African safari - mid range

[Anonymous]

We're trying to plan a semi 'last minute' safari, about 8 days, this summer.
Can anyone recommend a mid-range company to lead the tours? Looking to spend up to 5K pp. Is this even possible? We don't need opulence, traveling with an 18 and 16 year old and want to be comfortable.
TIA

[Anonymous]

We stayed at Ekhaya a few years back (2019) and it quickly went from "this is a once in a lifetime trip" to "omg - we've gotta get back here". We flew in from CPT and then flew to JNB. We booked private tours and the cost was definitely reasonable as the hotel provides breakfast and dinner as well. The park is roughly a 30 minute drive from the hotel.

https://www.ekhayavilla.co.za/

[Anonymous]

Where do you want to go?

Very easy to do quicker/mid-range safaris in South Africa, for example.

[Anonymous]

OP here- I'm actually just in the beginning stages of planning, so I'm not really sure! Looks like I should check out SA- but would it be better to do Tanzania?

[Anonymous]

We did a tour through Scott Dunn a few years ago and it was around $24k for our family of 3 to spend 9 days in South Africa including 3 days in Cape Town and 5 in a safari. safari was pretty high end but in a rustic way. We were in a super nice private two bedroom cottage with infinity pool. Price included all inclusive at the safari and internal country transfers and rides and Cape Town hotel. That’s what it would have cost us if we’d planned everything ourselves. Suggest calling to see what they can do for you at a midrange price. They can probably put it together better for you than you can do yourself. It goes without saying, it was the best trip we’ve ever done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did a tour through Scott Dunn a few years ago and it was around $24k for our family of 3 to spend 9 days in South Africa including 3 days in Cape Town and 5 in a safari. safari was pretty high end but in a rustic way. We were in a super nice private two bedroom cottage with infinity pool. Price included all inclusive at the safari and internal country transfers and rides and Cape Town hotel. That’s what it would have cost us if we’d planned everything ourselves. Suggest calling to see what they can do for you at a midrange price. They can probably put it together better for you than you can do yourself. It goes without saying, it was the best trip we’ve ever done.

Oh I should add that I got the rec for Scott Dunn from dcum. This was around four years ago.

[Anonymous]

AMAZING, thank you! Will put Scott Dunn on the list!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- I'm actually just in the beginning stages of planning, so I'm not really sure! Looks like I should check out SA- but would it be better to do Tanzania?

It depends. South Africa is nice because you can also do a fair amount of city exploration (Cape Town is wonderful), but also its wildlife parks are great. But if you want a fully immersive “safari”/bush experience, Tanzania or Kenya are good entries into that.

You can’t go wrong- they’re just all very different, large countries with different things to offer.

[Anonymous]

If you are worried about small planes be aware of their use in Tanzania and Kenya.

[Anonymous]

use Brighte Masaii Adventures in Kenya---very reasonably priced and good value.