Safari next October - where do I start?

[NCTDN]

All advice welcomed. We’re looking at two adults for two weeks. Would be great to see the big 5 but esp want to see giraffes in their natural habitat.

If budget isn’t an issue, speak to Ilona at Steppes Travel. She has amazing local knowledge and put together one of my best ever holidays - I’ve travelled a lot (without wanting to sound like a total knob). She is def worth talking to and has an opinion, which I valued.

We've had fantastic experiences in South Africa. If budget isn't an issue, Singita Sweni and Sabi Sands have both been surreally amazing experiences.

I second the suggestion for Cape Town, wine country, Hermanus and safari if you have two weeks and want to do South Africa.

As you can see from the replies there are loads of options and what suits will depend on your interests, budget, how much time you want to spend, type of accommodation (luxury to basic camping available) and game drives (private or group) you want. The best thing to do is speak to a specialist company who can guide you in the right direction. We've done 2 self drive camping trips - Zimbabwe and Vic Falls to Windhoek. We loved the independence but it wouldn't suit everyone. Just bear in mind that the travel each way is likely to involve at least 2 flights.

All we have so far is one Kuoni brochure! Replies suggest that we need a more specialist company though?

Definitely! We used Safari Drive but that's purely self drive. Aardvark have been mentioned above and I've seen good reports on Yellow Zebra and Audley. I'd start by googling and looking at broad ideas to narrow down your options then you can have a more productive chat with a provider. Even if you just narrow it down to eastern or southern africa or pure safari/safari plus beach/wine region/adventure activities.

https://fortes-safaris.com/

There are so many different ways to safari so it’s good to think through what type of safari you’re into. South Africa is very different to Kenya and Tanzania. Even within a country you can experience a huge diversity in environments. You should be able to see the Big 5 and giraffes in almost every place. I’d recommend Kenya and a variety of stops - you can see the Rothschild’s giraffe as well as reticulated giraffes if you combine different regions. I’d suggest you start with Giraffe Manor in Nairobi for a more manufactured experience but guaranteed giraffe encounters, then Lake Nakuru then Mara and over to Amboseli for the Elephants. Or for a more exclusive experience skip Nakuru, fly into Lewa and fly down to Mara and then to Amboseli and to the south coast for beach time.

Another recommendation for this! I’ve been on several varied price range safaris but this was by far the best experience. The conversation and care of the camp is impressive. For giraffe you can also see them at the rescue centre in Nairobi. Kuoni were great - tailored the trip for us.

@NCTDN Not sure if I commented earlier but we’ve been on safari holidays a lot.

You will see giraffes more or less anywhere. Did you know there are differing species though? 4 in fact but the most common in Kenya is the Masai giraffe.

You don’t get jet lag. There’s hardly any time difference! You hit the ground running. Posters have mentioned the wildebeest migration. It’s over by October generally. October is the start of the short rains. Also don’t get fixated on the big 5! This includes the rhino which is exceptionally difficult to see. You really will need to do research if you want to see one. We have, in Kenya, but you will have much better opportunities in South Africa. I suggest you look up rhino conservation reserves if they are a priority because they need a lot of protection. Amazing to see them though.

Leopards are elusive too. We have seen lots in Sabi Sands in South Africa. Far fewer in Kenya and Tanzania. In Tanzania the NgoroNgoro crater is wonderful. It’s just superb to go. The Serengeti is the bigger section of the plains and the wildebeeste migrate into Kenya but they don’t know there’s a border. If you want Kenya or Tanzania check the migration cycle.

Always try and stay in the actual parks. Commuting in is a faff. We like tented camps best.

Ok trailfinders was really helpful today. Kenya and Tanzania are looking favourite but there’s a fair price difference between the two. Which would you choose if you’ve been to them?

Depends on time of year.

Why? Looking for October.

Whether the migration is in Kenya or Tanzania depends on the month. Even where in the Serengeti will change

Not bothered about the wildebeest migration. Yes it would be good to see but not by any means the top of our list.

We went to MalaMala with Titan which I can highly recommend.

I found a women’s cooperative in Botswana that runs overland and canoe safari’s, they were locally owned and collected you from the airport, they seemed a good type of company but alternately look at coop travel who i have used in the past. They partner with local companies

Given no budget and no kids I’d go to southern Tanzania which is quieter - still see a lot but not surrounded by other jeeps. Sands River and Ikuka are amazing and are contrasting landscapes and you do you could do both ( small plane between them) and then go to Zanzibar for a few days. We did two weeks of safari. I loved it but everyone else was a bit safari’d out. If not Zanzibar you could also go out to Greystoke and do the chimp tracking- that is wonderful- camp on the edge of Lake Victoria. HTH.

we stayed in a migration camp which the herd (by that I mean millions) surrounds and the experience was other worldly. I’ve seen the other animals at the safari park but you can never experience the scale of the herd. I’d not write it off.

We also went wild camping and that was incredible, felt like the only people on earth.

@ChubbawubberIt’s expensive though! To see the migration!

Meant to add- if it’s October, it’s written off in terms of large congregation of animals but they are moving back to the Serengetti, so more spread out.

As for which safari - what lodges and where on each country?

Apologies - me again. I’ve just looked at the Wildlife Worldwide.com holiday web site. You can look at time of year for each location and which animals you might encounter in each reserve. So match these up with what you have been offered. October is the beginning of the short rains but they are not always on time.

Yes, some reserves are busy (Masai Mara) but there are more exclusive camps, eg on the Talek River, where it’s quieter. The Serengeti is huge so not much of an issue with other vehicles. Their web site lists which animals might be encountered in each reserve. So, moving away from the “big 5” are you interested in anything else? You could see whales off Zanzibar in October too, and what about flamingoes and bird life?

Not wild camping, but we camped in a camping site somewhere around the Ngorongoro crater. After dinner, we both took a leak behind our tent, as the camp toilets weren’t the best. We had an uneasy feeling we were being watched. We looked up to see a big elephant about six feet away from us, watching us. There was nothing we could do at that short range, except walk away slowly!

I booked my honeymoon through Audleys for South Africa, I’d 100% recommend

The national parks do not allow wild camping. Well not in Kenya or Tanzania. Private concessions can offer what they want. Some areas have walking trips but you have an armed guide. There are permanent or seasonal tented bush camps though within many parks.

@OhDear111 well we wild camped in the Serengeti, Tanzania. Wayo is, I believe, the only provider. They built the camp for us 4 and took it down when we left. It was rustic, but incredible. We walked with a ranger and our guide and saw things that you don’t get from a van.

So on this matter, you are misinformed.