Has anyone been to Costa Rica or an African Safari?

[Fiona8121]

Looking at different options for a potentially big holiday next summer. Already looked at the Maldives just not sure our boys would love it enough to justify the price.
The husband has always wanted to do a safari but I know absolutely nothing about them or where to even start. Any recommendations/advice? It would be August and my boys would be 11 & 13.
Similarly Costa Rica? Heard some great things about it?

Can't quote but you asked who we booked with. Rafiki safari lodge run a package called the super lekker tour and we booked that directly with them and then all we need to do on top was book plane tickets. But it's not an animal safari. Worth looking at their website. By far the best holiday we've ever had.

I think so. I went in 2006 so a while ago now.

It was only 9 days but that was plenty for us and every hotel was gorgeous.

My favourite one I think, was up in the mountains. There was an open fire inside your hotel room that the staff came and lit, and it was just cozy and comfortable.

We are not long back from a safari in Tanzania and then had beach and city time in Zanzibar. We booked through Speke Travel and I would recommend them.

I've done both. In South Africa we hired a car, drove to Kruger from Johannesburg and stayed in South Africa National Parks camps, which are a much more cost effective option than the luxury lodges on private reserves but still perfectly nice and you can pick accommodation based on budget from camping up to very nice self-contained lodges. Note that we were there for 5 days over 2 different camps and that was LOADS of time so you'd probably want to combine Safari with something else (Cape Town and Garden Route if you went for SA?).

Costa Rica is my favourite place on earth. I've been twice and if I could only pick one place to holiday for the rest of my life, Costa Rica would be it. While you don't have the 'big' mammals you'll see on Safari there is amazing wildlife all over the country, combined with just about every adventurous pursuit a couple of young teens could wish for. It's pretty easy to get around either by hire car or by private or shared shuttle and in 2.5 weeks you could really get a good overview of the country, both coasts, rainforest, cloud forest, and the volcanic region in the interior.

We did a 2 day safari in Shamwari as part of our Honeymoon.

It was incredible and we saw the big 5, saw some cheetah's make a kill, watched some lions and a warthog have a fight, saw a leopard...but honestly, after 2 days 5am starts and 2 drives a day we'd had enough by the time we left.

Absolutely love, love, love South Africa.

We have been to Costa Rica a couple of times and echo what everyone says. It's a wonderful country, so much to do and see, easy to drive around yourself and a huge amount of variety. We've only ever been in the dry season and August might limit you a bit.

Next year we are also limited to August and are looking at Namibia for a self-drive. That is supposed to be a good time to go if wildlife is your priority and there is a lot of variety. You could definitely do a decent holiday in your budget. Broadly we are looking at the kind of self drive tours here www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/namibia/self-drive-and-fly-drive

I've done an African safari flying into Nairobi then travelling up through Kenya for a week. We stayed at a variety of lodges in Masai Mara (the great migration), Serengeti, Mount Kenya, Lake Nakuru. We then spent a week at a beach hotel at the farthest end of Diani Beach, the Indian Ocean Beach Club. It isn't actually a club but a beautiful Moorish style hotel and cottages. It was one of the most fabulous holidays I've been on. A week on the actual safari part was long enough with early starts and longish days of travel.

Safari is incredible, I stayed in Nairobi and then flew down to the masai Mara.

That flight is not for the faint hearted, tiny planes (a Cessna on the way back as it was just two of us. Stayed in olanana (bill gates and warden buffet were there the week before, it is incredible)

www.sanctuaryretreats.com/kenya-camps-olonana

We didn't go during the migration as it's too packed with people.

Bear in mind you will all need jabs and malaria medication which can make you very sick.

A trio of a lifetime, I went with my best friend and definitely want to go back with my daughter.

2.5 weeks is a long time though. We did it it in less than a week. The drives involve getting up at 4-5 am before the sun time and go late into the evening. It's an exhausting trip.

