christine1212

My husband and I are planning a first time trip to Africa with a 15 year old boy, As I've heard from others, every time I read a little more about the two locations I change my mind again. We are planning to go in July or August of 2010. We are on a tight budget so we are trying to keep the trip fairly short., 8 to 11 days. We are comparing a Northern Tanzania route to a Vic Falls / Safari (Kruger? Chobe? Botswana?) trip. The northern Tanzania would be a mostly permanent camps and a few nights in a lodge. I thought it might be nice to have a real hot shower and some lodge activities for a change of pace. One of my considerations is that East requires a LOT of time in the truck between sites. I wasn't sure if that would wear on us and especially the teen after 8 days. The other option would include a trip to Vic Falls for the diversity of exciting activities available for a teenager and of course the wonder of the falls itself. The rest of the time would be spent on as much safari as our budget would allow. I understand they are very different trips. Wide open spaces and migration in the East. Close up viewing, open trucks, and walking safaris in the South. It's just so hard to pick a location that I'm having trouble getting to the next step.

Another consideration that may just be an insane idea... While looking at flights I stumbled upon a long stopover in Cairo. So of course we started thinking how great it would be to see the pyramids while we are there. Is this crazy to even think that we could fit this in as well?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

atravelynn

With the World Cup going on in South Africa in July of 2010, you'll want to be aware of price increases and lack of availability in Southern Africa around that time.

Either east or south can provide a great trip.

Tight budget--If you self drive in Kruger that can save money. It is quite common, though I have not done it. Some links to this kind of trip are in next post.

You will have a nice hot shower in permanent tented camps in East or Southern Africa. That appeared to be a concern. Maybe not in budget big group mobile camping in a big truck. You did use the term "truck" and mentioned "a long time in the truck." There are low cost truck trips on one end of the spectrum and private or small group safaris in a Land Cruiser or similar on the other end of the spectrum. Permanent tented camps tend to go with the private or small group trips.

Do you want your 15 year old to participate or be tempted to participate in some of those Vic Falls activities such as bungee jumping or Level 5 Whitewater rafting? Just a thought. But you're right about Vic Falls offering a variety of things beyond the vehicle safari.

Is the 8-11 days on the continent or total?

Crazy to include Egypt? If you are into whirlwind and want a wide cross section of African experiences and are happy with just a taste of safari, then probably not crazy, but it will limit your other choices.

I've often run into people who spent a couple of days in Egypt along with some time in South Africa.

If the 15 year old is really into wildlife, I'd stick with safari activities. If not, then I'd go for variety.

atravelynn

MATNIKSTYM's Kruger, Mala Mala, Dubai and Hong Kong Trip Report 9/07
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=35083126

pics at: www.kodakgallery.com/dennisinzambia (Kruger, Mala Mala albums)


Family trip with self drive in Kruger
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...rip-report.cfm

Other self drive threads



http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34881694

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34645583

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34546942

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34676722


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34467420

sandi

There are many itineraries that include Egypt and East Africa (specifically Kenya... where the Migration will be in the Mara during Aug and prices are lower than if visiting Tanzania) as there are regularly scheduled flights between the two. So this is doable. If you wish to visit Tanzania vs Kenya, you can do a Shuttle Bus transfer to Arusha to commence safari for Northern Tanzania circuit.

If looking at the flights via Cairo, you can spend a few days visiting the Pyramids, Sphinx, Museum, Bazaar and then continue down to Kenya.

Drives between locations don't have to be long in either Kenya or Tanzania, if properly planned. Even those that may seem longer than others are often "game viewing."

If you wanted to visit Southern African countries, it would have to be flights to/from Victoria Falls from JNB; can do a road transfer to Chobe and back for return flight to JNB. And, for Kruger, you can consider a self-drive from JNB to the Reserve, game viewing/lodging and drive back to JNB (which is a 5/hrs each way).

christine1212

Atravelynn-

Thanks so much for all the great links! I’ve read the first few and I feel like I’ve been there. The first photo link didn’t work but some of the others have. It’s great help to see what the camps look like. Sometimes it’s hard to tell how much you may be “roughing” it by their website.

I’ve heard about the World Cup and can push toward August if we do South. I’m certain I would like a self driving tour for my next trip but feel like I may miss out on too much on a first trip. There is so much to be learned from the guides. As for Vic Falls, bungee jumping might be a bit much but a trip to the island or even an ultralight over the falls sounds great. In all honesty just seeing the falls sounds pretty amazing to me. Unfortunately, due to the need for a triple room and the intra Africa air the budget gets blown pretty quickly. I’ve also heard it’s pretty chilly on those morning game drives in August in Kruger and Chobe.

