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African safari
wicket - 13/5/07 at 05:05 PM

Does anybody have recommendations for travel company, which area, time of year, how long to go for etc

[Edited on 13/5/07 by wicket]


Fatgadget - 13/5/07 at 05:29 PM

For a moment I thought you was announcing the revival of the East African Safari rally!


Phil Bradley - 13/5/07 at 05:34 PM

Hey Wicket

It all depends on what you want to do and exactly where you want to go.
In South Africa, we are moving into Winter now. That means Cold (Avg. 6 - 25 degrees C) and dry in the Highveld (Johannesburg, Pretoria through to the Kruger Park) and wet and cold in the western cape (Cape Town etc.).
If you are interested in South Africa, check out www.wheretostay.co.za that will give you a pretty good idea of where to start. It's a beautiful country with loads to offer. It's also dead cheap for chaps with the exchnge rate

Cheers,
Phil


martyn_16v - 13/5/07 at 05:36 PM

Botswana is really good, up North around Maun is a fantastic place, also some smallish reserves near Gaborone (Mokolodi is good) and from there you can pop over the border into SA.

Zimbabwe is a stunning place, but I wouldn't want to go there right now. If you're in the area it's definitely worth having a gander at Victoria Falls and Lake Kariba from the Zambian side


Guinness - 13/5/07 at 06:50 PM

I've been to South Africa a few times now.

Been to the Kruger National Park on two of the trips. The first time we just drove in, in our hire car, and drove about. Saw loads of Impala / Kudu but not much else.

Second time we went with a Guide. He was amazing! He could spot things we'd never see. Don't know how he did it, but we saw nearly everything, Crocs, Elephants, Hippos, Giraffe, Zebra etc etc.

So my advice is, if you are going all that way, spend a little extra on a really good guide and you'll get so much more back from it.

Cheers

Mike


Horse with Long Neck
Horse with Long Neck


[Edited on 13/5/07 by Guinness]


Simon - 13/5/07 at 07:33 PM

When we lived in Langata (1974), just outside Nairobi, we drove (with some friends in a couple of Landcruisers) crosscountry to the Ngoro Goro (sp) crater in Tanzania.

One of my fathers former clients used to run a Safari business from Nairobi, but don't know if it's still going.

IIRC it was called Mat(t)hews Safaris, and his name was Terry. He's also a sculptor, and a good one at that.

ATB

Simon


Ivan - 13/5/07 at 08:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Guinness

Second time we went with a Guide. He was amazing! He could spot things we'd never see. Don't know how he did it,

[Edited on 13/5/07 by Guinness]


Having grown up in the bush (got my first rifle for my 5th birthday) you develop a knack of spotting game - basically don't focus, just scan for straight lines (legs , backs and bellies) or movement, ears are the big giveaway. Another giveaway is a solid mass.


Donners90 - 13/5/07 at 09:14 PM

http://www.kumuka.com/African-Adventures.aspx

This company is good if you're on a budget. They do overland tours but it's camping (in secure camp sites) instead of hotels/lodges!

I did the Victoria Falls to Jo'burg tour. As part of the tour we did a game drive, game cruise and canoe ride and rough camp all included in the price (around £300).

Don't forget to factor in the cost of the flights getting there!


russbost - 13/5/07 at 09:34 PM

went with Bales Tours in November, just towards start of rainy season but still good weather and animals migrating - fantastic experience, highly recommended, take a good camera!


chriscook - 13/5/07 at 10:14 PM

I did a 4week trip from Nairobi-Vic falls withe Guerba about 9 years ago - it was fantastic.


martyn_16v - 14/5/07 at 08:48 AM

quote:
Originally posted by russbost
take a good camera!


Oh yes, and a long lens. You really don't want to come back with a load of photos of trees and have to point out to people that the speck in the middle is yet another impala