Thanks for all the great discussion guys. This does bring me to an interesting point. I have more than enough miles to fly my wife and I to Africa (wherever we decide to go) for free. I plan to book the flight on my own, but what is the best way to book a safari? Despite traveling all over the world, I have never used a travel agent. Any thoughts?

I really like all the suggestions and think I will probably go in the April/May time frame. Since I can basically go whenever, would you recommend I wait and go in june or july?

I really like your suggestions above, but my wife dislikes flying prop planes. While we could if we have too, I would like to avoid it if possible.

Hi There,

If you don’t want to fly on single engine prop-planes then the options in Southern Africa are a bit more limited. Botswana would almost be out of the question unless you want to do a safari in the Chobe or on the fringes of the Delta. Traveling in April or May, then most of the lodges in Zimbabwe or Zambia will be shut down or just opening (exception Hwange). Almost every lodge in South Africa is accessible by commercial flights and/or road transfers so you can avoid small planes and they are open year round. I think you should consider a two-lodge South Africa safari.

I suggest you reach out to 2-3 independent safari consulting firms (a.k.a. agents, a.k.a. tour operators) and interview a few consultants on the phone. You will quickly find out if you would be comfortable booking a safari with them. Check out some of my other posts on other threads over the past 48 hours as there has been a lot of discussion on how to book a safari this past weekend. I can give you some names if you want. If you let me know where you live as I may know a good safari consultant in your area.

Typically lodges will allow you to hold space for 1-3 weeks without deposit which gives you plenty of time to fiddle around with the commercial flights without jeopardizing the safari space on hold.

Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond

This is done all the time in Tanzania, from local operators based in Arusha and Moshi (among others). The same services can be bought from them at less than half the price that a US operator would charge.

Nope. I quit buying from US operators long ago. My money goes directly to local people at local companies.

That's apparently not a concern in Tanzania.

Already have in other threads.

Ugh. You're stereotyping local operators now. That's completely unfair and wholly inaccurate, especially for east Africa operators that you have no experience with. There's no need to scare foreign tourists into paying vastly more for the same services by booking with foreign safari companies.

Hi Austinrunner - Again, no specific examples given by you so I can't debate. I certainly don't understand this comment:

"Ugh. You're stereotyping local operators now. That's completely unfair and wholly inaccurate, especially for east Africa operators that you have no experience with. There's no need to scare foreign tourists into paying vastly more for the same services by booking with foreign safari companies"

How can I stereotype local operators? They guides we use are also local. There is no other way.

Craig

Thanks safari Craig. Since I want to get to as much as possible, we will just fly prop planes. I didn't realize that it would be so hard to get around without taking props.

So if we wait to go until early June, will most of the parks then be open? Do you have any tour operators you have worked with in the past who were helpful or good?

You're conflating lodges with camps. In any event:

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge: open
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge: open
Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp (Serengeti): open
Kirawira Tented Camp (Serengeti): open
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge: open
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge: open
Arusha Mountain Village: open
Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge: open
Mara Serena Safari Lodge: open
Mara Intrepids Tented Camp: open
Mara Explorer Tented Camp: open
Lake Elementeita Serena Camp: open
Sweetwaters Tented Camp: open
Serena Mountain Lodge: open
Zanzibar Serena Inn: open
Serena Beach Hotel & Spa (Mombasa): open

The above examples (among many more) are sufficient to disprove the implication that Tanzania and Kenya are closed to safari or beach business during April.

Safari help
 

I've just returned from my trip -started in Botswana Okavango Delta (prop plane in 6seats) then prop plane (4 seats) to Chobe Safari park, then to Victoria Falls, then fly to Kruger for Sabi Sands Inyati lodge, off to Capetown, up the Garden Route and then back to JNB - 24 night trip. Reward ticket to/from JNB on SAA in J, P&C for JNB airport intercontinental and Capetown Westin. I worked with Capetown travel agent at Rhino Africa ( great website, facebook page, good reviews in country) detailed and easy to work with as I was solo and most US agents tried to put me in a group, charge single supp and be done with me. I booked air in March, safari travels/flights in June for my travel in Sept. one caveat is luggage, prop plane small duffel for 10 days was a challenge.
happy to discuss with you more just PM me.
I found that the dry conditions were fine, I saw big 5 and more, few bugs to deal with and was ok w/low levels at Vic Falls.

Hi Austinrunner - thanks. I think we are finally making progress in our discourse! Please note I never said Kenya and Tanzania are closed. I said many lodges are closed. They close for a good business reason; it rains more in April and May than the other ten months of the year.

Iuguy16 - please take my advice with a grain of salt since I am a tour operator myself. These companies are all competitors of mine but all are very good. They are all independent operators so they are not affiliated with any safari lodge chain in Africa or on a kick-back scheme with a particular lodge. They also do not operate set tours so they won’t try to jam you into a program.

Africa Adventure Company, FL - Owner - Mark Nolting. Conde Nast Gold List agent for Africa and author of Africa's Top Wildlife Countries - contact him for East Africa.

Premier Tours, PA - Owner - Julian Harrison. Conde Nast Gold List agent. Author of Fodors travel book for Southern Africa.

Discover Africa, OH - Owner - Lesley Kaye - good for a luxury safari in in Southern Africa.

Piper & Heath, San Diego - Chris Liebenberg. Good for Namibia, Botswana, South Africa.

Bill Given, Owner Wild Source, CO - good for Zambia!

I hope this list helps.

Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond

On average in most areas. But it's not a daily monsoon, which is why most properties stay open.

And you're still way over-generalizing the climate in a very large area. Northern Tanzania and most of Kenya, for example, have 2 rainier seasons. Southern Tanzania has just 1.

Kenya Tanzania Safari
 

Hello,

I have been reading the post with interest as i am a small travel company owner with safaris to Kenya and Tanzania and the greater Eastern Africa region. Partly i would concur with Safari Craig about some facilities being closed during the rainy season that ends around April May. However, please note that LODGES dont close during this time. Only some select luxury "private" camp only do so. Having read the Iuguys requirements for the holiday are not camp and neither are they 5* lodges.

Most of the lodges including a majority of the up market camps are open during this season and available for clients interested in visiting Tanzania or Kenya.

Evans

You hit my nerve. I have done the same all these years. I too have traveled around the world and have never used an agent.

We went to Southern Africa in June, perfect dry season for games. We hired a car for 3 of us (with wife and a son). The best experience was to stay at South Africa National Park lodges. They have the best online reservation system for the national parks and the best facilities inside all the parks. We drove through South Africa for 15 days staying at B&B and lodges at National Parks. For example, we stayed at Kruger for 3 nights at the family-size lodges from south to north (1 lodge each night). Enjoyed every minute of driving the unpaved roads as they are close to all animals along the way. Just make sure you had figured in sufficient time to travel between lodges because the camp sites are locked/closed at 6pm for guests safety from wild animals. Simply plan ahead and the costs are very reasonable (we were lucky that they gave us family lodge for 6-person when other smaller units were not available, were charged for 3-person of course, somewhere around US$60-$80/night ) inside the national parks and you would have the flexibilities and freedom to explore.

There's been a lot of grumbling lately about SANParks reservations, especially guests being told that certain camps are fully booked when units are actually availble. SANParks are now revising procedures and conditions to minimize no shows and abuse of group allocations.

Johan