I am starting to get overwhelmed already, and getting some conflicting information. Spring break for the kids is is mid March next year, so that's when we will travel. We will take two weeks, and I am trying to narrow down where to go. I am leaning more towards South Africa/Botswana/Namibia and that area due to the variety of things to do. I think the kids - two 11 year olds and two 16 year olds would like that. We are definitely the adventure travel types.

When I read March and adventure, and kids, I thought of Uncharted Africa’s camps and programs in the Makgadikgadi Pans. This area is at its wildlife peak in March, which is not true of some of the more traditional safari destinations.

Check this link to see which areas have the best wildlife viewing when.

http://www.africa-adventure.com/dsp_besttime.html

I stayed at San, one of their camps, in Aug of 2005 but have not done any of their mobiles. I’d love to do one, though.

At San you can walk with Bushmen, ride quad bikes if the rains permit, and search for remnants of ancient tool and weapon artifacts, which you actually can find. Then there is the amazing meerkat colony. All fantastic activities and I was there when wildlife, except for meerkats, was very scarce.

Depending on which mobile you choose, you could expand on the Bushmen experience, head into the delta, etc.

Home page and mobiles for Uncharted Africa
http://www.unchartedafrica.com/page.php?p_id=1
http://www.unchartedafrica.com/page.php?p_id=21

One question on the ages. Will they be 11 and 16 at the time of the trip? The reason I ask is I was going to suggest a place in Namibia, which I have not been, but plan to go. But I believe the age limit is 12. It is called Africat. Africat is committed to the long-term conservation of Namibia's large carnivores, especially cheetahs & leopards. It is known for its cheetahs.
You stay at the Okonjima Guest Farm.

http://www.okonjima.com/

I wouldn't head all the way to Okonjima if Namibia were not part of your plans anyway. But since you mentioned Namibia, I think the kids would like this.

Good luck in your planning and please post as your trip takes shape.

Thanks for the quick reply!! This is a great forum - with your and others input there is a wealth of information. After I read your post, I looked at the links you gave and went on to others, and have been at the computer for hours now researching. Botswana looks fabulous! And a combination of Makgadikgadi Pans, maybe some time in the Okavango, and maybe some time in the Namib-Naukluft areas would give us a diversity of environments and so animals and adventures. The Africa Adventure wildlife viewing site is excellent, and useful. And, the boys will be 12 and 17, actually, so that would be perfect for Africat. And Meerkats! We watch the tv program meerkat manor and would love to see meerkats. Maybe not one of the big 5, but they are kind of cute.

Now, a logistical question - I get the impression that you can't book directly with some lodges - the Wilderness Safari, for example, don't seem to let you. Is that true, and if so what is a good travel agency to go with? We will be a group of 7, 3 adults and the 4 kids, and if possible, I would prefer to book with a local tour group since they might know the area better, and I would like to support the local economy.

Thanks again!

You can book a trip directly, but it's a ton of work to coordinate. I work in a related field and usually book my own, often complex, vacations, but I realized very quickly that this was going to be too much for even me to handle.

There are many wonderful Africa specialists both here and abroad. A lot even post on this board.

Due to a poor experience in the past with an in-country travel agent (not Africa), combined with the various logistical issues (time change, etc.), I chose to go with a US-based travel agency (Africa Adventure Company) and have been very impressed with their knowledge and service. My TA has worked his butt off crafting what appears to be the perfect trip for my mom and me.

If you do a search of this forum, you'll find a ton of posts listing the various travel agents with which posters have had good experiences.

You are right about Wilderness in that it is an excellent, award winning company and that you cannot book with them directly. I've stayed at many of their camps and have done one of their mobiles, all superb.

Not all agents can book Wilderness camps, but these can, and they all have been used successfully by Fodorites.

Africa Adventure Company http://www.africa-adventure.com
Lately I’ve noticed several other companies using a similar name or the same name if they are based in another country. The one Hills27 mentioned is US-based in FL. They have done many perfect trips for me. Whenever something out of their control did go wrong--such as an Air Botswana flight cancelled as we were in the boarding process or unrest that prompted park closings in Uganda just prior to departure--they came through promptly with a good fix.

