African Safari - anyone done one?

[Callum_62]

Hi,

We are starting to look into a 2023 African safari

Completely open minded on where we go

I briefly looked into them a few months ago and im thinking of doing a 5-7 day safari with a week holiday afterwards somewhere close by

It will be me, the wife and my then 10 year old daughter

Has anyone done one? Pros/cons? any advice who to book via?

From my research so far its more a holiday that is sort of customised rather than a 'of the shelf' holiday

[CropleyWasGod]

I did one in Tanzania 8-10 years ago. One of the best experiences of my life. I'm not particularly an animal buff, but seeing so many species in the wild just vkew me away

The Serengeti was amazing, but the Ngorongoro Crater was the highlight. Felt like the Lost World.

Can't remember the name of the company I went with, but they were excellent. I often get the feeling that these things are a bit of a lottery, in terms of the guides you get and the company you're in 😆. I was in a small party, in one Land Rover, and there was a separate one for our camping gear and the cook.

Each successive night was wilder, in terms of (tented) accommodation, with the last one being in the bush itself guarded by Masai in their tartan 😁

The Marabou Stork gave me a few nightmares.😆

[Callum_62]

I did one in Tanzania 8-10 years ago. One of the best experiences of my life. I'm not particularly an animal buff, but seeing so many species in the wild just vkew me away

The Serengeti was amazing, but the Ngorongoro Crater was the highlight. Felt like the Lost World.

Can't remember the name of the company I went with, but they were excellent. I often get the feeling that these things are a bit of a lottery, in terms of the guides you get and the company you're in 😆. I was in a small party, in one Land Rover, and there was a separate one for our camping gear and the cook.

Each successive night was wilder, in terms of (tented) accommodation, with the last one being in the bush itself guarded by Masai in their tartan 😁

The Marabou Stork gave me a few nightmares.😆

Thanks - how long did you go for?

Im not sure if what im thinking of doing at 5-7 days safari is enough?

We will have our 10 year old with us so I wouldn't want to go too 'wild'

[CropleyWasGod]

Thanks - how long did you go for?

Im not sure if what im thinking of doing at 5-7 days safari is enough?

We will have our 10 year old with us so I wouldn't want to go too 'wild'

I think it was 5 days,maybe 6. It was part of a wider trip through Rwanda and Tanzania.

Tbh, there was an element of "more ****in'zebras?", but every day there was a sense of unpredictability. If you're looking to "bag the big 5", you've got more chance with a longer trip, but equally just immersing yourself in the whole experience would be just as rewarding.

I know people who did one in Kenya and one in Tanzania on the same trip, and they were different experiences from each other. I guess that the time of year would be a factor in that. For example, if you wanted to see the great migration, you'd need to plan accordingly.

[Curried]

I've been lucky enough to see many of the parks in Western Africa. All are superb, but the one place i'd go back to in a heatbeat is the Okavango. It's a tad expensive, but well worth the dosh. Sipping sundowners while the animals come to you :-)

If you are looking at 5-7 days safari and a wee coastal stay on the side. I'd suggest you fly to Nairobi and hire a 4-Wheel drive. Take it to Amboseli for a couple of days then traverse Tsavo West to the main Mombasa road. Head up the coast to Malindi for a couple of days on the beach, then tuck back to Nairobi via Tsavo East. I did this with my young family, and we all survived.

[Jamesie]

In 2012 I did a three week overland trip, starting in Zimbabwe at Vic Falls and ending in Nairobi in Kenya, taking in Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania in between. Park highlights included Chobe in Botswana and the Serengeti in Tanzania. It wasn’t that expensive, relatively speaking, as I was on a truck with about 15 others and we camped every night (although there were options to upgrade to dorms / private rooms on certain sites) and all mucked in for preparation of meals (albeit there was a full time chef along with us to source food and do most of the cooking). At the time I was 31 and I was the second oldest person on the trip, although it’s really the luck of the draw - the trips can include 17 to 70 year olds!

[bigwheel]

Lived in Africa for a while in the 90s. So know Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe pretty well ...managed to do quite a lot of safari during the stay ..Africa is a wonderful Place - gets under your skin ...

