Safari suggestions
May 7th, 2017, 08:48 PM
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Safari suggestions
Greetings all,
I am on the very first step to research a safari trip. First time for myself and friend - we want to see the real thing..not a backyard with animals! Can anyone toss suggestions on good groups providing all encompassing safari trips? Who to avoid?! We do not have any set date and just want the best possible experience. Thank you in advance for any suggestions or info
I am on the very first step to research a safari trip. First time for myself and friend - we want to see the real thing..not a backyard with animals! Can anyone toss suggestions on good groups providing all encompassing safari trips? Who to avoid?! We do not have any set date and just want the best possible experience. Thank you in advance for any suggestions or info
May 8th, 2017, 05:44 AM
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We loved the Northern Circuit in Tanzania.
Our process: read guidebooks to figure out where we wanted to go. Emailed multiple Tour Organuzers to request ititneraries and quotes. Went back and forth a few times with questions.
Eventually settled on EASY TRAVEL and couldn't have been happier.
Our process: read guidebooks to figure out where we wanted to go. Emailed multiple Tour Organuzers to request ititneraries and quotes. Went back and forth a few times with questions.
Eventually settled on EASY TRAVEL and couldn't have been happier.
May 8th, 2017, 06:34 AM
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Thanks! I will take a look. Since we have a bit of time all suggestions are appreciated. At this point it looks like we will be stopping in Amsterdam for a few days then flying to Africa. Just the thought of this trip has got my blood racing!!
May 8th, 2017, 07:13 AM
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Hi Janelle,
May I ask where you live? Through a 30 member organization called Safari Pros, I know many of the top safari planners in North America. I may be able to recommend someone you can meet with face to face. That is the best way to plan a safari IMO when possible.
Craig Beal
May I ask where you live? Through a 30 member organization called Safari Pros, I know many of the top safari planners in North America. I may be able to recommend someone you can meet with face to face. That is the best way to plan a safari IMO when possible.
Craig Beal
May 8th, 2017, 12:31 PM
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Thank you everyone! Lots to think about and research. We live in N California just south of San Francisco.
The time frame is a bit up in the air at this point..within the next 2 years so we are not hard pressed to make arrangements yet. Just wanted to get started on types of services and what is out there
The time frame is a bit up in the air at this point..within the next 2 years so we are not hard pressed to make arrangements yet. Just wanted to get started on types of services and what is out there
May 8th, 2017, 02:21 PM
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As a friend and competitor Kili has my highest endorsement!!
Kili McGowan
Managing Director
Next Adventure, Inc.
We take safaris personally!
738 Gilman Street
Berkeley CA 94710 USA
Tel: 510 526 7027
Fax: 510 527 0187
Toll Free: USA & Canada 800 562 7298
www.nextadventure.com
email: [email protected]
CST #2024489-40
Craig Beal
Kili McGowan
Managing Director
Next Adventure, Inc.
We take safaris personally!
738 Gilman Street
Berkeley CA 94710 USA
Tel: 510 526 7027
Fax: 510 527 0187
Toll Free: USA & Canada 800 562 7298
www.nextadventure.com
email: [email protected]
CST #2024489-40
Craig Beal
May 8th, 2017, 02:28 PM
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Here is another Bay Area resource albeit quite far north:
David Tett
President
Email: [email protected]
Bushtracks Expeditions
824 Healdsburg Avenue
Healdsburg, CA 95448 USA
Ph: (707) 433-4492 (800) 995-8689
Fax: (707) 433-0258
Bushtracks website: www.bushtracks.com
Craig Beal
David Tett
President
Email: [email protected]
Bushtracks Expeditions
824 Healdsburg Avenue
Healdsburg, CA 95448 USA
Ph: (707) 433-4492 (800) 995-8689
Fax: (707) 433-0258
Bushtracks website: www.bushtracks.com
Craig Beal
May 9th, 2017, 05:00 AM
#10
I met Kili's husband Jeremy (Next Adventure) on my last safari when he was checking out the camp I was staying at. After a long chat over a sundowner, I decided I'd work with him on my next safari. They seem very well connected and I appreciate they've visited so many of the camps they recommend.
