First Time on Safari to Africa Questions

In message .com
"Joel" wrote:

Thanks for the tip about driver/guide vehicle at your disposal. I
assumed that on a private safari this is what you are paying for.
It's best to get it specified, and this is the standard phraseology.
You are really paying for 'private', i.e. vehicle to yourself.
Even with 'driver and vehicle at your disposal', you still won't be able to
do big 'detours'.


For the migration, How does one find that out? Do you rely on historical
patterns? I thought the timing was unpredictable and could only be
generalized.
I have a chart somewhere, I'll try to find it.
It can vary by about 2 weeks, but it pretty consistent.
In July, you want to be at Keekorok lodge, in August, Serena.
I'm not sure about September ATM.

Slainte

Liz


--
Virtual Liz now at http://www.v-liz.com
Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"

I hear what you saying Liz, and I am trying to figure this out but
things just don't add up! Neither can I, for I made another calculation
mistake.

2Afrika charge $1790 for the 5 day safari. Their outfitter (Predators)
charge $1160. It is the exact same trip - with a $630 per person
surcharge!

Since 2Afrika came highly recommended on this thread I wanted to know
what make them so good. Whatever they offer extra must be worth $630 X
2 = $1260 for my wife and I!

If our Landrover breaks down in the Serengeti, 2Afrika is not around to
help. Predators will fix it regardless of whether I booked locally or
from overseas since we will probably share our Predators game drive
with others who booked via other companies. While budget, Predators is
an established company with a good reputation.

I will fly directly to Tanzania via KLM using a reputable travel agent.
The chances of us paying extra for fuel or whatever are indeed remote.
And I save 2 days travel time. My trip insurance (using a solid
company) with cancellation, luggage loss, even accidental death is only
$75 per person.

My point is that I disagree with the 2Afrika recommendation.

Which UK company do you use? Who is their local outfitter? It will be
interesting to figure out how much profit (if any) they add to each of
your trips!

I hear what you saying Liz, and I am trying to figure this out but
things just don't add up! Neither can I, for I made another calculation
mistake.

2Afrika charge $1790 for the 5 day safari. Their outfitter (Predators)
charge $1160. It is the exact same trip - with a $630 per person
surcharge!

Since 2Afrika came highly recommended on this thread I wanted to know
what make them so good. Whatever they offer extra must be worth $630 X
2 = $1260 for my wife and I!

If our Landrover breaks down in the Serengeti, 2Afrika is not around to
help. Predators will fix it regardless of whether I booked locally or
from overseas since we will probably share our Predators game drive
with others who booked via other companies. While budget, Predators is
an established company with a good reputation.

I will fly directly to Tanzania via KLM using a reputable travel agent.
The chances of us paying extra for fuel or whatever are indeed remote.
And I save 2 days travel time. My trip insurance (using a solid
company) with cancellation, luggage loss, even accidental death is only
$75 per person.

My point is that I disagree with the 2Afrika recommendation.

Which UK company do you use? Who is their local outfitter? It will be
interesting to figure out how much profit (if any) they add to each of
your trips!

Any travel from the US is going to be almost 2 days worth. I live in
the Midwest (think Chicago) and a typical KLM route which I just
checked on their website goes as follows:

Day 1 overnight flight to Europe (AMS)
Day 2 morning flight from Europe arrive evening in Nairobi due to time
change

There is no way around this. It's a 2 day exhausting trip from the US.

I also looked on their web site as well. I'm no expert obviously since
I'm doing research now but their rates include airfare from NYC. Check
the 9 day Rules of the Wild Safari. Granted it's only 5 nights but the
land only fee is $1145 per person + 195 tax. That's $268.00 per person
per night staying in Serena lodges which I understand are fairly good
accomodations. Airfare from the US is very expensive using standard
carriers published fares. Go on Orbitz and see that a flight from the
East Coast NY, BOS will cost about $1900 during high season. Granted
using consolidators can bring this down but I don't see how it can be
less than $1200.

Liz's tour operators that she uses can be found here
http://www.v-liz.com/safari/hints/tiphom.htm

--Joel
wrote:
I hear what you saying Liz, and I am trying to figure this out but
things just don't add up! Neither can I, for I made another
calculation
mistake.

