I am a well traveled lady who would like to start planning a trip to Africa. Wanted to get opinions on best places to go. Here are some parameters: 1) trip would be limited to 2 weeks; 2) would like to see some great scenary; 3) would like to see some wildlife. Also -- I am not a huge large organized "tour' fan. However, if conditions are such that this is what makes sense, I would do that. What are the general thoughts on this?

Zambia would be a good choice. I think you can see rhino in Zambia if you go to Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park near Livingstone where you would view Victoria Falls. The name of the park translates to Smoke that Thunders--Victoria Falls. This is a fenced park, however. I've never been there.

Fortunately most of the places you would consider visiting in Africa have great scenery and wildlife. To assist you in your decision of where to go here are some questions:

What time of year do you wish to travel?

Are there activities you would like to do such as walking, boating safaris, canoe safaris, cultural interactions?

Is seeing the migration of the zebra and wildebeest a priority?

Have you established a budget you can share?

With answers to these questions, others can be more specific with their suggestions.

Please post again as you narrow your destinations or as more questions develop.

Pamo,

I must concur with Matnikstym that Zambia would be an excellent destination for a 2 week itinerary.

What makes Zambia unique is the range of activities that are possible. Besides the normal game drives (in open sided and open top vehicles compared to mostly closed vehicles in East Africa), Zambian offers so much more. Zambia is celebrated for its walking safaris, canoeing, fishing, river safaris and cultural visits (in addition to morning and night game drives).

There are so many quality lodges/camps and you can go from a more traditional safari camp to ultraluxury depending on your budget and tastes.

A two week safari that I think would be excellent would be something like the following, although it is on the higher end of the budget:

Chiawa Camp, Lower Zambezi, 5 nights

Tafika Camp or Kaingo, South Luangwa, 3 nights (these camps are in remote northern part of the camp)

Luangwa River Lodge, 3 nights (this luxury lodge is more central)

Puku Ridge, 3 nights (this luxury tented camp is within the national park and is far enough south of Luangwa River Lodge that you will not duplicate areas visited on your game drives).

www.chiawa.com (Chiawa)
www.remoteafrica.com (Tafika)
www.luangwariverlodge.com (Luangwa River Lodge)
www.starofafrica.com (Puku Ridge)

These are very highly regarded lodges, averaging about $500 per person per night sharing in high season and about $350 per person per night sharing in low season. This still compares very favorably to similar camps/lodges in South Africa and Botswana.

There are lower priced options that are still very good, such as the following camps/lodges:

LOWER ZAMBEZI
www.kasakariverlodge.com
www.chongwe-river.com

SOUTH LUANGWA
www.luangwa.com

My own recommendation, however, would be to visit the best lodges/camps possible, even if you need to go in low season. The good thing about the lodges I recommend is that they are mostly smaller camps/lodges and at least a couple of them (Puku Ridge and Luangwa River Lodge) are so new that they are still a bit under the radar, meaning that you may luck out and have only a couple other visitors in camp, especially in low season.

There are many other places to consider, but in order to get away from the "tours" I would suggest Southern Africa or Southern Tanzania.

Africa is too big and too diverse to recommend any one or more countries based on the little bit of information you provided.

You say "some" wildlife - does this to mean that you are looking for more than 2 weeks spent in the bush? In this case South Africa will be a much better destination for you with spectacular scenery and a variety of attractions with some wildlife - and absolutely no need for a group tour.

atravelyn raises good questions (echoed by a couple others), which if you provide feedback and advice which aspect(s) are most imporant, will result in different recommendations. My decision on where to travel was driven primarily by my vacation schedule and interest in seeing wildlife for my first safari.

When would be a good time to do the Zambia itinerary outlined by Roccco?

Pamo,
Go to Kenya! Unless you return specifying that you want to go skiing you’ll find everything you might possibly want in Kenya. From the glacial ridges of Mt Kenya to the remote desertlands next to Lake Turkana – the Jade Sea. Meet some colourful fish in the Indian Ocean, a Rasta dhow captain in Lamu – a town and an island with no cars, but a unique Swahili culture and lots of donkeys – a Maasai night watchman with ears down to his shoulders anywhere, some hysterically giggling schoolchildren next to Lake Victoria, millions of flamingos in Lake Nakuru, orphaned baby elephants at Sheldrick’s in Nairobi, a taxi driver on the verge of a nervous breakdown in Mombasa, a giant forest hog in the Aberdares and a gecko in your bathroom. Go on a walking safari along the Galana River in Tsavo, horseriding among giraffes in Laikipia, whitewater rafting on the Ewaso Ng’iro, camel trekking in Maralal or, if you want to, you can climb Mt Kenya. And, you’ll find the savannah you have always wanted to return to with big mammals in numbers that will settle your heart.

I had a quick look at what a fly-in to a lovely camp in the Mara would cost. Let’s Go Travel has a 2 night flying package – return flight, full board accommodation, 2 game drives daily and nature walks - to Ilkeliani for $ 479pp. an extra night is $135pp, so if you stay for 4 nights the price would be $ 187pppn, or $ 217 if park fees aren’t included. http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/13107
Here’s Ilkeliani: http://www.ilkeliani.com/

Marija,

The safari I outlined includes parks that are seasonal. For example, North Luangwa is only available for safaris from about mid June until the end of October. Also, Lower Zambezi is available from mid-April until mid-November.

The BEST time for the itinerary I proposed, however, would be anywhere from about mid-August to early October.

If this time frame does not work for you, South Luangwa is good anytime from about April - December, with high season pricing occurring between June - October and low season pricing occurring in April, May, November and December.

Zambia really is a fantastic safari destination and should be at the top of anybody's list, especially if a high season Botswana safari is out of reach due to cost.

On the other hand, there are some excellent prices for Kwando (www.kwando.co.za) in its "Secret Season" between December 01st - March 31st, and for its low season of April 01st - May 31st, and Nov. 01st to Nov. 30th, the prices are not so bad, but still higher than a high season Zambian safari.

There are just so many options out there, but after Matnikstym is the first response on this thread proposed Zambia as a safari destination, I chose to speak about Zambia in this thread.

interesting....they deleted my post...

...and as a result of that deletion, my first paragraph looks bizarre, like I am pushing rhino viewing. I was agreeing with the now deleted post that Zambia is a fine destination. I'm planning visit #3 to Zambia in a couple of years.

Well Dennis, you are kind of a troublemaker. ;-)

I think they got one of my posts, as well. Don't know if anybody saw it but somebody had the audacity to suggest that my safaris were these outlandish luxury safaris that were unaffordable to most...oh, the nerve!

My response was basically that I have done everything from bushcamps to over the top luxury and would not hesitate for one second to return to a place like Kafunta Island Bush Camp, which is a grand total of $265 per person per night sharing in high season!


Cooncat...ARE YOU READY FOR ZAMBIA?!

if can find her missing gloves and camera equipment, i'm sure she's ready....

hasn't yet found her gloves, quick-release plate or her sanity. She plans to reorder the gloves, go without a second quick-release plate, and drink heavily on the flight over.

...all in only 16 days!

I pray I make it.....this waiting is becoming UNBEARABLE!!!!!

Thanks for all of the replies -- I have much to digest. I will begin my research -- take into accounts your comments -- and probably be back for some more questions!