Cheryl

I have read many of the posting on this sight and have visited the site of many of the tour operations that have been mentioned. Can you give me your postives and negatives on who to use. I usually plan all of our trips myself over the internet, but I know when I need help. My husband and I will be traveling July/August 2003. I like take my time and research what would be ideal for us. Thanks for your advice-Cheryl

jaco

Cheryl<BR>It all depends on what you plan to do. Some people think that safari mean you fly down to Africa, book in a lodge and then do 8-10 game drives in that lodge or perhaps 1 or 2 more. Go back where they come from and think they had a great safari. This is expensive!<BR>Others might think the way to do it is to sit at the back of a big truck with 10 other people. Not for me.<BR>I think that a safari should be a total experience. All your senses should experience it. That is the beauty of Africa. <BR>Therefor my opinion for Africa is to take a guided self drive safari. New concept but you get to see different places on one trip and really appreciate the diversity.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

jm1029

We are going on an 18 day safari next year to SA and Botswana. I found the places I wanted to go through travel books and the internet, then contaced Africa Adventures. They made some suggestions and puyt the whole trip together in a very short time, inclduing intra Africa transfers. WE made only ne change. I found them to be very helpful and efficient.

jm1029

We are going on an 18 day safari next year to SA and Botswana. I found the places I wanted to go through travel books and the internet, then contaced Africa Adventures. They made some suggestions and puyt the whole trip together in a very short time, inclduing intra Africa transfers. WE made only one change. I found them to be very helpful and efficient.

Susan

Hi Cheryl!We are traveling to Kenya and Tanzania in September. I found trying to weed my way through brochures of various tour operators very confusing and time consumming. Every tour operator had a piece of what I wanted, but not one was exactly what I wanted. I finally determined where it was I wanted to go and found a Tanzanian-based tour operator who went by my instructions and came up with a very reasonable price (17-days, $4430 per person, permanent tented camps). It turns out we are going on a private safari, but one that takes us where we want to go. This operator was recommended by a friend, and was written up in Lonely Planet and Bradt's guide books, but you always take a chance when you book with any tour operator. I found overseas or African-based tour operators were consistently less expensive than those state side. Good luck in your search and I am glad to see there is someone else in the world who plans ahead as much as I do! Susan.

Nancy

Hi Cheryl, My family and I have gone on two safaris, one to Kenya and the other to Tanzania. Both times we booked with Abercrombie & Kent. They aren't cheap, but they are worth every penny. Their guides and drivers are very knowledgeable and they use the best vehicles. When we were out on safari we saw more than one broken down or stuck van or jeep from other safari operators. We were taken to places that others didn't go and was always given the best accommodations. We also traveled to Egypt with A & K. If we go to Africe again we will definitely use them. Their web site is &lt;www.abercrombiekent.com&gt;. Good luck and have a great time.

buck

You can't go wrong with Vintage Africa, take a look at their website, lots of info. We had them in Kenya last year and they are the best. Buck

Kavey

We booked through Sunvil Africa here in the UK and were very happy. <BR><BR>We found the small Sunvil Africa team extremely knowledgeable about the regions they sell. Infact Chris McIntyre is the author of some of the Bradt guides to Africa mentioned above. He has promised that the new one for Botswana is due out later this year.<BR><BR>Sunvil specialise in customised trips so you can work out exactly what you want and how you want to do it, flying between camps in tiny cessnas in the Okavango Delta or self drive over the long but reasonably straightforward roads in Namibia.<BR><BR>Sunvil will often use Wilderness Safaris as their local operator in Africa and we were happy with their service also, it was good to be met and taken care off as soon as we exitted customs from our flight.<BR><BR>I don't know if Sunvil Africa deal with customers outside of the UK but they do have a website so you might want to check them out.<BR><BR>We are planning a return trip in 2004 and will be going through Sunvil again.<BR><BR>I have also heard good things about 2africa on this site and others.<BR><BR>Kavey

Maggie

Check out www.robinpopesafaris.net<BR>They operate in the South Luangwa Valley in Zambia and offer three luxury camps sited on the banks of the Luangwa river. <BR>Our booking was made through Southern Africa Travel<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie