JazzDrew

I am in the early stages of planning our 2nd safari, this time to South Africa. We are 2 families (4 adults, 3 teenagers ages 17, 17 and 19). We will travel in July to South Africa. Our initial plans are:

4n Capetown - Mount Nelson
4n Sabi Sabi - Elephant Plains
2n Thornybush - Chapungu
2n Sabi Sabi - MalaMala

We used Roy's Safari when we did our East Africa safari and were extremely happy with everything they provided - service, price, quality. I am looking for a similar experience for next summer in South Africa. I am seeing quite a few specials (stay 6 pay for 4) that expire before July. We would love to find similar deals for July ( which I understand is low season) but am worried that these relatively small camps will fill up before then. My question then is a in multiple parts:

1. Any suggestions an operator or agent
2. Itinerary suggestions.
3. When should we book?

Thanks in advance for any help!

JazzDrew

spassvogel

I wouldn't do 2/2 but rather stay in Thornybush or Sabi Sands for the last 4 nights!

July is Winer particularly for Cape Town it might be unpleasant!

For safari it's very good but can be COLD in the mornings. But the time is right for safari!

Regarding the booking:
- EP sells quickly! So I would rather book early.

- Tourism isn't back to it height and teher is no expectation that it will built up soon. So regarding the flights u can book early next year.

Be prepared to pay high fares as July/Aug is holiday season for Europeans and places might sell quickly.

Contact the camps directly and request your dates.

Mount Nelson can be looked at in March/April.

sandi

Agree with SV not to split those last 4/nts with 2/2, where you leave (road or air) from one private reserve for the other and then return.

As to "specials", as stay x#/nts, pay x#/nts, if new ones will be available for July, only the agents/tour operators will know, though sometimes the camps don't publish them till way too close to dates visitors want to travel.

Can't provide names to contact, but a search on this board or input from others should provide some reputable companies... and don't wait too long. Even in low season, some places can book quickly.

pixelpower

About itinerary;
- You'll probably be too late already for EP. But Arathusa could be a good alternative (similar in price, same area, and just a tad more traversing rights).
- Since it is your 2nd safari; why not try something new? Rough it up a little with a tented camp and/or some bush walks. Or try a different reserve like Timbavati or Klaserie?

About Operator: try Sun Safaris. Certainly if you go for other reserves & the less-known lodges; they got a LOT of info.

Happy travels,

J.

JazzDrew

Thanks everyone for the great advice! The more I think about it 4nights each camp is a better idea. But I, as always, want the best of all worlds...I want the budget of EP, the luxury of MalaMala as a splurge and to stay under canvas! Another concern is that this will be the first time in Africa for the other family and I want to be sure to accommodate them!

I just checked EP and their online booking link shows a one 4 night window with three rooms (honeymoon suite, regular room and a family triple) that would work, although the costs jump a bit.

We did Kenya and Tanzania (Giraffe Manor, Tortilis, Lake Manya Tree Lodge, Ngorongoro Serena and Kirawira) and loved the tents! Can you recommend specific tented camps? I have read man wonderful trip reports (including Pixels)and think that we'd love to find a tented camp in the sabi area.

I plan to contact go2africa and Sun Safaris today. Thanks again for everyone's help!

JazzDrew

JazzDrew

One new question - Will the temperature be too cold for tented camps in July? Will there be heat? That might be a seal breaker for tented for tents!

christabir

We prefer tented camps too. But yes, it's cold. I sleep with a robe under the covers so it stays warm for when I get up. I don't think there are any tented camps in Sabi Sands, but a few are around the greater Kruger area. Shindzela is on my list for June 2011.

I would do either 3/3/3 or 4/4 nights. We liked Arathusa a lot. It has a water hole - a big plus for me - and the price is comparable to EP.

Have you considered a MM/Pafuri/Mashatu or Phinda/Kirkmans combo?

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...ented-camp.cfm

Here are the &beyond specials. Many available in July: (Phinda/Kirkmans)
http://www.andbeyondafrica.com/speci...gnature_offers

atravelynn

JazzDrew, I remember your first trip and the planning fun. How wonderful you are going again.

It gets cold in July, maybe in the 50s F or even upper 40s F. at night. I also recalled that it stayed cool until mid morning some days. Wool hat and gloves were welcome.

