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Has anyone been on an african safari? - Page 3

post #31 of 76
1/14/08 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by EL72 View Post
I spent three and half weeks in South Africa (+ Swaziland & Zimbambwe) in 2001 and South Africa is very easy to travel in independently if that matters to you. The infrastructure is far more developed and it's safer imo than other African countries that may be more off-the-beaten-path.

Do a couple of nights in an expensive game lodge with guide... and the rest in self-drive in Kruger Park. While it can get a bit crowded, there are plenty of Lions and Rhinos to go around for everyone. I would rather trade-off a few more people for the comforts and convenience of travelling independently in South Africa, which is a beautiful place. Cape Town is a stunning city too. Best time to travel is Oct-Nov or March-April.

That's an interesting approach because the game lodges certainly are expensive. Unfortunately, I'm fairly constrained as to when I can take my vacations. I have to go in August or wait until the end of december. My brother wants me to visit him in Egypt in April but i'm not sure if I'll be able to make that happen. I can only take so many vacations.
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post #32 of 76
1/14/08 at 5:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
My brother wants me to visit him in Egypt in April but i'm not sure if I'll be able to make that happen. I can only take so many vacations.

Is he still off on his jihad?
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post #33 of 76
1/14/08 at 5:26pm
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Originally Posted by iammatt View Post
Is he still off on his jihad?

I'm hoping he isn't radicalized. Actually, he's not even muslim or arab, so I can't understand why he cares about the palestinian cause so much. Still, it's fun to poke him with a stick and watch him get all riled up about it.
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post #34 of 76
1/14/08 at 5:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
Thanks. I had done a quick search on google and there were too many choices for safari companies. I might just use tanzania odyssey on your recommendation, but I don't think i'll be staying at the Beho beho lodge for $975 per person per night though. I need to stay in the $500-600 region to get my two weeks out of my budget. It's a good thing that there are lots of options for lodges. If reading this correctly TO just sets everything up and the game expeditions are handled by the lodge, correct?

Understand - these luxury lodges can be quite expensive.

Yes, you're correct. The price per night is all inclusive: all meals and drinks(whether at the lodge or picnics) and all activities (drives, walking safaris, boating safaris...). Most people give a tip to their guide(s) at the end of the trip, but that's pretty much the only incidental
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post #35 of 76
1/14/08 at 5:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
I have to go in August or wait until the end of december.

Those are not great times to be visiting that part of the Southern Hemisphere. July-August is the rainy season and December is the middle of summer there so scorching hot.
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post #36 of 76
1/14/08 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by EL72 View Post
Those are not great times to be visiting that part of the Southern Hemisphere. July-August is the rainy season and December is the middle of summer there so scorching hot.

Rain doesn't bother me as long as I can still see all of the wildlife. Does that mean it will be low season and i will get better rates? ;p
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post #37 of 76
1/14/08 at 5:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EL72 View Post
Those are not great times to be visiting that part of the Southern Hemisphere. July-August is the rainy season and December is the middle of summer there so scorching hot.

That's true in S.A. but not as much in Kenya or Tanzania which are closer to the equator and where the rainy season in April-May. I was there in August and weather was glorious and fairly dry - not too hot but not rainy or chilly

May to July is the high season because of the Great Migration, so later months can be a good value for money
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post #38 of 76
1/14/08 at 5:49pm
Quote:
Thanks. I don't know why I haven't had much urge to travel in the past few years. Once you start it becomes addictive though. I've got so many places on my list... I will probably blow all my money on travel over the next year and a bit. After that it will be time to buckle-down.

I know the feeling. I have loved travel all my life, and while I have been fortunate to visit many beautiful places, there are many sites I have yet to see and experience. An African Safari is certainly towards the top of my list of things to do, but I'd like to visit the Great Pyramids at Giza first (I have wanted to see these since the third grade), as well as visit Mt. Everest (maybe do a trek to base camp). The Himalayas have always intrigued me, and while I came close to Everest (I was about 300 miles east when I was in Lhasa, Tibet), I was too far to see it. I think my next trip will be to Morocco and Tunisia, and then end in Egypt.
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post #39 of 76
1/14/08 at 5:58pm
Thread Starter 
I've already travelled quite a bit in Europe so most of the places on my list, with the glaring exception of Italy, are quite exotic by most peoples' tastes. Actually, there's an idea for a new thread.
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post #40 of 76
1/14/08 at 6:58pm
I went to the Madikwe region of South Africa last summer, and highly recommend it. I shot thousands of animals - with my Canon Rebel SLR, that is.

The lodging food and wine were first rate, and the RSA infrastructure was pretty efficient. I can´t speak about other African country safaris, but I came back very happy.
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post #41 of 76
1/15/08 at 1:07am
I went on one in Kenya 2 years ago. Flew in from a 2 week trip from Ethiopia (which was incredible). I skipped on going in S. Africa last summer since my wife was pregnant and probably would be pissed if I stayed another week for fun w/out her.
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post #42 of 76
1/15/08 at 8:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
Does it suck that your mother has bigger balls than you?

Seriously though, what are you afraid of?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eustace Tilley View Post
Highly recommend Tanzania - very beautiful.

iammatt - why are you so afraid of Africa?

Like Conne, I am a bit of a pussy. I don't like having to think about diseases or run around looking for yellow fever shots.
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post #43 of 76
1/15/08 at 8:29pm
Just need to get a few shots before the trip and you'll be fine. Some people react strangely to malaria pills though (most common side effect I heard around me is related to vivid dreams and nightmares)
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post #44 of 76
1/15/08 at 9:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gdl203 View Post
Just need to get a few shots before the trip and you'll be fine. Some people react strangely to malaria pills though (most common side effect I heard around me is related to vivid dreams and nightmares)

Mefloquine can have fairly serious side-effects affecting up to 25% of people that take it, iirc. Most doctors these days will proscribe a new drug called Malarone if you're going for a fairly short stay. You start taking it the day before you enter the malaria zone and for 7 days after you leave. Malarone has absolutely no side effects for most people. The advantage of mefloquine vs malarone on the other hand is that it is cheaper and only has to be taken once per week, which is great for people staying in africa for months instead of weeks at a time. Mefloquine can cause everything from drowsiness and nausea, to hallucinations and temporary blindness.
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post #45 of 76
1/16/08 at 10:24pm
Will you be shooting me something endangered?
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