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First Time on Safari to Africa Questions



 
 
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  #21  
Old December 8th, 2004, 08:29 PM
Chomkuti
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Rita Daggett Wrote:
The lions will rest, but in the afternoons they
will start to position themselves - just look where the Big Cat Diary
vehicles are going!

Talking of which - there was a programme on BBC TV recently about lions
being in trouble, and they quoted the famous Mara/Big Cat Diary prides
as
examples. I cant recall the details now, but it was to do with pride
structures breaking down with no mature males to take them over.
When we were in Zambia last year we were told that the lions in Lower
Zambezi were 'in a mess' - there were too many young males; few
females, and
if the females had cubs, one of the males would kill them, as there
wasnt a
strong enough 'pride male' to defend them.
--
Rita Daggett

Mark HomannTHis is indeed a sad threat to many Lions populations in Africa, Large

trophy males are taken in a quantity by hunters that is not sustainable
to the local populations.

*When a new Lion or pair of Lions (brothers will often pair up together
to increase thier chances and streght) take over a pride their first
instinct is to breed with them females so as to pass on their genes, to
do this they must first remove the young of the previous male to make
the lioness ovulate. They do this by either killing or chasing off the
young animals. *

*In a normal situation these new males will have 3 to 4 years to breed
with the females ensure that at least one litter of their young will
survive, sadly if these males are constantly removed from the pride the
females can no longer breed. Lion hunting was infact band in Botswana
and i belive in Zambia and there has been some talk of banning it in
some areas of Zimbabwe.*


--
Chomkuti
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  #22  
Old December 10th, 2004, 05:31 PM
Treemoss2
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When we went to Africa we had the same sorts of questions. Finally did what we
thought was the best of both worlds. We went to Botswana and S.A. One week at a
lodge and then one week at much more modest surroundings in a tented camp, with
walking treks as well as driving. Only 8 people total, including cook and
guide.


I don't know if you would see much just sitting in one spot as you note as that
is a very hit or miss method.
Our transort was always a Landrover with open sides so not have to stand and
poke head through the roof like a prairie dog.
Exactly what we did was to go via 2Africa.com for about $2000, includes
airfare, and then extend our return date out a week and on our own book a
walking safari. They picked us up in J'Burg and we went over to private reserve
N of Kruger and up against Mozambique. It cost about $500 each for the week,
including pick up/return J'Burg. The walking safari thing was nice insofar as
we were the only group on the whole reserve. Thogh we did enjoy the lodge the
first week, right on the bank of the Chobe river. Games drives/boats were go or
not as you wish.

We went during the shoulder season due to better prices ( we are kind of
frugal, allows us to travel much more) and perhaps we did not see as many
animals as during the dry season. It was not rainy at all for us. We saw the
big five, excepting rhino (cheetah, leopard, elephant, buffalo).
I looked extensively into renting and driving on own, and it does look to be
fun, but the cost/planning would be more, and I felt we would need much more
time to do that.

Our total cost for two people was $6972. This was ex-Denver and includes every
cent we spent the entire time after leaving Denver and return such as
incidentals like Starbucks in the airport, souveniers and the like.

I would go with either of the above companies again without qualm.

First week - 2Africa.com
Second week - wordofmouthbackpackers.com click TOURS - walking safari with
Transfrontiers

2Africa also goes other Africa destinations and it would be worth your while to
at least go to the site and check it out. Any way you look at it an Africa
safari is a more expensive vacation that any place or vacation we have ever
done in the past.



  #23  
Old December 10th, 2004, 06:05 PM
Bobby
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Can I ask what health precautions you guys took prior to taking the safari?

I'm about to go on one in February (in Kenya) and I've been given
conflicting advice about injections - ranging from "none" to about a dozen
inoculations - including a top-up to my BCG. I live in the UK.

Can anyone tell me, accurately, what I need?

Cheers.

Bobby

"Joel" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello to all. My wife and I are contemplating a safari to trip to
Africa this coming year. This will be our first time there. I've done
some reading in the newsgroup and the overwhelming response seems to be
to visit either Kenya and/or Tanzania for the first time. I had
originally planned on visiting South Africa, renting a car and going to
Kruger and Hluhluwe-Umfolozi but now I am not so sure. Some of my basic
parameters for putting together this trip a

1. I will spend between 9 - 12 days in country excluding travel days
from the US and back..

2. I personally dislike tours, have never used one although I realize
that independent travel to game parks while possible may be self
defeating. Without knowledge of animal behavior and how to approach, I
may essentially be driving around for a week and spending a lot of
money to do so.

3. I have no desire to be on a bus with 8 -10 people looking through a
small window and constantly driving around. I suspect that in order to
fully experience the parks that one must be patient and wait for things
to develop. I suspect that I will not get that on a typical safari
minivan.

4. I am not looking for this to be a photography trip per se. Being a
photographer myself, I will use a specialized photography photo safari
trip at a later date for that. This trip is designed for both my wife
and I to enjoy and savor.

