Good day!
Well we are in the early early early stages of planning a family trip to Africa. I am slowly learning this and that, but I would love to learn from people who have been there. At the time we are thinking of going our kids will be aged 14,13,10,8. My heart wants to go to Tanzania and with the company Access 2 Tanzania, but I have so many thought going through my head I am so unsure. I have been told I would be stupid to book anything with a company online and not use a well known travel agency (going to africa isn't like going to orlando, if you get to an africa airport and no one is there to meet you, you are pooched! I am told travel agents help in these situations). My doctor tells me South Africa would be better (he is from there, so I am thinking he is bias) being that it is 1st world. I am thinking I would like my kids to experience 3rd world, am I stupid for thinking that? I would love to get my hands on a GOOD travel book on Tanzania, but I am not seeing much. Any advice on that?

I'm no Africa expert as my first trip will be this year.

However, there have been a gazillion people who have gone to Tanzania and keep going back. Just looking at this forum you can see how many people make the trip to Tanzania. You can also see most people organize their trips over the internet with various companies based in the country and have done so successfully.

Ask Access 2 Tanzania for references. Check trip advior and search here for people who've used the company.

I'm deciding between them and Greenfootprints right now and have felt very comfortable with my dealings with both companies.

Good luck with your decision.

Hi, If you let us know the time of the year you are planning your trip to Africa, you will get good advice here. Some safari destinations are better at certain times of the year (weather, wildife, etc.)

Good luck with your planning, it shouldn't be too difficult once you decide on the destination.

You can certainly book online whether an in-country outfitter or a tour operator out of our home country. Do a search on this board for Tanzania tour operators and many threads will appear with names of those used successfully.

If traveling with children, the ages you show, it appears it'll be when they 're off school... summer (bet. June-Aug). If for '08, then I wouldn't wait, as much is already booked. Should you be traveling in August, I would sincerely recommend the Masai Mara in Kenya where the migration is taking place.

Alot will depend on whether you can get flight availability, which airport your arrive depart*; also availability of lodges/camps. But both countries can be visited in one trip.

*more flight carriers into Nairobi Kenya than Kilimanjaro Tanzania.

As for time of year, we were thinking January or February. We were not planning it for this year, that would be scary, Next year is our goal. I have lots of research to do yet! *S*

Jan-Feb '09, then Tanzania is good. Closer into February, is great for the "calving" of the wildebeest in the Ndutu or Southeastern Serengeti. And, it's not too early to request space at the Ndutu Lodge (small w/ only 17/rooms) the only lodge in this area. Otherwise, seasonal tent camps. If the family is adventurous, then maybe semi-lux camping on private camp sites. You'll have tents set-up/broken down, separate loo tent and shower tent. With your own private guide/vehicle (cook also if camping). Jan-Mar is peak season, so rates to match. All will depend on your budget.

Prices for '09 probably won't be available earliest May '08, but most later on from July or Aug'08.

To (hopefully) reassure you, we booked our trip to Kenya and Tanzania entirely online and directly with companies in those countries -- Eastern & Southern Safaris in Kenya and Green Footprint Adventures in Tanzania. Both of them came through for us with flying colors and gave us a wonderful trip. I chose them based on recommendations on this site, plus recommendations in multiple guidebooks, plus feedback on other travel sites, and then, finally, based on my communications with them and the value they offered for the itinerary we wanted to do. I also booked a tiger safari in India online and had a great experience. I've never actually used a travel agent, although I can see how in some cases that might make life easier. But I think booking directly online is perfectly fine and not necessarily any riskier than the other options, as long as you've done your research (and purchased trip insurance, which is a good idea no matter how you book your trip). I would never book with a company that I only saw recommended in one place (or one trip report or one book), for instance. Also, I should add that a nice side benefit of booking directly with these companies is that when we arrived in Nairobi (and Delhi too), we actually got to meet the person we'd been e-mailing with all that time, and felt like we already had some friends there.

There are some great operators in Tanzania, some to try: Nomads safaris, Thompson safaris, Sokwe safaris, True Africa, and African Environments. These should cover a good selection of price range for your safari plans and all these companies have a great track record for guides. Your kids are at a perfect age to enjoy an African safari, make sure you ask to include a cultural destination with the trip to spend some time with the Masai people, not just a quick visit to a tourist village on the side of the road they will love it. Hope this is useful!

If your heart wants to go to Tanzania, you should go. Yes, it's a third world country, but an experience beyond words for those of us who have been. I would suggest that most of us who travel to East Africa book online, either directly with ground operators in-country or their representative agents abroad (in North America and Europe etc). I agree with the others who've suggested Northern Tz if you're planning to go in the early part of the year. The wildlife viewing is spectacular and you can also think about including a variety of cultural experiences.

I like the Bradt Guide to Northern Tanzania. Another good one is Rough Guide to Tanzania.

Good luck with the planning and feel free to ask as many questions as you need.

Sokwe safaris, True Africa, and African Environments--those are some that I have not heard about before. It's always good to have new options.

I lived for a year in Uganda when I was 9. 35 years later I consider it the most valuable experience of my life - nothing gave me a greater perspective that how we do things in the USA is not the only way. Going on safari is absolutely wonderful, but it won't give you a feel for living in a less priviledge country so plan some activities that will expose you to the local daily life (I just looked at Access 2 Tanzania's web site and it looks like they have this covered - not everyone does).

The only other consideration that may weigh into your Doctor's recommendation is that Equatorial Africa is home to more diseases than Southern Africa.

I used Access2Tanzania for my safari to Tanzania and Zanzibar in June 2007. I cannot recommend the company enough. Do a search for my previous posts on the topic. If you contact Karen at Access2Tanzania, she'll give you a list of several references with whom you can speak. I'd be happy to discuss further.