Safari help please...

[Disco2020]

We have decided that we’d like to do a safari next year. I’ve been googling and am now completely overwhelmed.

We have 2 teen DC’s and are restricted to school holidays, but I don’t mind which one. We can do Easter, summer or October.

Where would you recommend? We want to see everything! And what time of year? It’s not the sort of holiday we’ll be doing again so we really want to get the most out of it.

Oh, and I wouldn’t mind a day or two on a beach at the end to relax, but it’s not essential.

Thanks

First of all, how much money are you spending? It’s expensive to go to Zambia and Botswana for example. Kenya and Tanzania are a bit cheaper and SA will be reasonable in the summer holidays because it’s their winter. The seaside won’t be hot though. You could look at Easter for SA.

I can give you loads of recommendations as we have been on these holidays a lot - Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa - several times. I could also suggest Namibia which has great variety and the added bonus of self drive.

However there are pluses and minuses for all areas but cost is a major factor. I can certainly help if you can say where you have considered and your budget.

Namibia or Botswana have been my favourite safari trips. Exodus do family tours in regular tents or lodges if you want a bit more luxury. We flew into Cape Town for a few days before travelling onto Windhoek. The desert landscape is amazing.

Namibia is amazing, friendly and very safe. I'd avoid an expensive European safari company and arrange through the fabulous Namibians at The Cardboard Box travel shop. They really know the country and can personalise an itinerary to suit your interests.

August in Tanzania! We booked through Tanzania Oddesey for our wedding / honeymoon.

Botswana, especially the Okavango Delta. Like being in the garden of Eden

I did Botswana in August and it is AMAZING. Loads of elephants and lion (v important for me), i didn't think it was ££at all, we did chobe national park. Okevange is great but very expensive.

Oct half term probably the best time for southern Africa as animals will need to travel for water but there won't be much bush for them to hide in

What is your budget?

There are so many amazing safari experiences. I love Tanzania. Many of the packages by big operators are such a different experience to booking with smaller more specialist companies.

Happy to give you some recommendations if you can post a rough budget, there is so much choice.

Chobe is noted for elephants. The Okavango has no larger camps and is much more difficult to get to. We flew in. There are no budget camps in good areas. October is late for the Okavango. The best time to go is July/August/September and this will be reflected in the price.

Zambia also has many smaller bush camps but they are not cheap. Many of the old style rustic camps have gone, sadly. They have been redeveloped. No drop loos and showering in “cubicles” cut out of the river bank with hippos below any more. Magic.

SA at Easter is my favourite visit. As others have said it depends on what you would like. I have done a self drive - which you need a high vehicle to see over the grass or a reserve where drives are included. There are many options with regards to food and drink: AI, self catering and full board options too. Again preference and finances need consideration.

I have enjoyed the Pilanesburg in SA lots of time - Black Rhino, Tambuti, Kwa Maritane and The Kingdom. They are all nice places to stay and range in price. It is a very easy drive from Johannesburg.

Easter is also a good time for the weather - there are still some hot days and some cooler days which makes for a pleasant stay.

If you want beach try Tanzania. The big parks are Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and the Ngorogoro Crater. For beach it’s a ferry from Dar Es Salaam or a flight from Arusha to Zanzibar. I’ve traveled a lot and get to find a beach more beautiful than Zanzibar. Absolutely incredible.

*yet to find

India was surprisingly fabulous for Safari. No lions but elephants, tigers, cheetahs, crocodiles plus much more. Several resorts on Kabini delta in Bandipur National Park.We stayed at Evolve back, Orange County which had a beach feel as infinity pool over river plus land rover, walking and boat safaris. Villa’s had their own pools as well as the main pool.
You can combine with a stop at Mysore to see the palace or Hampi.