Anyone been to Africa?

[Rianne]

My niece found this cool safari lodge:
https://www.vuyanilodge.com/index.html

All inclusive and seems reasonable prices. There's a section that's titled
"Africa is not for sissies" and talks about all the things that could happen.
Pros: Africa

Cons: long flight, lots of bugs, in the middle of massive park, how close is a hospital? The adventure is intriguing, not sure I have the chutzpah.

Has anyone experienced Africa?

 

[Nemo2]

RSA, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Senegal, Gambia. Would like to see Zambia.

 

[Rianne]

RSA, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Senegal, Gambia. Would like to see Zambia.

And...any experience sharing?

 

[MRG]

I got sent to S. Africa shortly after apartheid ended. Spent three weeks there on business and a short game safari. It's awesome, I still can smell the place sometimes. Great people and the food was good, except ostrich.

Yes it's a long trip, we did it in two nights, spent a day in London. Business class is needed, at least for me.

It's not for sissies and you need to know what you can expect. Good footwear and proper clothes are essential.

Malaria is a concern! Do not buy into the notion of safe zones. They're safer but my manager got malaria in a safe zone. Worse his US based doctor had no idea what was wrong and didn't test for it. Ended up going dormant to come back in the future.

 

[Rianne]

I got sent to S. Africa shortly after apartheid ended. Spent three weeks there on business and a short game safari. It's awesome, I still can smell the place sometimes. Great people and the food was good, except ostrich.

Yes it's a long trip, we did it in two nights, spent a day in London. Business class is needed, at least for me.

It's not for sissies and you need to know what you can expect. Good footwear and proper clothes are essential.

Malaria is a concern! Do not buy into the notion of safe zones. They're safer but my manager got malaria in a safe zone. Worse his US based doctor had no idea what was wrong and didn't test for it. Ended up going dormant to come back in the future.

Now that you mention that, my old boss (Catholic pastor) got malaria in Africa and had gotten the immunization shot and still got it.

 

[Scuba]

We’ve been to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana. Saw Victoria Falls, did a combination of boat and land safaris and saw lots of wildlife, and spent our last several days in Capetown which is a beautiful area. I’d like to go back and see East Africa (Kenya, the Serengeti, Masai people).

DH was a bit freaked out on our three day canoe safari on the Zambezi. The first day we were alone in our canoe, and the guide told us not to run over submerged hippos. Apparently hippos kill more people than all of the other animals combined. Who knew? But we made it safely and now it’s a good story.

Just bring plenty of Deet. Need it for horseflies as much as mosquitoes. We opted not to take the malaria pills as they can have bad side effects so we just made sure we did not venture out without being covered in Deet.

 

[bushpilot]

First, there is no immunization shot for malaria. Use mosquito nets and take anti-malarials if recommended for the area. If you get it, treat agressively. I have had it a few times (I chose to not take anti-malarials), it is miserable, but it can be cured.

That lodge looks nice. It should be a good experience for you. South Africa is a modern country, with good medical care.

I have never been there specifically, but have visited much of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. I have lived in Botswana, Morocco, and mostly DR Congo. Been to the coast of Kenya and Nairobi.

It will be the experience of a lifetime, just do it.

 

[Rianne]

First, there is no immunization shot for malaria. Use mosquito nets and take anti-malarials if recommended for the area. If you get it, treat agressively. I have had it a few times (I chose to not take anti-malarials), it is miserable, but it can be cured.

Oh, maybe he took the anti malaria pills. I thought he got a bunch of immunizations before he went. It was an extended mission trip to poor areas.

 

[Souschef]

We flew to Nairobi, then flew out to the Masai Mara. Fantastic experience, and we did take antimalarial pills with no side effects.
Two game drives a day, the only one of the "big five" we did not see was a rhino..
One of the most memorable experiences was flying in a hot air balloon over the Masai Mara.

 

[OldShooter]

... Has anyone experienced Africa?

Yup. Six times. And we're currently planning our seventh trip.

Really, all your fears are unfounded. Malaria is more a theoretical risk than a real one; malerone or one of the other preventive drugs reduces the risk to almost zero. Evacuation? How many times in your life have you had something happen at home that, in the bush, would have required evacuation? What is the probability of something like that happening during the exact two or three weeks you will be in Africa. Again, almost zero I think.

It's a great place! But if someone told you they were visiting the US, you might ask: "San Diego?, Yosemite?, Waycross GA?" The point is, it's a big place -- more land area than North America. So, point #1 is you should not plan a trip to just one camp. Point #2, you cannot see the whole place but you should try to see a few places of interest to you.

