Safari Africa

Froggy_2

We are 4 adults around age 50 and looking to be on holiday for around 14 days.
We would like 7/8 days safari then a few days at the beach. Travel in 2006 the only months we can not travel are June and September, could go end part of May but need to be back by or on 9 June.
We want to see as much as possible so any suggestions of time of year , where to go would be great. Cost - we would prefer not a very basic camping holiday as it looks as though most safari's go out in the morning and late afternoon and we would like the facility of a pool etc for the mid day.
Thanks
Froggy

alison74

Well there are just so many places you could go in Africa.


You could do a twin centre holiday in Kenya for safari then short flight to Mombasa for a beach holiday

Or do anywhere in Africa and then nip over to Zanzibar (beautiful beaches and v. cheap for a few days)

I have travelled extensively throughout Africa and you will find that most campsites have great facilities. Yes you can camp, but you can also motor home it, stay in permanent tents (which would have a double bed etc and a door / netting to keep mossies out), all within the campsites.

Most campsites have pools, as they have realised that tourists want this and you will always be able to get a beer WHEREVER you are in Africa. I camped in the middle of NOWHERE in the Serengeti and the locals produced a meal fit for a king and a COLD beer (dont know how !)

Africa has to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever travelled through and the people are so friendly they will touch your heart.

Safari's go out early in the morning and again as sun sets as it is too hot in the middle of the day for animals to be out and about so they hide in the shade.

bluemorph

I think that you need to set a budget and then start looking at the cost of different safaris, which vary enormously, you could proberbly do Kenya for about £1,600 per person, but if you want to go to somewhere like Botswana or Zambia it will cost alot more. Good Luck.

Nile

I suggest that you book your injections for a Friday evening, in case you have a reaction(s) to them.


I have had severe reactions to the cholera and typhoid injections, my arms felt like they'd been whacked with a cricket bat........so there's no way I could've worked the next day.;)

I had no reaction to the yellow fever jab (for Tanzania), but it had to be booked at a yellow fever clinic........my gp couldn't do it.

Joannekerry

As Alison74 states the Camping facilities are excellent, most of the time they are better than the Lodges and nearly all have pools. Last time we were in the Mara we had a huge tent with a Queensize bed, an en-suite that was 3 times bigger than my own bathroom. At the end of the day it is all down to what budget you have, you can do the safari/beach and if you are looking at Kenya then try https://www.africansafariclub.co.uk or https://www.somak.co.uk

However if you are looking for something a bit cheaper than that (I can only base my experiences on Kenya which I have been to several times and adore the place), then I would personally book a two week all inclusive hotel (or three) on South Mombasa as the beach is nicer, then book a safari when you are there.....if you want to pretty much guarantee seeing your Big Five then a 3 day trip up to the Mara should pretty much sort you out. Somak also used to throw in an overnight safari as do a lot of the Companies, most hotels either have a share in a park or do a deal so they throw that in as a freebie for people staying 2 weeks or more. If you do get this thrown in then do this one first as a taster before you go out on the real thing.

Jaws_2

I wouldn't recommend Kenya in April/May as it's the middle of the main rainy season and the dirt roads in the parks will be poor, and having to keep the roof down on the vehicle spoils the game watching.

My recommendation is to go to Tanzania rather than Kenya, as TZ has Ngorongoro crater and the Serengeti (although the same applies re the weather), plus Zanzibar. An alternative is to go to the Selous game reserve in the south of the country. It's also far less corrupt than Kenya but poorer. However, keep an eye on the political situation on Zanzibar as since this week's elections violence has broken out.

My family and I came back last week from a fantastic holiday in TZ and Zanzibar and can thoroughly recommend it over Kenya (which we visited 20 years ago). We booked flights ourselves with Kenya Airways but ended up on Ethiopian because KA cancelled our flgiht (EU compensation claim now in!). We booked the holiday with Tanzania Adventure, based in Zanzibar, who were brilliant and who were able to give us a personalised itinerary. Fantastic lodges (I don't recommend camping unless in luxury campsites), OK food, wonderful people, scenery and animals.

If you decide to go to Tanzania, be aware it's basically a cash economy, and the recommended currency (as in most of East Africa) is US dollars. Airport taxes have to be paid in USD cash.

Sorry 'bout the ramblings, writing this quickly in the lunch break!