Camp Town, and Kenya or Tanzania
 

A little help would be nice. Our 21 year old daughter is doing an 8 week internship in Cape Town, SA June and July 2009 through her college (ASU). My wife and I would love to visit her sometime before, during or after this peroid. We figure we would spend about 1 week in Camp Town and then 1-2 weeks seeing Kenya or Tanzania maybe doing a sarfari or staying at a local hotel ( I've heard about one called "Treetops"). A couple years ago we spent 5 days in Cairo with a personal guide and loved it, so we would love to see some of Africa farther south.

This will probably be a once in a lifetime trip so we would like to see some of the "real" Africa. If you have any suggestions or recommendations for a personal guide , boy we sure could use it. (ps we have a friend in Addis Ababa would it be worth the stop?)

Thanks

Hi edarmistead,,
Despite I have no idea what the abbreviation ASU means I would highly encourage you to make it 2 weeks post Cape Town!

Especially you mention a "once in a lifetime" I would suggest you do fly from Cape Town

- to Kruger International and visit Sabi Sands Game reserve (greater Kruger) for 4 nights/one lodge.

- proceed from there to Kilimanjaro International airport (or Dar es Salam) and visit the Serengeti for 4 nights/one camp. From there you go further to

- the Massai Mara (via Nairobi or road transfer direct) in order to observe the great Migration (Wildebeest/Zebra) and stay in the Massai Mara Game Reserve as well for 4 nights/one lodge/camp.

Okay it's exceeding 14 days but as you say it's a "once in a lifetime thing" and if time allows i would definitely go there even if it's for 3 nights each.

And I would travel as late in July as possible.

What about your budget?

I assume you are US citizen......
Travel days included in the travel time?

This is just to give you an idea on "my" ideas and how I would spend the time :-)

SV

First, I'd check to see which airline/s will get you from your home city to CPT, then to Tanzania and/or Kenya and back to home. Travel time between countries can easily eat up 2-3/days as flights are limited and can be costly.

You can certainly get safari in South Africa (i.e, Kurger) head up to Victoria Falls, even nearby Botswana, but if wishing to go to East Africa, know that if June the prices in Kenya will be lower than in Tanzania. Tanzania prices are at hi-season both June & July. So, you then have to figure out what your budget will be for these land segments.

Re: "Treetops" - there is a Treetops camp in Tarangire, Tanzania, also a Tree Lodge at Lk. Manyara; in Kenya there's a Treetops in the Aberdares area.

In either country, you can arrange for a private safari with your own guide/vehicle, if you choose to drive between parks, or if flying between, then you use guides/vehicles of the lodges/camps where you overnight. Unless, of course, you want to pay supplement for private guide/vehicles.

Addis - well, that's still another country (Ethiopia), so another flight to/from.

I'd suggest you do a bit more research if you want to visit both Southern and Eastern Africa in one trip.

Sandi,

isn't there also a Tree Lodge one of the venues at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge/andbeyond?

I cannot trace it - but mean of having heart about it....

SV

As mentioned above, the Tree Lodge at Lk. Manyara is a CCA (andBeyond) property. Crater Lodge at Ngorongoro is also a CCA property. "Treetops" at Tarangire is an Elewana property.

With one or two weeks, she may want to remain in South Africa and enjoy the parks around Kruger. If she self-drives in Kruger, she can save money. Or she can opt for an escorted trip with a guide in Kruger or the neighboring Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Even that will save money instead of flying to Kenya or Tanzania and it will save time as well.

Her internship may allow time to enjoy the many wonderful things around Cape Town, but if not, some of that post-internship holiday time should be allotted to Cape Town—Robben Island, where Mandela was held prisoner, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape of Good Hope, penguins at Boulders Bay, baboon walks out of Simons Town with Baboon Matters, and seeing the Great White Sharks. June-July is prime time for the sharks, especially to see the Great Whites that breach out of the water to prey on seals that swim out from Seal Island in False Bay. Morning, and sometimes even afternoon trips run by African Shark Eco Charters, leave from Simons Town. That sounds like an ad for them, but I spent a week last year in July viewing the sharks with this company and it was wonderful. I didn’t go in the cage for underwater views, but many people did.

If your daughter goes to Kenya in July, I’d definitely suggest at least 3 nights in the Maasai Mara where the wildebeest and zebra migrate from the Serengeti in the dry months. They usually start arriving in June or July. Depending on the Treetops that you are interested in, that could be included too.

Depending on which countries you end up in, the personal guide recommendation can be made. There are many reputable companies and excellent guides.

I have no knowledge of Addis Ababa.

As for this being once in a lifetime, if your daughter gets bitten by the "Africa Bug" while still completing her studies, she'll likely return a few times in her many years.

It is very interesting at the Treetops , watching the elephants from the comfort of your treetop room as the come to lick the salts , a wonderful experience ! It is also great you have a grounds person in Tanzania . We went to Kogelo for Seven days before and on the day of Inoguration of Barack Obama , with a guide by the name Isaac . His email is [email protected] . Before the D day , we had to tour the Crescent Island , where the famous movie OUT OF AFRICA was shot in the middle of lake Naivasha , a very good experience , you actually loop with the wildlife . We did Maasai Mara and the Tfalls too . You can fine our Pixmam photos for this trip at www.jointhewave.com . Open the site and click on the Kenyan map .Also if you have time , go to lake Nakuru National Park for the rare White Rhinos and Millions of Flamingos . Isaac is of high integrity , a person we were /are happy to call a friend .
Regards.

The "Treetops" that walecy99 refers to is in Kenya at the Aberdares.

sandi

you are quite a safari bible. Obviously you LIVE safari!

Great lifestyle!

SV

... it would be a better lifestyle if I was "in Afree-kah" at least 6/months annually :) I can dream!!