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Safari in Botswana
Safari in Botswana
Planning for a safari is quite an undertaking. Now we've at least narrowed it down to a country---Botswana--which makes the research a bit less daunting . We decided on Botswana for a variety of reasons, none being that it's cheapest.
Anyone familiar with Botswana or safari in Botswana? Linne posted an extensive trip report about it a few years ago which I'm working my way through.
I'm also feeling drawn to southwest U.S. (northern Arizona and southern Utah). We haven't been there for several years and I adore it there. I just put up a post about Antelope Canyon, which I'd never heard of and which now has me totally entranced. I suggested to my wife that we take a trip there before going to Africa, but she thinks we need to keep Africa the first priority or we'll probably never get around to getting there. And she's probably right.
Anyone familiar with Botswana or safari in Botswana? Linne posted an extensive trip report about it a few years ago which I'm working my way through.
I'm also feeling drawn to southwest U.S. (northern Arizona and southern Utah). We haven't been there for several years and I adore it there. I just put up a post about Antelope Canyon, which I'd never heard of and which now has me totally entranced. I suggested to my wife that we take a trip there before going to Africa, but she thinks we need to keep Africa the first priority or we'll probably never get around to getting there. And she's probably right.
Many, many years ago we safaried Ngaro Ngaro and it was fantastic. Been to Bostwana but not for safari(I lived in West Africa for 5 years). What ever you choose it will be a wonderful time and an experiance you will never forget. Happy trails, Laura
You must be the change you want to see in the world
Lex, I've heard from many folks that it's best to find a travel agent who specializes in African (Botswana) travel. Botswana is a large country with much to see and to have someone who's been there and planned countless trips will probably be invaluable. A trip to Botswana is a big investment and I personally wouldn't wing it.
I'd check out TripAdvior and Fodor's boards, plus traveltalkonline has a small group that discusses safari travel. Good luck - if you go, please, please, please post a trip report. Botswana is my dream trip!
I'd check out TripAdvior and Fodor's boards, plus traveltalkonline has a small group that discusses safari travel. Good luck - if you go, please, please, please post a trip report. Botswana is my dream trip!
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mindehankins
- Posts: 3014
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Western NY State
Lex,
My daughter just returned from an unbelievable safari in Kruger National Park. The drive from J-Burg was breathtaking along the canyon. Many waterfalls, etc. I wish I had her pics to send you. I do have a few if I can figure out how to down load them
Just curious, is there a reason you are thinking of Botswana versus Kruger? The B&B that they stayed at was wonderful and the couple that own it are so warm and friendly. He's from Australia.
Probably the scariest part of their trip was Tanzania proper and the airport plus getting to the ferry station to catch a boat to Zanzibar. It wasn't long after they arrived back in the States that there was that huge explosion on the Base close to the Dar es Salaam airport. That was the only part of their trip that I was a bit worried about.
Capetown and SA are gorgeous!
My daughter just returned from an unbelievable safari in Kruger National Park. The drive from J-Burg was breathtaking along the canyon. Many waterfalls, etc. I wish I had her pics to send you. I do have a few if I can figure out how to down load them
Just curious, is there a reason you are thinking of Botswana versus Kruger? The B&B that they stayed at was wonderful and the couple that own it are so warm and friendly. He's from Australia.
Probably the scariest part of their trip was Tanzania proper and the airport plus getting to the ferry station to catch a boat to Zanzibar. It wasn't long after they arrived back in the States that there was that huge explosion on the Base close to the Dar es Salaam airport. That was the only part of their trip that I was a bit worried about.
Capetown and SA are gorgeous!
Thanks for your responses. I'd appreciate any info or thoughts anyone has to offer.
mel--thanks for pointing me to Budget Traveler. A lot of their info is available online and I wasn't aware of them.
Linne--I continue to work through your report and will eventually have questions. We do plan to add Victoria Falls.
Terry--Glad to hear your daughter's safari was superb. This planning is quite a process. It's not like any sort of travel planning I've ever done. I had pretty much narrowed the countries down to Tanzania, Botswana or South Africa. I spent a couple of years in West Africa many years ago. Never visited the south or east, but do have some sense of African realities. It's not for the faint of heart. I did a lot of third world traveling earlier in my life and a lot of it is just more physically and psychologically challenging than I'm up for anymore. I used to just go, figure it out as I went, and change plans on a whim. I had little money and lots of time. Now I have a lot more money, a lot less time and I worry a whole lot more.