2Afrika charge $1790 for the 5 day safari. Their outfitter
(Predators)
charge $1160. It is the exact same trip - with a $630 per person
surcharge!

Since 2Afrika came highly recommended on this thread I wanted to know
what make them so good. Whatever they offer extra must be worth $630
X
2 = $1260 for my wife and I!

If our Landrover breaks down in the Serengeti, 2Afrika is not around
to
help. Predators will fix it regardless of whether I booked locally or
from overseas since we will probably share our Predators game drive
with others who booked via other companies. While budget, Predators
is
an established company with a good reputation.

I will fly directly to Tanzania via KLM using a reputable travel
agent.
The chances of us paying extra for fuel or whatever are indeed
remote.
And I save 2 days travel time. My trip insurance (using a solid
company) with cancellation, luggage loss, even accidental death is
only
$75 per person.

My point is that I disagree with the 2Afrika recommendation.

Which UK company do you use? Who is their local outfitter? It will be
interesting to figure out how much profit (if any) they add to each
of
your trips!

Any travel from the US is going to be almost 2 days worth. I live in
the Midwest (think Chicago) and a typical KLM route which I just
checked on their website goes as follows:

Day 1 overnight flight to Europe (AMS)
Day 2 morning flight from Europe arrive evening in Nairobi due to time
change

There is no way around this. It's a 2 day exhausting trip from the US.

I also looked on their web site as well. I'm no expert obviously since
I'm doing research now but their rates include airfare from NYC. Check
the 9 day Rules of the Wild Safari. Granted it's only 5 nights but the
land only fee is $1145 per person + 195 tax. That's $268.00 per person
per night staying in Serena lodges which I understand are fairly good
accomodations. Airfare from the US is very expensive using standard
carriers published fares. Go on Orbitz and see that a flight from the
East Coast NY, BOS will cost about $1900 during high season. Granted
using consolidators can bring this down but I don't see how it can be
less than $1200.

Liz's tour operators that she uses can be found here
http://www.v-liz.com/safari/hints/tiphom.htm

--Joel
wrote:
I hear what you saying Liz, and I am trying to figure this out but
things just don't add up! Neither can I, for I made another
calculation
mistake.

2Afrika charge $1790 for the 5 day safari. Their outfitter
(Predators)
charge $1160. It is the exact same trip - with a $630 per person
surcharge!

Since 2Afrika came highly recommended on this thread I wanted to know
what make them so good. Whatever they offer extra must be worth $630
X
2 = $1260 for my wife and I!

If our Landrover breaks down in the Serengeti, 2Afrika is not around
to
help. Predators will fix it regardless of whether I booked locally or
from overseas since we will probably share our Predators game drive
with others who booked via other companies. While budget, Predators
is
an established company with a good reputation.

I will fly directly to Tanzania via KLM using a reputable travel
agent.
The chances of us paying extra for fuel or whatever are indeed
remote.
And I save 2 days travel time. My trip insurance (using a solid
company) with cancellation, luggage loss, even accidental death is
only
$75 per person.

My point is that I disagree with the 2Afrika recommendation.

Which UK company do you use? Who is their local outfitter? It will be
interesting to figure out how much profit (if any) they add to each
of
your trips!

In message .com
wrote:


My point is that I disagree with the 2Afrika recommendation.
I can't say.
I know nothing about them.
I was just pointing out that sometimes paying less is a false economy,
either literally or in time lost. For me, time is money.

Which UK company do you use? Who is their local outfitter? It will be
interesting to figure out how much profit (if any) they add to each of
your trips!
I use Worldwide Journeys and Expeditions, part of the Ultimate Travel Company.
They use Express Travel Group in Nairobi.
They obviously must add their share onto the ETG prices or they couldn't
stay in business, but they get a group discount from ETG to offset this.

AFAICS, all the reliable UK companies which offer tailor-mades in Kenya use
either ETG or EAOS. I'm sure someone will be along soon to name a company
which uses another ground agent. EAOS tends to be more expensive, but
obviously essential if you want to separate all your cistis reliably!

For our 'big trip' in 97 we contacted 5 UK companies for quotes.
Three of them used ETG; 2 used EAOS.
WWJE gave the lowest price.

