My $0.02... I know this is FlyerTalk and fancy hotels are a priority to many here, but I'd focus on the wildlife first and foremost and then figure out the lodges based on that. Game viewing is very season-dependent for African safaris, so keep that in mind. Also, I see a lot of people trying to jam in a trip combining both Southern and East Africa, and I think it makes sense to focus on one or the other. What's the point of doing a safari in SA if you're wanting to see the mountain gorillas and do R&R in Zanzibar? Tanzania/Kenya has the Serengeti (Masai Mara) ecosystem / migration, which is arguably the best game viewing in Africa, so I'm not sure why you wouldn't just stick to East Africa. Again, just my two cents...