I'd vote Namibia for a safari and 2.5 week hols is perfect to do lots more - massive sand dunes, kayaking with seals, tribal visits. We were booked for costa rica at Xmas (now delayed), but for an August break, Namibia is one of my top 3 holidays ever.

We've done both, before children and now we have children we can't wait to take them to Costa Rica. It's the perfect family adventure for active children, from rafting to hiking, volcanos to beaches, zip wires and rain forest. We booked independently and toured but with kids now I'd probably look for an operator to make life easier.

With that age group and budget I'd second Namibia for safari. Plenty of variety, self drive is easy so you can pick your own itinerary. Camping is a great option for budget control. A lot of the camp sites are attached to lodges so you can still eating restaurants or bbq if you want. Some of the sites are stunning and your own loo and wash block are quite common. We stayed at one site were you even had a thatched dining room on your own mini camp site.

I’ve done both with children. Personally I think South Africa is much better than Costa Rica. The wildlife is different. Bigger on safari, more insects and birds in Costa Rica. Being in the rainforest is amazing and sloth spotting is fun but safari in Africa is incredible.

I’d ake a balloon ride over the savannah over zip wiring through the jungle any day.

Look at madikwe for safari since it’s not malarial

This place in South Africa was incredible:

www.thandasafari.co.za

Flew into Cape Town, did Table Mountain, Robben Island, wildlife/vineyard tour then spent 3 nights at the reserve.

I have spent a few weeks in different locations in Costa Rica. It’s beautiful, friendly but also eye wateringly expensive for food, accommodation etc.

I have also been to South Africa twice on Safari. The first time with one of my adult daughter’s as my husband couldn’t go. The second time with him. The first of those trips also included driving up through Swaziland. The cost of ordinary things, including meals etc is cheap out there. The people are warm and friendly, it’s interesting and stunningly beautiful. Being animal and nature people, it took my heart, my daughter’s and then my husband’s. We are going back next year, but starting out in Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls.

I have spent a few weeks in different locations in Costa Rica. It’s beautiful, friendly but also eye wateringly expensive for food, accommodation etc.

Did you think so? We were last there in 2017 so it may have changed a bit but we found it very easy to find very affordable places to stay on nature reserves, locally run small hotels etc. Of course there are also very luxurious, expensive places but we found that there was a real mix of types of accommodation and relatively few large chain hotels. Plus driving around it was very cheap to eat in range of places and we self-catered a bit. I'm sure you can spend a lot but we really didn't.

Oooh placemarking as hoping to do South Africa nx Oct! Will be back to read thoroughly!

Too be fair, we weren’t doing it on a budget and we’re mostly staying in 5* accommodation. Like for like compared to other countries, we found it extremely expensive and it it widely known to be. That’s fair enough though, since it’s a very ethical country and when things are cheap, people and animal welfare is usually the cost.

Yes I am sure you can spend a huge amount and stay in beautiful places in Costa Rica. We've tended to do 3+ week trips and mainly hired a car and stayed in mid-range places with the odd splurge. We also tended to be quite far away from the main areas that are popular for short breaks from the USA where I think food prices etc might be quite high. We spent much less than the OPs budget doing that BUT that was 5+ years ago with younger children.

I met someone recently who said she had a fantastic holiday in CR staying in places owned locally and just booking as she went along. If you stay away from the tourist areas and expensive hotels you can have a very good holiday at reasonable prices.

Safari......don't know about costa arica as its still on my list but Safari is amazing!!

I'm in Costa Rica now, lying on a bench on my balcony and looking out at the jungle on the other side of the garden.
My partner and I have done a lot of travelling and this is easily our favourite country.

Damn! Hadn't noticed this was a zombie thread.

@cariadlet incase you see this, and recommendations from your trip?
I'm planning a summer trip and struggling with initial few beach days. We'll then do la Fortuna, Monteverde, Carribbean coast (tortuguera and cahuira).

Namibia over Kenya for safari. Better roads, more stable, more equal society, and no mosquitos!

The only thing Namibia can't offer is white sandy beaches. Sand dunes, game, desert, amazing skies and all on tarmac roads.