Safari Costings

[Starlight86]

So its my DHs 40th birthday in april next year and i would LOVE to surprise him with a Safari trip as it would literally be his dream come true.

However ive started looking and freaking out at all the options and have no idea where to start!!

A few questions initially, Im not the "rough it" kinda girl so couldn't not camp in a tent, happy with a wee lodge or something but no way a tent but then i suppose its all down to budget and i have no idea how much a safari costs?

Also is 6 nights enough? We have 3 DCs so childcare could be split but i think 6 nights would be our max from being away from them.

Thanks

If you are looking at a package holiday, try exodus travel,. They are not the cheapest but have well organised tours with local guides. They do have an emphasis on fair wages / treatment and sustainable tourism. In return, you'll get a holiday of a lifetime that's a cut above the rest.
(Not done any Safari trips with them... I am more into hiking & sightseeing .)

Trailfinders may be worth looking at. You may find 3 or 4 nights actual safari is enough and that would would help keep cost down and then a couple days on a beach or exploring more if the country?

@YorkshireTeaCup
Im really sorry you think I’m deluded but I’ve seen very very poor vehicles and awful unsafe driving in Kenya. I’m glad, as part of a work trip, you had enough time and advice to get a very good vehicle. You were also on the ground,, so to speak. The best companies here use good operators too in Kenya but plenty of vehicles in Kenya are less than great and driving standards are poor. The number of dreadful accidents tells you that. So for anyone based here, safety is important. Just picking a company in Nairobi off the web is not a great idea.

3 or 4 nights should be fine. Game drives tend to be very early in the morning (start at sunrise), end by about 11, then the second is not until toward sunset. So there is a large chunk of the day where you are left to your own devices, and depending where you go not much to do except perhaps a pool.

South Africa is also an option. You could stay in Pilanesberg game park which is just outside Sun City (and visit or stay in Sun City itself has golf/ water parks/casinos).

We have also stayed in Nambiti which is just outside Ladysmith (Boer War site), and not far from Rorke’s Drift if you like history. Could fly into Durban which has some decent restaurants/beach.

You may want to consider whether to head for a malaria free area.

if going to Kenya a night in the giraffe hotel could be fun (not cheap)

You could also book direct with the game park which might bring prices down. the game park arranged for a driver to pick us up from the airport.

lots of options! Have a lovely time

We stayed in Mombasa and were driven to Tsavo. Never again! It was dicing with death.

If you want to keep costs down I would recommend self driving in Kruger and staying in the SAN Parks rest camps, a bungalow cost about £100 a night. In the larger camps there are restaurants and shops. It is great fun and really easy. You can also do the ranger game drives run by the camps. It is not luxurious so maybe combine with a lodge in the greater Kruger area. If you fly direct to JNB then get the Airlink flight to Sukuza pick up your car you can be on a game drive in less than 24 hours.

A night at Giraffe Manor near Nairobiwould use up a big chunk of the budget! It’s been smartened up and is expensive.

Basic camps might not be the OPs thing. She’s not that kind of girl!

I wouldn’t go near Sun City on a safari holiday. If you want a proper safari holiday it’s really worth talking to informed wildlife travel operators.

Agree, Sun City is not a middle of nowhere safari, but does offer a mix of things for those who might want it.

I thought the op wanted a 6 day safari.

Go later in the year to Kenya and you’ll see the Wilderbeast crossing. It’s something you’ll never forget.

Also, and you may think this is daft but Nairobi national park is also very good and I’ve never seen so many Rhino than I saw there.

A night at Giraffe Manor near Nairobi use up a big chunk of the budget! It’s been smartened up and is expensive

I think we were about 1000 pounds for the night.

OP, you can also get the fast train from Nairobi to Mombasa then have a few days on the coast as well.

Don’t rule out safari tents. They are insanely opulent. Ours had a four poster bed and a marble bathroom. We went to the Masai Mara in September a few years ago and saw the migration. It was the best holiday I’ve ever had.

