Safari help
 

I am interested in taking a 6-7 day safari (excluding flight time) in Africa sometime from march to June 2013. I am looking for specific advice on when and where to go soi can see game, be safe, and relax. I'm not looking to camp, but I also don't need a 5 star resort.

Also, I plan to do two static sights (I.e we sleep in the same place for 3 nights and see game each day and then return to the same bed) because I have read this is the best, but I'm open to ideas.

I am an experienced traveler, but I have never been on a safari and never been to Africa outside of Egypt.

Welcome to Flyertalk. :)

There's some good info on safaris in this thread.

Is there any country in particular that you are looking to visit?

I was looking to go to South Africa, however, I have read it is not good to go in the Spring because it is the rainy season. Is it worth waiting until June to go to South Africa?

Where do you think the best place to go in the Spring that is safe, and easy to get to on South African Airways or Lufthansa (I have miles I am using).

We did 5 nights in July at Pondoro which borders the Kruger (SAA from JFK to JNB, then a quick flight on SAA express to Hoedspruit)...we had an amazing time. I wrote a full review on tripadvisor (same handle, tfly212) but it was nothing short of extraordinary in every way and quite a good value relative to some of the other private reserves. As for time of the year, from what the trackers and drivers said there are pros and cons to pretty much any time there. It's definitely drier as you get into their winter (northern hemisphere summer) but then its not as lush. PM me if you want any more specifics. Good luck!

Climate averages in Kruger National Park: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/Kruger_P...uger-park.html

I wouldn't say it's not good to visit in the northern hemisphere spring/southern hemisphere autumn. Just different.

The winter (June) is the dry season so animals tend to congregate around water and there is less vegetation which makes it easier to see game.

On the other hand, the park will be more lush earlier in the year after the summer rain.

I stayed at the Thornybush Game Reserve in the Main Lodge last month and had a fantastic time. I would highly recommend it. You can see pictures from the blog of my trip in my signature.

Late March to early June is the long rainy season for Kenya and Tanzania so I won’t discuss those as options as many lodges shut down for those two months. The rains end in Southern Africa in March so April and May are NOT rainy. They are very pleasant months. I have been to South Africa 30 times and I have visited in every month of the year. April and May will deliver a good experience!

Most of the lodges in Zambia & Zimbabwe are just opening in May so I suggest you focus your efforts on Botswana or South Africa. My top recommendations for a 6-7 day safari in these places would be these:

Option 1
Begin Jo’burg/JNB.
Fly SAA to Polokwane.
Road transfer Polowkane to Mashatu main or tented camp for three nights.
Malutu express light air transfer from Mashatu to MalaMala. Spend three nights at MalaMala Main Camp.
Light air back to JNB.
Cost = $5,000 per person sharing

Begin JNB
Fly SAA to Sabi Sands. Spend three nights at Lion Sands or MalaMala or Singita
Fly to JNB and land at noon. Light air to Tswalu for four nights (stay-4 & fly–free)
Fly back to JNB
Cost = $6,500 (Lion Sands River, MalaMala Main) or $10,000 per person for Singita option.

Begin JNB
Fly SAA to Maun/MUB. Spend three nights each at Chitabe and Little Vumbura or Chitabe and Tubu Tree or Chitabe and Savuti or Chitabe & Duma Tau.
Cost = $4,500 with air from JNB if you can travel before Mar 31 when the seven country specials end.

Check out the properties I recommended above. I have been to all and you will love them!

Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond
2011 & 2012 Travel & Leisure A-List agent for Botswana & Zimbabwe

I highly doubt the lodging closing claim is true. As for the rainy season, that's highly dependent on location and varies significantly from year to year.

Austinerunner – you are correct – you can find lodges that are open year round. The parks in East Africa are also not very crowded in April & May – if you find a lodge that is open you won’t see many people. So, what’s your point? Iuguy16 asked about a 6-7 safari in March-June and I gave a very specific answer based on experience. Since you allude to knowing some great options in Tanzania or Kenya why don’t you provide them like I have for Southern Africa instead of trying to discredit my advice?

Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond

Because the lodges in Kenya and Tanzania are not closed during the months you specified, it was false to claim that they were. The other point I made was about the weather. That doesn't need further explanation.

I have extensive travel experience in both countries, including during the months you specified. It's misleading to write off both countries during those months, as you did in favor of very expensive safaris in southern Africa.