[Jack]

I went on one close to Durban, South Africa before a cruise in 2019.

The safari was amazing but I'll never go back to Durban or probably SA.

[bigwheel]

Hi,

We are starting to look into a 2023 African safari

Completely open minded on where we go

I briefly looked into them a few months ago and im thinking of doing a 5-7 day safari with a week holiday afterwards somewhere close by

It will be me, the wife and my then 10 year old daughter

Has anyone done one? Pros/cons? any advice who to book via?

From my research so far its more a holiday that is sort of customised rather than a 'of the shelf' holiday

It depends what you are looking for ..but the richest wildlife in their natural environment is in Kenya and Tanzania..the Masai Mara and the Serengeti...also check out Ngorogoro crater in Tanzania ...a natural ecosystem of Animals that live in an extinct volcanic crater ....another wonderful place. If you have ability to choose when you go ..try to go during the great migration ..incredible to see the scale .. many beautiful tailored trips ..depending on your budget ...


Wouldn’t hesitate to do it if I was you ....find some time to spend time with locals outside of the structured village visited etc..

Botswana is also beautiful. Just not as abundant with wildlife. SA and Zimbabwe are more about parks where animals are in a more structured and managed environment than the freedom of Kenya and Tanzania..still amazing though. So depends what you want from your trip ....

[Callum_62]

It depends what you are looking for ..but the richest wildlife in their natural environment is in Kenya and Tanzania..the Masai Mara and the Serengeti...also check out Ngorogoro crater in Tanzania ...a natural ecosystem of Animals that live in an extinct volcanic crater ....another wonderful place. If you have ability to choose when you go ..try to go during the great migration ..incredible to see the scale .. many beautiful tailored trips ..depending on your budget ...


Wouldn’t hesitate to do it if I was you ....find some time to spend time with locals outside of the structured village visited etc..

Botswana is also beautiful. Just not as abundant with wildlife. SA and Zimbabwe are more about parks where animals are in a more structured and managed environment than the freedom of Kenya and Tanzania..still amazing though. So depends what you want from your trip ....I definately think an pre organised tour is what we would prefer

My daughter has seen videos of giraffe Manor in Kenya and she is already begging us to include that

Tanzania also has quite a few organised trips for a week or so

I've got alot of digging to do it seems [emoji106]

We likey have to go over summer holidays

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[Jack]

I definately think an pre organised tour is what we would prefer

My daughter has seen videos of giraffe Manor in Kenya and she is already begging us to include that

Tanzania also has quite a few organised trips for a week or so

I've got alot of digging to do it seems [emoji106]

We likey have to go over summer holidays

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

Further to what I said earlier. We had a private safari, just my wife and I with the guide in a comfy 4×4 thing.

On the 3 hour drive from Durban to the safari park we had plenty of time to discuss our expectations and for him to work on that given what was realistic. It also meant it was easier and quicker for us to react to stuff.

When we got to know people on the cruise we obviously chatted about pre cruise activities and safaris were a common theme.

Many had gone on adventures in a minibus type thing with as many as a dozen on board.

While no-one in the larger groups was disappointed I was glad that we had done it privately albeit about a third more expensive.

[Callum_62]

Further to what I said earlier. We had a private safari, just my wife and I with the guide in a comfy 4×4 thing.

On the 3 hour drive from Durban to the safari park we had plenty of time to discuss our expectations and for him to work on that given what was realistic. It also meant it was easier and quicker for us to react to stuff.

When we got to know people on the cruise we obviously chatted about pre cruise activities and safaris were a common theme.

Many had gone on adventures in a minibus type thing with as many as a dozen on board.

While no-one in the larger groups was disappointed I was glad that we had done it privately albeit about a third more expensive.Thanks - why wouldn't you return to SA?

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[Colr]

Good thread. I really fancy this idea now given I’m rolling over so many holidays.

[easty]

Was meant to be on safari in Zimbabwe in March last year, but it was cancelled, then again in October.

Still got open flight tickets, so will look to go at some point. Although my girlfriends dad is working in Puerto Rico just now, and he’s desperate to have us there as soon as possible. Zimbabwe and safaris may have to wait a while.

