Discussion
My OH has a big birthday coming up, and I'd like to book to take the two of us on safari next year in late summer.
I've read a number of different sites, but between them all the different countries are best on one site or another, so it doesn't really make it clear where the decent safaris are.
So, to those of you who have been, where would you recommend?
I guess what I'm looking for is a decent variety of animal, a decent chance of seeing them, and some reasonable places to stay. Doesn't need to be 5 star, does need to not get me killed.
The inevitable question of budget - not too sure. If £2k pp is possible then great, but can spend more if required.
So, over to you...
I've read a number of different sites, but between them all the different countries are best on one site or another, so it doesn't really make it clear where the decent safaris are.
So, to those of you who have been, where would you recommend?
I guess what I'm looking for is a decent variety of animal, a decent chance of seeing them, and some reasonable places to stay. Doesn't need to be 5 star, does need to not get me killed.
The inevitable question of budget - not too sure. If £2k pp is possible then great, but can spend more if required.
So, over to you...
PugwasHDJ80 said:
THat looks amazing. I would love to do that.A bit daunting for some, I would expect
OP- TO answer your question possibly the most famous (best?) safari venue is the Masai Mara. THis is on the border between Kenya and Tanzania so both countries cater equally. If you are considering it then it would be well worth your while trying to time it with the Wildebeeste migration which I seem to remember falls in the latter part of the year.
On the other hand, I don't think there is such a thing as a 'bad' safari so IM not so sure it matters too much if there are any places you would rather go eg South Africa and Kruger
Hello OP, I've not been yet but have done allot of research so here's what I've learned. Our situation is a little different, we're going on honeymoon next year and wanted to combine a Safari with some city site seeing, self drive, and then unwind on a beach. Getting all that is limited by flights and how deep your pockets are unless you go to South Africa.
I've always wanted to go to SA so was an easy choice for me and ticked all the boxes. If you're interested in the other aspects of our trip let me know otherwise I'll stick to the safari info. In South Africa there are several reserves in the Eastern Cape these vary from parks which you can self drive or go to a private reserve which as a general rule include your accomadation, game drives with guide, walking safari, meals etc. The Cape reserves and national parks are Malaria free wich is a bonus they are small (relatively) and couple that with having a guide and you're chances of seeing the big 5 are high.
You then have the Kruger National Park where you can self drive, staying at rest camps, which vary from tents to hotels where you can chose to pay for a guide. One thing to remember on the self drive is you're not allowed to leave the roads. You can then go for a private reserve. We're staying in the Sabi Sands reserve at a place called Elephant Sands. Sabi sands is fenced on 3 sides with one open to Kruger (it's so big you'll never see a fence though). There are several lodges in the Sabi Sands and the other private reserves so your guide is in contact with the other guides to optimise your chance of seeing the animals. The private reserves vary from a about £200 per person per night up to mega bucks, it's not so bad when you're fed, watered, and have the serivces of a guide though. And is the luxury way to safari.
We'll do this for 4nts and have another 2 nights doing a self drive. 3-4nts is recommended as a nice amount of time for a first time safari. I reckon you could do something like this for your 4k budget easy enough and have a mooch around Cape Town or a beach type resort-we move onto Mauritus for a week at the end.
I think Kenya will be cheaper, they have plenty of beach resorts and safari and stay packages on offer, you could also look at Tanzania as another beach option. Time of year matters, the Wildebeest migration would be something to behold but I know people who have went with that purpose and not seen it. We'll be there in the winter so things are less green which is supposed to make things easier to see.
The Okavango Delta for a pure safari experiece is meant to be hard to beat, but I wouldn't expect your budget to go far.
I've always wanted to go to SA so was an easy choice for me and ticked all the boxes. If you're interested in the other aspects of our trip let me know otherwise I'll stick to the safari info. In South Africa there are several reserves in the Eastern Cape these vary from parks which you can self drive or go to a private reserve which as a general rule include your accomadation, game drives with guide, walking safari, meals etc. The Cape reserves and national parks are Malaria free wich is a bonus they are small (relatively) and couple that with having a guide and you're chances of seeing the big 5 are high.
You then have the Kruger National Park where you can self drive, staying at rest camps, which vary from tents to hotels where you can chose to pay for a guide. One thing to remember on the self drive is you're not allowed to leave the roads. You can then go for a private reserve. We're staying in the Sabi Sands reserve at a place called Elephant Sands. Sabi sands is fenced on 3 sides with one open to Kruger (it's so big you'll never see a fence though). There are several lodges in the Sabi Sands and the other private reserves so your guide is in contact with the other guides to optimise your chance of seeing the animals. The private reserves vary from a about £200 per person per night up to mega bucks, it's not so bad when you're fed, watered, and have the serivces of a guide though. And is the luxury way to safari.
We'll do this for 4nts and have another 2 nights doing a self drive. 3-4nts is recommended as a nice amount of time for a first time safari. I reckon you could do something like this for your 4k budget easy enough and have a mooch around Cape Town or a beach type resort-we move onto Mauritus for a week at the end.
