African Safari
 

I want to take my husband on an African Safari as a surprise 50th birthday gift. I was wondering if anyone could tell me a good group tour to do. totally want to do a tour where everything is planned for us....we are totally open to go on any safari..I just want a good safari experience..I have no idea right now when we will be able to go, it depends on my husband's job..please let me know the good times of year to go on a safari...

Could you give us an idea of your budget? You can do a group tour, but might also be able do a private safari. I'd suggest East Africa (Kenya or Tanzania) for your first safari (and yes, it probably be your first, not your only, safari!) Usually, the dry season of June - September is a good time to go, although there is a short dry period around February when you could also go (Tanzania for that one.)

thanks for your response. I am pretty open budget wise..I am open to a private or group tour. I have been saving for this trip for awhile because I knew my husband's dream was to go on a safari...so any suggestions of tours would be greatly appreciated...

Abercrombie and Kent.
http://www.abercrombiekent.com/trave...africa-safari/
Might give you some starter ideas.

regards - tom

I'd suggest contacting Bill Given of "The Wild Source". He's not only a safari planner, but also a wildlife biologist and does a great job of putting you where the action is depending on the time of year you go. I've been on 12 safaris, so I've got some experience in using different planners and have even worked directly with outfitters. Bill planned my Botswana/ Zimbabwe safari in 2010 and has planned my safari for this year (going to Kenya and Tanzania with 7 ladies.) He's got a great guide in Tanzania, Deo, that guided the filmmakers of "Real Serengeti." One of the most important aspects of your safari will be the quality of the guides. A friend of mine recently decided to go "budget" for her African safari and went with Friendly Planet... bad choice! The guides were terrible.

ShayTay -

>>A friend of mine recently decided to go "budget" for her African safari and went with Friendly Planet... bad choice! The guides were terrible.>>

... the same friend! :)

budget is fine, but was sad to hear of poor guides.

Yep, Sandi, I had forgotten that you knew her. I tried to get her to go with me this summer... oh, well!

No advertising, Jenny.

Happy Birthday to your husband. You'll get to share the gift as well. Good plan.

At what point will you tell your husband? He might enjoy some input on the plans too.

I understand the idea of everything planned for you where you just show up and a guide or guides take it from there. In Africa that mode of travel is typically done for a "group" of 2. Just you and your husband. There are advantages to your own vehicle where you can be on your own schedule and spend time with the wildlife of your preference. A trip for two is not more expensive than group trips by companies like A&K. But their itineraries are good places to start.

Here is a helpful chart on when to go. The company that does the chart also does group trips and totally preplanned trips for 2 (or in my case, usually for 1). As weather patterns become less predictable, this chart and any chart becomes less accurate.

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

Looks like some initial planning threads would also be helpful. Here are some:

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...ny-options.cfm

The above link includes another link to this next one in which the poster asked questions, went on the trip, and returned with answers. She has since done other Africa trips.

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...ng-my-trip.cfm


Safari craig’s comparison in this next link is thorough and helpful.

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...a-tanzania.cfm

Does your husband's dream include basic tents for accommodations, nice lodges, huge herds of migrating wildebeests/zebras, very few other vehicles in sight, special must-see animals, spending time on foot in the bush, gorillas and chimps, birdwatching, canoeing rivers, time in villages or mostly in the bush, focus on photography? The answers to these questions are important for creating the perfect safari. Different parts of Africa, different parks, and different styles of travel can maximize your enjoyment of the trip, depending on what you want.

If you can list some of your preferences, including times of year that won't work and how long your planning horizon is, then you'll get lots of good suggestions.

It will be a 50th to remember!