Trip IdeasFodor's The Complete African Safari Planner, 1st Edition
Free shipping with any guidebook purchase
About This Book
FODOR’S THE COMPLETE AFRICAN SAFARI PLANNER
Everything You Need to Plan the Adventure of a Lifetime
Fodor’s full-color travel guide can help make your trip to Africa unforgettable with 8 pages of detailed maps, magazine-style illustrated features, 125 stunning photos, and all the practical information you need.
Customize your trip with simple planning tools
Options that fit your travel preferences such as field-tested itineraries and ideas for making the most of your time and easy-to-read color regional maps
Explore South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, and beyond
Discerning Fodor’s Choice picks for hotels, restaurants, sights, and more
“Word of Mouth” tips from fellow Fodor’s travelers
Illustrated features on The Cradle of Mankind, Safari Tipping, and Kenya's Tribes
Recommendations for everything from helicopter rides over Victorias Falls to the Big 5 on Safari and Zulu essentials to bridge the language barrier
Expert opinions, gorgeous photos and graphics
Fodor’s African-based writers reveal their favorite local haunts
Quick and easy to browse with sidebars and key points in full color
Frequently updated to provide the most up-to-date information
“Fodor’s has emerged this year as our fave guidebook series for insider tips about things you actually want to know.” — Miami Herald
“Hipped up…with colorful maps and graphics, plus advice on a broader ranger of attractions, from classic to quirky.” — Outside Magazine
Fodors.com
Find great deals, book a trip, and share your travel tales
Fodor's. For choice travel experiences.
Everything You Need to Plan the Adventure of a Lifetime
Fodor’s full-color travel guide can help make your trip to Africa unforgettable with 8 pages of detailed maps, magazine-style illustrated features, 125 stunning photos, and all the practical information you need.
Customize your trip with simple planning tools
Options that fit your travel preferences such as field-tested itineraries and ideas for making the most of your time and easy-to-read color regional maps
Explore South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, and beyond
Discerning Fodor’s Choice picks for hotels, restaurants, sights, and more
“Word of Mouth” tips from fellow Fodor’s travelers
Illustrated features on The Cradle of Mankind, Safari Tipping, and Kenya's Tribes
Recommendations for everything from helicopter rides over Victorias Falls to the Big 5 on Safari and Zulu essentials to bridge the language barrier
Expert opinions, gorgeous photos and graphics
Fodor’s African-based writers reveal their favorite local haunts
Quick and easy to browse with sidebars and key points in full color
Frequently updated to provide the most up-to-date information
“Fodor’s has emerged this year as our fave guidebook series for insider tips about things you actually want to know.” — Miami Herald
“Hipped up…with colorful maps and graphics, plus advice on a broader ranger of attractions, from classic to quirky.” — Outside Magazine
Fodors.com
Find great deals, book a trip, and share your travel tales
Fodor's. For choice travel experiences.
Table of Contents
About This Book ............ 9
Chapter 1: Your Safari ............ 10
What’s Where ............ 12
When to Go ............ 14
If You Like ............ 16
What’s Your Budget? ............ 22
Safari Planning Timeline ............ 23
Who’s Who ............ 24
Tour Operator Chart & Reviews ............ 25
Special Considerations ............ 36
Types of Safaris ............ 38
The Changing Continent ............ 42
Chapter 2: Flora & Fauna ............ 44
Flora & Fauna Planner ............ 46
Finding the Big 5 ............ 48
Other Animals ............ 60
Birds ............ 64
Trees ............ 66
Plants ............ 68
Chapter 3: Kenya ............ 70
Welcome to Kenya ............ 72
Kenya Planner ............ 74
Must-See Parks ............ 77
Masai Mara ............ 78
Where to Stay ............ 79
Between Masai Mara & Amboseli National Park ............ 89
Amboseli National Resesrve ............ 90
Where to Stay ............ 91
Near Amboseli & Tsavo East & West ............ 96
Tsavo National Park ............ 98
Tsavo East ............ 98
Tsavo West ............ 99
Where to Stay ............ 100
Laikipia Plateau ............ 107
Samburu National Reserve ............ 108
If You Have Time ............ 115
Nairobi National Park ............ 115
Meru National Park ............ 116
The Lakes of Kenya ............ 123
Gateway City ............ 126
Nairobi ............ 126
Nairobi Essentials ............ 133
