Louise79

We are a couple who are planning a safari in Kenya this october. The operator that we are planning to use operate on a private basis. This means that the two of us will be the only persons in the minivan. I think it would be more fun to share the van with others, also it would be a lot better to the environment...
I have always travelled together with lots of people before and half the fun travelling is meeting new people!
Has anyone experienced a safari on private basis (with only two persons) and is it easy to get in contact with others staying in lodges? Or would you suggest us to choose another operator?

barryozed

We habve done both and prefer the private safari. While out game viewing, it is not the best time for chatting laughing and getting to know each other. There is plenty of time for that during meals in the afternoons of evening. Also if there is a large group, they may all want something different..ie focus on birds, some people do not want to see kills, others get bored with animals they have seen before and you haven't. It is hard to satisfy everyone, but the guide trys and you end up with a bit of everything. On a private safari, you can spend as much time at a site, focus on things you want to see and pace things at you speed...earlier or later in the morning etc.
If you have done alot of safaris and don't really care what you see, just want to enjoy being on safari and meeting peopl, then larger groups are fine.

pixelpower

Hey Louise,

"On a private basis" is certainly used by your operator as a sales argument. And rightfully so.

You have to know that there are a lot of downsides to sharing your vehicle;
- You may actually not like the other people at all.
- You have to come to an agreement about everything; where to go, what to focus on, when to go, how long to stay at a sighting. Even toilet stops!
- Your vehicle may become too crowded. Certainly when fiddling around with camera gear, which is rather typical on a safari. Look at it this way; with two people you can each share a row of seats, giving you both access to either side of the vehicle.

I think for most Fodorites here on this board, the trip you would like sounds a bit like a nightmare; being stuck in a small vehicle, not being sure you'll be able to see the animals, let alone photograph them.
That's why most of us here would opt for either a private safari, or a safari in a private concession.

Both type of trips, or any decent safari for that matter, requires an open vehicle (ic a Landrover, a Toyota, an Uri, etc...). I know in Kenya those minivans are used a lot, but most of us here consider them to be a "mass market product", not suited for a "real" safari. I know it sounds like we're looking down on people. But that's not it; we're looking down on a PRODUCT. Most here will never consider a minivan for what ought to be "the experience of a lifetime".

So, for most Fodorites, an open vehicle it has to be. If it's safari to regular parks, most will make sure the vehicle is not shared with anyone else. And if it's in a private park then most people will only book the safari if they can a) make sure they can share the vehicle with friends or b) they are at least very sure how things will be arranged, ic they will inform themselves on what the vehicle looks like, how many people per row of seats there are, etc...

Phew... lotsa text to explain how Fodorites want their safari. Let's say that an open vehicle, and making sure you do not miss oportunities to see & photograph animals are absolute necessities for them. Socializing with other people is not at all on the top of the list.

But for you, if socializing is half the fun, well then I'd opt for a shared safari indeed. Although I would still make sure not to end up in a closed vehicle like a minivan. Your second, much more expensive, option is a safari in a private concession. If you go with two, you will end up with other people for sure.

Ciao,

J.

spassvogel

I am rather disturbed by the term "minivan". Whatever you choose go for a safari vehicle which means a special landcruiser/landrover which offers much more felxibility when it comes to photography.

Game drives: If you are more interested in wildlife than chatting go for the private safari but stay in camps. During meal times you can socialize with other guests but have your private vehicle for game drives.
Would that be an option?

SV

sandi

Traveling on roads in Kenya/Tanzania between parks, requires closed vehicles. It's a safety issue from all the stuff that kicks up on the roads, where there are roads. Will you see open vehicles on the roads? Yes, but these mostly belong to residents who can use their own. Also, all closed vehicle aren't mini-vans, even if at first glance they look similar.

In the game parks/reserves, you mostly find "open" vehicles being provided by camps/lodges when you do a fly-in safari.

