14 replies to this topic

[Roger the Dodger]

I'm hoping these next 2 ops on my legs will put me in a position to do my African Safari.
The problem is, Africa as a whole seems to be deteriorating in terms of stability and safety.
I've just been looking at the Government website on travel advisories, and just about all African countries fall under one of the following 4.
"Exercise Caution"
"Exercise Extreme Caution"
"Reappraise your need to travel"
"Do not travel"
I was looking at Botswana, but I'm beginning to have my concerns, anyone got any knowledge, opinions, views?

[alan]

I took the family on Safari last year to Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.  We had our kids with us (10 & 12 yrs old) and at no point felt in any danger from humans (finding a hippo in the swimming pool is a different story).

This year we are going back (having caught the bug) and are just going to Botswana.  Its the most expensive of the three but is the most politically stable / safest and has the best wildlife.  Botswana felt like you were truly in the wild with small groups of people.  In some other areas it felt more like being in a big safari park.

If you do go you will probably have to fly into Jburg and then transfer to Maun.  From there it will be a light aircraft transfer to your first camp.

Our plan this time (all in Botswana) is

Jacks Camp
Chitabe Camp
Duba Plains
Zarafa

When you check the reviews on trip advisor for the okavango delta (http://www.tripadvis...lta-Hotels.html) note that the first 30 or so all get very good reviews so there are plenty to choose from.

(I should point out that I have family members working managing a camp in Botswana, this does not effect my advice but does mean that I get enough of a discount to be able to afford the trip!)

[Greenfort]

I haven´t travelled that much in Africa, but I would def encourage you to go to Kenya. Well Nairobi is not the safest place in the world, but go to the Masai Mara and enjoy the nature out there - it´s extraordinary! Would def also go to the Serengeti .

Also... there´s a few guys in here, that lives in South Africa - I´d go and give them a visit aswell.

In general I would think, that you´d be ok travelling through Africa, as long as you are careful to avoid the shady areas and obvious hot spots - kinda envious here... would like to do such a trip myself :-)

[basalte]

Went to South Africa twice in 2005 / 06 -had no plans or specific ambition to go,  but my wife had landed a job with a travel publisher at the time involving extensive business travel, so I tagged along.. . went to Cape Town, Joburg, then second time Swaziland and Kruger National Park. It amazed me how much the area round Swaziland looks like Scotland, and the natives do wear a sort of tartan kilt too.
... we had no trouble at all. I was warned about ambling round central Jo Burg, but did so sporting a tie to "show" I was a local.
Likewise  Kenya 2007, Nairobi and Masai Mara. Didn`t go out after dark though, but otherwise fine too...
Namibia seems a very stable place to go; mind you, it is mostly desert...I remember reading about someone touring it in a (modern) Rolls-Royce Phantom.  I personally would love to see Namibia.

[Iconic Ride]

"...anyone got any knowledge, opinions, views?"     

Yes, but they're based on travels performed in a different epoch, Roger. The wife and I made the rounds in Kenya circa 5BK ("before kids"), in the early 80's. Stays included Masai Mara, Amboseli (has a nice view of Mt. Kilimanjaro next door in Tanzania), Lake Nakuru, Samburu, and the Mount Kenya Safari Club resort in the highlands (truly exquisite!). Also took the time to visit some early hominid skulls in a Nairobi anthropological museum. We took a 3 day break in The Seychelles before flying back home. Tacking on a short "diversion" seems to be a common theme to African tours.

I have no reason to believe that the established Kenyan tour companies have "lost their touch," as tourism is their bread and butter. Members of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators "observe a strict code of conduct designed to ensure that they trade honestly and professionally at all times. The Association also expects members to comply with the spirit of Kenya's tourist reputation, offering high quality service, comfort, safety and value to all clients. Above all KATO is committed to the true principles of eco-tourism, promoting low impact, environmentally sensitive operations to maximize visitors' enjoyment, understanding, awareness of wildlife and landscapes, and due respect to local communities and their cultures."

The only concerns I had the entire trip had to do with the potential for contracting malaria. It is rare for this to happen, but it does. And you don't want to be walking around at night in the wrong places (which is the same just about anywhere on the globe), as every now and then someone gets scarfed by one of the critters lurking outside your tent. Just kidding (but it, too, has happened, though rarely).

I can easily understand your own concerns about the "stability" issues in Africa. It's always been an extremely "dynamic" country to say the least. But that, in a way, adds to the "allure" and "spirit of adventure" of the journey. It's an experience like no other, and I highly recommend the trip. Seeing the wildlife in their natural habitat makes zoos seem like the jails they are. Observing these magnificent creatures up close and personal in a free roaming environment, unfettered, unrestrained,  and unbounded by enclosures of any kind is something you will never forget.

