Safari in Oct Halfterm

[Wingingwomble]

I'm looking to book the holiday of a lifetime for a family of four, including an 11 and 14 year old for mid Oct this year. This is following a terminal diagnosis for one parent.

Where would be best for a safari and beach holiday? Budget up to £20k, no small planes to be included. Ideally not S Africa.

Any advice or travel agents is appreciated.

Ps we have two weeks

Try calling Trailfinders www.trailfinders.com/. Tell them your budget and your wish list and see what they can suggest. Friends used them for a safari followed by Mauritius last year, although they did go to SA. Good luck, hope you find a fantastic holiday.

Sorry to hear your circumstances

Try Audley travel, they do bespoke holidays and do many countries. They are expensive but the service is fantastic and the country experts really know their stuff.

Expert Africa are also very good for working out where to go in different countries. Zambia is good without small planes but October isn’t possible. It’s the rainy season. So do check the weather! Tanzania should be ok though. The wildebeeste are back from Kenya!

Is really recommend Kenya - do a loop incorporating Nanyuki, the Masai Mara and Amboseli - Kicheche are fabulous for more ‘luxe’ bushcamps, the ‘Mara Intrepids/Explorers’ are good if you fancy something a bit bigger and I think they have a camp in Samburu too. Stay at the giraffe house in Nairobi then some beach time - Zanzibar or Diani beach

Make sure whoever you book with can guarantee you the type of vehicle you’ll be watching the animals from. We had one with open sides and a roof and it definitely seemed like the best option. People with no roof struggled in the sun and fully enclosed land rover types, they all ended up putting their heads out the roof and having the same problem.

Have an amazing time and sorry for the diagnosis

Thanks so much everyone, lots to consider. It may not be possible at this short notice but it's fun looking at the options anyway.

Really recommend Vicky Stirling who runs Farside Africa. She is brilliant and specialises in bespoke trips. Give her a call. So sorry to hear about the reason for the trip.