Hello all-

My husband and I are trying to plan our honeymoon for December, and a dream of mine has ALWAYS been to go on a safari in Africa. We have been given the gift of $5,000 and are willing to supplement this a little, maybe up to 7,000 (total). I have found one 8 day safari to Chobe that includes air from NYC for 2,500, but wondering if anyone else know of deals like this? We have found safaris that are affordable, but then adding on flights kills it! My dream is to go to Tanzania, but anywhere we can see great wildlife is an option. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!

Congrats! December is the high season in S Africa, and it is summer - hot and the wildlife viewing is not as good as in the winter months. If you want to check out South Africa Airways Vacations, it will give you some idea of what you can get with airfare from the US (not including taxes, which can add a lot) for what you have to spend. The airfare from the US will run about $1500 pp unless you find a special or get lucky. Chobe is in Botswana - not the best place to get the most for your money, but in December it is the low season so it's less expensive than in the winter. There are lots of options, you just have to figure out what you want from your first safari. You'll (hopefully) get lots of advice here.

Look at Overseas Adventure Travel's "Safari Serengeti" to Tanzania. www.oattravel.com. They still have three departure dates open the first part of December and the price, including international airfare, is $4095. That's from New York and doesn't include taxes, but you can check out the prices from your departure point. They do a fairly nice safari in Tanzania; I did this trip in 2004. They've cut a few things out of the itinerary since then, but I think you'd still have a great safari that would be within your budget. You'll have to factor in other costs, such as the $100 visa fee, tips to guides and camp staffs (say, $25/day), drinks, laundry and other miscellaneous tips.

XMas is peak season almost everywhere in the World - doesn't matter which kind of season - rainy, dry, wildlife etc.

You can try www.elephantplains.com a lodge in Sabi Sands/Kruger NP in South Africa. But mist probably that will be booked out already because it offers great V4M.

I think with your budget you should look for package tours as ShayTay and Christa suggest, 7000 in total and almost 3500 for the long-haul you must search for a safari which gets you 7 nights in the destination.

Another really cheap destination would be www.entimmara.com. They charge you 230US$pppd incl. meals, drives, drinks. That's the Massai Mara in Kenya but here it's after the short rains which might stretch this year well into Dec as they did not have a particular rainy season this year.

First check the package tours (also because they have block bookings which have availability still) or come back with some more concrete requests like exact time, duration without travel days, expectations - all your peferentials.

SV

Why not post the details of the 8/day safari which includes Chobe. Or the link to it. Many of the safaris that "appear" relatively inexpensive have some sort of kink to them... poor routing, quality of lodging, more transiting than actual in-country and game viewing.

And, as others mention... when in Dec? Most countries (South Africa, Botswana, Kenya or Tanzania) from 15th or 20th Dec go into peak-season with limited space.

Only as a desperate last resort will I recommend a group safari on your honeymoon. Do you really want to share with 15 or more strangers?

Buy your air-tickets with the help of a consolidator - see where you can get the cheapest flights (East Africa or Souther Africa). Then post on Tripadvisor where the "advisors" are more budget-oriented and/or try to contact budget-oriented local outfitters such as Basecamp Tanzania, Sunny Adventures, Ranger Safaris. Tell them your budget and that you need accommodations suitable for a honeymoon. You can then post your itinerary here for feedback.

There are many lovely, smaller and cheaper places near the major parks in Tanzania. With a private driver and standard Lancruiser with no frills you can get good deals but try to complete your trip before Christmas.

Thanks everyone! Here is the all-inclusive chobe Safari. It is a good price, but only really stays in one location, which is too bad. But then we might be able to add on a few days in another location...

http://www.2afrika.com/site/safaris/...sp?SafariID=43

Christmas season is what will make this difficult, but start looking at airfare--check sidestep.com and also bt-store.com. I've been looking into flights to Nairobi from SFO for next spring and am seeing lots of $1500 possibilities. So if you got your flights for 3k that would leave 4k for a week of safari. That's doable, in my opinion. Probably easier to meet that price point in Kenya than Tanzania. And maybe easier in South Africa (haven't been, but flights to Joburg shouldn't be exorbitant either).

Good luck!

phrazina
Frankly - that's not my cup of tea but for a first safari and that price tag it's really good.

Now you must evaluate............

- only one rather big lodge and not a more authentic camp and therefore the experience will be accordingly.
- only one visit to Namibia
- but a visit to Vic Falls which is marvelous at that time of year
- unbeatable because the flights are included but add taxes and tips
- game drives only 2-3 hours in the morning and the same in the afternoon
- loads of folks traveling/staying/visiting together with you in rather large buses, boats, game drive vehicles because all participants most probably are going to participate in all activities

If you don't like that at all I would rather safe for one more year and go to Africa for a more decent safari.

