My advice would be to choose an ethical company, and you can find a free guide on ethical volunteering at http://www.ethicalvolunteering.org/.
If your looking for an amazing African adventure travelling from Swaziland to Zambia through five diverse and spectacular countries take a look at http://www.questoverseas.com/summer_explorers/southern_africa_explorer.html.
The expedition includes a 4day trek in Swaziland, PADI open water or advanced scuba dive course in Mozambique (in the middle of humpback whale season), adrenaline activities in Sabie South Africa, visiting the largest salt flats in Africa and sleeping under the stars in Botswana, three amazing safaris one to the Okavango Delta another by 4x4's through Moremi and Savuti game parks and the last by boat along the banks of the Chobe river. The trip finishes by bungy jumping or micro-lighting over Victoria Falls in Zambia!
Reply to this I have booked a backpacking safari from a company called Adventure Travel Africa. Has anyone heard of them. They are in Pretoria South Africa. How would I find out about them.
Reply to this We had a great safari in Tanzania with Base Camp Tanzania. It's a small business with a great owner who will work with you and reasonable prices. We used Tusker Trails for our Kili trek - very expensive but very serious about safety. After seeing Zara on the mountain, we were glad we paid the extra money.
Reply to this Hi,
I see that quite a few people have replied to this already but I thought I would stick my two cense in.
I used an overland company called Oasis - www.oasisoverland.co.uk/truck_expeditions/africa/grand_adventurer/
I've used them in the past and as a result I'm using them again next year, Nairobi to Cape Town. Follow the link above. The above trip also includes Uganda (I have to see the gorilla's) but there is a cheaper trip that just covers Nairobi to Cape Town.
Oasis are great, they know their stuff and you get a lot of 'bang for you buck' Its a great way to see the dark continent.
Reply to this I am considering a self made tour made up of two different organized tours. I want to travel from Cape Town to Nairobi. Drifters is the company my travel agent suggested. The first tour starts in Cape Town and goes to Jo'Burg. I'll get off the tour at Vic Falls, and pick up another tour heading north to Nairobi. There are a lot of tour companies, and while I am sure many are good, many are not good. How do you know which companies are reputable?
Reply to this I have just returned from an incredible 3 weeks in South Africa, and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. It was wonderful and I have much to say about the area and the companies I worked with. First let me say that Vic. Falls, Zimbabwe was wonderful and not to pay much attention to the bad things you hear about the country. Very wonderful people but very hungry, locals go through trash from hotels to get enough food to take to family. Very sad, but they are very happy and want USDollars more than Euros.
Spent time in the Kruger, a big Zoo, like the San Diego Wildlife park. I'm sure that there is more to do and see than did and saw, but the tours you get in the open vehicle are good to get you adjusted to wildlife, but by the 2nd 3rd day quite boring. No time to observe. The private game reserves and lodges there are the thing to do off the get go, and going to Kruger tour is for a day trip. Thornybush was great, and Timbavati was equally great. Saw the big five so close at both reserves, much better viewing than any drive or walks in Kruger.
The Marc's treehouse camp near Kruger is good on the price but so not worth more than 2 or 3 nights. Their package is from Viva Safari, but only a few other travel agents sell the package. They are not what I would consider treehouses anyway except 2. Spend your money on a lodge called Nayala River lodge, or Monwana Lodge. I saw more animals at these to game reserves and learned more about all aspects of the bush than from anyone else I stayed with, and I was a a few.
Have lots more to tell, you anyone is interested. zjanez
Reply to this hello friends! As we all know that Africa is one of the best place for any trip I can tell you some of the good places of Africa, like sland of Mozambique, Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region, Simien National Park, Memphis and its Necropolis - the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur, Selous Game Reserve, Serengeti National Park, Kilimanjaro, ational Park, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna, Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis.
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