That said, I have used Access2Tanzania and Treks2Rwanda, sister companies based in Minnesota for two safaris now and I can't recommend them highly enough. Karen is the co-owner and they employ their own guides and own their own vehicles on the ground in Tanzania and Rwanda. (It is important that whomever you choose doesn't sub-contract out so you know what you're getting) Karen's attention to detail and organization is amazing, and I found the best price for what we were getting through her. Both experiences with her companies were flawless.
I booked my last Kenyan safari direct with Offbeat Safaris. The package I bought included air and transfer to/from Nairobi to the Mara and included getting me from Nairobi airport to the Wilson airstrip to fly to the Mara. I got a stay 6/pay 5 deal. Dealing with them directly was completely fine, I couldn't beat the price elsewhere and it was the best all-around Kenyan safari I've had to date. The game in Mara North right now is hard to beat, and I've been in all the main conservancies around the Mara now.
Please look into staying in the conservancies as opposed to the main Reserve if you head to the Mara (or anywhere else in Kenya, for that matter). The benefits to you are far less traffic (only people staying in the camps in the conservancies can game drive there), being able to off-road, being able to do night drives. The benefit to the conservancy is that you are supporting the effort to keep that land safe for the wildlife and free from development. I've stayed in conservancies in Ol Pejeta, Amboseli and the Mara and each has been a very quiet, low traffic experience.
That said, I have used Access2Tanzania and Treks2Rwanda, sister companies based in Minnesota for two safaris now and I can't recommend them highly enough. Karen is the co-owner and they employ their own guides and own their own vehicles on the ground in Tanzania and Rwanda. (It is important that whomever you choose doesn't sub-contract out so you know what you're getting) Karen's attention to detail and organization is amazing, and I found the best price for what we were getting through her. Both experiences with her companies were flawless.
I booked my last Kenyan safari direct with Offbeat Safaris. The package I bought included air and transfer to/from Nairobi to the Mara and included getting me from Nairobi airport to the Wilson airstrip to fly to the Mara. I got a stay 6/pay 5 deal. Dealing with them directly was completely fine, I couldn't beat the price elsewhere and it was the best all-around Kenyan safari I've had to date. The game in Mara North right now is hard to beat, and I've been in all the main conservancies around the Mara now.
Please look into staying in the conservancies as opposed to the main Reserve if you head to the Mara (or anywhere else in Kenya, for that matter). The benefits to you are far less traffic (only people staying in the camps in the conservancies can game drive there), being able to off-road, being able to do night drives. The benefit to the conservancy is that you are supporting the effort to keep that land safe for the wildlife and free from development. I've stayed in conservancies in Ol Pejeta, Amboseli and the Mara and each has been a very quiet, low traffic experience.
May 9th, 2017, 08:29 AM
#12
janellebc, you may also want to venture over to www.safaritalk.net That site has a forum with tons of trip reports, photos, a trip planning forum. The collective knowledge of all the folks there is immense. They've been on dozens of safaris themselves all over Africa. I've planned all my safaris by asking questions there and reading others' trip reports to see what may interest me. They are very active, lots of new posts every day and the amount of promoting trips and services by safari planners and tour operators is extremely limited, unlike here and TripAdvisor, so you get more "safari-goer" reviews and experiences. They can help with defining or validating an itinerary based on budget and interest, how to book, what to pack, when to go, how to get there, etc. Fodors is a good place to start but I can't imagine planning a safari without Safaritalk.
May 10th, 2017, 09:20 AM
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Dear Janellebc
How exciting that you are looking at Africa as a destination. It can be very overwhelming as there is SO MUCH information online. I will certainly try and give you some pointers - Firstly I would like to suggest that the two of you work on designing a custom itinerary vs. joining a group safari. You will find that if you are working with the right people, the costs can be comparable however traveling on a custom designed itinerary offers and experience that is geared specifically towards the two of you. A group tour uses a cookie cutter itinerary for a specific region and has a group of 12 or more traveling on the same journey. On a custom designed itinerary you will meet so many people along the way, it really offers the best of both worlds at a comparable price.
