Anyone planning a safari?
 

It appears as though most safari planning has stopped. Is this a sign that the economy is having a severe effect on travel to Africa? Anyone making plans for next May-October? Any sign that the travel industry is readjusting itself to atract business? Just curious because the nature of posts on this forum has changed dramatically.
Ted

We're sitting on ~750,000 FF miles and with the USD:ZAR rates as they are, we'll be pre-paying this winter for some nights (probably Sabi Sands) in Aug/Sept. Working on dates and an itinerary now; it will also include some time on the SA west coast in wildflower season.

Like the gone-but-not-forgotten Pacific Dessert Company said, "Life is uncertain; eat dessert first."

I do expect, however, that there will be a lot more domestic tourism in most countries, including safari visits from locals.

So you noticed Ted? Me too. I have a safari planned for Aug 2009 that got finalized 3 hours before the crash. Well, not exactly, but close. That won't change unless the international or even domestic flights needed to get me to those places are cancelled.

I'm almost embarrassed to mention any upcoming travel plans when the whole financial world is falling apart, but I operate on about a 2-year lag. Money I spend now was made about 2 years ago.

I did investigate some travel for Aug of 2010 to see if I could snap up some very attractive deals. The couple of quotes I've gotten have been pretty business as usual I would say. Nothing to entice me. I'm waiting for another one or two that I am hoping will be more attractive.

In early Oct when I was looking at some South Africa locations for June 2009, thinking I'd take advantage of the good exchange rate, the dates I wanted were all sold out. The domestic tourism Gardyloo mentions might have been part of the reason. I was surprised.

Might be worth keeping a close watch on those properties for June 2009. My guess is that some are being held with no or with minimum deposits. That picture might well change as the time draws closer. I notice that Mala Mala has made no adjustments in price other than the usual increase in 2009 rates. They haven't even taken the drastic change in Rand vs US Dollar exchange rates. That seems a foolish thing to do unless they really are not seeing the effects of this global economic meltdown. I know some camps in SA have a different rate structure for resident nationals. Still I doubt that these camps will make up the shortfall with local tourisim. The first crack in the damn seems to be Wilderness and their bonus day incentives. We need a thread to keep track of any deals? Why not?
Ted

Another Fodorite and I are looking to put together something for next year, albeit value-priced. Nothing concrete, yet, but we'll let our fellow Fodorites know if anything firms up.

I'm working on Kenya and Madagascar for late August/early September. Just booked our flights this week. Still working on the Madagascar itinerary and when I'm done with that, I'll work on Kenya.

I am getting a lot of specials coming through. Most of them are only valid until early next year, but I am expecting more. I think that the competition out there for the vastly reduced number of travelers is going to increase hugely unless there are big changes within the economy.

I am in the early looking stages of planning a trip too.

I am still trying to figure out the best place to visit for June for safari. Any advice would be great. I know 'best place' is probably a personal preference but I am looking to see what I have been seeing called the big five. No basic camping, some of the permanent camps look great as I would like to still be close to the animals.

Poppins,
can you provide any of the websites that you are getting specials for?

Thanks! This forum is great so many helpful posters.

I am doing a trip to Cape Town and then Tanzania in June-July, but it is a trip that has been in the works for about 2 years, and we finalized the itinerary and paid the deposit a few months ago.

Chris

We are scheduled for Botswana in May and much like Chris, our trip has been in the works for a long time. We are using a new travel agent and the safari has developed quite nicely. Can't wait.
Chuck

No safari planning but that's not really down to current economy so much as the fact we just did an expensive safari trip and are just about to an expensive Antarctic trip. We always knew when we booked these two trips that 2009 would need to be a lean year to balance our 2008 excesses!

So no planning, but still dreaming!

We were in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park just this last April, so we weren't thinking of going back any time soon. HOWEVER, with the rand at ten to the dollar, and SAA advertising specials all over the place, we're starting to think, ever so idly, of how nice it would be to spend just a week or two in January under the warm African sun.

I would expect to see more deals as time moves forward. I could only get one way FF tix on VS for my trip in January, so I bought a UC ticket ex ORT to LHR planning to pay the change fee and resuse it later in 2009 or Jan 2010 when I'm able to score another one way to complete the itinerary. I booked the ticket and it cost $4300, now the same ticket (which I need for DW, the agent made a mistake and sold me 1 not 2) is $3500. Though I don't expect anymore exchange rate help.
My sense is that if you're able to jump on things at short notice you might do quite well next year.
It's certainly true that FF tickets will be easier to come by, a downturn is a good time to remove some of that liability from the balance sheet.

I'm heading to the Mara for the migration in late August, with a likely stop somewhere in southern Africa as well. I am cutting back a bit on a few aspects of overall travel, but not # of safari days.

Planning? Always. December next.

Reservations made for Kruger, Kings Camp, and Kirkmans Kamp, (all South Africa) Sep 2009. All rates are in Rand so whatever the exchange rate is will be my cost. Now 10 to 1, last summer was 7 to 1.

FWIW, when there was that election problem in Kenya (two years ago?) and those camps were losing business, I talked with Somak Travel (Kenyian specialists) about a good deal in Kenya, leaving/going anytime. They came back with nothing of interest and prices that were way high. I did not pursue it nor contact any camps directly.

Still tempting sometimes to fly into Maun and see what deals the local camp offices give you for going right then and there. This year might be a good time to test that. Naaaay, not gonna happen.

regards - tom

I booked FF tickets for end of August/beginning of September already for US/Nairobi but am waiting until after the New Years rush to get with prospective outfitters and see how availability is and what can be had for my budget. That is partly because of the economy, partly because of my and my husband's prospective work commitments which will be more clear in a couple of months and partly to continue to assess the safety situation. I would probably plan to spend about the same per night one way or the other but if specials are available at properties I would otherwise choose or better properties are available for the same price as an "upgrade" well that's just a plus. I would expect though that "rack" rates will prevail for a while and when it gets closer if bookings aren't coming through then discounts may be had.

<i>Still tempting sometimes to fly into Maun and see what deals the local camp offices give you for going right then and there. This year might be a good time to test that.</i>

C'mon, Tom. Where's your sense of adventure? :)

i HOPE that this whole mess (credit crunch) will lead the botswana camps - especially wilderness - come to terms with rates/increase!

it's sad if people have to slow down.........but botswana/zambia and also south africa needs to get a wake up call!

increases of 25% + per annum is just insane and cannot be justified by ANYTHING!

div