African safari holidays

[OneNiftyHare]

Hello! I've been lurking and was previously here under a different name and MN always has the best advice.

We'd love to do a once in a life time Safari and beach trip, but have max 12k for myself and DH. Is it even doable on our budget? If not where would you recommend for wildlife (aside from Asia we did most of it cheaply in our youth and on honeymoon).

We're looking to go away for 2 weeks, Safari and then beach. Priorities are proper Safari vehicles that arent overcrowded (have read horror stories about people getting put in overcrowded vehicles with windows) , accommodation not too basic, and the beach location should be a bit more upmarket and have safe water for swimming in and hopefully good diving/snorkeling.

I am drawn to the Serengeti but I don't know if that's best? I am open to suggestions but we want to see as many animals as possible. We are not really drawn to South Africa.

Can anyone also recommend tour operators? Would rather book it all as one package for the financial protection.

Thanks :)

We had a great trip with Somak luxury travel. We did ten days, half safari, half at the beach in Mombasa. It was a few years ago now but nowhere near as much as your budget, even for three of us.

I did private safari from trademark hotel added to a work trip it was not so expensive see their brochure to get an idea. I am sure you can build a great trip with a company
www.trademark-hotel.com/nairobi-the-village-market/

As someone else had mentioned, I never felt unsafe in SA, it's just about being sensible about where you walk and flashing cash.

We were travelling with kids (8 & 11) and we're overwhelmed by how welcoming and child friendly. We chose to safari in the eastern cape because it's malaria free. Check out the Amakhala reserve, near Port Elizabeth.
For a luxury beach spot we went to Thonga Beach lodge. It's very remote, you can't drive there yourself, instead it's a 90 min transfer in 4x4.
South Africa is great for value and luxury

South Africa just seems a little bit tamer to be honest. Also I don't really like the look of the beach destinations there as opposed to the likes of zanzibar which is easy to tack on to Tanzania. I can't really explain it but it's not just about spotting animals and South Africa just doesn't appeal. Kruger looks good but I'm not overly interested in private game reserves. Which is a shame as it does look affordable and nice, maybe I'll come round to it. I think we're okay with standard accommodation though would like better at the beach.

Tbh the more I research the more I feel I have to go to the Ngorongoro Crater so I think it really has to be Tanzania.

I have contacted some of the companies mentioned so hopefully I'll get some relatively affordable quotes!

Thank you so much for all the suggestions! Keep them coming if possible:)

I'm biased as I haven't been to Kenya or Tanzania but Kruger is amazing. I did it some years ago in South Africa National Parks accommodation with some self-driving and some guided on safari trucks. We stayed in pretty basic rondavels at Skukuza and Olifants rest camps but there was upgraded options.

How about Kruger for Safari and then Mauritius for Beach?

We are just looking into this now. Went to see a specialist company aardvark travel....they have offices just outside Edinburgh and one in England. Really helpful

Two of us to Zambia/Malawi for two weeks. Certainly a lot more than my estimate of 10k for both of us...I think it will be £15k plus ....just waiting for the quotes

I've been trying to get on the aardvark website and everytime I try I keep getting one of those connection not private message that won't let me through! I've only tried on my phone though. I have seen them recommended elsewhere but haven't been able to get an idea of what they offer.

was 2007 when I went to SA. Did the garden route. stopped in Hermanus (whale watching) then onto Gorah Elephant Camp and a couple of other game parks. Returned and stayed in Stellenbosch then back. Amazing holiday but the townships were a shock. Mile after mile of shotgun shacks. Seeing workers waiting for lifts to get to work ie hitching in a country full of Mercedes and BMW. Communities were gated as there was a crime issue but can't say what it's like now. The camps I stayed at were brilliant. game drives. lovely food, luxury tent. One hotel Tsala was in the trees. There was a deal that if you used a hotel group (Hunters) you got a discount. Had a great time and a stunningly beautiful country. standing at the Cape of Good Hope! Atlantic on my right Indian Ocean on my left. Next stop Antarctica. I was there in low season and on my last day at Gorah the price changed from 250 per person per night to 500 as you were moving to high season ( this was September). The animals weren't all going to appear because the price went up. Botswana supposedly has the biggest elephants. Okavango Delta is there but I would love to the Masai Mara and the migration. A bucket list thing is a hot air balloon ride over the Mara. Was talking to someone at work who went to the Crater. Her pics were amazing. Might be more expensive though but stunning scenery.

I have received quotes from 11k-13.5k with trailfinders, travel butlers and kuoni. They vary between private vehicle and up to 6 in a vehicle and all include beach resort at the end on Zanzibar. They are for July so peak time.

Can anyone recommend any of those companies? I'm still waiting on quotes from a few of the others mentioned.

About us (africanedensafaris.co.tz)

the more I research the more I feel I have to go to the Ngorongoro Crater so I think it really has to be Tanzania

The crater is amazing. Waking up in the morning at a lodge overlooking the rim, with the sun rising through the clouds was really special.

We went with About us (africanedensafaris.co.tz)

They picked us up from the airport and delivered us back at the end. Best holiday of my life. I'd love to go again and would definitely use them again. We did see some very overcrowded lorries on our travels and I was so glad we'd chosen a smaller company.

I am South African, live in the UK and travel home to see my parents every year.
You will get much better value in SA as there is a big local market for these kinds of holidays too while Kenya etc cater predominantly to foreigners so are tend to be higher end and expensive.

We self serve our "Safaris" (Bush holidays as they are known locally) but if you don't have local knowledge go with a travel company (Trailfinders are excellent).

Have a great time

I have had many great hols with trailfinders, i always think of kuoni as being a bit more upmarket.

