Africa: Suggestions for a safari experience on a Budget?

[Quickstatus]

Thanks @p—and—t
Will put this in the mix

 

[lovetravellingoz]

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

Prices are certainly sharp..

However reading the reviews makes me a tad suspicious as most of the more glowing ones as they read like a salesperson wrote them.

Reading what I think are the more genuine ones they do seem to use older vehicles that break down. So you may be trading off $$$ vs reliability.


I look forward to reading how you find them though as for that price if ok, will be one to keep in mind.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Thanks @p—and—t
Will put this in the mix

You could try

http://www.africaexpeditionsupport.com/

No idea what they will quote you. I used them for a self-drive trip from Nairobi to Vic Falls and was very happy.

However they do a lot of trips for students.

They are run by a couple who live in Kenya, and have done for many, many years but originally she came from Adelaide and he from Germany. They both worked on Expedition Trucks for years and then started their own company.

 

[p--and--t]

Prices are certainly sharp..

However reading the reviews makes me a tad suspicious as most of the more glowing ones as they read like a salesperson wrote them.

Reading what I think are the more genuine ones they do seem to use older vehicles that break down. So you may be trading off $$$ vs reliability.

I will be able to let the forum know from personal experience in a few weeks time when I have completed my 12 day trip with KWSS. My tour is all within Kenya so won't be using subcontractors that have been complained about in Tanzania.

I walked through the reviews in trip advisor for many of the operators and noted out of 247 reviews for KWSS that 204 were 5* and 20 were 4*. I usually ignore any reviews from a first time contributor (especially the 1* complainants). Several of the glowing reviews were written by 20-100 times contributors.

We are travelling to Africa after all and I note some travellers have unreal expectations of 1st world facilities and smooth flaw free tour execution in an 3rd world country.

 

[Quickstatus]

There is an amazing amount of choice. So hard to choose. I think in the end for the Uni Students they will just decide on a budget and choose one.

I think they have but the recent posts have made think some more.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

. My tour is all within Kenya .

Kenya I think overall is an excellent country to do a first time trip as overall the wildlife experience is very good.



Though if the road into Masai Mara has not be upgraded watch those corrugations

 

[p--and--t]

Kenya I think overall is an excellent country to do a first time trip as overall the wildlife experience is very good.
Though if the road into Masai Mara has not be upgraded watch those corrugations

Yes my round trip within Kenya is around 1800km in 12 days, expecting a numb behind regardless of vehicle or operator. Some of the back roads in Chile, Vietnam and Romania weren't that flash either Bit like parts of outback SA/NT LOL

Absolutely loved touring Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, am excited about visiting Kenya.

 

[Quickstatus]

Numb rump and cracked back?

 

[p--and--t]

Numb rump and cracked back?

Given the 1800km is just camp to camp and not including the twice daily game drives into the "bush" - I'm fairly sure there will be copious amounts of both.

Any good masseurs around

https://goo.gl/maps/CdnNw6cPdzu

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Actually I just had a look at the budget page on the company I mentioned before:

Adventure Budget Safari - Africa Expedition Support $950US for 8 days.

With your own small group I am sure you could get your own excellent budget tailored trip.

 

[jdoc]

try Makutsi Springs. I spent 6 nights there last year for around $1700. All inclusive, meals, airport transfers, game drives in reserve plus Kruger and Blyde River Canyon. It was excellent value.

 

[Flying mermaid]

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.

are you going to have time in Nairobi? It’s possible you could get into afternoon tea at the Giraffe manor? You would need to book as soon as your plans were definite and maybe just for your nuclear family, as I think numbers are restricted. Very long waiting lists in the high season, but November should be better. Otherwise a visit to the Giraffe Centre might be an alternate for the whole group.

Homepage - African Fund for Endangered Wildlife - Giraffe Centre

 

[Quickstatus]

Thanks but no other discretionary time really for the Uni students

 

[Kelstarama]

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?

Nguni Lodge is new, small and really nice - Victoria Falls. B&B rates are $65pp for a standard room and $80pp for a deluxe room. Those rates are USD.