[Jack]

Thanks - why wouldn't you return to SA?

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

Some parts will be lovely, according to our fellow cruisers anyway, but they didn't stay in Durban!

Think of a colonial city 50 years ago, there was even a district called Morningside, but one where no maintenance had been carried out since then. I'd say about 80% was run down needing to be demolished.

Crime is a big thing. Apartment blocks had armed guards, so did just about everywhere else, even McDonald's. You couldn't go into corner shops, you pointed through the iron gate of a door and the shopkeeper brought it to you after you'd paid. The pubs were just no go areas. Razor wire protected everything from our hotel gardens to private houses, without exception. If you felt uncomfortable during the day it got worse at night. You wouldn't dare walk anywhere it had to be a taxi. They didn't stop at red lights for fear of being ambushed!

The nice area along the promenade was safe(ish) and we did all our eating out type stuff down there and the theme park at the end of it.

We were glad not to be there while on safari. It was nice to not be on your guard all the time - even with all the dangerous animals lol and as our ship sailed we were glad to see it disappear over the horizon.

[Billy Whizz]

I’d love a safari holiday, I watch practically every wildlife programme on TV

[Skol]

We had a two week holiday in Mombasa in 1991 and did a 2 day/1 night safari to Tsavo East. This was one of the best holiday experiences of my life. Sadly the overnight stay in the promised hotel on stilts so you could see and hear animals at night turned out to have been overbooked but we were put up in a 5 star Hilton instead.

We did have a worry on the drive home when our driver pulled over in a little village and said he had broken down and we had to get out. We had 8 brits milling about and a bunch of locals crowded round a fire in an oil drum eyeing us up. After a while the driver said it was repaired and we got back in and finished our journey.

A few other scary moments on that trip and the hotel had a perimiter fence patrolled by Rottweilers and Guards with Bows and Arrows roamed the hotel grounds

[147lothian]

Hi,

We are starting to look into a 2023 African safari

Completely open minded on where we go

I briefly looked into them a few months ago and im thinking of doing a 5-7 day safari with a week holiday afterwards somewhere close by

It will be me, the wife and my then 10 year old daughter

Has anyone done one? Pros/cons? any advice who to book via?

From my research so far its more a holiday that is sort of customised rather than a 'of the shelf' holiday

Hiya mate, I've been to Kenya 5 times, and i've been on a safari each time so here is my advice regarding what we do my wife is originally from Kenya, when we go we always book an air bnb its much cheaper than a hotel and you get the apartment all to yourself, just make sure it has all the essentials ie washing machine and satailte TV, you need to know a bit about the areas you are staying in though, you don't want a good appartment in a doggy area, we always stay in the Westland's area of Nairobi, this is the area that I would recommend if you decide to stay in Nairobi.

The best places for a Safari in Africa are either Kenya or Tanzania the big animal migration is between these two country between July - September although we always go in January to get away from the cold weather here, not there this year for obvious reasons, the good thing about being in Nairobi is that you can also visit the Sheldrick Centre which is an elephant orphanage, and go to Kenya Wild Life Service which is the only animal park in a city, another place to visit is the Giraffe Centre at Karen Brixton and Karen's home where the out of Africa Film is from, The animal Ophanage, The Musium all this are in the capital Nairobi

We had a good Safari last year at masai mara was saw the big 5 which doesn't happen all the time, the lodge was called Emayan this one was a bit more expensive but well worth it, don't be put off if you here your staying in a tent, this was luxury, the food was what you would expect in a five star hotel and it was a free bar, so it seems those things came with the cost, one thing I would say about going on a safari though is try to be there at the weekend, at the weekend they tend to have entertainment which is usually the Masai singing and dancing, or ask before you book if there is entertainment from the Masai during the week days its a great opportunity to get pictures etc

Another great place to visit Mombasa, by the sea, you can get a train that takes about 4 hours from Nairobi or fly in 40 min although if you smoke an elctronic cigarette like I do don't take it to the train station, the security at the train station is unbelieveable mine got confiscated and I had to pay a bribe to get it back we just walked into a travel agents at the shopping mall and booked an all inclusive trip to Mombasa and it was't too expensive, good luck with your holiday

[Callum_62]

Hiya mate, I've been to Kenya 5 times, and i've been on a safari each time so here is my advice regarding what we do my wife is originally from Kenya, when we go we always book an air bnb its much cheaper than a hotel and you get the apartment all to yourself, just make sure it has all the essentials ie washing machine and satailte TV, you need to know a bit about the areas you are staying in though, you don't want a good appartment in a doggy area, we always stay in the Westland's area of Nairobi, this is the area that I would recommend if you decide to stay in Nairobi.

