Safari Holiday - where to start?

[scrappydappydoo]

DH and I are celebrating a special anniversary in a couple of years time. We'd like to go on a special family holiday to celebrate. We like the idea of a safari (big five in natural habitat kind of thing). Not too basic but want to have an adventure. No idea where to start - 2 DC will be mid teens. Which country? What time of year? Which company? Do's and don'ts

I think you can't beat Namibia for safari. It's safe, malaria free and has a great range of accommodation. Commercial safaris organised in the UK are eye wateringly expensive and offer a limited range of accommodation options. We've just organised a family safari with A local company ( Cardboard Box Travel) for about half the price with a real exciting itinerary. Can't wait 🙂

I would personally book independent as the tour operators here charge stupid prices as the previous post says. My choice would be SA, there are lots of other things to do alongside the safari. I love the Pilanesburg its a short drive from Johannesburg, malaria free and lots of options to suit budgets - camping, self drive, luxury camps like shepherds tree, smaller camps like tambuti or there is one that you can hire the complete camp for your whole party.

Read the reviews of the places you consider staying especially the guides. A good guide with tracking expertise makes it so much better. I have been on a safari with a guide who could tell you the age of the animal from their footprints and the time they were in the area. He was able to find tiny creatures in bushes like chameleons in the darkness! I am still amazed to this day how he did that!

Do take layers for evenings....the safari vehicles have no windows or sides and it is very cold sometimes. A hat is very advisable - I get very cold ears with all the wind rushing through the vehicle!
Do swap seats in the vehicle you get different views from different seats and some people like to 'hog' the front seats if you go out with the same group on a few drives. Suggest people all get a chance to ride up front to make it fair.
Don't wear khaki clothing to try and blend in...animals will most certainly see the trucks and hear and smell you anyway. I just wear normal clothing.
Do get a camera with a good zoom. Mobile phones are good but animals are far away sometimes and having a good zoom is well worth those shots you'd not get without one.
Do invest in a book for identification of animals especially birds and take a good pair of binos!
Enjoy it and take it all in! you'll love it whichever country you set your sights on.

Check how many game drives are included in the price. Sometimes the cheaper operators will sting you with only a minimal number included and then you have to pay up for more.

I went with Titan Tours to Kenya, the Grand Safari. Absolutely fantastic and they really look after you.

work out budget and go from there ....
what do you want to see?

What budget?

Botswana is amazing but is on the more expensive side. The Okavango is really worth a visit

A trip I really enjoyed was Cape Town and Namibia.

We always book ourselves.

Kenya or Tanzania - Masai Mara or Serengeti and Ngongorongo. (sp?).

Check Marco Safaris on FB. He's the best. Does Kilimanjaro too .

He has set up a new company too, African Traces also on FB. Check them both out. I can highly recommend him.