 

[akmacca]

I can only back up what others have said here that it is possible to do "safari" on the cheap and still have a fantastic time. I flew into Joburg spent the night and then flew to Livingston, Zambia and Victoria Falls and then back to Joburg where I hired a small standard Toyota. I then drove to Kruger with one overnight stop along the way. Great scenery and no problems encountered along the way. As others have stated, I booked into three San Park rest areas within the park and found each one a unique experience. The restaurants and shops on site were not overpriced, and there is self-catering if required. I do suggest you book as soon as possible. I toured all over the park for four days in my little car going down dirt roads and to parking spots along the river. I loved it and saw the big six while in the park. My favourite time was leaving the park as soon as the gates opened to catch the early morning light and the animals preparing for their day. Not once did a small sedan hinder me. Soon after entering the park I came across a herd of elephants and shortly after that some giraffe. I was amazed and took multiple photos. By day four I didn't even bother slowing down to observe elephant, giraffe, gazelle etc. as I had seen so many. The trip from Joburg and back again was around AUD 630 not including petrol. I travelled alone. I really can't imagine a professional safari would be much better especially considering costs. The biggest plus to my mind was I could come and go as I pleased and travel wherever I wanted to in the park.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I can only back up what others have said here that it is possible to do "safari" on the cheap and still have a fantastic time. I flew into Joburg spent the night and then flew to Livingston, Zambia and Victoria Falls and then back to Joburg where I hired a small standard Toyota. I then drove to Kruger with one overnight stop along the way. Great scenery and no problems encountered along the way. As others have stated, I booked into three San Park rest areas within the park and found each one a unique experience. The restaurants and shops on site were not overpriced, and there is self-catering if required. I do suggest you book as soon as possible. I toured all over the park for four days in my little car going down dirt roads and to parking spots along the river. I loved it and saw the big six while in the park. My favourite time was leaving the park as soon as the gates opened to catch the early morning light and the animals preparing for their day. Not once did a small sedan hinder me. Soon after entering the park I came across a herd of elephants and shortly after that some giraffe. I was amazed and took multiple photos. By day four I didn't even bother slowing down to observe elephant, giraffe, gazelle etc. as I had seen so many. The trip from Joburg and back again was around AUD 630 not including petrol. I travelled alone. I really can't imagine a professional safari would be much better especially considering costs. The biggest plus to my mind was I could come and go as I pleased and travel wherever I wanted to in the park.

Yes agree.

But just so it is clear to others by "was leaving the park as soon as the gates opened" you meant leaving the Rest Camp.

For the information of others the Rest Camps are fenced so that the wildlife cannot enter. They are within the overall Kruger National Park and Kruger also has gates on its boundaries. The gates open and close at set times. See the times here: South African National Parks - SANParks - Official Website - Accommodation, Activities, Prices, Reservations

With the Rest Camps you need to be back by the set time each evening.

At night/evening some of the Rest Camps run vehicles that you can go can can out on for a small fee to spot animals.

 

[akmacca]

Yes agree.

But just so it is clear to others by "was leaving the park as soon as the gates opened" you meant leaving the Rest Camp.

For the information of others the Rest Camps are fenced so that the wildlife cannot enter. They are within the overall Kruger National Park and Kruger also has gates on its boundaries. The gates open and close at set times. See the times here: South African National Parks - SANParks - Official Website - Accommodation, Activities, Prices, Reservations

With the Rest Camps you need to be back by the set time each evening.

At night/evening some of the Rest Camps run vehicles that you can go can can out on for a small fee to spot animals.

 

[akmacca]

You are right my mistake I should have written leaving the rest camp. I was there in May and I think the gates closed at 1700 and opened at 0600. I stayed on the perimeter at each camp stay and it was a wondrous thing to watch the sun go down and listen to the animal noises both near and far. Even though the Rest Camps are fenced some critters still get into the Camp, especially monkeys hence the outdoor kitchens have locks on the pantries and refrigerators to stop the monkeys stealing your food.

 

[p--and--t]

Any suggestions for a safari experience for some poor university students

Budget $2000 AUD
1 week in Nov

FYI : I was on a QF to Hkg yesterday and coincidently there is an article on African safari countries in the August edition of the in flight magazine. Brief but informative. Fairly sure you can access online.

 

[Quickstatus]

FYI : I was on a QF to Hkg yesterday and coincidently there is an article on African safari countries in the August edition of the in flight magazine. Brief but informative. Fairly sure you can access online.

Yes I saw that unfortunately QF inflight only promotes luxury stuff and the Africa one is certain not budget.