stokeygirl

I don't have much to add to the above, except that a lot of properties in Botswana simply don't take direct bookings (Wilderness Safaris for example). I think it's because it can be quite complicated with all the light aircraft transfers.

In any case, an agent shouldn't cost any more due to the commission type arrangement they have with the camps, and an independent agent will be able to advise you on the pros and cons of different companies.

I'm actually off to Botswana in a few weeks time and I've chosen the Shinde/Selinda Explorers combination myself. I have been to Shinde before, and to the Selinda area (I stayed at the main camp) and I think they make a great combination. This year, I think the water is just coming through to the Spillway now, so if you are looking at April I think probably canoeing won't be possible at Selinda. But Shinde offers a good combination of water and land activities- it's a classic delta camp. Both offer walking. Both areas are stunning with excellent game viewing. And they are moderately priced too (for Botswana). I think between these two camps, you will get to see a good mix of activities and wildlife.

christabir

An agent can cost more because they tend to "suggest" lodges and camps at the top of or above the budget. They get bigger commissions from the more expensive lodges. I would use an agent based in S Africa/Botswana because they don't only know the heavily marketed lodges, they also know the smaller locally owned lodges as well.

For Botswana you have to use an agent for most trips, though not with Footsteps-in-Africa, but S Africa can be booked on your own for most trips.

Happy to hear you will be visiting KZN (I hope you still visit Kruger - it is spectacular). I love it - my favorite area of S Africa. If you are interested in a rhino tag, LoJack and DNA ID, let me know. It was my best day ever. Hopefully next year they won't have to do it any more.

We stayed at Vumbura Plains a while back. They have wet/dry activities. But it's really expensive! Little Vumbura might work too. Funny, we are going to S Africa next month and our two week trip will cost less than two nights at VP (including international flights). We will see plenty of wildlife.

Southern Africa is currently experiencing a terrible drought. Historically droughts go two years (but who knows anymore) so it might be dry next year too. Just keep that in mind as this year some wet and combo camps ended their wet activities very early. Historically, dry years are followed by wet years....

TC

Christibir: <I>"An agent can cost more because they tend to "suggest" lodges and camps at the top of or above the budget."</I>

Which is why one does their own research and has a solid foundation of information prior to working with an agent.

christabir

TC - it can be hard to find rates for many lodges in Botswana. And I've only seen charter rates from one "chain". Many agents don't break down costs to really compare apples to apples. So one can do as much research as possible and still have no idea what the cost should actually be. Charters, road transfers and private tours can add up in all of southern Africa but we have no way to know how much they should be - and are always more than we expect. Ten years ago when I went the first time, very little info was available online.

stokeygirl

Rates aren't that hard to find now- many lodge chains have rack rates on their website (I see Wilderness do, for example), as do some agents. I find Africa Travel Resource's website pretty good for camp prices. As for charters, the price varies depending on the length of the leg, but if doing several camps in the northern Botswana area, I find an average of $200-250 is a good rule of thumb- but going down to the southern areas (eg Central Kalahari) will be more. So if starting in Maun, ending in Kasane, doing 1 delta camp, 1 linyanti that's 3 transfers but quite a long distance, so will probably cost ballpark $750. If you were starting in Maun, doing 2 delta camps and back to Maun, these would be shorter hops so the cost might be nearer $600.

As for water levels, in the delta these are also determined by the incoming flood of water that collects in the Angolan highlands. The flood waters are just starting to arrive but the initial reports I've been seeing suggest above average flood waters.

The El Nino phenomenen has caused drought in South Africa, but it has also caused exceptional flooding and heavy rains in East Africa, so somewhere in the middle there is a transition between the two extremes. In Ruaha, for example, which is far enough South in Tanzania to have a Southern Africa rainy season pattern (one long rainy season rather than short and long rains), they were having a relatively dry rainy season until mid to late Jan when they were then deluged with rain to the point of camps being flooded and closed. But in any case, it seems that Angola has not had drought, therefore the flood is at least normal. So any effects of this year's drought are going to be quickly cancelled out by the incoming flood.

TC

Christabir, You won't always find your information on a web site put up by safari camps or agents. You do need to dig a little, maybe make a few inquiries via email or phone to gather a base of information. Read trip reports on many forums. Make a comparison chart. Once you have pricing for an itinerary, it's pretty easy to do the math and figure out the component costs. You can then carry that information forward. You can't go into the process with a blank slate and not expect to get "suggestions".......and why shouldn't they be advantageous to the agent? That person is doing the leg work and wants the best compensation for their efforts.

christabir

TC - I think budget is important. When a customer requests a $5,000 itinerary and gets quoted an $11,000 itinerary, that's disgusting and happens too often. "You can't go on safari for your small budget". Poppycock. "I've never been to that camp you requested so I won't book it for you". Ugh. Awful.

Not everyone loves to plan trips like many here. They also think Africa is very exotic and must be difficult to visit. They call an agent with a general idea of what they want and expect an itinerary in their budget for that individual. Agents get compensated plenty - they shouldn't line their pockets. Leg work? You mean the same tired itineraries they've done a hundred times before? But I seem to be in the minority. I disagree entirely with your premise.

atravelynn

Chiming in here for the part about finding pricing.
ATR's website is good for that.

http://www.africatravelresource.com/botswana-safari/

Above is the Bots part.

Other agents may be able to get better deals on certain properties and prices can change, so this is not 100% accurate, but it is a guide. Their "words" about various camps are also educational, entertaining, and often humorously critical.

On using an agent: For somewhere where you would self drive, I think you would do better on your own than involving an agent. That is especially true for South Africa and Namibia. But when I have looked at individual lodgings going direct vs an agent in Kenya and in Zambia, the agent was less. In South Africa, it was the same. I was looking at lodging/board and guided activities (not self drive).

Sometimes domestic scheduled charters can change without much warning so it helps to have someone overseeing that.

It also helps to consult more than one agent to see if there is an outlier trying to charge you an arm and a leg.

Some properties, such as Wilderness cannot be booked directly. Others like AndBeyond are the same cost whether direct or through an agent.

Doing the research and legwork is always a good idea! It appears you are, jeandiament!

jeandiament

Thank you so much everyone