Botswana is economically and politically stable and has had a relatively progressive government for years. There's a relatively high degree of development and infrastructure. They've had enlightened wildlife management policies for many years and have made great strides in developing tourism. Chobe National Park and the Okavongo Delta have excellent wildlife populations and there's also the opportunity to do some travel on the rivers, not just through the bush. Botswana is a bit more costly and difficult to reach, so there seem to be fewer tourists. But when it came down to it, the clincher was a conversation with a friend who was on safari in Kenya over 20 years ago and again in South Africa two years ago. She had a fantastic trip in SA but said that if she does another one, she'll go to Botswana based upon what she heard from other travelers that she met. As fantastic as her safari in SA was, she said Botswana sounded even better.
I'm happy to have been able to narrow it down to a single country. Now: time of year, length of stay, exactly where to travel, which company or agent. There's a lot to learn about and understand. A lot of decisions. A lot of what I assume or take for granted shouldn't be taken for granted in Africa. We've had the good fortune to have traveled to a lot of magnificent places but this could really be the trip of a lifetime. We're taking our time planning it.
mel--thanks for pointing me to Budget Traveler. A lot of their info is available online and I wasn't aware of them.
Linne--I continue to work through your report and will eventually have questions. We do plan to add Victoria Falls.
Terry--Glad to hear your daughter's safari was superb. This planning is quite a process. It's not like any sort of travel planning I've ever done. I had pretty much narrowed the countries down to Tanzania, Botswana or South Africa. I spent a couple of years in West Africa many years ago. Never visited the south or east, but do have some sense of African realities. It's not for the faint of heart. I did a lot of third world traveling earlier in my life and a lot of it is just more physically and psychologically challenging than I'm up for anymore. I used to just go, figure it out as I went, and change plans on a whim. I had little money and lots of time. Now I have a lot more money, a lot less time and I worry a whole lot more.
Botswana is economically and politically stable and has had a relatively progressive government for years. There's a relatively high degree of development and infrastructure. They've had enlightened wildlife management policies for many years and have made great strides in developing tourism. Chobe National Park and the Okavongo Delta have excellent wildlife populations and there's also the opportunity to do some travel on the rivers, not just through the bush. Botswana is a bit more costly and difficult to reach, so there seem to be fewer tourists. But when it came down to it, the clincher was a conversation with a friend who was on safari in Kenya over 20 years ago and again in South Africa two years ago. She had a fantastic trip in SA but said that if she does another one, she'll go to Botswana based upon what she heard from other travelers that she met. As fantastic as her safari in SA was, she said Botswana sounded even better.
I'm happy to have been able to narrow it down to a single country. Now: time of year, length of stay, exactly where to travel, which company or agent. There's a lot to learn about and understand. A lot of decisions. A lot of what I assume or take for granted shouldn't be taken for granted in Africa. We've had the good fortune to have traveled to a lot of magnificent places but this could really be the trip of a lifetime. We're taking our time planning it.
Lex,
You are so on the money. It is a great deal of planning and feeling good about your decisions.
Tracy and her friends spent a year in the making. One of her friends had connections to the safari place. One was born in SA and new places to go, such as wineries, and definitely the prison tour. The place they stayed and had the time of their life in Kruger was:
http://www.mohlabetsi.co.za/
You are doing the right thing with collecting information and moving in the direction that you want to travel.
I cannot wait to hear about your trip report. Seriously.
You are so on the money. It is a great deal of planning and feeling good about your decisions.
Tracy and her friends spent a year in the making. One of her friends had connections to the safari place. One was born in SA and new places to go, such as wineries, and definitely the prison tour. The place they stayed and had the time of their life in Kruger was:
http://www.mohlabetsi.co.za/
You are doing the right thing with collecting information and moving in the direction that you want to travel.
I cannot wait to hear about your trip report. Seriously.
Fine that you include Victoria Falls,Lex. As you can see of my TR we visited Zambia too to see the falls from another angle.
You are welcome to ask questions, but as you said,my TR are rather extensive, so I think you will find some answers there.
We choosed Botswana because some of our friends have visited different places in Africa and preferred Botswana. But also as you say, because there are fewer tourists in Botswana.
Our son has just been to a meeting in South Africa and had one day with a safari. He wasn't very impressed, he felt that the place they visited were more like a Zoo - it wasn't Kruger, which is bigger. But some people like it in that way. In Botswana we enjoyed that in some places our group were the only tourists. I think South Africa and Botswana give different experiences and some people will prefer SA and other wil prefer Botswana.
Linne
You are welcome to ask questions, but as you said,my TR are rather extensive, so I think you will find some answers there.
We choosed Botswana because some of our friends have visited different places in Africa and preferred Botswana. But also as you say, because there are fewer tourists in Botswana.
Our son has just been to a meeting in South Africa and had one day with a safari. He wasn't very impressed, he felt that the place they visited were more like a Zoo - it wasn't Kruger, which is bigger. But some people like it in that way. In Botswana we enjoyed that in some places our group were the only tourists. I think South Africa and Botswana give different experiences and some people will prefer SA and other wil prefer Botswana.
Linne