I am currently in West Africa finishing up a job contract and am planning (last minute, I know) a safari for the second-third week of July in either Kenya or Tanzania as a little vacation before I head home to the US.

I've been looking for a 5-6 day safari, camping/budget accommodations. Two biggest hurdles so far have been 1) there are SO MANY tour operators in both of these countries that I don't know where to begin or how to tell who's legitimate, responsible, good, etc. and 2) I am a *single traveller* looking to try and join a group. I thought I had found something through a company for a Kenya trip, but that ended up falling through so now I'm essentially back to square one.

I would really love some advice on any or all of the following points:
- Tour companies that are reputable, have budget/camping options, and operate group safaris that someone like me could join (instead of just private bookings)
- Any opinions on Tanzania v. Kenya for a first-time safari goer; or suggestions of ways to combine the two that are not prohibitively expensive and/or very long (I really would only want to be out for a week max.)
- Information from anyone who might be in the same boat as me and trying to get a group together for a safari in Tanzania or Kenya

Again, looking at 5-6 days, probably just one country or the other, budget/camping in a group, running sometime between July 7th/8th and the 18th/19th. Sites that interest me in each location are: Amboseli, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru (or another of the lakes) in Kenya; Serengeti and Ngorongoro, maybe Manyara or Tarangire in Tanzania (though I don't know the merits of the last two as they compare to each other in July).

Any advice/direction would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Thanks in advance

Finding a legitimate tour operator may not be a problem. The issue is;
1.Getting a group that is going on a tour on those specific dates and to those specific place and of your budget. And if they are.....
2.Whether the group is willing to accommodate you.

I can highly recommend a Uniglobe member(speedbird) that are quite resourceful and will quote you the best rates.You can be sure they will not disappoint since they are a franchise internationally.But also kindly note it is high season in Kenya and so even the cheapest accommodation/camping sites hike their prices.

pody is spot on.
Tour operators are out there, but finding a group for the dates you need and where you wish to visit.. rather difficult. There are many recent threads on Trip Advisor www.tripadvisor.com/forums (select Kenya or Tanzania) for solo travelers with the same issue.

Suggest you pop over to TA and see if any of those recent inquiries have had success. Good luck!

I used a man from recommendation from this site...he was fantastic!!!! ( in 2010 )

Diederik van den Hoeke,living in Afica somewhere will get up together.

[email protected]

best of luck...Maxine

It is possible to get a group travelling on those dates. Your choice of Amboseli, Maasai mara and Lake Nakuru is a nice pick since that is the most popular circuit and you will not have to waste alot of time on the road getting from one park to the next