Beach Escapes ............ 136
The Kenyan Coast ............ 136
Kenya Essentials ............ 156
Transportation ............ 156
Contacts & Resources ............ 161
Green Lodgings in Kenya ............ 168
Chapter 4: Tanzania ............ 170
Welcome to Tanzania ............ 172
Tanzania Planner ............ 174
Must-See Parks ............ 178
Serengeti National Park ............ 179
Where to Stay ............ 180
Ngorongoro Crater ............ 189
Where to Stay on the Crater Rim ............ 191
Where to Stay in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area ............ 194
Lake Manyara National Park ............ 198
Where to Stay ............ 200
Selous Game Reserve ............ 204
Where to Stay ............ 206
Gombe Stream & Mahale Mountains National Parks ............ 212
Gombe Stream National Park ............ 212
Mahale Mountains National Park ............ 213
Where to Stay ............ 214
If You Have Time ............ 216
Arusha National Park ............ 224
Tarangire National Park ............ 225
Ruaha National Park ............ 226
Gateway City ............ 229
Dar es Salaam ............ 229
Arusha ............ 235
Beach Escapes ............ 239
Zanzibar ............ 239
Mnemba Island, Off Zanzibar ............ 246
Tanzania Essentials ............ 250
Transportation ............ 250
Contacts & Resources ............ 251
Green Lodgings in Tanzania ............ 256
Chapter 5: South Africa ............ 258
Welcome to South Africa ............ 260
South Africa Planner ............ 262
Must-See Parks ............ 265
Kruger National Park ............ 266
Where to Stay ............ 270
Sabi Sands Game Reserve ............ 282
Where to Stay ............ 283
KwaZulu-Natal Parks ............ 294
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve ............ 294
Mkuze Game Reserve ............ 299
Itala Game Reserve ............ 300
Phinda Private Game Reserve ............ 301
Thanda Private Game Reserve ............ 303
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park ............ 307
Where to Stay ............ 309
If You Have Time ............ 316
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve ............ 316
Pilanesberg National Park ............ 317
Ukhahlamba/Drakensberg Park ............ 319
Addo Elephant Park ............ 321
Shamwari Game Reserve ............ 323
Gateway Cities ............ 330
Johannesburg ............ 330
Cape Town ............ 338
Johannesburg & Cape Town Essentials ............ 349
Beach Escapes ............ 359
Durban ............ 359
Plettenberg Bay ............ 363
Wilderness ............ 367
Durban, Plettenberg Bay & Wilderness Essentials ............ 369
South Africa Essentials ............ 374
Transportation ............ 374
Contacts & Resources ............ 380
Green Lodgings in South Africa ............ 390
Chapter 6: Botswana ............ 392
Welcome to Botswana ............ 394
Botswana Planner ............ 396
Must-See Parks ............ 399
The Okavango Delta ............ 400
Where to Stay ............ 401
Moremi Wildlife Reserve ............ 410
Where to Stay ............ 411
Chobe National Park ............ 415
Where to Stay ............ 416
Kwando Reserve ............ 422
If You Have Time ............ 425
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve ............ 425
The Makgadikgadi Pans ............ 425
The Tuli Block ............ 426
Linyanti Area ............ 428
Gateway City ............ 429
Beach Escapes ............ 430
Durban ............ 430
Maputaland Coastal Reserve ............ 430
Botswana Essentials ............ 437
Transportation ............ 437
Contacts & Resources ............ 438
Green Lodgings in Botswana ............ 440
Chapter 7: Namibia ............ 442
Welcome to Namibia ............ 444
Namibia Planner ............ 446
Must-See Parks ............ 449
Namib Naukluft Park ............ 450
Sesriem & Sossusvlei ............ 451
Where to Stay ............ 453
Damaraland ............ 462
Where to Stay ............ 465
Etosha National Park ............ 468
Where to Stay ............ 471
If You Have Time ............ 477
The Skeleton Coast ............ 477
Caprivi Strip ............ 480
Waterberg Plateau Park ............ 484
Gateway City ............ 485
Windhoek ............ 485
Beach Escape ............ 491
Swakopmund ............ 491
Namibia Essentials ............ 496
Transportation ............ 496
Contacts & Resources ............ 498
Green Lodgings in Namibia ............ 500
Chapter 8: Victoria Falls ............ 502
Welcome to Victoria Falls ............ 504
Victoria Falls Planner ............ 506
Livingstone, Zambia ............ 510
What to See ............ 510