I think Kenya will be cheaper, they have plenty of beach resorts and safari and stay packages on offer, you could also look at Tanzania as another beach option. Time of year matters, the Wildebeest migration would be something to behold but I know people who have went with that purpose and not seen it. We'll be there in the winter so things are less green which is supposed to make things easier to see.
The Okavango Delta for a pure safari experiece is meant to be hard to beat, but I wouldn't expect your budget to go far.
I only have one safari experience but it was properly amazing.
We went, as BSR points out, to the Masai Mara in Kenya in late September - the height of the migration. Stayed at Governors Camp Il Moran (as it was our honeymoon) and saw everything that you see on Big Cat Diary (they film there - we saw their Landrovers) - we saw all the same animals, the Cheetah Shakira with her five cubs, also the 'Three Brothers' Cheetahs taking down an Antelope! (You should see those shots!!)
Il Moran was quite expensive (but thoroughly excellent) and for smaller budgets Governors have other camps available which also looked excellent - we only did the 5 star thing because it was our honeymoon.
Recommended!
We went, as BSR points out, to the Masai Mara in Kenya in late September - the height of the migration. Stayed at Governors Camp Il Moran (as it was our honeymoon) and saw everything that you see on Big Cat Diary (they film there - we saw their Landrovers) - we saw all the same animals, the Cheetah Shakira with her five cubs, also the 'Three Brothers' Cheetahs taking down an Antelope! (You should see those shots!!)
Il Moran was quite expensive (but thoroughly excellent) and for smaller budgets Governors have other camps available which also looked excellent - we only did the 5 star thing because it was our honeymoon.
Recommended!
Edited by hornetrider on Wednesday 17th August 16:57
anonymous said:
[redacted]
We did something similar 2 years ago - 8+ day safari, 5 days Zanzibar. 3 people, 2 rooms, private jeep for the safari, mid-range accom'n (nice place at Ngorongoro) = £8k.So if you're happy to do a shorter safari or skip the beach completely (we found Zanzibar to be overpriced for what you got) then you can definitely get it in for around £2k each.
There are a few safari threads on here already - have a quick search.
But I would recommend Tanzania. Northern circuit has some fantastic sights.
- Tarangire is good if you're there when the elephants are there, otherwise it's possibly skippable.
- Lake Manyara is different to the rest - smaller, more closed-in. No big predators but hippos, giraffes and loads of monkeys. I'd skip this before skipping Tarangire...probably.
- Ngorongoro crater HAS to be done - world heritage site and you can understand it
- Serengeti is the daddy, but pick your location carefully...possibly split two sites, e.g. North and Centre. North has a very different feel to the centre, is quieter, and it's where we saw all 3 leopards. But fewer lions and we saw no cheetah up there, so take your pick...
Also:-
- Don't get hung up on the Great Migration. Prices are higher, everywhere is more crowded (e.g. we went mid-season (Sept) and a hunting cheetah in central S'geti still attracted ~15 jeeps. In high-season it would apparently be closer to 50!!!), and only some animals migrate - there are non-migratory populations of w'beest and zebra in both Tanzania and Kenya, for example.
- If you feel happy doing so, you'll get better value booking directly with a local operator, rather than through a UK agent (although you'll lose ABTA/ATOL protection...but travel ins. should cover you). We did, and aside from not getting much service from the Florida agency office, we had no problems at all on the ground in TZ.
TripAdvisor has some very good people who're very happy to provide advice, and on there and Fodors forums there are some good recommendations of local operators to use or to avoid.
Finally, take a GOOD camera. Hire/borrow one if necessary. Learn to use it before you go - at least shutter/aperture priority modes. And make sure you've got at least 300mm zoom on the long lens! Here are some of my photos (look in sub-folders too - most are there):-
http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m54/martin-w/Ho...
(Also check out IIRC FezantPlukah's photos - his are better!)
From Mrs Jimothy (who grew up in Zimbabwe). Avoid places like Tanzania and Kenya. Yes they are beautiful, but if you go on a game drive chances are there will be about another 10 or so cars going in the same direction as you. Go to Zambia - again South Luangwa or Mana pools area. Zambia will not only be cheaper, but there will be less tourist there and therefore give you a better chance of seeing more. My family swear by South Luangwa.
http://www.zambiatourism.com/travel/nationalparks/...
http://www.south-luangwa.com/
I would also recommend trying to squeeze in a trip to Victoria Falls if you get a chance.
A trip itinerary that we have used a few times is:
Fly to vic falls (use this as a base) - Illa Lodge on the Zim Side.
Then do the falls
Do a lion walk and elephant ride
Then 4/5 days in Botswana/South Luangwa
If you decide that South Luangwa is the place PM Jimothy with roughly what you want to do and when you want to go and I'll get more info for you.
http://www.zambiatourism.com/travel/nationalparks/...
http://www.south-luangwa.com/
I would also recommend trying to squeeze in a trip to Victoria Falls if you get a chance.
A trip itinerary that we have used a few times is:
Fly to vic falls (use this as a base) - Illa Lodge on the Zim Side.