The best places for a Safari in Africa are either Kenya or Tanzania the big animal migration is between these two country between July - September although we always go in January to get away from the cold weather here, not there this year for obvious reasons, the good thing about being in Nairobi is that you can also visit the Sheldrick Centre which is an elephant orphanage, and go to Kenya Wild Life Service which is the only animal park in a city, another place to visit is the Giraffe Centre at Karen Brixton and Karen's home where the out of Africa Film is from, The animal Ophanage, The Musium all this are in the capital Nairobi

We had a good Safari last year at masai mara was saw the big 5 which doesn't happen all the time, the lodge was called Emayan this one was a bit more expensive but well worth it, don't be put off if you here your staying in a tent, this was luxury, the food was what you would expect in a five star hotel and it was a free bar, so it seems those things came with the cost, one thing I would say about going on a safari though is try to be there at the weekend, at the weekend they tend to have entertainment which is usually the Masai singing and dancing, or ask before you book if there is entertainment from the Masai during the week days its a great opportunity to get pictures etc

Another great place to visit Mombasa, by the sea, you can get a train that takes about 4 hours from Nairobi or fly in 40 min although if you smoke an elctronic cigarette like I do don't take it to the train station, the security at the train station is unbelieveable mine got confiscated and I had to pay a bribe to get it back we just walked into a travel agents at the shopping mall and booked an all inclusive trip to Mombasa and it was't too expensive, good luck with your holidayGreat info there thanks!

I've got a company working on something at the moment

Would have loved to go Botswana but it seems with a youngish child it's not the best and it's one of the more expensive options

Kenya looked favourite but as I mentioned I want some cultural experiences thrown in they recommended Tanzania (with a specific camp run (I think) by the Maasai whom we will spend a full day with. We love trying to show our daughter how other people on the planet actually live.

Waiting on some more detail around that with an add on at the end to Zanzibar. I believe the main safari part will be in the Serengeti and around the Ngorogoro crater. I think the maasai camp is around Lake Manyara somewhere - hopefully get some better detail in a day or so

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[JeMeSouviens]

Friends of mine went to Namibia and came back raving about it. Not just the safari but the whole desert and coast landscapes etc. There are waterhole locations where you settle down for the evening and the wildlife comes to you.

[Callum_62]

Just getting some prices through now, one from Audley travel and one from a local tanzania based company

There is a significant difference if looked at them excluding all flights

Both 2 weeks - split between mainland and zanzibar

Some cultural experiences in there (school visit and 2 local tribe visits from the tanzania company
Audley has 1 local village tuk tuk ride

Audley has decent accom altho quite a basic camp in Central serengeti... Does include flying our from airstrip to zanzibar though

Tanzania company gives with better lodges and probably better camps too

Acccom in Zanzibar from Audley was Breezes (definately good standard) against the local company suggesting Pongwe beach... Which to be fair looks pretty amazing too (room has own plunge pool and right on beach)

The difference between the 2 quotes is about £3.5k - which is a massive some of cash

Is that common between UK based and local based?

Be interesting to see some more prices come in

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[blaikie]

I'd highly recommend visiting Zanzibar, I visited October last year and I'm heading back next week staying on the east coast (Jua Retreat).

You can fly to Dar Es Salem or other smaller airports throughout Tanzania like Mikumi relatively cheap with various 2 and 3 day safari packages from local travel agencies and can book once you arrive.

In Zanzibar, RIU Palace in Nungwi is a great resort but its a two hour drive from the Airport - perfect for relaxing after a safari!

Good luck :aok: