Hi all,

I'll be traveling to Africa for the first time in mid-September; I'll be doing some conservation volunteer work in South Africa. However, I'd really like to explore Kenya and maybe Tanzania before I go to my placement. Problem is, I'm having trouble finding a reputable company.

I'm a 21-yr old [recent] college graduate that's traveling alone, and female. I've looked at previous posts on this board and researched some companies.

So far, I've enquired about <i>Eastern &amp; Southern</i> safari, and they said they decided recently not to accept solo travelers. <i>Good Earth Tours</i> responded that, while the tour (Classic Kenya) will still go on, no one's booked it yet for the date I wanted, and I would be by myself -- which wouldn't be as much fun.

I'm looking at <i>Africa Point</i> currently... their prices seem about right for what they offer; though I had a bumpy first contact with a representative (Rachel), who quoted me a single supplement price that is about 80% of the tour price itself! Which is absurd, especially being that the tour I inquired about is entirely budget camping. I emailed asking for an explanation for the high supplement price, but after I didn't hear back from Rachel I had to call their Nairobi office to clear the issue. Shadrak (who was really professional and patient) gave me a different but much more accurate pricing.

Now I'm not sure who to turn to...? Unless I stick with Africa Point and Good Earth? Most tour operators I've researched seem to cater to groups of 2 or more. If anyone can help me with this and/or give recommendations, I would greatly appreciate it. I can't book any flights until I book the tour - I'm just afraid the longer this drags on, the higher the air prices will be.

Thanks for reading!
Eleanor

My Preferences:
*<b>Desired Departure</b>: mid-September
*<b>Duration</b>: 2 nights at least in Masai Mara -- up to 11 days total.
*<b>Location</b>: Masai Mara (where the migration herds are); opened to additional places as well
*<b>Accomodation Type</b>: Lodges, or mid-range camping
*<b>Budget Range</b>: preferably $2000 or lower, for land-only.

First of all,
Good for you being willing to travel on your own as a woman. Too many women miss going to places because they don't want to go alone.

As others on this board know. I used AfricaPoint and was very happy with them. In fact Shadrach Masinde was my contact. he was great and very very professional and helpful.

I know nothing about good earth so I can't say much.

Some of my pictures from Africa are at waynehazle.com/eastafrica/

Eleanor,

I am going on safari in August to Tanzania. I'm also a single female traveler. I ran into the same problem as you when I started looking at trips. Some tour operators wouldn't work with a single traveler and some prices were really high.
days.

I just contacted lots and lots of operators to see if they had anything available. Many did not, but some did so I ended up with a few options. I ended up with Go2Africa because they had a small group (5 people total) that had a space available and fit perfectly in my vacation dates. The single supplement was reasonable as well.

If I were you I would just contact some more operators. Tell them exactly what you are looking for and see what they come up with.


Jenn

I thought of a few more options...

Gap advenutres (www.gapadventures.com) has a 7 day safari called the Masai Mara Explorer that has a September 3rd depature with spaces available. The price is $1695 and they do not charge single supplements.

IntoAfrica (www.intoafrica.co.uk) has a 7 day safari called Kenya Explorer that is $1395 per person. They have a September 17th departure on their group tour. They need 2 people to run a tour, so you would have to contact them to see if anyone else has booked.



Jenn

I believe that GAP also partners with Intrepid Travel for their small-group tours to Africa. I can't speak for their Africa trips, but I took a small group tour to India with Intrepid earlier this year and had a wonderful experience, and my co-worker just returned from a great GAP tour to Peru. The only downside is that you won't know which exact lodgings you're using until you get there, so this is not the way to go if you have your heart set on staying in particular lodges or camps (which is why I decided not to do Intrepid's East Africa trip).

Try Gametracker Safaris. They might have an existing group you can join. I think the above poster is right. You just have to keep contacting different operators until you find one with a group booking you can join. Good luck!

I travelled solo for two months in East and southern Africa last year. I booked two tours with Good Earth, in Kenya and Tanzania and on both I was the only client.

I thought this was a bonus and considered myself most fortunate to have a vehicle and guide to myself for both safaris! I was able to choose where I would like to game drive and which animals I was particularly interested in finding.

I found plenty of people to talk to at the accommodations during the evening and afternoons when I wasn't game driving so I don't think you should be put off by the response from Good Earth.

If you are looking for a group tour I can recommend Explore Worldwide as a consistently reliable company.

http://www.exploreworldwide.com/

Have a fantastic time whatever you decide to do,

Cheers,

Pol.

Here's a mobile camping safari with scheduled departures - http://www.porini.com/gamewatchers/mobilecamping.html - you can contact them and see if they have any spaces open if the dates work for you.

Have you tried The Eriksen Adventure? they cater for both camping and Lodging safaris and they are reasonable and helpful. Check them on www.theeriksenadventure.com and find out whether they have a group on that day.

All the best

Hello,

Have you considered doing your safari in Southern Africa rather than East Africa? You'll save quite a bit on airfare since you'll be in SA for your placement, which will give you more money to spend on your safari.

There are some very options in Botswana which might be of interest:

http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/safaris/explore.jsp

http://www.ccafrica.com/expeditions/default.asp

Just some food for thought...

Cheers,
Julian

Dear readers,

Thank you all for your replies/suggestions!

An update, I recently received another email from Good Earth Tours. They stated if I go on the Classic Kenya tour alone, I would be charged an extra $500, on top of the tour fee and the supplement fee (the total would be way over $2000 budget line) - if someone else decides to join the tour for that particular day, I will be refunded. Which means, unless I find another adventurous spirit to join me on this journey (or I hit the lotto), I might have to look elsewhere

<i>Wayne</i>: I really enjoyed your journal on your website, it was very entertaining and amusing. I had a good laugh at your first few days, especially with the &quot;Tent&quot; situation. It sounds like something that I would overlook, as well (I'm going to take a closer look at itineraries next time!! Like your wife, I'm not particularly fond of spiders or insects, nevermind sleeping with them...)

<i>Jenn</i>: I'm glad to hear someone else is in the same shoes! Thanks, I've actually considered GAP Adventures a while back -- they seem extremely reputable and I love the fact they don't add single supplement fees. My only issue is, I have to take care of some business at home and can't leave before 6/13. Another option was the Mara Experience (they had the perfect dates), but it's all participatory camping, and like <i>MyDogKyle</i> says, they don't disclose any information about camping sites. After a recent trip from Asia, I've become particularly fussy about accommodations They're still in my option, though.

<i>Patty/Treepol/Kewit</i>: I haven't seen those tours on the web before, thanks for the heads up!

<i>Julian</i>: I haven't considered Botswana before, I'll definitely check it out! And I have thought about seeing South Africa (I believe it's Kruger National Park?), but I would really love to see the Migration. Unless someone can convince me otherwise that the safari experience would be the same anywhere else?...

You guys rock! I will continue my hunt. If anyone else has a tour recommendation (or warning), please please <u>please</u> feel free to share!

Eleanor

Well I can tell you that the Into Africa safari recommended above are camping but not participatory - have you checked them out?

I had some very nice recommendations for them both here and on the Lonely Planet site. Have signed up for this summer, so I can't tell you first hand what it is like.

Hello,

If you specifically want to see the Migration, you'll have to go to East Africa.

But if superb predator viewing in uncrowded private reserves where you can drive off-road and get closer to the animals appeals, you may want to check out Southern Africa.

I've travelled solo many times in Southern Africa, and since you usually fly from place to place on a customised itinerary (sharing charter flights and vehicles with people in your camps) rather than spending a lot of time on the road the logistics are easier to manage as a solo traveller IMO.

