I am new to this Fodor's forum and have been reading several of the postings for the past couple of weeks. Yesterday, I contacted some of the recommended agencies I've read about here for my upcoming travel in late July 2007 but am hoping that some of you may also have some unbiased views to offer as well.

I have traveled to Africa (Kenya) once before, but it was primarily a business trip.

By the time I will arrive around July 23, my boyfriend will have just completed an internship in South Africa (and he will have been there for about 3 months).

I would like to plan a trip that will include sights he will not have seen (so outside South Africa - Maybe Zambia, Botswana and Namibia?) and also visit some of the key sights in South Africa (probably Cape Town and something near Cape Town). I don't have much time to give (about 15 total travel days including flight time).

A trip that includes a visit to Victoria Falls appeals to me, and we would like to go on a safari (maybe just 2 days though) because the boyfriend is going on a week-long safari during his 3-month program.

I realize that time is very short and know that I need to pull the planning for this trip together pretty quickly. I have looked into organized tours because of the short planning time and short travel time. I'm just not sure I have a lot of faith in the organized tour agencies out there. I've read a lot of negative reviews about G.A.P Adventures and mixed reviews about 2Afrika.

I wish this message weren't so open-ended so that it could elicit more specific responses, but any help someone might be willing to provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

Heather, I am no expert but we went to South Africa in October and travelled by Blue train from Jo'burg to Cape Town, had a couple of days there and then flew to Maun in Botswana for two weeks safari time. That simply blew my mind - it was amazing and I have no hesitation on recommending anywhere in Botswana! We went to Seba Camp in the Okavango Delta first and that went beyone all expectations, then to Duma Tau in the Linyanti which was just fantastic and finally to Muchenje in Chobe which just capped it all off. I am now a total Africa addict and cant wait to get back there.

We also went to Victoria Falls - which was disappointing as it was the wrong time of year and the falls had just about dried up. I am told April/May is the best time. Loved the hotel and the little town though. People everywhere were just lovely as well.

I am sure you cant go wrong if you go to Botswana - check out the Wilderness safari website. We travelled independently and put the trip together on our own. It worked beautifully.

Good luck!
Alison

Heather: I would urge you to go on more than a 2 day safari. If your boyfriend has already been on safari for one week during his three months he will likely be very into taking another -- if not I think the majority on this board would say it's time for a new boyfriend! Seriously, with the time and money to leave S.A. for a remote safari destination you will want more than 2 days and if you enjoy wildlife and romance you will be very disappointed to be done with safari so quickly.

Since you want to go to Vic Falls you will be in a very good spot to go on safari in Botswana or Zambia, which will likely be more wilderness based and different than your boyfriend's first safari which I assume will be in S.A. somewhere. Personally I highly recommend Botswana, at a minimum try and do 3 nights at a Okavango Delta area camp and 3 nights in the Linyanti/Selinda/Kwando area -- availability at this point will likely dictate your options. A good agent can arrange the needed transfers and you will have a guide and be assigned a vehicle at each camp, no need to do a group trip unless budget dictates it. Assuming 6 days on safari and 1 to 2 nights at Vic Falls you will have about a week to explore Cape Town, wine country and perhaps a little bit of the surrounding coast.

To summarize, you have 15 days, want 2 days on safari, wish to see Victoria Falls and Cape Town.

You can easily spend a week driving around the Cape and winelands if that is of interest. There are small parks in that region like Addo Elephant Park that you could visit.
Here is a recent post.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34928538

Since you mentioned Zambia and not Zimbabwe, you'll probably want to view the falls from the Zambia side. You could also do a safari along the Zambezi. There is a small, enclosed park there with rhino. The name escapes me at the moment. There are numerous day trips or slightly longer trips based in Livingston that an agent could assist you with.

Heather, how wonderful for you! What kind of internship is your boyfriend doing, and where? (I'm just nosey, because my stepson did a medical rotation there several years ago and it was a great experience for him.)

My husband and I have been to southern Africa many times, and I would second the advice of Predator Biologist. You'll want more than 2 days of safari, for sure! As he says, either Botswana or Zambia would be a good choice, because of nearness to Vic Falls.

Is it possible/desirable for your boyfriend to make the arrangements? I only ask because of the thought that it might be cheaper dealing with an agency who caters to local clients as well as overseas visitors. I don't know that for a fact, but I think it might be the case.

Good luck in your planning, and best wishes for a wonderful time!

Celia

Your boyfriend might get special rates if he is completing a medical internship. One more reason to have him do the booking.

Thanks to everyone for the terrific tips. I am working with an agent and exploring safari options in Zambia and Botswana, with a visit to Victoria Falls and Cape Town. Once I get a more detailed itinerary, I'll send along and see what you guys think.

My boyfriend will be working at a newspaper for 3 months - probably the Cape Times. While I love him dearly, he is not the planner. I'm fine with it because it gives me all the control

Since you're the planner and in control, then definitely add more safari days. If he is interning at a newspaper, we expect a quality trip report at the conclusion. He who does not plan must record.