Have you been on a safari? Where did you go?

5 years ago

Well, my title pretty much says it! We are going on a safari next summer after DD graduates from high school. I'd love to hear your experiences. I know one family who has been on a safari, DH knows a couple of people at work too, and they are all suggesting different things. What did you do? And did you use an agency that specializes in safaris, a regular travel agent, or neither?

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nosoccermom

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

What surprised me the most was the sheer amount of animals. Somehow I had envisioned spending hours driving around before you see any in the far distance. Of course, we were easy customers, who didn't have a check list of 'must sees', at least not initially.

On the first day, our guide asked what animals we'd like to see. My answer, giraffes and zebras, was met with laughter, kind of asking to see squirrels and bunnies where I live. We later upped our requests, like a giraffe drinking, lots of babies, den of hyenas with young ones, wild dogs, and animals hunting (hyenas, lions) and mating (lions). They delivered everything, except a giraffe giving birth :)

DD filmed hyenas killing a wild dog (I didn't look), which was a big deal and was sent to the wild life dept. because wild dogs are unique to the area and the only animals they keep track of.

Unlike in, say Kruger National Park, the reserves in the Okavango Delta are unfenced, vast land, with camps only accessible by bush plane (about 8 cabins, so no more than 16 guests at a time. Some camps are more water oriented, others more land oriented although all combine the two.

As far as time of travel, we went in August, which was ideal. Temperatures were chilly at night (around mid 40s) and early morning but warmed up considerably during the day (high 70s), very sunny and dry, about 11 hrs of day light. You get "bush babies" aka hot water bottles and blankest at night and during the early morning drive.

My recommendation would be to do Victoria Falls first (we stayed at the Victoria Falls Hotel, very, very nice historic British hotel, with excellent service and food, and walking distance to the Falls), then do Chobe (at Botswana/Namibia border along the Sambezi River) for huge herds of elephants, zebras, hippos, crocs, and river cruise. And then head to Okavango Delta to two different camps, maybe also one in the Kalahari Desert.

Lastly, Botswana (unlike Zimbabwe), despite poverty, especially in rural areas, is quite the African success story, with a stable democracy, high GDP and high education and health expenditures. It is also quite a bit safer than South Africa or Zimbabwe.

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Comments (14)

hooked123
5 years ago
I haven’t been, but have always dreamed about Africa. My good friend went and loved it. My son’s boarding school went as an optional spring break tour and his friends told me it was amazing. They told me stories of camping in Kenya and hearing crazy noises at night. They saw the big 5 and loved it. My son didn’t go as we had a family trip already planned. His school was considering another trip to Africa to climb Kilimanjaro. Idk if that ever came to fruition.
nosoccermom
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Last year, actually exactly one year ago: Flew to Johannesburg, then to Botswana (Okavango Delta, then Chobe) and then Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. We did this kind of short notice and had serious time constraints, so were not able to do the itinerary the other way round, which is better because Okavango Delta is the absolute highlight.

I research everything and had contacted several travel agents, talked to friends, etc.

In the end, we booked with a local travel agent in Botswana, who does all travel for DDs university (they have a joint healthcare program). The rates for identical accommodations, services, etc. were so low (< half) that I joked that worst case scenario was, we'd arrive in Botswana and had to fend for ourselves. He is able to get rates via his local connections, so basically, he made suggestions and we gave him a list of camps in the Okavango Delta in order of preference.

I actually called the hotel in Victoria Falls to verify that we did indeed have a paid reservation.

I had arranged the flights from the US to South Africa, then Maun (Northern Botswana) and back from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg and US as open jaw tickets, in case a connection fails, the airlines would take care of us.

The travel agent did everything else, all accommodations, bush plane from Maun to Delta and from Delta to Chobe, airport/hotel and transfer from Chobe to Victoria Falls, most meals, safari, some activities, etc. There was one hiccup, where a driver didn't show up to take us to a local dinner, but then the hotel arranged transportation.

It was just absolutely amazing. Probably means that I can't go on the "normal" tourist safaris anymore. In the Delta, DD and I had our own guide and tracker, all off road. You stay in luxury cabins and at night will hear the animals roaming around the camp, male teenager elephants fighting or the hippos chomping on grass. You have a fog horn for emergencies because you can't leave your cabin during the night without an armed guide.

The guides are very experienced and attuned to the animals, respecting the animals' habitat rather than waving their weapons around.

https://www.kwando.co.bw/little-kwara

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g10679496-d1052497-Reviews-Little_Kwara-Kwando_Concession_NG14_North_West_District.html
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Honu3421
5 years ago
Sue: I can give you the name of a wonderful guide. Please send me a PM.
writersblock (9b/10a)
5 years ago
Nosoccermom, did you swim in the Devil's Pool?
nosoccermom
5 years ago
Yeah, right.
mtnrdredux_gw
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I have been on two. One was with Abercrombie and Kent. Flew into Kenya, toured around Kenya and Tanzania, then ended up at the beach in Mombasa. The wildlife was amazing, we saw everything, and lots of families of animals. The accommod were quite nice the food was meh. It was also a group out on tour, as opposed to our second safari which was private.

