Affordable safaris
 

Hi - Can someone please recommend affordable safaris in South Africa. I would like to do two camps and spend 3 days each on both. We have a budget of a maximum of USD$500- $600 for two people per day.

This will be from end of November..beginning December

You could take a look at camps in Timbavati Private Game Reserve. A friend of mine went to Umlani and liked it.

www.elephantplains.com

There is no better value for money in Sabi Sands/greater Kruger.

But you must be lucky if they have availability....

Good luck!

SV

Try Gomo Gomo in Timbavati -
http://www.gomogomo.co.za/frameset.html
From Jo'burg JNB you fly to Hoedspruit (HDS) on SAA and then GomoGomo drives/shuttles you into camp. (Typical of camps in the Timbavati). Unless you happen to be self driving then you could drive into camp.

regards - tom

Hi spassvogel,

They certainly do look good value...how many people per vehicle? I notice they only have a private vehicle if you have a minimum of four people which I can understand but doesn't seem very private'?

A camp with a private vehicle, e.g, two people, for $300 per person per night (and no extra $300 for vehicle)? Please let me know when you find one.

regards - tom

We stayed at Elephant Plains and Gomo Gomo in 2008. The former is a much nicer property, but Gomo Gomo was perfectly comfortable, too. We had some terrific sightings at Gomo Gomo.

How about a self-drive in Kruger Park?

I just got back from Arathusa (in Sabi Sands), Pafuri (northern Kruger) and Mashatu Tented camp. 10 days, under $3500 including domestic charter flights and road transfers per person!! It was amazing! If you drive, I bet you could do it in your budget (skipping Pafuri). I can also say Elephant Plains used some of the same property as Arathusa, and the game viewing was great and the guides we met in passing seemed very nice. We LOVED Mashatu. Can't wait to go back. Pafuri was OK. I'd try Gomo Gomo - great prices and Timbavati has excellent game viewing. We had 10 people in our vehicle for a few days at Arathusa, but everyone was so much fun it actually enhanced our experience! Who would have thought that!!?? IMO it makes sense to go to EP, Arathusa and/or gomo gomo. They aren't that much more than staying in Kruger and paying for game drives and food. Great value. Keep in mind you are going at a more expensive time of year than we went.

This thread is one that TA's and operators should take note of. Because this is what people need and this is what will surely sell and continue to sell.

Honest prices. Value for money.

Tanky
reg. your question: for serious photographer it's too many. If they are full - then the cars are full up to capacity means 9 pax.

EP is not an excepting - you find that even in BIT/Kwando and they are 4 times that rates ;-)

Pixelpower
You are partly right! That is what SOME people like and need.
Serious photographers must have a windowe seat and space for keeping their equipment. 9 people in a car means equipment on the lap - not for photographers.

I would love to go and stay for ages at e.g. EP. But the risk of being captured in such packed cars is too high. Also the risk of movements at all times is to be considered.

Regrettably EP has canceled the opportunity to "buy" the middle seat for 250ZAR/game drive which would have been a reasonable choice. Now you have to pay for every seat available at the vehicle which won't be occupied means for a couple you pay 250ZAR x 7 :-(

SV

But still as a sole safari experience - V4M is exceptionally good.

I have found lots of good value for money private game reserves. Thornybush has given us this many times over as have certain camps in Sabi Sands. We always balance our trips with self drive in Sanparks or Ezemvelo accommodation which is very reasonably priced together with a few days at a luxury lodge and find the balance works out perfectly. I agree that I cannot justify the huge prices per night being charged by so many lodges nowadays and their empty beds are testament to this.

Spassvogel...the way I read it was that the vehicle was 3000ZAR per day but you had to have 4 people in it. i.e. you can't have a private vehicle if you are travelling alone. I might e-mail them to check. Don't ODP take photographic safaris there?

thanks for your responses. Now I think I can afford a trip to South Africa. Mahatsu and Gomo gomo fall in our budget. Any other camps around that range. Also - are these 2 camps different..cause we would like to spend 3 days in each. Any other camp to compliment.

Mashatu and Gomo Gomo will work nicely, the detail is how to get from one to the other. And it will cost a few $$$. Gomo Gomo web site has some cost info for them, Mashatu site probably does also. The airport at Hoedspruit (HDS) might work as a good go between transfer point. Certainly HDS is one way to get to/from JNB. We have used several times to/from the Timbavati Reserve.

regards - tom

Hi.

Above posters give good advice. I have been on 10+ safaris in the greater Kruger area and end up agreeing with the first respondent - Umlani Bushcamp in Timbavati is our favourite, but that may be because we don't want to spend big $$$ each time. Great guides, good vehicles and because it's a rustic 'bushcamp' you are right amongst the animals - we've had elephant, buffalo, hyena and honey badger (at night) come through the camp.

Rob

Keep in mind it will take you a full day to drive from Gomo Gomo to Mashatu and you have to get to the border crossing at the right times or they aren't open. If you fly, you have to fly through JNB, then Polokwane (formerly Pietersberg), then a charter to Mashatu. If you have your heart set on Mashatu, consider combining it with a northwest province area camp. If you have your heart set on Gomo Gomo, I would probably go to another camp near or in Kruger. The transportation (and rental cars are more expensive than expected) might kill your time frame and/or budget. You don't want to miss any game drives, so being closer would help.

Mashatu tented (which I loved and don't want to talk you out of by any means) is VERY rustic. Just wanted to warn you so you are prepared for it. The tent has zippers, no doors, and the bathroom is private and attached in an enclosure (fence), but outside. Little electricity and it could be HOT when you go. No AC, just a floor fan. Request a high numbered tent - we were in #2, and I think the mossies there could be brutal in summer, but it was also shaded (thus the mossies), so maybe not as hot.....

If you are driving add a day so you don't miss any game drives and take the Panorama Route and stay over somewhere nice and make your way to Mashatu (or GG depending on your direction). There is also a nice place outside Mashatu in S Africa called Mopane Lodge.

@ Spassvogel
>> Serious photographers must have a windowe seat and space for keeping their equipment. 9 people in a car means equipment on the lap - not for photographers.

And how many of the photographers are that "serious". Ic how many can AFFORD a private vehicle in a concession? For how many of them is their hobby that important?

I have not been at a safari camp where 9 guests were in my vehicle. Just lucky I guess? If it should happen, the management would hear about it very strongly. Seven is max I've ever been in. I have seen vehicles with 9-10 but that may be because the group wanted it that way.

How many safari guests are "serious" photographers? Hmmm, maybe 1 in 5? I'd guess about half the time in my vehicles there has been another guest with at least some serious camera kit. So, I will watch for this and note it on my upcoming safari. 21 days to go.

regards - tom