I am considering taking my 17 year old niece to Africa this summer and thought this sounded like a great deal $2700 including air. Although the flights are a bit screwey coming from LAX.
Any help would be greatly appreicated.
Thanks

2 Night(s) South Africa----Cape Town------------------------City Lodge Waterfront
1 Night(s) Kenya------------Nairobi-------------------------------Nairobi Safari Club
1 Night(s) Kenya------------Samburu National Reserve----Samburu Lodge
1 Night(s) Kenya------------Aberdare National Park---------The Ark
1 Night(s) Kenya------------Lake Nakuru Reserve-----------Lake Elementaita
2 Night(s) Kenya------------Masai Mara-------------------------Mara Simba
1 Night(s) South Africa---Johannesburg---------------------City Lodge JHB Airport

http://www.saaholidays.net/page.aspx?id=503

the link to the outh African Airlines Holiday website

This looks to be an all drive itinerary in Kenya from the website description. Even without considering the screwy flights it would be an exhausting itinerary. Nairobi to Samburu will take approx 5.5 hours, Nakuru to Mara and Mara to Nairobi will both be about 6 hours each. Your other 2 drives will be around 3 hours each. That's a lot of moving around for very short stays.

Thank you Patty for pointing out what I missed. I had also looked at Africa Point which I have read good & pad on this board but the driving distances were also quite long.
http://www.africapoint.com/tours1/va...p?vacationid=6
I'm really on a tight budget (are not we all) and really want to make it work?
Any other suggestions?

Happy New Year

Am in agreement with Patty, lots of time on the roads, and pretty lousy ones at that.

If you have 9/days for "in-Africa" you might do better flying direct to Nairobi instead of spending 2/nights in CPT, then flying via JNB to NBO, easily using a good portion of the day traveling, and concluding by returning to JNB.

Granted summer airfares are high, as are the land rates, but you can be spending more time on the ground in Kenya with shorter time on the roads.

Consider:
Day 1 - Arrive Nairobi - o/n Intercontinental Hotel
Day 2 - Visit Sheldrick Ellee Orphanage, lunch, drive to Mt. Kenya for overnight (also a salt-lick property as The Ark) - Serena Mountain Lodge
Day 3 - Drive to Samburu, afternoon game drive - o/n Serena, Sopa or Samburu Game Lodges
Day 4 - Samburu, 2/game drives - o/n
Day 5 - Drive to Sweetwater's, afternoon game drive (here you can also do nigh game drive) - o/n
Day 6 - Drive to Lake Nakuru, afternoon game drive - o/n Lion Hill
Day 7 - Drive to Masai Mara, afternoon game drive - o/n Simba, Serena or Keekorok Lodges
Day 8 & 9 - Masai Mara, 2/game drives daily - o/n
Day 10 - Drive or fly to Nairobi; day-room; evening departure for home

With the above, you also get more game viewing; an easier pace and few 1-nighters.

Why not contact Africapoint direct for the above itinerary and see what price they can offer.

With the Africa Point itinerary, you at least have one more night in Samburu.

On a tight budget, I'd suggest sticking with a driving itinerary but cutting down on the number of locations so that you can stay a bit longer in each place or choosing destinations which are closer to each other. What month are you planning to travel and would 6 nights be the maximum amount of time on safari?

Happy New Year to you too!

In terms of flights/price, have you considered Qantas? LA to Johannesburg via Sydney? Not sure if it faster on SAA via Atlanta or London. US flights on QA often go down in early summer.

Thank you all for your time. I guess I should not be surprised us travel buggy people are home at their computers on New Year's Day.

I just returned from India on Friday and have a bad case of travel blues. Gosh, I barely have all my laundry done and I'm eagerly planning my next trip.


The only reason for going to South Africa was because that was how the South Africa Airlines package was configured.

I am planning on August and could do more than 6 nights.

Has anyone heard of any recent comments of Africa Point?

Just in case you're not already aware of this, the City Lodge Waterfront is situated just outside one of the Waterfront entrances, not inside. Nothing wrong with the hotel, it's a good 3* that I've stayed at several times, although not for many years. What I'd categorise as a "business-type" hotel. (Many years ago I used to compare City Lodges with Marriott Courtyard.) I'm just mentioning it in case you expect it to be closer to the commercial core of the Waterfront.

Wayne traveled with Africa Point and was very satisfied. There was another recent traveler who also used them.

See LyndaS Index for trip reports that used Africa Point.

Here is a report by Wayne on Africa Point. He had a good trip and has a more detailed report in the East Africa Index I believe.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34724552

East Af index http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34860283

Another good Africa Point trip
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34895357

A not so good experience with Africa Point
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34817179

Wow, Thanks for all the great info. I'm going to be very busy....reading this all.
Once again I appreciate your time and advice!!