Any recomendations for budget safaris in Kenya/Tanzania?

BeeKeeper

We're planning a safari holiday for the autumn and were looking at Kenya or Tanzania.

Most of the mainstream safaris are very up-market and expensive.

There is a multitude of small, independent safari companies operating (most of them using camping as a cheaper alternative to hotels).

Has anyone got any recommendations of companies to use (or to avoid!!) ?

Thanks.

Incapuppy

The Trip Advisor forums have countless recommendations for locally based safari operators in these countries.

markandkate

You should also look at the Thorn tree forum on Lonely Planet

luci

The first safari we did in Kenya was booked with Thomson's and it was good. It covered Tsavo East and West and Amboseli and we stayed in lodges.

When we went back we didn't intend doing a safari again, but changed our minds after a week there. We booked locally with a company at the shopping centre in the Diani Beach area and opted for a camping safari. It was great! Not only did we have the whole minibus for the two of us, we also had the whole camp to ourselves, incuding a driver, guide, 2 cooks, a waiter and a security guard. It was like having a private safari for the cost of a shared one.

The driver took us to places the tour buses don't go and we even crossed into Tanzania.

I wouldn't hesitate to book locally again.