5. I do not necessarily need 5 star luxury surroundings but we are not
interested in camping out in a small tents. Tented permanent camps are
fine.

My preliminary questions a

1. Is it advisable to use a tour company the first time around? What
do I gain or miss by doing so?

2. Where does one find reputable companies to deal with?

3. Is it possible to combine self touring on several days and hire
guides/driver for other days? Kruger has options like this where you
can pay to go a game drive.

4. Would I better off spending several days on a private reserve?
Although it costs significantly more I might have a better experience.

5. Putting US State Department hyperbole aside, is there any validity
to their concerns about Kenya? Curious to here feedback from other
Americans who have traveled there within the last year.

Any information would be greatly appreciated and I will certainly ask
more pointed questions as I research further.
Thank you in advance for your responses.

--Joel Turner



  #24  
Old December 10th, 2004, 07:12 PM
Joel
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First I'd like to thank everyone who has responded so far. The
information you have provided is invaluable. I've decided to focus on
Kenya vs SA. Hans, I looked at the materials on your web site and at
this point I'm not sure self drive for me is the way to go. You seem
to have a lot of contacts in Kenya that make a self trip more
manageable. I'm not at that comfort level yet but perhaps someday.
Nevertheless, there is a wealth of information there and the GPS
coordinates will come in handy with my Garmin Etrex. Your absolutely
right that the safety issue is crime not terrorism. I've lived in NYC
for most of life so I have street smarts but I would still like to be
cautious.

After doing some more research I feel what I would like to do is
maximize my time in country without going from camp to camp. Most of
the itineraries that I have seen require tons of driving from place to
place. I fell that this is too frantic of a pace. Wildlife viewing
requires patience. So here is my proposed itinerary. My current
plan is to visit in the beginning of September.


Day 1 Leave US For Nairobi
Day 2 arrive Nairobi. Overnight in Nairobi.
Day 3 Transfer to Samburu National Reserve - Flight on Air Kenya
Day 3-6 Elephant Hill Camp. A unique place. Pricey but I feel it is
worth it for the experience.
Day 6 Morning (Transfer back to Nairobi on return Air Kenya flight)
Day 6 -7 Two nights at Lake Nakura
Day 8 Morning - Drive to Masa Marai
Day 8 - 4-5 nights in the Masa Marai area. I'd like to work the whole
triangle if possible.Perhaps 2 nights in two separate lodges.
Day 13 - Morning Game drive - Transfer to Nairobi. Evening flight home
to US

The first several days will be on my own. I basically will arrive in
Nairobi, collapse, spend the night in a hotel and fly to Samburu the
next morning on the scheduled Air Kenya flight. I need to find a
company that will take me for days 6 - 13. I will follow Liz's advice
to focus on three - four companies and let them offer me quotes for
their services.

Please feel free to comment and offer suggestions.

--Joel
Hans-Georg Michna wrote:
On 6 Dec 2004 15:52:16 -0800, "Joel" wrote:

2. I personally dislike tours, have never used one although I

realize
that independent travel to game parks while possible may be self
defeating. Without knowledge of animal behavior and how to

approach, I
may essentially be driving around for a week and spending a lot of
money to do so.


Joel,

that's only half true, but if you drive yourself, you can take a
ranger or guide along on your first few game drives. There's not
that much you need to know. Only a few species can be dangerous
to a car, and you need to know these and keep a certain
distance. Actually, just observing the behavior of the animals
should already tell you everything, because animals always give
clear signals when you begin to come too close.

As to finding the animals, you will find many anyway, but there
are a few that a ranger or guide can find more easily. Taking
somebody along is inexpensive. I still recommend to do some game
drives on your own.

You need a GPS, of course, since you don't know the places. You
can download routes and waypoints from
http://www.michna.com/gps.htm.

1. Is it advisable to use a tour company the first time around?

What
do I gain or miss by doing so?


Third world countries have a few traps you can fall into. It all
depends on how much experience you have with travelling in
developing countries.

3. Is it possible to combine self touring on several days and hire
guides/driver for other days? Kruger has options like this where you
can pay to go a game drive.


Yes, that's possible. Have a look at www.rasuls.com for Kenya.

4. Would I better off spending several days on a private reserve?
Although it costs significantly more I might have a better

experience.

Speaking for Kenya, I would tend to say no, particularly for a
first time trip. The big nature reserves like Samburu and Maasai
Mara are hard to beat.

5. Putting US State Department hyperbole aside, is there any

validity
to their concerns about Kenya? Curious to here feedback from other
Americans who have traveled there within the last year.


I'm not American, but this should hardly matter. The concern, in
my view, is crime, not terrorism.

Please have a look at http://www.michna.com/kenya.htm, which is
a fairly complete guide to a self-drive safari. At least he
check lists should be useful even if you end up using the
services of a tour company.

Did I mention a GPS? Don't go without one and make yourself well
familiar with it before you leave.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.


