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Safari Holidays
- Thread starter Bubba
- Start date
Have you booked yet ?
My wife is South African. I've been to Addo near Port Elizabeth on a couple day trips and stayed overnight in a cabin once, but not Kruger. Nice to hear the hyenas close by at night. Kruger will be more classic Savannah grassland, but if you go south to Addo you are near the beauty of the ocean too.
Extra connecting flight from Jo'burg to P.E. though.
Keep the windows fairly shut is the main tip !
One thing I have been told Bubbs, there's a cheaper malaria tablet, the one that was used for years and there's another relatively new, that costs a lot more. EVERYONE I know has said 'buy the dearer one' as if you get side effects with the cheaper one, it can ruin your holiday.
I did a 3 or 4 day safari while on holiday in Kenya many years ago.
Absolutely fantastic. Would highly recommend it. Wish I'd spent the whole holiday safariing!
Superb scenery and, of course, the animals were brilliant. I remember going to Amboseli Park. I can't remember the names of the others, sorry.
The lodges and the food were great.
Go for it Bubba!!
Absolutely fantastic. Would highly recommend it. Wish I'd spent the whole holiday safariing!
Superb scenery and, of course, the animals were brilliant. I remember going to Amboseli Park. I can't remember the names of the others, sorry.
The lodges and the food were great.
Go for it Bubba!!
Bubba, I assume you will want to Safari in the school summer holidays. The movement of the migrating herds is a must for the children, these are best seen in The Masai Mara of Kenya or Serengeti of Tanzania. Plenty of other species there too, try to include other parks in you visit such as a Rift Valley Lake to maximize the experience.
I think IJN is referring to Malarone for malaria prophylaxis which has been available 35 years or so and was advised as a replacement for Larium which ruined a number of holidays. I am sure you will seek the advice of your GP practice.
I think IJN is referring to Malarone for malaria prophylaxis which has been available 35 years or so and was advised as a replacement for Larium which ruined a number of holidays. I am sure you will seek the advice of your GP practice.
Bubba
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- Nov 26, 2006
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Thanks All - still just at the researching stage, there looks to be some private reserves that look nice, particularly Sebatana lodge and it’s apparently malaria free currently.
Certainly lots and lots to look at!
Certainly lots and lots to look at!
Been to Kruger area, https://kapama.com/kapama-river-lodge/ highly recommended, but we did get upgraded to a suite, take a shower while watching some giraffe.
If you’re looking for something different then would also recommend https://mvuulodge.com/ it’s not a big 5 place, but still great.
One for Ian maybe, but https://rovos.com/ have luxury rail journeys. We took the Pretoria to Cape Town train.
If you’re looking for something different then would also recommend https://mvuulodge.com/ it’s not a big 5 place, but still great.
One for Ian maybe, but https://rovos.com/ have luxury rail journeys. We took the Pretoria to Cape Town train.
Not done but it’s on my list, combined with South Africa.
I have been to Nairobi twice on business and did the Nairobi National Park both times, which in itself is a great day trip from the city if you’re passing through (lions, rhino, giraffe, zebra). So doing a big game drive in the Kruger etc. must be really fantastic.
I have been to Nairobi twice on business and did the Nairobi National Park both times, which in itself is a great day trip from the city if you’re passing through (lions, rhino, giraffe, zebra). So doing a big game drive in the Kruger etc. must be really fantastic.
We were fortunate enough to have the funds to do one in September. Your 1st question should be what is your budget as Safari's are NOT generally cheap! Although you probably could organise it yourselves we chose to use a reputable firm (Kuoni - they were top drawer, Audley are another very good firm). A key part of the Safari are the guides that drive you round, research noted there are not so good ones, another reason for using a reputable firm. We did Kenya as a multi stop. 2 days Nairobi, 3 days in Samburu and 3 days in Masai Mara. Our guides were fantastic and really made the experience out of this world.
Top tips: you will be up very early every day (before 6) also there are night drives, take a good camera, definitely wear the right clothing!. The main advice we were given was you will need a holiday afterwards - yep we were knackered, we hopped over to Zanzibar for a rest (4 days beach holiday).
Top tips: you will be up very early every day (before 6) also there are night drives, take a good camera, definitely wear the right clothing!. The main advice we were given was you will need a holiday afterwards - yep we were knackered, we hopped over to Zanzibar for a rest (4 days beach holiday).
Only just seen this thread.
Agree with all of the above and especially GreenBiker. I've been fortunate enough to have completed three, all with Kuoni - 6 days in Rwanda with the climax being sat with the mountain gorillas for an hour, 10 days in Tanzania and then 10 days in Kenya. I'd love to be able to go again but being retired I need to be a bit more careful with the cash these days!
My summary:
If you need any more details happy to help via message.
Agree with all of the above and especially GreenBiker. I've been fortunate enough to have completed three, all with Kuoni - 6 days in Rwanda with the climax being sat with the mountain gorillas for an hour, 10 days in Tanzania and then 10 days in Kenya. I'd love to be able to go again but being retired I need to be a bit more careful with the cash these days!
My summary:
- Pick a good company.
- Be prepared for some long days, some of which are on long and bumpy roads.
- It can be a bit hit and miss finding the animals you want to see. Some animals are very common but others, such as leopards, are more difficult to find. A good guide helps massively but that's a bit down to luck.
- You'll be sharing a small vehicle for hours with a handful of others, I've had some excellent company but travelled with one particular woman who was infuriating.
- Don't wear dark clothing, it attracts the mosquitos. Wear long sleeves and trousers.
- Take lots of good insect repellant and don't let your wife/partner use it when hers runs out.....
- Take some half decent camera gear if you're into that sort of thing - the longest lens I had was an 80-400mm zoom on a crop sensor body, which seemed long enough. You need to cover fairly close ranges too, a couple of bodies and a couple of lenses is good if you can manage it.
- It can be a bit tiring some days.
If you need any more details happy to help via message.
Great cruising territory, New Zealand, Ian. Pity you have to fly to get there, though! We did a fantastic Australia/NZ cruise, a few years back,pre-covid and loved it! We had a 2 night stopover in Singapore out and back, 3 nights in Auckland before the cruise and 3 in Sydney at the end, and didn't find the journey too troublesome. No, not Cunard; it was Celebrity,which was pretty good.