Suggestions: African Lion Safari? 2xadults, 1 x13y/0, 1x 11 y/o

[Colster]

Hello my adventurous friends,
Am looking at taking Myself, Mrs Colster and the mini colster to South Africa and are looking for recommendations/personal references for a safari camp that won’t equat to a deposit on a flat at Bondi April is the time frame, and for the right package, we are happy to haul up to Botswana and Namibia if needed.

Anyone that can supply me with recommendations, will get many upvotes

 

[maureeng]

Hello my adventurous friends,
Am looking at taking Myself, Mrs Colster and the mini colster to South Africa and are looking for recommendations/personal references for a safari camp that won’t equat to a deposit on a flat at Bondi April is the time frame, and for the right package, we are happy to haul up to Botswana and Namibia if needed.

Anyone that can supply me with recommendations, will get many upvotes

We stayed at Motswiri Private game lodge in Madikwe game reserve in February this year and it was great. The game drives were amazing and 2 game drives per day were included as were all meals. The staff were amazing and the lodge overlooks a waterhole where we saw elephants, giraffes, zebra and impala etc every day. Madikwe game reserve is Malaria free and it’s an easy 2 -3 hr drive from Sun City or you can fly in.

 

[Denali]

@Flying mermaid just got back from Safari so might have some ideas for you.

 

[RooFlyer]

Look up South Africa in the destination trip reports - several safari type holidays have been reviewed there.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Hello my adventurous friends,
Am looking at taking Myself, Mrs Colster and the mini colster to South Africa and are looking for recommendations/personal references for a safari camp that won’t equat to a deposit on a flat at Bondi April is the time frame, and for the right package, we are happy to haul up to Botswana and Namibia if needed.

Anyone that can supply me with recommendations, will get many upvotes

i can understand why you are feeling a bit confused as there are so many options on offer.

Even the one we did recently had a huge range -our cheapest was US$1200 pn pp and went up to US$2400 pn pp.

On the other hand you can do a self drive through the public Kruger Game reserve and it definitely won’t cost an arm and a leg for accommodation. I think South Africa is probably best for looking at more cost effective options and easy to get to from Australia. Northern Transvaal is particularly good for the big cats.

Something different could be to go to Vic Falls and then across to Chobe Game reserve. Big range in accommodation there and it doesn’t have to be expensive at all, apart from extra for the flights to get there.

Another issue on costs is what time of year you go. Even the very expensive places are cheaper out of season.

So you need to decide what is important to you and what your budget is.

Private game reserves

Usually open vehicles
Limits on vehicles at a viewing so not fighting to see something exciting
Can go off road and follow animals
Get a guide who knows the reserve and will work hard to get you the sort of sightings you want
Better food and wine
Nice accommodation

Even in this category there are many price points e.g. Mala Mala main camp is a fair bit cheaper than Singita camps

Public game reserves

Well the animals are exactly the same and for a first timer who just wants to tick off that they have seen a lion or a zebra, just as good.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Look up South Africa in the destination trip reports - several safari type holidays have been reviewed there.

my latest should probably be added as it is very light on Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

 

[Gremlin]

We took our kids to Hlosi Lodge in Amakhala Reserve, near PE. It was fantastic. Malaria free. Game drives dawn and dusk. Really knowledgeable guides. Great food and drink. They made a special effort with the kids (similar age to yours) to make sure they were catered for on the drives and their questions answered. Couldn't speak more highly. We were there three nights. It wasn't cheap, but it was worth it in my mind.

 

[JohnM]

Kruger is inexpensive and easy to travel around in by rental car or camper van. There are plenty of accommodation options. It may pay to check when South Africa school holidays occur as it can get very busy then.

They have a good website: South African National Parks - SANParks - Official Website - Accommodation, Activities, Prices, Reservations where you can make accommodation bookings well in advance.

Kruger is a very easy 5 h drive from JNB on a major freeway.

Chobe NP just outside Kasane, Botswana is good and it's easy to fly into Kasane and no long-distance extra travel is required to get to the park. A houseboat stay there may be an option worth looking at. If in Kasane, you are then not all that far from Vic Falls, which may be something to think about doing.

Namibia is great but distances are large, so you would need quite a lot of time. Driving in Namibia and Botswana is very easy and campervans are very common at rental car companies. That's not to say South Africa is not easy driving, but it's busier.

I have a few TR links in my signature below.

I think your options will depend a lot on how much time you have.

 

[RooFlyer]

my latest should probably be added as it is very light on Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Still catching up a backlog . There soon.

 

[samh004]

When I was younger, perhaps not much older than your oldest, I went on a safari through Kruger and the highlight for me was time spent at Gomo Gomo. I am not sure if it fits the bill or not. Also see: Gomo Gomo Game Lodge - Kruger National Park

 

[takenbyaliens]

Mrs Aliens and I just finished a safari in Botswana. Not cheap at all but well worth the money.....I can compare with having been to Kruger 9+ times, Pilanseburg x 3, Addo etc etc. For a first time try Kruger but stay at somewhere like Marloth Park...much cheaper and just a 15 minute drive to Crocodile River Gate. Where I stay there I can sit in a plunge pool that overlooks the Crocodile River into Kruger...and see the animals passing by!

 

[Franky]

Around 2012 we went to Shamwari, about 100km from Port Elizabeth, three days two nights for around $550 per night. As for maureeng, our huts overlooked a water hole. The big 5 guaranteed, along with the full range of other creatures. With early AM safari starts until around 1000, then lunch and a nap, and then the evening safari 1600 until about 2000, then back for a communal BBQ. The park picked us up in a van from PE airport to get there around lunchtime, and then back to the airport after the morning safari. The park also has an animal rehab enclosure within the park, where they look after a range of animals dumped by despot European dictators over the years. There is also a great elephant park about half way to PE on the road from Cape Town. Very enjoyable from my viewpoint as I had never had any desire to take on such an event.

 

[Colster]

Thanks all... we have decided on Ulusaba (which we got a great deal for)... Qantas J to JNB ->CPT->MQP->Car to Ulusaba->MQP->JNB->SYD - will (hopefully remember to) do a TR...

 

[Flying mermaid]

We all have our favourite places but Africa does game lodges so well that almost everywhere will be beautiful. Hope you have a wonderful time