Safari advice/tips

[clarkmagpie]

Considering a safari for our holidays this year.would love to see a cheetah, that's my main ambition!
Preferably not Tanzania as Mrs C went a couple of years ago so would be nice to go somewhere different.
But if its the best price/holiday then I don't mind going.
Has anyone got any advice?
Things to do?
Things to avoid?

Thanks in advance.

[rog007]

Kenya is well established but check travel advice. Some great camps if you want to get close and you do get to see most animals. Plenty of operators and camps to choose from. You'll have a great time.

[The Moose]

Botswana is fantastic. What's your approx budget?

[clarkmagpie]

Not a huge amount.
Below 2k each

[halfpenny43]

We went in late September to Kruger. Stayed in two different parks - Honeyguide which is a sort of tented camp and one called Imbali which is a again a smaller resort but a little more luxurious - but think it is within your budget.

Honeyguide is a private reserve part of the Manyeleti Game Reserve meaning that the safari's could go off of the tracks and onto grassed or plain areas. Here we got very close to all the animals - buffalo, elephants, rhino's, lions, hyena etc. We did not see any leopards or cheetahs.

Imbali is a private resort in the public Kruger National Park meaning that the safari's stuck to the tracks and we did not venture off road - however here we saw the same animals but also saw wild dogs and cheetah's. Two pictures below I took with my Olympus camera and 300mm lens. Loads more pictures if you want them

[audikentman]

If you are on a budget go to Kruger, then you can do a self drive.

Fly to Jo;berg, 4 hour drive on the N4 then about £50 a night per room. We did 5 nights in December 1 night at Orpen, 2 nights at Olifants and 2 nights at Lower Sabie, did a bush braai here with another couple, for 600rand each, 2 hour drive and a 3 course meal in the bush for £30. We then took a drive to a private camp (Thula Thula) in KZN for a bit of luxury.

Previously stayed at Honey Guide and its top notch and at KNP stayed at Skukuza and Satara.

You can book all your accommodation here

https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/

The current £1 = 23 rand makes it a bargain, we filled up or iX35 hire car for less than £30

[Dingolfing]

As already mentioned South Africa is phenomenal value with gbpzar near all time highs.

Last time we did a 10 day tour of Cape Town, Franschhoek and Sabi sands. A great way to get safari, beaches and good food and wine in one trip.

Quite different from an East African safari but unbeatable value.

[audikentman]

From Kruger N.P in December


From Thula Thula a couple of days later

[Flying Penguin]

You could try Namibia; Etosha National Park is great. Self drive with 4 x 4 Hilux fully equipped with roof tent is fun; we went for 2 weeks last year. Booked through these people :

http://www.namibia-tours-safaris.com/

Should be well within your budget.

Ooh, cheethas... Hard to spot in Etosha but with a good pair of binoculars (and a 600mm tele lens) no problem.