Safari Recommendations for College Grads?
 

Hi All -

I was wondering if someone could recommend a safari company that would be good for recent college grads. We are looking for something that connects travelers with the people, as well as the land and the animals.

Thanks!

how about Carnival Cruise Line?
regards - tom

NYCGal,

I think a combination of South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi would be excellent and would fulfill your goals of connecting travelers with the people, as well as the land and the animals. Then, if you had time, you could also pay a visit to Victoria Falls for a couple nights.

If I had to put together a dream safari to meet your needs, I would suggest the following:

Luangwa River Lodge, South Luangwa - 6 nights (stay 5 nights, get 6th night free)
Chiawa Camp, Lower Zambezi - 3 nights
Old Mondoro Bush Camp, Lower Zambezi - 2 nights
(5 night Chiawa/Old Mondoro package is discounted and is about the minimum amount of time you should spend in Lower Zambezi, in any case. It will provide a great mix of a luxurious tented camp and a more authentic and very remote, yet comfortable, bushcamp in a wildlife rich area of the park).

www.luangwariverlodge.com

www.chiawa.com

www.chiawa.com/pages/old_mondoro_bush_camp.htm

http://www.tajhotels.com/Business/Ta...KA/default.htm

Just to give you an idea on pricing, Luangwa River Lodge would be $2,250 per person sharing for a 6 night high season (June - October) package.

The 5 night Chiawa/Old Mondoro package would be $2,375 per person sharing.

If this were the extent of your safari, you would be able to fly right in and out of Lusaka from London. You would need to spend your final night in the capital city of Lusaka in order to make the early (and only) flight back to London, but could do so in comfort at a 5* hotel like the Taj Pamodzi for about $250 ($125 pp sharing) per room including airport transfers.

Air transfers from Lusaka - South Luangwa - Lower Zambezi - Lusaka would be about $750 per person.

Grand total (Rack Rates) would be $5,500 per person sharing, although a quality tour operator who has a good relationship with the lodges/camps would be able to get you a nice discount.

Ideally, you would arrive on a Saturday to start your safari, spend your final night, a Wednesday night, in Lusaka, fly up to London on Thursday morning, arriving about 4PM in London and then you would have a chance to spend 2 or 3 nights in London if you wish. Sounds like a perfect graduation trip to me.

Alternately, it would be pretty simple to add on a short 2 or 3 night stay in Victoria Falls where you would be able to visit the falls, do an elephant back safari, go bungee jumping, go white water rafting plus many more activities.

A Zambian safari like the one I recommend would provide you with the opportunity for morning and night game drives in an open Land Rover/Land Cruiser, walking safaris, canoeing, river safaris, fishing, cultural visits and more.

Good luck.


(As a disclaimer, I am a self proclaimed safari specialist with my own tour operation, but I am intimately familiar with Zambia and with these companies that I recommend)

Not sure when you are looking at going but thought you may appreciate this October 2005 Newsletter from Chiawa to show you what is possible:

http://www.chiawa.com/pages/newsltr10-05.htm

The lioness vs. nile crocodile standoff is amazing as is the lion hunt of the wildebeest captured in this update.

Although availability may be scarce, I would most recommend a July - October Zambian safari.

If you decide on Zambia here is one more consideration for the people aspect. In South Luangwa you can stay in Kawaza village.

Here is a link where I describe my stay there. http://170.171.252.11/forums/threads...p;tid=34547240

For a company that focuses on people, customs, culture, you could try Origins, which does trips in East Africa. I don't know if you can book directly with them. I think Origins works through select agents. I've used them, through an agent, several times and everything was super. Lately they have been emphasizing the cultural aspect more than a lot of safari providers.

http://170.171.252.11/forums/threads...p;tid=34547240

Kawaza Village would be an excellent option. The only reason I did not include it as an overnight option was because I was designing an itinerary that was moderate in length and keeping the British Airways flight in mind, along with the long stay discounts at Chiawa and Luangwa River Lodge.

However, there are certainly countless other options such as Robin Pope Safaris, Norman Carr Safaris, Bushcamp Company, Remote Africa, Kaingo, Kafunta and Star Of Africa in South Luangwa and Chongwe River Camp, Kasaka River Lodge and Sausage Tree Camp in Lower Zambezi.

An overnight at Kawaza Village costs $120 per person sharing but this includes a $40 donation directly to the village. This is likely more than the monthly salary of the average Zambian so this goes a long way.

However, if an overnight is not possible or desired, day visits are also encouraged.