HLester3

Hi. I am basically starting from the begining for something in 2007. I am trying to narrow down where to go between South Africa and Kenya/Tanzania but do not know when the best travel months would be or which is better. It will be myself, my husband, my father and our 5 year old twins.
(They travel pretty well, they have already been to Europe and Mexico and we are going to greece/turkey/egypt in Sept.)

I know that people will disagree with taking this young of children, but you never know what the future holds, and I do not want to wake up one day wishing that I would have had the chance to do something. A few years ago, I was in a car accident and I lost my mother, very unexpectidly, so I do not like to put things off, like waiting to go until the kids are older. Since our group is reasonably large, we will probably be in our own jeep, so it wont be too bothersome to anyone else.

I really like the look of the Elewana Serengeti Migration Camp, and I am waiting to hear back from them if they allow children.

I personally would love to go during the great migration, but I don't know if that would be overwhelming to the kids, and or impossible to get reservations around that time. Is it a dream to think we may get lucky and be able to see something like that from the migration camp?

I have already looked at CC Africa site, and I believe that most of those sites accept children.

What is the next step. Do I choose lodges and then sent them in to a travel agent to try to piece together something?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Heather

atravelynn

Can you travel any time of year?

Here is a link to the best times to view wildlife in different parks.

http://www.africa-adventure.com/dsp_besttime.html

I don't think traveling during the migration would be overwhelmeing for the kids. Spending too much time in the vehicle might be hard for them, but if you pace the game drives it should be fine.

Seeing the migration, even if not the peak of it, is quite possible. Here are links that approximate where the herds are at different times of the year.

http://www.africadreamsafaris.com/na...migration.html

http://www.atta.co.uk/nomad/index.html

http://www.wildwatch.com/sightings/migration.asp

Now onto South Africa, where I am planning my first visit, so no first hand experience. But there are areas that require no malaria pills, such as Madikwe. In East Africa malaria pills would be recommended. You can see how you feel and your pediatrician feels about giving them to your 5-year olds.

If you do all CC Africa properties, you can work directly with them. There was just a post about someone working with a CC agent who was not happy with the communication process. I am booking CCAfrica properties in SA and going through an agent. Costs the same. Plus I am doing non CCAfrica properties through the agent.

In East Africa, unless you are doing all Serena properties or similar, I'd use a travel agent. The preference of those on this board, and my preference, is to use an agent that does only Africa.

Have a great trip. I can already imagine some darling photos of the twins on safari!

HLester3

Thank you so much for your reply, especially the great links. Especially helpful is the chart regarding when is the best time to go in the different parks. I had been pulling my hair out trying to chart this and figure out where the different lodges are located. I guess I need to do some major brush up on my African geography.

Where will you be staying in South Africa. The malaria issue is another one I have been having a difficult time with, which was why I was concerned with SA. I was looking at some very interesting lodges: Kagga Kamma Loges/caves and Phinda Private Game reserve and Madikwe Lodge. It is such a toss up between the two.

Thanks, Heather

atravelynn

South Africa is June of 2007. I'll be in Mala Mala (4 nights) and Phinda. Not sure how long in Phinda. Maybe a week with 3 nights of walking safari. Maybe less. I think these areas I'm visiting are not malaria free. Madikwe is malaria free.

Please post again as you narrow your choices or have more questions. A big consideration is whether camps will take children the ages of yours, as you mentioned you were checking with Migration Camp.

African_Hilton

HLester3

Go with SA! It is no problem to cater for the Twins as well as the grownups.

Big 5 Game viewing can easily be done in areas like Addo (Eastern Cape), and Madikwe at camps that have great experience with taking little ones out on game drives. The trick (apart from worrying about Malaria) is that the young guys often get bored on the drives - so these camps/lodges know how to handle this and have shorter more interactive drives, where the kids can get off the vehicle in safe areas and check out trees, intresting creatures and crawlies, spoor etc. That is what you want - a lodge that know how to entertain the kids without stressing you out as well as keeping it interesting for you (adults) too.

In addition, there are lots of great places along the Garden Route and Cape Town which should interest the whole family and create a memorable trip.

How long you want to go for ?
When ?
Budget ?
What are the interests of the kids, you, husband, Dad? What do you like doing ?

That should set you on the straight and narrow path. There's just so much!!

Hilton