Eyes on Africa http://www.eyesonafrica.net/ is in Chicago.
Nicky, one of the owners, is very knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. I’ve enjoyed working on this summer’s South Africa trip with her.

Fish Eagle Safaris http://www.fisheaglesafaris.com/ is in Texas
Though I’ve not used this company, Bert, the owner is very helpful and sent me a very useful packet of material. Others have used him.

You mentioned previously you would like a local company.

Taga is a South African company http://www.tagasafaris.co.za/

The most recent trip report was from March of this year, and it looks like Taga did that trip. Here is the link to that report, if you haven’t seen it.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34948209

There are other good companies out there in addition to these.

We just returned from our amazing trip to South Africa/Botswana/Victoria Falls. Everything on our trip went completely smoothly, from transfers to accommodations to special requests. This I credit to the travel agency we used--Next Adventure and Safari, based in California. Kili, (named for Kilimanjaro), the director, is abundantly knowledgeable about all things African, having spent several years there, and visiting there several times each year now. I can honestly say that our trip was perfect! Every transfer, every request, every detail was perfect; we had no problems whatsoever! I've never had a trip go more smoothly!
March was a wonderful time to visit Botswana and the Okavango Delta. We stayed at two camps--Chittabe Trails and Vumbura Plains, and we saw everything one could dream of, even the wild dogs!! Although we were there at the end of the rainy season, we experienced only a bit of rain, in the afternoon of a few of our days. It wasn't enough to interfere with our game drives (although I don't think anything could have interfered!). The evenings were mild, and sleeping with our tent flaps up, under those cozy duvets, was a complete pleasure!

Hope this information helps, and if I can be of more help, just let me know.

www.nextadventure.com

I stuck this here in case you don't find in the the middle of the Fake thread.

Momliz,

Regarding camping: Luangwablondes mentioned Remote Wildlife, a Zambian operator of camps and mobile walking in another post.

Here are two mobile camping trips I want to do.

1- Uncharted Africa, the San and Jack’s people.
http://www.unchartedafrica.com/page.php?p_id=21
(I've stayed at San and it was excellent so I bet their mobile would be too.)

2- 14 Day Classic Mobile Safari to Botswana by Africa Adventure
This is one of the finest tented safaris to Botswana that offers a unique experience to the Kalahari all year round. If you want to experience the true meaning of “living in the bush” then this is the program for you!
http://www.africa-adventure.com/prog...otswana11.html
(I've traveled with them with great success.)

CCAfrica has a great looking itinerary that does some walking. I did part of this walking safari last August and it was great.
http://www.ccafrica.com/expeditions/...-EBWW/type-2-2

On the Wilderness website under Explorations, then Botswana are all sorts of mobiles in Botswana. It was with Wilderness that I did my one outstanding Botswana mobile, though it was not one of these.
http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/

Natural Habitat is a company that specializes in wildlife trips around the world. I’ve gone with them 3 times, though not to Africa. Here are 2 of their mobiles.
Secluded Botswana
http://www.nathab.com/destinations/i...=trip_overview
Expedition Botswana
http://www.nathab.com/destinations/i...=trip_overview

There is also Game Trails http://www.gametrailsbotswana.com/.

A little more rustic than those above are some for photographers by Shoot the Light
http://www.shootthelight.com/.
And Masson.
http://www.masson-safaris.com/safaris.htm

All these mobiles have been used with success by Fodorites in the past.

Companies like Sobek and Wilderness (the CA adventure company) do mobiles in Botswana and Southern Africa too.

With your group, you could probably get any of these mobiles just for you.



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Author: luangwablondes
Date: 04/14/2007, 11:25 am
Hi Momliz
Yeh, this thing is going all over the place. Don't try to understand it, some of it goes back to last year.

If I read your previous posts correctly, you are looking for something in March?

If it was in around June-Sept, I would recommend this one. Can't seem to move off this one as it is really a special package. http://www.infoafrica.net/OurTrips.htm