We travel privately with a guide who, with his wife, runs a small custom tour operation. https://www.bushbaby.co.za/ Typically, Karen and Pierre will give us a proposed itinerary and then we will work back and forth to tune it to meet what we want, giving great respect to their advice and experience. I strongly suggest that you start with an outfitter in-country to plan a trip. They know the territory and you will not be paying a commission to a travel agent eight time zones away who cannot help you if there is an arrangements problem.

For eye candy, here are a couple of camps we have especially liked: https://www.sentinelmaracamp.com/ and https://www.simbavati.com/LODGES/RIVER-LODGE/LOCATION (When you see "tented camp" do not think boy scouts and latrines!)

International Travel News (https://www.intltravelnews.com/) is a great source of information. Use the search function, start with "Pierre Duval" and browse other searches from there. Incidentally, though Pierre and Karen have become friends and we have referred many people to them we have no economic interest to do so. We just think they are great people and provide outstanding service.

Stop worrying! Go!

 

[Rianne]

^ Thank you. I'll visit all the links you provided.

 

[OldShooter]

One more thing:

​

This is the map from the lodge you mentioned. It appears to be in a private game reserve that is not connected to Greater Kruger Park. Kruger is amazing; all the private reserves adjacent to it are unfenced and the Mozambique border is not fenced, so it is HUGE. One of the lodges I linked is in the Timbavati reserve-- note that it is contiguous with Kruger. I know nothing about the reserve Vuyana is on; it may be wonderful. But I do know that some of the private reserves, particularly farther south, are more like outdoor zoos. This is why you need a good outfitter who can consider things like this in developing an itinerary.

 

[Cut-Throat]

Has anyone experienced Africa?

Yes, Go for it !


We went to 4 different camps located in Tanzania and Kenya ... Stayed in the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti. Visited a Maasai Village. Saw all the Major animals and the Big Migration.



Best trip of our lives thus far... Most Expensive also as we dropped $35 Grand 6 years ago.


Follow Old Shooters advice... Get your Travel shots and Malaria Pills....

 

[Rianne]

One more thing:

​

This is the map from the lodge you mentioned. It appears to be in a private game reserve that is not connected to Greater Kruger Park. Kruger is amazing; all the private reserves adjacent to it are unfenced and the Mozambique border is not fenced, so it is HUGE. One of the lodges I linked is in the Timbavati reserve-- note that it is contiguous with Kruger. I know nothing about the reserve Vuyana is on; it may be wonderful. But I do know that some of the private reserves, particularly farther south, are more like outdoor zoos. This is why you need a good outfitter who can consider things like this in developing an itinerary.

Ok, this is going to take much more research than a "get on a plane, let's go to Africa." I'll go to Europe by the seat of my pants, but not Africa. You've pointed out something important. You said "game reserve." That makes me think hunting for big game on private land.

 

[OldShooter]

... You said "game reserve." That makes me think hunting for big game on private land.

Not really. These are just land areas that are dedicated to and managed for the animals that live there. To the degree that there is hunting, I don't know but we have never seen or heard of it. Here is the Wikipedia entry on the Masai Mara (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maasai_Mara) and the word hunting does not appear. The Kruger Park entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kruger_National_Park) mentions that "The park was initially created [1898] to control hunting ... "

Also "African big game hunting" is widely misunderstood. In modern times, the model is this: An animal is identified that needs to be culled. Old age is one criterion, another is animals that are menacing villagers, destroying crops, attacking people, etc. This identification is done by national or regional authorities, then the animal is "sold" to an outfitter who resells it to a "hunter." This results in a very expensive ($50K numbers) hunt that is very real and an animal dies at the end, but it is not some kind of uncontrolled and gratuitous slaughter. In that latter category is the widespread poaching of elephants for ivory and the near-extinction of rhinos killed for their horns. It you want to be concerned or upset by something, that is something that really should engender concern.

 

[Nemo2]

And...any experience sharing?

1983...spent a week with a rented camper in Kruger Park.....loved it!

Amboseli, Kenya, circa 1986......I counted at least 20 minivans surrounding a sleeping lion....who didn't even bother waking up:

After this episode we asked our driver to take us somewhere where the people weren't........saw a bunch (do ostriches come in bunches?) of ostriches, various smaller (some would say 'lesser') animals....but not one damn tourist.

Now that's the better part of 35 years ago.....IMNSHO Kenya was overdone then....I certainly wouldn't go back there now.

In the Selous, Tanzania, 1988, the animals were wild and we were the trespassers:

This blurry pic was taken as our driver frantically attempted to avoid a pissed off elephant, (apparently the females who have lost tusks double up on aggression to compensate).......we snuck up on a group, but then the wind changed and they figured we were there.....our (mandatory in the area) Tanzanian forest ranger was trying to poke his rifle out the window the same time as I was attempting to take a photo.

