How to go about planning my first African luxury safari?
#46
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,836
Thanks, but I have already done both of these circuits, as well as others (Zimbabwe, Botswana, Nairobi) and have my preferences. I really was asking about higher end accommodation currently available, not to compare the game.
#47
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA
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We have been on safari Kruger Park and area (late Oct. & early Nov. 2016), absolutely loved it, highly recommend. I never would have guessed I would love it so much.
Plan to go back to Africa January 2019. It's a long time from now but I like planning.
The best advice I can give is don't book a package, and give yourself time.
The package we bought, with the airfare all booked by the company, had in us planes going back and forth. We spent more time in planes and airports than we did on safari.
I am planning on somewhere around 4 weeks for the next time so we can rest up in between.
We will arrive n Cape Town by cruise ship, so we should be rested to start with.
Plan to go back to Africa January 2019. It's a long time from now but I like planning.
The best advice I can give is don't book a package, and give yourself time.
The package we bought, with the airfare all booked by the company, had in us planes going back and forth. We spent more time in planes and airports than we did on safari.
I am planning on somewhere around 4 weeks for the next time so we can rest up in between.
We will arrive n Cape Town by cruise ship, so we should be rested to start with.
#49
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA, onePass
Posts: 317
If you choose to visit Kruger (which is amazing) I suggest working with someone who has built personal relationships with lodges and vendors. We worked with BwanaDave ( Dave Patterson) whom I found on TA....there are others on the site as well....they know the in's and outs and often times can get you more for your budget.......and they arrange all the transitions between lodges and listen to your preferences.
We visited in 2015 and had 12 nights in Kruger - 4 nights in 3 different lodges and then 5 nights in Cape Town for way less than what a pre-packaged tour would cost.
On this trip my husband needed to see a doctor which the Operations Director of the Lodge arranged at a local clinic...we were near Skukuza. To my surprise....we also received personal calls from Dave and the vendor he works with later that same afternoon to make sure everything was taken care of and if we needed any additional help...this was completely unsolicited by us and truly a comfort to know we were being looked after.
We visited in 2015 and had 12 nights in Kruger - 4 nights in 3 different lodges and then 5 nights in Cape Town for way less than what a pre-packaged tour would cost.
On this trip my husband needed to see a doctor which the Operations Director of the Lodge arranged at a local clinic...we were near Skukuza. To my surprise....we also received personal calls from Dave and the vendor he works with later that same afternoon to make sure everything was taken care of and if we needed any additional help...this was completely unsolicited by us and truly a comfort to know we were being looked after.
#50
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: USA
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Exec, CITI Prestige, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold and all ever changing
Posts: 218
If you choose to visit Kruger (which is amazing) I suggest working with someone who has built personal relationships with lodges and vendors. We worked with BwanaDave ( Dave Patterson) whom I found on TA....there are others on the site as well....they know the in's and outs and often times can get you more for your budget.......and they arrange all the transitions between lodges and listen to your preferences.
We visited in 2015 and had 12 nights in Kruger - 4 nights in 3 different lodges and then 5 nights in Cape Town for way less than what a pre-packaged tour would cost.
On this trip my husband needed to see a doctor which the Operations Director of the Lodge arranged at a local clinic...we were near Skukuza. To my surprise....we also received personal calls from Dave and the vendor he works with later that same afternoon to make sure everything was taken care of and if we needed any additional help...this was completely unsolicited by us and truly a comfort to know we were being looked after.
We visited in 2015 and had 12 nights in Kruger - 4 nights in 3 different lodges and then 5 nights in Cape Town for way less than what a pre-packaged tour would cost.
On this trip my husband needed to see a doctor which the Operations Director of the Lodge arranged at a local clinic...we were near Skukuza. To my surprise....we also received personal calls from Dave and the vendor he works with later that same afternoon to make sure everything was taken care of and if we needed any additional help...this was completely unsolicited by us and truly a comfort to know we were being looked after.
#51
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,514
One of our most memorable and wonderful trips was our combined cruise and safari in 1995. The ship was was the small luxury ship, Sea Goddess (now Sea Dream). We flew LAX/LHR/NBO. Stayed 2 nights in Nairobi. The safari arrangements were made by Micato tours.
On our second night in Nairobi, the Micato family invited us (the cruise pax) to dine at their lovely home and we got an excellent introduction to the safari.