I like the 4 nts in one place. Do check out Christabir's suggestions too. I thought Phinda combined nicely with Sabi Sands.

If you are going to Cape Town in July, are you doing any Great White Shark viewing? July is a great time for it. I did a week of shark viewing in July with African Shark Eco-Charters out of Simons Town. Baboon walks, also from Simons Town were great. Simons Town is where the penguins are.

It's probably time for a new car. Let's see what this trip inspires. If my memory has failed me, ignore this last comment.

sandi

During July, it will be cold mornings and nights for sure, and especially feel more so if staying in tented camps. If you do find tented camps of interest, inquire as to whether they provide down comforters and as in Kenya/Tanzania provide hot-water bottles under the bedding to keep the feet warm... overall comfy while sleeping.

However, once out from under the covers it will still be nippy, so warm attire will be needed for a few hours till the temps heat up somewhat... maybe into the 60s by mid-day.

JazzDrew

Thank everyone. Sorry for the delay in responding...we have been traveling over Thanksgiving (had a WONDERFUL time) and am just getting caught up. Sounds like we'll be ok in July in the tents as long as we are prepared. Since we are from Iowa and are used to cold we should be ok, but I want to be sure my cousins from Arizona will tolerate the cold weather!

Sandi - As always I take your advice to heart and appreciate your comments. Thank you!


Pixel - Thanks for sharing you travel reports and posts. Looks like we share similar tastes in SA lodges. It is really helpful to read your trip reports and comments.

Spassvogle- Thank you also for your help. I agree that 4 nights (or maybe 3 and 3) is a good idea. I seem to always try to cram too many destinations in, and am always happier when I resist the temptation!

Christabir - Yes, I like the combos that you suggest. After visiting with my cousin over Thanksgiving (who would be traveling with us) I think they would be ok with these. You know it can be a challenge planning a safari for multiple families and all of our expectations! After a brief conversation it appears that they would be ok with tents as opposed to lodges (which I assumed they might prefer).

Atravelynn - It is GREAT to be planning another safari. My first safari seemed SOO exotic! But this one feels different but great as well. It appears that SA is considerably less stressful in terms of concerns for the family. I am still trying to figure out the "value" side of SA though. Seems like everywhere I want to stay is So much more than Kenya and Tanzania. I really like finding a "value" when I travel. I think that Elephant Plains is that sort of lodge. But I'm not sure about the rest. I'd love to fins another Roy's Safari who was great for us. Fantastic service, great price and I felt confident through the entire experience. I am still looking for an agent who can provide the same experience for a great value in SA. I also want to find a permanent tent camp like Kirawira or Tortilis at a value in SA. The search continues!

AS a side note it is really reassuring to hear from the safari experts on this board as compared to the China board. Were were very,very close to booking a trip to China (Beijing, Xian, Tibet, Chengdu, Guilin, Longheng, Shanghai then cruise to Japan and South Korea) until my cousins indicated that they were interested in a safari again (they considered traveling with us on our first safari but it didn't work out). The China board was quite frustrating with spammers and overbearing "experts". I feel so comfortable hearing from the Africa Experts! Than you all!

Jazz Drew

az3

We went to South Africa in July 2009. As people have mentioned, it was quite cold, especially on the drives - at the start of the early morning drive and at the end of the afternoon/evening drive. So we ended up taking off layers as the morning progressed and putting them on as the evening progressed!

I second Atravelynn's recommendation about going for the Great White Shark trip. And sometime around July the Right Whales show up near Hermanus.

We went to Madikwe Reserve, near the border with Botswana and saw Brown Hyena there.

cary999

With Roy Safaris in Tanzania a guide drove you around Manyara, Ndutu, Serengeti, Ngrongoro, etc and you stayed in lodges. Or something like that, yes? Something similar to this would work in South Africa if you were "touring" the national parks, like Kruger, Kgalagadi. But the private camps, like those 3 you mentioned, do not allow you to simply come in and drive around. Those camps and most others provide their own guides and vehicles. While not the same personalized assistance as a guide who is with you 24 hours for several days, getting around and between private camps is no big deal. You will be driven by a camp vehicle to the next camp, or fly by charter plane to the next camp. And you will be escorted on departure and arrival by camp personnel. You will be well looked after and taken care of.

regards - tom