Visiting Africa for the first time - need some advice on planning trip
 

Hello, my husband and I are planning a last minute trip to Africa in August and we have about 3 weeks. We want to visit Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, and South Africa (in south Africa I think we will only be visiting Cape Town). We want to find out if in 3 weeks visiting all four places is feasible, and how many days should we stay at each place? Is it best to go through a tour operator to book our trip?

Thank you

If you state a budget, better advice can be given.

4 countries in 3 weeks is quite a bit, but if you visit Victoria Falls by staying in Livingstone, Zambia, you can do a daytrip that visits both Namibia and Botswana (and probably Zimbabwe) all in the same day. Proximity helps out.

Depending on what you want to see, you could spend most of your time in South Africa. Its slogan is "A whole world in one country." The wildlife concessions there are excellent. You can self drive in Kruger, which is an exciting way of economizing, though I have not done that. Or you can fly to the private areas in the neighboring Sabi Sands for some of the most exception wildlife viewing in the world.

If you just wanted to get to these various countries, that would indicate one type of itinerary. If you had specific interests such as:

Seeing Victoria Falls (Zambia)
Doing walking or canoe safaris (Zambia)
Visitng the Okavango delta (Botswana)
Seeing the huge sand dunes and Etosha waterholes (Namibia)
maximizing wildlife sightings on safari
maximizing cultural interactions
seeing specific kinds of wildlife

that would indicate another itinerary.

Unfortunately you can't do it all in 3 weeks, but that is a nice amount of time for some great experiences in Southern Africa.

I personally have used agents that specialize in Africa for visits to Botswana, Zambia, and Sabi Sands of South Africa. I booked directly with Cape Town providers.

At this late date an agent may help. Using an agent to book inter camp charter flights and that sort of thing is different from booking a tour. I think Overseas Adventure Travel has a set itinerary that includes some of the countries you list. 2Afrika in NYC has many set departures and might have something you are interested in. I have not gone with either of those tour companies but they are popular.

Your budget and interests and how long you plan to stay in Cape Town will tell if 4 countries is feasible and how long/what you should do in each place. August is fast approaching and it is when the world travels. No time to waste. Good luck!

Our budget is between $8,000-10,000 for two people.
We want to see as much wildlife as possible, definitely a walking safari, and we want to see sand dunes and etosha waterholes. Cape town maybe for 2-3 days. For first timers would you recommend a self drive through one of the countries?

Thank you

"For first timers would you recommend a self drive through one of the countries?"

Kruger National Park is very do-it-yourself friendly. Fly into JNB and rent a car at the airport, 6 hour drive to Kruger. But even then with a rental car it will cost you $150 per day per person. Your budget a bit tight for two people, 20 days. More so if air to/from Africa is included. (Depending some of course where home is).

regards - tom

Out of 3 weeks, allow 3 days travel to/from and 3 days Cape Town so that leaves 15 days. I assume your costs are not international flights.

I’ll make some suggestions based on: “We want to see as much wildlife as possible, definitely a walking safari, and we want to see sand dunes and etosha waterholes.”

Self drive in SA is common even on a first trip. Nothing I'd do, but very typical. Even more common in Namibia. But not the other places.

After Cape Town, fly to JNB on one of the nearly hourly flts and then drive to Kruger.
3 nts Kruger--there are many places to stay.

http://www.mtbeds.co.za/hotels/kruge...onal-park/0/25

Drive back to Joburg and assume an o/nt is needed.

Now you have 11 days

Fly Joburg to Luska, Zambia and then on to Mfuwe, the airport access to South Luangwa. Stay at one of the many S. Luangwa camps where daily walking safaris are the specialty. These camps can be several hundred dollars per night. You can look at Mfuwe Lodge, Nkwali, Tafika, Nsefu, Kapane, or other camps. Flat Dogs is less, but I have not been there.
Spend 3 nights.

Now you have 8 days

Fly from Mfuwe to Lusaka probably, then on to Windhoek, Namibia and overnight.

That leaves 7 nights.

You could rent a car and self drive or do a group departure to the Namib desert with the dunes and Etosha with the waterholes, using 4-6 days. The self drive options are planned out for you with reservations.

http://www.namibian.org/travel/safaris/selfdriv.htm

That’s pretty close to 3 weeks. You could easily add another night in Kruger or Zambia if needed. Botswana did not fit in here, assuming your 3 weeks included your international flights. Botswana is the most expensive of the countries you list.

There's Kruger, and then there is Kruger National Park, and then there is the Greater Kruger Area. The link above (to mtbeds) will show you around one-half of the -private- camps in the greater Kruger area.

For Kruger National Park you need this link -
http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger...fault.php#main

regards - tom

In your budget take some bids from zicasso.com

Great upscale deals there

Porini.com super options

Chobe Lodge is awesome

Travelzoo.com great packages sometimes also

Insuremytrip.com travel.stat.gov reviews for entry safety always wise for me.

Happy Planning,