I can give you many suggestions, however I think it is most important to determine what the two of you envision for this trip. By narrowing down what it is you want to experience and what your expectation are for the trip, will allow me to give you appropriate suggestions. Let me give you a few examples of questions you need to ask yourselves:
1. While I understand that you want an authentic game viewing experience, many countries in Africa offer this. There are some additional activities you may not be able to experience in all countries, here are a few; Do you want to combine your safari with a city experience? Some people combine a safari with a visit to Cape Town for example. If you want this sort of experience I would suggest focusing on countries in Southern Africa. Countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda just to name a view are safari heavy and access to the combination of a safari and westernized city experience is not easily achieved. If you are wanting a combination of a cultural experience while on safari, a country like Kenya might appeal as here your guiding is generally done by Masai, who wear their traditional attire and you can immerge yourself in gaining firsthand information on who they are as a tribe. In South Africa, this sort of experience is harder to come by as the country is very westernized.
2. While on safari were you thinking of driving in an open 4x4 safari vehicle or a pop-up top vehicle? Specific countries are limited in certain ways, so you want to make sure you expectations are met.
3. Do you want to walk while on safari? Some countries like Zambia for example is known for walking safaris whereas other countries focus on 4x4 vehicles with very short bush walks to learn about the fauna and flora but by no means trekking large game, like properties in Zambia are known for.
4. Where you thinking of water based activities like mokoro (traditional kayak) and motorboats as alternative options to game drives? This again would be country specific.
5. Many people think of the great migration when they envision a safari – this would be specific to Kenya and Tanzania depending on the time of travel.
6. Primates would again be focused in 3 main areas, Rwanda, Uganda and Congo. You can easily combine a primate experience with a safari in East Africa.
These are just a few questions I feel are important to answer before deciding on where to travel. The other factors are budget and time of year. Having some idea of your ideal budget would allow me to make appropriate suggestions as well as the time of year available to you for travel. Each region/season offers something unique and different, it is definitely important to determine what your goals are for this trip to ensure your expectations are met.
I hope this information helps.
Marguerite Smit
How exciting that you are looking at Africa as a destination. It can be very overwhelming as there is SO MUCH information online. I will certainly try and give you some pointers - Firstly I would like to suggest that the two of you work on designing a custom itinerary vs. joining a group safari. You will find that if you are working with the right people, the costs can be comparable however traveling on a custom designed itinerary offers and experience that is geared specifically towards the two of you. A group tour uses a cookie cutter itinerary for a specific region and has a group of 12 or more traveling on the same journey. On a custom designed itinerary you will meet so many people along the way, it really offers the best of both worlds at a comparable price.
I can give you many suggestions, however I think it is most important to determine what the two of you envision for this trip. By narrowing down what it is you want to experience and what your expectation are for the trip, will allow me to give you appropriate suggestions. Let me give you a few examples of questions you need to ask yourselves:
1. While I understand that you want an authentic game viewing experience, many countries in Africa offer this. There are some additional activities you may not be able to experience in all countries, here are a few; Do you want to combine your safari with a city experience? Some people combine a safari with a visit to Cape Town for example. If you want this sort of experience I would suggest focusing on countries in Southern Africa. Countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda just to name a view are safari heavy and access to the combination of a safari and westernized city experience is not easily achieved. If you are wanting a combination of a cultural experience while on safari, a country like Kenya might appeal as here your guiding is generally done by Masai, who wear their traditional attire and you can immerge yourself in gaining firsthand information on who they are as a tribe. In South Africa, this sort of experience is harder to come by as the country is very westernized.
2. While on safari were you thinking of driving in an open 4x4 safari vehicle or a pop-up top vehicle? Specific countries are limited in certain ways, so you want to make sure you expectations are met.
3. Do you want to walk while on safari? Some countries like Zambia for example is known for walking safaris whereas other countries focus on 4x4 vehicles with very short bush walks to learn about the fauna and flora but by no means trekking large game, like properties in Zambia are known for.
4. Where you thinking of water based activities like mokoro (traditional kayak) and motorboats as alternative options to game drives? This again would be country specific.