Circa 2010 we went to Botswana, which we enjoyed.....but....more and more visitors every second.

 

[Cut-Throat]

Amboseli, Kenya, circa 1986......I counted at least 20 minivans surrounding a sleeping lion....who didn't even bother waking up:....................

Now that's the better part of 35 years ago.....IMNSHO Kenya was overdone then....I certainly wouldn't go back there now..................

This is like people that go to Yellowstone Park and see Old Faithful and claim that Yellowstone is too Crowded.... When in fact that Yellowstone has over 2 million acres that are uninhabited and not visited.



Kenya is a big country and there are certain areas that are congested... However we stayed in a Mobile Tent Camp, that moved every 6 weeks ... We did not see any other people for a week at that camp... Of course you pay extra for that remoteness..


Don't write off the entire country of Kenya...

 

[Nemo2]

Botswana trip.....allow time to load then hit PRESENT at the top right....space bar to advance:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tLGFuxLtPtROGIOv9ArJhtfNe5TUrXV_ebNyXlq6CDo/edit?usp=sharing

 

[Nemo2]

Don't write off the entire country of Kenya...

I definitely appreciate what you're saying.....and we also like to get out where the people aren't.

Recall visiting The Ark, and having the Kenyan lady in charge repeatedly asking people to STFU at dinner time because the noise would inhibit the night viewing that they (ostensibly) came to see. Did they quieten down? Yeah, right.

Also recall sitting outside the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi and watching tourists, dressed like extras in a Jungle Jim movie, disembarking an airconditioned bus before entering the hotel where the African desk clerks were dressed in three piece suits.

 

[Bamaman]

My sister and brother in law went on a flying safari where each couple of people had their own airplane--Cessna 210's. They flew in formation from bush camp to bush camp. The tents were often sitting up on concrete pedestals to get away from the animals (like hippos), and they were the height of luxury.

My nephew (their son) earlier went on safari--lion hunting. He said the guides were like they'd been "camping out" their whole lives. And they got an old, very large lion.

The giant in safari's and Africa trips is a division of Vacations to Go--the cruise ship agents.

 

[24601NoMore]

Haven't been yet, but am planning to within the next year as our big ER trip..

Looking at Tanzania as we've heard that's in many people's opinions the 'best' for game viewing. The Great Migration apparently only happens in Tanzania and Kenya, with a much smaller (20%) part of the time in Kenya.

Areas we're looking at are The Sergengeti (3 days?), Ngorongoro (2 days) and Tanangire (2-3 days).

Would love to hear of any experiences from anyone who's been to that part of Tanzania. I've spent dozens of hours reading on TripAdvisor also and am in the process of reaching out to local (Tanzanian-based) tour operators..

 

[Rianne]

Botswana trip.....allow time to load then hit PRESENT at the top right....space bar to advance:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tLGFuxLtPtROGIOv9ArJhtfNe5TUrXV_ebNyXlq6CDo/edit?usp=sharing

Well, that was entertaining. It's Oscar night BTW.

 

[brett]

Cannot comment on Tanzanzia but will give you a thumbs up for reaching out directly to Tanzanian tour operators.

We did exactly the same for our South African trip several years ago. We were not particularly impressed with our local so called TA expert on Africa. The result...we received much better information and the prices were substantially less for some items. It was a fluke..we found the name of a tour company in SA on tripadvisor (Wildwings) and contacted them directly. Email and Skype made communication as easy as dealing with a TA down the street.

 

[Cut-Throat]

Haven't been yet, but am planning to within the next year as our big ER trip..

Looking at Tanzania as we've heard that's in many people's opinions the 'best' for game viewing. The Great Migration apparently only happens in Tanzania and Kenya, with a much smaller (20%) part of the time in Kenya.

Areas we're looking at are The Sergengeti (3 days?), Ngorongoro (2 days) and Tanangire (2-3 days).

Would love to hear of any experiences from anyone who's been to that part of Tanzania. I've spent dozens of hours reading on TripAdvisor also and am in the process of reaching out to local (Tanzanian-based) tour operators..

We were in all 3 areas on our trip.... I'd say go for it! -- We booked ours with the following Travel Agent and it was hosted by a couple of Wildlife Photographers (Barry and Cathy Beck).


https://www.frontiersej.com/east__southern_africa


Here we are in the Middle of the Migration on top of the Land Rover. And a Picture of us in Kenya - Just north of the area in Tanzania you mentioned.

 

[Souschef]

Years ago, I dealt with Mikato Safaris. I do not know if they are still in business.