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AIBU?

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Original poster

To consider spending a LOT of money on a safari holiday ...

132 replies

lilybetsy · 30/08/2017 21:35

My three kids will be 19, 16 and 13 next Summer, I am a single parent and really thinking this is likley to be the last oppportunity for us to go away as a family together,

It's a 3 weeks trip, very nice, and pretty expensive. But amazing. Will see stuff and do stuff together that we will always remember,

What are memories worth ? Is it worth the debt it will be for me ( but I can manage) .... I can't make my mind up ...

OP posts:
LondonNicki · 30/08/2017 22:49

Sorry just seen your last post so its more than a safari then and more of a varied holiday. It looks fabulous and I'm very jealous of Vic falls, would love to go there. Have you looked at 2 week packages taking in less countries - Tanzania plus Zanzibar is a great combination.

margaritasbythesea · 30/08/2017 22:49

I think it would totally worth going for three weeks. I have never been on safari but I have been on holiday for three week and it was the best ever.

GardenGeek · 30/08/2017 22:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GardenGeek · 30/08/2017 22:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NoSquirrels · 30/08/2017 22:58

Boringly - do you have money put by for supporting teens in uni/further study etc? Would this holiday mean you were spending money on this experience rather than setting them up a bit as young adults? Or can you do both?

I agree a once in a lifetime holiday would be awesome, and I understand the fear of it being the last chance, but if I had to choose, I'd still choose my DPs support through uni and a package holiday in Spain.

What would your DC choose?

house12345 · 30/08/2017 22:58

I wouldn't go into debt for a holiday

blueshoes · 30/08/2017 23:01

What is so magical about a safari that you need 3 weeks and go into debt?

I think I will have the same reaction as squirreltrap.

Tensecondrule · 30/08/2017 23:04

Yes go for it, best holiday ever! But you really don't need 3 weeks, we did 5 days safari and 4 days at the coast.

GetAHaircutCarl · 30/08/2017 23:06

Just spent three weeks in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Best holiday ever. And we've done China, Australia, Caribbean, US, Canada etc.

Timmytoo · 31/08/2017 07:43

I've a brilliant travel agent who's an expert in her field with regards to safaris. I'm happy to PM her email address and website if anyone is interested. She only uses the best places and she regularly visits all the places in her books to ensure they're all up to standard. I use her regularly for my delegates coming from abroad to Cape Town and they've all had an amazing time. She can organise fights, custom experiences and transfers.

Hunkle · 31/08/2017 07:52

Believe me, they still come on holiday with you in their twenties if it's free!

Grin I think I might have one like that, although shes not at school yet, 4 days to go

My DD has said if she does ever leave home, shes getting bunk beds, so we can share a room.

amousehaseatenmypaddlingpool · 31/08/2017 07:54

I'd 100% do it.

We have a shit car, no fancy clothes, rubbish electronics etc but we spend all our money travelling with DS.

My parents took me all over the world when I was a child. It's shaped my life and I have wonderful memories.

Doing a trip like yours, as independently as you can, will help to give your children so much confidence in new environments 😊

Soubriquet · 31/08/2017 07:54

I've done one.

9 day Safari in Africa

Definitely worth it 100%

Was a complete adventure

dazzlingdeborahrose · 01/09/2017 20:04

Victoria falls is amazing. Just watch out for the 'guides' who tag themselves to you and then want money. Just say right st the start you've no money and they disappear off quite nicely.

hmcAsWas · 01/09/2017 20:06

My vote is a yes

Pibplob · 01/09/2017 20:13

I would but I would probably go for 2 weeks and cut the expense down by a third!

shadesofwinter · 01/09/2017 20:21

Yes, I would do it. DH and I did a safari in 2005 and it remains one of the most fabulous experiences of my life. I'd love to go back one day, and whilst I would generally be on the side of not getting in debt for a holiday, I think this one would be worth it.

Ttbb · 01/09/2017 20:39

If you can't even afford to pay for it without going in debt why would you even consider it? You are setting a terrible example for your children.

cardibach · 01/09/2017 20:45

Do it. Ignore the 'terrible example' people. I often put some of a holiday in 0% interest credit cards - it's basically free money. It's retrospective saving.
Travel with families is brilliant. I've always done it with DD and we have a great relationship forged in interesting situations in odd places!

Summergarden · 01/09/2017 20:54

Lovely idea and I don't blame you, but of it will incur debt I'd aim to get the essence of what you're going for on a far smaller budget.

We went to Kenya for 1 week, stayed in a nice hotel, and arranged a 2 day/1 night safari in Tsavo East halfway through. Was amazing, we saw the Big 5 and the night we stayed in the hotel in Tsavo was one of the most incredible in my life- open-air restaurant overlooked the watering hole, so had a constant stream of animals come to it while we ate.

That said, we found 2 days to be plenty. Agree with PP who said that after a while it all gets a bit 'samey' and you body gets thrown about a lot in the vehicle with all the bumps in the rubble roads, so it can feel tiring too.

NorthCoast · 01/09/2017 20:56

Another vote for DO IT! In the late 80s when I was 12/13, my father had a windfall, and since he'd done his National Service in Kenya and always wanted to go back because he loved the country, we went for a month. He organised, by fax, a Jeep and all our hotels through an agency in Nairobi, and we had 5 days in Nairobi, followed by 2 weeks driving up to Lewa Downs and back, and then took the sleeper train to Mombasa for a final week by the sea.

It was an amazing trip. We had a 5-day camel safari at Lewa, where they had a baby camel only a few months old following the herd who made friends with me and would follow me about. We got stuck in the mud on a logging track in the Aberdare mountains and people appeared out of the woods and pushed us out. We went to a Maasai party, showered in a canvas bathroom with no roof, so you could look at the stars, and the most special thing of all - in the middle of nowhere, in one of the reserves, we came across two rangers with rifles, sitting on a rock. They flagged us down and said they were guarding a rhino and would we like to see? And that's how I have a photo of me very gingerly patting the backside of one of the last white rhino in Kenya.

RedastheRose · 01/09/2017 21:06

Yes experiences over money in the bank any day. You forget the 'stuff' you get bought for Birthday's and Christmases but you never forget real experiences like this. Do it.

JoandMax · 01/09/2017 21:08

Definitely do it! DH and I had 3 months in Botswana, SA and Zimbabwe before we had DC and I still remember nearly every minute, most incredible places I've ever been too (we've travelled and live abroad so seen a lot!).

We were only talking today about whether our DC are old enough to go yet........

TheAntiBoop · 01/09/2017 21:13

Botswana isn't always a cheap option. You could do some cheaper and equally amazing safaris in zim or Zambia

I wouldn't get into bet for a holiday - especially one that can be done cheaper.

How do your kids feel about it?

Ragwort · 01/09/2017 21:23

I would never get into debt for a holiday - and do your teenage children really want to go on holiday with you or are they just coming because it is a free holiday? I know that sounds harsh but I never holidayed with my parents after age 13 - however I am now in my 50s and they are in their 80s and we still have a great relationship and I do occasionally have a weekend away with them Grin.