indiancouple

AKR1, thanks for a wonderful Trip Report, and absolutely lovely photographs. Thoroughly enjoyed both. We are leaving for a safari ourselves to the very same parks that you covered, and it was very interesting to read through your report.

TC

Marking for future planning. Thanks for a great report.

AKR1

Pictures have been organized. Please see several posts up.

atravelynn

Even without any processing, the photos are lovely. Your organization of albums gives a good enough indication of where you were. Thanks for the great trip report!

jdavies

Without sounding to nosy, how much did this trip cost you all together? Just interested because my family did a 10 day trip 4 years ago, flying from San Francisco, it cost us 5,000 p.p. We went through an amazing tour company, Green Footprints.
Thanks

AKR1

Jdavis,

Which camps did you stay in and did you fly between all the camps?
regards

jodo

We are plotting a first safari to Africs...very overwhelming...Looked at S. Africa, mainly because we are going to try to use ff miles on S African Airways and that seems to be the easiest entry from the States. Your trip report here, however, has us ga-ga.....Do you have suggestions for a S. African trip that has this interest, but perhaps not quite the traveling hardship....My biggest worries: MOSQUITOES (allergic to deet, which is unfortunate)...and long rides in bumpy jeeps (darm the back)...I was looking for another trip report from you, but haven't found one....Can you direct us? Thanks...and thanks for the wonderful trip report and gorgeous pics

AKR1

Jodo,

My view is South Africa is great for a first safari especially if you want to limit the number of days on safari- safari at good camps is a very expensive holiday and what we did in South Africa was to combine 7 nights on safari with a week in Cape Town that worked out well. Also, the Sabi Sands is an excellent safari destination with a virtual guaranty (make that a very good probability) of seeing the big 5, especially leopards that are hard to see in East Africa. On the other hand, East Africa has the vast open spaces and the real "Out of Africa" look and feel, but is harder to plan and much more expensive if done right with a fly-in safari model (what I learned was fly-in is critical in East Africa). The one negative in the Sabi Sands was the fences that for me were a turn off even though they make sense given the reality on the ground.

If you want to read my S.Africa trip report post your e-mail as I cannot find it on Fodors anymore (I think they have a 3 year time limit).

pepnjak

Wonderful photos....WONDERFUL!

sandi

jodo -

Suggest you start your own thread for your upcomping trip. Otherwise, any replies will be lost having tagged onto this trip report. With your own thread, replies will be specific to your query.

jodo

thanks...I will...and my e mail is [email protected]
Would love to read your trip report AKR1

jodo

also, AKR1...just in case I can't read your South Africa trip report, where did you stay in Sabi Sands?

Marcobatuta

Unfortunately our Safari with Neodestinations was quite a disaster. We booked an identical safari in Kenya and Tanzania with Larry Naphthally and were subsequently abandoned by his tour group half way through the itinerary at the Kilimanjaro airport. After a late night drive to Serena hotel we found out that the vouchers for our stay at that hotel were fictitious. We were forced to rebook and refinance our safari with the aid of the Serena group. Incidentally, the Serena Hotel group were able to duplicate the rest of the safari at a similar price with no prior notice. Needless to say we did file a report with the Kenya Police in Nairobi about Larry Naphthally's antics. After a rather shattering experience such as this I would strongly recommend to future travelers that they be very cautious in booking tours through small local tour operators in Kenya and Tanzania. Furthermore, should they decide to take this risk I would urge them not to pay via bank wire transfers but rather use credit cards for payments ( no matter how vehement the tour operators protests). And finally do call the lodges and hotels and confirm your stay with them. Do not take the vouchers from these local tour operators as valid unless so verified.
Africa and the game sanctuaries are wonderful, the safaris are breathtaking experiences and life changing in many ways. I encourage all who can to take the trip but please remember it's not a trip in western Europe or North America and one does need to take reasonable travel precautions.

AKR1

I am extremely angry this happened. The person who posted above is a close friend of ours and I unfortunately recommended this Agent to them based on our experience last year. The Kenyan authorities should shut Neo Destinations down immediately. They are nothing but common criminals.