Africa: Suggestions for a safari experience on a Budget?

[Quickstatus]

Good suggestion to move from rest camp to rest camp?
Groceries outlets avail in Kruger?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

4WD is not necessary. A small SUV may be better than a sedan because it is a little higher for viewing. Many roads are sealed. Unsealed roads are well-maintained.

We rented a Toyota Avanaza as it was higher than standard car but a lot cheaper than SUVs or 4WDs.

Suited us perfectly.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Good suggestion to move from rest camp to rest camp?

For 4 or more nights I would recommend staying at 2 camps.

Though you could just stay at Lower Sabie. If one just stayed there and it was your only African wildlife experience it should tick most boxes.

Buy staying at 2 different ones it also lessens the travel if you fly in and out of two different airports.

Groceries outlets avail in Kruger?

At the larger Rest Camps yes.

I did not look at the shop at Satara ( we just stopped for a toilet break and to buy a coffee), but we shopped in both Lower Sabie and Olifants when we stayed at both camps and both had quite adequate range of groceries including alcohol. Certainly ample to make meals including picnic lunches for each day. The stores are not large but have most things you would need.

Olifants had spectacular views, but the wildlife was not that prolific near it.

This is me enjoying beer at days end at Olifants from the porch of our bungalow which was very cheap for the price.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I read somewhere that driving off road is prohibited in Kruger.

One of the differences between the private and public game reserves is the ability to go off road. You can imagine what chaos it would be with the large numbers in public game reserves if they could go where they liked, as well as degradation of the bush.

They will see plenty from the roads.

It is a very different experience when you can go off road but you pay for it with much higher accommodation prices. We were once out at night following a pride of lions hunting (we were in an open vehicle). Mr FM kept saying there was something following us and I told him he was being silly. The pride came to a halt and our guide stopped as well and this huge lion walked past us to join the pride! He had clearly decided he would let the vehicle do the hard work of bush bashing and just followed.

 

[Milboo]

Isw it possible to fly from Kruger to Vic Falls?

We flew from Livingstone (so Zambia) to Nelspruit then transferred by road (maybe 2 hours to the reserve we stayed in bordering Kruger). From memory there was a direct flight to Hoelspruit too but timing didn’t work for us.

 

[Quickstatus]

Ok there is a daily direct from Nelspruit to Livingstone. From there should be no problem organising an escorted transfer across to Zim

 

[JohnM]

If the falls are in high flow, stay on the Zambia side. All you’ll see is spray on the Zim side. If low flow, stay on the Zim side as you’ll see next to nothing on the Zambian side.

There is accommodation within walking distance of the falls on both sides. On the Zim side, the town of Vic Falls is very close to the falls. Livingstone town is quite a lot further away.

 

[Quickstatus]

Thanks
I think as it’s in Nov, I’ll get them to fly direct from Nelspruit to LVI after Kruger safari then road transfer from Zam to Zim.
Will stay on the Zim side before Uni camp as it’s cheaper than Zam side.

About $40USD Zam-Zim transfer.

All coming together.
SYD-JNB
1 night JNB -emperor palace (the casino near JNB)
JNB-BDS (Boedspruit)
Kruger guided Safari 5 nights
MQP-LVI direct
Road Transfer to Victoria Falls
One night in VF
University research camp 2 weeks
VFA-CPT
3 nights in CPT (AirBnb)
CPT-JNB
JNB-SYD

Total cost circa $6000 - $6500AUD incl discretionary
University camp is charged to ATO (hecs)

 

[Flying mermaid]

Thanks
I think as it’s in Nov, I’ll get them to fly direct from Nelspruit to LVI after Kruger safari then road transfer from Zam to Zim.
Will stay on the Zim side before Uni camp as it’s cheaper than Zam side.

About $40USD Zam-Zim transfer.

All coming together.
SYD-JNB
1 night JNB -emperor palace (the casino near JNB)
JNB-BDS (Boedspruit)
Kruger guided Safari 5 nights
MQP-LVI direct
Road Transfer to Victoria Falls
One night in VF
University research camp 2 weeks
VFA-CPT
3 nights in CPT (AirBnb)
CPT-JNB
JNB-SYD

Total cost circa $6000 - $6500AUD incl discretionary
University camp is charged to ATO (hecs)

sounds great . You can book things for Cape Town like table mountain and Robben Island online before you go. Or even when you are there. Table Mountain is particularly worthwhile as there can be long queues. A queue to buy tickets and a queue to go up. Booking online avoids one queue.

Something else to avoid are the “con”servation activities. Lion walking, patting, elephant riding.

 

[Quickstatus]

Just spoke with a colleague at work.

He said to look up his safari travel agency.
I told him it’s for Poor Uni students. He said that Africa is a place where one “MUST ABSOLUTELY LUX IT”. The prices he and his partner paid was around $1000 USD per person per night

 

[Quickstatus]

sounds great . You can book things for Cape Town like table mountain and Robben Island online before you go. Or even when you are there. Table Mountain is particularly worthwhile as there can be long queues. A queue to buy tickets and a queue to go up. Booking online avoids one queue.

