jeep for four, driver to take us lodge to lodge
 

eye on africa sounds great, but we are looking for someone who drives a private jeep lodge to lodge that could drive us to Victoria Falls and then to some of places that big tour companies take their clients. I have been told that private drivers will email you their itinerary--similar to that of a larger tour group.

Why hire a driver. Rent a 4x4, make reservations at the camps and lodges you want and drive on your own. Its easy. Maps are available and maybe you might want a gps with coordinates to the accomodations. But, I can't think of many places going for under $200pppn. So you may need to consider a moderate to high end camping trip.
Not knowing if you like camping, you can hire a 4x4 all kitted out, including rooftop tents, and do it yourself. Done all the time. So much so, you need to arrange campsites in the parks months in advance.

I don't think you will have any trouble finding a private tour through a regular operator that also does group tours. I just booked a private tour (4WD, driver/guide plus my family of four) with Multichoice Safaris (multichoicesafaris.com). They were recommended by some acquaintences of mine, but I don't think they are nearly as large as many of the operators you will find mentioned on this board.

I was very happy with their service, but I have not yet been on the trip (leaving in June). Yes, they will surely email you an itinerery.

I have not been to Africa, and perhaps lungwablondes has been there many times, but personally imagine renting my own vehicle and driving without a guide. The guides know where the animals are, when and interesting things about their habits. And I have the impression that some (all?) of the parks won't even let you in without a guide.

And there is more to see than just animals. Unless you are fluent in Swahili you may have trouble visiting the many local tribes.

nhulberg- If you don't know, don't guess. The people don't speak swahili in Botswana. The parks from Maun to VF are some of the most visited in Africa by selfdrive overseas tourists. I have seen many people do exactly what dmtraynor53 is looking for. Worse is that that comment about parks won't let you in without a guide. Totally bogus. I can't think of a park offhand that requires a guide in all of Southern or Eastern Africa except privately owned and operated concessions/properties in SA. And come to think of it, the ones I've been in, I drove to the lodges without guides. In a couple, I even did game drives.

An interesting example of self drive in Kenya.
www.african-safari-journals.com/naivasha.html

That trip report was what made us decide to cut across Aberdares NP on our way to Nakuru in November. It was great to read it again after having stopped at some of the same view points and falls along the way :)

I did something similar in 1987 and have been back 3 times since on self drives.

luangwablondes, you are one tough cookie. Why would you expect anyone to refrain from posting unless they have actual info and experience relevant to the place/time/questions? Those have never been the standards before! It will be a quiet forum indeed if you enforce these new standards!

By the way, I've always wondered: who or what are the blondes? I've heard this term used about giraffe, but perhaps your blondes are actual human blondes? Forgive my brazen curiousity!

Thank-you. I don't care who or what stuff people post, except when there is nothing in it except inaccurate information that should be corrected, (and a slap on the hand). As I think you might appreciate. When someone is going to take a vacation spend significant amount of time, money and has relied on information posted in Fodors, what would you prefer? Information from someone with 1st hand knowledge and experience or someone with zero.

Luangwablondes is part of an inside joke among friends. Besides, all my emails get opened and responded to quickly. I'm in no hurry to change it. But, I would have thought by now one of the Fodorites in their visits to SLNP might have asked around. I know. Thanks for the nonanswer.

I always try to give encouragement to people to selfdrive. There is really no mystery to it. Its safe, easy, you can see lots of game and stay with the animals as long as you want-if they stick around. On top of that, it is comparably cheap to the lodge stays.