Next to planning my own trip for october this year, I'm (finally!) going to try and get my girlfriend infected with the safarifever 
I've been to Tanzania 3 times myself and probably will go to Zambia in october.
I very much like the small tented camps and the 'real' feel of nature and prefer camps that are as basic as possible.
This has of course some demands on budget, and this type of safari won't be suitable for when I go with my gf together.
Good to know is that she is mostly interested to see and experience why I'm so passionate about it, no real primary interest. (in other words; if it wasn't for me she never would pay this much for a holiday)
At first I was thinking of a more or less 'standard' Tanzania Northern circuit (tarangire, ngorogoro, ndutu/serengeti), but to keep this reasonable within budget I would have to stay in places like ndutu safari lodge and I can't really see myself being happy in such a way (nor in the crater with so many other cars)
So Im now thinking of maybe doing a combination of self driving and a few nights in tented camps in South Africa. I think the rains shouldnt be to bad (apart from this year 
) and it should be quite easy to do some self driving and camping there in combination with more the camps 'how I would pick them'.
However, I'm finding it very difficult to even find tented camps! It all seems to be lodges with swimming pools and spa's!
I found Honeyguidecamp (Manyeleti) and Tandatula (timbavati) and was wondering if you could tip me other camps as well.
And what 'route' would you suggest for self driving considering the fact that I would want to avoid most of the tarmac an other people
And as always, open for other suggestions/countries as well!
I would like to ask you for some opinions and insights
Planning a first safari that's budget friendly in february
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Can't give serious reply, but did stay at Honeyguide (before then going onto Singita... what a variety between the two, besides the prices). That said though... loved Honeyguide, and while quite rustic, still had the best linens and down filled duvets. So delightful for sleeping.
Tented camps I've been to and recommend:
Shindzela
Wildside at Entabeni
Mashatu Tented
Pafuri
Lower Sabie in Kruger
Tembe Elepant Park
All are in the affordable range. Of them, Mashatu might be my fave. We drove to all of them (or had drivers). No spas, all comfortable. Easy drives between Entabeni, Mashatu, Pafuri, Shindzela, Lower Sabie. A full day to Tembe from Kruger area through Swaziland. I did two trip reports that include all of them.
Here's some more;
- nThambo in Klaserie
- Simbavati River Lodge in Timbavati (they've got chalet-style family rooms but tents as well)
- Pungwe Bush Camp, Manyeleti.
B.regs,
J.
thx... ill check them out and see if I can come up with a route that makes sense.
Any advice on parts of kruger where you have camp sites that are not fenced and no tarmac etc.?
In the private reserve adjacent to Kruger NP there's no tarmac (except for one road right inbetween Klaserie reserve and Timbavati reserve ...but while you're on gamedrive that road is almost never used.
Shindzela, Africa On Foot, nThambo, Pungwe and Simbavati RL are not fenced. Umkumbe has got a wire running around the camp, but it is not in use. The rest I don't know as I haven't been there.
I don't think there's similar things in Kruger NP itself. All camps are rather big places with various types of accommodation, and they're all fenced. Of course, you can get away from tarmac while on gamedrive. But you can be sure there will be tarmac around the camps.
There's a third option; there are private camps in Kruger Park itself as well. Often in remote areas. These are in concessions for which the camp outfitter pays an amount of money to be able to operate there. Regular visitors are not allowed in those concessions. Basically these camps offer idem as the camps in the private concessions. However, none of them are as cheap as the list mentioned above.
Ciao,
J.