  #25  
Old December 10th, 2004, 11:28 PM
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I was unfamiliar with 2Africa. They are not a registered operator in
Tanzania and not a member of the Tanzania Association of Tour
Operators. They are not members of KATO either. I concluded they are a
US-based booking agent for a local outfitters.

Then a quick look at their web site tells me they are reselling
Predators Safaris tours. Now I know they sell budget group tours with
fixed schedules departing once a week - using the same itinerary
regardless of season or animal patterns! I have a huge problem with
that, but I continued my research.

Then it hit me. You can go with Predators and pay $805 for the Mount
Kilimanjaro Safari. Or you can go with 2Africa and pay $1490 for the
exact trip - they call it the Snows of Kilimanjaro Safari!

I am not kidding! Check out the two websites and do your own math!

Granted, 2Africa flies you to Nairobi so you have to fly from there to
Arusha. The flight is $135. Now you have:

$940 if you pay local, or $1490 with 2Africa!!! You overpaid by more
than $500 per person. Am I missing something?
Treemoss2, I am sorry but you probably overpaid!

  #26  
Old December 10th, 2004, 11:28 PM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I was unfamiliar with 2Africa. They are not a registered operator in
Tanzania and not a member of the Tanzania Association of Tour
Operators. They are not members of KATO either. I concluded they are a
US-based booking agent for a local outfitters.

Then a quick look at their web site tells me they are reselling
Predators Safaris tours. Now I know they sell budget group tours with
fixed schedules departing once a week - using the same itinerary
regardless of season or animal patterns! I have a huge problem with
that, but I continued my research.

Then it hit me. You can go with Predators and pay $805 for the Mount
Kilimanjaro Safari. Or you can go with 2Africa and pay $1490 for the
exact trip - they call it the Snows of Kilimanjaro Safari!

I am not kidding! Check out the two websites and do your own math!

Granted, 2Africa flies you to Nairobi so you have to fly from there to
Arusha. The flight is $135. Now you have:

$940 if you pay local, or $1490 with 2Africa!!! You overpaid by more
than $500 per person. Am I missing something?
Treemoss2, I am sorry but you probably overpaid!

  #27  
Old December 10th, 2004, 11:31 PM
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Great job, Joel!

For a first-time safari-guy you are doing better than many
Africa-specialist travel agents I know!
Let me stare at it a bit and then I will respond.

  #28  
Old December 10th, 2004, 11:31 PM
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Great job, Joel!

For a first-time safari-guy you are doing better than many
Africa-specialist travel agents I know!
Let me stare at it a bit and then I will respond.

  #29  
Old December 11th, 2004, 12:04 AM
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Made a mistake. I needed to add the return flight to Nairobi.
The figures come to $1075 local, compared with $1490 with the agent
2Africa.

It is still a substantial "surcharge" especially if you are a couple,
and very inconvenient since you spend two nights flying from the US
instead of one night if you flew KLM to Kilimanjaro. You pay more and
you waste 2 days!

Why do Americans do these crazy things?

  #30  
Old December 11th, 2004, 11:43 AM
Liz
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In message .com
"Joel" wrote:


Day 8 - 4-5 nights in the Masa Marai area. I'd like to work the whole
triangle if possible. Perhaps 2 nights in two separate lodges.

doubtfulThat might be a good idea/doubtful, or else find out where the
migration is liable to be when you're there and stay at (one of the) the
lodge(s) in the centre of that area (that's what I'd do, unless I was
'passing through', like when we were coming down from Rusinga Island. The
areas where the migration isn't can be disappointingly empty, though there
are always birds, if you know where to look.)

Otherwise, if you're interested in birds, it might be worth staying for a
couple of nights at Little Governor's Camp (I think that's the right one:
it's one of the Governor's properties) which has its own 'swamp' which often
seems to turn up birds which aren't easily seen elsewhere.

When you get your quotation, be sure to use the magic words "driver/guide
and vehicle at our disposal". That means you chan choose when you go out on
drives. The usual 'brochure' safari has two drives, one before breakfast,
one late afternoon, but with 'driver and vehicle at your disposal' you can
set the pace: either have an extra morning drive after breakfast, or have an
early breakfast at your lodge/camp take a packed lunch from the camp (you
driver/guide can get one too) and stay out all day.
Or of course if you want to laze about in camp or go a bird walk or nature
walk with the lodge naturallist, then you can do that instead. (I try to
swim before lunch and catch up with cleaning my equipment, siesta etc just
after lunch.)

Otherwise, what is on your itinerary is (generally) what you get, without
negotiation (or at extra cost).

Don't imagine for a moment that this will be your only trip to Africa.
"Africa bites, and when she bites, she won't let go."
After our first safari, we arrived back in the early morning after an
overnight trip following a long delay, and I was phoning companies for
brochures and suggestions for the next year within half an hour of getting
home!

So many people posting to the group for 'first trips' have a very similar
experience.

Safari njema

Liz

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




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