Where
do I want to go?
Africa
is a continent of contrasts that entice travelers to
return time and again. Many first-time visitors enjoy the concentration of wildlife
and diversity of landscape that Kenya and Tanzania
have to offer. Next,
they choose to visit different parts of South Africa
and Zimbabwe, which offer a fascinating combination
of sophistication and adventure. Here
one may experience big city delights, great scenic
drives, the thundering spectacle of Victoria Falls
and exciting game-viewing parks. Ultimately, the true explorer is drawn to the unique experiences
of a walking safari in Zambia, canoeing the swamp of
the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and witnessing the
soaring dunes and harsh “moonscape” in
Namibia.
When to go?
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Africa
is generally a year-round destination, although the
best game viewing occurs during the dry season. For
East Africa, this is usually July through October and
mid-December through February. The
Serengeti is the exception to the rule, as the migration
begins during the November rains and lasts through
June. Game
viewing in
South
Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia peaks from about
June through October, when the animals are more concentrated
around the water holes and rivers. However,
it is important not to discount the rainy season, when
the parks are less crowded, the terrain is lush and
green, prices are reduced, dust isn’t a consideration
and bird watching is at its peak.
What
optional excursions and activities are available?
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Many
safaris include twice daily game drives, which provide
ample opportunity to see a vast array of wildlife. You
can enhance your journey by including a hot air balloon
ride over the wildlife park, an elephant-back safari
in Zimbabwe, gorilla tracking in Uganda, mountain trekking
in Kenya and Tanzania, night game drives, bush walks,
a bush breakfast or dinner, camel rides, or fishing,
and much more. When
you are ready for a bit of relaxation consider a beach
excursion on the Indian Ocean.
How
do I prefer to travel?
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This
is one of the most interesting questions in the trip
planning process. When
you are selecting your type of lodging and method
of travel, you will explore your own perception of
the perfect safari. Each
idyllic property combines gracious living, beautiful
surroundings, excellent cuisine, and exciting activities
with the enjoyment of the bush experience but you’ll
choose between game lodges and tented camps, secluded
hideaways and world-famous resorts. Will
you drive between destinations for a closer look
at how the local people live or fly from place to
place in order to maximize your time at each destinations? Do
you prefer to travel with others in a small group
or alone?
How
much should I budget?
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When
answering this question, you must balance a combination
of time and cost. An
Africa safari really deserves 18 to 21 days. Unfortunately,
most time-starved
travelers
want to fit arrangements into 14 days. As
an example for budgeting, you might look at our Kenya
safari, On Golden Wings. This
is a great journey that covers the highlights of Kenya
in 15 days. You stay at deluxe, tented camps throughout the game parks
and take six convenient internal flights for approximately
$325/person per day, excluding international airfare. That
rate also includes round-trip transfers to the airport,
sightseeing in Nairobi and meals while in Kenya. Of
course, there are fascinating optional excursions and
special activities that you will also want to include,
but now you have a place to begin planning your budget.
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