon. However, the good lady and I just don't like beach holidays, and the thought of spending around £2k on sitting around in a nice hotel doesn't sound like fun to me.
So we're now looking at safaris, which seems to be 'different' enough to justify going there on honeymoon, and active enough so we don't get bored.
We're getting married October 3rd and want to head off on holiday ASAP after the wedding, my one concern is what the animal spotting is going to be like at that time of year.
So we're now looking at safaris, which seems to be 'different' enough to justify going there on honeymoon, and active enough so we don't get bored.
We're getting married October 3rd and want to head off on holiday ASAP after the wedding, my one concern is what the animal spotting is going to be like at that time of year.
If you head to the Serengeti or Masai Mara at that time of year you should be fine. The main migrations are later in the year so there should be plenty to see in October.
I did a 3-day safari in Tanzania in September 2007 and we saw plenty of the main trophy animals and plenty more besides. It also helps that it is a stunning part of the world!
I did a 3-day safari in Tanzania in September 2007 and we saw plenty of the main trophy animals and plenty more besides. It also helps that it is a stunning part of the world!
You're in luck. May to October is the best time to safari in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, although I've been in eary December and there was still plenty to see.
The delta is just stunning - I've safari'd in various parts of S Africa and Kenya as well but the Okavango was easily the best, you get a great mix of viewing from both land and water, and there will be a lot of game around at that time. Also the area is pretty much untouched by humans compared to more popular places so it feels more like Africa should do.
TBH I can't advise you on where to stay as when I worked in Africa travel I covered the luxury end of the market, but I reckon you should be able to include a stay in Botswana with some time in S Africa without having to rob a bank!
The delta is just stunning - I've safari'd in various parts of S Africa and Kenya as well but the Okavango was easily the best, you get a great mix of viewing from both land and water, and there will be a lot of game around at that time. Also the area is pretty much untouched by humans compared to more popular places so it feels more like Africa should do.
TBH I can't advise you on where to stay as when I worked in Africa travel I covered the luxury end of the market, but I reckon you should be able to include a stay in Botswana with some time in S Africa without having to rob a bank!
Well that depends on where you're going... But TBH the animals never go away, and whilst that may be getting into the warm season in south africa, will be pretty much normal in say Kenya/TZ. Somewhere like the Ngorogoro (sp?) crater in Northern Tanzania is basically a 20 mile crater filled (naturally due to the crater walls) with animals - they are there from birth to death. Obviously no Wildebeest migration at that time though.
Just do it, but I wouldn't plan to spend too long on safari - you can get safari'd out. Plan a few days in the middle of the trip. Not the beginning if you're planning some "sexytime" as early morning starts and thin canvas are not the best! And whatever you do, do a walking safari. Trust me - it's worth it. Getting down at the same level as the animals is an amazing experience, so much more than from the roof of a defender, which can be a bit remote, like watching planet earth!
For a honeymoon you could always consider some time in Kenya/Tanzania (Ngorogoro/Nakura/Serengeti etc), round to Uganda or Rwanda (2-3 days travel or a local flight) and visit Bwinidi or Rwhengeri to trek to visit the mountain gorillas, then off for a few days relaxing on the beach - Zanzibar or Kenyan coast.
Just do it, but I wouldn't plan to spend too long on safari - you can get safari'd out. Plan a few days in the middle of the trip. Not the beginning if you're planning some "sexytime" as early morning starts and thin canvas are not the best! And whatever you do, do a walking safari. Trust me - it's worth it. Getting down at the same level as the animals is an amazing experience, so much more than from the roof of a defender, which can be a bit remote, like watching planet earth!
For a honeymoon you could always consider some time in Kenya/Tanzania (Ngorogoro/Nakura/Serengeti etc), round to Uganda or Rwanda (2-3 days travel or a local flight) and visit Bwinidi or Rwhengeri to trek to visit the mountain gorillas, then off for a few days relaxing on the beach - Zanzibar or Kenyan coast.
Cheers all.
In terms of operators who would you suggest? I've currently got a Kuoni brochure to steal some ideas from, and then try and see if I can save money by booking it myself.
I think ideally we'd like to combine a few days at a nice resort chilling out, with sometime out in the parks. Is Botswana good for this? It seems Kenya is, but the quality of the safari should be the most important factor.
In terms of operators who would you suggest? I've currently got a Kuoni brochure to steal some ideas from, and then try and see if I can save money by booking it myself.