Something else to avoid are the “con”servation activities. Lion walking, patting, elephant riding.

Thanks.
Now they want to do Devils Pool at the VF. Quite scary IMO

I heard that Robben has some Penguins that aren’t afraid of human and are quite happy swimming with them.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Just spoke with a colleague at work.

He said to look up his safari travel agency.
I told him it’s for Poor Uni students. He said that Africa is a place where one “MUST ABSOLUTELY LUX IT”.

I 100% disagree.

You can have a fabulous experience either way.

Also with the drive yourself options one is not limited to the fixed times for game drives that the luxury camps offer which I personally found quite irritating that one had to spend a lot of the day just chillin at the game lodge.

In addition when driving your own vehicle (whether say a car in Kruger or your own 4WD in places like Amboseli National Park or Maasai Mara National Reserve ) you can follow your own particular interests for game spotting and do not have to just go with what the driver and fellow passengers want. This is not just viewing game but also the scenery you view etc.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Just spoke with a colleague at work.

He said to look up his safari travel agency.
I told him it’s for Poor Uni students. He said that Africa is a place where one “MUST ABSOLUTELY LUX IT”. The prices he and his partner paid was around $1000 USD per person per night

And we pay double that at some places .

No you don’t have to lux it, although if you can afford it, you can have some amazing and intense experiences. And the food!

However what you are planning to do will be fabulous and don’t let anyone put you off.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

s. Lion walking,

Not sure what you mean by this. If you mean with tame lions I agree.

However walking tours with a knowledgeable and armed guide I found to be fabulous. Firstly there is no engine noise. Secondly for birdspotting I found it to be generally way better than in a vehicle.

Being on a walking tour near Victoria Falls and getting within 10m of a Rhino with 18 month old calf was an amazing experience and something that would be too dangerous to do without a good quide.

 

[Quickstatus]

Not put off at all. Lux or budget it should be a good trip

 

[Flying mermaid]

Thanks.
Now they want to do Devils Pool at the VF. Quite scary IMO

I heard that Robben has some Penguins that aren’t afraid of human and are quite happy swimming with them.

you absolutely have to do Devils Pool! We did Angels pool as the water was so deep and fast Devils was closed. That was scary enough! However I would think at the time you are going to be there the water will be right down so it will be a lot less scary. The current was so strong we really felt we could be pulled over the edge and clung onto the ropes and weren’t brave enough to go right to the edge, but then we are pretty wimpy.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Not sure what you mean by this. If you mean with tame lions I agree.

However walking tours with a knowledgeable and armed guide I found to be fabulous. Firstly there is no engine noise. Secondly for birdspotting I found it to be generally way better than in a vehicle.

Being on a walking tour near Victoria Falls and getting within 10m of a Rhino with 18 month old calf was an amazing experience and something that would be too dangerous to do without a good quide.

Yes we have done a number of walks with our guide and have always loved them and found them very informative and different.

Lion walking with tame lions is quite prevalent these days - particularly Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is billed as part of the conservation program and is known by those against it as “con”servation. Cub patting is totally pernicious and most of them end up in canned hunting. Elephant riding I would hope needs little explanation. We did Elephant riding at Camp Jabulani which is connected to Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. They had a herd of trained elephants they had rescued from Zimbabwe. I wasn’t totally comfortable with it even though I trusted how they looked after the elephants and was very happy to see they have now stopped riding as being unethical.

 

[Quickstatus]

you absolutely have to do Devils Pool!

Nope not me I will defer to the Uni Students

 

[Flying mermaid]

In addition when driving your own vehicle (whether say a car in Kruger or your own 4WD in places like Amboseli National Park or Maasai Mara National Reserve ) you can follow your own particular interests for game spotting and do not have to just go with what the driver and fellow passengers want. This is not just viewing game but also the scenery you view etc.

this is why we often pay extra to get a private vehicle. Having been on numerous trips now the last thing you want to do is be stuck with first timers who are in raptures over a zebra.

I have found the guides incredibly generous with their time. Once in Botswana we left at 5:30 am and then ended up travelling right to the other end of the property (about an hours drive), because our guide knew we wanted to see some leopard and there was a sighting, we spent hours just watching a mother and her son and daughter all in different spots with a kill up in the tree. I can just watch them forever! Then we did a whole lot of other stuff and got back at 2pm. They said they were ready to send out a search party .

I found the guides really love the animals and if they find you do too, as opposed to just wanting to tick them off a list, then they spend hours longer with you. We have often missed meals just to spend longer out. Ooh now I really am suffering withdrawal symptoms - 7 weeks to go!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Nope not me I will defer to the Uni Students

Well if you ever get the opportunity- don’t hesitate!

Binoculars- really good to take if you have any.