Africa: Suggestions for a safari experience on a Budget?

[Flying mermaid]

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Master V in Devil's Pool (he's the one in the front!!!)

ooh - panic attack starting

 

[love_the_life]

Swimming in Devil's Pool wasn't even discussed when we were there - was not going to happen!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Swimming in Devil's Pool wasn't even discussed when we were there - was not going to happen!

I still can’t believe we did it, as we are not brave or athletic sort of people, but it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.

 

[JohnM]

My offering at post #25 here: JohnM's E Africa aerial safari

 

[JohnM]

Devil’s Pool was closed when I was there. The falls were cranking.

 

[Quickstatus]

Recommendations please for 1 night Acom Victoria Falls Zim side please @$70-100 pp twin share.

@JohnM Your link above reminded me that this is a TR thread. My apologies in advance to the moderators and @coyote25 for hijacking his thread into a Q&A and Trip Planning for Africa

If appropriate Maybe move my section from #104 and subsequent to a such a thread if there is one?

 

[JohnM]

I can’t make any specific recommendations for accommodation as I can’t recall where I stayed last time and cost, and I’m currently away from home. The one thing I would say is make sure to visit the Victoria Falls Hotel for a great taste of the colonial era. You can wander around the building and grounds freely. A coffee or a wine on the terrace is very pleasant.

The cafe restaurant just inside the entry to the falls is good - better than the usual run of such places.

A sunset cruise on the Zambezi is a must-do. There is a huge offering at all styles and price points.

 

[tgh]

In the 70's we dined like royalty at the Vic Falls hotel ; I was very much a simple colonial boy in those days and the splendor was quite wasted on me.

 

[Quickstatus]

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.

If I go to Africa I prefer to see animals who are “born free” and “live free”

 

[p--and--t]

For something "exhilarating" - on the Zambian side of Vic Falls there is a helicopter port with rides over the falls and down the lower twisting Valley.

At the same place they have a microlight with pilot (lawnmower with wings) - a fantastic flight over the falls over to Zimbabwe and then back up the river into the national park and swooping low over herds of various animals.

One of the major highlights of my six weeks in Southern Africa.

 

[Quickstatus]

For something "exhilarating" - on the Zambian side of Vic Falls there is a helicopter port with rides over the falls and down the lower twisting Valley.

At the same place they have a microlight with pilot (lawnmower with wings) - a fantastic flight over the falls over to Zimbabwe and then back up the river into the national park and swooping low over herds of various animals.

One of the major highlights of my six weeks in Southern Africa.

Thanks but I’m sure the budget won’t stretch to include that.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Thanks but I’m sure the budget won’t stretch to include that.

Yes I think a number of recent posts have more been about great experiences rather than budget experiences.


At not too many $$ I really enjoyed in Livingstone the Walking with Rhinos

Livingstone Rhino Walking Safaris – Enjoy a rare opportunity to experience the thrill of walking in the untamed Zambian bush with Livingstone Walking Safaris

We certainly got up close to some rhinos (see pic earlier in the thread), but it was also good to get to walk around as opposed to sit in a vehicle.

 

[Quickstatus]

That’s a nice one!!. Might be something for the group to do on one of their days off

 

[Quickstatus]

Ok after lots of to-ing and fro-ing, the Uni students have decided to do this safari:
Kenya Safari Experience
$3566 for 8 days (though as with all African Safaris the first and last days are travel days)

As soon as the decision was made I got on the phone quicker than you could drop a hot potato and managed to get one of the parents to get in quick and both of us snared frequent flyer seats with QF points for EK SYD-DXB-NBO, and QF JNB-SYD.The others will just have to buy revenue tickets.. I even managed to get the outbound leg in U (but return leg is X - hey Uni students travelling on a budget won’t mind)

The beauty of the FF tickets is that it can be changed with minor points fines.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Ok after lots of to-ing and fro-ing, the Uni students have decided to do this safari:
Kenya Safari Experience
$3566 for 8 days (though as with all African Safaris the first and last days are travel days)

.

Good choice for parks to visit. The Masai Mara and Amboseli National Parks will make an excellent combination and tick a lot of the boxes that one wants to experience in Africa.

Though Day 5: LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK/AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK will be a long, long, long drive!!!!



The Masai Mara is very good for spotting a broad range of animals. Probably one of Africa's best. You are virtually guaranteed to most of the animals that you want to. Hippos may take some chasing down though. The Masai Warriors are a bonus. The Serengeti Plains here provide the classic Africa vistas that many people associate with Africa.

Amboseli is a nice contrast. The animals are not likely to be as prolific (though the elephant spotting should be superior here due to the waterholes/lakes) but it has its own special vistas in 1/ Mt Kilimanjaro and 2/ If no recent rains the dried up lake beds that you can cross on the way in.

Amboseli
Crossing a dried up lake on the way into Amboseli. Complete with heat haze and willy willies.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Setting up our camp in the Masi Mara... the only thing between us an the big cats were the Masai Tribesman who patrolled the area. Unlike many of our other camps over the next month as we drove south to Victoria Falls there were no fences.

 

[JohnM]

I’ve been on Exodus and Intrepid tours with people who have been on gadventures tours. All report that they are a good operator in the same sort of mould.

Be prepared to be blown away if this is a first trip to Africa - and addicted to return. Africa is more addictive than heroi_...

 

[p--and--t]

Ok after lots of to-ing and fro-ing, the Uni students have decided to do this safari:
Kenya Safari Experience
$3566 for 8 days (though as with all African Safaris the first and last days are travel days)

As soon as the decision was made I got on the phone quicker than you could drop a hot potato and managed to get one of the parents to get in quick and both of us snared frequent flyer seats with QF points for EK SYD-DXB-NBO, and QF JNB-SYD.The others will just have to buy revenue tickets.. I even managed to get the outbound leg in U (but return leg is X - hey Uni students travelling on a budget won’t mind)

The beauty of the FF tickets is that it can be changed with minor points fines.

Very expensive - if you want an alternative 12 days for much less - DM me.

I'm in Kenya from next week myself and did quite a bit of research.

 

[Quickstatus]

Unfortunately the Uni students have a window of 8 days in which they can do a safari.

But thanks

 

[p--and--t]

Unfortunately the Uni students have a window of 8 days in which they can do a safari.

But thanks

8 days 8 Days: Tsavo | Amboseli | Masai Mara ~$1,700 plus flights