Just do it!


Cheers,

John

Edited by Iconic Ride, 04 February 2012 - 05:04 AM.

[Roger the Dodger]

Regrettably I have to update the forum. I returned just last Wednesday night from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, under one of leading vascular surgeons in Australia. It seems that there is no foreseeable improvement to be made to my legs. The current bruising and soreness from the "attempted" procedure will subside (gee I hope so)!

So, left foot braking, probably not ever going to have the agility I once did, so any ambitions of returning to motor sport even at a club level are pretty much out.
Trudging up Mount Kilimanjaro would also seem to be an ambition not to be fulfilled.
Before depressing myself further, I must remind myself that at 61, Ron Dennis is unlikely to consider me a replacement for either Lewis or Jenson.
And I am making plans to go to our "Western Plains Zoo" (worth a look on the net) where I can stay overnight in a tent, observe the nocturnal animals feed giraffes, little lion cubs etc,

I still have and drive a fine British sports car, so I can still regard myself as fortunate, and I haven't given up on a solution yet.

[mr.oogieboogie]

my wife's mother and her two brothers live in africa and i know she has been car jack on a couple of occasions as did my wifes grand parents when they were over on holiday.
she has also spoke of how bad its getting over there peoples sons being killed for the car and i believe she lives in one of the better areas around jo burg so perhaps its mainly in the cities

[molemot]

Bad news, Rog....hope the legs improve over the weeks. Enjoy the sunshine...and the, er, heat? We're all snowed up here....!

[Iconic Ride]

Roger, is it a certainty that the leg issues prevent international travel? The African tours don't require much hiking, if at all. Most of the time you're ensconced in a vehicle, for safety reasons. If you are ambulatory enough to drive, I still think you could pull off the safari trip with only minor difficulties.

Don't give up quite yet, mate!

[Roger the Dodger]

Never surrender ! I shall fight them in the hospitals, I shall fight them in their consulting rooms !
Problem is I don't want to stay in a flash resort, and watch the animals from my balcony, I do want to get out there, up close and personal. I want to see and experience the animals on their own environment.
Now some sort of compromise will have to be made, but compromising has never been a strong suit with me.
However "Western Plains Zoo" seems like a good place to start.

http://taronga.org.a...tern-plains-zoo

[Iconic Ride]

Don't be too quick to discount "watching the animals from my balcony." Treetops was a most enjoyable experience. 'Cept when we came down the next day, my wife had not been Queened, and I was still a commoner.  



"The Treetops overlooks two waterholes and a salt lick, both of which attract a great variety of animals. On clear days you can even see the snowy peaks of Mount Kenya. The lodge boasts two photographic hides at ground level - a great way to get up close shots of unsuspecting rhinos, elephants, bucks or even lions. It has 4 decks and a rooftop-view ... read more "

At the other game parks you're usually in a minibus with an open top to allow unobstructed viewing/photo taking. They often drive right up to (for example) a pride of lions. The only way you can get any closer is to exit the vehicle, and they strongly discourage that.

And tossing the bones from your evening meal at Samburu to the eagerly awaiting crocs a few feet away by the river is about as "up close and personal" as it gets! They make really neat crunchy noises when they chow down.

Thankfully, they were polite enough not to attempt to scale the rather low stone wall separating the dining area from the river. And the black panther in the tree across the river seemed quite content to remain there as well.

[Roger the Dodger]

I gotta do it, don't I.

[Iconic Ride]

Consider Western Plains Zoo your warmup lap.

[alan]

Hi Roger,

Sorry to hear the legs are not improving as much as you hoped.

As for the safari, John is spot in, its a holiday that requires very little walking.  You get up close to the animals in vehicles and have very little chance to actually do any walking around.  In most camps you will have to be escorted from tent to dining areas after dark - there is too high a risk from snakes, hippos etc to go walking around.  

If you are OK with the flights then all else should be fine.

[Greenfort]

I´d go talk with a travel agent, get their opinion on what you can and can´t do. They should know :-) and as long as they´re a member of your national travel association, they should be trustworthy. If you want to go into the "wild", then go to the Masai Mara and the SErengeti on a guided tour. You´ll get an off-roader, some guards (with riffels and such), and you get to sleep in luxurious tents and wake up on the plains of AFrica in the morning - I still have fond memories of having my morning whisky outside my tent, while watching wilder beasts, elephants and such :-) mmmmm damn, now I wanna go too...