Group vs Private... easy for me - private. My own schedule, choice of accommodations, game drives when I want and able to stay or leave sightings when it suits. And then, the issue of your group personalities, etc. And, these vehicle can accommodate up to 6/paxs which is cramped besides having the luggage of each in the rear.

There is sufficient time to meet others during meals or when not on game drives.

If you wish a group safari then try another operator.

sallysaab

Wow, what a question!
I personally couldnt think of anything worse than being stuck in any vehicle full of people on safari.
In my opinion the animals are used to the vehicles but not the noisy tourists, and boy are they noisy in a group, also you'll find when you want that special photo, of an animal that hasnt run in fright, there will be a head in your way.
Plenty of time to socialize when you return from your drives.

cary999

Ok, I'm going to jump to the "bottom line". If this is your first safari, don't do a private safari. Go to two good safari camps in Kenya for 4 or 5 days each.

Well, I need a better descripton of a "private safari". And also, how long/days is it? How much of a "private safari" is private, i.e. you interact only with your driver/guide? To the extent that you even have your own tent out and by yourself and your guide cooks for you?

I have never been on one. Wait, wrong, yes I have. In Kruger we do a private safari, we drive ourselves and have little interaction with other visitors. Only at maybe meal time will we get in a conversation with others and that does not happen often. This is fine for a several days but I would think that after a couple of weeks we might start to "get on each others nerves", know what I mean?

Private vs not private game drives. It really depends on the guide/ranger. A good ranger knows what the guests safari experience is and what their game viewing interests are. And the ranger will put on the best show possible, and I mean that in a good way. I usually enjoy the company of others on game drives. But on occasion there have been aggravations, typically newlyweds on their honeymoon, new video camera, and have never seen an African wildlife program on the National Geographic Channel. Only thing worse is to have two such couples in the vehicle. Happened to me once and I asked to change vehicles.

For me now, with keen interest in photography and having been on around 150 game drives, I would like a private -vehicle-. My own vehicle with a guide who is also into photography and that's what we would do. Then back at camp for the bar/meals I would join a group for some social time.

But again, if your first safari, go to a couple of top camps in Kenya, Botswana, or South Africa. And don't short cut your stay short at them, at least 4 days each.

regards - tom

scruffypuma

I have done both, and while it might seem "easier" to travel with a group (even a small one) and have a trip leader/guide that handles everything from airline tickets to whatever....it is a no brainer for me, private safari. I have another planned for December, just my daughter and I, and did not even think about a group situation for all of the reasons listed above. As a female, I had doubts at first about traveling solo between camps and not part being part of a herd, but when you get into a vehicle and it is just two of you, it is the best! If you are into photography at all, private is worth the price. On my last trip, when we were in Tarangire and the Serengeti we had 4 tents, ours, one for the guides, one for the cooks and camp help and the dining tent! It was fabulous. If you have a mobile camp and a lodge or two, you can have your "social" time at the lodges. As Cary999 mentions, try not to cut your time short at any one place. Have a great trip.

Pat

cougfan

Louise,

When we were first planning our safari I was looking at group trips but it just so happened that friends of ours were also thinking of a safari at that time. We decided to go together on a private safari and the four of us had a great time. It was nice to have someone else in the vehicle with us to talk to. When we saw other vehicles with 6 or more people crammed into them we were very glad we had chosen private. Sometimes there would be some poor person sitting in the middle, not sure how they took pictures. In our case it was cheaper per couple to take a private safari because there were four of us in the vehicle.

Speaking of vehicles, we had a van in Kenya and it was fine. The pop-up-top kept us out of the sun and rain, and in the morning it kept the cold breeze off of us.

Julie

Louise79

Thanks everyone for your helpful and useful inputs! We really appreciate it.

After reading your replies we have decided to go for the private safari (private game drives) option and are checking the possibilities to exchange one of the lodges to a campsite instead.


Best regards
Louise