Where to Stay & Eat ............ 513
Sports & the Outdoors ............ 516
Shopping ............ 519
Livingstone & Zambia Essentials ............ 520
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe ............ 528
What to See ............ 528
Where to Stay & Eat ............ 531
Sports & the Outdoors ............ 533
Shopping ............ 535
Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe Essentials ............ 536
Green Lodgings in Zimbabwe & Zambia ............ 538
Chapter 9: On Safari ............ 540
Getting Started ............ 542
The Paper Trail ............ 543
Money Matters ............ 545
Health Issues ............ 545
What to Pack ............ 549
Clothing ............ 549
Toiletries & Sundries ............ 550
Plugging In ............ 550
Binoculars ............ 555
Camera Smarts ............ 555
Photography Pointers ............ 555
Digital Cameras ............ 556
Video Cameras ............ 556
On Safari ............ 557
Game-Viewing ............ 557
Health on Safari ............ 560
Vocabulary ............ 563
Safari Speak ............ 563
South African Words & Phrases ............ 564
Swahili Essentials ............ 566
Zulu Essentials ............ 568
Index ............ 572
About Our Writers ............ 584
African Safaris In Focus
What to Expect ............ 31
The Big Five ............ 49
The Great Migration ............ 117
Mount Kilimanjaro ............ 217
African Music & Dance ............ 325
African Arts & Culture ............ 431
The Namibia Dunes ............ 457
Victoria Falls ............ 523
Safari Style ............ 551
Close Ups
Kenya’s Tribes ............ 124
To Go or Not to Go ............ 128
Writer Snapshot ............ 180
Keep in Mind ............ 190
The Cradle of Mankind ............ 192
Tanzania’s Tribes ............ 236
South Africa’s Tribes ............ 279
San Culture & Language ............ 311
San Paintings ............ 319
Sip & Spoeg Like an Expert ............ 344—345
Language Barrier ............ 381
Botswana’s Tribes ............ 408
Namibia’s Tribes ............ 476
From Portugal to the Skeleton Coast ............ 479
Windhoek’s Historic Buildings ............ 487
Zambia’s Tribes ............ 514
Zimbabwe’s Tribes ............ 534
Safari Tipping ............ 558
Maps
What’s Where ............ 12—13
Distances and Flying Times ............ 30
Kenya ............ 72—73
Masai Mara National Reserve ............ 80
Amboseli National Reserve ............ 92
Tsavo National Park ............ 101
Laikipia Plateau ............ 109
Nairobi ............ 130
Mombasa ............ 139
Lamu ............ 148
Malindi ............ 153
Tanzania ............ 172—173
Serengeti National Park ............ 181
Ngorongoro Conservation Area ............ 191
Lake Manyara National Park ............ 200
Selous Game Reserve ............ 207
Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks ............ 215
Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park ............ 220
Dar es Salaam ............ 231
Arusha ............ 238
Zanzibar & Mnemba Islands ............ 241
South Africa ............ 260—261
Kruger National Park ............ 268
Sabi Sands Game Reserve ............ 284
KwaZulu-Natal Parks ............ 296
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park ............ 310
Johannesburg ............ 334—335
Cape Town ............ 340—341
Durban ............ 361
Plettenberg Bay ............ 364
Botswana ............ 394—395
The Okavango Delta ............ 402
Moremi Game Reserve ............ 412
Chobe National Park ............ 417
Kwando Reserve ............ 423
Maputaland Coastal Reserve ............ 436
Namibia ............ 444—445
Namib Naukluft Park ............ 452
Damaraland ............ 464
Etosha National Park ............ 470
Windhoek ............ 488
Swakopmund ............ 492
Victoria Falls ............ 504—505
Livingstone ............ 511
Victoria Falls (town) ............ 529
Africa ............ 570—571
Chapter 1: Your Safari ............ 10
What’s Where ............ 12
When to Go ............ 14
If You Like ............ 16
What’s Your Budget? ............ 22
Safari Planning Timeline ............ 23
Who’s Who ............ 24
Tour Operator Chart & Reviews ............ 25
Special Considerations ............ 36
Types of Safaris ............ 38
The Changing Continent ............ 42
Chapter 2: Flora & Fauna ............ 44
Flora & Fauna Planner ............ 46
Finding the Big 5 ............ 48
Other Animals ............ 60
Birds ............ 64
Trees ............ 66
Plants ............ 68
Chapter 3: Kenya ............ 70
Welcome to Kenya ............ 72
Kenya Planner ............ 74
Must-See Parks ............ 77
