Is there such a thing as spending too long on safari?
 

I was talking to a safari operator and she was surprised when I was spending more than 10-12 days on safari. My thinking when I booked my air ticket was to go to Kenya and Tanzania. I gave myself three weeks because the idea of being out in the bush, spending 3-4 days in one place and observing animals or relaxing in a beautiful lodge seemed like heaven, I can watch animals for hours on end. Some people suggest the coast but I have had many coastal vacations and think I would enjoy spending more time in the Savannah instead. What do you folks think

I've never done too much safari and I keep going back for more. I've never missed a game drive to hang out - no matter the weather or my health. :)

Everyone is different really as to how much time to spend on safari.

Generally due to the cost I can only afford about 10 days between several camps and find fir me that's enough.

To break things up I'll look for cultural tours the camp may offer.

When I did Kenya & Tanzania I spent about 3 days in Nairobi and then a few days in Arusha before heading into the bush in Tanzania. I enjoy seeing what African city life is like plus it's cheaper staying in the city as opposed to camps.

If you're thinking it's too long on safari why not look into adding Zanzibar. Yes it is as exotic as it sounds and I'm not a beach person but thoroughly enjoyed relaxing at the beach for a few days then spending a couple of days wandering around old Stone Town. I flew to the island from the Serengeti.

No! Every one of my safaris keeps getting longer!

Bear in mind every time you change camps, unless you're driving to one "next door" that can be part of a game drive, you'll eat up the better part of the day packing up, getting to the airstrip, waiting for the plane, flying to the next airstrip, getting to camp, doing the "check in" activities at the next camp. I lose one, sometimes two, game drives with each transfer, which is why I now minimize the number of camps each trip and maximize the number of days in each camp.

I usually leave the Mara (always my last stop) on the 10 a.m. flight out (early morning game drive on the way to the airstrip) and spend the rest of the day in Nairobi, visiting my foster elephants at Sheldricks and having a nice dinner before the late night flight home.

Maybe your safari planner was surprised simply because most people who enquire don't do that length of trip. Let's face it--this kind of trip is not inexpensive, and something has to give, so maybe the answer for many of her clients is to cut back on the number of days.
If that is not your situation, you are fortunate indeed!!

A bit of irony here. I go on safari for as long as we can and are only limited due to vacation time. I go inexpensively so no need to worry about cost.

on the other hand, if you are coming from the US, it seems like a rather long and costly airline trip only to spend 8 or so days on the ground.

I just returned from Botswana where I spent three nights at three different camps. My partner and I agreed that 3 x 3 meant too much transit time and that next time we will do a minimum of 4 nights at each camp.

We met quite a few solo travelers including one man from New Zealand. who was on his 8th visit to Mombo Camp in Botswana. Many
of these returned travelers had settled on one or two camps to which they returned as often as financially possible, for a week or so. Sometimes there are discounts for long term stays.


A safari camp is a very easy venue to which to travel alone....I've traveled solo to many places in Europe Asia and Frica S well as the Americas and if I g
had to choose the places I was most comfy solo, it would be in a bush camp.

BTW....not all the safari camps are in the savannah....hope you do not mind my correction to another of your posts!!

Happy Travels!!

Thanks to all. My gut feeling is that once you start to see the beauty of the landscape and enjoy the animals and the people you meet, it will never be too much. It hasn't been on any other nature trip I've been on. ek: on the contrary, thanks for the info on the difference on the safari camps. That is what the forum is for.