The second time I wanted to see Capetown so we started our trip there (great city), and then we flew to Cape Elizabeth and met a small plane to take us to Kwandwe. At Kwandwe, we stayed at Uplands (3br, so our family had the whole house). It was wonderful. The Uplands estate is circa 1905, and it was filled with antiques and collections and I felt just like Karen Blixen from OOA meets Ralph Lauren. We had our own driver and scout and butler and chef. As is common for safaris, you start each day before dawn (with warm hot chocolate, coffee, tee, and crimpets and such). You go out on safari to find the animals as the sun comes up. On the way back, they radio ahead to have someone draw your bath. Apres bath, you have a full on gourmet sit down breakfast in the dining room. Then you lounge around in the heat of the day. My fave memory was hanging out by the pool while giraffe just ambled by! Just before dusk you head out again, and they usually serve cocktails and canapes in the bush while you look for animals and watch the sunset. On return, another bath (for the dust, m'dear) and the daily cocktail on the porch while dinner is made.

That was 10 years ago. The choices and level of accommod just keep getting better on safari. I for one would check out that hotel profiled by the BBC where the giraffes poke their head in the window at breakfast?
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mamapinky0
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Check out on YouTube **Safari Live** they have do a live safari drive 3 hours two times a day in South Africa. At least you will see what to expect on a S African Safari.

Eta warning this program is highly addictive.
Sueb20 thanked mamapinky0
Sueb20
Original Author
5 years ago
thank you!!
bossyvossy
5 years ago
Closest I got to a safari was Busch Gardens in Tampa
texanjana
5 years ago
Not yet! When we do go, we will use this company. A college friend worked for them for several years which is how I learned about them. There is lots of info on their website. His favorite destination is Botswana. He has his own travel agency in NYC now. Lmk if you want that info and I will pm it to you.

African Safari Consultants
Funkyart
5 years ago
My safari experiences are VERY dated and not nearly as luxe as those shared by others-- but I have been to both South Africa and Botswana and definitely encourage you to plan some additional travel around your Safari(s). I lived in South Africa for 6 months as an exchange student and had the opportunity to travel quite a bit. It's an amazingly beautiful and diverse country-- I am sure it's much different now than when I was there (early 80s-- in fact, the US applied sanctions that shut down much of the travel to South Africa soon after I returned. There was a lot of unrest while I was there-- including a number of bombings where i stayed in J-burg, Durban and surrounding areas.)

I never made it to Cape Town but I've been to Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg and Durban (I lived just outside of Durban in Amanzimtoti-- where I could literally watch dolphins playing in the ocean from my classroom!) I've been to Kruger and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi -- also hiked and camped in the Drakensberg Mtns-- a great destination for a photographer! It has an exceptionally diverse range of flora and fauna-- especially birds.

To tie in to the "What are you Reading" threads, a high point of my trip was having afternoon tea with author, Alan Patton at his home. I had read Cry, the Beloved Country for a class and it was the reason I chose to travel to South Africa as an exchange student.
nosoccermom
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I liked the idea of using a Botswana based travel agent. Not only because of the much better rates (about 1/3 of any rate US based travel agents seem to have access to), but also because it supports a local business and Fred is in very close and personal contact with the hotels/camps/service providers. We actually met him later in one of the hotels during his inspection tour.

DD also visited Cape Town and surrounding area, so if you have enough time, I'd definitely add that to your itinerary.

This is the website of the travel agent in Gaborone: http://www.budgetsafaris.co.bw/

They also arrange safaris to other countries.

And, yes, there's a real office with at least two employees. DD stopped by several times. As is customary in many countries (incl. Africa and Europe), Fred asked to transfer the money by bank transfer --- which we did. However, in retrospect, I would pay by credit card and pay for the credit card fee with bank fee and less advantageous exchange rate, it would have been pretty much the same price.
mtnrdredux_gw
5 years ago
Another thought. I have never used this company below (with few exceptions I research, plan, and book everything myself), but I have heard very good things about them. What I do now is I look at their site to see where they choose to visit in a region, what activities they offer, and also where they stay. I find there is a lot of overlap between hotels I choose and hotels they choose. They also help me edit out less desirable locations or less worthwhile activities.

That is the problem I always have with travel writers. I have never seen a travel piece that concluded "don't go here it is only meh or there are better places with similar attractions" or that even said "this activity is what everyone says to do here but it is not such a big deal". IYKWIM

Anyway, this is the company where I look for ideas sometimes: http://www.artisansofleisure.com/

Have you been on a safari? Where did you go?

nosoccermom

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