absolute africa tours

Harry wrote:

When travelling in third world countries if you book through a tour
agency, you will inevitably be ripped off.
These tour companies bank on their clientelle not knowing this and
equating distance and exoticism with prices in their own country. You
can go to these third world countries and fix yourself up with the
identical experience. (often with the same local firm) often for less
than half price. Simply by cutting out the middle man.

Harry, this is just not true.
Whatever chip you have on your shoulder about tour operators is
none of my business. But I have been a tour operator for 20 years,
specializing first in the Middle East, and then in Africa since 1989.

It is absolutely NOT possible to "fix yourself up with the identical
experience for less than half price" - or anything remotely that cheap.

It certainly IS possible to backpack and do it cheaply.
But you can't have a safari as a backpacker without spending the
same $40 - $50 a day in park fees. And you can't go on safari
as a hitchhiker. And there are NO public transportation options
for taking a safari.

At some point, even the local operators you describe have to pay
the $150 - $200 a day to operate a vehicle with a driver/guide
and they have to pay the lodges (even the cheaper ones) at least
$100 a day for room & board. And they have to add some profit
for themselves.

Believe it or not - tour companies based here in the US provide an
important service for the great majority of travelers who do not
want to fly into Nairobi (for example) and then try to pick a local
safari operator who will give them the reliable and well-organized
experience they desire. Too many of these locals are nothing but
a small office and a phone number - hiring vehicles and drivers
as needed, trying to find space in the lodges (which is apportioned,
by the lodge operators to the companies that DO regularly send
them guests).

Finally, we don't rip off our clients. That's an insult perhaps
based on some experience you have had that irked you - or on
anecdotal information that rubbed you the wrong way.

Nearly all third world countries have no middle class. 99% of the
populations are very poor and the remaining 1% hog all the wealth of
the country. This means there are facilities for the 1% which the 99%
can't afford. But first world tourists can. I mean hotels, restaurants,
taxis etc. This often means that it's a very corrupt
society/government so look out (esp police in some places). However in
most tourist orientated counries the police in general have the word to
look after tourists, one incident can cost the country a lot of money.
However I digress. This means that the facilities are all there for the
rich locals and available too for 1st worlders for a lot less money
than at home.
BTW Don't get stuck on E Africa, there's near identical experiences to
be had in W.Africa not to mention S America, Indonesia, Australia etc.
That little word safari has travelled a long way. The modern term is
eco-tour BTW and they're all pretty destructive to the environment.
On my last holiday I was able to hire a crew of four, a boat,
everything found, in Venezuela in the Orinoco delta for just $100 a
day. Similar trip through an agency twice as much for half the time.
Tour companies are just there to make as much money as they can get
away with. And they'll tell you just about anything to expedite this.
And it certainly is possible to fix virtually anything for half the
price locally. Who pays your wages for a start?


Dave Patterson wrote:
Harry wrote:

When travelling in third world countries if you book through a tour
agency, you will inevitably be ripped off.
These tour companies bank on their clientelle not knowing this and
equating distance and exoticism with prices in their own country. You
can go to these third world countries and fix yourself up with the
identical experience. (often with the same local firm) often for less
than half price. Simply by cutting out the middle man.

Harry, this is just not true.
Whatever chip you have on your shoulder about tour operators is
none of my business. But I have been a tour operator for 20 years,
specializing first in the Middle East, and then in Africa since 1989.

It is absolutely NOT possible to "fix yourself up with the identical
experience for less than half price" - or anything remotely that cheap.

It certainly IS possible to backpack and do it cheaply.
But you can't have a safari as a backpacker without spending the
same $40 - $50 a day in park fees. And you can't go on safari
as a hitchhiker. And there are NO public transportation options
for taking a safari.

At some point, even the local operators you describe have to pay
the $150 - $200 a day to operate a vehicle with a driver/guide
and they have to pay the lodges (even the cheaper ones) at least
$100 a day for room & board. And they have to add some profit
for themselves.

Believe it or not - tour companies based here in the US provide an
important service for the great majority of travelers who do not
want to fly into Nairobi (for example) and then try to pick a local
safari operator who will give them the reliable and well-organized
experience they desire. Too many of these locals are nothing but
a small office and a phone number - hiring vehicles and drivers
as needed, trying to find space in the lodges (which is apportioned,
by the lodge operators to the companies that DO regularly send
them guests).

Finally, we don't rip off our clients. That's an insult perhaps
based on some experience you have had that irked you - or on
anecdotal information that rubbed you the wrong way.