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African Safari

  • 05-03-2010 2:12pm
    #1
    Ger555
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 ✭


    Hey all,

    I'm currently trying to organise a safari holiday in Africa for myself and my mate. I'm trying to book everything myself and hence avoid the travel agency to keep things on the cheap! Has anyone any advice as to where to go in Africa, where to stay, who to fly with, etc?? We're trying to keep this holiday on a tight (low) budget!

    Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    shanagarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 599 ✭✭✭shanagarry


    If you are interested in South Africa, check out www.sanparks.org.za for national park accommodation. It's way, way cheaper than the private lodges - just hire a car and drive yourself around.


  • #3
    AARRRRGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 566 ✭✭✭AARRRRGH


    Dont hire a car and drive yourself. Some of the roads you will be on would open up and swallow a car. Trucks or 4x4s with local drivers is the only way to go.

    Try this site http://kumuka.ie/African-Adventures.aspx

    BA from London to Nairobi is a good start.


  • #4
    cfitz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,691 ✭✭✭cfitz


    I was in Kgalagadi National Park, South Africa in October, stayed in our own little tent for 5 nights cost something like 216 EUR in total for the 2 of us. Brought in a 1.4 litre rental car so that wasn't very expensive to hire. You can get a luxury return bus from Jo'burg to Upington for about 70 EUR each.

    Saw lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, giraffes, snakes, ostriches...

    A 4x4 would probably be better for seeing the wildlife though, and probably less likely to get damaged.


  • #5
    shanagarry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 599 ✭✭✭shanagarry


    AARRRRGH wrote: »
    Dont hire a car and drive yourself. Some of the roads you will be on would open up and swallow a car. Trucks or 4x4s with local drivers is the only way to go.

    It depends on the country. That is NOT true for South Africa, where the roads within the parks are a mixture of tar and good dirt roads, where a normal car is perfectly adequate.


  • #6
    AARRRRGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 566 ✭✭✭AARRRRGH


    shanagarry wrote: »
    It depends on the country. That is NOT true for South Africa, where the roads within the parks are a mixture of tar and good dirt roads, where a normal car is perfectly adequate.

    If the OP wants to see the romantic image of Africa then I would not advise them to go to South Africa.
    The parks in SA such as kruger dont have a patch on the likes of Masai Mara or Serengeti.


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  • #7
    cfitz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,691 ✭✭✭cfitz


    AARRRRGH wrote: »
    If the OP wants to see the romantic image of Africa then I would not advise them to go to South Africa.
    The parks in SA such as kruger dont have a patch on the likes of Masai Mara or Serengeti.

    It sounds like you've been to a lot of parks. I'm looking for a safari park with minimal human intervention and lots of big cats especially cheetahs. The only one I've been to is Kgalagadi - it had some chalets and campsites, dirt roads and some boreholes to ensure a more steady supply of water for the animals at the traditional watering holes. But from the research I did, it seems to be considered a relative wilderness in today's world. At the moment I am looking into parks in Zimbabwe and Botswana that might provide a more wild experience. So, from a human intervention point of view, how would you rate Masai Mara and the Serengeti? And what other parks would you recommend for those who like to see wildlife in truly wild places?


  • #8
    AARRRRGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 566 ✭✭✭AARRRRGH


    cfitz wrote: »
    It sounds like you've been to a lot of parks. I'm looking for a safari park with minimal human intervention and lots of big cats especially cheetahs. The only one I've been to is Kgalagadi - it had some chalets and campsites, dirt roads and some boreholes to ensure a more steady supply of water for the animals at the traditional watering holes. But from the research I did, it seems to be considered a relative wilderness in today's world. At the moment I am looking into parks in Zimbabwe and Botswana that might provide a more wild experience. So, from a human intervention point of view, how would you rate Masai Mara and the Serengeti? And what other parks would you recommend for those who like to see wildlife in truly wild places?

    I would say Masai Mara should fit the bill. Time it by going for the Migration if you can too. Its spectacular. Camp instead of lodges - there is nothing like being woken by the roar of a lion or zebra munching the grass beside your tent.
    Im afraid though that whereever you go you will see other tourists in 4x4s. Masai Mara and the Serengeti are not as popular as they used to be because of the trouble in Kenya a few years ago. Take advantage of that.


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