Need advice where should I go to achieve the best wildlife viewing and what month of the year?
I have been seaching the web and getting more confused as to where I should go for a great once in a lifetime african safari, for us it is all about the animals and the more we see the better the experience will be for us. I have read so much an am not finding any black and white answer as to whether I should go Serengeti and Knogorogoro Crater or should I go Masi Mara or will I see just as many animals elsewhere I am having trouble figuring out what is the best choice
Can anyone help me to make this decision where I would see the most wildlife please.
Reply to this Hi Aleda,
For the best time, it's quite easy, seems it's the big migration. You need to check the dates as they are changing all the time.
I did the Serengeti and Ngorongoro....get 2 blogs entries on them. And yes it was amazing. I did already another safari in South Africa, but Tanzania was way better.
You may also look at Botswana and Okavango delta...this is on my wishlist...and hopefully done very soon.
I've heard mix reports of Kenya. Seems the infrastructure may be a little better....if it's luxury you are looking, Kruger Park in South Africa and Botswana top the list.
Hope this help,
Peter
Reply to this Hi Peter
Thanks so much for your advice, I did look up Botswana and it seems like it is definately loved by all the fellow travellers, I am a little concerned about prices of the safari's I not willing to sell my house to go on a safari, so price is something that will also be a factor in my decision, we are average people that do not need luxury as a priority but at the same time do not want to rough it either so I guess we are looking for something middle of the road and would be happy with that, I have to say I do not like mosquitos and read that there is a better time of the year to travel when there is less mosquitos haven't figured out when that is yet?
It is definately going to take some work and would prefer to go with a tour company, not sure which one is good and a good value. Do you think we will see as many animals in Botswana as we would if we went to Tanzania?
Reply to this I would second the Ngorongoro Crater - a stunning place to view wildlife as the density is very high - I saw 4 of the "Big 5" in 90 minutes. The Serengeti is also supposed to be good and I've too heard excellent reports on the Okavango. The Masi Mara also receives very good reports.
I visited the Samburu NP in Kenya and really enjoyed it - less people but more elephants - and even sighted a leopard (the last of the "Big 5" I missed in Ngorongoro). Speaking to people who have been on safaris in Eastern Africa (Tanzania and Kenya) and Southern Africa, the Eastern African versions are rougher but more genuine - whereas the infrastructure is so strong in South Africa that it attracts too many tourists, and thus can detract to some degree.
I have never met anyone who has placed the South Africa safari experience above their Kenyan/Tanzanian counterparts.
Reply to this Hi Aleda,
Have a look at the web site of Serena hotels. They have camps all over the place. They are in the "middle" braket...not cheap, but a good value if you do not want to rough it too much.
I used them in Tanzania. The advantage is you cut one layer of "middle-man" as you will not have to use a travel agent.
Mosquitos and safari go together...quite often...and in a lot of places you need to take malaria pills. Now mosquitos are "nice" little creatures...because they always "eat" you around the same time of the day...so you know when to be careful.
Reply to this Hi there, I recommmend that you check out the annual wildebeest migration in maasai mara. During the months of June and October, over one million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra and gazelle migrate from Serengeti into Maasai mara. This is the largest concentration of wild game you will ever come across.
You will come across other wildlife while on travel to Kenya including the big five. For the best time of your Kenya safaris you must book a tours and travel company since they know the best places to spot the wild game
have fun
Reply to this If I go to the Maasai Mara during the annual wildebeest migration will I see all the other animals as well, because I would like to see all of the Big 5 as well, is this possible in the Mara. Also wondering about the camping safari's Are they hard to do? We are not that young anymore, like 55, get stiff when we sleep on the ground now. How rough is it to tent? It would seem to me that you would get such a closer to nature experience if you were in the tents in the middle of no where as opposed to the Lodges? Plus I also am finding he price is like 1/2 for a tenting safari versus lodges. I would not tackle this without going with a company as i am completely unfamiliar with Africa, I would like to fly into Johanasberg and then start my tour from there or somewhere that is easy to get to from there?
Any tour companies that are a good value and not too rough would be of great help.
Reply to this I have just read up on the wildebeest migration and although it is probably amazing, I am such an animal lover that it would be painful for me to watch these animals and all the hardship they have to endure on route, I could do it but it would leave me feeling sad, so I am thinking that maybe I should go to a area where there are a lot of different animals in large numbers, I enjoy just watching them in their natural habitat, don't need to see killings for excitement, if it happens, so be it ,I realize this is nature, but I don't want to go out looking for it.
Any suggestions for me now?
Reply to this If you go to the Parks for the wildebeest migration there are other animals as well, and to see a "live kill" at any time is uncommon, you have to be lucky (or unlucky) to see one.
The big 5 is possible in the Mara, but the leopard is the most elusive of them, they generally slink away from vehicles.