Look at the giraffe manor hotel - I think you can do a short safari which ends there if you want luxury. Or possibly just do day trips from the hotel

The rack rate for Giraffe manor is currently 1900 dollars per night for two people per basic room.

one person is 950 dollars.

The op has 5000 pounds to spend in total.

Would a self-drive in Namibia be a bit more realistic for the budget?

It was some time ago that we went, but I'd visit Trailfinders, give them your budget and see what they come up with. I found them really helpful and creative- they talked us through the key things we wanted and came up with the best options. We originally thought of safari in Kenya and then beach in Zanzibar for our honeymoon but it was out of budget, and thanks to them ended up in Kruger on a fabulous 4 day safari with Intrepid, then on to Mauritius.

I think you could easily do South Africa on your budget, with indirect flights, self drive and booking safari tents (they are not like proper camping) or small lodges direct with SAN parks. It wouldn't be luxurious, though, and may be a slog for the length of trip. It also required a lot of planning- a package would be a lot more relaxing!

We stayed in a tent in the Kruger and it was completely luxurious, with plumbed in bath, shower & loo, double bed, electricity etc - so there's camping & camping!
I would recommend the And Beyond sites in South Africa - fantastic accommodation and food plus amazing guides & drivers for 2 game drives each day. If you can stretch your budget, it's well worth it. The staff make it so worthwhile because they know exactly where to go to see the animals (all of the Big 5) and so none of your time is wasted. Plus they will organise things like walking safaris, breakfast in the Bush and sundowners.
Look at Aardvark Safaris for packages - they will tailor to exactly what you want, and advise on best times, locations etc.
Safari was the best holiday we ever had, in over 30 years of travelling.

Kenya is amazing. 6 nights should be fine. Do you want to stay at the same place or travel and do a couple of nights here and a couple of nights there? Either way, if you want to see plenty of animals, make sure that you go to a place that has a high density of wildlife.

As for tents, some holiday camps offer luxury ones and they are LUXURY. You will not be roughing it at all in one of them.

I hope that you enjoy it. Safaris are an incredible experience.

&Beyond camps are waaaay above OPs price! &Beyond in Kruger (Ngala) is over £500 pp per night! Yes. These are fab but the op could buy 3 nights max. Upping the budget would be essential to get a holiday as opposed to a short break.

You could blow the whole budget on one night here…

yellowzebrasafaris.com/botswana/accommodation/lodges/jacks-camp/

rack rate $2500 per person per night!!!

Nottens Bush Camps in Sabi Sands is around £740 per night. It’s brilliant for the money. Wildlife safari companies might well get better deals though so always worth shopping around. Aardvark do really good trips. Always worth going to a company that really knows what you can see where!

Have a look at intrepid. This safari would come in just under budget for the two of you although I would think flights would make it closer to 6k. You could get a BA Amex though and try and push all your spending through it for the next few months to get the miles and a companion voucher

www.intrepidtravel.com/uk/kenya/premium-kenya-134594

Intrepid do have sales. We got our honeymoon with them 25% off last January in the sale.

Namibia is fantastic and possibly better for your budget? If considering East Africa I highly recommend southern Tanzania. It’s often overlooked for the Northern Circuit, but the Ruaha National park is incredible - vast and remote. Selous is great too. Don’t dismiss tented camps, they are fabulous across all budgets, the high end ones are amazing. A stay at Ras Kutani at the end for a couple of beach days is wonderful too then an easy drive or flight back to Dar Es Salaam.

April is nit high season for the Mara. June to September is due to the wildebeeste migration. Prices go up a lot. DH and DD did the standard Tanzania circuit a few years back snd that’s a pretty good trip too. SA is very pleasant in April.Moving into their winter is always cheaper. Cold in the mornings but very much worth it.

I would also agree Namibia is worth a look but not for 6 nights. Two flights needed to get there. If pp are suggesting non direct flights for SA, that’s 3 flights!