In the UK you really have to book this sort of trip through a ATOL Tour
operator (or ABTA travel agent for a ready-made trip) if you want to sleep
at night.

Slainte

Liz
--
Virtual Liz now at http://www.v-liz.com
Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"

In message .com
wrote:


My point is that I disagree with the 2Afrika recommendation.
I can't say.
I know nothing about them.
I was just pointing out that sometimes paying less is a false economy,
either literally or in time lost. For me, time is money.

Which UK company do you use? Who is their local outfitter? It will be
interesting to figure out how much profit (if any) they add to each of
your trips!
I use Worldwide Journeys and Expeditions, part of the Ultimate Travel Company.
They use Express Travel Group in Nairobi.
They obviously must add their share onto the ETG prices or they couldn't
stay in business, but they get a group discount from ETG to offset this.

AFAICS, all the reliable UK companies which offer tailor-mades in Kenya use
either ETG or EAOS. I'm sure someone will be along soon to name a company
which uses another ground agent. EAOS tends to be more expensive, but
obviously essential if you want to separate all your cistis reliably!

For our 'big trip' in 97 we contacted 5 UK companies for quotes.
Three of them used ETG; 2 used EAOS.
WWJE gave the lowest price.

In the UK you really have to book this sort of trip through a ATOL Tour
operator (or ABTA travel agent for a ready-made trip) if you want to sleep
at night.

Slainte

Liz
--
Virtual Liz now at http://www.v-liz.com
Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Joel

The going rate for a similar safari is between $900 - $1000 in Kenya.
Too much driving though. To compare look at Southern Cross in Kenya -
very reputable.
http://www.southerncrosssafaris.com/...oad6nights.htm

They offer 6 nights @$1310 vs 5 nights at $1340 using the same lodges.
Most importantly, the Southern Cross safari is based on 2 people, not
6.
Basically you get a private safari for less than 2Afrika with their
group size of 6. I have never traveled with Southern Cross so this is
not an endorsement. But they have a good name. There are plenty of
others, some even cheaper but I am out of time!

I've never paid more than $1400 from the USA to East Africa! My next
trip in 2005 is $1350 in high season using KLM. Don't use Orbitz, use
the agents in the back of the Sunday newspapers!

Did you see my comments on your Kenya safari? That's going to be a
splendid trip!

Joel

The going rate for a similar safari is between $900 - $1000 in Kenya.
Too much driving though. To compare look at Southern Cross in Kenya -
very reputable.
http://www.southerncrosssafaris.com/...oad6nights.htm

They offer 6 nights @$1310 vs 5 nights at $1340 using the same lodges.
Most importantly, the Southern Cross safari is based on 2 people, not
6.
Basically you get a private safari for less than 2Afrika with their
group size of 6. I have never traveled with Southern Cross so this is
not an endorsement. But they have a good name. There are plenty of
others, some even cheaper but I am out of time!

I've never paid more than $1400 from the USA to East Africa! My next
trip in 2005 is $1350 in high season using KLM. Don't use Orbitz, use
the agents in the back of the Sunday newspapers!

Did you see my comments on your Kenya safari? That's going to be a
splendid trip!

In message . com
wrote:

Joel

The going rate for a similar safari is between $900 - $1000 in Kenya.
Too much driving though. To compare look at Southern Cross in Kenya -
very reputable.
http://www.southerncrosssafaris.com/...oad6nights.htm

They offer 6 nights @$1310 vs 5 nights at $1340 using the same lodges.
Most importantly, the Southern Cross safari is based on 2 people, not
6.
Basically you get a private safari for less than 2Afrika with their
group size of 6.

No.
What *minimum* 2 people means is that the tour won't run for one person, but
will run if there are only two people. It doesn't imply a private tour: just
that if you're lucky enough to be the only two people on the tour it will
still run. You could still have six people for the same price.
In fact, I don't even see a guarantee that there won't be more than six
people on the trip (the formula for that is "every passenger
guaranteed a window seat and access to the roof hatch)

However, I believe Southern Cross is a reliable company, dealing mostly with
Americans. I've often met their safari parties when travelling and haven't
heard of problems with them.

Slainte

Liz

--
Virtual Liz now at http://www.v-liz.com
Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"