Best Mobile Safari in Botswana?
 

I'm planning a honeymoon safari for my future wife and I -- sort of a minor league Kavey expedition.

4 weeks total
4 nights Bazaruto island
10 nights Botswana safari
14 nights South Africa self-drive

After much searching on the web as well as reading this informative forum, I've concluded that high season camp rates are beyond our budget. We'll enjoy some luxury on Bazaruto, then the quality of the game viewing is much more important to us than the quality of the accomodations -- we're both the adventurous camping type.

From what I've read it seems that a mobile camping type safari from Maun to Vic Falls is the best balance between game viewing and budget if the camps are on private concessions with good game viewing.

Both sundowner and mkhonzo seem to have had good experiences with gametrailsbotswana; however, there schedule isn't a great fit with our flights (but still doable if we rearrange the order of the itinerary). Also saw that Rocco looked into CC Africa's mobile safaris at one time. And that judithlorraine mentioned having been on one in the past.

I would like to hear from anyone with their thoughts on any approximately 10 day mobile safari through Okavango, Moremi, Savute, and Chobe.

Should we rearrange our schedule to take advantage of the good reviews on gametrails or do the areas cc africa or others traverse offer as productive game viewing.

Then I'm going to use Kavey's great report for lodging ideas for our self-drive, especially in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi area.

Thanks,
Pete

Also just booked flights on AirFrance through EconomyTravel.com for $1387 including tax from Eastern U.S. -- rate good July 31 and later

I think Mike Pennmen from the hit animal planet TV show (Mad mike and mark) runs his private mobile safaris in Botswana also. I think wildlife frontiers, is the name of the company. Do a search and see what you come across.....

Mike is verry good but if you are looking for not luxury and private safari for the 2 of you, I would try Jack and Eve Drew, they are based in Maun and offer custom safaris for couples.Sure if you google their names you will find them.
Good luck

We did a 10-day luxury camping mobile safari with Karibu Safaris (www.karibu.co.za) in 2003, that runs between Maun and Victoria Falls and visits all the areas you mentioned. We we extremely pleased with the service, the quality of the guide and camp staff, and the quality of the game viewing. Our trip was called the "Livingstone Safari" if you look at Karibu's web site.
Chris

Congratulations on your marriage and honeymoon in Africa!

The guide on our mobile safari with gametrails was Nick. His daughter and her husband also own a mobile safari company, http://www.masson-safaris.com/

Before I knew my family was going to RSA and Namibia this year, I thought about trying them for a mobile safari and this is what they said:

<i>We do a lot of private Safaris for couples and even single professional
photographers. The price will be in the region of US$ 310.00 per person,
per day if there are 2 of you on a tailor-made Safari. The final cost
will depend on the number of days and the distance traveled in the Itinerary.

This price includes:
A fully mobile camp as described in our website www.masson-safaris.com.
Professional Guide and Safari Vehicle.
All excursions as described in the Itinerary.
All Meals and Snacks.
Camp Staff and Chef.
Limited soft drinks, beer and wine.
All Park Fees and Camping Fees.
All Government Taxes, including 10% vat.

Out-of-pocket expense will be for things of a personal nature, curios,
travel insurance, flights and staff gratuities.</i>

There is a trip report here on fodors from Mike59 who recently used Masson Safaris http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...amp;searchText

Just another option for you to consider - a private mobile safari. How cool is that!

Thanks everyone.

Sundowner, thanks for the further lead on Masson. Everything I read looks good.

Anyone with comments on Gametrails or CC Africa? We'll be in southern Africa all of August.

Thanks