In fact, one of the reasons I started going to Southern Africa (along with great game-viewing and the urge to go somewhere new) was that it was much friendlier to the solo traveller. If I had returned to East Africa, I would either have paid a fortune for a custom private safari or been stuck on a pre-planned group tour, whilst in Southern Africa I could do a custom itinerary staying where I wanted as long as I wanted for only slightly more than I would have paid as part of a couple.

Cheers,
Julian

Hi there
No advice on East Africa operators but just a small comment on South Africa - Kruger is just one of a number of parks in South Africa - it's certainly not your only option.
Most private safari lodges are in private parks adjacent to Kruger (such as the renowned Sabi Sands) though there are others in parks such as Pilanesberg, Shamwari and The Greater St. Lucia Wetlands to name a few.
You also have a wide range of parks that offer government run rest camps (featuring both camp sites and permanent accommodation such as walk in safari tents, cottages, rondavels and so on) - these are great for self-drive, self-catering trips which can be really economical as well as rewarding.
They are a very different kettle of fish from guided trips, of course!
Just wanted to let you know that there's more to safari in South Africa than Kruger! Not that I have anything against Kruger, I enjoyed my experiences there very much.

Meant to list the parks that are good for self-drive but forgot - as well as Kruger you have Hluhluwe, Imfolozi (adjacent to each other), Ithala, Addo, Ndumo, Tembe and many more!

Hi Eleanor

You already received a lot of recommendations for joining a group tour . Do you know that whit a budget of 2000 usd , you can have a 10 days private camping safari with you own car, guide and cook and you would be totaly free about your programm ..even possible to decide to change it during your trip ! I have a friend who reserved a solo trip to Masai mara and some other parks 10 days for this budget ( also around the 15 of september ). If you need more info , just email me [email protected]

Chinook

Hi Chinook

Would be nice if you posted the details here. Lots of us that are probably interested in a deal like that

Ok, ..;but you have to promise not to laugh because my english is not perfect ..I'm frenchspeaking but I try because it's difficult to read all your interesting treads and not to answer because you are afraid of being ridiculous. So I try !
2 years ago, I went to Kenya and this year it will be Ouganda . I found a very nice operator ( serious ,not expensive ...exactly what I was looking for , so I booked whit him)
I gave his name to a friend who was looking for a 10 days safari in Kenya but was alone and didn't want to join a group and prefered not to have to decide about his program because he did'nt know how much time would be necessary for each park. So &quot;My&quot; TO gave him a quote for a 10 days safari for him alone whit a minivan , driver-guide , cook, tent , food entrance fee, fuel ..( all exept drinks) .
1 night Nairobi h&ocirc;tel + 2 transfers airport + 10 days safari 2100 usd . He will have all for 10 days and he can choose each day if he stay in this park of he prefer to move ...! He sent me the program to have my advice ..and I found this solution great because you stay free of what you want to do. And he received this price because he is alone . It would be less expensive for 2 people travelling togheter

PS : When I read treads on this forum ..;I'm always surprised about the price american people pay for safaris ! I suppose there is a special american price !

The TO is www.africadventure.net email of the boss
[email protected].

If somebody would be interested , I have the copy of the programm and conditions

I will try to post a review about the marvellous trip a did 2 years ago whit a french pilote and a private cesna ..Not the same price of course ..;but fabulous !

I hope everybody understand my poor english.

Good evening to all of you

Chinook

Chinook

Very understandable. Thank you. Not all of us are Americans or can afford to spend so much. We still want to go on safari too.
I thank you.

Chinook,
Please don't be afraid to participate. I'm looking forward to your retro report.

I'm confused by the references to Americans and safari costs though I've booked all of my safaris through a Kenya based tour operator and don't think I'm getting quoted prices that are any different than what they're quoting other prospective clients just because I'm American. My last safari in November 2005, I paid about $220 per person per night for a private non-camping safari for two people. Had I wanted a camping safari, I'm sure I could have done it for around $150pppn or less.