Best place to book a safari

Melanie R · 4 Nov 19, 11:03 PM

I’m starting to think about next years adventure, and I’m seriously considering a safari with a few nights at a beach resort to follow. Has anyone any recommendations on the best place to book?

Caroian · 5 Nov 19, 10:59 AM

As in, an agent to book with, or the best location?

If the latter, any of the big safari locations are likely to be amazing. The only areas I have experience of are the Lake Naivasha area in Kenya plus the Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania (they adjoin). We saw the start of the wildebeest migration and it was awesome. The Governors' camps in the Mara remain highly recommended and we certainly enjoyed our stay. We combined it with time on the coast near Mombassa, but Zanzibar is another popular combination.

Lots of choices of who to book with - a lot will depend on you budget.

Guest · 5 Nov 19, 11:07 AM

Also wasn’t sure which way you meant “best place to book”.

Anyway we did Tanzania and Zanzibar. We went to the Selous Game Reserve but if I were to do the trip again, I would like to go to Serengeti as I think there are more cats there.

**Loopylooloo** · 5 Nov 19, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Melanie R

I’m starting to think about next years adventure, and I’m seriously considering a safari with a few nights at a beach resort to follow. Has anyone any recommendations on the best place to book?

Go Melanie I love your travel spirit! Perhaps check out an organised tour type holiday? Small group escorted tours etc - Riviera, Titan etc offer these type of trips x

Melanie R · 5 Nov 19, 11:46 PM

Sorry, I wasn’t very clear! I was meaning location, but any experience of specific agents also would be useful!

Currently considering Kenya or South Africa but very open to suggestions - this is way out of my comfort zone 😂

mickeyspal · 6 Nov 19, 09:28 AM

We did Kenya about 25 years ago and did an overnight safari staying in a tree house at shimba hills. It wasn't expensive and was brilliant, we chose it as we were only there for a week so needed a short safari. Food, accommodation, and the experience was great.
Also would recommend going to a masai warrior village and doing a dhow cruise .

kateh134 · 6 Nov 19, 10:49 AM

We did Kenya just over 20 years ago which I think we booked with Thomson. We had 7 nights on safari and then did 7 nights in Mombassa, but we wished we’d had longer on safari and less time relaxing afterwards. We visited Treetops (amazing place), lake Naivasha (loads of hippos!), Masai Mara and a couple of other places which I can’t recall the names of. We did morning and evening safaris most days and also did a private safari at Treetops. It was a fabulous trip and we’d love to do one again some day.

skalexander · 7 Nov 19, 07:53 PM

I went to Kenya in May/June. This was the trip I did -https://www.newmarketholidays.co.uk/holidays/africa/kenya-grand-safari-stay-at-treetops - I highly recommend it. They also do one with a beach extension in Mombasa.

If you're interested, I did a trippie which is here - https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho...ighlight=kenya

Hands down, the best holiday I've been on, and I can't wait to do another safari. Had my Hep A booster today in readiness

megaflyer · 8 Nov 19, 10:06 AM

I have done Zambia, Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Apart from Kenya (which I booked in UK and was most disappointing) I have booked the rest via local hotels . The most memorable was in Zimbabwe - staying at Vic Falls hotel victoriafallshotel/

we asked the hotel to arrange one for us tailired to our needs - it was just the 2 of us and was exceptional in terms of both what we saw, knowledge of the guide, safety, and VFM

Here’s me at the falls and a photo from o

ur jeep in Hwange

lardyboy · 8 Nov 19, 11:11 AM

Have done Kenya, luxury under canvas safari, which was most notable for the locations of the camps themselves. Arrived shortly after the migration and so the wildlife was relatively sparse. 10 years ago did Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater, this time in lodges. Ngorogoro crater, the lodge was right on the edge of the crater top and absolutely spectacular. Tons of wildlife, saw all the big five (six if you count cheetah). Dawn air balloon safari, highly recommended.

Followed this with a week in Zanzibar in a very small hotel, Echo Beach, which was absolutely wonderful. All arranged by Somak - somak/tanzania/sugge...rengeti_safari

Think you need to decide on what sort of safari you want. Do you want luxury, a taste of the early safaris (Out Of Africa style), maybe something more authentic, staying in modern tents, perhaps tracking lions, or maybe a horseback safari. Choose the sort of adventure you would like and then see who is able to arrange that sort of thing.

5 Nov 19, 11:07 AM	#3
	5 Nov 19, 11:07 AM Guest Guest
Guest Guest	Also wasn’t sure which way you meant “best place to book”. Anyway we did Tanzania and Zanzibar. We went to the Selous Game Reserve but if I were to do the trip again, I would like to go to Serengeti as I think there are more cats there.

6 Nov 19, 10:49 AM	#7
	6 Nov 19, 10:49 AM kateh134 Imagineer
kateh134 Imagineer Join Date: Apr 08	We did Kenya just over 20 years ago which I think we booked with Thomson. We had 7 nights on safari and then did 7 nights in Mombassa, but we wished we’d had longer on safari and less time relaxing afterwards. We visited Treetops (amazing place), lake Naivasha (loads of hippos!), Masai Mara and a couple of other places which I can’t recall the names of. We did morning and evening safaris most days and also did a private safari at Treetops. It was a fabulous trip and we’d love to do one again some day. __________________ Kate

8 Nov 19, 10:06 AM	#9
	8 Nov 19, 10:06 AM megaflyer Imagineer
megaflyer Imagineer Join Date: Nov 07	I have done Zambia, Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Apart from Kenya (which I booked in UK and was most disappointing) I have booked the rest via local hotels . The most memorable was in Zimbabwe - staying at Vic Falls hotel victoriafallshotel/ we asked the hotel to arrange one for us tailired to our needs - it was just the 2 of us and was exceptional in terms of both what we saw, knowledge of the guide, safety, and VFM Here’s me at the falls and a photo from o ur jeep in Hwange Edited at 10:15 AM.

8 Nov 19, 11:11 AM	#10
	8 Nov 19, 11:11 AM lardyboy Getting Excited
lardyboy Getting Excited Join Date: Apr 11 Location: Cov	Have done Kenya, luxury under canvas safari, which was most notable for the locations of the camps themselves. Arrived shortly after the migration and so the wildlife was relatively sparse. 10 years ago did Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater, this time in lodges. Ngorogoro crater, the lodge was right on the edge of the crater top and absolutely spectacular. Tons of wildlife, saw all the big five (six if you count cheetah). Dawn air balloon safari, highly recommended. Followed this with a week in Zanzibar in a very small hotel, Echo Beach, which was absolutely wonderful. All arranged by Somak - somak/tanzania/sugge...rengeti_safari Think you need to decide on what sort of safari you want. Do you want luxury, a taste of the early safaris (Out Of Africa style), maybe something more authentic, staying in modern tents, perhaps tracking lions, or maybe a horseback safari. Choose the sort of adventure you would like and then see who is able to arrange that sort of thing.