topping for those who are still considering a visit.

Thanks for a great report!

50something,
Thanks for sharing – and for topping. I somehow missed this report earlier. It sounds like a wonderful trip and it’s interesting to get a South African perspective.

I'm planning our first trip to Africa in September and was wondering if you would recommend S. Africa or Tanzania? We're having a hard time deciding.

DeMarco -- Not to hijack 50something's thread, but in answer to your question: Our first Africa trip was to South Africa and we thought that was perfect for a first time safari. It's a great place to "try on" a safari and see how you like it, because you can try everything from camping to rustic accommodations in national parks (self-drive) to uber-luxurious camps in Sabi Sands, and see what suits you. Plus the infrastructure of the country is great. And the diversity of the wildlife is amazing -- not just the big five, but if you head in the direction of Cape Town you can even go whale watching and see penguins on Boulders Beach, and go wine tasting on the weekend -- so much to do and such interesting culture.

We found that our 6 nights on safari in South Africa only whetted our appetite for more...and now we have recently just returned from 15 days in Tanzania's northern circuit, which was absolutely amazing.

So I suppose I am biased toward doing them in that order! It's hard to describe but I guess that in general I would say that South Africa offers a broader range and variety of different experiences, whereas Tanzania offers a narrower range of experiences but a much more in depth safari experience.

That said, we didn't get enough of Kruger on our last visit so this year we are returning there and also going to Botswana for the first time. The danger of going on safari at all is that it is terribly, wonderfully addictive... :)

I think lisa has it right - South Africa has a far greater range of attractions whereas Tanzania really has only the safari attraction. As a first time visitor to Africa I would start with S.A. and ensure including Kruger Park and Cape Town in your visit.

50something, re: your comment "Tanzania really has only the safari attraction."

Well, there's no Disneyland in Tanzania (thank God) but there are real animals, free-range as they say, and there's Mt. Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain on the continent of Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world, and there's Olduvai Gorge - one of the original environs of mankind, and there's the Serengeti - a broad expanse of flora and fauna, and there's the Ngorongoro Crater - the world's largest caldera, and there is Lake Victoria - one of the world's largest fresh water lakes, and there are baobab trees that date back to the time of Christ, and there is ebony and ivory in more ways than one, and there are hundreds of little children who wave at you like you're some well-known celebrity, and there's Zanzibar - if you've just got to have a beach experience, etc, etc, etc. So, when you say "Tanzania really has only the safari attraction", you've really said a mouthful!

and don't forget (hi Jack), the history and the cultural experiences with tribesmen, the wall writtings, all that great shopping for locally crafted goods and......
(:
Sherry

What a great trip report! I'm glad to hear about the tipping and how you handled it. I loved the description of your reaction to seeing the Ngorongoro Crater! We're going on our 1st trip to Africa in late May (Tanzania) and reading these kinds of trip reports makes my heart beat faster in anticipation. Thanks!

Hell 50Something, I am looking forward to reading the rest of your report. But I did stop at this section:

<It amazed us that, with so many well-heeled tourists spending so much money in these game parks, the authorities have spent so little on the roads and infrastructure. It seems that the main roads have not been graded for years and without doubt they were the worst we have experienced in any game reserve that we have visited. >

*** I second that! I don't get it at all. My driver said there is so much corruption in the government that the $$$ doesn't make it to fixign the roads. OK, back to reading your report ;)

Or maybe they spend it on building "bridges to nowhere"....?

TOUCHE ..;)

Waynehazle - it is interesting that our driver made the same remark about corruption. Obviously some truth in what they say.
When I stated that Tanzania has only the "safari experience" I did not mean to detract in any way from a trip to Tanzania. It is truly a fantastic experience but for anyone who has never been to Africa before it may be a severe culture shock at times. South Africa is far less of a shock as it contains a cross section of Western and African experiences, sometimes very close together. It also has scenic beauty that you do not find in many other countries.

50something - No doubt, South Africa is a beautiful country. We absolutely fell in love with CPT, a real keeper. And though we enjoyed our visit here, including Kruger in both rustic camps and Singita... I have to say, South Africa is a bit too sanitized to my liking.

I've been to any number of third-world countries and "culture shock" was never even an issue.

Unless the traveler simply opens a brochure or checks a website and picks a trip - "oh, good price, I think I'll go" they might as well stay at home. And this great trip at a great price can just as easily be to a so-called western country destination. They have no idea where or why they are at whichever destinations.

Visitors to Africa, whether South Africa or elsewhere, rarely, make this decision with blinders on!

topping for those who are busy planning a safari.

Thank you 50something for sharing your trip report and topping it. Great read and hoping this December to January in will bring rain in time for our safari.

Did you have a cover like canvas over your landcruiser or did you have wide open views with hinged hatches? Assuming you did not have a pop-top from your description. I've been considering a pop-top preferable over the hinge type without cover due to sun, all day game drives and (cross my fingers) possibility of rain.

Thanks