Masai Mara ............ 78
Where to Stay ............ 79
Between Masai Mara & Amboseli National Park ............ 89
Amboseli National Resesrve ............ 90
Where to Stay ............ 91
Near Amboseli & Tsavo East & West ............ 96
Tsavo National Park ............ 98
Tsavo East ............ 98
Tsavo West ............ 99
Where to Stay ............ 100
Laikipia Plateau ............ 107
Samburu National Reserve ............ 108
If You Have Time ............ 115
Nairobi National Park ............ 115
Meru National Park ............ 116
The Lakes of Kenya ............ 123
Gateway City ............ 126
Nairobi ............ 126
Nairobi Essentials ............ 133
Beach Escapes ............ 136
The Kenyan Coast ............ 136
Kenya Essentials ............ 156
Transportation ............ 156
Contacts & Resources ............ 161
Green Lodgings in Kenya ............ 168
Chapter 4: Tanzania ............ 170
Welcome to Tanzania ............ 172
Tanzania Planner ............ 174
Must-See Parks ............ 178
Serengeti National Park ............ 179
Where to Stay ............ 180
Ngorongoro Crater ............ 189
Where to Stay on the Crater Rim ............ 191
Where to Stay in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area ............ 194
Lake Manyara National Park ............ 198
Where to Stay ............ 200
Selous Game Reserve ............ 204
Where to Stay ............ 206
Gombe Stream & Mahale Mountains National Parks ............ 212
Gombe Stream National Park ............ 212
Mahale Mountains National Park ............ 213
Where to Stay ............ 214
If You Have Time ............ 216
Arusha National Park ............ 224
Tarangire National Park ............ 225
Ruaha National Park ............ 226
Gateway City ............ 229
Dar es Salaam ............ 229
Arusha ............ 235
Beach Escapes ............ 239
Zanzibar ............ 239
Mnemba Island, Off Zanzibar ............ 246
Tanzania Essentials ............ 250
Transportation ............ 250
Contacts & Resources ............ 251
Green Lodgings in Tanzania ............ 256
Chapter 5: South Africa ............ 258
Welcome to South Africa ............ 260
South Africa Planner ............ 262
Must-See Parks ............ 265
Kruger National Park ............ 266
Where to Stay ............ 270
Sabi Sands Game Reserve ............ 282
Where to Stay ............ 283
KwaZulu-Natal Parks ............ 294
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve ............ 294
Mkuze Game Reserve ............ 299
Itala Game Reserve ............ 300
Phinda Private Game Reserve ............ 301
Thanda Private Game Reserve ............ 303
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park ............ 307
Where to Stay ............ 309
If You Have Time ............ 316
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve ............ 316
Pilanesberg National Park ............ 317
Ukhahlamba/Drakensberg Park ............ 319
Addo Elephant Park ............ 321
Shamwari Game Reserve ............ 323
Gateway Cities ............ 330
Johannesburg ............ 330
Cape Town ............ 338
Johannesburg & Cape Town Essentials ............ 349
Beach Escapes ............ 359
Durban ............ 359
Plettenberg Bay ............ 363
Wilderness ............ 367
Durban, Plettenberg Bay & Wilderness Essentials ............ 369
South Africa Essentials ............ 374
Transportation ............ 374
Contacts & Resources ............ 380
Green Lodgings in South Africa ............ 390
Chapter 6: Botswana ............ 392
Welcome to Botswana ............ 394
Botswana Planner ............ 396
Must-See Parks ............ 399
The Okavango Delta ............ 400
Where to Stay ............ 401
Moremi Wildlife Reserve ............ 410
Where to Stay ............ 411
Chobe National Park ............ 415
Where to Stay ............ 416
Kwando Reserve ............ 422
If You Have Time ............ 425
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve ............ 425
The Makgadikgadi Pans ............ 425
The Tuli Block ............ 426
Linyanti Area ............ 428
Gateway City ............ 429
Beach Escapes ............ 430
Durban ............ 430
Maputaland Coastal Reserve ............ 430
Botswana Essentials ............ 437
Transportation ............ 437
Contacts & Resources ............ 438
Green Lodgings in Botswana ............ 440
Chapter 7: Namibia ............ 442
Welcome to Namibia ............ 444
Namibia Planner ............ 446
Must-See Parks ............ 449
Namib Naukluft Park ............ 450
Sesriem & Sossusvlei ............ 451
Where to Stay ............ 453
Damaraland ............ 462
Where to Stay ............ 465
