Help--we are just starting to look at a trip to Africa--ad there are just too many options. We are looking at A&K tours and Micato--do you think it is possible to go to both Kenya and Tanzania in one trip--or is it better to just concentrate on one area--For first timers would you suggest South Africa or East Africa--much help is needed. Thanks.

How exciting! Yes, the options in the form of travel companies, parks and lodges/camps can be very overwhelming.

Here is a link from Lynda on her Micato trip. In sum, she was thrilled. Within her post are responses from a couple other people who went or are going with Micato. They may also have reports coming up too.

Micato, and especially A&K, are at the costlier end of the many safari options.

Kenya and Tanzania make a very good combination in one trip if you have two weeks or more. My first Africa trip was to both countries. But concentrating on just one is a good idea for shorter safaris.

South or East? Either is a good first time destination. It all depends on what you want in a safari so the destination can match your expectations.

<u>Kenya/Tanzania</u>
Since driving safaris are common it is easier and less expensive for a private departure for a couple or for a small group of friends. You can also fly from camp to camp and use the guides at each camp.

Depending on when you go, you can see the migration or at least some its large herds in either Kenya or Tanzania.

By including the more northern parks in Kenya, you can see different species of giraffe, zebra, ostriches, antelope.

There is the Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage Site and considered a Wonder of the Natural World.

It is easy to add a beach component or if you wanted to do gorilla treks in Uganda/Rwanda, you are nearby.

Lodges are more common here than in Southern Africa, but you can certainly find tented camps. There are more visitors in the East African parks but a good guide can minimize your encounters with crowds.

In general East Africa is less expensive
than Southern Africa, unless you do mobile camping trips (which are quite luxurious and upscale) or self driving in South Africa.

<u>Zambia/Zimbabwe:</u>
With almost the abundance of game found in East Africa, Botswana, or South Africa, they attract active travelers. Walking safaris and canoeing are common. (Walking can be arranged in other countries and parks but it is a biggie here.) You can really get a wilderness experience here.

Victoria Falls, a World Heritage Site and World Wonder is easily reached.

<u>Botswana</u>
The most common type of safari is to fly from camp to camp on planes that operate like a taxi service. Then at each camp, share a vehicle with 3 or 4 other guests. Private vehicles can be arranged but can be several hundred dollars a day extra.

Accommodations are usually permanent luxury tented camps that range from superb to out of this world. Camps are secluded and remote with few other vehicles around and abundant game. It is more exclusive than East Africa with a price to match.

Victoria Falls, is easily reached.

You can see the beautiful Okavango Delta and enjoy a mekoro ride.

<u>South Africa</u>
It has some areas that are malaria free if that's important. The public Kruger Park and adjacent private Sabi Sands offer excellent game viewing, though not the herds found elsewhere. This is probably the easiest place to locate the Big 5--lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard.

If you're independent you can drive yourself.

Combining a safari with Cape Town and the garden route can make for a well rounded trip.

<font color="green">When are you planning your trip? That makes a difference in where is best.</font>

Thank you so much--more studying involved. Again thank you for your insights. Jan

P.S. We were planning on going in mid Feb--but the tours are sold out--do you think late feb-march is too late???

You never know just when the peak of the migration will occur. This past year it was late so you would have been about right, maybe even slightly early. But you do not have to try to time the migration perfectly for a great trip.

Here is a chart on the best times to go in different countries based on maximizing wildlife viewing. That also means these the most expensive times and with the most people.

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

One comment.

Micato and A&amp;K are great. I have used Tauck many, many times for trips.

If your trips are sold out.....contact one of the outfitters or two if you are set on Kenya/Tz and plan your own trip. If you stay at the same locations (unless privately owned/run by the tour operator), I can guarantee that you will save tons of $$$'s. In fact, you can probably upgrade many of the lodges/camps and still go on safari and save hundreds, if not at least $1,000 per person.

Just another idea. And it's not as difficult as you might think.

Good luck.

I have been reading and enjoying Lynda's &quot;brief&quot; posts about her Micato safari, but for some reason I can't find it today. Help--I think I was into day 5--but how do I find it? Thanks so much--Lynda if you see this request would you consider email me your notes. I really do enjoy them. Thanks again. Jan

Here's Lynda's report http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34822022

dsxxx;
I am confused about your statememt about saving tons of money by booking lodges yourself. Do you mean writting to each lodge, for example, Duma Tau Chitabe in Botswana myself and not use any tour company. If you do this then how do you arrange the air transportation between the camps, who picks you up at the different air strips etc. Most of the camps seem to be running about $700-$800 per person per night. How much cheaper can you get them. Is this an accurate figure for June=August of 2007?

spiegelcjs,

You don't book the lodges/camps directly, you check with local outfitters/operaotrs who can save you $$$'s by cutting out the US/UK etc middleman.

That's what we did and saved a bundle.

Good luck.

I think dsxxx is referring to Kenya and Tanzania, and to working with a local agent who will book everything for you, including your transport. The comparison is between using an agent to book all or part of an itinerary you have selected (maybe booking flights, and hotels and tours in cities, yourself) or buying a complete package tour off the shelf. However, if you are simply flying between lodges in e.g. Botswana surely you can book the planes with the airlines running the flights - the lodges will pick you up from the airstrip and take you back there to fly out - usually at little or no extra charge. Whether it is cheaper or better to book directly with the lodges or through an agent is a moot point on this forum - with many different experiences recorded - in general people will rarely travel independently in East Africa but will do so more often in Southern Africa - where the roads and facilities are generally better. For a first-timer I am sure msot people would say you are better working with an agent. To get a better idea of what is meant, read the trip indexes to get an idea of what people do (if you are you not familiar with these, type in a search for &quot;trip index&quot; and read until you burst with information!). It's also good to look at trip planning threads (like this one) to work out whether such an independent way of doing things is for you or not. Unless you are sure you want a package tour (sorry if it is a vulgar-sounding term - it is important to note that these are quite small groups compared to the usual package tour) I would try to do a couple more weeks reading the trip indexes before you make any decisions - you may find the trip of your dreams in there and that would possibly end all confusion. Everyone's an Africa travel expert after a few months following this board ;-)

Oops, posting at the same time again.

: dssxxxx

Do you mean like using a company like CC Africa or Go2Africa or someone based in Africa, rather than a Natural Habitat or A&amp;K. I assume the later just contracts with a company based in Africa.

I looked at Micato also because I wanted a luxury trip and then I received the quote back and decided to go with CCAfrica which was significantly less but still a luxury outfitter and booked me into all my first choice accommodations for my trip in Feb 07 (I learned about CCAfrica on this board!). I am sure I can get even a less expensive trip if I continued to shop, but at this point I am happy with what I have and CCAfrica has received very good reviews on this board (aka the Africa Experts!)

Everything I have read and heard about CCAfrica is fine and good.

But, when I gave them my itinerary they were extremely high for &quot;the same&quot; apples to apples. They in turn tried to &quot;talk&quot; us into their properties (which we are staying at a few).

The were quite high for the following:

2-Manyara Serena
2-N Crater Lodge
2-Serengeti Serena
3-Kirawira

About $1000.00 per person over who we have booked our safari.

Good luck.