I think ideally we'd like to combine a few days at a nice resort chilling out, with sometime out in the parks. Is Botswana good for this? It seems Kenya is, but the quality of the safari should be the most important factor.
There is nothing to do in Botswana other than safari. You have to include it with a stay in S Africa, which should be pretty pleasant in Oct as it's spring there. It won't be the weather for lying on a beach but a few nights near Cape Town in a hotel like Constantia Uitsig (pronounced eight-sig) then a drive along the Garden Route would be perfect, with say 3 or 4 stops along the way for 2 or 3 nights each.
The best way of doing something like this is to put the safari in the middle as mentioned above - you won't want to start with the early mornings, but you don't want to end your holiday with them either or you'll get home knackered!
www.wilderness-safaris.com have loads of beautiful lodges, but they ain't cheap! Should give you a feel for the place though. It's a tricky thing to book yourself so tour ops are the way to go, the connections, transfers etc can get complicated and Africans work to different timscales than us...
ps. as mentioned walking safaris are great, or horseback even better!
The best way of doing something like this is to put the safari in the middle as mentioned above - you won't want to start with the early mornings, but you don't want to end your holiday with them either or you'll get home knackered!
www.wilderness-safaris.com have loads of beautiful lodges, but they ain't cheap! Should give you a feel for the place though. It's a tricky thing to book yourself so tour ops are the way to go, the connections, transfers etc can get complicated and Africans work to different timscales than us...
ps. as mentioned walking safaris are great, or horseback even better!
Edited by Lord Croker on Friday 10th April 14:59
Lord Croker said:
www.wilderness-safaris.com have loads of beautiful lodges, but they ain't cheap! Should give you a feel for the place though. It's a tricky thing to book yourself so tour ops are the way to go, the connections, transfers etc can get complicated and Africans work to different timscales than us...
Lovely looking site that, looks like it's going to be pricey! Can't find anybody at the moment who does a multicentre to Botswana.
www.carrier.co.uk
It's where I used to work, but I can assure you it will be pricey if you use them! Speak to Julie Crump (no, really) if she still works there. They can do the multi-centre for you, it's a regular itinerary.
Alternatives would be Botswana and Mozambique for some time on an island in the Indian Ocean, or if it all looks too pricey then:
Cape Town, safari in the Kruger Park in S Africa, then do the Garden Route back to CT. There are some very good lodges in the Kruger and other parks, and the lack of travelling helps to make it all a little more relaxing (and cheaper). www.leopardhills.com was my fave lodge in that area, well worth splashing out on:
It all depends on budget, and this option opens up other operators which could also help with the cost if it's an issue. Carrier will be able to work something perfect though!
It's where I used to work, but I can assure you it will be pricey if you use them! Speak to Julie Crump (no, really) if she still works there. They can do the multi-centre for you, it's a regular itinerary.
Alternatives would be Botswana and Mozambique for some time on an island in the Indian Ocean, or if it all looks too pricey then:
Cape Town, safari in the Kruger Park in S Africa, then do the Garden Route back to CT. There are some very good lodges in the Kruger and other parks, and the lack of travelling helps to make it all a little more relaxing (and cheaper). www.leopardhills.com was my fave lodge in that area, well worth splashing out on:
It all depends on budget, and this option opens up other operators which could also help with the cost if it's an issue. Carrier will be able to work something perfect though!
I can recommend some trips with Gap Adventures or Acacia. I book quite a few of these with work and as LordCroker says, you could certainly do worse than the Okavango Delta and some time in South Africa. Either look at that or perhaps Tanzania (Ngorogoro Crater/Serengeti) and some time in Zanzibar perhaps.
I can give you some ideas on pricing and things if you want, just drop me an email.
I can give you some ideas on pricing and things if you want, just drop me an email.
theboyfold said:
I don't like the sound of that. Something tells me that the idea of a safari might go out the window, was looking to spend more like £2k-£3k for flights and rooms...
It does depend on whether you mind a bit of assisted camping while on safari, but you could certainly enjoy a GAP trip for example within your budget.We did Sand Rivers in the Selous - Tanzania, followed by 2 islands in the Mafia Archipelago - Chole Mjini, and Pole Pole. Sand Rivers was the safari lodge, overlooking the Rufiji River - so you had the choice of game drives, river trips, game walks and the chance to do fly camping - absolutely amazing, not to be missed! Then the islands were the relaxing, diving part, with lazy days out on sandbanks by dhow, fresh fish cooked over open fire picnics - the days were fabulous. The accomodation on Chole was tree houses, and the whole place had no electricity, the bar was in the tree tops with fab views, the showers were outdoor, heated by a little flame - worked wonderfully. Pole Pole was beach bungalows - a great setting and great place to chill, relax and lie on the beach/go our to the sandbanks for a few days.