We flew to Masai Mara and I'll never forget a family of giraffes strolling by our small plane as we landed. That is when I knew we were really in Africa. I don't remember where we stayed, by the accommodations were quite nice, with large bedroom, dining room, recreation room, bar. IIRC the safari was 4 days. One highlight, among many, was the hot air balloon ride. When our balloon landed, we were greeted by a very luxurious breakfast prepared by those who worked at the hotel. Micato thought of everything to make our safari comfortable and to make us feel welcome. After the safari, we flew to Mombasa, where we boarded our ship (I believe we were only 40 pax) and sailed to Zanzibar, Madagascar, Comoros islands and on to the Seychelles, which had no hotels on the pristine islands so we dropped anchor at the most beautiful, unspoiled islands; Praline, La Digue and a couple of others (all of which are home to 5* hotels now). So glad we had the experience of being among the few tourists at that time. Highest praise for Micato tours. www.micato.com
On our second night in Nairobi, the Micato family invited us (the cruise pax) to dine at their lovely home and we got an excellent introduction to the safari.
We flew to Masai Mara and I'll never forget a family of giraffes strolling by our small plane as we landed. That is when I knew we were really in Africa. I don't remember where we stayed, by the accommodations were quite nice, with large bedroom, dining room, recreation room, bar. IIRC the safari was 4 days. One highlight, among many, was the hot air balloon ride. When our balloon landed, we were greeted by a very luxurious breakfast prepared by those who worked at the hotel. Micato thought of everything to make our safari comfortable and to make us feel welcome. After the safari, we flew to Mombasa, where we boarded our ship (I believe we were only 40 pax) and sailed to Zanzibar, Madagascar, Comoros islands and on to the Seychelles, which had no hotels on the pristine islands so we dropped anchor at the most beautiful, unspoiled islands; Praline, La Digue and a couple of others (all of which are home to 5* hotels now). So glad we had the experience of being among the few tourists at that time. Highest praise for Micato tours. www.micato.com
#52
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,836
Micato looks like a very legit outfit but I am troubled that their website lists all the inclusions, but nowhere is there a listing of exclusions or terms/conditions. Also their headline prices exclude mandatory internal airfare and are only valid during the lowest or low season. Still, I would consider them.
#53
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA
Posts: 3,213
Richard, Rhino Africa might work for you. They will sell you a package but specialize in customized safaris, covering all details.
https://www.rhinoafrica.com/en
https://www.rhinoafrica.com/en
#54
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SFO/SJC
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Posts: 1,609
Richard, Rhino Africa might work for you. They will sell you a package but specialize in customized safaris, covering all details.
https://www.rhinoafrica.com/en
https://www.rhinoafrica.com/en
#56
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,681
And a fourth. I've used Rhino Africa for three trips. What I particularly appreciated was their willingness to work with me to only book the part of the trip that I wanted them to do so. That might sound odd, but the first agency aggressively booked the entire span of time that I would be in southern Africa. I had been very clear that I intended to book some flights and hotels myself but agency A did not listen. Rhino Africa did, and provided precisely the bookings that I wanted.
#57
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: USA
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Exec, CITI Prestige, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold and all ever changing
Posts: 218
And a fourth. I've used Rhino Africa for three trips. What I particularly appreciated was their willingness to work with me to only book the part of the trip that I wanted them to do so. That might sound odd, but the first agency aggressively booked the entire span of time that I would be in southern Africa. I had been very clear that I intended to book some flights and hotels myself but agency A did not listen. Rhino Africa did, and provided precisely the bookings that I wanted.
#59
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Seattle , WA DL DM 2MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
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Posts: 318
Ive been to Africa twice on safari. once to South Africa & to Tanzania.
We booked our entire trip via a tour company ATR and they did an amazing job. Both the game reserves we stayed at were pure luxury
for Kruger I recommend staying at the Dulini. & if you go to the northern Serengeti you cant go wrong staying at the Lemala Kuria Hills.
Getting to Africa from the states is quite a hike but theres something magical about Africa you want to keep going back. We are already planning our next safari in Botswana and cant wait
We booked our entire trip via a tour company ATR and they did an amazing job. Both the game reserves we stayed at were pure luxury
for Kruger I recommend staying at the Dulini. & if you go to the northern Serengeti you cant go wrong staying at the Lemala Kuria Hills.
Getting to Africa from the states is quite a hike but theres something magical about Africa you want to keep going back. We are already planning our next safari in Botswana and cant wait
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,242
And a fourth. I've used Rhino Africa for three trips. What I particularly appreciated was their willingness to work with me to only book the part of the trip that I wanted them to do so. That might sound odd, but the first agency aggressively booked the entire span of time that I would be in southern Africa. I had been very clear that I intended to book some flights and hotels myself but agency A did not listen. Rhino Africa did, and provided precisely the bookings that I wanted.
I used them several years ago to book a trip to Kruger and Victoria Falls. They were more then willing to work with me to design the trip that I wanted. They were also extremely helpful when I arrived in JNB for my onward flight to VFA upon discovering SQ lost my luggage.