Comparing safari tour operators ok?
 

Is it ok to get quotes from different safari tour operators? We'd like to compare camp sites/pricing/tour inclusion. I assume this is reasonable even if they end up quotes a similar camp site? I want to be sure this is taboo in the region. If they find out, we don't want them to cancel on us. Thanks for any advice!

Yes, it’s ok….to a point. I wouldn’t go with more than 2-3 and I definitely would not engage on repeated back and forth requests for tweaking an itinerary unless you are truly interested. Once you engage and ask for changes, add this here, change that there, it’s implication you’re interested in their itinerary and want to work with them; it would be bad form to do that with more than one. I’d ask each of the three an initial itinerary for the same number of camps for the same number of days and narrow it down from there.

Thank you

do these companies charge for their itineraries?

I have never been charged for itineraries although I have heard that some will and are upfront about that. (If they do, they usually they deduct whatever it cost from your final trip cost) The one thing to note here, is I've never been able to book the same camps/logistics on my own and come out with a lower price than a safari planner can. They have access to rates and providers that I don't. Prices you get booking on your own are usually "rack rates" which are the highest and do not reflect relationship or industry discounts.

Yes that's so true-better off working with a safari planner. Do you use anyone for Zambia?