I went to south africa about a decade ago and found the general "vibe" a bit uneasy vs other african countries that were more relaxed, im not sure i would chose to go again.

Namibia is next on my list!

Just as an update to anyone who might be asking the same question, we are getting quotes for between 12-13k so it is doable. However that seems to be on the starting end for an all in safari and beach stay in July with flights for comfortable lodgings.

We're actually okay with more basic lodgings but there's a gap in the market it seems to be super basic, very comfortable or luxury because the travel agents only work with a certain market.

Kenya offering more value for money so far, most agents have said that a like for like safari in Tanzania works out roughly 800-1500 more per person there.

Hope that helps someone if they're also researching and I'll come back if I book something to update on costs etc as I know I couldn't find much concrete info when I looked and the guide prices on websites generally mean nothing 😂

Have you booked yet OP? We're just back from Tanzania and Zanzibar (six nights in each). We saw the big five - even rhino - and it was utterly brilliant.

We went with Tour Compass (Zara Tours on the ground). Brilliant service. £4.5k each.

www.tourcompass.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw6JS3BhBAEiwAO9waF-un1ddQou7NezpCoT39qu5iF_r2uO7EwCaHH_nJW_MbSctoQk50HBoCZgoQAvD_BwE

I did SA for my honeymoon 2 years ago. Kruger was not tame. We actually walked in the bush with a guide which was exhilarating. I saw the big 5 - night and day. The sunsets were incredible and at night we were walked back to our tent with an armed ranger as the animals can roam. It's their home.

I think you've a very wrong idea of SA. We did capetown , Johannesburg and the wine lands. It was incredible.

I used to work in Kenya with wildlife and have done safaris there and in south Africa. Both are wonderful. Kenya has a special place in my heart. I would suggest looking at Diani for beach holiday base and then travelling away from there north for the safari. Diani is beautiful. South Africa is so rich with things to see and do, I would definitely go for Kruger but also the private game reserves you can do dawn and dusk safaris in which you'll usually see a lot more. Kruger you can drive for some hours without seeing a lot during the day as wildlife will be resting and seeking shade. Safety wise, you need to be sensible and keep your valuables secure but as long as you are respectful and you don't take unnecessary risks then it's no less safe than other holiday destinations.

Yes we've booked 8 nights in tanzania mainland-1 night in Arusha when we land then 7 on safari, and 5 nights in Zanzibar. We booked with Gane and Marshall and the woman we booked with was brilliant, much more flexible and actually listened to us.

We wanted to book with Yellow Zebra at one stage, who I think have been mentioned on here, but the agent kept making mistakes in communications, sending us flights details for the wrong country, then flights for the wrong dates, and a couple of other issues, she just really wasn't on it at all so reluctantly let them go.

I have just had a similar issue with yellow zebra. I asked for some specific things and the quote was the opposite

I meant to add the price is about 11k sterling all in including flights from Dublin-Doha-Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar-Doha-Dublin at civilised times if anyone is still researching. we're in NI and flights from Dublin are that bit more expensive than from Britain seemingly.

@nw22 I wonder if it's the same woman? She seemed super enthusiastic she just seemed all over the place. I wondered if she was having a bad week- I didn't tell her why we didn't book her it seemed cruel.

I would also recommend travel butlers from our experience getting quotes, they were a very narrow second for us. Expert Africa were also decent.

Alfred& are a branch of Kuoni and they were... not good

Tribes seemed good but the deposit amount they wanted was insane and it was very inflexible, similar with Wayfairer.

I got a lot of quotes and I'm glad I did as there was a big variation and not all were equal- it was only by getting lots of quotes I could tell who was good and who wasn't.

Trailfinders were the cheapest but their itinerary also seemed a bit inflexible. Sold as tailor made of course but actually unwilling to make changes or offer alternatives.

I hope that helps someone because I honestly found it such a minefield! Glad it's sorted now and I can look forward to it.

Glad you've got it booked. Top tip from another safari thread: sports bra for very bumpy "roads" in the parks 😁

I see you've already booked. But reading through this thread, everyone is suggesting the parks where there are large numbers if visitors and masses of vehicles. A friend of mine who did one of these felt like she was in a traffic jam, half the time

It's really worth considering the less well known safari locations. South Luangwa in Zambia is fantastic, much less expensive, and on my three game drives we barely saw another jeep. Right at the other extreme from the poster who felt she was in a safari park, I really did feel that we were venturing into the animals' wild territory.

We did the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli Safaris in Kenya followed by Diani beach near Mombasa. Safaris were fantastic. Diani beach was gorgeous but make sure your hotel has a private beach or you will be relentlessly hassled by street hawkers.

We wished we had gone to Zanzibar for the beach part of the holiday.

Fabulous holiday. Funnily enough we were just talking about it again earlier today.

If you can afford it, do a balloon ride over the Masai Mara. You won't regret it.

Sounds good
What parks are you going to ?

Balloon safaris are expensive but worth it.

If possible go somewhere you can see Kili. On a clear day I can see her on my walk to work and it still makes me smile after 6 years. If you are lucky you can see her from the plane.

If possible go somewhere you can see Kili. On a clear day I can see her on my walk to work and it still makes me smile after 6 years. If you are lucky you can see her from the plane

Despite flying into Kilimanjaro, we didn't see her as there was low cloud 🙄 However we did see her from Tsavo West when we went to Kenya ten years ago 😊

@CharlotteStreetW1

Despite flying into Kilimanjaro, we didn't see her as there was low cloud 🙄 However we did see her from Tsavo West when we went to Kenya ten years ago 😊

Seeing Kili isn't guaranteed from the air. The time of day matters as well.