Hi Austinrunner,

Great. That is a bit more specific. At the moment, I thought you might be one of the few people out there who simply bash any answer someone that sells safaris for a living provides on the forums.

Again, since you are aware of some great options, what do you suggest in Tanzania or Kenya in April or May? Perhaps if you commit to an answer we can debate the merits instead of simply criticizing the specific answers I provided. Many lodges in East Africa do indeed close in April and May so I would love to hear what you think are the best ones that remain open. Also, what do you think of the suggestions I have for Southern Africa?

Southern Africa is not expensive relative to East Africa. You can find a full price range of products in both destinations. Personally, I believe that Zimbabwe offers the best safari for your money in all of Africa but, like Kenya or Tanzania, I would not recommend going there in April or May because other better options exists at that time (again IMO).

Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond

Safaris that go to the same lodges and the same parks are generally much less expensive when booked locally or with local operators than when booked with US-based websites or operators. That is based on my own extensive experience (and the experience of many others I know).

If you know which lodges in Kenya and Tanzania are closed during the long rains, perhaps you'd be willing to list them.

Hi Austinrunner,

Thanks.

As I have mentioned on this forum, I have never been to East Africa on safari. I made one trip to Kenya when I was 5 years old to visit family friends. On the contrary, I have been to Southern Africa on safari 30 times and spent all of last month in Zambia. I highly doubt the types of safaris most US operators (including my company) sell can be bought from local operators for less money unless they are selling at net costs which would not be sustainable or good business. Specifically, I know this is not possible with Singita, MalaMala, Lion Sands, Tswalu, Mashatu, Great Plains, all Wilderness Safari lodges (50+) and many other lodges. There are a few long standing US operators that try to sell safaris at 50-60% mark-ups (yes!) but they are few and far between. Maybe you had a bad experience with one of them? Again, for luxury safaris, we all (including local operators) purchase the lodge space at a net price but there are no lower prices in the local market (for luxury lodges). From there, companies can mark-up however they want and sell at whatever price the market will bear. Some mark-up more than others.

If you are talking about budget safari lodges then I agree with you. Many budget safari lodges do have flexible pricing, last minute auctions, and vastly different pricing for different distribution channels including a channel that includes local operators. Luxury safari lodges get the vast majority of their business from overseas operators and most would not jeopardize this relationship by undercutting them through the local channels.

I am not the expert on East Africa but you have been on many safaris there. I don’t want to spend the time researching and listing lodges that are closed in East Africa in April and May because I don’t have this knowledge on the tip of my tongue and not all of them are closed. I think at this point, you should simply share some specific companies (just a few) that the readers on this forum could contact to book a quality safari in East Africa. I am not on this forum to make money so it is no skin off my back. I am simply a safari enthusiast like you so I would love to hear about your experiences.

Now, if you are talking about privately guided safaris then there are huge differences in the service levels as well. A guide with poor command of the English language and no resources to call upon If his 10+ year old vehicle breaks down is going to be vastly different from a guide speaking perfect English with a fleet of late model vehicles at his disposal. There really is no way to make an apples-to-apples comparison between privately guided safaris in East Africa because an individual guide cannot be commoditized and it is the guide that makes or breaks the trip.

Thanks for engaging on this topic but, like I said yesterday, as long as you are unwilling to go into specifics (naming camps and local operators) it is very hard to have a civil debate with you on the merits of your experience vs. the very specific plans I suggested for the OP.

Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond

If anyone is interested, here are some lodges in Kenya and Tanzania that are closed next April & May:

Kenya:
Meru Offbeat Camp
Lewa Wilderness
Lewa House
Lewa Sirikoi
Ol Malo
Samburu Sasaab
Laikipia Sosian Lodge
Namunyak Sarara
Kitich
Mara Rekero
Mara Offbeat Camp
Mara Porini Lion

Tanzania:
Tarangire Swalas Camp
Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
Ngorongoro Lemala Camp
Serengeti Sayari Mara
Serengeti Olakira Camp
Serengeti Lamai Camp
Serengeti Grumeti
Loliondo Nduara
Mahale Greystoke Camp
Katavi Chada Camp
Selous Sand Rivers
Selous Safari Camp
Ruaha Mwagusi
Zanzibar Mnemba
Zanzibar Matemwe Retreat/House

Of course there are more, but just some good examples.

Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond