Please help me decide where to go in Africa please
Sep 11, 2015 11:29:25 #
Sep 11, 2015 11:30:11 #
i would suggest you definitely consider africa. ebola was in west africa, not even close to south africa or east africa. i would stay away from kenya right now.
i am definitely planning on going back to namibia/botswana. it is really a trip of a lifetime.
i have friends that were there this summer and some are going in october.
if you do decide not to go, i might suggest austrailia. there is so much to see there too. so many photo opps.
i am definitely planning on going back to namibia/botswana. it is really a trip of a lifetime.
i have friends that were there this summer and some are going in october.
if you do decide not to go, i might suggest austrailia. there is so much to see there too. so many photo opps.
Sep 11, 2015 12:14:26 #
rogerl
Loc: UK (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)
We were in Kenya 12 months ago and couldn't have felt more safe. We were further from ebola in Kenya than we are in the UK! There's no terrorist threat around the safari camps. However, scare stories like these have decimated the Kenyan tourist indutry - they need us!
Sep 11, 2015 12:17:37 #
agillot wrote:
the first thing that come to my mine about africa is EBOLA , about new Zealand ?????, nice and green , and very scenic .
Ebola was mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Three neighbouring countries in WEST Africa. The proposed countries for a visit are several hours flying time from there. The Ebola outbreak has seemingly been eradicated for now.
Sep 11, 2015 12:28:22 #
jaycoffman wrote:
I think you still see more wildlife and more of th... (show quote)
thank you sounds like we should not have too much to worry about
Sep 11, 2015 13:18:28 #
Tanzania should be your choice. No political unrest, the people are great, there's plenty of guide services available, I used Safari Rangers when I was there last year, and the wild animals are in abundance. Lodging can be in tents all the way up to classy hotels. It's all good.
Sep 11, 2015 13:24:52 #
Many people get all wrapped up in the big animals. The birds are magnificent, and you will see lots more of them. Don't forget, good ($$) binoculars for each person. When something is going on, you won't want to share! Check CDC for medical recommendations and get the optional items (vaccines, meds, etc) with the required/recommended items.
Sep 11, 2015 13:41:48 #
plessner wrote:
thanks for all the responses a tough decision yes and health concerns and safety need to be considered
so maybe I need to change my line of thinking and pick a trip to Europe or South America....even though Africa seems to be calling
so maybe I need to change my line of thinking and pick a trip to Europe or South America....even though Africa seems to be calling
You may be sorry not to have seen Africa. For precautions, you do need to go to a medical practice that treats for foreign travel, weeks before you leave. A few shots and anti-malaria orally should do it. We took the once a day medication with no side effects. There are others against malaria the physician will give you the pros and cons.
Upon reading above, I can say the tents are not 'pup' tents, but large with shower and toilet, and erected on platforms. I can remember one camp, because of the high elevation was cool at night, so our stewert had a hot water bottle in our bed each night and hot coffee under the fly in the AM.
Sep 11, 2015 15:49:37 #
Sep 11, 2015 17:43:39 #
We went to Kenya and Tanzania, the parks, animals, and accommodations we fabulous. I think the eastern and northern parts of Kenya are the trouble spots. The main parks are southern and western in Kenya. It will be very important to go with a reputable tour company. We went with Witte Travel. I'm sure others can comment on their experience.
Sep 11, 2015 18:08:59 #
johnsong1 wrote:
We went to Kenya and Tanzania, the parks, animals, and accommodations we fabulous. I think the eastern and northern parts of Kenya are the trouble spots. The main parks are southern and western in Kenya. It will be very important to go with a reputable tour company. We went with Witte Travel. I'm sure others can comment on their experience.
the company I won the trip from is Go Ahead Tours each day is all planned out and they take care of everything
these are two week trips did you not find yourself getting tired of the animals and scenery after that long?
Sep 11, 2015 18:18:23 #
We went to Tanzania last summer with Roy's Safari's (highly, highly recommended). They looked after us from the time we arrived in Arusha until we left. Had a private safari (just my wife and I) with an excellent guided and driver. Totally safe and even more pampered. We spent 6 days in the Serengeti besides seeing all kinds of wildlife we caught five Mara crossings - totally amazing experience of a life time for us! Pictures below to wet your appetite.
Serengeti Cheetah cub
Serengeti Leopard
Serengeti Lioness and cubs
Sep 11, 2015 19:05:46 #
I've been to both Kenya and Tanzania and felt very safe both places, but Tanzania was our very best safari. Hard to beat the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti!!! Absolutely amazing...you can't go wrong. Our friends who live in Kenya say I am closer to ebola outbreaks than they are...Africa is a HUGE continent!! Don't let that scare you away! Be smart and safe, but don't let fear keep you from going on the experience of a lifetime! Even here in the good old USA we aren't safe anymore....
Sep 11, 2015 21:13:32 #
No! You don't get to see every animal every day. Twice we saw lions setting up attacks which takes awhile. One attack was the lions doing a relay to run down a giraffe. They are very efficient. Be sure to take a long lens. I took a canon 100-400 (rented from borrow lens) which was very nice. I would have rented the 150-600 if I had known about it. The animals will come right up to the vehicles at times but quite a few are in the distance the birds are very colorful as well. I took a plastic bag to cover my camera when driving from one park to another. The roads can be very dusty and rough. You won't see any American vehicles on those roads! Also I used a monopod in the Toyota vehicle we were in. I asked the driver to shut off the engine at times because on long shots the IS couldn't overcome the engine vibrating the vehicle. They were very accommodating. You'll have a great time. I would gladly do it again.
Sep 11, 2015 22:00:20 #
I go to Kenya twice a year, leading teams to do vision clinics in the slums of Nairobi. I have never felt unsafe, even right after the Westgate Mall attack. I'm going back in November for my 14th trip. My teams work in Nairobi, other teams from my project, called Vision for Africa, venture out with the Masai and into other more rural locations. Safety is our number one concern. We hire very experienced drivers that know what roads NOT to take, we only go out as a group during daylight hours, we don't go clubbing (that's asking for it in any big city) and we don't go where there are large numbers of people like soccer matches or political rallies. PM me if you want a link to my blog, which has about 300 pictures and stories from each of the last 9 or 10 trips, both of the work we do and of photo safaris we've been blessed to be able to experience. Good luck!
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