If you just want to get a "taste of Africa" and crowds are not an issue: Go for it!

Happy travels and Congrats to the adventure of a lifetime: Marriage!

SV

Sorry to say, but I wasn't at all keen on that 2Afrika itinerary. Interesting how they have your in all three countries - Zambia, Namibia and Botswana and every night return to Chobe... ugh!

CHSL has some excellent suggestions if you wish to safari in Tanzania, with names of some in-country providers. I'm sure many on TripAdvisor will have suggestions for you. And, do you really want to share your honeymoon with others?

However, a few items to consider:
- you can definitely do a private safari in either Tanzania and Kenya; no strangers needed
- Tanzania, even budget operators tend to be higher cost than if visiting in Kenya
- if early (prior 15th or 20th) December, prices in Kenya will be lower than in Tanzania
- if over the Christmas/New Years's period, wherever you go will be higher priced... those darn holiday surcharges.
- entry Visa to Tanzania is USD$100 for US passport holders; entry Visa to Kenya is USD$25
- there tend to be better airfares to Johannesburg/JNB South Africa; depending when in Dec traveling, then if to East Africa (even the 2Afrika itinerary to Kenya, flies thru Johannesburg to Nairobi which is wasted time).
- KLM is the only major air carrier into Kilimanjaro/JRO Tanzania, so fares tend to be high.
- Many carriers (British, Virgin, KLM, Swiss, Emirates, others) fly into/out of Nairobi/NBO Kenya, so more competitive pricing
- whichever destination, the actual price of the tour isn't your only consideration; there are Visas, recommended inoculations, malaria meds, tips/gratuities, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, trip insurance, souvenirs, etc.

This is not to dissuade you from your dream, just that you get the best for your budget with no surprises as "oh, I didn't know that" moments.

Keep us posted.

ok - if you want to go on the $7k budget and get the most safari for your money i have a few suggestions:

someone mentioned a consolidator for south africa aiways: my company is a consolidator for SAA. prices do drop about $500 per person if you can leave AFTER the 23rd from JFK. the morning flight on the 24th will be about $500 less round trip than thr 24th. you can verify this on SAA's own web site.

chobe: the airfare to/from vic falls in december is about $600 per person round trip from johannesburg. not worth it in my opinion. also, the game viewing in the chobe in december is only fair. it is excellent in july-october. five days is way too much and a group tour makes an aweful honeymoon.

i would focus your honeymoon on south africa and i would not plan on flying after arrival. i suggest you fly to durban, rent a car, drive to phinda for three nights, then drive to rocktail bay or thonga for three nights, then overnight in swaziland, then drive to the sabi sands for three nights. the sabi sands will be a budget breaker (or it will take you to the $7,000 limit) but it will be worth it. in the sabi sands, and based on your budget, i recommend malamala, kirkmans, or lion sands river lodge. i believe elephant plains is already sold out.

i have done safari in south africa every possible way (charter air, commercial air, private driver, rental car). the method by which you arrive at the lodge has no impact on your safari. driving in south africa is easy and safe.

craig beal

The question is, "How do you feel about a group trip for your honeymoon?"

If it's ok in order to save money, then I'd investigate the OAT trip since Tanzania is your dream. Maybe check out Good Earth as well for Tanzania. Even 2Afrika has Tanzania departures.

Even though I'd like to spend about 5 nights in Chobe some day, I don't think a Dec trip there is ideal. It seems like you've picked that one out just because the price is good.

If the South Africa plan suggested by Safari Craig of flying to Durban and going to Phinda, Rocktail Bay, and Sabi Sands is within $7000, that would be a great honeymoon option. Phinda Forest Lodge is fabulous and you can take walks in the sand forest with nyala, impala, and vervets running around you. Good wildlife viewing on the game drives too. Mala Mala would be a grand finale indeed, but check out the less expensive (but with more people in the vehicles) Arathusa. There is a current report on it. You could give Ele Plains a try, you never know. That's along the Arathusa lines.

The Arathusa report

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...ented-camp.cfm

6 nights at a single lodge makes sense to me. You unpack once and chill for six. Looking through the itinerary a day trip to Vic Falls is included, so that is quite neat. Having spent a good portion of my life in the bush I can only recommend remaining at a destination for a longer period rather than the commonly recommended two or three nights here and two or three there...

While I didn't read through the inclusions, I do know that you can break away from the group and do your own thing & at the price that the tour is offered at, looks like it would fall within your budget.

So, agree that match the tour to your budget & go with a great appetite for enjoyment you'll return planning how to get back to Africa sooner rather than later.