I did the lodge experience and it was fantastic - but it is not cheap. It is worth doing even if it just for 3-4 nights, and then roughing it for the rest. If you want to do the camping option, just check what is the standard of the tent lodgings - some are super-luxurious and charge a price that reflects this. The other end of the budget range will be tents with little in the way of amenities (or beds). There are options between the two, so just check what the standard of beds are in your tents and decide from there.
Reply to this Hi,
Don't think that a "tent" always means roughing it...it can be crazy what is put under the word "tent" these days.
Reply to this Some of the tent lodges that I've seen in pictures are just as luxurious as a five star hotel!
Reply to this Okay, spending hours online trying to figure this out, it seems like this is like going to cost me an arm and a leg to do this safari thing, what about the work overland it seems to be a lot cheaper what does it mean exactly, does it mean I have to pitch my tent every night and pee outside, or is there some overland trips that are not that much of a hardship for a holiday. I like the lodges but they seem extremely expensive, unless I am looking at the wrong ones.
Reply to this Astaffy, in July I'm leaving for Africa and I'm doing two safari tours.
The first is through Kenya and Tanzania - including; Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Navaisha, Hells Gate National Park, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Amboseli National Park, Arusha, Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam = total 3 weeks = $3000Australian dollars
My second is through South Africa (Kruger and Jo'burg), Botswana (including Chobe and Okvankago Delta), Zimbabwe (including Vic Falls) and Mozambique. = 3 weeks = $2500 Australian dollars.
I'm doing Overlanding for the majority of the way except lodge based accomodation whilst in Zanzibar for 3 nights. That also includes *most* food on those trips.
I come back in September and I'll definitely be able to compare these destinations for you in anyway you need since I will be visiting at the same time of year....
The reason I've chosen to Overland is because I simply could NEVER afford to lodge it for the period of time I want to go and considering my flights to Jo'burg are costing me AUD$2500 I want to go for a long enough time to see everything I want to see (the Big Five etc). And that's something I'd recommend to you even now before leaving - if it's a choice between spending 4 nights there (which is about how much one of my 3 week tours are costing) or 3 weeks - what would you prefer? Does all that extra time you could spend make it more worthwhile. Yes i'll have to pitch my tent every night, and do a bit of dishes here and there and maybe help cook once a week but that's all sacrifices I'm willing to make to get the best experience possible.
And remember - alot of the 'permanent tented camps' allow upgrades when they have don't have any reservations for about $10/20 US for the night which I plan to take advantage of whenever I'm given the opportunity; which you could do also - there's no guarantees but still worth a shot.
And last but not least, maybe its my age (i'm only 19) but from everything I've heard, you actually get a better experience overlanding - whether that's the group bonding, the more 'wild' experiences (one of my friend's awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of wildebeest outside her tent in Okavankgo and obviously didn't dare leave the tent :P) and FINALLY, greater success at finding the wildlife.
Reply to this Hi Astaffy,
For me i would advice you try Masai Mara between June- October for the best wildlife safari...i have been there several times and i always feel like going back there to see the migration. Masai Mara has also all kinds of accommodation available from budget to luxury so you can choose depending on your budget. I have learnt that the roads have been constructed hence less hectic but adventurers.
Teh accommodation can be anything btn $30 - 300 or more a night.
Reply to this Hi,
This is an interesting take on the concept. I came across this site recently which I think will be of great use about
. Check it out! Reply to this Thanks for all the input, I still am not sure what to do, it seems you either rough it or you pay an arm and a leg for a safari, being a person that likes everything in moderation why is it so hard to find something inbetween budget and luxury when I am looking for safari's. I don't like the ditch but I don't want the Hilton hotel either, any advice for the inbetween people would be so helpful.
Reply to this I've done further research on going to see the great migration in the Mara next year. I noticed that the cost of the lodge experience changes dramatically during peak season - for example June lodgings are only about half that of the July-August experience. The same applies to all camps in Kenya.
I've seen some small independent operators that offer safaris, but staying in more basic tented accommodation near the parks. These are the cheapest, and if you share with others it will reduce your costs further. These tours normally leave from Nairobi. There are some parks that are accessible from nearby, and thus all your need to pay for are the park fees, driver and car and then your choice of accommodation away from the park perimeter.
Reply to this Aleda,
Maybe the easier way os for you tell let us know what is your budget. "budget" or "luxury" can have very different meanings for different people. It's always more tricky if we don't speak of the same thing. What you need to have people know is how many of you are travelling, the time you have...and the daily busget.
Reply to this We were hoping to get a 2 week mid range safari, not budget, not luxury for around $2000/each Canadian.
We will be looking at close to the same for flights from Vancouver so it adds up fast to an expensive holiday.
We went to India 2 years ago for 6 weeks spend only $2500 for both and lived like kings and queens.
I have been told to just arrive there and get a room for a night and check out the travelplaces when you get there as the prices will be way better than booking over the net ahead of time.
Reply to this With your budget Astaffy you can live like kings and queens in Masai Mara. That a good mid budget that can cover your stay for two weeks all inclusive. With this you dont even have to have other poeple on safari you can be on your own with exlusive use of the vehicle. That a good budget to begin with!
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