As for East I was looking at some of the Kensington camping trips. You’re right about the permanent camps they do have hot water for showers as you mentioned. Also, I think I was using the term “truck” too loosely. I think it is some kind of 4x4 with a private guide every day. The trips between camps are 5 hours, 9 hours, and 6 hours if I recall.

It’s not set in stone but I’m thinking 11 or 12 days in total. And in reference to Cairo, yes, we do tend to overbook. I am only thinking of one day. The flight I happened to notice had an 11 hour stopover coming in and a 12 hour going out. Seems crazy to sit in the airport if you can grab a taxi and at least see the Pyramids. It seems to be an easier task to go through Cairo when going to Nairobi. Many of the tour people are telling me that the air will simply get too high if I try to incorporate it into a Johannesburg trip.

Sandi-

I did price out a multi city trip from NY to JoBurg to Kruger to Livingston to JoBurg to NY in one big loop and it wasn’t bad. Much cheaper than getting International and inter Africa separately. Can’t get Cairo in there but you can’t do it all. I guess late June in the Mara or Serengeti might be a long shot to see the migration?

Thanks for all your input.

Hopefully this isn’t breaking ay forum rules but does anyone have any opinion about Kensington’s private camps?

sandi

>>trips between camps are 5 hours, 9 hours, and 6 hours if I recall.<<

Personally, no more than 6/hrs max and in Kenya, that would be between Nairobi/Samburu; often there is a 1/nt stop midway.

Anything more than that is not a very good itinerary. Besides, it's not optimum for your guide/driver to be on the road that long (safety) and still provide outstanding service during game drives. It's not like driving on tarmac or super highways, but rather dirt, gravel and mud roads.

I've noticed the routing to Kenya with that 11/hr layover in Cairo, which would certainly allow time to get to Giza to view the Pyramids and Sphinx, at minimum; you'd have to purchase an Egypt Visa @ USD$15... but worth it.

christine1212

Hmmm, that was my concern as well. Even the tour company makes reference to “NOTE: The road is unimproved in places and this is a LONG drive.” and “several hours drive on rough road to the border” and “ One hour of road is badly potholed.”

The the trip I was considering was an 8 day Kensington Tours Tented Camp tour with private guide each day. The trip goes like this: Nairobi / Nairobi – Mara (6hrs) / Mara / Mara – Serengeti (9 hrs) / Serengeti / Serengeti – Ngorongoro (5hr) / Ngorongoro / Ngorongoro – Arusha (2 hr). Unfortunately, I can’t find much feedback about their East African tented tours. I did find two negatives on trip advisor and one quite upset man that made a whole website discussing his complaints so that is making me a little nervous. I was hoping to get at least a couple days camping in for that real “in the wild’ feel but I’m wondering if I should look at the Safaris that are designed by Serena lodges instead.

As for Cairo, the Egypt visa is fine. We could probably even stay overnight one night. One tour company designed an 8 day Kenya tour for me and added a full guided day in Cairo. The Cairo portion included “visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, visit Cheops' pyramid, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the Sphinx, the great god-lion sentinel, and the Solar Boat Museum.”

Of course that brings up the whole Kenya vs. Tanzania discussion. It seems to be endless.

sandi

>>8 day Kensington Tours Tented Camp tour with private guide each day. The trip goes like this: Nairobi / Nairobi – Mara (6hrs) / Mara / Mara – Serengeti (9 hrs) / Serengeti / Serengeti – Ngorongoro (5hr) / Ngorongoro / Ngorongoro – Arusha (2 hr). <<

That's a lot of ground to cover in 8/days. A "whirlwind safari"... more time in transit than game viewing. How many days in the Mara and/or Serengeti??? Each of which deserves, at minimum 3/nts giving you 2/full days of game viewing.

The drive time from NBO/Mara is correct. Depending on where they are set up in the Serengeti (west, central?), that will be via the western border at Isebania and can take up to 12/hrs. From Ngorongoro to Arusha, isn't 2/hrs, more like 4.5-5/hrs. And from Arusha, if departing out of JRO another 1/hr to airport. If to Nairobi for homebound, figure 5-6/hrs.

I feel, the minimum you need to cover both countries is 10/days including some flights for the longest distances, i.e., to/from the Mara and/or Serengeti, which otherwise can take up many hours to a full-day of daylight hours; can even include one of the "elephant" parks, i.e., Tarangire in Tanzania or Amboseli in Kenya.

Only you can decide.