Etosha National Park ............ 468
Where to Stay ............ 471
If You Have Time ............ 477
The Skeleton Coast ............ 477
Caprivi Strip ............ 480
Waterberg Plateau Park ............ 484
Gateway City ............ 485
Windhoek ............ 485
Beach Escape ............ 491
Swakopmund ............ 491
Namibia Essentials ............ 496
Transportation ............ 496
Contacts & Resources ............ 498
Green Lodgings in Namibia ............ 500
Chapter 8: Victoria Falls ............ 502
Welcome to Victoria Falls ............ 504
Victoria Falls Planner ............ 506
Livingstone, Zambia ............ 510
What to See ............ 510
Where to Stay & Eat ............ 513
Sports & the Outdoors ............ 516
Shopping ............ 519
Livingstone & Zambia Essentials ............ 520
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe ............ 528
What to See ............ 528
Where to Stay & Eat ............ 531
Sports & the Outdoors ............ 533
Shopping ............ 535
Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe Essentials ............ 536
Green Lodgings in Zimbabwe & Zambia ............ 538
Chapter 9: On Safari ............ 540
Getting Started ............ 542
The Paper Trail ............ 543
Money Matters ............ 545
Health Issues ............ 545
What to Pack ............ 549
Clothing ............ 549
Toiletries & Sundries ............ 550
Plugging In ............ 550
Binoculars ............ 555
Camera Smarts ............ 555
Photography Pointers ............ 555
Digital Cameras ............ 556
Video Cameras ............ 556
On Safari ............ 557
Game-Viewing ............ 557
Health on Safari ............ 560
Vocabulary ............ 563
Safari Speak ............ 563
South African Words & Phrases ............ 564
Swahili Essentials ............ 566
Zulu Essentials ............ 568
Index ............ 572
About Our Writers ............ 584
African Safaris In Focus
What to Expect ............ 31
The Big Five ............ 49
The Great Migration ............ 117
Mount Kilimanjaro ............ 217
African Music & Dance ............ 325
African Arts & Culture ............ 431
The Namibia Dunes ............ 457
Victoria Falls ............ 523
Safari Style ............ 551
Close Ups
Kenya’s Tribes ............ 124
To Go or Not to Go ............ 128
Writer Snapshot ............ 180
Keep in Mind ............ 190
The Cradle of Mankind ............ 192
Tanzania’s Tribes ............ 236
South Africa’s Tribes ............ 279
San Culture & Language ............ 311
San Paintings ............ 319
Sip & Spoeg Like an Expert ............ 344—345
Language Barrier ............ 381
Botswana’s Tribes ............ 408
Namibia’s Tribes ............ 476
From Portugal to the Skeleton Coast ............ 479
Windhoek’s Historic Buildings ............ 487
Zambia’s Tribes ............ 514
Zimbabwe’s Tribes ............ 534
Safari Tipping ............ 558
Maps
What’s Where ............ 12—13
Distances and Flying Times ............ 30
Kenya ............ 72—73
Masai Mara National Reserve ............ 80
Amboseli National Reserve ............ 92
Tsavo National Park ............ 101
Laikipia Plateau ............ 109
Nairobi ............ 130
Mombasa ............ 139
Lamu ............ 148
Malindi ............ 153
Tanzania ............ 172—173
Serengeti National Park ............ 181
Ngorongoro Conservation Area ............ 191
Lake Manyara National Park ............ 200
Selous Game Reserve ............ 207
Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks ............ 215
Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park ............ 220
Dar es Salaam ............ 231
Arusha ............ 238
Zanzibar & Mnemba Islands ............ 241
South Africa ............ 260—261
Kruger National Park ............ 268
Sabi Sands Game Reserve ............ 284
KwaZulu-Natal Parks ............ 296
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park ............ 310
Johannesburg ............ 334—335
Cape Town ............ 340—341
Durban ............ 361
Plettenberg Bay ............ 364
Botswana ............ 394—395
The Okavango Delta ............ 402
Moremi Game Reserve ............ 412
Chobe National Park ............ 417
Kwando Reserve ............ 423
Maputaland Coastal Reserve ............ 436
Namibia ............ 444—445
Namib Naukluft Park ............ 452
Damaraland ............ 464
Etosha National Park ............ 470
Windhoek ............ 488
Swakopmund ............ 492
Victoria Falls ............ 504—505
Livingstone ............ 511
Victoria Falls (town) ............ 529
Africa ............ 570—571
Check hotel rates and airfares around the world