What’s a good price for a Safari??

mcquaim

Hi there,

Myself and the girlfriend have been thinking of doing a safari for several years now but this year we’re strongly looking into it...

I’ve been searching the net for over a week now and I’m starting to go around in circles..

I think we have settled on a Kenya safari as they seem to suggest it’s the best location but the price seems to vary a lot..

The options in all the choices vary a lot and thus why the price does but some very similar packages also seem to vary a lot.

We got quoted €2831 each with Tropical Sky for 7 nights leaving in September this year. It’s full board and staying in hotels/lodges and includes flights from Dublin.

Is this good value or not would anyone reckon?

Also, anyone have thoughts on better places to look for a safari or maybe even if Kenya isn’t the best location?

Thanks in advance,
Mac

JackieChang

€2831 each is pretty steep. Which parks does it include?

There are only three countries in Africa when it comes to proper "Discovery channel style" safaris. That's Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. So don't worry about your choice of country.

I've been on a few safaris in East Africa including the Masai Mara in Kenya. I paid about €300 yoyo for a 3 day safari. Arrive in the afternoon, go for a game drive. Stay in the lodge. Wake up the next day at the crack of dawn, game drive all day, stay in the lodge. Then a morning game drive and then leave the park around midday I think. All food and board included. Obviously I bought my own flights to Kenya!

Charles Babbage

In Kruger Park in South Africa you can drive yourself and book the park accommodation, so you can build whatever you want. South Africa offers other holiday attractions, I really enjoyed it.

JackieChang

Charles Babbage wrote: »

In Kruger Park in South Africa you can drive yourself and book the park accommodation, so you can build whatever you want.

Does a guide come with you on the drive?

Arthur Daley

No you drive your own car in Kruger. But once there you can probably also book individual game drives/a night drive, from private operators, or even the Kruger park itself.

You will only see a fraction on your own. A good experienced safari guide will find you all sorts of stuff we wouldn't see. Our eyes are not trained to the environment. Those guys live that environment every day.

JackieChang

That's what I was thinking. OP would probably waste their money driving around a game park by themselves. Better spend money on something that includes a guide. They have radio contact with other guides so when somebody spots one of the "big five" they tell their mates where it is. Even if there's no radio contact, they can spot things like vultures circling a mile away.

Charles Babbage

Arthur Daley wrote: »

No you drive your own car in Kruger. But once there you can probably also book individual game drives/a night drive, from private operators, or even the Kruger park itself.

You will only see a fraction on your own. A good experienced safari guide will find you all sorts of stuff we wouldn't see. Our eyes are not trained to the environment. Those guys live that environment every day.

There is no doubt a guide will see more. But if you have never been you will still see lots yourself, anyone can see a giraffe, zebra or hippo. Then perhaps a specialised tour or guide on some days. It depends if you are in a hurry to tick boxes.

mcquaim

JackieChang wrote: »

€2831 each is pretty steep. Which parks does it include?

There are only three countries in Africa when it comes to proper "Discovery channel style" safaris. That's Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. So don't worry about your choice of country.

I've been on a few safaris in East Africa including the Masai Mara in Kenya. I paid about €300 yoyo for a 3 day safari. Arrive in the afternoon, go for a game drive. Stay in the lodge. Wake up the next day at the crack of dawn, game drive all day, stay in the lodge. Then a morning game drive and then leave the park around midday I think. All food and board included. Obviously I bought my own flights to Kenya!

Hi folks,

Only seeing the replies now, thanks for the info... God, €300 seems mental cheap for 3 nights full board and safari trips each day seems crazy cheap. I haven’t been able to find anything remotely that cheap unless I’m willing to stay in a hovel of a tent...

Where did you book that safari trip for that price?

This is the Safari they are charging that for:

https://www.tropicalsky.ie/africa-holidays/kenya/magical-kenya-4x4-safari-safari

scooby77

JackieChang wrote: »

There are only three countries in Africa when it comes to proper "Discovery channel style" safaris. That's Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

I'd add Namibia (Etosha) to that list! Just back from 10 day self drive there having done guided Masai Mara/ lake nakuru and self drive Kruger previously. In process finishing a detailed trip report for TripAdvisor so won't repeat here but suffice to say it exceeded expectations! It's subjective of course but it was our favourite. I'd recommend there OP unless hung up on seeing crocs and hippos! (Many do Botswana with Namibia for that- not our cup of tea!)
Self drive Kruger or Etosha is not difficult. Though you might be tight booking accomodation in/ near either for September at this stage. (Money saving tip I learned for Namibia while there, I'll use next time -eurowings do cheap flights to Windhoek from Munich and Cologne)

JackieChang

mcquaim wrote: »

Hi folks,

Only seeing the replies now, thanks for the info... God, €300 seems mental cheap for 3 nights full board and safari trips each day seems crazy cheap. I haven’t been able to find anything remotely that cheap unless I’m willing to stay in a hovel of a tent...

Where did you book that safari trip for that price?

This is the Safari they are charging that for:

https://www.tropicalsky.ie/africa-holidays/kenya/magical-kenya-4x4-safari-safari

I booked it when I arrived, through my hostel.

I had a look at your safari package. It looks like you're after a more luxury holiday. All the hotels in that itinerary are fairly top notch. The one I did was camping, although the tent was decent. Canvas. Could stand up inside etc. So if you're into a luxury "honeymoon style" Safari then I'd pay the extra money.

coylemj

JackieChang wrote: »

I had a look at your safari package. It looks like you're after a more luxury holiday. All the hotels in that itinerary are fairly top notch. The one I did was camping, although the tent was decent. Canvas. Could stand up inside etc. So if you're into a luxury "honeymoon style" Safari then I'd pay the extra money.

+1 OP, big factors in determining the cost of the safari will be the quality of the accommodation and the time you have with a guide. The size of the party you are in will also be a factor as the cost of the guide will be spread across the number of people travelling together.

You can rent small huts in Kruger where the facilities are very basic, a hut that sleeps 3 or 4, access to a shared kitchen/BBQ and you and your car are locked into a compound for the night.

whomitconcerns

mcquaim wrote: »

Hi there,

Myself and the girlfriend have been thinking of doing a safari for several years now but this year we’re strongly looking into it...

I’ve been searching the net for over a week now and I’m starting to go around in circles..

I think we have settled on a Kenya safari as they seem to suggest it’s the best location but the price seems to vary a lot..

The options in all the choices vary a lot and thus why the price does but some very similar packages also seem to vary a lot.

We got quoted €2831 each with Tropical Sky for 7 nights leaving in September this year. It’s full board and staying in hotels/lodges and includes flights from Dublin.

Is this good value or not would anyone reckon?

Also, anyone have thoughts on better places to look for a safari or maybe even if Kenya isn’t the best location?

Thanks in advance,
Mac

at least 24hrs and 1500km of driving in 7 days.not including the driving around the reserves!....there has to be better options for that money...