ricardo00

Thanks Cindy! Have you planned your flights yet? It is easiest to get to Johannesburg and then from there, you can take small planes to reserves in SA. We went to Mala Mala, which is one of the more expensive ones, in Sabi Sands but any of those in Sabi Sands are great. And you can catch flights right from JHB into the camp. We also went to a very expensive place in the Kalahari region of SA (the camp is called Tswalu). But again there are lower cost options there.
For Tanzania, we went to Asilia Africa in Namiri Plains. Even though it isn't a private reserve, there are fewer cars there. If you can, you can fly Qatar airlines and then into Kilimanjaro Airport, bypassing the large cities.
Airfare and lodging prices vary according to the seasons, So in addition to choosing your country, you need to choose the time. But you will find Africa is not cheap! And often the better places for game viewing have more expensive lodges. For example in Masai Mara, we stayed at the Serena Lodge. Again a very expensive place but you fly right into the lodge area and go for game drives right there. So basically one can fly into Nairobi from the US and be on a game drive right away. Part of how I choose places is the convenience of getting there so that a day is not spent traveling.
Kafue National Park in Zambia is supposed to be great (on my list for the future). Bushcamp is one of the camps there that gets great reviews. Again lots of different lodge choices with different price ranges.
More pics from Kenya:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60519499@N00/albums/72157630798685650/
and Tanzania:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60519499@N00/albums/72177720312511178

Many choices, private reserves and public.

Walkabout08

We traveled to South Africa in the fall of ‘22. Our first stop was a 3 day Safari on a private reserve adjacent Kruger National Park. There are many of these preserves adjacent Kruger and with no fences the animals wander around freely. All the Safari camps seem to use 9 person custom Toyota Land Cruisers, 3 rows of 3. Twice daily trips with a morning trip at 5:30 am that lasts 3-4 hours and an evening trip of similar duration starting at 4. In three days we saw an immense variety of game, all the so called big five; rhino, elephant, leopard, lion and water Buffalo. Plus hippo, wild dog, giraffe, 4-5 varieties of antelope, hyena, zebra and more. We stayed at Tangala Safari camp, I recommend it highly if you go. We traveled the south coast along the “Garden Route” with seals, ostrich, the famous penguin colony at Boulders Beach.
I rented a Nikon S 100-400 for the trip and it worked out quite well. There were times I needed a 600 lens. If you’re a Nikon shooter you might consider the 400 with the internal flip down 2x tele converter.
SÁ is one of many fine locations for wildlife. Also consider looking into Botswana, Kenya, and Namibia. We met people who spoke very highly of all of them.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Thanks Jerry! I am thinking for my first trip I would like to go when there are young ones to see rather than worry about trying to hit the Great Migration. I will check out the places you mentioned.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Your albums are awesome! Thanks for the info, added the places you mentioned to my list to investigate. I haven't looked into flights yet, got to figure your what month and where to go first..lol

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Hmmm...see know I have to investigate the "Garden Route" as well! That sounds like it would be interesting and fun to see.

Thanks for the info!

ricardo00

Thanks! Lots of choices, maybe talk to a travel agent who specializes in Africa? The person we had at Eyes on Africa was really helpful planning our first trip to Africa. There website also lists specific camps in different countries (though they only have a small fraction of the camps):
http://www.eyesonafrica.net/

PS. There are so many decisions to make, having someone will to discuss the options is very useful. Private versus public etc

SteveR Loc: Michigan

One thing I learned from my friend Benno: you can't see it all in one trip, you have to go back. Benno made many trips to Africa. He traveled the world whenever he could.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

So very sorry you lost your friend. I know this trip will more than likely be a one time deal for me. Can only afford to do this once, so I have to really do some research and figure out exactly where/what and when to go.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Cindy, I never did get the idea that Benno was rolling in hay. At one time I told Benno he could shoot for Nat. Geo., but he replied that he couldn't afford the cameras they use. His equipment, for instance, was a couple of Canon crop sensor cameras, a 50mm lens, a mid range lens and a Sigma 60-600mm. With these he was able to take some tremendous photos, and he packed them all in a backpack. He'd use his vacations to travel not only to Africa but to Costa Rica (where he took awesome photos of the wildlife), Bora Bora, etc. I'd love to know how he did it, but I have an idea that he knew how to travel on the cheap, but also to the best places. As it is, he died with his boots on, on one of his trip to the east. I'm not sure how or of what.

ricardo00

Trips to Africa have gone up tremendously. In the 15 years since our first trip, they have gone up many fold (a trek to see the gorillas in Rwanda went from $250 to $1500). And if one is willing to set up and sleep in a "real tent" or a vehicle with a trailer bed, it is much cheaper. And there is also a huge variation in prices at various lodges. But as baby boomers age and want to go to fill their bucket list, prices have climbed.

Canisdirus

https://www.araioflight.com/safest-african-countries-in-africa-safe-places-ranked/

This site will give you rankings on the safest countries to go...and ten that are...iffy.

There's a lot more going on than safari's over there.

And watch out for the baboons...

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Cindy, be prepared for nature to find you in the oddest of places.

ricardo00

To follow on Steve's post, there are now walking safaris in some places. You may have seen a recent Youtube video by a (in)famous YouTuber (TML, initials), on getting on the ground so you can shoot at eye level lions and the painted dogs. Not sure personally I would do this (with a lion or painted dog) though for the first time ever our guide in Tanzania allowed us to do that with a cheetah (we stayed next to the vehicle). It was quite a thrill when it ran by us. Got some of my favorite shots that way, like this one:

(Download)


(Download)

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Beautiful cat!! These are the types of photos you buy cameras for!! Excellent.

ricardo00

Thanks Steve!