5. Many people think of the great migration when they envision a safari – this would be specific to Kenya and Tanzania depending on the time of travel.
6. Primates would again be focused in 3 main areas, Rwanda, Uganda and Congo. You can easily combine a primate experience with a safari in East Africa.
These are just a few questions I feel are important to answer before deciding on where to travel. The other factors are budget and time of year. Having some idea of your ideal budget would allow me to make appropriate suggestions as well as the time of year available to you for travel. Each region/season offers something unique and different, it is definitely important to determine what your goals are for this trip to ensure your expectations are met.
I hope this information helps.
Marguerite Smit
May 10th, 2017, 11:41 AM
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Great questions, above, to help you focus on what you want.
Don't worry/wonder about what was removed by the mods---very likely some blatant advertising by an agency.
I used Gamewatchers on last trip to Kenya. stayed in two of their Porini camps.
An often overlooked game area in Kenya is Samburu. IMHO< a do-not-miss if you are going to Kanya. I love Uganda--but it will be more than "just" a safari experience there.
Don't worry/wonder about what was removed by the mods---very likely some blatant advertising by an agency.
I used Gamewatchers on last trip to Kenya. stayed in two of their Porini camps.
An often overlooked game area in Kenya is Samburu. IMHO< a do-not-miss if you are going to Kanya. I love Uganda--but it will be more than "just" a safari experience there.
May 11th, 2017, 04:49 PM
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YIKES!!!!!!
This is just a place to share information for peet's sake!!
The idea is to get different points of view.....
I appreciate people taking the time to share their knowledge each and every one of them.
Please don't make this a pi$$$ing contest.
Life is way too short for that
Again, thank you one and all for your info
This is just a place to share information for peet's sake!!
The idea is to get different points of view.....
I appreciate people taking the time to share their knowledge each and every one of them.
Please don't make this a pi$$$ing contest.
Life is way too short for that
Again, thank you one and all for your info
May 12th, 2017, 04:52 AM
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hi janelle!
We have just returned from 12 days on ground in Kenya. We used Gamewatchers and had a great time. We decided to focus only in Kenya to minimize travel time. I can share more details if you email me.
our stay included:
- Giraffe Manor - amazing. google it. enough said.
- Samburu
- Ol Pejet, a
- Masai Mara - (2 different camps)
I can recommend the camps, the locations. I also second the thought of staying in conservancies rather than the park itself.
What time of year are you thinking about? While everyone wants to go during migration, it can get crowded. We actually loved April - lower crowds, booking availability, and the abundance of babies everywhere. One of our favorite memories is watching the prides of lions with all the cubs - and how active and playful they all were. The cubs were as young as 2 months and so energetic. For example, we watched them running around playing tag with a wildebeest tail from the recent kill. We only had a bit of rain our last game drive for about an hour and it never impacted anything.
We have just returned from 12 days on ground in Kenya. We used Gamewatchers and had a great time. We decided to focus only in Kenya to minimize travel time. I can share more details if you email me.
our stay included:
- Giraffe Manor - amazing. google it. enough said.
- Samburu
- Ol Pejet, a
- Masai Mara - (2 different camps)
I can recommend the camps, the locations. I also second the thought of staying in conservancies rather than the park itself.
What time of year are you thinking about? While everyone wants to go during migration, it can get crowded. We actually loved April - lower crowds, booking availability, and the abundance of babies everywhere. One of our favorite memories is watching the prides of lions with all the cubs - and how active and playful they all were. The cubs were as young as 2 months and so energetic. For example, we watched them running around playing tag with a wildebeest tail from the recent kill. We only had a bit of rain our last game drive for about an hour and it never impacted anything.
May 12th, 2017, 05:07 PM
#20
June is also a great time for Kenya. Yes, you do get the "tall grass" but fewer people.
Glad you had a good trip, surfmom. I've never used Gamewatchers but over the years I have seen them recommended a lot. And the price is certainly good.
Glad you had a good trip, surfmom. I've never used Gamewatchers but over the years I have seen them recommended a lot. And the price is certainly good.