Then do the falls
Do a lion walk and elephant ride
Then 4/5 days in Botswana/South Luangwa
If you decide that South Luangwa is the place PM Jimothy with roughly what you want to do and when you want to go and I'll get more info for you.
As said there are so many to choose from,my advice is go by personal recommendation.I`ve been on one to Kenya and it was like sitting in a bus with 10 others on the M25.Then in South Africa we found the perfect place.www.sablelodge.co.za This is a small private lodge on the Mabula Game Reserve which is 1.5-2hr drive from J/berg airport.We have been twice and fully recommend the place.You will be on your own,have your own guide and will be up close and personal with the wild life.The prices include meals and the use of all the facilities at the main Mabula Lodge.Have word with Cassie he really knows his stuff,he new just what each animal was up to and where they would be,a real bush expert. 
Been on several, but the best was the Phinda Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa http://phinda.com. An amazing place, with several different accomodation options (admittedly all rather pricey). Each days rate included a dawn and dusk game drive in an open landrover....6 pax max (and you can do it privately if needed) driver and ranger.
Each drive was 3 to 4 hours and in between you get the most wonderful accomodation to relax in.
We combined it as part of a longer holiday in South Afria vising Capetown and driving along the Garden Route. We will be doing it againm but this time with the children when they are a bit older.
Each drive was 3 to 4 hours and in between you get the most wonderful accomodation to relax in.
We combined it as part of a longer holiday in South Afria vising Capetown and driving along the Garden Route. We will be doing it againm but this time with the children when they are a bit older.
OP my recomendations for seeing game and for a nice location would be 1) Chobe reserve in Botswana, 2) Tshukudu Game Lodge in South Africa had a very nice stay there, 3) Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania...truly breathtaking....
I'm not really a fan of the Serenegti or Kruger because often the animals are a long way off, and whilst the gatherings or some animals are very impressive once you've seen a large heard or Wildebeest well.....that's it really....look there's more Wildebeest.....oh and some more....Wildebeest etc etc.
I'm not really a fan of the Serenegti or Kruger because often the animals are a long way off, and whilst the gatherings or some animals are very impressive once you've seen a large heard or Wildebeest well.....that's it really....look there's more Wildebeest.....oh and some more....Wildebeest etc etc.
HereBeMonsters said:
f
k Kenya. fk Tanzania. fk South Africa.
Zambia. Specifically; South Luangwa. It's like the Mara 20 years ago. Just 3 photos for now.
]
Whilst the idea of a less popular reserve is appealing, that looks like quite an ugly place in comparison to othersk Kenya. fk Tanzania. fk South Africa.Zambia. Specifically; South Luangwa. It's like the Mara 20 years ago. Just 3 photos for now.
]
To me the combination of wildlife of and utterly beautful unspoiled scenery is the magic of safaris.
Someone further up mentioned the Ngogogorororor Crater. Look at it compared with your pictures. No offense but I don't really see your point
blindswelledrat said:
Someone further up mentioned the Ngogogorororor Crater. Look at it compared with your pictures. No offense but I don't really see your point
It's stunning, and because all the big species are stuck in this ruddy great 15 mile wide crater you'll get to see a real variety up close.....memorably I saw a water buffalo giving 3 lions a bloody good hiding from about 50 yads away! It's also got sulpher lakes with flamigoes. The lodges tend to be around the rim which makes for rather spectacular evening sun down viewing. I liked it anyway.
andrew311 said:
Sabi Sands and local area stuff
Another vote here for Sabi Sands game reserve. We went there and stayed at Ulusaba for our honeymoon May last year and had a brilliant time. I really can't recommend the lodge we stayed at or area enough, as Andrew said it's a private reserve with a number of lodges in it. When out on safari all lodges vehicles are in contact with each other and there is a local arrangement that there will only be a maximum of 2/3 vehicles at a particular group of animals at any one time. Compared with places like the Masai or other big areas there could be 20 vehicles crouding round the same lion or leopard. Another big point is that in Sabi Sands the vehicles are allowed off road so can track the animals properly, they can't do that in a number of the better known safari regions and are only able to stick to the road network across the reserve. This means you can literally get as close as possible to the animals (close enough to touch to be honest)
Wherever you decide to stay I'm sure you and the wife will have an amazing time, I can't wait to go again.
Link to some of my shots on the photography section:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Andrew - enjoy Elephant Sands it looked a really nice lodge when we drove past it
blindswelledrat said:
Whilst the idea of a less popular reserve is appealing, that looks like quite an ugly place in comparison to others
To me the combination of wildlife of and utterly beautful unspoiled scenery is the magic of safaris.
Someone further up mentioned the Ngogogorororor Crater. Look at it compared with your pictures. No offense but I don't really see your point
We accidentally went in the middle of summer/dry season. Go after the rains and it's amazing.To me the combination of wildlife of and utterly beautful unspoiled scenery is the magic of safaris.
Someone further up mentioned the Ngogogorororor Crater. Look at it compared with your pictures. No offense but I don't really see your point
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