I'm planning a safari for 2012, and when i looked online there are an overwhelming amount of safari companies available.. i picked up a few that were recommended to me by people who's previously traveled there.. do you guys have any advice?
1) zara tours
2) tanzania adventures
3) safari infinity
4) roy safari
i want to avoid big tour companies, and mainly interested in companies that are giving back to the community... but i guess that's hard to find?
Reply to this Hello Emma and welcome to Travelblog!
I went with Porini Camps in Kenya. They are small camps (no more than 10 tents) with highly personalised and exclusive service. However, they are expensive, but with safaris in Africa, you do get what you pay for. It is worth spending the extra money to get a less crowded experience with long game drives in vehicles specially designed for wildlife viewing. I've completed safaris in a variety of price ranges, and in my opinion, doubling the cost you pay usually (but not always) result in a significantly better experience.
Be aware that for anyone posting a reply here, do not drops url links, addresses or telephone numbers on this thread - they will be deleted.
[Edited: 2011 Oct 15 21:30 - The Travel Camel:11053 ]
Reply to this Hi Shane!
Thanks for the tips - I checked out Porini Camps' website - but I think I want to book a tour that's based in Tanzania - or do you think it doesn't really make a difference?
And you said you've done many safaris before? in your opinion, what's the best dates range for a safari - I'm interested in wildlife & the scenery in Ngorongoro, but not necessarily an expert of any kind. I've heard that more than 5 days can seem kind of redundant though..
Thanks!
Reply to this 5 days is perhaps too much for Ngorongoro, the area inside the crater is not that large, but it is still extremely beautiful, so even if you don't see many animals, at least the scenery doesn't disappoint.
I would strongly recommend combining a trip here with one to the Serengeti, and you'll need a few days there to fully appreciate that massive area. My suggestion would be two nights in Ngorongoro and three/four nights in Serengeti. The sheer number of animals in the Serengeti is stunning. I've been to the Mara across the border in Kenya (it is the same park, but just changes name in the different countries) and it is an astonishing place.
Maybe you should check the Serena Lodges, they have one of the best lodges in Ngorongoro and they also have a property in the Serengeti. I've stayed at their Lodge in Mt Kenya and really enjoyed it. I note that Serena offer a safari pack on their website combining Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (1 night in Manyara, and 2 night in each of the rest). The biggest minus with Serena is that they have fairly limited time in term of game drives.
Also, Gamewatchers Safaris (Porini) do offer a Ngorongoro and Serengeti package, but don't think their Ngorongoro accommodation has the great views that the Serena choice has.
The big question to ask you is what time of year will go? This will strongly influence your decision of where is best.
Reply to this In response to: Msg #145235
Hi. We bid on and won an auction item for Zulu Nyala - on the SE coast (Elephant Coast) of Africa in 2009. What a BLAST! It's a fabulous company, and they donate these trips to charities who then auction them off. The charities pay a very small token amount to Zulu, then keep the remainder, so it's for lots of good causes. All the other travelers had purchased their trips at auctions too. They have lovely accommodations and amazing food. They drive you around their massive grounds in Land Rovers - with everything to see except cats. Nearby in Umfalozi (sp) you can go look for cats. We highly recommend Zulu Nyala!
Reply to this You should check out <snip>. I went with the NorthStar Explorers Group for my Kilimanjaro climb and Safari. Prices were good and they were very helpful about the whole trip. Not sure how long of a safari you are looking to do but I know the company I went through does 1-6 day ones, maybe longer. I did their 5 day and it was great, we went on a game drive throughout the Serengeti, visited the Ngoronjoro Crater, and did another game drive in Tarangire. Have a fun trip!
[Edited: 2013 Feb 18 06:04 - Rat on the Road:23681 - URL removed]
Reply to this Package Tours is a best safari company , located in South Africa.
Reply to this Lots of safari companies which provide tour packages in africa.You can select any from them with the help of google.Some of them are-
1-Letsgosafari
2-keniatour
3-karisia
4-Africanjacana
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