First safari for summer 2019: any tips?

[Caladium]

We'd like to go on safari in July or August next year -- DH, DS will be 10, and I.

Any tips on where to go, what to see? Looking at all inclusive packages, with or without flights, that will give maximum time to see animals and experience the outdoors (with some luxury).

Any recommendations for travel agencies or resorts? How would you plan it if you had up to 14 nights? Is £10k for the holiday (without flights) enough for two adults and 1 child?

We went to elephant plains in Kruger

Exceptional

Thank you. I'll look into both of those.

I think it wholly depends on where you go in Botswana. There is nowhere like the Okavango Delta. It’s unique. Namibia has unique scenery too.

I cannot imagine going to Kenya and not seeing any wild big cats. I would not stay where staff fed them! The Mara has lions, cheetahs and leopards plus smaller felines too. Leopards are more elusive but the other big cats should be easy to find. The camps should know where sightings have been and take you there.

Sabi Sands is good for leopards. We have also seen plenty in Botswana. Wild dogs are another highlight if you are lucky.

Night drives are amazing if you are at a camp that does them. You cannot do this on a self drive because you need the spotlight and a spotter plus knowledge of animal behaviour. Hippos after dark are not to be trusted. Zambia was a highlight for this as we saw leopards. Also don’t rule out Tanzania. The Ngorongoro Crater is unique too. So many choices!!!

Haven't been yet but I have booked a safari for September '19. I booked a stay at giraffe manor first as it books up quickly. I have used a Kenyan company to provide the safari, they seem fantastic and answer every question I send quickly. I've secured a private safari for 2 in a 4x4 vehicle for a better price than some of the big uk travel companies charge for a group tour. Trip advisor seems to rate them highly.
I'm so excited!

We have been to Giraffe Manor - before it was refurbished. Where are you going for your safari? Where are you staying?

Wow, so many different places to see in Africa!

We decided to concentrate on Tanzania, and have been looking at a £15k package for DH, DS 10 years old and me for 9 nights with Kuoni in July 2019, including flights to and from London - Kilimanjaro. One night in Arusha, two in Lake Manyara, two in the Ngorongoro Crater and four in the Serengeti Explorer Tented Camp.

Is a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti worth it? Kuoni told me it's USD500 per person.

And any tips for going on safari for first timers? We've been told to have only soft bags up to 15kg for luggage. Going to apply online for visas to Tanzania. Where did you go for immunisations and anti malaria advice?

I think we'll be bitten by the safari bug after this first trip. The Okavango Delta and Namibia in particular sound amazing. Thanks everyone for all the replies.

Take a really good pair of binoculars each - don’t try to share. They’re very expensive to buy but you can hire very quality ones from the safari store.com

Kuoni are super expensive. I bet if you go to a smaller travel agency that specialise in safaris you will get the same holiday with a few grand off the price - still UK based so can do you an ATOL protected package.

As for safari, don’t go crazy on ‘safari clothes’. A lot of the time you will be in a truck so it won’t matter if you’re wearing khaki shorts / beige tops, I mostly lived in plain tshirts and hippy pants bought on other travels! Also take warm clothes for the early mornings and night drives. You’ll need good binoculars and a decent camera.

We did a balloon trip in the Masai Mara and loved it (although it was cheaper than that - bet that’s Kuoni prices again!). We actually saw a leopard from the balloon when they’d eluded us on the ground. Saw plenty of other big cats though, lots of lions and a few families of cheetahs, can’t believe some camps would feed them .

We have never done a safari in a truck and that’s the cost difference. Kuoni are not that expensive and they do avoid trucks!

For a first timer - take cotton clothes. It might be cold in the mornings so take fleeces for early starts. Plus pullovers. Most people wear neutral colours. Trainers are fine. You can get laundry done for a smallish charge at most camps. If you are in tents, zip up the tents fully. Small animals get in otherwise!

I agree with everyone having binoculars. Take charging equipment and spare batteries for cameras. Take an animal and bird identification book. Collins do one I think. Good for the children to know what they are looking at. Ours kept a log of sightings. Decide who gets what camera! Take books/games for down time.

Soft bags work well. Take a day bag for cameras etc. Take sun hats if camp vehicles are open top.

Lastly, the Ngorongoro is unforgettable. The Serengeti is huge but exciting!

I did a balloon safari in the Masai Mara it was amazing. The price sounds about right we paid the citizen rate (2 of the 3 of us have Kenyan passports) and I think it was 400 dollars.

Where are you staying in Arusha? In the town or in the park?

Sorry should also have said.
What route are you going on to Kilimanjaro?
If you fly with KLM it should be more than 15kg and if you fly with Kenya Airways or Precision from Nairobi it is 23 kg.

Great advice all, thank you! We're keen photographers but only have one camera, DH will probably have it as it's heavy. Renting binoculars is a good idea, I didn't think of that. Also good to know about clothing and footwear -- I was beginning to panic about going Melania Trump with the khakis.

Marcopront, we're flying Qatar via Doha, and staying at the Arusha Serena Hotel.

If you're going with Kuoni, check the arrival & departure times to/from camp - they are total buggers for arranging for you to arrive too late to go on the evening trip out & arranging for you to leave too early to go on the morning trip, meaning you miss 2 of the safaris you've paid for.

BubblesBuddy

We have never done a safari in a truck and that’s the cost difference. Kuoni are not that expensive and they do avoid trucks!

What do you go in? By truck I mean the 4x4 game viewing vehicles - we used a few different ones, some 6 seater (in 3 tiered rows) open sided, some 4 seater (2 rows) with open sides and open top or a pop up top. It’s what they called them at each camp we stayed at; ‘meet by the truck at 6.30’ etc.

I have seen actual trucks - lorries! They are used for the overland trips. I thought you meant one of those! We have just called them safari vehicles: Toyotas or Land Rovers. I’ve never heard the 4x4s referred to as trucks! However the adapted 4x4s work well. Great viewing!

OP - get another camera!!! One won’t be enough. There are so many easy to use pocket/compact/bridge cameras with zoom available: (Canon, Panasonic etc) this type would be a great choice. Takes little bag space and no changing lenses! We have just bought a Canon G7 mk II and it’s brilliant. Children can use them! Fantastic small camera.

My children didn’t use binoculars much. We have two pairs anyway. Small ones. Don’t take huge heavy ones as you won’t need them.

While tour companies itineraries don't give much flexibility, if you do choose Kenya, try to see a bit more of the country if you can than the game parks if you can. I lived in Nairobi as a kid & it has incredible scenery - try to get to the Rift Valley & Mount Kenya & falls at Thika & spend a few days at the coast. From a historical perspective it's pretty interesting as well - you have the early man part at Olduvai Gorge, the ruins at Gedi on the coast, the colonial bit in Nairobi (try & stay at the Norfolk) & tea plantations in the Highlands & all the Mau Mau history in the Nairobi museum. Seeing the wildlife is brilliant but I know as a kid I used to get really bored after a couple of days ( though we did live there so were spoilt) on safari - just got a bit samey! So if you have the chance to mix it up & you've chosen Kenya, do!

I reckon you would save about £4k by booking direct with a Tanzanian specialist . All UK based operators are expensive. There are tons of local operators highly recommended on Tripadvisor.

@Caladium
I saw this on my watching list.

Did you come to Tanzania?
How was it?