It was our honeymoon and I can't recommend it highly enough - the service was exceptional, food fantastic, lodges fab, game amazing.
We booked with expert africa (www.expertafrica.com).
I've just come back from sarafi in the Waterberg provence of SA, and the Limpopo Valley in Botswana - both fab places but not on the honeymoon scale - this was horseback safari - so different altogether - however, still absolutely fantastic!
It was our honeymoon and I can't recommend it highly enough - the service was exceptional, food fantastic, lodges fab, game amazing.
We booked with expert africa (www.expertafrica.com).
I've just come back from sarafi in the Waterberg provence of SA, and the Limpopo Valley in Botswana - both fab places but not on the honeymoon scale - this was horseback safari - so different altogether - however, still absolutely fantastic!
v15ben said:
theboyfold said:
I don't like the sound of that. Something tells me that the idea of a safari might go out the window, was looking to spend more like £2k-£3k for flights and rooms...
It does depend on whether you mind a bit of assisted camping while on safari, but you could certainly enjoy a GAP trip for example within your budget.It's our honeymoon, but it doesn't have to be luxury all the way, just different and memorable.
v15ben said:
I can recommend some trips with Gap Adventures or Acacia. I book quite a few of these with work and as LordCroker says, you could certainly do worse than the Okavango Delta and some time in South Africa. Either look at that or perhaps Tanzania (Ngorogoro Crater/Serengeti) and some time in Zanzibar perhaps.
I can give you some ideas on pricing and things if you want, just drop me an email.
Don't want to go off topic, but what are your experiences with GAP? I'm thinking of booking with them this yr (West Africa - Togo/Benin etc). And good? Typical person on thier trips? I'm guessing aussies in their 20's? I've travelled with Dragoman, Imaginative traveller and Travel Indochina before, but had some issues with Imtrav this time so a bit wary...I can give you some ideas on pricing and things if you want, just drop me an email.
GAP have pretty good reviews to be honest and as I'm sure you know with looking at Togo/Benin, they definitely do some trips off the more 'standard' routes. They are reasonably priced too and pretty much everyone I've known who has done one of their trips has only positive words to say. There has been the odd negative review, but that has been down to particular guides being poor which I guess can happen in any company.
Overall I'd recommend them so much so that away from work I'm considering going to China with them next year! I guess that is the best review I can give them really
If you are looking to book the Togo trip, drop me an email and I'll try and match it up with some flights and availability if you like
Overall I'd recommend them so much so that away from work I'm considering going to China with them next year! I guess that is the best review I can give them really
If you are looking to book the Togo trip, drop me an email and I'll try and match it up with some flights and availability if you like
Botswana is pretty expensive AFAIK as they aim for the high end market. You can't really go wrong with Kenya or Tanzania IMO, although the big reserves (like Masai Mara/Serengeti) are pricey - $125 a day 3 years ago when we were there. Presumably the tour operators get a discount. If you can then go during the dry season as the animals are easier to see a they'll hang around at waterholes and there's less vegetation to get in the way.
v15ben said:
GAP have pretty good reviews to be honest and as I'm sure you know with looking at Togo/Benin, they definitely do some trips off the more 'standard' routes. They are reasonably priced too and pretty much everyone I've known who has done one of their trips has only positive words to say. There has been the odd negative review, but that has been down to particular guides being poor which I guess can happen in any company.
Overall I'd recommend them so much so that away from work I'm considering going to China with them next year! I guess that is the best review I can give them really
If you are looking to book the Togo trip, drop me an email and I'll try and match it up with some flights and availability if you like
Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated! TBH the itinerary they run in that area is pretty much spot on so they don't have a lot of competition! Will let you know when I book - probab sept or aug. departure depending on work Overall I'd recommend them so much so that away from work I'm considering going to China with them next year! I guess that is the best review I can give them really
If you are looking to book the Togo trip, drop me an email and I'll try and match it up with some flights and availability if you like
( Flights into that area are limited to say the least! Anyhows, shouldn't really take this thread off topic too much further. Thanks again.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff